News Broadcasting
BBC World show ‘Talking Movies’ features Big B
MUMBAI: He is known for great acting skills and charismatic personality. The latest from him – the alzheimer-striken teacher in Black – has been a revelation! BBC World’s Talking Movies presents Amitabh Bachchan in coversation with presenter Tom Brook. Bachchan, who was recently in New York to receive a tribute to his film career from the American Film Institute, speaks to Tom Brook in an in-depth interview about his long and distinguished film career.
The show will feature the illustrious film career of Bachchan, which spans over 35 years and over 150 films to his credit. The Big B special will air on 4 May at 1 pm. The repeat telecast follows on 5 May at 10 pm and on 8 May at 8 am.
According to a media release, when asked by Tom Brook about the fact that most people on the streets of the United States wouldn’t recognise him as a superstar, he replies: “Thank God for that. Well, they don’t know about me and they don’t know about Indian cinema. It’s just like Brad Pitt walking around a city in India – no one would know who he is. That’s not to say I don’t have that freedom within my own country. If I chose to walk on the streets I’d be okay.”
Through the interview Bachchan says, “It’s always a great honour to be recognised by an institute that comes out from the West. [I’m] a bit surprised that the Americans would take such an interest in Indian cinema, and pay me a tribute in particular, but I’m very happy that something like this is happening. It bodes well for Indian cinema, it bodes well for the marketing of Indian cinema, for the future of Indian cinema, and I hope that there are such tributes paid to many other artists of my nation.”
According to a media release, he adds, “I think that Indian cinema got its recognition overseas because of its unique content… there is a great deal of interest now in India beyond seeing films. The economy has opened up and we are being looked upon as a powerful nation… I believe that every time a nation progresses economically and changes economically, everything about it becomes fashionable and likable. Our food suddenly becomes world-widely acceptable, the clothes that we wear, the music that we make and the films that we make. So I think that the acceptability of our films is now largely due to the fact that we are a growing economic power.”
Expressing his views on how interest in Indian cinema can be increased in other countries such as the US, he says: “Certainly a better system of marketing [is needed]. I think our systems are very individualistic, we’re perhaps not aware of the potential of how films need to be marketed as do the Americans, because they are really masters of it… I think now as visibility improves, we’ll have to get our house in order, get our management procedures in place, so that they can be marketed well and have a greater reach.”
Asked if he feels that Indian films have to be less rigid in their approach to issues such as sex and morality in order to gain international acceptability, Bachchan replies, “That isn’t the only ingredient that makes them acceptable in other parts of the world – I think it’s more to do with your screenplay and your story and the content. Yes, Western cinema does have a greater permissiveness than Indian cinema, but I don’t think that is a constant and I don’t see any necessity for loosening our morals, so to say, just to accommodate a new territory.”
Bachchan, who has also had a brief stint in Indian politics as a Member of Parliament, says he would not like to go back to politics, adding: “I don’t know politics, I just don’t know it… it was an emotional decision, and I felt that emotion really has no place in politics.”
Bachchan is also the goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and he speaks about how a celebrity’s involvement has added to the effectiveness of the organisation’s cause. Quoting the example of the hugely successful polio campaign he has been a part of, he says: “The number of polio cases came down to almost four or five instead of 3,000, and the number of mothers going to the booths increased almost by a thousand-fold…. if by my association with UNICEF we can bring about some relief for India, then I’m happy to do something.”
Asked why he doesn’t like the Indian film industry to be referred to as Bollywood, he says: “I feel it’s a bit demeaning to the Indian film industry. It’s a word that doesn’t sound very good.”
On whether he considers retiring from the film business, he says: “Someday I will, of course, because it’s impossible to retain your physicality for the rest of your life, and movie-making depends a lot on your physical demeanour. Once my face loses shape and my body loses shape, I’ll retire, but as long as it’s working and it’s moving I’d like to carry on working.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 launches weekend show Health Matters to decode health trends
New show aims to cut through viral wellness fads with expert-backed advice
MUMBAI: In an age where viral reels often double up as lifestyle advice, CNN-News18 is launching a weekend show aimed at separating health facts from fashionable myths.
Titled News18 Health Matters, the half-hour programme will premiere on 14 March 2026 and position itself as a reliable guide through the maze of wellness trends, internet remedies and quick-fix health advice that increasingly shape everyday decisions.
India is in the midst of a major health transition. Lifestyle diseases are striking earlier, stress and sleep deprivation have become routine, and health choices are often influenced by trending content rather than medical evidence. The new show leans into this reality with a simple premise: trending does not always mean true.
Anchored by Hem Kaur Saroya and Himani Chandna, the programme will air every Saturday at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 10:30 am. Episodes will also be available on the channel’s YouTube platform.
Each instalment will tackle everyday health concerns that are increasingly entering mainstream conversations. Topics range from the rise of heart attacks among people under 40 and the growing reliance on protein supplements, to the rush toward weight-loss drugs and the widespread overuse of painkillers. The show will also examine issues such as screen addiction, chronic sleep loss, stress-related disorders and the rising prevalence of thyroid conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking about the launch, Rahul Shivshankar said the show aims to bring clarity to a space crowded with misinformation.
“With Health Matters, CNN-News18 aims to cut through the noise and empower viewers with clear, expert-led conversations grounded in science and medical evidence. At a time when viral trends increasingly influence lifestyle choices, it is important to distinguish between what is trending and what is truly beneficial for long-term health,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, Smriti Mehra said the programme reflects the channel’s commitment to responsible and relevant programming.
“With growing public interest in wellness and preventive health, Health Matters strengthens CNN-News18’s focus on issues that affect everyday life. In an increasingly crowded information space, credible and verified health conversations have never been more important,” she said.
With Health Matters, CNN-News18 is betting that viewers want more than bite-sized advice and viral fixes. The show promises something rarer in the age of algorithm-driven wellness tips: calm, credible conversations that help people make better health choices.
