What are some unknown or underrated travel destinations in India?

 

• Rani ki Vav or Ranki vav (lit. 'Queen’s stepwell') is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat state of India.

Engineering sketch plan of the step-well.

• It is located on the banks of Saraswati river. Silted over, it was rediscovered in 1940s and restored in 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Rani-ki-Vav was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2014.

Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, daughter of Khengara of Saurashtra, queen of the 11th-century Solanki dynasty and spouse of Bhima I.

As the history goes, Patan where the stepwell is located was the capital of Gujarat when King Siddharja Jaysingh was in power. Then, it was known as Anhilpur Patan. The construction of Rani Ki Vav was commissioned in the Solanki or Chalukya regime. It is said that the stepwell was built as a tribute to Bhimdev the First whose father had founded the Solanki dynasty in 1050 AD. The construction was proposed by the queen Udayamati, wife of Bhimdev the first.

• The entrance is located in the east while the well is located at the westernmost end and consists of a shaft 10 metres in diameter and 30 metres deep. The stepwell is divided into seven levels of stairs which lead down to deep circular well.
• The finest and one of the largest examples of it's kind and designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, the stepwell is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels; more than 500 principal sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery.
• The walls, pillars, columns, brackets and beams are ornamented with carvings and scroll work. The niches in the side walls are ornamented with beautiful and delicate figures and sculptures. There are 212 pillars in the stepwell.
• The structure was flooded by the Sabarmati River and remained silted till the late 1980s, when the ASI excavated it.
• The steps lead to the deepest bottom through several pillared pavilions. The lowermost step ends at a small gate which opens to a 30-km tunnel. It is supposed to have been used as an escape to the nearby town Sidhpur in times of invasion by enemies.

The World Heritage Site status has made Rani Ki Vav the queen of stepwells in India, for its sheer magnificence, intricate carvings, celestial sculptures, and water-preserving technology.Since July 2018, the new 100 rupee banknote features rani ki vav in its rear side.

The beauty of this step-well architecture is beyond the words.

Who are the most talented and underrated actresses in India?

 10 Brilliant Supporting Actresses In Bollywood Who Deserve More Spotlight Than The Leads

Lead actors and actresses in Bollywood movies may usually be put on a pedestal but when it comes to acting prowess and talent, some supporting actresses have won our hearts. Take a look at some of the most underrated Bollywood divas whom we’ve loved more than the “heroines”:

1. Sayani Gupta

The Bong powerhouse of acting is simply flawless. Period. Although she’s rising up the Bollywood ranks pretty fast, we want her to make her presence felt in the industry!

2. Kubra Sait

Kubra broke a lot of gender stereotypes with her jaw-dropping portrayal of Kuckoo in Sacred Games and we know that she has more to offer than just be a supporting actress for big productions. We want to see her in more movies!

3. Dia Mirza

Dia has been around for a while now and has made a special place in all our hearts but somehow has never been the centre of attention despite owning all the qualities for it. This woman deserves so much more!

4. Divya Dutta

A phenomenal actress, Divya has always been casted for supporting roles and seldom played the part of a protagonist. We genuinely think she’s proven her worth well enough to be under the spotlight.

5. Maanvi Gagroo

Very confidently breaking the stereotypical standards of beauty in Bollywood, Maanvi is our body positive icon and a tremendously good actress. Can we see more of her already?

6. Kalki Koechlin

She’s made her presence felt way too many times for us to ignore what a powerful force she is in the film industry. Kalki deserves to be on our movie and TV screens 24x7 and we’re not even exaggerating!

7. Radhika Apte

Netflix is obsessed with Radhika and so are we. What’s not to love about this gorgeous and immensely versatile actress? She’s one of the only few actresses who genuinely deserve way more recognition and stardom than the existing heroines.

8. Amrita Puri

The Kai Po Che! and Aisha star is an effortless actor when it comes to her body language and acting. We wish to see her in more prominent roles though.

9. Richa Chaddha

Richa has become a household name for all those accustomed to the world of web series but mainstream viewers with conventional choices are yet to discover her massive yet amazing presence.

10. Rasika Duggal

Mirzapur famed Rasika has been around for years but has admitted to being approached only for supporting roles. For all those who’ve watched her on screen know that she’s a brilliant actress and deserves more!

Which fruit in India is underrated?

 Here is the list of some fruits that are underrated in India. It will make you feel regret if you haven’t tried those yet.

1. Gua Koli(Polyalthia Suberosa)

Mostly found in Assam to Uttar Pradesh in the north, Kerala, and Odisha.

2. Imli (Tamarind)

You will find it particularly in some states of India like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

3. Chalta(Elephant Apple)

The fruit grows in the northern tropical regions of India, particularly in Assam and Kolkata.

4. Phalsa(Indian Sherbet berries)

This fruit grows in throughout India.

5. Jungli jalebi (Manila Tamarind)

In India, it found in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal.

6. Ambarella(Indian Hog Plum)

This fruit found in almost all places in India.

7. Taal(Ice Apple)

Mostly found in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Odisha, and Kerala.

8. Langsat

Grows in - Throughout southern India.

9. Kamrakh (Star Fruit/Carambola)

Mostly found in the South-East region of India. From Kerala to West Bengal.

10. Buddha’s hand.

Grows in northeastern and northwestern states of India.

11. Rai Amla (Star gooseberry)

Mostly found in South India.

These are the most underrated fruits of India in my opinion. Most of them are now going to extinct. So please try to save those trees for our next generations.

Who are some of the most underrated or lesser-known athletes whose stories have genuinely inspired you?

 I’ve been following the recent National Games held in China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and like many, I got drawn into the excitement. While watching, a few athletes stood out in a way that went beyond just winning—they left a real impression.

The swimming pool witnessed remarkable breakthroughs from young talents like 13-year-old Yu Zidi, who claimed three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze in her national debut, and 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo with his five gold medals. Seeing these rising stars compete alongside established athletes like Zhang Yufei and Sun Yang felt like witnessing the beautiful continuity of sports legacy.

Then there’s the Jiangsu women's softball team, which just won its fourth straight title. I’ve been a softball fan for a while, and what moved me wasn’t just the victory, but the story behind it. Their head coach, now in his sixties, has been with the team since the beginning. He recently got inducted into the WBSC Softball Hall of Fame—a fitting recognition for someone who’s given over fifty years to the sport.

There’s also an athlete well-known to many: Oksana Chusovitina. The gymnast is aiming to compete in her ninth Olympics at age 50. Her journey—including changing nationality to secure medical treatment for her son—is one of those rare stories that truly transcend sport.

I also once interviewed Quincy Watts, the American sprinter who broke Olympic records in Barcelona ’92. A car accident led to a back injury that eventually ended his career. He later became a coach and helped set multiple records with his athletes. But when he talks about retiring, you can still see the emotion in his eyes. He says he has no regrets—yet in that moment, you feel both the loss and the resilience. There was something honest in that moment - about dreams changing form, but not necessarily ending.

These athletes remind me that behind every competition are people figuring out what comes next, whether that's a first medal or life after competition.

Which are the most underrated horror movies you have ever seen? And which scared you the most?

 I’ll give you three. The first one scared me the most.

Last Shift (2014).

A rookie cop is tasked to watch over an abandoned police station. The police station became haunted after a Manson-wannabe family hang themselves in it.

(Don’t worry; these aren’t spoilers.)

I consider this a quaint little horror. The whole film takes place in one setting with one main character, yet does so much with it.

The major seller for me is the lead character- she’s not the dumb lead that horror movies are so fond of having. She’s a cop with her head screwed on right. When strange things start happening, she chalks it down to being alone in an old building and overthinking things.

When things get stranger, she tries to leave. She doesn’t fall into madness quickly; it’s a slow descent, you don’t realise its happening until it happened.

There are some legit scares. The children in a circle singing, the body floating in the hallway.

The Platform (2019):

It’s more thriller than horror.

A man volunteers to be part of some shady exercise. He is put in a room with another person. What are they supposed to do?

Nothing. Just eat.

Eat what? Just food. Eating itself is not the tricky part. The tricky part is being lucky enough to have anything to eat. You see, they’re placed on a floor in a building. Each room on each floor, two people in each room. The objective is to be lucky enough to be placed on a top floor where you can get the best food.

There’s a platform that is full of food, and once every day the platform moves from the topmost floor to the bottom, stopping at each floor for a couple of minutes so the roommates can eat.

There are hundreds of floors, so you get the idea. People who are placed at the topmost floors are lucky, at the lowest floors people die of starvation.

Naturally, in such situations people will get nasty, and the film doesn’t hold back. Murders, r*pes, cannibalism; it’s gory.

His House (2020):

A couple whose whole family was slaughtered in a civil war flees to the UK to start a new life. Only, their past doesn’t want to leave them yet, and follows them across the ocean.

I think it’s really about the guilt people feel when they leave their family behind in danger to find better lives for themselves; it’s also about having difficulty to adjust to a new environment, trying to fit into a new culture and way of life that wasn’t your own.

I think what makes this film interesting is similar to what makes The Babadook (another great horror film) interesting: the ghost/evil entity. It’s not your average demon; it’s something else entirely, something new, something strange.

The brilliance of the evil in The House is that from the beginning till the end of the film, it’s not and never fully clear whether it’s malevolent or benevolent. It is to the wife a friend, to the husband an enemy. Always thought that was a bit unique.

Who are some underrated Indian actresses?

We are at the point in the industry where underrated actors are being rated according to their abilities. But even after choosing correct scripts and directors- actresses are still being used as a side piece despite their performances.

This is the producers fault in not letting many actresses in the industry- and only choosing ones with a market. It’s not a fault though as movies are a business and they need face value. I don’t have a financially positive solution for this, but I can underline some actresses that deserve more and can bring freshness into our cinema today.

Will organize this list by the language films by their best known for. This is in order from the best on top.

TELUGU:

• Mrunal Thakur - Sita Ramam, Family Star, Hi Nanna

Despite being the best contemporary actress (probably after Sai Pallavi) she isn’t getting enough chances. My favorite actress on this post.

• Sreleela - Guntur Kaaram, Dhamaka, Bhagavanth Kesari

Right now best looking telugu actress. Her acting hasn’t been explored at all but she has scope. Her role in Guntur Kaaram wasn’t bad and she lit up screens. She is also a fantastic dancer- probably best among actresses. She can be a good commercial actress- directors and producers need to start trusting her into their good projects. She has good face value.

• Shraddha Das - Arya 2, PSV Garuda Veda, Guntur Talkies

She has given good performances in her Telugu films and they have been hits. Not sure why she hasn’t gone mainstream since Arya 2.

TAMIL:

Sri Divya - VVS, Kaaki Sattai, Meiyazhagan

Most underused actress in Tamil Cinema. She is an actress with no haters. We all were so happy to see her in Meiyazhagan. She’s a very positive energy actress she makes everyone smile. All of her performances were good- and she still looks absurdly young. We still have a chance to utilize her well. Meiyazhagan set it.

• Aishwarya Lekshmi - Ponniyan Selvan, King of Kotha, Maayanadhi

Similar situation to Aishwarya Rajesh. Good performer but less chances. She does get movies like PS and KOK but none of them clicked in the way in that she gets something out of it. She can do every role and with conviction.

• Siddhi Idvani - VTK, Kerala Story, TGGM

Extremely good actress. She got introduced by Simbu in 2022 in tamil and she gave a good performance in VTK. That film is very underrated itself nobody can appreciate classy films like these anymore. She can do any role with conviction and she looks good too. Her performance in VTK and in the songs is incredible.

HINDI:

Radhika Apte - Badlapur, Kabali, Andhadun

She’s become an international actress and is getting praise there- but here home she’s not getting what she deserves. Sure she lands the occasional good film but in all she’s been pushed out of mainstream.

Anaitha Nair - Chak De India, Dum Maaro Dum, Mumbai Calling

I’ve only seen Chak De India from her and she was impressive. Don’t know why producers won’t give actresses a chance after a good performance and movie. They can see it works.

Sanya Malhotra - Dangal, Sam Bahadur, Jawan

Brilliant performer can do every role- even side roles like in Jawan. She is perfect actress material and deserves to be more mainstream