THE LONG READS NEW YORK, USA
All the stories
in one place.
A living archive of interviews, observations, and cultural notes by Kevin Rego — from London to New York and everywhere in between.
MEDIA AND INDUSTRY / 19 FEB 2026
Canada; A Market
on Life Support
The cable box sits gathering dust. Beneath the television, a new media landscape is taking shape — faster, leaner, and built for the way we watch now.
Read the feature ↗THE COMPLETE INDEX
Browse the archive
56 stories
2025—2026
Canada; A Market on Life Support
The cable box sits gathering dust. Beneath the television, an IPTV device blinks, over 5000 plus channels for a fraction of the cable price. On the coffee table, a smartphone glows with YouTube clips, Hotstar highlights, Instagram reels.
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Twinkle – Still a Shining Star
Twinkle Khanna’s visit to London was a special one. The actress, who has always been known for her elegance and grace, spoke candidly about her experiences in films and her love for London. She interacted warmly with fans and shared memories of her journey in the industry.
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Across The Pond: South Asian Tv In America Faces Its Toughest Winter Yet
Autumn is fading in New York. Central Park’s leaves — once lush and green — now lie in soft drifts of pale yellow and gold along the winding paths. The air has sharpened, the trees are nearly bare, and the light grows weaker each day.
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The Viewer Has The Last Laugh!
These are heady times in the South Asian media in UK .The market has never seen such frantic activity; what with more and more channels pushing their way through in a market already jostling for space. And viewers! Ah, yes viewers.
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Game of Thrones
Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, a city southeast of Los Angeles, USA, is a bustling commercial hub for the Indian community. Think Southall Broadway, Ealing road, or for that matter Belgrave Road in Leicester. Only this one’s more hygienic, has less traffic and spacious roads for a smooth passage of traffic.
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The Now Generation
Forty-something Anshu Jain, who belongs to the Jain community – known for their business acumen – is head of Global Markets at Deutsche Bank and is responsible for turning the bank into a bond-market powerhouse
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PC’s World
Late last month, the 12th floor of the Time Warner building near Central Park in New York was buzzing at 8 am on a Saturday morning. The bi-annual gathering of SAMMA (South Asian Media and Marketing Association) had personalities of South Asian origin who have made a mark in this industry.
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No We Khant !
For nearly two decades, they have virtually ruled Bollywood. Their ever-increasing fan base has no age bar and crosses boundaries and cultures. Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman (not necessarily in that order) have been the stalwarts in an industry that has seen actors come and go before you could say box-office!
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Britain’s First Gujarati MP
The Gujarati community in Britain seems to be basking with pride. Some 50 years after the majority of them migrated to Britain from Africa, one of them has made it to the corridors of power at Westminster.
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Remembering Di
Kevin Rego meets up with Mohammed Al Fayed, the man whose son Dodi, loved and four years ago died with Diana, Princess of Wales. A Savvy exclusive.
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Discos Go Desi
It was a cold, wet evening in London. But that was not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of scores of Asian youth as they waited in a serpentine queue to enter the Empire Lounge, a trendy nightclub at Leicester Square.
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Ranbir Ki Ghazab Kahani
He is not your quintessential star. He does not have the looks. He does not pump iron like most macho actors. He has his mom on his speed-dial and apparently still continues to take 1500 rupees (£21) as pocket money from her.
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Breach Of Trust
In a shocking disclosure, celebrity solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla accuses Ajitabh Bachchan, the very man who made him famous in India, of breaking up his marriage.
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The Final Word
At the Oscars last month, seated on the first row with a tuxedo and looking dapper than ever, was Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Bollywood Glitz
Ten days before Christmas last year, the news of the separation of the superstar Hrithik and his wife Susanne punctured the otherwise joyous and celebratory air in the season of joy.
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Bollywood Glitz
The Quantico star has won the hearts of television viewers in USA with an outstanding performance and silenced her critics back home Bring out the bugles, uncork the bubbly, blow those trumpets and rejoice – Priyanka Chopra has finally broken the crossover barrier that for so long has been Bollywood’s Achilles heel.
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Zee Premiere UK
Lovely Priyanka Chopra makes her stunning entrance onto the world stage and tells ZEE Premiere of her plans for her fabulous year as Miss World
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From Raj To Riches
Indian recipes from the cream of British society spice up British celebrity chef Tommy Miah’s latest cookbook
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Turkish Delight
An air of mystery shrouds the home of Gulu and Semiramis Lalvani. Ebony doors, shadowy corners and subtle colours throughout leave you in bewilderment. But there is little doubt about the aura of grandeur that encompasses this sumptuous apartment situated in Belgravia.
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— Post The Sushmita Episode!
A lifetime of self-destruction becomes almost second nature to some. Happenstance makes you commit a folly but compels you to learn from it. You’re cruising at a smooth-slick speed. There’s no sign that reads Danger.
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Clothes Maketh This Women
IMTAZ Khaliq is unfazed by the designer fashion from Armani to Zola that besiege her as she sits in her third floor studio in New Bond street in Central London and goes about her business of bespoke tailoring and creating tailor-made items of the most desirable suits and dresses for men and women.
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Celebrity Bash!
In the weeks prior to the show, we set Zee Premiere’s intrepid reporter Kevin Rego a mission… to talk to two of our fabulous Bollywood stars to find out what they are looking forward to at this year’s Zee TV Asia Live!
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Dream Mansion
The main living-room is a study in design. The Ashwood walls complement the green carpet. Goldish-cream Italian upholstered sofas lend richness. An exquisite glass table with lamps at its four corners was picked up from Harrods. Indian artefacts grace the window.
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Block Buster
All the elements of a good Bollywood formula film are there in the fight between Zee TV and the Sony-B4U combine.
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A Lord’s Pledge
“I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage,” says LORD NAVNIT DHOLAKIA through the Indian home he has recreated in London.
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Reuben Singh
He, perhaps epitomizes the diligent, new breed of Asian businessmen in Britain. At 20, Manchester-based Reuben Singh has defied all odds becoming the youngest Asian millionaire with a fortune estimated at a staggering £27.5 million through his fashion jewellery and accessories.
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From Rags To Riches
Kitchen king MANU RAMJI transforms a shabby apartment in London into a splendid, elegant home. You just have to admire the Indian immigrants who chose to make Britain their home after they were driven out of Idi Amin’s Uganda.
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Attack The Food!
As Britain prepares to greet her heroes who returned from overseas from the war in Iraq, the flamboyant millionaire restaurateur Lord Latif has decided to pay them a tribute too by giving them free meals for a year to savour the delights of his curries at his restaurant Rupal.
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Curry on eating
Got a big problem? Well, here’s a Tiny solution. The “world’s first curry-diet” promises no loss in taste while trimming the flab. So says its UK-based maker, Tiny Deol
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MORE TROUBLE IN LONDON
It’s a crying shame. Whoever thought that the city that Sunny Deol loved so much — the city he flew off to at the slightest opportunity (more often than he went to Film City)
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Akshay Storms London… Shah Rukh Booed…
There is always a return to the scene of the crime. A compulsion that draws you back; irrespective of whether you were the criminal or the victim.
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Nadeem Pleads his innocence
It came as a shocking bit of news. Every newspaper in the country carried headlines on their opening pages
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“Stardust Interrogates Nadeem In London”
“I Swear On The Grave Of My Child That I’m Innocent!” STARDUST INTERROGATES NADEEM IN LONDON
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Channel Wars!
For Asians living in the U.K., there is, it seems, no limit to entertainment via the idiot box. Almost every month, there is a new channel being launched targeting a specific audience.
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Vignettes
There were bands, artists, bollywood stars, celebrity guests and a host of others at ZEE TV ASIA LIVE! But if there was one group that stood out amongst the entire lot it was NU BEAT – the talented dancers from all over the world. Michael, Martin, Marty
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The miracle of discovery
When Barbara Taylor Bradford found out that her bestseller A Woman of Substance was being made into an expensive Hindi soap, it left her frothing at the mouth.
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Prince Charles weds first love
LONDON: Prince Charles yesterday married Camilla Parker Bowles after a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall.
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The 100 Crore ‘Tamasha’
Emraan Hashmi is not your normal A grade star. He does not have bulging muscles. His dance moves are average. He hardly exudes charm.
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The Girl Who Stirred the Hornet’s Nest
The debate raged for weeks. Should Vidya Balan adorn the cover of the issue you are reading?
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No, We Khan’t!
Why Bollywood may never see Aamir, Shahrukh and Salman in the same film… For nearly two decades, they have virtually ruled Bollywood. Their ever-increasing fan base has no age bar and crosses boundaries and cultures.
/no-we-khant.html
The Salman Phenomenon
“Don’t put him on the cover,” said a friend. “He is not worthy despite his new-found fame.” She continued
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Playgirl In The Western World
Katy Mirza, possibly Bombay’s hottest pin-up model in the seventies, earned notoriety as India’s first Playboy bunny.
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Doctor
The Asian doctors who have practised in the UK since the 60s are soon due to retire — the NHS has no plans yet to replace them.
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Greasing the Curry
In London, a former associate of solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla claims that cash payments were made to Asian MP Keith Vaz — leaving them both at the centre of a scandal.
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With India’s First Modelling Agency Now In Operation, Will Agencies Become The Trend?
THE TEENY BOPPER STROLLING DOWN BREACH Candy sports a Madhu Sapre haircut and aspires for Sushmita Sen’s poise. Every other girl would like to be in Aishwarya Rai’s shoes.
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The Shahenshah Of Bollywood
It’s just another morning in Juhu, a chic suburb in Mumbai in the month of July. The rain has chosen to stay away but the sun’s rays pour down with all their might.
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Rules of Relationships
During a recent confabulation between close mates which centred on relationships with women (who else?), a close friend of mine made one telling statement when the discussion veered around the attitude of the fairer sex.
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Personal Style – G.K. Noon
If Britain has developed a sweet tooth for Indian mithai — blame it on dapper G.K. Noon, managing director of Bombay Halwa, who lives alone in an unpresumptuous but chic apartment near Regent’s Park in Central London.
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Heritage
Kensington Palace Gardens. Ancient and very rich in history, it is the ultimate exclusive address in London. Situated just a stone’s throw away from the Royal Kensington Palace (where Diana, Princess of Wales resides)
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Personal Style
Renowned lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla lives in a modest apartment in London’s fashionable Pont Street. An eminent member of London’s legal fraternity and the Baltic Exchange, Sarosh Zaiwalla’s firm (Zaiwalla and Co.) specialises in shipping and mercantile law
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Monumental Extravagance
India’s most extravagant contribution to London’s rich architectural legacy is the Swaminarayan Temple. Neasden, a little-known suburb in the north-west of London,
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Director’s Dilemma
When he is not getting tanned in sunny L.A., shooting television serials for NBC, or hobnobbing with the crème de la crème of Hollywood, Lucknow-born Waris Hussain takes refuge in a capacious mews near Fulham in the heart of London.
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Women In Love
British Asian lesbians have never had it easy. Things are getting better though.
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Will California-based Director Waris Hussain’s New Film Make It To The Cannes Film Festival?
He speaks in an eloquent manner. The accent is unmistakably British, although at times during our conversation there are traces of Uncle Sam’s English.
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Bharti Vyas The Holistic Beauty Pioneer of London
Bharti Vyas took mineral therapy, ayurveda, magneto therapy, added a dash of home-grown philosophy and voila! all of London — from Cherie Blair to Cher, is asking for her beauty recipes
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Karisma Kapoor Sued For 85 Lakhs. High Drama In London!
There is nothing more revered in this world. Success defines a star’s career graph. His or her market saleability. Their popularity abroad. Success brings in all the moolah. It is all that matters.
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