Popular Bengali actor Subhashree Ganguly is currently stranded in Dubai with her son Yuvaan after flight operations were suspended amid escalating tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict. Her husband, filmmaker and Trinamool Congress MLA Raj Chakraborty, shared details of the situation in an exclusive conversation with Ei Samay Online.
“Yesterday, Subhashree and our son Yuvaan went to Dubai for a pre-planned holiday. Shortly after they landed, flight operations were cancelled as tensions escalated. They are currently staying at a hotel, and the authorities there have advised people not to step out for safety reasons. We are trying to shift them. As soon as the situation improves a little, they will return,” he said.
Raj added that while the family is concerned, Subhashree and their son are safe inside the hotel. " Our friends and relatives are there, and the situation is under control." Large-scale flight cancellations and temporary airspace closures in parts of the Middle East have left many passengers stranded, including several Indians.
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Dubai has seen significant disruption in air travel after several countries in the region temporarily closed or restricted their airspace. As a result, thousands of passengers have been affected, with many Indians unable to return home.
Subhashree is among the leading names in Bengali cinema, known for films such as Challenge, Paran Jai Jaliya Re, Lawo Gouranger Naam Re, Grihapravesh and Dhumketu.
Other Indian celebrities affected
Actor Sonal Chauhan also said she is stranded in Dubai and appealed for assistance through social media. In an Instagram post, she tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking guidance for a safe return to India.
Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu is also reportedly stuck at Dubai International Airport amid the ongoing flight disruptions.
Also Read | 'Situation becoming more frightening by the hour': PV Sindhu shares terrifying update from Dubai
Regional tensions trigger travel chaos
The travel crisis follows a sharp escalation in hostilities across the Middle East after a coordinated US and Israel operation targeting Iran led to retaliatory strikes. Several major cities in the region, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, reported explosions.
In Dubai, residents reported loud blasts on Saturday, with videos circulating online showing flames and smoke near the Fairmont The Palm on Palm Jumeirah. Authorities also confirmed a fire at the Burj Al Arab and an incident at Dubai International Airport that left four people injured.
