News Broadcasting
‘Rendezvous’ with India’s hottest hunk- John Abraham on Star World
Tune-in to the fifth season of Rendezvous With Simi Garewal as it debuts on Sunday, February 12th at 9.30 p.m. only on Star World
Mumbai, February 6, 2006… “Gentle and romantic, also red, hot and smashing. You’re not just hot you’re on fire,” is how Simi Garewal introduces her first guest as she returns to Star World for another exciting season of her popular weekly chat show – ‘Rendezvous with Simi Garewal’. The most successful chat show on Indian television is back for its fifth season with none other than Bollywood’s hottest sensation – John Abraham. Make sure you don’t miss the first episode of this season on Sunday, February 12th at 9:30 p.m. on Star World when Simi quizzes him on his love for bikes, Bipasha, money, fame and adulation.
Excerpts from the interview:
Fame and adulation is something that happens outside of you. Does it change something inside as well?
John: It does to an extent… in the sense… it works two ways actually… either you become a little more secure about yourself or you become a little more insecure about yourself post getting a lot of fame. Because the more you get the more you want and that is where most of us fall, very honestly.
Didn’t you date a lot of girls?
John: I did date girls, but there were never one-night stands or frivolous relationships.
When you started seeing Bipasha you were quite unknown and today it’s you who gets the most attention. Has that changed the balance in your relationship?
John: Hmm. Not in the relationship… but, yes the projection outside the relationship has changed, you know, earlier I was Bipasha Basu’s boyfriend but today I am John Abraham. I have an identity of myself. It’s great to be in a relationship, but it is very important to be known singularly.
Is your relationship settled enough to withstand the pressures of Bollywood?
John: Our relationship is very settled. Because Bipasha is very mature. But there are pressures other than Bollywood … there is compatibility; there are other issues that are more important than just pressures from outside and I think that’s something we deal with in everyday life.
Are you protective or do you like to be mothered?
John: Well, I thought I was protective … But, when Bipasha and I argue, she always says that don’t treat me like your mother. Because you know I am always being pampered, I need food to be served, but I am quite self-sufficient when I am alone. But, I guess you take people for granted when you know they are there. I know Bipasha is always around.
Are you better brother, better lover or son?
John: Better son. I would like to believe so. I want to keep my parents extremely happy.
Is money important?
John: Yes, money is very important. But I don’t splurge. For me one rupee is 100 paise. I have imbibed the value for money from my father. I did my schooling from Bombay Scottish, where all my mates had cars. I used to demand my father for a car. But, he always told me, “learn to travel like a common man”. Even today my father travels by public transport in spite of me having gifted him a car with a driver.
Is Bike – a female or male?
John: She. She is elegant, graceful.
So, there are two she’s in your life?
John: Yes, one keeps changing and getting updated.
And the other?
John: The other one is constant.
So this Sunday don’t miss John Abraham on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal on Star World, Feb 12th at 9.30 p.m.
About Star
STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 50 television services in eight languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel). STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world’s largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems and wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
