Addressing the confusion around her exit from Indian Idol, Neha says the decision was actually hers. “I was the one who told the makers that I would not be able to continue with the show anymore. I received so much love on Indian Idol, so when they came and said, ‘We want you for this season as well. We cannot imagine the season without you,’ it was very difficult for me to say no,” she says.

Neha reveals that after being part of the show for five continuous years, she felt the need to take a break. “I had done the show continuously for five years, and for me, it had become a little monotonous. It was the same routine, and I have always been someone who likes change. So I decided to take a break,” she shares.

For the singer, taking a break from one show did not mean stepping away from music or reality television altogether. She feels I-POPSTAR Vol. 2 is a format she can connect with because of her own journey as a pop artist.

“I think I will be able to relate to I-POPSTAR a lot because I am a pop star myself. Here, I will also get the opportunity to witness many other pop stars, listen to their performances and mentor them. I think it is a great platform,” Neha says.

She also feels that the music industry and the audience have changed over the years. According to her, there is now greater acceptance for different kinds of music, especially pop. “There is much more acceptance for different kinds of music now, and audiences have become more evolved when it comes to pop music,” she says.

Neha believes that there is room for every kind of good music today. “We can release any kind of music, and if it is good, it will definitely work and receive love from the audience. The audience today is very welcoming. Good music is good music, whether it is a slow love song or a dance number,” she adds.

The singer also addressed the question of whether music reality shows are scripted. Neha strongly disagrees with the idea, saying that real contestants come with real stories. “I-POPSTAR is absolutely not scripted. People's lives are not scripted either,” she says.

Coming from a humble background herself, Neha says she understands the emotions behind the contestants' journeys. “Most of us Indians come from humble backgrounds, and I have also come from a humble background. If I hear someone's story and genuinely feel emotional, then of course those emotions are real,” she explains.

Neha also opened up about a personal phase when she decided that she wanted to leave everything after a fight with her brother and music collaborator Tony Kakkar. “Honestly, I had a very solid fight with Tony Bhai. Because we had such a big fight, I reached a point where I thought, ‘I am leaving everything. I don't want to do anything. This whole world is terrible,’” she recalls.

However, she makes it clear that music was never something she could permanently walk away from. “We are all artists, and artists are very emotional people. Sometimes those emotions come out strongly. But I am never leaving music. How can I do that to my fans who give me so much love? I had to come back,” Neha says.

Talking about I-POPSTAR Vol. 2, Neha is particularly excited about its unique format. “I feel the show is truly one of a kind. There is no other show where the artists are doing everything themselves. They are writing their own music, creating their own songs and then performing them,” she says.

While she appreciates other music reality shows, Neha feels there is no need to compare them. “I don't think we should compare the two shows. They are completely different. Hustle is about hip-hop and rap, while I-POPSTAR is about singers who will be creating and performing songs in a different way,” she says.

With a fresh set of artists, original music and her own excitement about mentoring the contestants, Neha is looking forward to making her mark on I-POPSTAR Vol. 2. As she puts it simply, “I-POPSTAR is a completely different show altogether, and we are going to rock it!”

In the September 16 episode, Aamrapali was seen sharing a particularly cute moment with Yung when she affectionately kissed him on the forehead. The simple gesture stood out amid the tension and chaos inside the Bigg Boss house and showed the softer side of their equation.

The moment came after Aamrapali had also been seen talking about Yung and his growing popularity. Rhiti Tiwari informed her about his song, following which Aamrapali jokingly acknowledged his fame and mentioned how contestants had been making reels on his song. Yung then entertained the housemates with another rap, with Aamrapali, Rhiti and Scout enjoying the moment.

Their equation has increasingly reflected the lighter and more affectionate side of life inside the house. While the contestants often find themselves divided during tasks and disagreements, moments like these highlight the friendships and comfort that develop among them.

Aamrapali’s gesture towards Yung was particularly endearing because it was completely spontaneous and affectionate. The forehead kiss became one of the softer moments of an episode otherwise dominated by the captaincy task, disagreements and changing equations inside the house.

With Aamrapali continuing to show different shades of her personality inside the Bigg Boss house, her bond with Yung adds another warm layer to her journey. From playful conversations about his music to this adorable moment, the two continue to share a camaraderie that brings some much-needed lightness to the house.

“Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a festival for me, but a time to celebrate with a lot of positivity. After coming to Mumbai, this festival has become even more special to me. I really enjoy the festive atmosphere here and the way everyone comes together to welcome Bappa,” says Ankur.

The actor also looks forward to the food that comes with the festival, especially modaks and homemade prasad. “I love modak and ghar ka prasad. That is something I always look forward to during Ganesh Chaturthi. I pray that Bappa keeps me, my family and my friends healthy and wealthy. I also wish to keep growing as an actor and continue doing my work with sincerity.”

For Ankur, Bappa is also a source of strength when life brings challenges. “One thing I learn from Bappa is to deal with challenges with patience and positivity. There will always be ups and downs, but it is important to keep doing your work and not lose your positivity. I try to carry that thought with me in my everyday life.”

While celebrations have become bigger over the years, Ankur feels the emotions behind the festival have remained unchanged. “The scale of celebrations has definitely increased, especially in a city like Mumbai, but the essence of the festival is still the same. Our faith and emotions remain at the centre of it. For me, no matter how big the celebration is, you must always have respect for Bappa.”

Talking about how he celebrates the festival, Ankur says, “If I bring Bappa home, I try to spend the entire day with Him. It feels special to have Bappa at home and be around Him during the celebrations. If I don't bring Him home, I visit my friends and family, go to their homes and also visit different pandals.”

He adds, “For me, Ganesh Chaturthi is about being grateful, staying positive and spending time with the people who matter. I just want Bappa to keep blessing me and my loved ones, keep us healthy and happy, and help me continue growing as an actor and doing good work.”

Taher Shabbir and Sheena Chohan are set to headline Walls, an upcoming short film directed by Fraser Scott, exploring loneliness, human connection and the invisible barriers people build around themselves.

The film follows Monisha, an isolated sound engineer whose deadline is interrupted when her outgoing neighbour Ekansh begins noisily moving house. Her attempts to shut him up lead to their first real conversation after years of living next door to each other — and an unexpected connection that, for the first time in her life, makes her “lower her walls.”

Written as an intimate exploration of modern isolation, Walls looks at how two people can live side by side for years without ever speaking, and how a single encounter can change that.

“I loved the vision of the director and the film. After a long time, I played a character who is fun-loving, closer to what I’m like in real life. Sheena was a great co-star to work with, as I’ve always felt she’s a good actor. I also believe that a film is about the people you work with, and there are some really lovely people associated with this project. Because of the people Fraser and Sheena are, is why I said yes to the project.” said Taher Shabbir.

Sheena Chohan said: “Monisha is someone who has built walls around herself after experiencing loss, and what drew me to her was the vulnerability beneath her silence. I loved exploring the journey of a woman who has become disconnected from the world around her, and what happens when someone unexpectedly reaches through that distance. Working with Taher was a wonderful experience — he brought such warmth, spontaneity and playfulness to Ekansh. Fraser had a very clear and sensitive vision for the film, and I connected deeply with the story because it reflects something so universal: how easy it is to feel alone even when people are physically right beside us.”

Fraser Scott, the writer and director, said: “I wrote Walls as the old walls of Versova give way to taller ones, inspiring me to explore what these crumbling structures represent as barriers between people and the loneliness of modern life. I was grateful this story connected immediately with Taher, Sheena and the team, who brought it to life.”

The film is co-produced by Vedic Productions and RAT Films. Pranjal Picha serves as Director of Photography, with Suchitra Pillai lending her voice to the antagonist, music by Prashant Ingole and Sam Das as Creative Producer.

The producers added: “We have a great cast led by Sheena Chohan and Taher Shabbir, who will ignite the screen in this drama with layers of depth, brought to life by writer-director Fraser Scott. Walls is a story rooted in real human experiences and reflects something deeply relevant to the world we live in today. The film is currently in post-production and gearing up for its national release, international film festival run, and eventual OTT release. We cannot wait to introduce this fantastic project to our national and global audiences.”