Entertainment

Former supermodel Manasvi Mamgai says West embracing Indian culture

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2023

Staff Reporter

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22 (ANI): Former Miss India World and actress Manasvi Mamgai on Wednesday opened up about how Indian culture and values were being embraced and adopted globally.

Manasvi won the Femina Miss India World pageant in 2010 and went on to represent India at the Miss World the same year.

She made her debut in Bollywood with ‘Action Jackson’ opposite Ajay Devgn in 2014.

However, with the film tanking at the box office, she moved to Los Angeles in 2016. She currently lives in the US and visits India occasionally for work.

In 2016, she assumed the role of the Indian ambassador to the Republican Hindu Coalition. She performed at former US President Donald Trump’s pre-inaugural welcome celebrations at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and also headlined a lot of similar events.

Mamgain, during a free-wheeling chat with ANI, said, “I have had a very different attitude since childhood. I have always been interested in entertainment, dance, and drama but I was interested more towards contribution, giving back and world events. So actually, Miss India, especially Miss World India, is more about social causes. In that too, even in Miss World, they give preference to contestants who do social work and there is a category. When I participated in the Miss India pageant, there was a category called ‘Beauty with Purpose’. I was very interested in that. So after dabbling in entertainment, movies, and theatre, I got an opportunity from a US organisation that liked my previous work. It was a Hindu social organization, which is politically very active in the US. They work especially for immigrants, Indian immigrants.””So when an opportunity came along to work for them, I decided to try it out. I did one event, two events, and eventually, I realised that I was doing something that could impact others in a positive way,” the former Miss India added.

On how the traditional Indian culture was transcending boundaries and finding favour with the West, the former supermodel added, “I feel that the West has taken to Indian culture in a big way. Practices and rituals that we associate with Hinduism, as well as our traditional values, and food, are finding favour with people in the West. I stay in LA but don’t miss India that much. Yoga features prominently in the public discourse there. There’s a yoga studio in every other corner of the US. The city drink in LA is the turmeric latte, which we also have in India in the form of turmeric milk. My friends from LA are dying to come to India. The West has also taken to our ancient Ayurvedic practices as a fish takes to water. The standout feature of our religion is that it doesn’t force anyone to follow it or makes it binding on the followers to abide by the practices associated with it. It preaches about living a good life and doing well.”On India’s elevated status on the global stage, Mamgai said, “The whole world is looking at India now. It has become the epicentre. If we keep on doing well across spheres and keep going in the same direction, I think India has the potential to be the number one global power. Since I am from the entertainment industry, I will talk about the changes happening in our space. Last year, at the Oscars, there was a lot of buzz around ‘RRR’ (which scored a nomination and won the award for Best Original Song). Guneet’s (Monga, producer) film ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ also received an Oscar and was much appreciated. Two or three of our films scored nominations at the Academy Awards, which was a big deal.””So, the West, especially the entertainment world, studios, and streaming platforms, are all focusing on India. Be it Netflix, Amazon or other streaming platforms, they all want Indian content. They are producing India-centric content. Netflix movie franchise ‘Extraction’ was shot extensively in India. Earlier, an India visiting the West would be routinely subjected to racial barbs. The West wasn’t welcoming of us, it didn’t treat us well. However. what’s happening now is the exact opposite of what happened before. Now, if you are Indian, people would walk up to you and excitedly strike up conversations about the opportunities that our country affords. The whole world, especially people associated with the entertainment industry, wants to come here,” she added.

“Another thing about the US is that it hasn’t had a female President as yet. However, in our country, women came prominently into public life long back and even served the people as prime minister and President. Today, we feel proud to have Droupadi Murmu as our President. We have also had a female Defence Minster (Nirmala Sitharaman), who is now ably handling Finance. India has always been pro-choice while Western societies are still split between pro-choice and pro-life. We are taking steps to facilitate the entry of women in male-dominated spaces such as aviation and air force. Whenever we talk about the strides that our country is making, it fills us with pride,” Mamgai added.

The former supermodel was recently seen in a show Kajol starrer ‘The Trial’ and also entered Salman Khan’s reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ 17 as a wild card entrant. (ANI)

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Staff Reporter

Entertainment

Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: Tickets on sale as festival returns with bigger family zone

Published

7 hours ago

August 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.

The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.

The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.

Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.

Other ticket options

Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
Friday: Dh75
Under 15s: Free
People of Determination + carer: Dh375

Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.

Bigger family attractions

Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.

The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Six sports and top rugby action

Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.

Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.

The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.

The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.

Music all weekend

Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.

Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.

For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.

With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.

Entertainment

Dubai launches ‘Dubai+’ family streaming platform to boost digital media and creative economy

Published

7 months ago

January 29, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, has approved the launch of Dubai+, a new family-oriented digital media platform, reinforcing Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for digital media and the creative economy.

The approval came as Sheikh Ahmed chaired the Dubai Media Council’s first meeting of 2026 at Dubai Media, where members reviewed sector strategies and plans to strengthen content creation, innovation and local production capabilities.

What is Dubai+?

Dubai+ will offer a wide range of family-friendly content, bringing together:

Local and Emirati productions
Arab series and films
International entertainment

The platform reflects Dubai Media’s integrated digital ecosystem strategy, responding to shifting viewer habits and the growing demand for high-quality, on-demand digital content.

“We believe media is a strategic force that shapes awareness, supports development and builds trust,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

Boosting Local Film and Content Production

The Council also reviewed plans to:

Enhance local production capabilities
Support cinema as a cultural and creative industry
Invest in programmes that drive creative and economic growth

Samr Al Marzooqi, Director of Films and Production at the Dubai Media Council, outlined upcoming initiatives aimed at showcasing Emirati and international talent while strengthening Dubai’s film sector.

Next Phase of Growth

Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, said the next phase will focus on monitoring implementation and ensuring measurable outcomes across the sector.

Secretary General Nehal Badri added that priorities include encouraging private sector participation, accelerating content development, and investing in talent, advanced production technologies and future-ready capabilities.

Announcements

DP World ILT20 Crowns ‘Habibi & Habibti’ as mascot winners

Published

10 months ago

November 2, 2025

Staff Reporter

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The DP World International League T20 concluded its first-of-its-kind Mascot Design Competition this week. The competition was held from 4 July to 21 September.

The competition captured the imagination of students across the UAE. With an overwhelming number of entries, the activation demonstrated the extraordinary creativity, enthusiasm, and energy that cricket inspires among young minds, making it a truly nationwide celebration of sport, culture, and community.

The grand mascot unveiling was held at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School, Oud Metha. The winning student, Levin Veeroy Fernandes, was officially announced, and his imaginative design (Habibi and Habibti) was transformed into the official mascot of the DP World ILT20, now set to become the face of the league for seasons to come.

The event featured an exciting reveal ceremony, with the student’s design brought to life and presented in front of a vibrant audience, celebrating not only Levin’s creativity but also the remarkable participation of schools and students across the UAE.

The DP World ILT20 extends its heartfelt thanks to all participants whose contributions made this initiative a resounding success. Each entry brought unique ideas and perspectives, reinforcing the league’s commitment to inspiring young minds and celebrating the spirit of cricket.

DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “On behalf of team DP World International League T20, I want to thank all the participants for their efforts. For us, all of you are winners, we are delighted with the interest that the competition created across the UAE.

“The DP World ILT20 is all about UAE and the development of the sport amongst present and future generations of cricketers. Sport and cricket in particular has helped bring together a number of communities and nationalities across the UAE. Cricket has a four-decade long legacy in the country and with the continued growth of the league, the future of cricket not only in the UAE but across the Gulf region is bright and exciting.”

Indian High Schools Group CEO Shri Punit MK Vasu: “Our partnership with DP World ILT20 presents a remarkable platform for our learners to witness world-class cricket in Dubai while embracing the deeper lessons the sport imparts.

“At The Indian High Group of Schools, we uphold the belief that cricket’s enduring spirit fosters respect, discipline, leadership, resilience, teamwork, and composure under pressure, values that cultivate not only accomplished athletes, but also well-rounded, future-ready individuals prepared to lead with integrity, ethics and purpose in a global arena.”

The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.