HTLS 2024: Ajay Devgn announces next movie as director, will star Akshay Kumar in the lead
HTLS 2024: The last day of the summit a keynote address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. EAM Jaishankar, Chandrababu Naidu, KM Birla, Liz Truss and Anil Agarwal also took the stage.

HTLS 2024: The 22nd edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS) concluded on Saturday. The landmark event brought together leaders and icons from various fields, including politics, sports, business, health and science, and entertainment, who engaged in meaningful conversations about innovation and development. On the third day of the HTLS 2024, notable speakers like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, Aditya Birla Group chairperson KM Birla, and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, took the stage....Read More
The day commenced with a keynote address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also released a commemorative stamp to celebrate 100 years of Hindustan Times and concluded with an engaging session with actors Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn.
Discussions on pressing issues like Israel, Ukraine and the global economy featuring EAM S Jaishankar and John Kerry took place. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also joined the conversation followed by KM Birla, who talked about India's potential as an economy and business ethics in present-day society.
HTLS was launched in 2003 to enhance discourse on critical issues, encourage interaction among leaders in important areas, and present international-quality thought platforms aimed at solutions.
The last 21 summits have been outstanding successes, with attendance by leaders from India and around the world. The audience included senior politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats, business executives, thinkers, commentators, and analysts. Over the years, the summit has become one of India’s most prestigious and eagerly awaited forums.
At HTLS 2023, the global thought leaders discussed and shared their views on progressing “Beyond Barriers”.
Bollywood quiz: Politicians vs Actors
As per Akshay Kumar's demand, Sonal Kalra got the guests to play a quiz. Politicians Ravneet Bittu, Shazia Ilmi got all Bollywood questions right and Akshay and Ajay also made for a deadly team, getting all questions right.
Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar's favourite movies of each other
Akshay said his favourite movie of Ajay's is Drishyam while Ajay named Hera Pheri and Khaki.
Ajay Devgn-Akshay Kumar's next collaboration
Ajay Devgn announces next movie as director, will star Akshay Kumar in the lead. The actors did not reveal more about the project.
I left at the right moment: Akshay on giving up his Canadian citizenship
When asked about giving up his Canadian citizenship at the right moment, before relationships soured between the two countries, Akshay said, “Sai time pe nikal gaya.”
Bollywood lacks unity? Ajay's honest review
When asked about the difference between Bollywood and South film industries, Ajay says there is a clear lack of unity up north. However, he mentioned that there will never be any conflict between him, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan or Aamir Khan.
Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn on spotting genuine fans
Ajay Devgn raised questions about thousands of comments that land on a YouTube link of a movie trailer. He believes no real movie lover has the time to go commenting on social media. He also said that actors like him are least bit bothered about what is being written about them on social media.
Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn want politicians to be asked about movies
Akshay and Ajay agree that they do appreciate a politician or a leader's good work but avoid running them down for anything negative. Akshay jokes actors are always asked about politicians but never the other way round.
On Twinkle Khanna and Kajol's role in their work lives
"I have to show her the film," Akshay Kumar says wife Twinkle Khanna's approval to his movies matters a lot to him. He recalled how Twinkle speaks her mind and that's something he loves about her. Ajay also spoke about Kajol and his family and how he can depend on them for their honest opinions.
A meet cute! How Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar met
Akshay recalled how he met Ajay for the first time at Juhu Beach, thanks to his father, late stunt director Viru Devgn. Akshay then compared how their lives panned out, with their first movies releasing at the same time, getting married close to each other and more. Ajay tried to joke about his marriage with Kajol again but quickly changed track.
Old Bollywood charm stronger than ever? Ajay Devgn gives own example
Why is audience going back to old movies and songs? The actors call it the charm of the familiar. Ajay gave his own example of how he took takes a long time to decide what he wants to watch on OTT. Usually, one leans towards rewatching their old favourites.
HTLS 2024: Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn in conversation with Sonal Kalra
Akshay Kumar, actor and producer, and Ajay Devgn, actor, filmmaker and entrepreneur are now in conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Hindustan Times. The actors recently starred in Singham Again but Ajay is adamant that the success of a film and final collections is not always what it looks like.
Manish Gupta on Project ‘Vaani’, Google's diversity-inspired initiative
Dr Manish Gupta, Director at Google DeepMind, said that the same language in India is spoken in different ways, as the saying goes, "Kos kos pe badle paani, chaar kos par vaani" (water changes every mile, and language changes every four miles).
He mentioned that this diversity inspired their project, Vaani, which involved collecting speech data from all corners of India.
HTLS 2024: ‘Our goal is to democratize access to information for all,’ says Manish Gupta
Dr. Manish Gupta, Director at Google DeepMind, said that one area his team focuses on is languages. He explained that their goal is to democratise access to information for everyone, and they are constantly thinking about how to make it easier for people to access information in their native languages.
Dr Manish Gupta says technology should work for every individual
Dr Manish Gupta, Director at Google DeepMind, said that as technologies become increasingly powerful, it is crucial to ensure they work for every individual.
Akhilesh Yadav talks about his ‘friends’ and 'enemies'
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, when asked whether he has enemies, said that negative people, whether in Delhi or Lucknow, are his enemies. He added that he will only have people as good friends.
Akhilesh defends his party on nepotism charges
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, said that not only his party but even people from the BJP field their family members in elections.
HTLS 2024: ‘My PDA pitch made BJP uncomfortable,’ says Akhilesh Yadav
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, said he is very optimistic, and the hard work of him and his party workers was visible in the results of the Lok Sabha elections. He added that his pitch for PDA (Pichda, Dalit, and Minority) has made the BJP uncomfortable.
HTLS 2024: Akhilesh Yadav says BJP built ₹1000 Cr temple, lost; I built ₹15,000 Cr highway, still lost
Akhilesh Yadav said that BJP people were concerned about why they lost the election in Ayodhya. I am asking what work has the BJP done in Ayodhya. The result is clear from the vote.
“I told the BJP people, you built a temple worth 1000 crores and still lost the election, while I built an expressway worth 15,000 crores and still lost the election,” he added.
Akhilesh says BJP failed to provide premier institutes, highways to UP
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, said that the BJP has failed to provide premier institutes and highways to Uttar Pradesh. He added that despite being in power twice in the state, the government has not protected youngsters from issues like paper leaks and unemployment.
Congress-SP alliance led to BJP's defeat in UP, says Akhilesh Yadav
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that if the BJP had not resorted to 'dishonesty,' the INDIA bloc would have won 60-70 seats in Uttar Pradesh during the Lok Sabha polls.
He added that the alliance between his party and Congress in Amethi and Raebareli contributed to the defeat of many senior BJP leaders.
HTLS 2024: Akhilesh Yadav alleges BJP leaders can manipulate exit polls
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, claimed that the INDIA bloc will win in Maharashtra by a huge margin. He also alleged that BJP leaders can manipulate exit polls.
HTLS 2024: Akhilesh Yadav's ‘PDA’ pitch at HT Leadership Summit
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, said that the PDA (Pichda, Dalit, and Minority) pitch of the party represents the collective strength of these marginalised sections, which will defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
HTLS 2024: ‘BJP changed dates of by-polls because they knew they won’t win,' says Akhilesh
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, claimed that the by-poll dates in Uttar Pradesh were changed because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) knew it was not going to win.
HTLS 2024: Akhilesh Yadav says RSS couldn't make an impact in Uttar Pradesh during LS polls
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, said that people from the RSS had tried their best in Uttar Pradesh, but they could not make an impact because the people were concerned about the Constitution.
HTLS 2024: 'Batenge to katenge' most negative political slogan of all time, says Akhilesh
Lok Sabha MP and chief of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, said, "No one has ever given such a negative slogan for India before, 'Batenge to katenge', but this slogan is causing allies to grow apart from each other."

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