The injured included a 33-year-old doctor who suffered a pelvic fracture and was later shifted to a hospital in Dombivli.

Mumbai: The DN Nagar police have arrested the bus driver for rash and negligent driving in Andheri on Friday, in which three persons were injured and 14 vehicles damaged. He was released after being served a notice.The injured included a 33-year-old doctor who suffered a pelvic fracture and was later shifted to a hospital in Dombivli. Police said the exact cause of the crash is yet to be established, and reports from BEST and Regional Transport Office (RTO) inspection teams were awaited.While the driver claimed it was a ‘brake failure’, this has reignited concerns over the maintenance and safety of the undertaking’s outsourced fleet. The incident has prompted BEST committee members to demand a comprehensive safety audit of all 2,551 wet-lease buses operating in the city. They argued that buses with defective braking or steering systems should never be allowed on roads.Committee member Ajay Singh said concerns over maintenance had been flagged repeatedly. During a recent depot inspection, members found a recurring pattern of air-pressure leaks in braking systems. According to figures cited by Singh, 89 buses reported brake-related defects in April, 91 in May, and 49 more in the first half of June.Shiv Sena (UBT) member Nitin Nandgaonkar sought accountability from officials responsible for vehicle inspections. “Every time an accident occurs, the driver is blamed. But no one asks why a defective bus was allowed to leave the depot,” he said, demanding action against contractors operating unsafe vehicles.Friday’s incident was similar to previous crashes in Kurla, Bhandup and Dadar where the driver had reportedly lost control of the bus before dashing into other vehicles and pedestrians. The bus, operating on the Millat Nagar-Andheri Bus Station route, reportedly went out of control while taking a right turn from Caesar Road to SV Road near the Andheri subway. It then rammed into 14 vehicles, including a tempo, four cars and nine autorickshaws, causing extensive damage.Amid mounting concerns, panel members have proposed deploying BEST’s 125 in-house technicians on a paid basis to maintain the wet-lease fleet. The members added that stronger inspections and timely repairs are essential to prevent accidents and restore passenger confidence in the city’s bus network.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar created a stir in political circles on Saturday by saying that if CM Devendra Fadnavis was “promoted” as Union minister in Delhi, BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule would become the next CM. They did not claim Fadnavis was moving to Delhi but said there was “a possibility.” Rohit, however, added that Dy CM Eknath Shinde’s weight too had increased in Delhi, and the state and top BJP netas were backing him.Reacting to the speculation, CM Fadnavis said, “I just went to Delhi the day before yesterday.”Raut said, “If Fadnavis goes to the Centre, the state’s leadership will go to Chandrashekhar Bawankule. You might think I will name someone else, but the picture I see is of Bawankule as the right leader from Vidarbha. He is someone who communicates with everyone, takes care of everyone. Eknath Shinde will not become the CM again, not at all. (BJP minister) Girish Mahajan’s record is very bad.”Claiming that Fadnavis himself would recommend Bawankule, who currently holds the revenue portfolio, Raut also said that Fadnavis should become the prime minister before 2029.Rohit Pawar said, “If the leaders of the BJP decide to give an important post at the Centre to Fadnavis, then in Maharashtra, Chandrashekhar Bawankule can get a chance (to be CM). A BJP minister with a small portfolio may also get a big responsibility in Maharashtra in the coming future, even the post of chief minister. But, on the other hand, Eknath Shinde should not be underestimated. We can all see that Shinde has increased his own strength a lot. Even in Delhi, top BJP netas are giving him strength.”Raut said, “We will be happy if Fadnavis becomes PM before 2029, as a Marathi manoos, we wish him well. Uddhav Thackeray has also wished him well.” He added that the BJP would not have its govt after 2029, so “Fadnavis should do whatever he wants to do before 2029.”Bawankule represents the Kamthi assembly constituency in Nagpur and is widely recognized as one of the prominent OBC faces of BJP in the state.

Navi Mumbai: In two fatal accidents in the jurisdiction of Panvel City police station on Friday, an 18-year-old teenage boy riding a bike with his 20-year-old sister riding pillion was killed by a speeding container trailer on Panvel-JNPT Road around 12 noon. An FIR was registered and the container driver was detained.Another hit-and-run fatal accident occurred on the Goa Highway near Palaspe junction, Panvel, around 8 pm, wherein a private travels bus mowed down a 26-year-old pedestrian while he was crossing the highway to reach a roadside eatery. The bus driver sped without securing medical attention for the severely injured youth, who was declared brought dead at Panvel sub-district hospital. Panvel City police registered an FIR against the unidentified driver of the private luxury bus.Bala Kumbhar, senior inspector of Panvel City police station, said, “In the fatal accident on Panvel-JNPT Road, the deceased siblings were identified as Prashu Bhardwaj Singh, and his elder sister Vanshika Bhardwaj Singh, both residing at India Bulls residential complex in Kon village, Panvel taluka. They were heading towards Ulwe when the fatal accident occurred. The trailer hit the bike when the biker came from behind and overtook from the left side. The bike skidded on the road and the siblings were run over by the trailer, crushing both of them to death. The accused trailer driver, identified as Rajiv Kumar Vijayshankar, who hails from UP, was detained. After registering an FIR against him under relevant BNS and Motor Vehicle Act sections for rash and negligent driving causing death, he was released after servicing a notice under BNSS provision.”DCP Rahul Khade said, “The fatal accident was so severe that the flesh of the siblings was smeared on the ground and the cops had to scrape the ground to collect the scattered flesh for sending their bodies to Panvel sub-district hospital. The police commissioner Milind Bharambe, while passing by the accident spot during an inspection visit for the container vehicles traffic congestion problem on the Uran Road, halted to take stock of the situation.“Kumbhar further informed, “In the fatal hit-and-run incident of a private luxury bus mowing down a pedestrian youth near Khandoba dhaba, the deceased was identified as Pawan Kumar Premchand Saroj, a resident of Antop Hill, Wadala, Mumbai. The accused unidentified driver of the Gujarat RTO-passing bus, whose registration number was noted down by some eyewitnesses and provided to the police, will be detained after contacting the bus owner. Apart from BNS sections for rash and negligent driving causing death and an act endangering life or personal safety of others, we have invoked Motor Vehicle Act sections for driving dangerously on a public way and escaping from the accident spot by neither providing medical help to the severely injured youth nor informing the police about the accident.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has directed the Maharashtra government to investigate Mahagenco’s land acquisition practices

MUMBAI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed the Maharashtra government to examine allegations of irregularities in the acquisition of compensatory afforestation (CA) land by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd (Mahagenco) for its Gare Palma Sector-II coal block in Chhattisgarh.Acting on a complaint submitted by Chhattisgarh-based activist Naresh Chandra Gupta, the PMO forwarded the matter to the Maharashtra government, which has sought a detailed report from Mahagenco.The complaint alleges that nearly Rs 110 crore was spent on acquiring around 214.869 hectares of private land required for compensatory afforestation to secure forest clearance for the coal block.According to the complaint, several land valuation and certification records relied upon for the transactions carried only local-level revenue endorsements and allegedly lacked higher-level verification.The complaint also alleges that detailed historical title verification of the land parcels was not carried out before purchase.The complainant has further alleged that some of the acquired land parcels were linked to multiple interconnected entities and had previously been used as solvency assets in commercial contracts.Questions have also been raised regarding the present physical status and traceability of some of the land parcels.Mahagenco, however, has denied any irregularity, stating that suitable government land for compensatory afforestation was unavailable and that private land was identified following advice from forest authorities.Mahagenco said they procured approximately 530 acres of Compensatory Afforestation (CA) land at a total cost of around ₹93 crore, and not ₹110 crore as alleged.The utility said all acquisitions were carried out through registered sale deeds after obtaining approvals from the competent authorities.The complaint also alleges that several land records contained identical site maps despite relating to different survey numbers, raising concerns about the authenticity of the documentation and whether proper ground surveys were conducted.Another allegation relates to the Expression of Interest (EOI) process used to identify land. The complaint claims the notices received limited public visibility because they were published in newspapers with low circulation and that the exercise effectively restricted wider participation.Mahagenco has rejected the allegation, stating that the EOI was published in government-empanelled newspapers in Raigarh and Raipur and was also hosted on the websites of Mahagenco and its consultant.According to the utility, four proposals were received in response.The complaint further alleges that some participants in the process lacked the financial capacity to independently aggregate land holdings of the scale eventually acquired.It also alleges that several transactions were routed through power-of-attorney arrangements and intermediary entities.While the complainant has questioned whether public funds ultimately reached the original landowners, Mahagenco maintains that the purchases were completed through legally registered transactions and in accordance with applicable procedures.The complaint has also raised concerns that if any of the alleged deficiencies in land records, title verification or documentation are established, they could have implications for the compensatory afforestation process that formed part of the forest clearance requirements for the project.In its response, Mahagenco said valuation was carried out as per applicable norms.It stated that the land received a suitability certificate from the Divisional Forest Officer, Raigarh, and a no-objection certificate from the district collector before purchase.The utility added that after mutation and transfer to the forest department, the land was notified as Reserved Forest by the Chhattisgarh government in December 2022.Officials said the inquiry initiated following the PMO referral would examine the allegations, supporting records, approvals and Mahagenco’s response before any conclusions are reached.

A large portion of state revenue is devoted to salaries and pensions, consuming over half of the total

MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s economy continued to outpace much of the country in 2024-25, but the state’s finances are coming under increasing strain as rising revenue expenditure, mounting committed liabilities and persistent weaknesses in budget management threaten the government’s ability to invest in public infrastructure and essential services, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) State Finances Report.In its review of the state’s finances and budgetary management, the CAG said Maharashtra’s strong Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth and higher-than-national per capita income provide a solid economic base.However, the audit cautioned that the increasing revenue deficit, high committed expenditure and growing liabilities could force the government to rely more heavily on borrowings to finance development projects, affecting long-term fiscal sustainability.The report noted that while Maharashtra remained within the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits for fiscal deficit and debt, its revenue deficit widened significantly, meaning a larger portion of government borrowings is being used to meet day-to-day expenditure rather than creating productive assets.The CAG observed that undischarged liabilities exceeding ₹27,184 crore could further worsen both the revenue and fiscal deficits.For ordinary citizens, the trend assumes significance because a larger share of tax revenues is increasingly being consumed by salaries, pensions, interest payments and subsidies, leaving relatively less fiscal space for new roads, hospitals, schools, water supply and other capital works.The audit found that committed expenditure, comprising salaries, pensions and interest payments, stood at ₹2.49 lakh crore, accounting for 51.81% of the state’s revenue receipts during 2024-25.Although this proportion has declined from earlier years, the CAG said it continues to constrain fiscal flexibility and called for greater prioritisation of productive capital expenditure.Subsidies also continued to rise sharply.Total subsidies increased 16.72% to ₹56,089.18 crore, driven mainly by higher electricity tariff subsidies for agricultural pump consumers and support for cotton, soybean and oilseed cultivation. While these schemes support key sectors, the audit stressed the need to ensure that such expenditure remains fiscally sustainable.Chapter II of the report points to persistent shortcomings in budget execution.The CAG found repeated instances of excessive supplementary grants, large savings under several departments despite additional allocations, injudicious reappropriation of funds, delayed surrender of unspent allocations and substantial expenditure concentrated in the final month of the financial year.Such practices reduce the effectiveness of legislative control over public spending and weaken the credibility of budget estimates.The audit also highlighted cases where supplementary provisions turned out to be unnecessary or excessive, indicating weaknesses in expenditure forecasting.In several grants, departments surrendered large amounts only at the end of March, while in others, savings remained unutilised despite additional budgetary support.The CAG said more realistic budgeting and timely monitoring are essential for efficient use of taxpayers’ money.Another concern relates to expenditure bunching at the year-end.According to the report, significant spending was incurred during March 2025, a practice that can compromise financial discipline, reduce scrutiny of expenditure and affect the quality of project implementation.The audit also drew attention to pressures on local body finances. Against the Fifteenth Finance Commission’s recommendation of ₹1,391 crore for million-plus cities, no grant was released by the Centre during 2024-25, while the release made for urban local bodies pertained to withheld grants of the previous year.Maharashtra has six eligible urban agglomerations under this category, where grants are linked to improvements in air quality, drinking water and solid waste management.To improve fiscal health, the CAG has recommended strengthening revenue mobilisation, improving expenditure planning, reducing the revenue deficit, containing committed expenditure, enhancing allocative efficiency and ensuring more realistic budget estimates.It also called for better monitoring of supplementary grants, timely surrender of savings, avoidance of year-end spending spikes and greater focus on capital investment to support long-term economic growth.

Maharashtra’s financial reporting faces serious concerns from the CAG

Mumbai: Even as Maharashtra kept its fiscal deficit within the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limit, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised serious concerns over the quality of the state’s financial reporting, warning that several accounting and treasury practices are undermining transparency, legislative oversight and public accountability.Chapter III of the CAG’s State Finances Audit Report for 2024-25 paints a picture of systemic weaknesses in financial reporting rather than isolated irregularities.The audit says increasing reliance on off-budget borrowings, delayed utilisation certificates, parking of funds outside the Consolidated Fund, pending contingent bills and delayed accounts of autonomous bodies have together obscured the state’s true financial position.Among the most significant findings is the sharp rise in off-budget borrowings, which stood at ₹28,640 crore as on March 31, 2025.Since these borrowings are raised through state-owned PSUs and agencies instead of the Budget, they dilute fiscal transparency and prevent the Legislature and citizens from getting a complete picture of the state’s liabilities, the audit observed.The CAG also flagged 12,829 pending Utilisation Certificates (UCs) involving ₹40,097.59 crore, saying the absence of UCs weakens assurance that public money released as grants was spent for the intended purposes.The report noted that non-submission of UCs violates provisions of the Maharashtra Treasury Rules and General Financial Rules while exposing deficiencies in financial monitoring and internal controls.Another area of concern is the continued use of Abstract Contingent (AC) bills. As on March 31, 2025, 1,698 AC bills worth ₹3,532.05 crore were awaiting adjustment through Detailed Contingent bills.The audit noted that 268 AC bills worth ₹35.18 crore were drawn in March 2025 alone, indicating a year-end rush to book expenditure, contrary to principles of financial propriety and treasury rules.The report is equally critical of the state’s handling of Virtual Personal Deposit Accounts (VPDAs). According to the audit, despite their introduction to improve fund management, large sums continued to remain parked without actual utilisation.The CAG said ₹20,993.06 crore remained in VPDAs beyond March 31, 2025. Had this amount been returned to the Consolidated Fund at year-end, Maharashtra’s revenue deficit would have reduced from ₹29,994.76 crore to ₹9,001.70 crore.Instead, retention of the balance inflated the reported revenue deficit by ₹20,993.06 crore, the audit said, while questioning a government resolution exempting VPDAs from treasury rules governing year-end lapsing of funds.The audit also found ₹15,298.83 crore lying unspent in Drawing and Disbursing Officers’ bank accounts despite the VPDA mechanism, reflecting continued weaknesses in fund-flow management and internal controls.In another accounting lapse, the CAG said the government did not provide interest of ₹762.49 crore on several interest-bearing deposits, including pension and disaster response funds.This understated revenue expenditure and overstated Public Account balances, thereby distorting the state’s financial position.The report further noted that ₹3,277.58 crore of National Pension System contributions remained parked instead of being transferred promptly to the designated pension fund manager, contrary to Government of India guidelines.Transparency issues extended to statutory bodies as well. The CAG found 74 annual accounts of 26 autonomous bodies pending submission for audit as on March 31, 2025, delaying legislative scrutiny despite continued government funding to several of these institutions.The audit also highlighted weak follow-up on financial irregularities.Cases involving misappropriation, losses and theft worth ₹52.18 crore remained pending, with 151 of the 201 cases dating back more than 15 years, indicating weak internal controls and delayed accountability.To restore credibility in financial reporting, the CAG has recommended bringing all borrowings on-budget, enforcing strict timelines for submission of utilisation certificates and detailed contingent bills, restricting March-end AC bill withdrawals, ensuring unspent balances are returned to the Consolidated Fund, and preventing retention of government money in DDO-operated bank accounts.

The bodies of Om Singh, 19, and Piyush Gupta, 18, were retrieved from the quarry by the fire brigade and local residents and taken to a hospital.

MUMBAI: Two of the four college students who had gone swimming at a quarry in Dahisar East drowned on Saturday. The bodies of Om Singh, 19, and Piyush Gupta, 18, were retrieved from the quarry by the fire brigade and local residents and taken to a hospital. Singh lived in Andheri, while Gupta was a resident of Kandivali. Police said Singh and Gupta, along with two classmates, Aman Giri, 17, and Divyesh Patel, 17, skipped college on Saturday and headed to Shaikh Khadaan Compound near Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Dahisar East. All four were first-year Commerce students at a degree college in Kandivali. One of the boys told police that they had consumed beer near the quarry before entering the water. None of them knew how to swim. At around 10.20 am, Singh and Gupta ventured into deeper water while their friends remained near the edge. “Singh and Gupta started having difficulty breathing. Their friends then threw their college bags into the water so the duo could hold on to them and be pulled out, but the attempt failed,” an officer said. One of the boys then called the police control room. Police and fire brigade personnel soon arrived at the spot. Gupta and Singh were pulled out of the water and rushed to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Dahisar police registered accidental death reports (ADRs). Police said the abandoned quarry pits can fill with 30 to 40 feet of water during the monsoon. “Locals are aware of the danger and avoid the area, but youngsters from outside the locality often venture there for a swim during the monsoon,” an officer said. Note: The original copy says the students “skipped college on Thursday,” but the incident is reported as occurring on Saturday. You may want to verify the day, as that appears inconsistent.

The ice cream parlour’s licence suspension due to hygiene concerns has sparked disappointment among loyal customers

For generations of Mumbaikars, a trip to South Mumbai often ended with an ice cream sandwich from K. Rustom & Co. Long queues spilling onto the pavement, children eagerly choosing flavours and the unmistakable sight of creamy ice cream tucked between crisp wafers made it more than just an ice cream parlour — it became a ritual.That is why the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s decision to suspend the outlet’s food licence after inspectorsfound serious hygiene violations, has left loyal patrons disappointed.What happened?K. Rustom & Co. ice cream parlour, founded by Khodabaksh Rustom Irani in 1953, had its food licence suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after a surprise inspection uncovered serious food safety and hygiene violations. The outlet has been directed to remain shut until the deficiencies are rectified and regulatory requirements are met.

Mumbaikars reactDhara Sanghvi, 58, resident of Breach Candy, says, “I have been visiting K Rustom since I was a child. It was kind of a tradition during the summer to go there for a drive and eat the ice cream from them. We have always loved the ice cream sandwiched between a wafer; it is unique, and they have always maintained the taste and quality of the ice cream. But now this has come as a shock to us that it wasn’t maintaining the hygiene standard.”Whenever friends visited Mumbai, K. Rustom was on my list of places to take them to. The wafer ice cream wasn’t just a dessert; it was part of the Mumbai experience. Hearing about the hygiene violations is disappointing— Rajesh Mehta, 46, chartered accountant from DadarI grew up hearing stories about K. Rustom from my parents before I finally visited it in college. It represented old Bombay and its charm. I hope the authorities ensure all standards are met because people would want such an iconic place to come back only if it’s completely safe— Neha Kapoor, 31, marketing professional from AndheriAs a South Mumbai resident, I have seen generations enjoy K. Rustom. It survived changing food trends and remained relevant because of its quality and simplicity. That’s why these reports are deeply upsetting. Nostalgia is important, but hygiene can never be compromised— Farhad Mistry, 67, retired banker from Colaba

The Hindi film industry gathered to celebrate Hema Malini’s sixty years in cinema. An evening of nostalgia featured candid conversations and musical performances. Industry legends shared behind-the-scenes stories and cherished memories. Hema Malini herself sang and reflected on her remarkable journey. The event celebrated an era of Hindi cinema through stories and songs.

It was an evening of nostalgia, music, laughter and heartfelt memories as the Hindi film industry gathered to celebrate 60 glorious years of Hema Malini in Indian cinema. Hosted and directed by Anirudh Chawla, the Diamond Jubilee celebration unfolded like a journey through the Dream Girl’s remarkable life and career, blending candid conversations, memorable anecdotes, live musical performances and specially curated audio-visual presentations that traced her evolution from a young debutante to one of Indian cinema’s most enduring icons.A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANEThe evening began on an emotional note as Hema Malini reflected on how the venue, Shanmukhanada Hall, held a special place in her life. “This is the same venue where my journey as an actress began. When I came to Mumbai to shoot Sapno Ka Saudagar, this is where I stayed. Every day, I would travel to Raj Kapoor’s studio in Chembur for the shoot. Later, I received my first Filmfare Award here. Over the years, I have performed on this stage so many times. Life has truly come full circle. Sixty years later, here I am again, celebrating this incredible journey.” The event was graced by Union Cabinet Minister Kiren Rijiju as the chief guest and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar as the guest of honour.DHARAM JI, BASANTI AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIESOne of the most cherished segments of the evening was Hema Malini’s affectionate recollection of husband Dharmendra. Narrating the story behind Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana from Pratigya, she recalled how legendary Kathak maestro Gopi Krishna had initially been brought in to choreograph the actor. “I wondered, ‘Dharam ji Kathak karenge?’ Then I heard the song and thought, how did they think of Gopi Krishna ji for this? Dharam ji looked at the choreography and said, ‘Yeh kya hai?’ Then he told the director, ‘Mujhe choreographer nahi chahiye... aap camera ke peeche baithiye aur main camera ke saamne apna kaam karta hoon.’ He ended up choreographing and performing the song himself,” she said, leaving the audience in splits.THE DREAM GIRL’S BEAUTY MANTRASpeaking about the secret behind looking as radiant today as she did decades ago, Hema said, “It’s the grace of my Lord Krishna. Jab Bhagwan ne aapko sundarta di hai, use pehchanna bhi zaroori hai aur use maintain karna bhi hamara farz hai. I do that through yoga, meditation, dance, and regular workouts.”WHEN CINEMA LEGENDS REMINISCEDThe conversations brought forth several behind-the-scenes stories from some of Hindi cinema’s biggest classics. Director Ramesh Sippy reminisced about working with Hema from his first film Andaz (1971) to his last film Shimla Mirchi (2020). “I was only 25 when I first directed her and she would tease me saying, ‘Yeh toh baccha hai, kaise direct karega?’ She had a photographic memory. Sab dialogues pat pat bol deti thi.“He also revealed that convincing Hema to play Basanti in Sholay wasn’t easy. Hema laughed as she admitted, “After Seeta Aur Geeta, I asked him, ‘Film mein itne log hain aur mera sirf tange wali ka role hai?’ But he told me, ‘You must do this role in Sholay. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.'”SONGS THAT BROUGHT BACK AN ERAMusic flowed seamlessly through the evening, recreating some of Hema Malini’s most memorable songs. Kavita Krishnamurti and Suresh Wadkar’s rendition of Naam Gum Jayega drew loud applause before Kavita revealed a deeply personal connection with the actress. “The only reason I came to Bombay and became a playback singer was because of Hema ji and her mother Jaya Chakravarty, who were my neighbours in Delhi. I will remain eternally grateful to HemaJi.“Ever the humourist, Suresh Wadkar quipped, “There should always be four ambulances stationed outside any venue where Hema ji performs. Kyonki itni sundar ladki dekhkar toh waise hi log dher ho jayenge.”‘SHE’LL ALWAYS BE MY SISTER HEMU’Madhoo offered a glimpse of the Hema Malini few get to see. “She is the Dream Girl for all of you, but for me she will always be my sister Hemu. She took me to Disneyland for the first time when I was a child. There Dharam Uncle taught me to swim at the hotel’s pool. He would often say,’Bacche tumhe swimming kisne sikhaya.”Rakesh Roshan recalled how Hema had changed the course of his acting career. “Uss waqt ki jo leading ladies thi, unhone mere saath kaam karne se mana kar diya tha. Lekin Hema ji ne haan kaha. Aaj main unki wajah se unke saath iss stage par baitha hoon.”Watching a montage of his films with Hema prompted Jeetendra to joke, “Woh jawani dekh ke yeh budhapa sata raha hai. She is still so charming, but hum toh khatara ho gaye hain.” He also became emotional while remembering Dharmendra. “He always said exactly what was in his mind and heart. That’s a very rare quality.”Adding to the celebratory mood were live performances by Padmini Kolhapure and Anu Malik, who sang Gir Gaya Jhumka, while Anup Jalota, Sudesh Bhosle, Vijayta Pandit Shrivastava, Poornima Sushama Shreshtha, Shabbir Ahmed and several other singers paid tribute to Hema Malini through songs immortalised on screen by the Dream Girl.AN EVENING THAT ENDED ON A MUSICAL HIGHThrough the show, Hema took the microphone to sing a few lines from Kya Khoob Lagti Ho and Tum Haseen Main Jawaan. The evening concluded on a poignant note when Hema joined Kavita Krishnamurti for a soulful rendition of Aye Dil-e-Nadan. As the audience rose for a standing ovation, it was evident that the Diamond Jubilee celebration wasn’t merely a tribute to a legendary actress, it was a celebration of an era of Hindi cinema, brought alive through stories, songs and memories that continue to resonate across generations.