A woman disappeared in Bihar, and a body found in a canal was identified as hers. Her husband and relatives were convicted. Everyone thought the case was closed. But 12 years later, something happened that shocked the world. 😳 Her name was Shakuntala Devi. In 2014, a body recovered from a canal in Rohtas, Bihar, was identified as hers. A murder case followed, and her husband and his relatives faced serious legal consequences. Her family believed she had been killed over dowry-related harassment. The case seemed to have reached its conclusion. Then, in 2026, the police received information that turned everything upside down. Shakuntala was found alive in Jharkhand. She had reportedly been living under another name, Kanti Devi, with a man named Rattu Singh. Her discovery reopened questions about the original investigation and the identification of the body. If Shakuntala was alive, who was the woman whose body had been identified as hers in 2014? That unidentified woman had been found, examined and cremated. Now, investigators were left trying to establish her identity and understand how the original case had unfolded. As of October 2026, reports say Shakuntala is in judicial custody while police investigate the case. A case that appeared settled had suddenly reopened, with serious questions about the evidence that shaped it. And the biggest mystery remains: whose body was found in that canal?

“He won’t get work even in ads and serials.” That’s what a casting director said about Kartik Aaryan. Then much later, he watched one of Kartik’s films and called him with an apology. Kartik revealed this in a Filmfare interview while recalling his early struggle to get into Bollywood. He would queue for hours at auditions, only to be dismissed in front of everyone. One popular casting director repeatedly ignored him and said: “Iska kuch nahin ho sakta. He won’t get work even in ads and serials. He’s wasting his time. He’ll end up struggling all his life.” Imagine hearing that when you’re still fighting for your first break. Kartik kept trying. He eventually learned about the auditions for Pyaar Ka Punchnama through Facebook. He couldn’t afford a portfolio, so he cropped pictures from his college album and sent them in. The audition process took six months. The film finally happened, and his monologue became a sensation. Then came the phone call. The same casting director had watched one of Kartik’s films and called to apologise. “I’m extremely sorry. The only time I went wrong in my whole career was with you. You proved me wrong.” Kartik never revealed the casting director’s name. Imagine being so wrong about someone that years later, you have to call them and admit it. Nevertheless, a good act at the end!

Everyone knows Dravid and Kumble. But can you identify the cricketer standing between them? Real cricket fans should get this one. Who do you think he is? 🤔

“This is the last take because after this, I might fall.” Those words from Irrfan Khan still hit hard when you know what he was going through. But the most heartbreaking part came later. 💔👇 During the shoot of Blackmail (2018), Irrfan was unwell, but director Abhinay Deo didn't know how serious his condition was. For one scene, Irrfan had to run nearly 200 metres and then deliver an emotionally demanding performance. He pushed through multiple takes. When Abhinay asked for one final take with tighter frames, Irrfan delivered those words. Only days later, Abhinay learned that Irrfan had been diagnosed with cancer. But perhaps the most heartbreaking part came later. While discussing a possible sequel to Blackmail, Abhinay told Irrfan to get treated, recover, and come back. They had another film to make together. Irrfan laughed and said they would. They never got that chance. ❤️‍🩹 Irrfan passed away in 2020, and Blackmail 2 never happened. What remains is Abhinay's memory of an actor who kept giving his all to the craft, even when he was battling a devastating illness.

She vanished. Her family said she had moved abroad. Three years later, investigators uncovered a horrifying secret. And it led straight back to her own family. 🩸 Her name was Sheena Bora, a 24-year-old woman living in Mumbai. On April 24, 2012, she disappeared. Her employer received a resignation letter, and people close to her were told she had gone to the United States to study. No missing-person complaint was filed at the time. But on May 23, 2012, police discovered a decomposed body in a forested area in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. They could not identify it, and the case remained unresolved for years. Then, in August 2015, a man arrested in an unrelated arms case told police about a murder. His account led investigators back to the unidentified remains. The body was later identified as Sheena’s. The investigation uncovered a startling family secret. Indrani Mukerjea, the wife of former media executive Peter Mukerjea, had been introducing Sheena as her younger sister. In reality, Sheena was her daughter from an earlier relationship. The CBI alleged that Indrani opposed Sheena’s relationship with Rahul Mukerjea (Peter Mukerjea’s son from an earlier marriage, making him Indrani’s stepson). Sheena and Rahul were engaged and planned to marry. Investigators alleged that this relationship was a motive for the killing. Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna, and driver Shyamvar Rai were accused in the case. Peter Mukerjea was also later charged. The case has dragged on for years. As of the latest reports, the trial is still ongoing, with no final verdict. The Supreme Court granted the trial court a further nine months in March 2026 to complete the proceedings. How did a woman’s disappearance stay hidden for three years, while people around her believed she had simply left the country?

This Australian-born stuntwoman became India’s original action heroine, performing death-defying stunts decades before Bollywood’s modern action stars. 🇦🇺🇮🇳👊 But how did Mary Ann Evans, a woman born thousands of miles from India, become the legendary Fearless Nadia? Born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1908, Mary arrived in India as a young child with her family. Her father, a British army soldier, died during World War I, leaving her mother to raise her. Growing up, Mary learned horse riding, gymnastics and dance. She travelled around India as a performer, eventually working in theatre and the circus. Then came the opportunity that changed everything. In the early 1930s, filmmaker J.B.H. Wadia spotted her potential and brought her into films produced by Wadia Movietone. She initially appeared in smaller roles, but Nadia had something audiences rarely saw in female actors of that era: she could fight, ride horses and perform dangerous stunts herself. In 1935, she landed the role that made her a sensation. Hunterwali cast her as a masked heroine who used a whip to fight injustice. The film became a major success, and its fearless protagonist turned Nadia into a household name. While many women in Indian cinema were being cast as wives, lovers or victims, Nadia was taking on villains herself. She jumped between moving trains, performed daring horseback stunts and faced dangerous situations on screen. Her action sequences became her signature, earning her a place among the pioneers of Indian action cinema. Her popularity continued with films such as Miss Frontier Mail (1936), Diamond Queen (1940) and Jungle Princess (1942). Behind the scenes, she also found a lasting partner in filmmaker Homi Wadia, who directed many of her films. The two eventually married. Nadia continued appearing in films for decades, with Khiladi (1968) marking her final screen appearance. She died in Mumbai in January 1996, aged 88.

He starred in an Oscar-nominated film and won a National Award. And then, he was driving an autorickshaw to support his family. His name is Shafiq Syed. In 1988, he played Krishna, also known as Chaipau, in Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! He was around 12, and his performance earned him the National Film Award for Best Child Artist in 1989. The film went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, bringing international attention to its young cast. For Shafiq, it was an extraordinary start. But the success didn’t translate into a lasting acting career. After Salaam Bombay!, he struggled to find more film work. He approached studios in Mumbai, but regular opportunities failed to materialise. He eventually returned to Bengaluru, where he began driving an autorickshaw to earn a living. He later appeared in Goutam Ghose’s Patang, released in 1993, but his acting career did not take off as he had hoped. In a 2009 report, The Times of India found Shafiq working as an autorickshaw driver in Bengaluru, nearly two decades after his breakthrough film. His journey is a reminder that even international recognition and a major award cannot guarantee a lasting career in cinema. For a brief moment, Shafiq Syed was at the centre of a film celebrated around the world…. Then the opportunities dried up, and he had to find another way to support himself.

“Bob Willis ho, ya uska baap ho, main ja ke todne wala hoon.” An angry and fired-up Sandeep Patil said this before going in to bat in the semifinal of the 1983 WC. But what had resulted in so much aggression? 😮 It was before the match. Sandeep recalled how the English newspapers were mocking India. “Free pass to England for the Final.” He said, “Wo baat mujhe bahut chubhi.” Patil said that he remembered Sunil, Kapil and Jimmy reminding the team at the breakfast table: “Bacchon, dekho kya likha hai inhone.” Then came the match. Sandeep said that when his turn came to bat, he said with a lot of conviction, “Bob Willis ho, ya uska baap ho, main ja ke todne wala hoon.” And then he blasted an unbeaten 51 off just 32 balls to take India home. ♥️

Salman Khan landed his first film without an audition. What did the director see in his walk that made him say yes? And no, it wasn’t because of his father’s reputation. It happened during the casting of Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), starring Rekha and Farooque Shaikh. Director JK Bihari was looking for a young actor when Salman walked into his office with a file. He watched him approach and made up his mind almost instantly. “Whoever this boy is, I will take him.” The director later recalled that Salman's walk alone convinced him to cast the newcomer. Here's another interesting detail: Salman never mentioned that he was Salim Khan's son. The director admitted that knowing his father was such a big name might have made him hesitate, given how small the role was. Salman accepted the supporting role anyway, even though he later thought it might be his first and last film. Then came Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), which changed his career forever. Sometimes, the opportunity that seems smallest becomes the beginning of something extraordinary. ✨

He gave Indian fans a headache by scoring 420 runs at an average of 140 in the Test series. But very few know that his sister once had to borrow money just to buy him his first cricket bat…. And his coach broke down in tears when he got his first call-up for the national side. His name is Sonal Dinusha, the Sri Lankan all-rounder who troubled India with the bat in 2026. Growing up, his family struggled financially. His sister helped him get his first bat, while his father drove a tuk-tuk to take him to cricket practice. His coach, Sonal Dulshan Alwalage, also stood by him when his family couldn’t afford to support his cricket dreams. He worked with Dinusha for 13 years, helping him develop his game. When Dinusha finally earned his first call-up to the Sri Lankan team, his coach broke down in tears. He described it as the culmination of a 13-year project behind the scenes. Years of sacrifice, support and hard work had finally paid off. The boy who once needed help to get his first bat was now representing his country…. and scoring runs against India in the toughest format with ease. 🇱🇰♥️

For 17 months, her death was treated as a suicide…..Then a forensic report and her last WhatsApp status changed everything. Amrita Pandey, also known as Annapurna, was a 30-year-old actress who had appeared in Bhojpuri films and television projects. On April 27, 2024, she was found hanging inside her family’s flat in Bhagalpur. Her death was initially believed to be suicide, reportedly amid personal and career-related struggles. One detail drew attention: her final WhatsApp status spoke of someone sinking their own boat to make another person’s journey easier. Was it a farewell message? The status alone could not explain what happened, but it sparked investigators' curiosity. Then came the forensic findings. The post-mortem reportedly indicated death by strangulation. In September 2025, police registered a murder case against unidentified people. Investigators questioned around a dozen people, including her husband, parents, friends and relatives. They also examined her medical findings and sought access to her iPhone to look for clues in her final communications. The viscera report reportedly ruled out poisoning. Yet no killer had been publicly identified in the latest reports available from December 2025. Nevertheless, a death initially treated as suicide became a murder investigation. What really happened in Amrita’s final hours is still unknown..

A Sikh religious leader disappeared after being taken into police custody. The police said he had escaped. Years later, an official inquiry questioned that explanation. What it uncovered made the case even more disturbing. 👇 His name was Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaunke, the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Sikhism’s highest temporal seat. On December 25, 1992, a police party took him from his home in Kaunke Kalan, Punjab. He never returned. On January 2, 1993, police records claimed he had escaped during an attack by militants. According to their account, he broke the belt connecting his handcuffs to a constable and fled. But the story did not stand unchallenged. In 1998, the Punjab government ordered an inquiry led by senior police officer B. P. Tiwari. The report, submitted in 1999, concluded that the police account was not believable. It recommended registering a case against the then station house officer for wrongful confinement and falsification of records, and investigating the role of other officials. Yet the report remained out of public view for more than two decades. In December 2023, it was made public by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation. In January 2024, Kaunke’s wife filed a complaint naming 21 police officials and alleging involvement in his disappearance and killing. His body was never found, and the circumstances of his fate remain unresolved. Did he really escape, as the police claimed, or was the truth about his disappearance never fully uncovered?

SRK’s most iconic villain role was supposed to be played by this another actor. Then Yash Chopra changed his mind for a very interesting reason. His costumes had even been prepared. The actor was Sudesh Berry, who had been cast as Rahul Mehra in Darr. But there was a problem with the film’s climax. According to Berry, Chopra felt that if a relatively lesser-known actor punched the film’s bigger male star, the scene wouldn’t have the same impact. The other male lead had changed several times during development. Rishi Kapoor was considered first, then Aamir Khan, before Sunny Deol was finally cast. With Sunny playing the hero, Chopra eventually decided that Rahul needed to be played by someone who could hold his own against him. That’s when Shah Rukh Khan entered the picture. The rest became Bollywood history. Darr released in 1993, and SRK’s Rahul Mehra became one of the most memorable villains in Hindi cinema.

At exactly 11:11 p.m., Sanju Samson sent her one simple message. “Hi.” He had no idea that this tiny message would eventually lead to marriage. That was August 22, 2013. Sanju and Charulatha were classmates at Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram, but they weren't particularly close at first. Then Sanju sent her a friend request on Facebook. The conversations grew. Friendship turned into love. And for almost five years, they kept the relationship away from the public eye and even his close friends were surprised when Sanju finally announced their relationship. In September 2018, he posted a picture with Charu and revealed that he had been waiting almost five years to publicly say that he was in love with her. There was another interesting part to their story. Sanju is Christian, while Charulatha is Hindu. Both families eventually gave them their blessing, and they married under the Special Marriage Act. On December 22, 2018, they had a small wedding in Kovalam with only around 30 people from both families. From one “Hi” at 11:11 p.m. to a wedding five years later… Sometimes life is about taking a chance! ✨

Arshad Warsi was ready to quit comedy. Then two completely unexpected encounters changed his mind. One was with a young girl who couldn’t hear. 🥹 The other was with a monk in Ladakh. What they told him made him look at his entire career differently. Warsi had become known for making people laugh, but he had started feeling trapped by the “comic actor” label. He wanted to prove that he could do serious roles and was considering leaving comedy behind. Then, at a programme for children with disabilities, Warsi met a young girl who couldn’t hear. She told him she enjoyed his work. When he asked how she understood what he was saying, she told him she understood him through his expressions. That answer touched him deeply. ❤️ Later, during a trip to Ladakh, he met a monk. The monk told him that while he needed considerable effort to make people laugh during his discourses, Warsi could make an entire country laugh with ease. Those two encounters changed his mind…. And he decided to never leave comedy.

He wasn't even supposed to be the lead in Hanuman Ansh. He was working behind the camera as a second assistant director. Then something dramatic happened… And Shobinaw Satyaa found himself leading. It all started when the lead actor fell ill. The director suddenly needed someone to step in. Shobinaw Satyaa was asked to audition. What followed was a five-hour audition that changed his role in the film completely. Director Vishal Chaturvedi saw something in him and cast him as Neem Karoli Baba, the central character. Satyaa had gone to the set as part of the crew…. and ended up leaving it as the film's lead actor. And the strangest part? He had never planned on becoming an actor through this film at all. Sometimes a career-changing opportunity doesn't arrive when you're looking for it… Rather, it finds you while you're doing something else.

He had decided cricket would remain just a hobby. Then, while he was driving Uber, a call came in. 🚙📲 He checked his msgs; and his life changed. 👇 Nikhil Chaudhary had already made his Punjab debut before moving to Australia in March 2020. Then COVID hit. With cricket on hold, he stayed in Australia and took whatever work he could find. He worked at a Mexican restaurant, chopping vegetables and washing utensils. Then he delivered parcels for Australia Post. He even drove Uber. But he kept playing club cricket whenever he could. By August 2023, the uncertainty had started wearing him down. He had decided to treat cricket as a hobby and focus on building a life in Australia. Then, while driving Uber, his phone rang. His manager told him to check his phone. It was a contract offer from the Hobart Hurricanes for the Big Bash League. Nikhil stopped the car, and soon deleted the Uber app. Then came the biggest twist. In June 2026, the Delhi-born cricketer was picked for Australia’s T20I squad and made his international debut. The man who once drove an Uber to survive was now playing international cricket for Australia. 🇦🇺

Remember the little girl from Black who gave one of the film’s most memorable performances? She disappeared from Bollywood for 17 years. Ayesha Kapur was only 10 when she played young Michelle in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji. Her performance won her a Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards. But instead of immediately chasing more films, Ayesha went back to school and eventually studied design in New York. She returned briefly in Sikandar in 2009. Then came a long, unexpected break. Ayesha was later signed by Yash Raj Films and trained in acting, Hindi and dance to transition into adult roles. She was also attached to Shekhar Kapur’s Paani, alongside Sushant Singh Rajput. But Paani never materialised, leaving her uncertain about where her acting career was headed. Ayesha has said the attention and expectations after Black also affected the choices she made about acting. Now, 17 years after Sikandar, she is back on the big screen with Om Ka Hari in 2026.

While shooting this film, Sridevi fainted, her head hit a table, and she lost a tooth. And she remained unconscious for around 20 minutes. During the shoot of Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin, director Pankaj Parashar recalled that Sridevi had been pushed to lose weight. She went on an extreme diet and stopped eating salt. Her blood pressure dropped, and she collapsed. Parashar said she remained unconscious for around 20 minutes. The incident forced her to take a break from the film. But the film itself soon ran into trouble. The financier walked away, the producer died, and Parashar eventually abandoned the project. Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin was finally released in 2004, years after it was shot. Sridevi was under immense pressure to maintain a certain appearance… And this time, that pressure nearly cost her much more than a film.