The story of Noor Inayat Khan, the Indian princess who worked as a British spy in the Second World War, will be told in a coming limited television series starring Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto.
Entitled Spy Princess, the series will be directed by Girl With A Pearl Earring filmmaker Anand Tucker. Screenwriter Olivia Hetreed has penned the script, based on the book Spy Princess, the Life of Noor Inayat Khan. The book's author, Shrabani Basu, will also serve as a consultant in the series.
In an Instagram post announcing the project, Pinto wrote that "at a time in this world where we are all looking for leadership and courage to guide and lead us all back to some semblance of sanity and order, I take great comfort in the quiet strength, grace, intelligence and grit that Noor Inayat Khan possessed in the face of chaos during WW2."
She described Khan as an underdog who was initially brushed off as “not overburdened with brains” but ended up being recruited to join the Special Operations Executive aiding the French resistance against the Nazi occupying forces.
The daughter of an Indian Sufi spiritual leader and direct descendant of the 18th century Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan, Khan became known as "Madeleine of the Resistance" and was credited for holding together the Paris resistance through some of the darkest hours of the war.
She was captured by the Gestapo during her mission but, despite being tortured for information, gave nothing away. She was eventually transferred to the Dachau concentration camp, where she was executed in 1944 at the age of 30. In 1949, she was posthumously awarded the George Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for bravery.
According to online news site Deadline, the series's producer Claire Ingham, founder of the production company Red Room Films, initiated the project after discovering a photograph of Khan in uniform.
Pinto, who also serves as an executive producer in the series, told Deadline that she was thrilled for the opportunity to play Khan, who she described as "a fierce and amazing woman, the most unlikely heroine of World War II."
“Sending women to the front line is controversial even now,” Pinto said. “Then it was unthinkable. Sending a Sufi mystic, who won’t use a gun, daughter of a long-haired Indian Guru who preaches love and peace – ridiculous! But Noor thrives, not in spite of her differences, but because of them. Her struggle to reconcile her values with the desire to find her own path and with her complex sense of duty is something I am so excited to explore and to recreate.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
