On World Theatre Day, actor Sumeet Vyas opened up about his deep connection with theatre despite his success on screen. Known widely for his breakout role in Permanent Roommates (2014), Sumeet revealed that his journey with acting began much earlier, in 2000, rooted firmly in the world of theatre.

“Theatre is essentially an actor’s medium,” Sumeet said. He explained that while cinema heavily depends on editing and presentation, theatre allows the actor to own the stage. “Once the actor starts performing on stage, he’s pretty much running the show,” he noted, adding that stage gives actors more space to indulge in their craft—something often missing in film.

Despite achieving fame and financial success in cinema, Sumeet continues to return to theatre, a choice not many actors make. He believes the allure of fame and higher pay in the film industry keeps most away from the stage. “But for me, it’s where I grew up,” he said, expressing a personal bond with the medium.

He has also explored directing in theatre, which he finds more intimate than directing on screen. “It’s lighter because there’s less people to deal with. You’re essentially only working on the text and your actors,” he said. Unlike screen projects, which require elaborate setups and long waits for audience feedback, theatre offers immediacy. “You direct something and soon enough, you have a show, and you immediately get a reaction,” he added.

Sumeet’s love for theatre underscores the medium’s enduring impact—even in an age of streaming and mass digital entertainment.

The Jharkhand Assembly descended into chaos on Thursday as legislators from both the ruling and opposition benches clashed over the killing of BJP leader Anil Mahto ‘Tiger,’ leading to an abrupt adjournment of proceedings.

Mahto, the BJP’s Ranchi rural district general secretary and a former Zilla Parishad member, was gunned down by motorcycle-borne assailants near Kanke Chowk on Wednesday evening. The brazen daylight attack has sparked outrage, with the BJP accusing the state government of failing to maintain law and order.

As soon as the House convened, BJP MLAs stormed the Well, demanding immediate action against the perpetrators. Ranchi MLA C.P. Singh launched a sharp attack on the ruling alliance, alleging, “This government is patronizing murderers. The law and order situation has collapsed under their watch.”

State Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar countered, accusing the BJP of deliberately destabilizing Jharkhand. “Criminal incidents are unfortunate, but why has Hazaribag become an epicenter of unrest? The BJP is provoking tensions to defame the government,” he charged.

The minister’s remarks referenced a recent clash in Hazaribag, where an FIR was lodged against 10 named and 200 unidentified individuals following communal violence over an “objectionable song” played during a procession.

With both sides refusing to back down, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato repeatedly appealed for order before adjourning the session till 12:55 PM. However, the protests spilled outside the Assembly, where BJP workers staged demonstrations, demanding capital punishment for Mahto’s killers.

The BJP, along with ally AJSU Party and other organizations, called for a nine-hour Ranchi bandh (8 AM to 5 PM) on Thursday, bringing the city to a standstill. Shops, businesses, and transport services remained shut as protesters blocked roads, demanding justice for the slain leader.

An aerial image of Bengaluru’s Bellandur has gone viral on social media, sparking comparisons to the popular strategy game ‘Clash of Clans’ due to the striking contrast between two neighbouring localities. Shared by an account named Indian Tech & Infra on X, the photo shows a disorganised, densely packed area on one side, and a neatly planned, red-roofed residential layout on the other.

Netizens were quick to point out the disparity, likening the organised zone to a game base and the other to an enemy camp. The comparison has reignited discussions on urban inequality and poor public infrastructure in India’s tech hub.

One user remarked that the left side was government property while the right belonged to a private developer, questioning why public infrastructure consistently lags behind private planning. Another highlighted that the issue stems from misplaced priorities and corruption, not a lack of resources or technology.

Criticism also poured in over unchecked urbanisation, with concerns that greenery would vanish, leading to issues like waterlogging, sewage overflows, and poor road conditions.

The ‘Clash of Clans’ reference follows another recent online debate where Bengaluru’s urban development was unfavourably compared to Jakarta, a city with better planned public transport despite higher population density.