The Supreme Court has weighed in on the national anthem. Again.

In 2016 the court had ordered all cinemas to play the national anthem before a film "for the love of the motherland".

Now the esteemed court says "You don't have to stand up at a cinema hall to be patriotic."

But really that misses the larger point.

Why do we insist on playing the national anthem before a film in the first place? Why is a movie theatre suddenly the crucible for instilling patriotism? Not the school, for instance? That's the real issue here.

Some have said it's because in a country as vast as India the movie theatre is the place where people of all classes and communities converge. Everyone goes to the movies whatever their religion, caste or level of education. It's our common glue.

But what that argument misses is that there are movies and there are movies. Is the audience flocking to a theatre to watch Sunny Leone in Mastizaade really in the mood for a booster dose of Vitamin Jana Gana? Can screening Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, a self-professed "porn com", be construed as being in the spirit of Article 51A and fostering respect for the national flag and the national anthem?

The court pointed out that there is no bar to play the national anthem on other occasions too.

There should really be two debates here.

Is it mandatory to stand during the national anthem? (And that's irrespective of whether it's being played in a movie theatre or a cricket stadium.)

Is it mandatory to play the national anthem before a movie?

Thanks to the rulings, we have mixed up the two when, in fact, there are probably many Indians who have no problems standing for the national anthem but do not think a movie theatre, a venue whose purpose is entertainment rather than education, is the best place for it. Their voices get drowned in the shrillness of the debate in an atmosphere where we are quick to label dissent as unpatriotic.

Justice DY Chandrachud smacked the government on performance patriotism. It asked the attorney general why every one of us "should wear our patriotism on our sleeves". And in a statement that seemed to go well beyond the movie theatres, he asked "Tomorrow, if someone says don't wear shorts and T-shirts to cinema halls because national anthem is being played because it will amount to disrespect to the national anthem. Where do we draw a line? Where do we stop this moral policing?"

That's really the larger question that the government has to answer. To be fair, the national anthem in movie theatres was something the court handed it on a platter. The government, always happy to enforce its singular version of patriotism, merely chose to enforce it. The court says the government could change the law if it wanted to force people to stand for the national anthem. It's quite possible the government will propose doing exactly that just because it's a low-hanging deshbhakti fruit.

But the directive, instead of filling everyone with patriotic pride, just opened the door to lumpen vigilantism in the name of desh bhakti.

A wheelchair-bound disability rights activist was heckled and called a Pakistani at a multiplex in Guwahati.

Six people were taken into custody in Kerala for not standing during the national anthem at the International Film Festival in Thiruvanthapuram. Bharatiya Yuve Morcha activists complained to the police.

Seven people were booked in Chennai after a fight broke out over not standing and also taking selfies during the national anthem.

Just as we have gau-vigilantism in the name of gau seva, we got desh-bullying in the name of desh-bhakti. It became yet another opportunity to beat someone up for not following another's version of patriotism.

I personally always stand for the national anthem, no matter which country it belongs to. I believe that shows respect. But I also believe with equal fervour that I have no right to beat up the person who does not stand for the anthem but in no way does it disrupt my standing up. That is the idea of tolerance, of living and letting live, that feels increasingly endangered in India. And this is not limited to the anthem at all.

We have heard over and over again about fights breaking out on railway trains because someone was upset that a passenger was eating non-vegetarian food in the same compartment. They wanted them to move. Once we had mobs break into an art gallery because they found someone's art work objectionable. Then we had mobs drag women out of a pub by their hair because they found women drinking un-sanskari. Now we are now a country where in the name of gau-bhakti a mob can break into someone's home and ransack their refrigerator. This is moral policing run amock and the Jana Gana Mana in a movie theatre provided yet another opportunity to flex that muscle.

One suspects that's what worried the court when it asked about where we stop this moral policing.

As for those who say can't we stand for 52 seconds to show our love for the country, perhaps they could put their patriotism into other, more productive, areas to show love for the country?

What about not littering the streets for instance? Why not make that a litmus test of patriotism?

Also on HuffPost

We're entering the sixth-wave of mass-extinction. We stand to lose up to 75 percent of the world's species, some report as soon as mid-century. This is because of human activity like waste and pollution, climate change, habitat destruction and wildlife poaching.

Extinction naturally occurs, but it usually happens at a rate of one to five species a year. Right now, plants and animals are going extinct between 100 - 1000 times that rate.

But while this destruction carries on, there are people working day in and out determined to ensure we intervene in this seemingly overwhelming problem. People like Mark and Sophie Hutchinson who founded conservation group, Wild Ark. Wild Ark's mission is to secure land all around the world to restore and protect species under threat. They're a small part of a much larger movement in pragmatic conservation taking place across the world with a focus on land acquisition.

Read more: Earth Has Entered Its Sixth Mass Extinction Event, Report Asserts

They've moved their twin daughters to Hoedspruit in South Africa to launch their first conservancy 'Pridelands' with local partners Anton and John Lategan. However, while they try and get their first project off the ground, in the background a war rages on. Referred to as the human-wildlife conflict, the poaching of rhino in particular, is the focus of conservation efforts in South Africa.

This war doesn't rage on, however, without unrelenting positivity and determination from people like Rhian Ahlers, Pierre Wilkinson, Ruben and Marianne de Kock, Clive Poultney and Sean Patrick.

If you would like to find out more about the conservation efforts in South Africa, visit Wild Ark, Southern African Wildlife College, EcoTraining and Friends of African Wildlife.

HuffPost Australia travelled to Hoedspruit in South Africa with Wild Ark.

The internet is making everyone aggro, it's seriously damaging our ability to get along and women and minorities are copping the brunt of it.

And it's not a generational thing either. Older Australians are reporting more online abuse than ever before, a new report shows.

There's been a significant jump in the number of Australians reporting online harassment, with a staggering 70 percent of of respondents reporting some form of harassment or abuse this year.

The study, by internet security company Norton by Symantec, came across our desks at an interesting time. Last week a high school Facebook group became "ground zero" for the harassment and abuse of poet Ellen van Neerven, author of the poem Mango which itself is the focus of an HSC English exam.

The Norton report -- released last week -- shows an increase of people experiencing online harassment across all age groups, with 40+ age group showing the most significant rise in reports from 37 percent in 2016 to 61 percent in 2017.

Norton's second Online Harassment Survey found:

• A general increase of people across all age groups experiencing online harassment;
• Abuse, insults, malicious gossip and being subject to rumours has become commonplace;
• Minority groups are suffering as a result, including LGBTIQ, those with poor mental health and weight issues;
• Men do not share experiences with peers, withdrawing even more from society, and;
• More women receive unwanted graphic / sexual pornographic material

But under 30s continue to be the most targeted age group, with 85 percent reporting online harassment as well as being more likely to be victim of more serious forms of online abuse such as cyberbullying, cyberstalking and sexual harassment.

Women suffer greater negative emotional impacts than men, with 33 percent expressing anger, 32 percent feeling anxious and 29 percent reporting feelings of depression.

More than half of women who suffered from depression as a result of their experiences had to seek medical help, which the report authors said confirmed the detrimental impact of cyber harassment on mental health and the need for education around online security.

What does cyberbullying look like?

• Being sent mean or hurtful text messages from someone you know or even someone you don't know;
• Getting nasty, threatening or hurtful messages through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, or through sites where people can ask / answer questions like Formspring or Internet forums;
• People sending photos and videos of you to others to try and embarrass or hurt you;
• People spreading rumours about you via emails or social networking sites or text messages;
• People trying to stop you from communicating with others;
• People stealing your passwords or getting into your accounts and changing the information there;
• People setting up fake profiles pretending to be you, or posting messages or status updates from your accounts.

Source: AHRC

While the number of incidents in each case may be limited to one or two rare events, it was concerning that the total number of reports had increased, said Melissa Dempsey, Senior Director of Norton's Asia Pacific and Japan arms.

"Online or cyber harassment continues to be a real threat for both young and old," Dempsey said in a statement.

"While the increased number of incidents could be due to people now feeling more confident to speak up, the fact that reports of online bullying and abusive behaviour is on the rise requires immediate action in terms of online users' security and privacy."

Steps You Can Take To Help Combat Online Harassment:

REVIEW your online presence on all devices:

• Check your security and privacy settings;
• Regularly change passwords.

RECOGNISE the problem if it happens and move quickly:

• Do not respond to the perpetrator;
• Keep all records and evidence of the harassment by making a copy of the message, photo or video;
• If you are witness to online harassment, help by supporting the person targeted and, depending on the situation, letting the perpetrators know that their behaviour is not acceptable.

REPORT:

• If someone says or does something that is inappropriate or deemed as harassment, report it to the relevant authorities immediately;
• If inappropriate content is displayed online, contact the website operators by phone or email, requesting the content be removed or blocked.

Younger Minority Groups Under Threat

Being constantly socially connected comes with risks, with the report noting high incidences of abuse could be attributed to young adults' regular use of popular social media profiles such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

Experience of abuse and insults (53 percent) as well as malicious gossip and rumours (43 percent) are now commonplace complaints, the survey of 1,030 adults aged over 18 found.

This kind of "mild harassment" is most commonly experienced amongst younger Australians with 67 percent reporting abuse and insults.

Tech Use Sees Boost In Counselling Services

In April Kids Helpline released a report showing increased use of technology saw a 151 percent increase in WebChat counselling over a five year period, going from 12,643 in 2012 to 31,765 contacts in 2016.

In July last year KHL began gathering data on the prevalence of cyberbullying and other issues in this space.

"From July to December 2016, 1,566 counselling contacts were from children and young people concerned, worried or feeling unsafe as a result of online or texting activity," Ms Adams said in April.

"In addition to bullying, this included participation in sexting, receiving unwanted online contact, suspected grooming and uncontrolled or excessive use of online gaming or social networking."

The 2016 Insights report showed NSW and Victoria as the leading states accessing Kids Helpline services with 35 percent and 25 percent of all contacts coming from these States respectively.

Burrowing down into the Norton findings shows very tough circumstances for certain minority groups

Of those reporting the most common harassment are the physically disabled at (59 percent), the LGBTQ community (66 percent) and those with weight issues (66 percent) or poor mental health (69 percent) more likely to be victims.

Threats Of Violence, Cyberbullying And Cyberstalking Reports On The Rise

Reports of threats of physical violence more than doubled since the last survey up from 16 percent to 35 percent, with younger men and people with minority status being more likely to be targeted.

Cyberbullying and cyberstalking reports also increased significantly from 20 percent to 33 percent and 15 per cent to 29 percent respectively.

Cyberbullying is especially a concern for younger Australians (57 percent), those in the LGBTIQ community (55 percent) and people suffering from poor mental health (48 percent).

When it came to identifying perpetrators of cyberbullying, men were more likely to say their bullies' identities were unknown (39 percent) or total strangers (30 percent). 28 percent of women who had experienced bullying said that they had been bullied by a former friend or an acquaintance.

While young women were only a little more likely to be targeted by sexual harassment than men, the range and variety of sexual abuse they receive is greater.

The Gender Imbalance in Abuse:

• 48 percent of women compared to 31 percent of men reported said they had people send sexual comments and messages on social media accounts;
• Requests for sexually explicit photographs/images was significantly higher for women with 44 percent reporting this complaint than men (25 percent);
• Women also reported more instances of receiving unwanted graphic/sexual pornographic material as well as being pestered for dates by someone who would not take no for an answer.

Alarmingly, 77 percent of men surveyed said that they do not know anyone who has suffered from online harassment, however 70 per cent have experienced it themselves.

This indicates that most men do not share these experiences with their peers, Norton said.

Are you experiencing cyberbullying? Get in touch with the eSafety Commissioner for advice on how to make a complaint, find someone to talk to as well as advice and strategies for dealing with cyberbullying.

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondBlue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.

NEW DELHI -- In a stimulus package to boost the flagging economic growth, create jobs and increase credit flow, the cabinet on Tuesday approved a recapitalisation plan for state-run banks to the tune of Rs 2.11 lakh crore and a massive road infrastructure investment costing nearly Rs 7 lakh crore over the next five years.

Of the support to banks, a sum of Rs 1.35 lakh crore will be raised through recapitalisation bonds and the rest through budgetary support as well as market borrowings, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar disclosed at a media conference in the presence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and a battery of secretaries from the ministry.

Under the road connectivity programme at a cost of nearly Rs 7 lakh crore, the government will construct 84,000 km highways in the next 5 years. Of this, the Bharatmala project component will involve an outlay Rs 5.35 lakh crore that will generate 14.2 crore man-days of work.

Funding for the programme will be raised as debt from the market (Rs 2.09 lakh crore), private investments through PPP (Rs 1.06 lakh crore) and from accruals to the central road fund and toll collections (Rs 2.19 lakh crore).

Jaitley said that the economic blueprint to revive growth being presented follows extensive recent discussions on the state of the economy.

"You will recall the press conference last time, where I had mentioned that we will respond appropriately to the situation as it develops," he said.

"We have conducted analysis within the ministry and held detailed consultation with Prime Minister on the state of the economy. We have decided on the steps needed to sustain the growth momentum," he said.

"The unprecedented recapitalisation and the initiatives announced today (Tuesday) are expected to have a noticeable impact in the near term, contributing to accelerated economic activity, employment and growth of the economy," he added.

The public sector banks' recapitalisation comes in a context where their non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, have reached the level of 82 per cent of their stressed assets, Kumar said.

"The NPAs of government owned banks have increased to the level of Rs 4.55 lakh crore between 2015 and 2017," he said.

"Of this, 12 cases, which have been referred to the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) account for Rs 1.75 lakh crore, or 25 per cent of all NPAs," he added.

Pointing out that the accumulated NPA figures reflect the result of "aggressive lending" in the past, Jaitley said the government's move to fund banks comes at a time when private sector investment has dwindled.

Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subranmanian, who was also present at the briefing, clarified that the recapitalisation bonds would count as debt, while their exact nature would be made available in due course.

The government, however, denied that this support to banks would affect fiscal consolidation.

The Finance Minister said the banks would get Rs 18,000 crore under the Indradhanush plan.

Under the Indradhanush roadmap introduced in 2015, the government had announced infusion of Rs 70,000 crore in state-run banks over four years to meet their capital requirement in line with global banking risk norms, known as Basel-III.

In line with the plan, public sector banks were given Rs 25,000 crore in 2015-16, and a similar amount has been earmarked for the following years. Besides, Rs 10,000 crore each would be infused in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

This stimulus package comes after data from various sources showed India's GDP growth flagging under the twin impact of demonetisation and GST.

The IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook that India's economic growth for 2017 and 2018 will be slower than earlier projections. The report cited the "lingering impact" of demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the expected slowdown during the current and the next year.

While filmmakers often meet journalists in their office or their home (a space where they're most comfortable), Imtiaz Ali, in what is befitting, is hanging around a cozy, dimly-lit, obscure cafe in Andheri, a suburb in Western Mumbai.

It's a cafe you'd miss easily, one that you need to find. That's Imtiaz -- he, who famously made the quietly forgotten town of Ratlam famous all over the country. He, of train romances and bike rides that culminate in green fields with figurative boundaries.

Few filmmakers carry a signature style that separates their work from others and Imtiaz is one of them. There is an effortless realism in his films, a sense of ease in which his characters converse -- they often tend to verbalise their emotions. If you notice, his characters not only feel emotions, they talk about that feeling, as if the emotions won't be real if left unsaid.

While there is a sense of deep melancholy in his movies, there's also something very life-affirming. Whether it's the cathartic climax of Tamasha and Highway or the disruptively intense romance and non-conformism of Rockstar, ​​Imtiaz's influence as a filmmaker -- and his sway on pop-culture -- cannot be underestimated. At the same time, we must also address some of his shortcomings.

"If a female character is rescuing the male character in a film, then, in a way, I am just imitating life. Personally, I have seen that happen a lot of times. "

In this interview, the director talks about his cinema, his motivations and what love has come to mean to him.

The success of Jab We Met propelled you to a space where you became a unique voice of contemporary romance. There was almost an aspirational quality to the romance of Geet and Aditya. As a young man coming of age, I remember wanting to meet a Geet. Do you remember how the character was conceived? Was it modelled on someone?

Geet was not modelled on anyone, although I know of some girls, who actually behave and talk like that. After the film released, in all these 10 years, a lot of girls have come up to me and said that they are called 'Geet' in their circles. There are a lot of girls, who love to talk, and who feel they are their own favourites. But I hadn't particularly modelled her on anyone .

A self-loving girl who sees the best in everyone is a rare protagonist.

Yes, and more than just being a self-loving girl, Geet is a girl who instantly trusts everyone and says everything that comes to her mind, without any kind of a filter. She has a basic innocence and inherent positivity...

Yeah, an innocence that isn't corrupted by the ways of the world ...

Yeah, she is not corrupt, and also, even if she has bad experiences, what she takes away from them is not angst. Like, she had a bad experience with the guy selling water at that railway station. Her takeaway from that experience isn't negative. So I think, there is a certain positivity and bumbling naivety that characterises her. And yes, I have seen a lot of girls like that.

Post Jab We Met, your movies have largely opened to polarising responses, Rockstar and Tamasha being two of the most prime examples of that. I feel Tamasha is your most complex film so far and Ranbir's finest performance. For me, the film is almost like a meditative, religious experience. However, what I do feel is that the film's female character, like in many of your films, functions solely to rescue the troubled male protagonist.

(Laughs) I don't know whether that's an allegation or a compliment. If a female character is rescuing the male character in a film, then, in a way, I am just imitating life. Personally, I have seen that happen a lot of times. I don't take it as a negative comment at all and that's really what I have to say about that 'allegation'.

"Women are more intelligent, aware and practical. They come up with solutions that men don't even imagine."

You are saying it comes from your own lived experiences or perhaps experiences of others who you happen to know of?

It is a lived experience. Of course, I have seen a lot of times when that has happened. Of course, guys have also gotten into trouble with girls but to me, that is mundane. I see a lot of women contributing positively to the lives of men and I have also seen and I have no shame in admitting this -- that I genuinely find women to be smarter than men. Women are more intelligent, aware and practical. They come up with solutions that men don't even imagine.

Well, that's great but this approach becomes problematic because you are looking at women in the context of men and from a male gaze.Are you are okay with that? You wouldn't want to do it differently?

No.

See, when I am making a story, believe it or not, I am not making a statement. There are 500 things that the characters of my films have said that I don't personally believe in. Why should every character endorse the view of one person? That would be so unfortunate. That would also be very limiting. I don't want that. I think there are things that Aditya (from Jab We Met) says, or Jordan (Rockstar) says, or Heer (Rockstar) says that I don't believe in. But they are not me. I am just the writer.

But they are an extension of your imagination and represent your worldview.

Well, not 100 per cent.

Of course they are an extension of my imagination. I, like every human being, when I take a decision, I am aware of the logic on both the sides -- whether I should go left or right. Whichever side I go, I know positives and negatives of both left and right. And my characters can represent left and right. They don't need to go into a direction that I, personally, in my life, would have gone. I, sometimes, don't even bother to think what I would have done in my life in that situation. I just feel that Geet could have done this, so, she is doing this. I am not her moral compass at all.

There is a cyclic process in your films where the characters realise they are in love with someone else, when they get or are about to get married. There is this awakening where another character makes them realise that the person they are in love with isn't the one for them. Where does that come from? What is so interesting about that conflict that you keep going back to it whether it's Socha Na Tha, Love Aaj Kal, Jab Harry Met Sejal, Rockstar and to an extent, Jab We Met?

Ummm. I don't think I have a good enough answer to this question really.

But it is a pattern, right?

Yes, of course, it is a pattern. I totally recognise the fact that they (characters) seem to change their minds. But it's not as if though... actually, I don't know where it is coming from. There are other patterns in my films too. Like there is a pattern of anti-establishment. Whether it is Geet running away from her house, or in Rockstar, him (Ranbir Kapoor's character, Jordan) saying 'Sadda Haq', sort of breaking out, there is this reluctance to conform to established norms. Even that doesn't directly come from my life. In the same vein, people changing their romantic muses, is also not influenced from my personal life. One lives and learns... One thing I would say -- what I thought love was, has changed completely. And it has been changing for a while. It's changed to an extent that I don't really use this word anymore. Is that a good enough answer? Because that's the only answer I have.

"If you ask me about my feelings of love, what I have understood is that love is just a direction, not the destination."

Let's talk about evolution of love. (There was) a point when commitment mattered a lot. That was also a time when choices were limited. Then there was a time when we became romantically democratic but commitment was still sacrosanct. But now, when romantic options are just a swipe away, people don't commit easily because everyone thinks there's something better out there. Because of the safety net of an easy alternative, which is so accessible, you don't value the current. At least that's what I feel. Thoughts?

You're right.

But here's what I feel. When you are talking about love, you perhaps think so, but you aren't really talking about someone else, say your lover. You are, in a way, just talking about your own self, about what you love or what you are looking for. And that is what needs definition. The other person, in my opinion, is just an object for you, just a vehicle to realise your own feelings. You know these are things, which I am telling you, because you are asking. I don't have answers for them. But if you ask me about my feelings of love, what I have understood is that love is just a direction, not the destination.

Interesting. I feel nobody can define love. But what we can do is look for its interpretation through art, literature, and cinema.

Yes, yes, yes absolutely. As a filmmaker, I look for life and I look for the meaning of love through the making of my own cinema. That's where my learning happens.

You know what I now find interesting is what you said before about your characters being non-conformists. Examine it closely and you see a template coming out of that non-conformism. What I am trying to see is, as a whole, you have started to conform to a template that you, yourself, have created. Do you question that sometimes?

Hmm, perhaps. I do question that and although I am unwilling to make a movie that does not naturally come to me or is organically interests me, I am looking to make different kinds of films. By this, I don't mean different genres. I just mean different in nature.

As you mentioned before, your lived experiences find a way into your films so do you feel as you grow older, your lived experiences get fewer? As a filmmaker do you find the very nature of that concept limiting?

No, I don't think that's limiting. When you grow old, different kinds of experiences happen. At every age, there are different kinds of intense experiences that happen. To be involved with life is, for sure, very important, to be involved with cinema, and to know what you have to say before you say it also very important. Lived experiences seep into your film, yes. But not in the obvious manner. Very subtly.

"My personal experiences in marriage has not made me cynical at all. I have always been misquoted about marriage."

About people leaving their partner for a different pursuit, if I may, does that come from your personal experience of marriage? Has that made you cynical about the very institution?

No. My personal experiences in marriage has not made me cynical at all. I have always been misquoted about marriage. So, sometimes I don't feel like talking about it because I know exactly where it will land up. Let me not say anything on this. I actually want to say something else...

It doesn't go with the narrative that the media wants to follow? Does that make you uncomfortable?

Yeah, because maybe I am trying to discover much about life in an interview and there are people who are often looking at (getting) the quotes.

So you are cynical about the media, not marriage.

(Laughs) Let's put it like that. I am just a little careful because I don't want to make the same mistake again and again. But often what is obvious is not what I have to say.

In 2012, you wrote a film called, Cocktail, which Homi Adajania directed. Despite being a hit, the film still remains contentious because of the way it depicted its women characters.

(Interrupts) See, the point is that if I don't direct the movie then I don't own the authorship of it.

But it's still yours, it's your writing.

Writing is interpreted in 500 different ways. You give me Mughal-e-Azam and I will make it something else if I am directing it.

In hindsight, how do you look at it (Cocktail)?

I don't think there was anything wrong in the way it was. In fact, how it was supposed to be was Veronica (Deepika Padukone's character in Cocktail) is the type that this guy (played by Saif Ali Khan) likes. The whole point was that he goes against his type because that particular person (Diana Penty's character) he likes a lot. It had nothing to do with somebody being Indian, or somebody being more acceptable to his family.

"I have never had a male or a female writer. As much as you feel there is gender-inequality in my films, I get a lot of female adulation because they feel women in my films are strong vis-a-vis some of the other movies. "

Do you then think the issue was in the storytelling there because the film is widely perceived as that (problematic)? There's also a slut-shaming angle to it as you see Veronica, who smokes and is more 'free' not getting the guy. The film sends the message that you can have 'fun' with her but wouldn't want to settle down with her. I am fairly certain you must have heard this many times before.

Yes, 100 times. And every time I say the same thing -- if I haven't directed it, I can't claim it. Nobody reads the script. The script that I wrote, people should actually read it. Not that I am saying that the director (Homi Adjania) messed it up but it just came through differently than the way it was intended to.

Have you processed the response towards Jab Harry Met Sejal?

Yes. The film is nice. I like the film and I will have my own opinion. I don't read what the critics say, anyway. I am not here to control public opinion or condemn or approve it. But I will have my own opinion and the good thing is that cinema is everlasting.

So, you stand by everything in the film? (the film was criticised in the way Sejal, the film's female lead was depicted. Imtiaz has previously defended his decision here)

100 per cent. Of course, I have made mistakes in every movie and I am sure I must have made some mistakes in Jab Harry Met Sejal as well. But I am not less proud of it than any other film of mine, for sure.

A lot of people believe that if you collaborate with a female writer, the gender-imbalance in your films will correct itself.

Maybe. But I cannot take each suggestion from everybody, then do it and see how it goes. I still have to do with my own mind. I will have to go by own instinct. People do have opinions, and I respect them. I am not bothered about that (negative response). I have never had a male or a female writer. As much as you feel there is gender-inequality in my films, I get a lot of female adulation because they feel women in my films are strong vis-a-vis some of the other movies. So, somebody's opinion is not the gospel truth.

Also see on HuffPost:

Ah, weight loss. It's one of those elusive motivational wagons which is so hard to stay on. Some of us might only wish to lose a few kilos, while others may have a most substantial amount to lose for health reasons. Whatever the desire, losing weight is hard.

Moreover, there are so many factors that contribute to weight gain, or why you might not be able to shift those kgs. It's more than diet or exercise alone -- it's about a whole lifestyle approach that also involves stress and sleep.

First up, let's look at food.

Common mistakes with diet

"Often I see people going too hard too early with regards to their diet so it is unsustainable," dietician Susie Burrell told HuffPost Australia.

Burrell offers a tailored program, Shape Me, to help her clients lose weight with a customised plan.

"I also see people being way too strict then getting too hungry and binging. People also think it's okay to eat well during the week and they are then binging on weekends. Cutting all carbs then craving them and binging is another big one," Burrell said.

Instead, Burrell suggest taking a slow but steady approach. Any rapid weight loss will very likely result in it being put back on, sometimes with extra.

"I advise people to have a couple of light days at the start of their journey, eating things like salads and soups to shift fluid weight, then from there to control their calorie intake each day.

"Other tips which really help is to eat most of the days food during the first half of the day then keep dinner small and light. Also, get your steps right up -- Aim for 10,000-12,000 a day. Lastly, factor in a meal or two off each week," Burrell said.

Common mistakes with exercise

While it's now well known that exercise only has a very small effect on weight loss, it can still help and has countless other health benefits. Though doing the wrong thing when it comes to working out can make you feel like you're going nowhere, fast.

"The main mistake people make would be not including any resistance training in their workouts," Ben Lucas, personal trainer and founder of Flow Athletic told HuffPost Australia.

"Studies show that resistance training can help to burn fat for up to 38 hours post workout. This is because larger muscles require more energy and therefore burn more fat. It is also important for bone density which becomes especially important as you age."

The next mistake Lucas witnesses is people starting out at full steam and then burning out and giving up a couple weeks in.

"A lot of people when they are starting out go too hard or train too often so they end up getting tired, lethargic and then they stop enjoying it. Start slow, don't burn out, it's not good for your motivation or your health," Lucas said.

He also noticed those that don't have a clear objective, goal or plan tend to fall off the wagon.

"When you are new to training, often you are not in the mindset of having fun straight away. This means that you need another reason to keep you motivated until the penny drops and training starts to become fun for you.

"Having a goal in place gives you something to work towards, such as a half marathon or learning how to do 10 pull ups, and having a plan stops you from walking aimlessly around the gym until you just give up," Lucas said.

The best training for weight loss

Lucas suggests adding the abovementioned resistance training into your existing exercise routine. If you don't have one, it's a good place to start.

"I would include full body resistance training twice a week for 30 minutes week to increase metabolism."

"Also try for two 30 minutes HIIT cardio sessions a week and one 45-60 minute LISS cardio session, which is low intensity, to burn calories. This is a good mix of training that won't burn you out, but will give you all of the variety that you need to get results," Lucas said.

Why sleep is so important

You might be training like a machine and eating right but if you're not getting enough sleep your results will definitely slow. It's been proven that being tired makes you reach for more high-calorie foods.

"If you are tired you are more likely to skip the gym, make poorer food choices and of course feel sluggish which is not great for your metabolism and weight loss," Lucas said.

Try to keep your stress levels down

Stress is one helluva thing. Being stressed, even if you can't feel it, can have a negative effect on your waistline as well as other aspects of your health.

"If you are highly stressed from work, you have a lack of sleep or you're overtraining it can increase your cortisol. Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands as a response to stress. While it is normal to have cortisol in your body now and then, elevated cortisol disrupts the body's blood glucose control by stimulating glucose secretion," Lucas said.

"This limits the release of insulin which is the hormone responsible for removing excess glucose from the bloodstream and that results in high blood sugar levels. This results in poor glucose control which makes losing weight very difficult as the excess glucose can often be stored as fat."

Don't discount incidental movement

Lastly, try to get your movement up by adding in more incidental exercise.

"Do you have the option of taking the lift or the stairs? Can you walk to the further bus stop? Can you get up every hour to walk to the water cooler. Try to get as much incidental exercise in as possible throughout the day. I would aim to get up and stretch every hour if possible," Lucas said.

NALANDA -- In a bizarre incident, an elderly-looking man was allegedly made to spit and lick as a punishment for entering the Sarpanch's house without knocking.

Nalanda: Man made to spit & lick as punishment for entering Sarpanch's house without knocking,was also beaten by slippers by women #Biharpic.twitter.com/WTM31aLMVq

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2017

The incident took place in the Ajaipur village of Noorsarai block in Nalanda, the home district of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The man had gone to meet the village head to avail a government scheme.

In an amateur video, the man can also be seen being beaten up with slippers by at least two women.

Speaking to ANI, cabinet minister in the Bihar government, Nand Kishore Yadav said, "such incidents will not be tolerated, we will take strict action against the culprits."

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In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein allegations, the hashtag #MeToo has been a powerful tool enabling women to share their experiences of sexual harassment and assault. It's allowed us to show naysayers once and for all that rape culture does exist, it isn't a fictional concept invented by "angry feminists".

My own newsfeed has been filled with women sharing their stories or simply posting those two powerful words, and the fact that both men and women have commented to thank them for speaking out has given me hope for a better future.

But now, a second hashtag is doing the rounds that's left me feeling both vulnerable and infuriated.

Men are responding to #MeToo by posting admissions of guilt, using the hashtag #ItWasMe. The hashtag is used by men wishing to identify themselves as either a perpetrator or bystander of sexual assault or harassment, with a promise to do better. A typical tweet might read something like: "I've catcalled women, I've groped women in clubs. I'm sorry. I will do better #ItWasMe."

Let me start by saying it's great that #MeToo has led to men rethinking their own behaviour. If we are going to end sexism, men must be involved, and #ItWasMe is a sign many are stepping up and taking responsibility. But while the majority of #ItWasMe statuses are positive, there are some that could have devastating effects.

Some of the longer #ItWasMe admissions, particularly those posted on Facebook, contain information that makes the women spoken about identifiable.

In one example I've read a man describes his guilt about pressuring his ex-girlfriend into having sex with him when she explicitly said she wasn't ready to. The man provides details of himself and his then-girlfriend, such as their ages.

If you are friends with this man, you may well know who he dated in his late teens. If you went to school or university together, you may even still be friends with his ex-girlfriend on Facebook. That woman may not want you to know that someone pressured her into having sex.

For a start, public discussion about the incident could be triggering for the woman involved. As numerous articles have pointed out over the past few days, women shouldn't feel pressured to share their #MeToo experiences. For some it may be cathartic, but for others it could be traumatic.

Sadly, there is also a culture of shame that follows harassment and assault that means many of us choose to stay silent. I write about personal experiences of catcalling, nightclub groping and everyday sexism on a regular basis, but there is one past incident I never touch on. Because I'm not ready to. Because it's still painful to think about. Because I don't want to change the way my friends and family think about me. And because that's my choice. To have that choice taken away from me by the perpetrator posting an #ItWasMe status would feel like being violated all over again. If men think these types of posts are helping, they're wrong.

The second issue I have with some of the #ItWasMe posts is the language used, because in some instances it only risks fuelling misconceptions about assault and harassment.

Two posts that riled me up include the phrases such as "I had sex with her when she didn't want to" and "I tried to penetrate her [while she was asleep]".

To make things clear: there is no such thing as "sex" with a woman who doesn't want to have sex. It's rape. If you tried (but failed) to penetrate a woman while she was asleep, that's attempted rape. Let's call these crimes what they are and stop sending men mixed messages about consent.

As a side note, these men have also potentially opened themselves up to prosecution in the future. I'm no lawyer, but I'd hazard a guess that if you've admitted you're guilty of rape on Facebook, then a woman decides to prosecute, telling a jury you didn't understand the language you were using may not wash.

My final grievance with these statuses is the sanctimonious tone of some of them. Posting a status stating that you have never harassed a woman but apologising if you have ever been a bystander feels disingenuous. It feels like the most half-assed kind of apology there is, like when celebrities say "I'm sorry if anyone was offended" rather than simply saying "I'm sorry". Why are men posting these statuses? It's not an admission of guilt, it's not even really a promise to try harder, so I can only assume you are posting this to get a few likes and boost your own ego.

Again, I want to stress that I am not talking about all #ItWasMe posts. Many have been created sensitively and it is uplifting to see men finally take part in a conversation about sexual harassment - something that's been seen as a "women's issue" for far too long.

But before you post an #ItWasMe status, please think about why you're posting it and who you are posting it for. Take a step back and look at the language you've used. Can a woman be identified? Are you whitewashing assault with euphemisms? If you want to join the movement, your status is just as valid if you post those three words, and nothing else.

Alternatively, check out the hashtag #HowIWillChange. Instead of dragging up incidents from the past that could do more harm than good, the movement looks towards the future. The hashtag is full of men promising to never catcall a woman again, committing to never touch a woman's body without her permission and insisting they will speak up next time they hear a sexist comment. We've done a lot of talking about sexual assault and harassment over the last few days, but if we truly want to enable a culture shift, it's time for positive action.

Ladies, it might be time to start letting your hair grow in.

According to a new study by London surgeon Kefah Mokbel, women who frequently dye their hair increase their risk of developing breast cancer by about 14 per cent, reports The Independent.

In fact, Mokbel says that women should dye their hair no more than two to five times a year, which could be an issue for women who prefer to cover up greys, or those who are used to dyeing their hair regularly, which can be as much as every three weeks.

And that's not the only change Mokbel suggests we make. According to him, we should be using more natural products on our hair including henna, beetroot or rose hip.

"What I find concerning is the fact that the industry recommends women should dye their hair every four to six weeks," Mokbel said.

"Although further work is required to confirm our results, our findings suggest that exposure to hair dyes may contribute to breast cancer risk."

We should be using more natural products on our hair including henna, beetroot or rose hip.

Mokbel also added that the link between frequent hair dye use and breast cancer is just a correlation. "The positive association between the use of hair dyes and breast cancer risk does not represent evidence of a cause-effect relationship," he wrote on Facebook.

He also took to Twitter to further explain his findings, noting that women over 40 should undergo regular breast cancer screenings and that hair dyes that contain natural ingredients are safe.

It would be preferable to choose hair dyes that contain the minimum concentration of aromatic amines suchas PPD (less than 2%)

— Kefah mokbel (@breastguide) October 14, 2017

This research confirms a previous 2017 study published in the journal Carcinogenesis, which found a link between hair dye and relaxers and breast cancer.

According to researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey, carcinogens in the hair products may be contributing to the increased risk.

"We found that use of dark shade hair dyes was associated with a 51 per cent increase overall risk in developing breast cancer among African American women, and a 72 per cent increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer among African Americans," researchers told the Women's Circle Health Study. "We also found that use of chemical relaxers or straighteners was associated with a 74 per cent increased risk among Caucasians, with some differences in breast cancer risk observed by estrogen receptor status."

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Another study published earlier this year also found that hair dyes increased the risk of breast cancer, noting that researchers observed a 23 per cent increase in the risk among women who dyed their hair.

However, according to the National Cancer Institute, while some studies have shown a link between hair dye usage and increased risk of some cancers, other studies have not shown these links.

"Studies of breast and bladder cancer have also produced conflicting results," they note. "Relatively few studies have been published about the association of hair dye use with the risk of other cancers. Based on its review of the evidence, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) Working Group concluded that personal use of hair dyes is 'not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.'"

While some studies have shown a link between hair dye usage and increased risk of some cancers, other studies have not shown these links.

Because there's still no strong link found between personal hair dye use and increased cancer risk, the American Cancer Society notes that more studies need to be conducted and that there is no specific medical advice for people who dye their hair other than to stick to a healthy diet, be physically active, quit smoking, and get routine exams.

They also note that some people might want to avoid hair dye if they cause allergic reactions and that some doctors recommend women avoid getting their hair dyed when they're pregnant.

If you are concerned about the safety of hair dye, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends reading the package instructions carefully, testing for allergic reactions before you use it on your hair, wearing gloves when using the product, not leaving the dye on your head longer than the recommended time, and rinsing your hair thoroughly with water after you're done.

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The Morning Wrap is HuffPost India's selection of interesting news and opinion from the day's newspapers. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning.

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In Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath made sure that the "gods" literally descended from the heavens in his attempt to celebrate a grand Diwali in his first year as the chief minister. Read more.

When two women in isolated yet similar incidents of sexual harassment in two Bundelkhand districts came forward to lodge complaints with the police, we knew what it meant for them, we knew what it took. But does the system play a role of coercion, or cooperation?

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Main News

A quiet, smoke-free Thursday gave way to the usual thick haze and noise on Diwali night, dashing any hope of a firecracker-free festival following a Supreme Court ban on their sale in the National Capital Region.

The Kerala high court on Thursday held that all inter-religious weddings cannot be viewed as 'love jihad' as it upheld a marriage between a Hindu woman and a Muslim man.

Browsing internet using public wireless computer network at railway stations and airports may leave you vulnerable to cyber attacks, government agency Indian Computer Emergency Response Team has warned.

Off The Front Page

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, celebrated Diwali with troops posted along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir's Gurez sector and lauded the soldiers for their sacrifice, adding that he considers them his family.

The Central Industrial Security Force, which provides security at 59 airports, has written to the home ministry complaining about the Airport Authority of India's failure to clear its dues of Rs 350 crore.

Eight employees of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) were crushed to death when the roof of a building at the Porayar depot collapsed early on Friday.

Opinion

"The Delhi pollution problem shows how even a tangible public health crisis that affects every citizen equally can be turned into a political football in India," writes Mihir Sharma in Mint.

The US backing the ISIS draws upon strategies once deployed by Pakistan, writes Khaled Ahmed, consulting editor of Newsweek Pakistan, in The Indian Express.

"Liberalism and nationalism mean different things to different people, depending on who is speaking and who is listening," writes Krishnan Srinivasan in The Telegraph, drawing on the South Asian context. "The two concepts do not necessarily blend well together, and are often mutually exclusive."

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