In an industry notoriously obsessed with youth and unrealistic beauty standards, Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit Nene is drawing a line in the sand. Speaking candidly with Mid-Day ahead of her upcoming comedy film Maa Behen, the veteran actor opened up about the persistent double standards women face as they grow older in the public eye. Reflecting on her four-decade-long career, Dixit called out the toxic reality of "lookism"—including the recent online trolling of peers like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes—arguing that society routinely minimizes a woman's lifelong professional triumphs down to a mere "number on a scale or a dress." Striking a powerful note on empathy, she urged the public to remember a person's lasting contributions rather than subjecting them to superficial scrutiny about weight, wrinkles, or gray hair. Ultimately, Dixit proves that true longevity in cinema isn't about conforming to society's narrow expectations, but about prioritizing the joy of the craft and uplifting the next generation of talent.

A massive demolition drive has begun in Garib Nagar near Bandra Terminus after the Bombay High Court allowed Western Railway to clear unauthorised structures from railway land. The operation, expected to continue for five days, has seen bulldozers move into the densely populated area under heavy security deployment. Nearly 400 personnel, including Mumbai Police, RPF and GRP teams, have been deployed amid fears of protests and crowd mobilisation. Authorities say the cleared land will be used for expansion of Bandra Terminus, better suburban connectivity and the addition of nearly 50 new originating train services from Mumbai. The High Court also directed officials to protect the rights of slum dwellers found eligible for rehabilitation under the 2021 surveys.