iWorld
Now give a missed call to follow @SrBachchan
MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan is undoubtedly India’s most enigmatic, charming, talented, informed and witty superstar. With a fan following ranging from the age groups of eight to 80 the superstar is the heartthrob of millions across the country. The Shahenshah of Social media is followed by more than 13 million people across social media platforms including 6.5 million on Twitter.
His Birthday is a date marked on many calendars across India as a day of celebration and this year is no different. As a special surprise for his fans this year as part of global integration with Twitter India and ZipDial, any mobile user in India can now follow the actor’s Twitter account @SrBachchan by simply dialling, or giving a missed call, at +91-22- 33010007.
Now fans across India can get access to their big screen idol’s thoughts on several topics and get a peek into the latest happenings in his life. The collaboration in association with Fluence, will allow everyone across the country to follow and engage the superstar on Twitter via SMS. The service works for all mobile users in the country with any phone or any operator; moreover it’s free irrespective of whether they have a Twitter account or data-enabled phone.
Commenting on this service, CA Media India EVP investee operations Rishi Negi said: “The madness that is associated to Bachchan has no boundaries and to this date fans are mesmerised by a mere interaction with him. On 11 October every year millions throng outside his Mumbai residence to catch a glimpse and wish the brightest shining star of the Indian film industry a Happy Birthday. This year thanks to this technology fans across the nation who don’t access Twitter will be able to connect with their idol on his big day and read his thoughts and sentiments about his life and the world in general and on an on-going basis on their phone.”
Twitter India market director Rishi Jaitly said: “Twitter is live, conversational and public. Bachchan’s use of Twitter has for years exemplified the power of our platform’s ability to connect audiences directly with the people and organizations that interest them most. We are pleased to see ZipDial and Bachchan use the Twitter platform to extend his reach even further.”
ZipDial founder and CEO Valerie R Wagoner said: “By using ZipDial, Asia’s leading mobile marketing platform with the simple user experience of ‘missed calls’, Bachchan can now reach the hundreds of millions of fans in India and internationally who have phones but do not yet use Twitter. Bachchan’s fans can now interact with their iconic hero on Twitter through the simple ZipDial interface of dialing. Our team members at the company are among Bachchan’s fans, so we are particularly thrilled that his ZipDial number 02233010007 reflects his suave and heroic ‘007’ persona.”
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
