Farhan Akhtar’s first Hindi single ‘Jaane Yeh Kyun Kiya’ to release on Oct 5'’
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 5 October 2018
New Delhi, Bollywood’s multi-talented star Farhan Akhtar who has time and again impressed the audience with his direction, filmmaking, acting, and singing is currently presenting his fans with back to back musical treats.
A few months ago, Farhan Akhtar shared a picture from Iceland where the multi-talented star shot for his first Hindi single in collaboration with Rochak Kohli.
Recently, Farhan shared a picture announcing a special surprise for fans. Later, the actor shared a short video crooning a few lines from the song asking the audience to guess the name of the song.
The star then shared a picture with scrambled words giving a hint of the song. Titled ‘Jaane Yeh Kyun Kiya’, Farhan Akhtar’s first Hindi single is all set to release on October 5.
Besides featuring in the music video the actor has sung the song and has penned down himself. For this single Farhan has collaborated with Rochak Kohli who has produced the song.
Making his debut a decade ago as an actor as well as singer with ‘Rock On’, Farhan has a number of chartbusters to his credit, including “Rock On”, “Socha Hai”, “Tum Ho To”, “Pichle Saat”, “Senorita”and “Dil Dhadakne Do”.
Earlier this year, Farhan sung his first Telugu song, “I Don’t Know” for Mahesh Babu’s political-thriller, Bharat Ane Nenu. The fast-paced catchy number introduced Mahesh Babu’s character.
On the work front, Farhan Akhtar is gearing up for his upcoming ‘The Sky Is Pink’ where the actor will be starring alongside Priyanka Chopra after ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’.The multi-talented star will also be presenting ‘Gully Boy’ next year.
Tanushree Dutta Gets Legal Notices From Nana Patekar, Vivek Agnihotri; Calls It 'Price For Speaking Out'’
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 4 October 2018
Tanushree Dutta has received two legal notices from Nana Patekar and filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri respectively, reports news agency ANI. Ms Dutta called it 'the price for speaking out against harassment.' The 34-year-old actress has accused Nana Patekar of harassing and threatening her on a film set a decade ago; Vivek Agnihotri allegedly told her to strip off camera for a scene while filming 2005 movie Chocolate. A lawyer for Nana Patekar, currently filming Housefull 4 with Akshay Kumar in Jaisalmer, said last week that a legal notice had been sent to Tanushree Dutta demanding she apologise. Ms Dutta said then she had not received the notice. Today, she said in a statement, "I have been slapped with two legal notices. One from Nana Patekar and another from Vivek Agnihotri. Both their teams are on a smear campaign against me by constructing outright lies and misinformation on social media platforms and other public platforms," Tanushree Dutta said in a statement, ANI reports.
"This is the price you pay for speaking out against harassment, humiliation, and injustice in India," she added.
Like Mr Patekar, Vivek Agnihotri has denied the allegations against him. His lawyer Nidhish Mehrotra said that they have sued the actress on the charge of defamation, reports PTI: "The allegations levelled against my client Vivek Agnihotri by Tanushree Dutta for misbehaviour and/or harassment are absolutely false, frivolous and vexatious. These allegations are deliberate and have been borne with an intent to attract publicity and wreak personal vendetta against my client with mala-fide intentions. On the instruction of my client, we have served a legal notice to initiate defamation action against her."
A film industry member who worked on Chocolate as associate director has defended Mr Agnihotri in a long Facebook post suggesting that Ms Dutta is not credible because she had 'major mood swings' and couldn't 'understand commands and instructions' on set.
Tanushree Dutta has also alleged that she has been getting violent threats from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and that two people recently tried to barge into her home. The Raj Thackeray-led MNS is the same political outfit allegedly involved in vandalising Tanushree Dutta's van and car when she had opted out of the 2008 film (Horn 'Ok' Pleasss) in question.
Violent threats are being issued against me by the MNS. Today, while I was at home and the police personnel posted outside my home were on a lunch break two unnamed suspicious individuals tried getting into our home uninvited but were stopped just in time by security personnel. I'm being threatened to be dragged to the court and legal system of India as we all know can keep a woman and her supporters as well as media silent on the pretext of 'matter sub judice'," Tanushree Dutta said, ANI reports.
On Wednesday, MNS also handed over a letter to the makers of the reality show Bigg Boss 12 on their set in Lonavla, threatening violence if Tanushree Dutta participates. Bigg Boss 12 is hosted by Salman Khan, who, when asked about the Tanushree Dutta and Nana Patekar controversy, had said, "I'm not aware of this, my dear. Let me know and understand what is happening..."
Meanwhile, the Aashiq Banaya Aapne actress told ANI, "Court cases can run for decades without a hope for a conclusion. In the end, an empty shell remains with broken hopes. A life wasted, defeated- this is the age-old saga of survivors in our nation."
Nana Patekar, accused of harassing Tanushree Dutta while filming a song sequence in 2008 and then sending political thugs after her, was defended yesterday by Maharashtra Home Minister Deepak Kesarkar who told the media that the actor "is also a social activist who has done tremendous work for the state. You just cannot level allegations against anybody." While several film industry members have publicly supported Tanushree Dutta - many of them citing an eyewitness account from a female journalist who said she was on set Mr Patekar allegedly harassed the actress - actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Shakti Kapoor have made headlines because of their poor responses to the controversy.
Aamir Khan's Thugs Of Hindostan Look Reviewed By Twitter. Verdict: Firangi Is 'Desi Jack Sparrow'’
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 24 September 2018
Those who were waiting to scrutinise Aamir Khan's look from Thugs Of Hindostan is making 'Firangi' trend on Twitter - that's the character Aamir plays in the movie. A quick glance at Aamir's 'thug' life has reminded Twitter of yet another seafarer - it's none other than Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow from Pirates Of The Caribbean. Twitter has now assigned Firangi from Thugs Of Hindostan the title of "desi Jack Sparrow", as is mentioned in a few tweets: "There comes desi Jack Sparrow Aamir Khan," reads one while another says Aamir is "Gareebon ka Jack Sparrow." Meanwhile, a fan tweeted: "Meet our very own Jack sparrow. Aamir Khan as Firangi."
However, not everybody did let the matter rest after pointing out the similarities. A section of Twitter was clearly not impressed with how Firangi resembles Jack Sparrow. "A child can see similarity between Aamir Khan's character in Thugs Of Hindostan and Jack Sparrow. Excitement gone kaboom. Another copy or as they say 'inspired'," wrote a user.
Meanwhile, Twitter will never let a chance to troll a celebrity slip away, which explains the tweets mentioned below.
While some may not be impressed with Aamir's new look, many on Twitter are cheering for his unique Thug-special get-up:
Aamir Khan's Thugs Of Hindostan co-stars - Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Lloyd Owen - were introduced in their onscreen characters earlier this week.
Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, Thugs Of Hindostan hits screens on November 8
Stree Movie Review: Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao Are Terrific In Madcap Film’
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 31 August 2018
A zany supernatural parable that is both strongly feminist and uproariously funny, Stree, Amar Kaushik's self-assured first feature, delivers shocks and laughs in equal measure. Despite its repeated to-ing and fro-ing between conflicting tones, the horror comedy glides along a firm and steady arc almost all through its runtime of two hours and a bit.
The film's fear quotient, like its comic flourishes, varies pretty wildly - in the climatic moments, it even wobbles just a touch - but the sight of fully grown men cowering in panic at the very mention of the spectral figure who gives the film its title is always hilarious, even when it tilts towards the terrifying.
The director harnesses his resources to their fullest: the lighting, the camera movements, the sound design and the editing all serve the purpose of heightening the film's seamless tonal duality. It goes repeatedly swings between spine-chilling and hysterical, alarming and absurd without losing its grasp.
Stree is a tour de force enlivened enormously by solid contributions from each and every technical department and the superlative turns from the principal actors. The cast is led admirably well by the splendid Rajkummar Rao and that man for all seasons who invariably seems to be a step ahead of the demands of the screenplay - the magnificently malleable Pankaj Tripathi.
Filmed entirely on location in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, Stree combines the tangibility and the rough and tumble of a real small-town ambience and the flights of fancy of a weird fantasy based, as we are told at the start of the opening credits, "on a ridiculous phenomenon". Written by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (also the film's co-producers with Dinesh Vijan), the script pulls wonderful tricks out of its bag to deliver an unconventional entertainer that uses the devices of Mumbai commercial cinema in ways that turn everything on its head.
The hoary town has a dark secret that it wants to forget but can barely live down. This chapter in its long history of patriarchy, misogyny and toxic masculinity - it centres on a beautiful prostitute violently thwarted in her attempt to find true love - lies behind the terror that strikes the hearts of the men of Chanderi during a four-day annual religious festival.
So, it is the time of year when the men are either on the run or are forced to hide behind closed doors, not daring to step out of their homes at night. It is a case of a woman getting her own back, and entirely on her own terms. There is no escaping the attention of Stree when she is out to make her ominous presence felt.
Every home in this haunted area has "O Stree kal aanaa (O Woman, come tomorrow)" written on its walls with red ink created with special ingredients meant to keep evil away. The vengeful ghost is obviously literate and is very, very civil - a woman, even as a wild wraith, does not believe in using force and waits for the consent of her victims before abducting them, leaving only their clothes behind. She whispers a man's name and as soon as he turns around, she is upon him in a flash. The guy vanishes without a trace
Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), a young man famed in the region for his exceptional tailoring skills, works in his father's shop when he isn't gallivanting around town with his two best pals, Bittu (Aparshakti Khurrana) and Jana (Abhishek Banerjee). Their carefree ways are disrupted when a mysterious, unnamed woman (Shraddha Kapoor) appears from out of the blue and sweet talks Vicky into agreeing to stitch a lehenga for her in two days flat. I want to wear it on the last day of the festival, she says. The guy, on his part, falls head over heels in love with the light-eyed lass. There is more to her than meets the eye, Bittu warns Vicky. But Jana eggs him on - with disastrous results
Bittu's fears are strengthened when the town's resident know-all Rudra, a bakwaas baaton ka expert who owns a pustak bhandar, reminds Bittu and Jana of the legend of the avenging spirit on the loose and tells them what they need to do to ward her off. But that is easier said than done. It is hunting season for the wandering spirit and the men resort to desperate measures to stay out of harm's way. This construct is as crazy as it is comical, but the director injects just the right dose of goofiness to make it all consistently quirky and playful.
The quality of the performances that Kaushik extracts from his actors lends Stree infectious flounce. Rajkummar Rao is terrific. Whether he is flummoxed, frightened or simply going along with the flow, he delivers with minimum apparent effort. Shraddha Kapoor is suitably icy as the enigmatic woman who traipses into the protagonist's life and sets off the tremors.
Aparshakti Khurrana, full of beans, steals many a scene. Abhishek Banerjee delivers a high-energy yet controlled performance as the friend who suffers the most at the hands of the eponymous ghost. Pankaj Tripathi is in cracking form, giving the narrative a booster-charge whenever he is on the screen. Atul Srivastava in the role of Vicky's father leaves an impression in the handful of scenes he has in the film.
Stree plays an unwavering hand in demonstrating that dread can be unbridled fun when it serves a larger thematic purpose. Go watch this spine-tingling film. It is completely madcap but there is method in its manic madness
A R Rahman, Tabrez Noorani come together for ‘Love Sonia’
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 29 August 2018
New Delhi, After previously collaborating on Slumdog Millionaire filmmaker Tabrez Noorani and Grammy Award-winning composer A R Rahman have come back together for Noorani’s directorial debut ‘Love Sonia’.
Mr Rahman along with breakout artist Bishop Briggs will record new song entitled I Am More for the film.
The song is penned by Rianjali.Its round two for director Tabrez and Rahman, the two have previously worked together for the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008).
Rahman’s work gained him even more global prominence with the extraordinary success of his score for the film.
Rahman will create the song along with young American-British singer Bishop Briggs who is best known for her popular single River.
I have known Tabrez since ‘Slumdog Millionaire and then we went on to work on a couple of other projects. With this, he makes his directorial debut and I’m happy for him because projects like these happen with a lot of good intention to propel positive changes in the society,” Rahman said.
It was a pleasure working with Tabrez, Academy nominated producer David and the talented artist Bishop Briggs for the song ‘I Am More’,” Rahman added.
I Am More is truly magical and sung powerfully by Bishop Briggs. Its a wonderful combination of ARs Indian aethetics and the powerful voice of emerging international star, Bishop. Working with AR finally as a director was such an enriching experience, after hearing about various Directors talk about what it was like to work with him,” Tabrez said.
He is truly a genius, understated, humble and so sensitive when it comes to representing the matter of the film. It was a truly unique experience to work with both AR, Bishop and Rianjali who wrote a truly beautiful song. I can’t wait for people to hear it,” Tabrez added.
Lakme Fashion Week: Esha Deol Walks Out After Being Interrupted By Organisers
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 28 August 2018
Hema Malini and her daughter Esha Deol walked the ramp for designer Sanjukta Dutta over the weekend at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. After the ramp walk, the mother-daughter duo, wearing beautiful Assamese silk saris, interacted with the media backstage, wherein Hema Malini spoke about their outfits and Esha's upcoming film Cakewalk. As soon as she handed over the mic to Esha, the anchor interrupted and categorically mentioned that it's not a media interaction but a photo op and asked the designer to take over. In the videos going viral on social media, Esha Deol, visibly upset, walked off, followed by mother Hema Malini.
Walking the ramp with my most comfortable partner my mother Hema Malini for the awesome talented designer Sanjukta Dutta! Our best wishes to you," Esha had posted after the show.
Of making an appearance with Hema Malini at the Lakme Fashion Week, Esha earlier told news agency IANS, "I am very excited to be back on the ramp with my mom Hema Malini for designer Sanjukta Dutta to promote my film Cakewalk, directed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee. The film deals with a certain issue which every women and men in our country will be able to relate."
Cakewalk is a short film that tracks the story of a chef Shilpa Sen, played by Esha, who juggles between her professional and personal lives.
Esha Deol hasn't made any screen appearance after 2015's Kill Them Young. She is married to businessman Bharat Takhtani. The couple are parents to daughter Radhya.
Genius Movie Review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Most Forgettable Film
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 25 August 2018
The film is written, directed and produced by his dad Anil Sharma. Utkarsh Sharma's launch vehicle is understandably loaded heavily in his favour. A father's love knows no bounds. The film frequently grinds to a halt to allow papa's boy to launch into veritable monologues. The trouble is that in the end Genius - has a Hindi movie title ever been more presumptuous? - does no real favours to the debutant. By over-burdening the callow actor, this atrociously misshapen film only exposes his chinks.
It doesn't help that the acting skills of the female lead (Ishitha Chauhan) is even more rudimentary - she simply doesn't have the chops to push her co-star to excel. The IIT Roorkee girl that she plays goes from uncompromisingly ambitious and snooty to cloyingly lovey-dovey and faithful in next to no time. Wish this insufferably long film - it clocks 165 minutes - had the same pace.
The actors are stuck in the innards of a stupendously sloppy screenplay in which anything goes in a way that is reminiscent of the excesses that Bollywood would routinely foist upon audiences in the era in which Anil Sharma began making movies. Utkarsh Sharma, bearing the load of a bloated film, is condemned to mouthing lines like "bachpan hai toh bachpana toh hoga" and "aapke liye toh muft mein bik jaoonga". The former is pearl of wisdom is addressed to his RAW bosses who are exhausted with his youthful enthusiasm, the latter show of generosity is directed at his girlfriend after she enquires if he is free and he responds with "mehenga hoon". That is how smart this young man is. He has mastered both Ved and vigyan (the Vedas and science). He even declares something akin to Garv se kaho hum prachin hai (be proud to be ancient).
Nor is that all. In a crucial scene in the second half, having gone rogue, the Indian security agency's hotshot agent corners a compromised minister and crooked RAW official and thunders: This is the business of patriots, yahaan sirf sanskaar hote hain, woh bhi antim. John Abraham's dialogue-baazi in Satyameva Jayate sound extraordinarily good.
The writing in Genius is that abysmal. It seeks to turn an ordinary looking, slightly built young man into a destructive, insuperable mean machine endowed with abilities of the body and mind that do not sit pretty on his shoulders. Action hero, super spy, lover boy, computer whiz and an invincible patriot, the male protagonist is a man for all seasons and all reasons.
When push comes to shove, the protagonist, Vasudev Shastri, an orphan raised by a Mathura temple priest after the death of his parents in communal rioting, is not averse to feigning insanity. Not that anything he ever does is normal. Right at the outset, after a physically bruising mission in Porbander leaves him with a pronounced limp and tinnitus-induced amplified hearing, is declared "medically unfit to be in the secret services", he is dismissed as delusional. He could be brain-dead soon, the doctor rules. Well, well, isn't the man already a basket case?
As he is wheeled into a psychiatric ward for some quick shock treatment, the script intersperses his dramatic convulsions with a love song on a beach. Talk of the lack of dimaagi santulan (mental balance) - the malady afflicts the makers of Genius as much as it does the film's characters.
The presence in the cast of Nawazuddin Siddiqui - he dons the guise of a terror mastermind who has an old score to settle with India's national security adviser Jaishankar Prasad (Mithun Chakraborty) and schemes to use the hero to serve that end - makes matters worse. Even at half tilt, Siddiqui operates in a zone entirely his own. Yet, Genius will quickly go down as the most forgettable movie he has ever been in.
One cannot but laugh when the younger actor, in a bloodied and badly mauled state, snarls at the baddie: "Tu mujhe rok sakega (Can you stop me)?" No wonder Siddiqui isn't allowed to enter the fray until only a few minutes before the intermission. It is another matter that he, too, cannot do much to salvage Genius. What do you expect a villain to do when he supposed to exude menace by saying "Dhyaan se sun meri baat, nahin maani toh udda doonga sabko" (Listen to me with care, if you do not heed my words, I'll blow everything up?"
The film itself needs no help to implode. Its first half is composed of a string of fuzzy flashbacks designed to showcase Utkarsh's range as an actor, a dancer, a campus star, and a combination of a geek and a cool guy. The emotional spectrum of the character is wide indeed, but do not expect a demonstration of a wide gamut of expressions. The performance stays steadfastly rooted in the same place.
The second half of Genius is unabashed cinematic poop. It is so asinine that it is hard to believe that in this day and age there still are people in the Mumbai movie industry willing to sink money into such a travesty of an action film.
In this maddeningly inept battle of Genius-giri between the good guy and the bad, the deshbhakt and the deshdrohi, the tricolour inevitably gets dragged in a few times. It needs no great intelligence to grasp the sheer shallowness of the posturing. The worse a Bollywood film is these days the more desperate it seems to be to fall back on patriotic fervour as a ploy to gloss over its glitches. But no amount of flag-waving and chest-thumping can deflect from the fact that Genius is an unspeakably shoddy film. Show some self-love and stay away from it. India will take care of itself.
Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi Movie Review: Sonakshi Sinha's Star Turn Undermined By Unfunny Script
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 24 August 2018
This caper flick can't make do with one Happy. So it has two of them. Does that yield double the fun? No. Riding on a screenplay that yo-yos wildly between the utterly inane and the overly contrived, two's a crowd in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. One Happy (Sonakshi Sinha) does all the running. The other (Diana Penty, this time in a special appearance) flits in and out of the picture in a completely random manner. The result is anything but happy.
Not that Sonakshi does not give the role her best shot. Hers is a lively star turn. It might have buoyed up the film if only it had the comic energy to go the distance. It doesn't get too far because it merely runs around in circles. Its gags are gratuitous and the one-liners too vacuous to hit home.
When the two namesakes, after much listless huffing and puffing that sees them encounter old and new friends and confront sly foes, come face to face in Shanghai, Happy No. 1 promises Happy No. 2 that their next meeting back in Amritsar would be in less confusing and more relaxed circumstances. We aren't sure we are looking forward to it. Another Phirr would be one too many.
The sluggish, singularly unfunny Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, a follow-up to 2016's frisky Happy Bhag Jayegi in which the eponymous runaway bride had ended up in Lahore and a right royal mess, serves up a convoluted version of Chinese 'chukkers' that does not raise as much as a few mild chuckles.
Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi unfolds in China, where key characters from the first film are joined by an Indian embassy man from Patiala (played by Punjabi singer-actor Jassi Gill in his Bollywood debut) even as a suave non-resident Pakistani gentleman - that is what he appears to be on the face of it - causes them no end of trouble. This wolf in sheep's clothing - his name is Adnan Chow and his Urdu is to die for - is played by Denzil Smith with self-effacing detachment. His refined performance is one of the few things that works in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi.
About the only time the film strikes a passably droll note is when Jimmy Sheirgill, in a meta-textual context, ticks off Jassi Gill for preening over his family name. 'You are Gill, but I am Sheirgill', the former retorts. Gentle bluster has its uses even in a film as lacklustre as this one.
Sheirgill has obvious bragging rights in this comedy written and directed by Mudassar Aziz. He has been here before, playing a small-time politician thwarted in his plans to marry the female protagonist. This time around, however, he is reduced to the status of a mere hanger-on, strutting around spouting banalities and eventually settling for a tame "yeh bhi theek hai" in most exchanges with Usman Afridi (Piyush Mishra) or Jassi Gill's character Khushwant Singh Gill, Khushi miyan to Adnan Chow. Actually, nothing is quite right here.
Ditto Ali Fazal, one of the more charming actors in the cast. He is summoned into the frame off and on to be by the side of the first Harpreet Kaur alias Happy while pursuing his singing ambitions. He jets into Shanghai for a proposed concert but finds himself instead on the campus of a university where the second Harpreet Kaur alias Happy is scheduled to begin a stint as a horticulture lecturer.
The new Happy - she has a preeminent position in this film - is whisked away by a Chinese gangster named Chang (Jason Tham, who makes his presence felt in an extended cameo) who mistakes her for the other Happy. Robbed of her passport, Happy No. 2 runs into Khushwant Singh Gill, who, in turn, takes her to Adnan Chow who he believes could help her find a way out of the hole.
Not to be left behind, Bagga (Sheirgill) and retired Pakistani cop Usman Afridi land in Shanghai to stir the pot further. A fretful dad (Raja Bundela) and a fugitive fiance; (Aparshakti Khurrana) are also thrown into the mix. Collectively, they unleash a great deal of commotion without setting anything meaningful into motion.
The humour in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi is puerile when it isn't outright racist or sexist. Besides the continuing India-Pakistan banter between Bagga and Afridi, there are the sickening lunges at the language and facial features of the Chinese. Bagga's argument is that we are Punjabis - two from Amritsar, one from Patiala and one from Lahore - and we have the inalienable right to be boisterous. Fair enough - this is typical Bollywood stereotyping of a community - but the form that their actions and words assume in this comedy are imbecile and irritating.
The film's background score inevitably blends Punjabi drum beats and rhythms with strains of Mera naam chin chin chu. Qamar Jalalabadi's lyrics and OP Nayyar's composition also get the full-on treatment with Aparshakti Khurana swaying to the song in drag in a Guangzhou prison. There is a big reveal at this point of the plot, but the twist, like everything else, falls flat.
The silliest part of the 137-minute film is its climax. Having been chased by the Shanghai baddies for all of two hours, the Indians who are themselves to blame for much of the muddle decide to leave their hosts - and the audience - in the lurch.
Sonakshi does most of the heavy lifting, but the lightness of the film undermines her efforts. The high-on-enthusiasm Jassi Gill, too, is let down by a half-baked character. Jimmy Sheirgill, for once, is unable to rise above the script. Piyush Mishra hams his way through the film. His job is to add an Urdu icing on a Punjabi cake but all he manages to do is make you want to scream, on a cue from another character in the film:"Dimaag mat chaat."
The primary problem with Happy Phirr Bhaag Jayegi isn't that it is pure drivel. That is something that could be pardoned in Bollywood laugh riot. But here, the hilarity quotient is low. The precursor had delivered on at least a part of the promise inherent in the quirky premise. This one goes through the motions without ever coming close to finding a genuine rhythm
Aamir Khan's Eid Special Fam-Jam Pic Really Needs No Caption
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 23 August 2018
Eid calls for family time and that's exactly how it was at the Aamir Khan household, who had a grand fam-jam on Wednesday. After the festivities were nicely rounded off, Aamir Khan Instagrammed a priceless moment for the fam-jam and we agree with the 53-year-old superstar that the click needs no caption actually. In the photo, Aamir can be spotted posing with wife Kiran Rao, mother Zeenat Hussain, sisters Nikhat and Farhat Khan, nephew Imran Khan and his wife Avantika and others. Well, some of Aamir's guests are missing from him Eid-special photo, which include members from his Dangal family. Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra, who played his onscreen daughters in the sports biopic were also there, who Instagrammed their own set of memories.
Going by Fatima Sana Shaikh's Instagram story, Aamir's Eid party included scrumptious looking Biryani on the menu. Aamir, who was clearly busy attending to his guests at the party, resurfaced on Twitter in the afternoon to wish his fans and followers.
Can you spot Aamir's son Junaid in this photo? Joining Aamir, Fatima and Sana were Dangal director Nitesh Tiwari and his filmmaker wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari.
Busy man Aamir Khan always ensures that he takes a break from his packed schedule to spend time with his family on special days like on his birthday in March, he took a break from his Thugs Of Hindostan shoot in Jodhpur to celebrate the day with Kiran Rao at his Bandra residence.
On the work front, Aamir Khan is looking forward to the release of Thugs Of Hindostan, in which he co-stars with Fatima again. Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif are also part of the cast. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, Thugs Of Hindostan releases during Diwali.
Sujata Kumar Began Acting 12 Years After Marriage To Reclaim Freedom, Reveals Sister Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 21 August 2018
Late actress Sujata Kumar, best known for her role in films like English Vinglish and Raanjhanaa, took up acting 12 years after being married to "reclaim her freedom," her sister Suchitra Krishnamoorthi revealed in an obituary she wrote, which was published in Mumbai Mirror on Tuesday. In the piece, Suchitra said that her sister never "craved for fame." Apart from films, Sujata Kumar featured on television shows such as Hotel Kingston and Bombay Talking and Suchitra said that when Sujata got bored with the graph of her onscreen character she'd ask her directors to "kill off" her character. "She took up acting after being married for 12 years, not because she craved fame - she never cared about that, and in fact, she had always shied away from the limelight. She did it on a whim, to reclaim her freedom," Suchitra wrote in the piece.
"But sometimes, she would get so bored with her acting jobs that she would call up her directors and tell them to kill off her character. 'Mere character ko haar daalke photo lagado,' she would laugh," Suchitra added.
Sujata Kumar led a life filled with trials and tribulations in the form of an abusive childhood and a failed marriage, of which she talked about at a TEDx event independently organised by a local community. Suchitra also shared the undated video of Sujata talking in details about the dark chapters of her life - from delivering a stillborn baby to the overlapping of her divorce proceedings and chemotherapy. In the video, titled How To Filter Emotional Pollutants From Your Life, revealed the heart-breaking details of her life.
In her piece for Mumbai Mirror, Suchitra also remembered Sujata Kumar as a "compassionate soul" and said that she "practically raised her and was her best friend." Suchitra wrote: "Over the years, I took her goodness for granted but like she would tell me, 'Be bindaas,' I was just that. I will miss her quiet wisdom as much as her raucous laughter."
Sujata Kumar died after battling cancer on Monday. Sujata is survived by her daughter Kritika Kumar.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Pays Tribute To Atal Bihari Vajpayee With Old Pic, Also Featuring Sridevi
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 20 August 2018
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with some old pictures on Instagram, some days after his death. Aishwarya shared a series of pictures on Instagram last evening with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and late actress Sridevi. Mr Vajpayee died in New Delhi on Thursday after a long illness. He was 93. Aishwarya and Sridevi had reportedly met Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000, when he was the Prime Minister. "Respect. Rest in peace," Aishwarya wrote. She can be seen wearing a sea-green saree and Sridevi in a white salwar suit. Mr Vajpayee, Sridevi and Aishwarya share a hearty laugh. Take a look
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death was mourned by several other prominent celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Lata Mangeshkar, Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor and others.
On his blog, Amitabh Bachchan described Mr Vajpayee as an 'extremely rare human.' "A stalwart, a poet, a writer, an enlightened mind and a compassionate being leaves this world and we mourn his passing. He was an admirer of my father and his works and there were many occasions when I would be present at their meetings," the 75-year-old actor wrote. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is married to Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's son Abhishek. The couple are parents to daughter Aaradhya, 6.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was cremated with full state honours on Thursday evening and his ashes were immersed in Haridwar on Sunday. His cremation was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other political leaders
Taken': Priyanka Chopra On Roka Pic, Nick Jonas Leaves Fantastic Comment
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 18 August 2018
We can dispense with the word rumoured now because Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, newly engaged, just made it official on Instagram. "Taken, with all my heart and soul," the 36-year-old actress posted, with a picture of herself and Nick at their roka ceremony held at the Chopra residence in Mumbai today. 'Future Mrs Jonas. My heart. My love,' wrote Nick, 24, in a post of his own. He also outdid himself by leaving a comment on Priyanka's post, writing: "He's the luckiest guy in the world." The comments thread is flooded with congratulatory messages from Malaika Arora and other celebrities. Nick is believed to have proposed to Priyanka last month - today's ceremony served as a formal announcement. A grand engagement party is expected this evening. See the posts shared by Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas below:
The roka was attended by Priyanka's cousin Parineeti Chopra, who flew home from a shoot for the engagement, and Salman Khan's sister Arpita, among others.
The ladkewale at the roka include Nick Jonas' parents Denise and Kevin, who flew into Mumbai with their son on Thursday.
Last evening, Priyanka and Nick were spotted getting dinner at a Mumbai hotel. Her mother Madhu Chopra and brother Siddharth were with them.
This evening's engagement party will reportedly be held at a Mumbai hotel. The guest list is likely to include Priyanka Chopra's Dil Dhadakne Do and Bajirao Mastani co-star Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Karan Johar.
Priyanka and Nick attended the Met Gala together last year but reportedly only began dating a few months ago. Nick is believed to have popped the question to Priyanka in London last month on her birthday, with a diamond ring from Tiffany.
In Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas Rumours Today: Engagement In Mumbai This Weekend
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 16 August 2018
International websites seem to be closely following all the developments related to Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' rumoured romance. People Magazine and E! News had earlier reported that Priyanka and Nick got engaged in London in July, after having dated for a couple of months. Now, it is believed that their engagement party will be hosted by the Chopras over the weekend in Mumbai. E! News reports that Nick and his family are travelling to India for the party. "Nick Jonas and his immediate family are traveling to India this weekend to attend an engagement party hosted by Priyanka's family. It's going to be the first time that their families intermingle and get to know each other," a source told E! News.
Priyanka is already in India, where she is currently busy with her project, tentatively titled The Sky Is Pink. Nick reportedly proposed to Priyanka on her 36th birthday in London.
"It's a tradition for them to meet before the wedding and Priyanka's family insisted on hosting the Jonas family in their country. Priyanka wants everything to be traditional to respect her family's values, and definitely an Indian wedding. Priyanka and Nick are excited for everyone to meet and to celebrate. Everything is very secretive but guests are expected to head there starting tomorrow. All of the plans are moving quickly and Priyanka and Nick do not want to have a long engagement," the source told E! News.
Weeks ago, when Priyanka dropped out of Salman Khan's Bharat, for a 'very special reason,' it was believed that she might have quit the film to marry Nick Jonas and later, reports of the duo being already engaged featured in headlines.
Priyanka and her family had previously hosted Nick Jonas in Mumbai during their brief trip in June. Priyanka, her cousin Parineeti also took Nick to Goa and later, he attended an Ambani party.
Though there is no official confirmation about the rumoured engagement, but a response by Nick on being congratulated had sent the Internet into a meltdown and just yesterday, a picture of Priyanka and her stunning diamond ring from designer Manish Malhotra's party, kept folks busy.
US Weekly reported that at an event in New York, when a fan congratulated Nick, he responded, "Thanks man!"
And, this was Priyanka's picture, which the Internet believes is her engagement ring.
Nick Jonas, 25, had reportedly shut down an entire Tiffany's store in New York to pick out Priyanka Chopra's ring. Another E! News report states that Priyanka's ring has a value of around $200,000. "Priyanka's ring is a high quality cushion cut weighing around 4 carats. It looks to be somewhere around a G color, VS1 clarity which, from Tiffany & Co, would have a value of around $200,000," Andrew Brown, President, WP Diamonds told E! News.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas first met at last year's Met Gala.
Deepika Padukone And Ranveer Singh's Rumoured Wedding Gets New Date, Guest List
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 14 August 2018
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are trending again and no points for guessing its because of fresh additions to details about their still-unconfirmed wedding. Fans of 'DeepVeer' are busy rejoining the reported final wedding date of the couple, which a Filmfare report states to be November 20 - it was rumoured to be November 10 before. Quoting a source, Filmfare states that the couple will have a destination wedding in Italy's Lake Como with a guest-list restricted to 30 names, including just family and close ones: "It's a very special day for both Ranveer and Deepika which is why they just want the close ones to be present for their wedding ceremony. Mostly it will be their families and a few close friends. The guest list consists of merely 30 people and that's exactly how these two want it."
The wedding may be a close-knit affair but the star couple are also reportedly planning reception parties on a grand scale once they touchdown in India after their destination wedding: "Italy is a favourite destination of both Ranveer and Deepika so they want to keep their big day more of a private affair. They are looking forward to hosting grand receptions once they're back in India post the wedding," Filmfare quoted the source as saying.
Veteran actor Kabir Bedi was amongst those who spotted the article and sent out congratulatory messages to the duo. Whether Mr Bedi is more informed than the rest of us are or not is not known but this is what he tweeted: "Great couple! Great locale in Italy! Great event! Wishing Ranveer and Depika a wonderful wedding, and a lifetime of happiness," Mr Bedi tweeted.
In June this year, fresh rumours brought out November 10 as their wedding date with Filmfare reporting that the Padukones and Singhs had already begun with the wedding shopping. In July, Deepika was photographed shopping in Bengaluru last month when it was reported that she was apparently shopping for her wedding jewellery. Then in June, she was spotted on a shopping spree in Bandra with her mother Ujjala Padukone in tow. On Monday, Deepika and her mother were photographed at the Mumbai airport as they returned from Bangalore. Meanwhile, Deepika and Ranveer were holidaying in Florida, Orlando with Deepika's sister Anisha recently.
On the work front, Deepika has a lighter work load than Ranveer, who is currently prepping for '83. He also has Simmba and Gully Boy in the line-up. Deepika's film with Irrfan Khan has been postponed indefinitely.
Deepika Padukone And Ranveer Singh's Instagram PDA Gets Cuter With Each Comment
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 13 August 2018
Deepika Padukone + Ranveer Singh = couple goals x infinity, right? Yes, indeed. Most of the times, the couple set new bars for all us through their PDA on Instagram. Just last week, Deepika's "why so hawt?" comment on Ranveer's picture sent the Internet into a meltdown and here, they are at it again. Deepika cannot stop drooling over Ranveer's intense picture (a collage) like most of us and commented, "Stop it," adding some heart-eyed emojis. Ranveer responded soon and posted a kiss emoticon. YES, HE DID. "Deepika Padukone, you stop it," he wrote. (Guys, please stop being so, so adorable).
Here's Ranveer's picture and their Instagram exchange for you.
Tales of Deepika and Ranveer flirting with each other on social media are plenty. On one of Ranveer's previous "Monday blues?" post, Deepika said, "Uff! Never."
And, her "why so hawt?" comment was on this picture of Ranveer.
Last evening, Deepika shared a picture of herself with sister Anisha. BTW, their picture was clicked by Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone recently came to India after holidaying in Orlando, Florida. They navigated the airport holding hands and couldn't stop smiling as the paparazzi followed them.
In social media posts from Orlando, the couple were spotted at Disney World hand-in-hand with Anisha.
After landing in India, Deepika and Ranveer together celebrated his sister Ritika's birthday.
COMMENT
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are reportedly looking forward to a wedding in Italy on November 10. They were last seen together in "Padmaavat".
Fanney Khan Movie Review: Anil Kapoor's Energy Is Infectious, Aishwarya Rai And Rajkummar Rao Make An Odd Pair
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 4 August 2018
A 1990s orchestra singer, now on the wrong side of 50, seeks recompense for his failure to make it big. He is willing to go to any length to help his only daughter attain stardom. The girl has a fine voice but she doesn't possess the body type of a pop diva. "Dekha hai apne ko mirror mein kabhi," she is frequently asked. So much so that she herself begins to believe that popular music these days is more about seeing than hearing and that "it is all about styling".
So, for both the fat-shamed girl and her out-of-work father, a life-changing opening is a castle in the air. That is the narrative kernel of Fanney Khan, officially adapted from the Belgian hit Everybody's Famous! (2000) and given the spin of a Bollywood musical that upends the established notions of showbiz success.
Portions of Fanney Khan are a bit of a stretch: they are a touch flabby and far-fetched. But first-time director Atul Manjrekar not only keeps the dramatic core of the story intact, he also ramps it up appreciably to serve up an indigenized version that more than serves its purpose.
Of course, the film's flights of fancy do demand a willing suspension of disbelief. What undermines Fanney Khan is its inability to tap to the fullest the universal emotions inherent in the father-daughter relationship. The worldviews of the two clash frequently and the daughter sees her dad's earnest enthusiasm as more irritating than encouraging. How the reconciliation happens is the crux of the story but it does not hit home hard enough when it is time for the film to wind down.
Fanney Khan pivots around the infectious energy that Anil Kapoor brings to bear upon the character of the failed musician Prashant Sharma. The film kicks off with a rendition of Badan pe sitare lapete huye: a rousing curtain-raiser. But the man's joys are short-lived. One fine morning, he loses his factory job. Prashant hides the crisis from his wife Kavita (Divya Dutta). He begins to drive a taxi for an old friend Kader (Satish Kaushik).
Prashant's daughter (debutante Pihu Sand), christened Lata for obvious reasons ("Main Mohammed Rafi toh nahin ban saka tujhe zaroor Lata Mangeshkar banaoonga," her father vows the day she's born), is on the lookout for a break. Her mother wonders why it is necessary to become a star, while her friend Rhea (Barbie Rajput) suggests that she keep her feet on the ground because becoming a star is no cakewalk.
Away from the chawl that is home to the Sharma family - the patriarch's lingo suggests that they have roots in Hyderabad - another woman needs a break of a completely different kind. Baby Singh (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), the reigning female crooner of the land, is grappling with fatigue. She wants to run away from the unending whirligig of concerts, reality show appearances, photo shoots and the demands of her pushy manager Karan Kakkad (Girish Kulkarni) in order to recharge her batteries.
The paths of the aspiring Lata and the super-successful Baby cross tangentially when Prashant, on a whim, kidnaps the latter. After a tiff with her manager, Baby boards Prashant's cab. He sedates her with sleeping pills and drives her to the premises of the sealed factory. He hopes to extort from her the money he requires to fund Lata's first album. He holds Baby Singh captive and turns to his best pal and former co-worker Adhir (Rajkummar Rao) for help.
Initially, Adhir is reluctant but opts to be party to the conspiracy when his girlfriend Jinal (Swati Semwal) leaves for Goa against his wish to attend an acting workshop. Soon enough, the Stockholm syndrome kicks in and the kidnapping victim develops a soft corner for the captor. Adhir, on the rebound, promptly reciprocates the feeling.
Hidden behind a Rajinikanth mask, Fanney Khan meets Kakkad and makes an unconventional demand - a recording of a song that he has composed for his daughter. Kakkad agrees - he wants Baby Singh safe and sound. As Baby's rapport with the awkward Adhir grows, the latter not only cooks for her but also agrees to fetch Ustad, the star's pet Beagle, from her apartment and feed the dog.
Adhir leaves a tell-tale trail behind on the way out. The world gets wind of the kidnapping. The TV channels flash the news. The Mumbai police, however, remains inexplicably unmoved, allowing the hostage time to cement her bonding with Adhir.
There we go again: Fanney Khan abounds in such leaps of logic. But all of it is in the pursuit of some harmless fun and emotional manipulation. The fun remains low-key; the vigorous pulling at the heartstrings, which gathers momentum in the lead-up to the climax, yields some returns by way of emotional impact.
The characters are developed in a rather slapdash manner, but the actors, taking a cue from the lead, throw everything into their roles. Newcomer Pihu Sand is terrific as Lata Sharma, Divya Dutta makes her presence felt, and Girish Kulkarni effortlessly gets into the swing of things.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajkummar Rao, actors coming from different ends of the Bollywood spectrum, make an odd pair. Even the characters that they etch out on the screen - one is an orphan, the other is a refugee from Kashmir - have nothing in common. The evolution of their romance strains credibility.
But in a film that glides in and out of the make-believe, it is no big deal if the love story, which anyways runs parallel to the main narrative track of the film, flirts with the unreal. Isn't that what cinematic plots hinging on the realization of impossible dreams are supposed to be? Fanney Khan is that - and more. Embrace it. It will do no harm
Karwaan Movie Review: Irrfan Khan Weighed Down With Misfiring Punch Lines
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 3 August 2018
On the face of it, one might find enough to like in Karwaan to stay invested in the ride long enough not to be put off by the many awkward sputters along the way. The film has a wonderful cast, lush visuals and an easy, unhurried, non-formulaic flow. Three temperamentally dissimilar characters - a chirpy college girl and two buddies separated in terms of age by many years - drive off in a van from Bangalore to Kochi via Ooty with the coffin of an elderly woman killed in a road accident.
It is a journey riddled with complications, both for the characters and the screenplay. In a manner that is a preserve of road movies, the trio discovers many a truth about themselves, life and their absent dads. The film encounters far too many speed-breakers to make the grade as a genuinely trippy affair.
Viewed through cinematographer Avinash Arun's camera, the slice-of-life film is awash with the dazzling hues of Kerala, but the script (developed by Adhir Bhat and director Akarsh Khurana from a story by Bejoy Nambiar) is sadly off-colour. Its picture postcard packaging makes Karwaan easy on the eye. However, the dark humour and the irreverent banter (dialogue: Hussain Dalal) is marred by inconsistency.
The actors do all they can to inject life into their roles, but the people that they play do not develop into convincing characters. The somnolent pace of the film isn't to blame. In fact, it is probably a good thing that the tale is in no haste to get to its destination. The route that it takes to get where it wants to get meanders through detours that do not add value to the voyage.
In the final moments of the film, the chatty, free-spirited girl declares that there is a world of difference between baghavat (rebellion) and bewaqoofi (stupidity). It isn't clear if her utterance represents a moment of self-realization - you sound oh-so Sufi, she is told - or is directed at the co-traveller she berates a few times for being avuncular and judgmental. The contrast between witticism and whimsicality, too, is huge and it is down this chasm that the film hurtles all too frequently.
The film's title comes from one of poet-lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri's most fabled Urdu couplets - Main akela hi chala thha janib-e-manzil magar/Log saath aate gaye aur karwaan banta gaya (I started off all alone towards my destination but people kept joining me and it turned into a caravan). These lines are painted on the body of the van-turned-hearse that is a key component of the film, but the promised 'caravan' does not get going.
Dulquer Salmaan, in his first Hindi film role, is a morose young man whose life has veered off the course that he had desired for himself. Avinash Rajpurohit - yes, the name itself appears to carry a load of expectations - pins the responsibility on his estranged middle-class dad (Akash Khurana, real-life father of the film's director and co-writer) who fretted and fumed about his future to such an extent that he had to abandon his dream of being a photographer.
Avinash is now trapped in a dreary, soul-destroying desk job in a Bangalore software firm where a writing on the wall warns employees not to complain because "unemployment feels much worse". Another board reminds them: Don't forget, you could be replaced.
You Tube sensation Mithila Palkar, also in her first Bollywood role, is Taniya Kutty, a loquacious lass and a rebel without a cause. The body in the boot is her grandmother's - it is on the way to Kochi because the remains of Avinash's dad, killed in the same tragic mishap during a pilgrimage, have ended up at the wrong address - the Kochi home of Taniya's mom Tahira Moiuddeen Kutty
The girl talks incessantly and Avinash, a man of few words, has a tough time reining her in. There is a back story involving Taniya's dad, too, but she isn't the type who lives in the past and wonders how things might have been turned out had life panned out differently.
The third character - Shaukat, a cynical, conservative automobile service station owner - is essayed by Irrfan Khan. It is this man's weather-beaten van that is requisitioned for the unusual shipment. It faces a vicious attack by hoodlums from whom Shaukat's abusive, wife-beating father had borrowed money.
The goons have a score to settle. In the bargain, the vehicle, all smashed up, ends up on the grounds of a police station. Shaukat, on his part, finds himself on a hospital bed struggling to spout poetry to impress a pretty woman by the side of a wizened shehnai player in an adjoining bed.
Avinash, who never opens his mouth without weighing the consequences of his words, is the polar opposite of the older Shaukat, whose dismissive bon mots are supposed to liven up the ride. Do they? Not really. He comes across as a veritable Colonel Blimp, man who in need of a urgent crash course in good manners.
The way Shaukat conducts himself with a backpacking European couple looking for the departure gates of Bangalore airport smacks of racial prejudice. He not only takes a swipe at the woman's attire but also presumes that the visitors are junkies who never take a bath.
It gets much worse as Shaukat turns on Taniya the very first time he sets his eyes on her. He refuses to let her travel in his van if she does not discard her short skirt. Avinash sheepishly conveys the message to her. The girl duly puts him in his place. Shaukat then ticks Taniya off for adopting English to communicate. And then, between the two men, they make a excruciatingly big deal about the girl's drinking and smoking. For good measure, the younger man freaks out when Tania buys a pregnancy test kit off a medicine store shelf.
DQ, saddled with a single-note character, does not have any bandwidth at all to work with. Mithila - who demonstrated her potential infinitely better in last year's Marathi rom-com Muramba - is similarly hamstrung. The biggest disappointment is Irrfan. Never has this consummate actor been so weighed down by misfiring punch lines.
Karwaan had the potential to be a fun ride. Unfortunately, much of it remains unrealized.
Mulk: No Stay On Release Of Rishi Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu's Film, Says Director
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 2 August 2018
Anubhav Sinha's Mulk is releasing as per schedule on August 3, the director said in a statement, which he shared on Twitter. On Monday, reports of a stay order issued on the release of Mulk, starring Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu, were being circulated on social media and WhatsApp, which the filmmaker says are false. "No such order has been served upon us. If someone has mischievously mislead the court and if the court has really passed such an order we hall move in a petition to vacate the same ASAP," read the statement shared by Anubhav Sinha. Team Mulk retweeted Anubhav's post on their respective social media accounts. "Logistically all arrangements are in place to release the film on the set date - August 3," he added.
The trailer of Mulk released to mixed response on social media in July. Several twitter users praised Anubhav Sinha for talking about a sensitive issue with maturity while a section of the Internet disagreed and trolled him. Mulk is the story of a Muslim family (the patriarch of which is played by Rishi Kapoor), branded traitors, after one of their members is killed in a terrorist encounter. Taapsee Pannu plays the defense lawyer, who wants to establish that the family is being targeted because of their religion.
Speaking about his film to news agency PTI, Anubhav Sinha said: "The film has a good intent, it is not a political film in anyway. It is a very social film, about everyone. I knew I wasn't going to take a political side, I wanted to take a human side which can't be wrong or controversial."
Hello, Suhana Khan': Shah Rukh Khan Couldn't Be Prouder As Daughter Makes Vogue Debut
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 1 August 2018
Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana found a spot on the Wednesday's trends list, courtesy of her first ever magazine shoot. Shah Rukh unveiled the cover featuring his 18-year-old daughter at the Vogue Beauty Awards on Tuesday night. Later, he tweeted the cover image and a picture of him launching it at the event and wrote: "Holding her in my arms again thanks to @vogueindia . 'What imperfect carriers of love we are... except when it comes to our children.' So sending you all my love and a big hug. Hello, Suhana Khan." In her first interview, Suhana talked about her dream of becoming an actor - a day, which we don't think is too far.
"I have been gifted to be in the company of so many fantastic women and I hope my daughter can join in and be one of them someday. She is 18, she is lovely, sensitive, sweet and extremely shy but also extremely strong. I will be proud of her when she is proud of herself and the job that she does and Insha'Allah she will do that," Shah Rukh Khan said at the event on Tuesday night.
Suhana Khan, who has constantly been shadowed by the paparazzi and often trends for pictures from her casual outings and holidays, said in the interview that she was excited about featuring on the cover when her parents - Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan - brought it up. "I wanted to say yes straight away but they wanted me to think about it - this is a very public thing. They wanted me to gain confidence from the experience, not lose it," she said.
Suhana Khan told Vogue she was absolutely sure she wanted to become an actor and revealed that her parents realised that she was serious after watching her onstage in a play. "I don't think there was any one moment when I decided. Since I was young, I'd do all these accents and impressions. But my parents only realised I was serious about acting when they saw a performance of mine for the first time. I was playing Miranda in a school performance of The Tempest," she said.
However, Shah Rukh Khan, who was also at the interview with Suhana ("Pretend I'm not here, I just want to hang out with my daughter," he had said) does not intend to launch his daughter in Bollywood. He was quoted as saying: "Suhana's not working towards a promise of being cast, she's working towards being an actor, and she knows that. I keep insisting that I don't want them designed as stars, I want them to be launched when they are good-enough actors." Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan's elder son Aryan, 21, is studying filmmaking in Los Angeles and Suhana is currently building a portfolio to get admission in the same university over the summer for a short course in acting.
2018 can be arguably dubbed as the year of star kids' debuts. Suhana's first interview comes days after the release of Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor's debut film Dhadak. In fact, one of Suhana's close friends Ananya Panday (daughter of Chunky Panday) is currently making her debut film - Student of The Year 2, which is was earlier scheduled for November 2018 release and it will now hit the screens on May 10 next year.
Later this year, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh's daughter Sara Ali Khan's debut film Kedarnath will also open in theatres.
Sonam Kapoor To Husband Anand Ahuja On His Birthday: 'You Make My World Better'.'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 30 July 2018
To the love of my life and the kindest gentlest soul I know, a very, very happy birthday! You make my world better and I'm so blessed you were born today," read an excerpt from Sonam Kapoor's post for husband Anand Ahuja's birthday. Sonam also shared multiple pictures from their trips and also took us inside Anand's family-only birthday celebrations. While Sonam's sister Rhea gifted sneaker fan Anand a shoe made of flowers as birthday gift, his wife appears to have ordered a Los Angeles Lakers cake for him. Los Angeles Lakers is the basketball team which Anand Ahuja supports.
In her post, Sonam also quoted Italian writer Luciano De Crescenzo and wrote, "We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another." She also added their wedding hashtag 'Everyday Phenomenal' and 'Always And Forever' to the post. "Every lifetime," commented Anand.
Sonam and Anand are currently in New Delhi (his hometown) and Anil Kapoor, who with Fanney Khan promotions in the national capital, also joined the midnight celebrations. Mr Kapoor shared a cute photo of himself and Anand with a message for his son-in-law. "You've chased your dreams & now you're living them! Doesn't get better than this! Happy Birthday, Anand Ahuja. You are already having a hell of a year and I hope the coming years are filled with even more success & happiness! Never let that spark fade! Love always," he wrote.
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill And Cast Are Upto Scratch, Expected Firestorm Missing.'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 28 July 2018
In the crumbling, amoral universe that saheb and biwi inhabit - Jimmy Sheirgill and Mahie Gill reprise their roles - well-past-their-prime royals employ wicked, wicked ways to manipulate each other and their susceptibilities. But do their exertions make for great cat-and-mouse drama? Certainly not quite to the extent, or in the manner, that the first two entries of the series - Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster(2011) and Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns (2013) - did.
Pretty much like the political prowess that the film's fading, flailing feudal figures and their cohorts exercise, the potential of the premise to deliver surprises has, on the evidence of this outing, waned significantly. The twists and turns that Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 springs upon the audience have an arbitrary, laboured ring to them, what with new entrant Sanjay Dutt (in the guise of an angry-as-hell Uday Pratap Singh, a man who's made 'bad choices' and has been in exile for two decades) stomping around first a smoky London nightclub called House of Lords and then a palace-turned-heritage hotel back in Uttar Pradesh like a clueless grizzly bear that has strayed out of its natural habitat.
It is around this very disillusioned, defiant man's talent for emerging unscathed from Russian roulette face-offs that the plot of this film revolves. But the shots it yields generate more noise - tame clicks and big bangs - than genuine excitement. The blank shots reverberate through the film, robbing it off the gunpowder-dry quality that is of the essence in this dark, bloody, dusty UP milieu where marriages aren't made in heaven and human bonds teeter on a razor's edge.
It has taken the third Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster instalment five years to take shape. One had expected time to add value to it. That does not seem to have happened. Devoid of the delirious energy, sly swerves and deeply melancholic core that defined the earlier entries, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 struggles for the most part to hit the ground and run. Its sparks, too far and few between to form a recognizable pattern, do not yield the expected full-fledged firestorm. The desperate and devious methods that the greedy, going-for-broke men and women take recourse to fall all too quickly into a mechanical rut.
One key character asks the 'saheb' of the pack, Aditya Pratap Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill): Is your blood still royal, or have the years of being in politics turned it into water? He does not answer the question, but taken in the overall context of the film, there can only be one response to that pointed query - royalty isn't just a matter of blood, it is just as much a state of mind.
he malevolent characters that screenwriter Sanjay Chauhan and director Tigmanshu Dhulia's script rustle up in addition to Aditya Pratap and his ambitious, alcoholic wife Madhavi (Mahie Gill) exist in a limbo in the absence of the narrative support that could have turned them into meaningful pegs in a larger social commentary on a bunch of people so deeply entrenched in their sense of entitlement that they cannot see beyond their noses - and their guns.
A political party is alluded to, workers are addressed from a desk behind which hangs a portrait of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and preparations for an upcoming polls are discussed but Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 jettisons the hurly-burly of political machinations at the altar of perfunctory personal shenanigans.
The role essayed by Sanjay Dutt (he comes across as rather rusty, to say the least) is framed against two others - his father Maharaja Hari Singh (Kabir Bedi) and brother Vijay (Deepak Tijori), both of whom are upset no end when the profligate elder son returns to India, deported from the UK following a murderous assault on an Englishman who dares to needle him in his den. Uday Pratap demands his share of the royal property, but there is little left in the family's kitty to spare. So conspiracies are afoot in the palace and elsewhere, endangering the lives of innocents like the courtesan Suhani (Chitrangda Singh), Uday Pratap's mistress.
Lives do not count for much in the haveli of Aditya Pratap either. Guns are whipped out and fired at the slightest provocation. While Aditya, convicted for murder, cools his heels in jail, his wily consort merrily plots to keep him there as long as possible. When he returns home, his wife offers truce. He accepts, but with many riders that are left to the daughter (Pamela Bhutoria) of his fiercely loyal retainer (Deepraj Rana, another franchise fixture) to enforce.
The performances, led by the ever-reliable Sheirgill's, are all up to scratch, but one wishes the female roles weren't so underwritten. Mahie Gill, playing the woman who cares two hoots about moral niceties, works with a familiar bag of tricks. She still sways in an inebriated state to Lag jaa gale ke phir yeh haseen raat ho na ho and gives no quarters when faced with faced with threats and inducements. Some of the tics come off, some don't.
Soha Ali Khan (as Aditya's second wife) has only two and a half scenes. Chitrangda Singh as Uday Pratap's mistress is allowed more but her character does not see much palpable development. One of the actresses in the cast who certainly deserved greater mind space, and not just footage, is Pamela Bhutoria, playing Aditya's tech-savvy protector standing in for her father who has gone into hiding.
This bitter battle for fast-vanishing turf centres on the pressing need to protect the family 'reputation'. In this fictional neck of the woods, conventional honour isn't a big deal and the act of flouting laws and norms is worn as a badge of courage. The nautch girl puts the tussle into context when she advises the feckless, untrustworthy Vijay Pratap to tread with care. She says to him with all the curtness at her command: "Jab naam ke alawaa kuch no bacha ho toh naam ko bacha bacha ke chalna chahiye (When nothing but your name survives, do all you can to protect that name)."
That statement could well be directed at the makers of Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3. The title has a resonance thanks to the impact that the film's two predecessors had made. Frittering it away on a flimsy Russian roulette-style effort isn't a good idea. So when the team decides to come up with another follow-up - the final moments of this film suggest that the fourth may not be far away - it will have to go all guns blazing. Or not at all.
Ileana D'Cruz Was Asked Why She Chose A 'Foreign Man' As Her Life Partner. She Said.'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 26 July 2018
Actress Ileana D'Cruz on Wednesday interacted with her Instafam through the "Ask Me Something" feature where one fan asked her who her life partner is? No points for guessing - she simply tagged Andrew Kneebone, whom she has been dating for many years. Soon after Ileana shared the answer, another Instagram user asked her why she selected a "foreign man" as her life partner and she replied: "I fell in love with a person's heart. His skin colour or nationality doesn't matter to me." Ileana, just wow. During the Q&A session, Illeana was also told that she and Andrew look great together.
Last year, in her Christmas post, Ileana addressed Andrew Kneebone as 'hubby' in an Instagram post but when asked in person she refused to give away her relationship status. When she was promoting Raid, Ileana was asked if she was married to the Australia photographer. Her reply was: "I have kept my personal life fairly private. I don't like to talk about it too much. But it's pretty much there for the world to see."
Ileana D'Cruz and Andrew Kneebone have been together for several years and he also attended the premiere of Ileana's film Happy Ending in India in 2015. Ileana is Andrew's muse and she regularly features in his shoots - most of them in Fiji. They've never shied away from romancing through pictures on social media, like her Instagram post for Andrew on his birthday, in which she wrote: "Seriously I don't know how you get sexier with every year I've known you!" But Ileana is resolute that she will not share details of her private life more than what can be accessed through social media.
Ileana D'Cruz was last seen in Raid opposite Ajay Devgn and she's currently shooting for Telugu film Amar Akbar Anthony
Yay! He Called Me A Film Star': Abhishek Bachchan's Reaction To Trolls Is Sarcasm Goals, No?'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 25 July 2018
Abhishek Bachchan is single-handedly destroying trolls on Twitter. On Tuesday evening, the actor spotted a few attempts to mock him on Twitter as someone not worthy to be in the league of actors previously cast in Anurag Kashyap's films. The junior Bachchan dealt with them with so much calm and oh, sarcasm too. Mr Kashyap tweeted to announce that his upcoming film with Abhishek - Manmarziyan - will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, when an user wrote: "From KK Menon to John Abraham to Abhay Deol to Manoj Bajpayee to Nawazuddin Siddiqui to Ronit Roy to Vicky Kaushal... All great choices. But *** Abhishek Bachchan? Are you suffering from KJo syndrome? It's all about loving the film stars?"
In a sarcasm-laden tweet, the 42-year-old actor wrote: "Yay! He called me a film star," over which Abhishek and his friends also had a good laugh on the conversation thread. Meanwhile, the hater resurfaced to clarify: "I meant 'son of film star'. KJo ke friend circle me aane se choices bhi KJo type ho gayi hai... Ranbir, Abhishek... what next? Tusshar Kapoor?" This time, Abhishek's tone appeared to be rather firm as he tweeted: "Oh... you "meant"... Chalo, I'll consider it a Freudian slip. And BTW Tusshar would be a great choice."
Abhishek Bachchan is one of Twitter's favourite actors when it comes to trolling celebrities. He is often at the receiving end of offensive tweets citing the lack of successful movies on his resume. On Tuesday evening, another Twitter follower appeared to enquire about the finances behind his recently concluded family vacation when Abhishek set the record straight with this tweet: "Sir, I have several other businesses that I run apart from acting and producing movies. Sports being just one of them." Abhishek co-owns the football team Chennaiyin Football Club with MS Dhoni and Vita Dani.
Abhishek Bachchan recently condemned and dismissed a report about an alleged fight with his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The "made-up a false story" on a web-portal, which was taken down soon after his tweet, said Aishwarya did not let Abhishek take daughter Aaradhya's hand while walking out of the airport.
Earlier in May, Abhishek was termed "useless" by an online misnomer, to whom he said: "Walk a mile in my shoes, brother. If you even manage 10 steps I'll be impressed." In April, he was criticised for living with his parents when he tweeted to say: "Don't feel bad about your life. Just remember Abhishek Bachchan still lives with his parents. Keep hustling everyone!
Abhishek Bachchan's Manmarziyan hits screens on September 21.
Pakistani Actress Saba Qamar's Colleagues Defend Her After She's Trolled For Smoking In Pic'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 24 July 2018
Pakistani actress Saba Qamar recently became subjected to ruthless trolling after the brutal section of the Internet chanced upon certain behind-the-scene photos and videos of her. "Shameful," she was told in comments on the viral photos (which appear to be screenshots from a video), in which she can be seen smoking while dressing up for what appears to be a shoot on sets. Saba Qamar's colleague Pakistani star Mahira Khan, who was once trolled for photos which showed her smoking and wearing a short dress, was also invoked: "Saba Qamar has also begun following Mahira Khan. Is she even Muslim anymore?" read a comment. While a stony silence has been maintained by Saba Qamar after days of trolling, the need to incinerate haters has been strongly felt by some of her colleagues, namely Osman Khalid Butt, Adnan Siddiqui and Aijaz Aslam.
Saba Qamar, who has several films and over 20 TV shows on her resume, is said to be amongst Pakistan's highest-paid actress. She made her Bollywood debut with 2017's Hindi Medium, also starring Irrfan Khan.
Osman Khalid, who shared screen-space with the actress in TV drama Baaghi, wrote a lengthy Instagram post, condemning the circulation of the on-set photos and the subsequent trolling. "For the love of God, stop looking for every excuse to drag your icons down... Stop sharing these images/videos and stop commenting on them. If you want to speak out, speak out against the jahalat of whoever did this just for social media infamy," read a part of his Instagram post.
Saba Qamar's co-star of Pakistani TV show Maat Adnan Siddiqui, who appears to have singled-out an undisclosed name to be blamed for the "leaked" photos, wrote a strongly-worded Instagram post: "I totally condemn this and wouldn't want to highlight the name of a man behind it but I'm not going to work for with him or anything associated with him ever
Meanwhile, Pakistani actor-model Aijaz Aslam encouraged Saba Qamar to remain strong: "Today I feel sad that a colleague and one of the finest actor of Pakistan is being exploited by someone for a cheap publicity stunt... Saba you are a superstar and don't let these haters demotivate you."
Earlier this year, Saba Qamar trended a great deal after she broke down during an interview to a Pakistani news channel while recounting the time when she was stopped at the Georgia airport, allegedly because of her nationality.
COMMENT
Saba Qamar became popular with the Indian audience after her television show Maat aired here. She has also featured in shows like Main Aurat Hoon, Jinnah Ke Naam and Thakan. She has also starred in the Pakistani films such as Manto and Lahore Se Aagey
What Lunch On The Brahmastra Set Looks Like, With Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia And Amitabh Bachchan'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 23 July 2018
Another day and here's another picture from Bulgaria, featuring Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, who are rumoured to be dating. The duo are currently filming Brahmastra in Byulgaria. In the pictures shared by fan clubs on Instagram, Alia and Ranbir can be seen enjoying a meal with co-stars Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, director Ayan Mukerji and others. Dimple Kapadia has also joined the team and she is reportedly been cast opposite Nagarjuna, who is missing from the photos. Think we also spotted Dimple Kapadia's nephew Karan with team Brahmastra. Karan is debuting in Bollywood soon. In another picture, we spotted Big B, Alia, Ranbir and the team discussing something.
Amitabh Bachchan has also shared updates from Bulgaria. He just completed shooting a schedule of Brahmastra and drove back. "Work, is, this rather large crucible of smiling faces, diligence, and a compliment driven crew, that never hesitates to tell you how wonderful you look, especially in the boots of their choice. Brahmastra; the power of the weaponry, rests undiluted, not moderated or weakened by them, that revel under the aegis or what in commonality is referred to as... the Production," he wrote on his blog.
Brahmastra is Alia and Ranbir's first film together. Rumours that Alia and Ranbir are dating featured in headlines after the duo attended Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding reception together. In Mumbai, both of them have been pictured with each other's families too.
Brahmastra is a trilogy, also featuring Mouni Roy. The first part of the film will release next year in August.
Dhadak Movie Review: Janhvi Kapoor And Ishaan Khatter Can't Enliven Comatose Film'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 20 July 2018
An attempted makeover of a tested storyline is never more than a handful of missteps away from turning into an outright mauling. The latter is exactly what Dhadak metes out to Nagraj Manjule's 2016 Marathi sleeper hit Sairat. A muddled screenplay, bland storytelling and uneven lead performances leave this glossy Karan Johar production without a proper, palpable heartbeat. With Bittergaon's Parshya and Archi, beleaguered lovers in whom we were deeply invested, giving way to a pair of prettified, pale shadows, it is only sporadically that Dhadak shows any signs of life. The rest of the 137-minute film can bore the pants off even the most indulgent Bollywood watcher.
Neither the blossoming of the furtive and risky romance between two college mates nor their forced flight from their hometown when their affair is discovered by the girl's ruthless, class-conscious family springs out of the screen quite in the profoundly affecting manner that it did in Sairat, a film that drew much of its efficacy from casual, confident understatement. The world that Dhadak creates is too synthetic. It lacks the power to evoke empathy.
In the original film, an air of dread and despair hangs over the young couple as they try to come to terms with their new life in Hyderabad. Dhadak's many ill-advised detours - narrative, ideational and locational - take the focus away from the plight of the lovers who are never out of harm's way even when they find what appears to be a safe haven a thousand miles away from home.
The script by director Shashank Khaitan (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badrinath Ki Dulhania) may well have been titled Madhukar Ki Dulhania. It deviates in major ways from Nagraj Manjule's trenchant, unfussy narrative built upon a keen personal understanding of the milieu that his film is set in. Dhadak transports the story to Udaipur, gives the two principal characters new names - Madhukar Bagla (Ishaan Khatter) and Parthavi Singh (Janhvi Kapoor) - and reduces to near-irrelevance the class and caste divides that the plot of Sairat swivelled around. This takes the sting out of the film's shocking climax.
The problem with Dhadak isn't, however, limited only to a weak ending or to the immediate lead-up to it. From its awkwardly farcical opening sequence in which a bizarre kachori-eating contest replaces the village cricket match with which Sairat kicks off all the way down to the couple's relocation to Kolkata in the second half to escape the fury of the girl's livid father and belligerent brother, nothing that writer-director Khaitan rustles up is able to pitchfork Dhadak out of its comatose state.
Just ahead of the first half's principal flashpoint, a stolen kiss that unleashes mayhem, all the principal characters, choreographed by Farah Khan, get together to belt out a robust version of the peppy Zingat. But what about some zing, please? That commodity goes completely missing from Dhadak. The onus is on Janhvi and Ishaan to tide over the film's drawbacks - they do not try - and enliven the wishy-washy proceedings. Dhadak is as dull as ditchwater. So no matter how hard the two actors endeavour to win us over with their vulnerabilities, which they do a pretty good job of harnessing, theirs is an uphill task.
Pressed into the service of this enervated remake, their efforts are unable to guide Dhadak away from its inconsistent arc. The film gets neither the love story nor the socio-political context of Sairat right. The script makes too many gratuitous changes for its own good. Udaipur's Lake Pichola and the impressive structures around it add up to a visually striking backdrop, but they cannot compensate for the soulless nature of the narrative.
The male protagonist's father, a lowly fisherman in Sairat, is a restaurateur in Dhadak. In one scene refer to the uchhi jaat (high caste) of Parthavi's family and warns him to stay away from the girl. Parthavi's dad isn't a big, thriving farmer like Archana Patil's father - he is instead a big-talking small-town overlord Ratan Singh (Ashutosh Rana), whose ambition is to dislodge a long-serving MLA from her perch and enjoy the fruits of political power. He does have his way but only to lose his seat before the film winds down. His anger shoots through the roof and the reverberations are felt in faraway Kolkata.
By this point, the film has well and truly lost its way in bylanes that lead nowhere. The end result is a meandering mess that delivers a feeble statement against the horror of honour killings. But by reducing the socio-political subtext of the tale to a mere footnote, Dhadak deprives itself of the chance of breaking out of its dreary shell and bringing into its sweep the social faultlines that lie at the core of a complex, fragmented society.
Sairat's Parshya has two friends - Salim and Pradeep. The former is a Muslim bangle-seller's son who works in an auto mechanic's garage; the latter is a physically challenged young man who walks with a pronounced limp. They are a disadvantaged trio in a rural setting run with an iron hand over by a land-owning, politically connected Maratha family that is acutely aware of its position and power.
In Dhadak, Madhukar's sidekicks are Gokul (Ankit Bisht) and Parshuram (television's 'tiny man' Shridhar Watsar), who is charged with providing comic relief. Beyond that, the duo contributes precious little to the plot - the Dalit-Muslim-differently abled axis is done away with, and what is left of it is employed only for a largely superficial purpose.
Gokul and Parshuram, in another key departure from the Sairat plot, do make a reappearance in the film's second half to lend moral support to Madhukar and Parthavi in Kolkata, where they are in hiding in a hostel run by a gentleman called Sachin Bhowmick (Kharaj Mukherjee). The name is obviously borrowed from one of commercial Hindi cinema's most prolific screenwriters, whose credits range from India's 1958 Cannes Competition entry Lajwanti to 2006's Krrish, with a wide array of megahits in the interim (An Evening in Paris, Aradhana, Karma, Karan Arjun, Koi Mil Gaya, et al).
But that definitely isn't meant to be an inspiration for Dhadak to shrug off its inertia. The film saunters rather than sprints. In Sairat, that strategy clicked famously because that film had its heart in the right place. Dhadak doesn't. The result is a grind that pretty frames and fresh faces cannot mitigate.
Janhvi Kapoor's Cheer Squad At Dhadak Screening Included Sridevi's Friends Rekha And Madhuri Dixit'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 19 July 2018
Ahead of its release, a special screening of Dhadak was hosted in Mumbai on Wednesday and it was attended by many Bollywood A-listers. Headlining the screening were the film's lead pair Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter. All eyes were on Janhvi as she arrived at the venue with her sister Anshula Kapoor. The screening was attended by the who's who of the film fraternity including veteran actresses Rekha and Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi were contemporaries in the Nineties. The only time they worked together was for the special song sequence in 2013 film Bombay Talkies. Recently, Janhvi also promoted Dhadakon Madhuri Dixit's show Dance Deewane. Meanwhile, Sridevi and Rekha co-starred in films like Jaani Dost and Jaanbaaz. The guest list also comprised stars like Karisma Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Malaika Arora, Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi. Janhvi's friend Sara Ali Khan, who will also be making her Bollywood debut this year, was also present at the screening.
Needless to say, both Janhvi and Ishaan were well represented by their family members. Boney Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor were there to support the film's leading lady. Ishaan was accompanied by his mother Neelima Azeem, who was all smiles. Ishaan's brother Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira Rajput wouldn't have missed the film for the world.
Other guests at the star-studded evening included Kartik Aaryan, filmmaker David Dhawan, Huma Qureshi , Saqib Saleem, Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu.
Dhadak director Shashank Khaitan and film's producer Karan Johar were also present for the big night
Dhadak is a Hindi remake of the 2016 Marathi film Sairat. The film marks the Bollywood debut of Janhvi Kapoor and it will hit the screens on Friday.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Makers May Get This Actor As New Dr Hathi'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 18 July 2018
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah lost a much-loved and adored member of the cast with the tragic end of actor Kavi Kumar Azad, who is best-known for portraying Dr Hansraj Hathi in the popular sitcom. The character of Dr Hansraj Hathi is one of the most popular ones from the show and while the cast misses the presence of Mr Azad on sets, eliminating the character from the show will not be a smart move, producer Asit Kumarr Modi told SpotboyE. Meanwhile, a source close to the production told Indian Express that the team are hunting for the perfect replacement: "Producer Asit Kumarr Modi is personally looking into the casting and wants the perfect replacement. While it's really hard to find someone as talented as Kavi, we are doing our best. We should have a confirmation about the replacement soon."
"Dr Hathi is a very important part of the show. The audience loves him and so the makers want to retain the character," added the source. Meanwhile, the makers may just select a former member of the cast, the source told Indian Express. Actor Nirmal Soni, who previously played the role of Dr Hathi for a year till Mr Azad took over in 2009, may just return as the new Dr Hathi.
Kavi Kumar Azad died of cardiac arrest on Monday. He was reportedly 45. After his death, speculation was rife if Dr Hathi would continue to make appearances in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. We got a confirmation of sorts after Asit Kumarr Modi, who was also a close associate of Mr Azad, earlier told SpotboyE that the character of Dr Hathi must continue to remain on the show owing to its popularity. "We will have to replace Dr Hathi, if you want to know. It's the actor who has passed away, not the character."
In 2009, Kavi Kumar Azad had replaced Nirmal Soni on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah to join as Dr Hathi. Around the same time, his health deteriorated on sets and he had to opt for bariatric surgery. The actor reportedly lost some 100 kilos as he recovered after the treatment. In the later years, he's also been advised a second bariatric surgery, which he opted out of in the fear of not getting assignments in the TV industry. Kavi Kumar Azad's last rites were performed in Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, which was attended by almost the entire cast of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
Spot Ranbir Kapoor In Alia Bhatt's Pic With 'The Girls.' Umm, No Brownie Points, This Is Easy'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 17 July 2018
Ranbir Kapoor, filming Brahmastra in Bulgaria, made a brief appearance on rumoured girlfriend Alia Bhatt's Instagram profile. Oh, did you miss it? Don't worry, we have it curated here for you. On her Instagram stories, Alia, who is also in Bulgaria for Brahmastra, shared a picture with her make-up artist Puneet B Saini, hairstylist Priyanka Borkar and also Ranbir Kapoor. But, wait. Where exactly is Ranbir in the frame? Right at the back, folks! He is busy capturing the beauty of Bulgaria on his phone while Alia and others pose for the photo. "The girls... oh, and Ranbir," Alia captioned the post. The same photo has also been shared by Puneet B Saini, who wrote, "Babies for life."
Here's the picture.
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's dating rumours featured in headlines after the duo appeared before the cameras together at Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding reception. Later, the only thing Internet wanted to know was if Alia and Ranbir were dating.
When mid-day asked the same question to Ranbir, he said, "Main iss sawal ka jawab dene ke liye raazi nahi hoon!" (Raazi is Alia's last-released film). But he's not single, BTW. "I'm not single. I'll never be single," he told mid-day.
On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor recently shattered some major box office records with Sanju, which has already earned over Rs. 300 crore while Alia's Raazi was also a blockbuster film.
Brahmastra, a trilogy, releases next year. The Ayan Mukerji-directed film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy
Soorma Movie Review: Diljit Dosanjh Makes The Best Of A Bad Deal'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 13 July 2018
The film opens with a woman's voice on the soundtrack. It belongs to the character played by Taapsee Pannu. She introduces herself as field hockey player Harpreet Kaur but hastens to add that this isn't her story. It is Sandeep Singh's. It's the greatest comeback story in the history of the game. Doubtless, the real-life saga that inspired Shaad Ali's Soorma bordered on the miraculous. The film fails way short of harnessing its full dramatic potential. Meant to be a celebration of a sportsman's resilience, this is a mechanical, hackneyed, dour re-enactment of a remarkable life. The Sandeep Singh story deserved far better.
Returning to Harpreet, the Soorma protagonist, an ace drag-flicker who beat the odds to return to action after a freak accident left him paralysed from the waist down, had a childhood sweetheart who played hockey at the same Shahabad academy as him. She eventually married him and gave up the game.
Soorma, on its part, tells us repeatedly that Sandeep Singh took up hockey in order to win over the girl he loved, a fact for which he is at one point mocked by his otherwise hugely supportive elder brother Bikramjeet Singh (Angad Bedi), a no mean wielder of the hockey stick himself. A girl, but no goal, he is ticked off. Chastened, Sandeep intones: "Main India kheloonga India ke liye (I will play for the sake of the country)."
The screenwriters have changed the name of the woman in Sandeep's life - and much else - and the result isn't entirely salutary. Soorma is as desultory as a goalless draw, which, as any hockey fan will tell you, is a near impossibility. This film achieves the impossible: it turns an inspirational real-life champion who wrested back the India colours after a long layoff into a hollow Bollywood hero who never comes out of the torpor that the screenplay foists upon him.
Sandeep Singh, as envisioned by Shaad Ali, is as dynamic as a stenciled, unidimensional sketch. Lead actor Diljit Dosanjh does his very best to inject life into the character. Hobbled by Bollywood cliches that seem out of place in a sports biopic, he is left stranded in the midst of dreary moves and manoeuvres.
Lack of depth permeates the whole film. The two hockey coaches we meet in Soorma - Kartar Singh (Danish Husain) and Harry (Vijay Raaz) are crass caricatures. The former, who runs the coaching centre in Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra district, is a terror. He subjects his wards to physical torture. A traumatized Sandeep, aged nine, drops out of the academy.
A decade later, his brother, who is nursing the disappointment of being passed over for national duty, spots the boy's natural talent for drag flicks - a trait that he picked up in the course of launching hockey balls into his tauji's farmland to chase away birds.
So, Sandeep returns to the academy and takes the coach's excesses in his strides simply because he has now fallen head over heels for Harpreet Kaur - yes, the selfsame narrator of the story - and is willing to sacrifice everything for her. Their love story is a crashing bore despite the fact that a pretty Pannu might, by all reckoning, look like a trophy good enough to play for. But she is a girl with a mind of her own and, therefore, does not let him have it too easy.
The second coach, who also revels in threatening to thoko (hit) and phodo (smash) everyone in sight, takes Sandeep under his wings in Patiala's sports institute and helps him hone his skills. Soon enough, we see him jumping around like a frisky kid on the sidelines as the defender goes about scoring plenty of penalty-corner goals for the country. Predictably, the hockey action, more often than not, centres on India-Pakistan matches in which the boys in blue emerge victorious.
Earlier in the film, in a national-level tournament, the Patiala team takes on boys from Meerut in the latter's backyard. Young men in the stands have country-made firearms to scare away the opposition.
But the Patiala coach is no pushover. He confronts the armed men and advises them to put away their guns. "Bihari hain hum, thook-ke maathe mein chhed kar denge (I am a Bihari, I'll spit and drill a hole in your forehead)." That is Soorma at its most humorous: bad news for a film about an athlete up against the harrowing prospect of a life on a wheelchair.
The second half of Soorma is somewhat better than the first, which ends with the mishap that threatens to put paid to Sandeep's career. Harpreet pays him a visit in the hospital, delivers a gentle pep talk and then decides to leave him to his own devices so that the man is compelled to fight to get back on his feet.
In another strand of the story, an emotionally disturbed Sandeep's recriminations upset his brother. There is one shrill confrontation scene designed to move the audience. The rehab in Holland, which, like the training scenes and the blossoming of young love passages, plays out to the accompaniment of a rousing song. Music has never sounded so gratuitous in a Hindi film.
Dosanjh cannot be faulted. He makes the best of a bad deal. Pannu, an actress who always gives the impression that she is sailing through with ease, does her bit to give Soorma its rare convincing moments. Angad Bedi has a meaty role - he digs his teeth into it and steals many a scene. Satish Kaushik, in the role of Sandeep's travelling salesman-father, adds a few bright spots to Soorma.
Soorma is more drag than flick, a hockey film sans genuine impetus. It is nowhere near the league of Chak De India despite telling a story that is no less intense than a wrongly victimized coach's struggle for redemption. Come to think of it, the Shimit Amin film was made over a decade ago. Why hasn't the Mumbai movie industry delivered another sports drama quite that good? The reason is obvious: Bollywood just doesn't do sports well. Its rules militate against the genre. Soorma, a wasted opportunity, demonstrates why and how.
Sacred Games' Kubbra Sait Shot Nude Scene 7 Times. She Explains Why'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 11 July 2018
Kubbra Sait, who plays the role of a transgender cabaret dancer in Sacred Games, told Times Now why she shot a frontal nudity scene seven times. She explained that Anurag Kashyap, who co-directed the web-series with Vikramaditya Motwane, even apologised for making her film several times. "He made me do the scene 7 times - every time after the scene, he'd come to me and say I am making you do this so many times, sorry haan... don't hate me, I know you hate me, don't hate me." She added: "I would literally fall on the floor crying every time. He made me cry real-time 7 times. And when we finished the scene, I was still crying on the floor and he hugged me and said I love you so much and thank you for giving me this scene. I walked out of the room and everyone clapped, I didn't know it was so beautifully done."
Before filming, Kubbra revealed what had happened on the sets: "I was laughing then, but I had to cry in the scene. We got to the vanity, he asked me what I drink, I said wine and he said get her a glass of whiskey. So he poured me a glass of whiskey and start reading the lines. Then I also start reading the lines, he takes the paper away and he says to me feel what I am saying... The minute he saw one tear in my eye, he said ab koi baat nahi karega and I am going to see her on set. He poured me another glass of whiskey, nobody spoke to me until I went on set."
Kubbra Sait, who has featured in television series like Fourplay and Going Viral Pvt Ltd, told Times Now that she wasn't apprehensive about taking up the role. "After I went to the audition, they told me there's frontal nudity scene and when you see the show, you can see how beautifully it has been shot. How vulnerable it is. You can never go wrong when you have a great team to work with," she was quoted as saying.
Sacred Games stars Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles. The show, which is spread over eight episodes of one hour each, released on Netflix on July 6.
Mahesh Bhatt On Alia Bhatt's Rumoured Romance With Ranbir Kapoor: 'Their Life, Their Space'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 10 July 2018
Last week, Ranbir Kapoor dropped by Alia Bhatt's Mumbai home and later, the rumoured couple were pictured talking to the actress' dad Mahesh Bhatt. So, what does the filmmaker has to say about Alia, Ranbir and their rumoured romance? Sure enough, everyone wants to know if Alia Bhatt is dating Ranbir Kapoor. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Mahesh Bhatt said, "When I saw those pics, I was like, 'Oh, the paparazzi age is here and you have people from the outside using their premise to capture the image, because that's what the nation is thrusting for.' So, not saying more, I'd let the paparazzi guess if papa is raazi." (Raazi is Alia Bhatt's last-released film).
Has Mahesh Bhatt ever advised Alia on relationship matters? No, perhaps is the answer. "It's very obvious that [Ranbir-Alia] are making no bones about talking to people about them being intimate. And I don't belong to that category of parents who'd advise their children about their personal choices. Alia is an adult and it's a matter that she has to resolve. It's their life, their space. I respect and admire them for choosing to talk to the world when, and if, they want to do," he told Hindustan Times.
Ranbir Kapoor's answer, when asked about his relationship status and Alia Bhatt, was almost similar. "I'm not single. I'll never be single," was Ranbir's reply on his relationship status, mid-day reported. And, about dating Alia Bhatt, he said, "Main iss sawal ka jawab dene ke liye Raazi nahi hoon!"
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have been trending on and off for over a month now, after the two Bollywood stars made a spectacular entry together at Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding reception
Sanju: Ranbir Kapoor's Rejected Looks And The Story Of Transforming Into Sanjay Dutt.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 7 July 2018
Ranbir Kapoor hates going to the gym, his words, but could you make that out from his amazing transformation in Sanju? No, right? That's because 3 am wake-up calls, eight meals a day and six hour sessions with the prosthetics team were invested in getting the looks right. The makers of Sanju shared a BTS video documenting what went into creating Ranbir Kapoor's many looks as Sanjay Dutt. "The biggest challenge was who will play Sanjay Dutt? Because somebody has to behave like him, look like him, feel like him," Rajkumar Hirani says in the video. January 2016 is when Ranbir received a text from Mr Hirani, when Ranbir replied: "I hope it's not the Sanjay Dutt biopic!"
But Ranbir says, one thing was made very clear "ki agar yeh look nahi achieve kar sakte toh yeh film nahi banaenge." The first challenge was to physically transform Ranbir into Sanjay Dutt, says the director, who rejected multiple looks before zeroing in on the perfect one. Prosthetic experts were appointed and a full tea was dedicated to get Ranbir's look right but then... "Test after test and we kept failing. It's really hard because you have to sit on a chair for six hours hoping like how to make it work and it's just a span of 30 seconds when you see it's not working. Six hours of hard work gone down the drain," says Ranbir. "But when we hit that look, Raju sir saw it and he's like we've got it," he adds. The video documents at least six of the rejected looks that Ranbir had tried on.
About physically transforming in Sanjay Dutt's frame, Ranbir says: "I detest the gym, I can't stand it. Its occupation hazard hence, I have to go. I have done some 13-14 films. So, this was the first opportunity in which I could do something with my body. So, I took it up as a challenge."
"Was having eight meals a day. Was waking up at 3am to have a protein shake, something which I didn't imagine I could do," he adds in the video. "Sanjay Dutt is the epitome of body building and I could not screw that up. If I'm going to play Sanjay Dutt onscreen, body was essential," says Ranbir.
After months of working out, what Ranbir Kapoor achieved has successfully stunned all of us. "I had a certain look, a muscular look, which I've never had in my life. Everybody on set looked at me in a way that 'ok, we've achieved something'," Ranbir says in the video.
Meanwhile, Sanju is bombarding the box office. It has made over Rs. 200 crores in its first week. While Ranbir Kapoor plays the protagonist in the Sanjay Dutt biopic, Dia Mirza, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala also play key roles in the film
Sonali Bendre Reveals Cancer Diagnosis, Says She 'Didn't See It Coming.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 5 July 2018
Actress Sonali Bendre on Wednesday revealed that she has been diagnosed with "high grade cancer" and is being treated for it in New York. On her Instagram and Twitter handles, Ms Bendre, 43, shared a lengthy note in which she said she's "taking this battle head on" and thanked her family and friends for their support. Ms Bendre also described the diagnosis as 'unexpected' and said she 'didn't see it coming.' In her statement, Sonali Bendre said: "Sometimes, when you least expect it, life throws you a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with a high grade cancer that has metastised, which we frankly did not see coming... My family and close friends have rallied around me, providing the best support system that anyone can ask for." See Ms Bendre's post, shared from New York.
Sonali Bendre's colleagues such as Karan Johar and Riteish Deshmukh wished her well on Twitter:
Sonali Bendre is married to producer Goldie Behl. They have a 13-year-old son named Ranveer.
Sonali Bendre has featured in films like Sarfarosh with Aamir Khan, Major Saab with Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn, Duplicate and Kal Ho Naa Ho with Shah Rukh Khan and Hum Saath-Saath Hai with Salman Khan.
Apart from Hindi films, Sonali Bendre has featured in several regional films such as Kadhalar Dhinam and Kannodu Kanbathellam in Tamil, Shankar Dada MBBS in Telugu and Anahat in Marathi.
Sonali Bendre was last seen in a cameo role in Akshay Kumar's Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara! (2013) while her last full-fledged role was opposite Chiranjeevi in Shankar Dada MBBS.
Priyanka Chopra's New York Minutes - Double Date With Nick Jonas And.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 4 July 2018
After a vacation in India and then a brief stopover in Brazil, Priyanka Chopra returned to New York, where she is a semi-permanent resident of sorts. On Wednesday, two pictures of Priyanka Chopra popped up on the Internet, one was of course with Nick Jonas and the other was with Salman Khan's nephew Ahil Sharma - the Internet loves both of Priyanka's dates. In a picture shared by Ahil's mother Arpita, we can see Priyanka, looking fabulous in a red DVF dress, walking with Ahil. "My favourites, Priyanka Chopra and Ahil! NYC diaries," she captioned the post, which received over 18,000 likes in two hours.
Whenever Priyanka is in Mumbai, she plans a date with Arpita, who is Salman Khan's sister, and her son Ahil. Therefore, we're not surprised that Arpita and Ahil caught up with Priyanka in New York. Arpita and Ahil are currently travelling with Salman Khan's Da-Bangg entourage and their upcoming concerts are in New Jersey and Washington DC.
Fan clubs also shared photos from Priyanka's second date of the week with her rumoured boyfriend Nick Jonas. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' recent travel calendars have matched to the T - Nick arrived with Priyanka to India and then vacationed with her family in Goa. They made a couple's entry at the Ambani bash last week and then left for Brazil hand-in-hand. Priyanka attended Nick Jonas' concert - she was photographed clicking pictures of the 25-year-old singer from the audience podium.
Priyanka Chopra is currently seen in Quantico and she will soon start filming Bharat, co-starring Salman Khan.
Seen This Pic Of Shah Rukh Khan And Sachin Tendulkar From The Ambani Party Yet?.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 3 July 2018
Unable to get over the Ambani party week, Sachin Tendulkar shared a fabulous selfie with Shah Rukh Khan taken during Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta's pre-engagement party, which he captioned: Jab SRK met SRT." Sachin's instafam loved the pictures of the Ambani baaratis wearing identical caps, which were reportedly distributed at the party to everyone (Ayan Mukerji also shared a picture of himself and Ranbir wearing similar topis last week). Sachin's post had over 2 lakh likes and thousands of comments in a few hours. Comments such as "Two living legends in one frame" and "Gods of the respective fields" were posted in plenty.
As said before, this picture was taken at Akash Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta's pre-engagement party held on June 29. That day, the highlight of the party was the arrival of Priyanka Chopra, dressed in a red saree, with her rumoured boyfriend Nick Jonas.
For the pre-engagement party, the Ambanis' guest list had plenty of Bollywood names including Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar to name a few.
Over the weekend, the Ambani's also hosted an engagement ceremony for the couple which was attended by Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao, Abhishek and his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Kajol, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Partineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra among others.
Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan And AbRam 'Soak Up The Sun' In Barcelona. Pic Credit - Gauri.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 2 July 2018
After attending Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta's engagement over the weekend, Shah Rukh Khan, wife Gauri and sons Aryan and AbRam have flown to Barcelona and from there, we got treated to two million dollar pictures of the family. Gauri shared one picture of SRK with Aryan and little AbRam with a wonderful caption. "Best a woman can get... soaking the sun with my boys in Barcelona," she wrote. In another picture, we saw only Aryan and AbRam. The brothers are twinning in blue jackets. (Thank you, Gauri for these pictures). While the other celebs like Malaika Arora, Dia Mirza commented about the 'precious' photos, Karan Johar loved the fashion game of the Khans. "Love the Balenciaga socks, sneakers in three colours," he wrote. To which, Gauri replied, "Ha ha, following in your footsteps."
In another picture shared by Shah Rukh Khan on his Instagram story, we got a glimpse of his daughter Suhana. "Sun-kissed," he wrote.
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri married in 1991. Aryan, 19, is the eldest child. He is studying films in California. Suhana turned 18 in May and the younger one AbRam is five-years-old.
Meanwhile, at Akash and Shloka's engagement party, Aryan made a rare appearance with his parents.
Karan Johar also shared picture with SRK and Aryan from the party with 'Godson' Aryan.
Shah Rukh Khan recently wrapped the shooting of his forthcoming film Zero, in which he co-stars with Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Zero, directed by Aanand L Rai, is scheduled for a December release.
Sanju Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor Dazzles As Sanjay Dutt, Other Actors Scramble To Keep Up.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 30 Jun 2018
Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
Exasperated with the constant media badgering that he is subjected to, the real-life protagonist in Sanjudecides the only way he can hope to shed the tag of a 'terrorist' is by narrating his side of the story to a fictional biographer (Anushka Sharma). The latter isn't too keen to take up the offer. The hero's wife, Maanyata (Dia Mirza), steps in and throws her a bait: bad choices make good stories. Sanjay Dutt, on his part, promises to reveal the "total sach". But whether or not you take Sanju to be an account of the whole truth, it offers a thoroughly engaging probe into the life of a flawed individual who, grappling with the shadow of a towering figure of a father, believes "it is okay to be ordinary".
Director and co-writer Rajkumar Hirani takes liberties with true events for the purpose of bolstering the film's emotional appeal, but he does not let Sanju turn into a mere cinematic apologia for a temperamental movie star's many indiscretions. Together with screenwriter Abhijat Joshi, he crafts an intelligent script that highlights the upheavals unleashed in Dutt's life by drugs, alcohol, girls, guns and goons. The film is marked by both empathy and surprising bluntness.
It is but natural that a showbiz life less ordinary would yield high drama when it is placed at the heart of a Mumbai movie cast in the popular mould. But when the rollercoaster story in question is that of the life of an actor who has seen more than his fair share of personal and professional struggles in the course of a tumultuous career, it is bound to pack in moments of extraordinary power.
In this scenario, the risk of becoming a pulpy panegyric like MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, a brazenly falsified yarn like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag or a hurried whitewash job like Azhar is high. Grasp over pace, pitch and purpose is, therefore, of the essence. Sanju does not, for the most part, fall short on that count. Even in its more melodramatic scenes, where just a hint of manipulation creeps in, the film does not sputter out of control.
In his fifth film in a decade and a half, Rajkumar Hirani brings all his proven storytelling skills to bear upon his fictionalised but completely believable exploration of the real-life adventures of Sanjay Dutt, who became a drug addict even before his first film hit the screen in the early 1980s and, a decade and a bit later, dug a big legal hole for himself and his family owing to his ill-advised links with underworld elements in the period after the 1992-1993 Mumbai riots and subsequent Mumbai serial bomb blasts.
Ranbir Kapoor, slipping into the skin of the troubled Bollywood star, pulls out the stops in astonishingly effective ways, subsuming his own personality completely into that of the protagonist. The director is on the top of his game and the actor frequently soars to dizzying heights. Sanju, as a result, is an entertainer that delivers more than just the superficial goods that one expects from a mass entertainer. It sets a new benchmark for Bollywood biopics. It will be a hard act to follow.
The 160-minute film, which is essentially a touching father-son drama that also pays tribute to some of Hindi cinema's greatest lyricists, glides through its busy, pulsating narrative without ever suffering anything akin to an ungainly wobble. Kapoor shines bright. That is actually an understatement. He dazzles us; he catches us unawares; and he sweeps us off our feet. In one word, he is luminous.
The other members of the principal cast are left scrambling to keep pace. Especially out of place is Paresh Rawal, bafflingly cast in the role of Sunil Dutt, an actor, director and politician who stood firm all his life in championing the cause of communal harmony. The veteran character actor's presence introduces a false note. His exhortations to his wayward son would have rung truer had they been delivered by an actor less openly identified with a worldview that is at variance with that Sunil Dutt espoused in his political stint.
The pacifist father, committed to multiculturalism, is presented as the unwavering voice of reason and sanity and pitted against the unsavoury battles that the protagonist fights to ward off his inner demons and wriggle out of his serious brushes with the law. The old man cites songs penned by his favourite lyricists - he calls each of them his ustad - during his frequent pep talks to his son.
Sunil Dutt's return to the big screen after a 12-year hiatus - in the role of the titular character's father in Munnabhai M.B.B.S. - is woven into the Sanju metanarrative in which fiction and fact mingle seamlessly, the jadoo ki jhappi in Hirani's first film, which was also a crucial turning point for a Sanjay Dutt on the mend, becoming a 'real' expression of unconditional love, paternal on the one hand, filial on the other.
Anushka Sharma as the writer to whom Dutt narrates his story, Jim Sarbh as the man who pushes him into drugs and Vicky Kaushal as the diehard movie fan that the hero befriends in NYC are allowed their moments in the sun.
Sanju is the film that it is because of the infectious energy Ranbir Kapoor injects into the film. An absolute must-watch.
Red Alert! Priyanka Chopra And Nick Jonas Make Couple Entry At Ambani Party For Akash And Shloka.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 29 Jun 2018
Yes, Priyanka Chopra came with rumoured boyfriend Nick Jonas at Nita and Mukesh Ambani's star-studded party, hosted for their son Akash and his fiancee Shloka Mehta in Mumbai. The duo made a couple entry at the venue and also posed for the cameras hand-in-hand. Priyanka was dressed in a bright red sari from the studios of Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. She paired the sari with golden blouse, bracelet and a pair of earrings. Nick complemented her in a blue suit. Rumoured couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas joined the party, which included names like Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar and others. After the festivities, Priyanka and Nick flew out of Mumbai in the wee hours of Friday. Location? Unknown.
Akash is the eldest of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh and Nita Ambani's three children. His fiancee Shloka is the daughter of diamond magnate Russel Mehta. Their engagement is scheduled for June 30 while the wedding will take place in December
Priyanka had also attended Akash and Shloka's mehendi ceremony last evening in a beautiful ivory sari. She posted this from the ceremony.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jona were photographed at the Mumbai airport hand-in-hand in the early hours of Friday. It is reported that they are headed out to Dubai or the US
Priyanka Chopra, 35, and American songwriter-singer Nick Jonas, 25, are rumoured to be dating for a while now. Nick accompanied Priyanka to India last weekend and after a brief stay in Mumbai, they flew to Goa with the actress' family for a holiday. As per latest reports, their engagement is also on the cards between July and August.
Neha Dhupia Says Angad Bedi Never Wanted To Date Her, 'It Was Either Friend Or Wife'.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 27 Jun 2018
Remember how Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi announced their wedding saying they married their 'best friend'? Apparently, there was no transition from being 'best friends' to lovers for Angad and Neha. The Tumhari Sulu actress said that Angad "never wanted to date her" and he was "very certain that Neha will either be his friend or his wife." Speaking on Open House with Renil, Neha Dhupia said: "He never wanted to date me as he was very certain that I will either be his friend or his wife. Ever since we have known each other, we were good friends and nothing more than that," reports news agency IANS. Neha added that she turned down Angad's proposal once but eventually agreed when he proposed on May 3 this year. They got married a week later.
On May 10, Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi announced their wedding with these similar posts
Neha Dhupia revealed how it all started and said: "Angad proposed to me in the nicest way possible wherein he went straight to my parents and then my mom called me saying that he is the nicest guy for you. But back then, I thought it wasn't the right time and said no to his proposal. But on May 3rd this year, he asked me to come with him to Delhi. He dropped a hint that we need to settle down and proposed marriage in front of my parents which came as a surprise to both my parents and me," reports IANS
On the show, Neha Dhupia also shared how she and Angad have different approaches in resolving their fights. "He never completes a fight. Like every couple, we have our fair share of fights, but the point of the fight is to find a solution or at least finish it. But Angad just walks out of the house and goes on a drive while I'm still at home wanting to finish the fight."
Neha Dhupia was recently seen in Karan Johar's segment of web-film Lust Stories while her upcoming project is Eela, co-starring Kajol. Angad Bedi is awaiting the release of Soorma, in which Diljit Dosanjh plays the lead role.
Shah Rukh Khan To Soumitra Chatterjee, Oscar Academy Invites 20 More Indians To Join.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 26 Jun 2018
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recently released a list of 928 new members across 59 countries, who have been invited to be part of the prestigious film body, on their official website. Just like last year, the list of invitees this year also includes several Indian personalities - 20, to be precise. According to the list, invitations have been sent out to stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, Tabu and others. Shah Rukh has been identified as the star of Chennai Express and Devdas on the list while Madhuri Dixit's best recognised films, as mentioned by the Academy, include her latest Marathi film Bucket List and also Devdas. Slumdog Millionaire and Taal are the two films mentioned with Anil Kapoor's name. Victoria And Abdul's Ali Fazal also features on the list.
The veteran actors who find mention on the list include Naseeruddin Shah, Soumitra Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukherjee. Two filmmakers have also been invited to be part of the Oscar body - Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films and Guneet Monga, who has produced critically acclaimed films like The Lunchbox, the Gangs of Wasseypur series of movies, Masaan and That Girl In Yellow Boots. Designers Manish Malhotra and Dolly Ahluwalia have been invited to join in their capacity as costume designers.
The list of cinematographers finds mention of Anil Mehta, who worked in films like Secret Superstar, Rockstar, Highway and Beyond The Clouds. Debajit Changmai, who has worked in films like Court and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, along with Bishwadeep Chatterjee, who has films like Madras Cafe and 3 Idiots on his resume, finds mention on the list of sound designers. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray feature on the list as the selected production designers while film editor Ballu Saluja, who has worked in movies like Dangal and Touring Talkies has also been sent an invite. Music composers Sneha Khanwalkar and Usha Khanna are also on the list.
Last year, Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan were invited to join the Academy in a list comprising 774 new invitees. Filmmakers Goutam Ghose and Buddhadeb Dasgupta were also on the list.
This year, the Academy announced the probable list of new members along with a graphic representation of what appears to be an attempt address the issue of gender equality - the percentage of female membership has increased from 28 to 31 over the last year with the new list holding 49 percent occupancy for the female invitees. This year's list also includes revered celebrities from the international circle - actresses Emilia Clarke and Mindy Kaling, rapper Kendrick Lamar and author J.K. Rowling are a few of them.
IIFA Awards 2018: Boney Kapoor Gets Emotional On Receiving Sridevi's Best Actress Prize, Son Arjun Stands By Him.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 25 Jun 2018
It was an emotional moment for filmmaker Boney Kapoor, who accepted wife Sridevi's Best Actress Award (posthumously) for MOM at the 19th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Bangkok. Megastar Sridevi died in February in Dubai. She was 54. "I dedicate this award to the entire team of MOM," said an emotional Boney Kapoor, after collecting Sridevi's trophy, news agency IANS reported. MOM was Sridevi's 300th film. "I have mixed emotions today. I miss her every minute and second of my life. I still feel she is around here....I want you all to support Janhvi like you supported her mother," Boney Kapoor added. Janhvi is Sridevi and Boney Kapoor's elder daughter and Khushi is the younger one. Janhvi's debut film Dhadak releases next month.
Pictures of Arjun, being by his dad's side, have also been shared widely. Arjun is Boney Kapoor's son with first wife Mona. He has a younger sister Anshula.
Anil Kapoor, Boney Kapoor's brother, also came on stage.
On being by Boney Kapoor, Janhvi and Khushi's side after Sridevi's death, Arjun had earlier tweeted, "Me and Anshula Kapoor represent our mother every single second we live. She would expect us to have been standing next to our father no matter what and be there for Janhvi and Khushi."
In April, Sridevi was given her first ever National Award for MOM, which was collected by Boney Kapoor, Janhvi and Khushi.
In MOM, Sridevi played the role of a mother, who seeks revenge for her daughter's rape. Her co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui won the Best Actor In A Supporting Role for MOM. On social media, Nawazuddin said that he dedicates his award to the late actress.
Irrfan Khan has won the Best Actor Award for Hindi Medium.
Ranbir Kapoor, Who Is Reportedly Dating Alia Bhatt, Says 'Falling In Love Is The Greatest Thing.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 22 Jun 2018
"When in love, even water tastes like sherbet," this is what Ranbir Kapoor said when he was asked if falling in love complicates his craft at Anupama Chopra's talk show. Ranbir, who is reportedly dating his Brahmastra co-star Alia Bhatt said: "Falling in love is the greatest thing in the world, the greatest feeling in the world. When you fall in love, everything is great, even water tastes like sherbet. You feel great." This is not the first time, Ranbir has spoken about the subject of love, in an interview for GQ India June 2018 issue, the actor kind of confirmed his rumoured relationship with Alia Bhatt and said: "It's really new right now, and I don't want to over speak. It needs time to breathe and it needs space." The actor was all praises for Alia and added, "As an actor, as a person, Alia is - what's the right word? - flowing right now. When I see her work, when I see her act, even in life, what she gives is something that I'm aspiring to for myself."
The rumours of Ranbir and Alia's alleged relationship began after they arrived at Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's reception together in March. After that, Alia Bhatt has been frequently spotted with Ranbir Kapoor in film studios and outside too. On Wednesday night, Alia Bhatt joined Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt at his father Rishi Kapoor's home.
Before that Alia Bhatt dined with Ranbir, his mother Neetu Kapoor and his sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Pictures of Alia holding hands with Ranbir's niece Samara sent the Internet into a meltdown. It wouldn't be wrong to say that just like Ranbir, the Kapoors too have taken a liking towards Alia Bhatt.
Before dating Alia, Ranbir Kapoor dated his Bachna Ae Haseeno and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani co-star Deepika Padukone. He even dated Katrina Kaif, with whom he has featured in films such as Raajneeti, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahaani and Jagga Jasoos. he was also linked to Pakistani actress Mahira Khan briefly.
Ranbir Kapoor is looking forward to the release of Sanju on June 29 and he's currently filming Brahmastra.
International Yoga Day: Kangana Ranaut Performs Yoga In London.
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 21 Jun 2018
Actress Kangana Ranaut celebrated International Yoga Day in London, where she is currently filming Mental Hai Kya. Pictures and video of Kangana performing yoga at London's Hyde Park have been shared by the actress' official fan club on Instagram. "Kangana Ranaut shows her dedication towards yoga on International Yoga Day 2018 and encourages everyone to adopt yoga as a lifestyle and a way to spiritual awakening," read the caption. In another post, Kangana can be seen doing the chakrasan. "Kangana Ranaut practicing the ancient science of yoga on International Yoga Day. The key to practice yoga is patience & stillness," the post states.
A couple of years ago on International Yoga Day, Kangana Ranaut had revealed that she swears by yoga and it has changed her life. In an interview to Vogue magazine, Kangana said, "Yoga is a gift and I actually think that I have survived due to it. Through meditation, pranayama and yoga postures, I could vent out a lot of restless energy. It brought a lot of spiritual and physical balance in me and I think it helped me gain qualities like perseverance and patience or controlling my impulses. I think I lasted and survived and could achieve all I have because of yoga." She is a fitness enthusiast and never misses her gym sessions too.
Kangana Ranaut's next film is Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi and is expected to hit the screens later this year while a release date for the work-in-progress Mental Hai Kya hasn't been announced as of yet
Sanju: Ranveer Singh, Not Ranbir Kapoor, Was Producer's First Choice For Film. Yes, You Read That Right
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 20 Jun 2018
Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt in Sanju has impressed one and all. Even Sanjay Dutt feels that Ranbir had done a 'fantastic job.' But Ranbir Kapoor wasn't the first choice for Sanju. Yes, you read that right. In an interview to The Telegraph, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra has revealed that he wanted to cast Ranveer Singh but director Rajkumar Hirani wanted Ranbir to play Sanjay Dutt. "It was Raju's idea to cast Ranbir. When he told me about Ranbir, I wasn't happy at all. I thought someone else, like Ranveer Singh, could play this role much better. I thought Ranveer had the flamboyance, the emotional depth as well as the ability to change himself completely to play Sanjay Dutt," he said.
"But Raju was adamant that Ranbir would be perfect. And when we started shooting and Ranbir became Sanjay Dutt, I had to kind of eat my words. I think I can best sum this up by saying that Ranbir has become Sanjay Dutt both in swagger and soul," Mr Chopra added.
In the pictures that had surface online from the films sets and in the trailer, Ranbir bears an uncanny resemblance with Sanjay Dutt and it's sometimes hard to differentiate between them. Sanju traces the journey of Sanjay Dutt from the age of 20 till now and Ranbir has aced them all.
Meanwhile, Vidhu Vinod Chopra also said that he had said 'no' to Rajkumar Hirani when he discussed the idea of making a film on Sanjay Dutt. "Yes, I did. When he told me, I was like, 'What's there in Sanjay Dutt's life that merits being made into a film?! It's better you make a film on my life... how I left Kashmir as a young boy and struggled when I came to Bombay.' (Laughs) I thought Raju and Abhijat (Joshi, Sanju's co-writer) had lost their minds," he told The Telegraph.
It was earlier reported that when Rajkumar Hirani went to discuss Munna Bhai 3 with Sanjay Dutt, he came up with the idea of making a film on the actor's life. Of the whole story, Mr Chopra told The Telegraph, "At that time, Sanjay Dutt had just come out of jail and Raju had gone to speak to him about the next Munna Bhai film. We were then planning to make Munna Bhai Chale Jail and I sent Raju to speak to Sanju and get some inputs from him. But Raju came back with something else."
"But when he sat me down and started narrating all that had happened in Sanju's life, I was stunned! At first, I thought it was hogwash... that Sanju was somehow not telling Raju the truth, but when we started researching all that he's said - from the 308 girlfriends he had to how he begged on the streets of US for the money to buy a bus ticket - we realised that everything he had told us was true," he added.
About the scene in Sanju,when Ranbir as Dutt shares a jaadu ki jhappi with Paresh Rawal, who plays Sunil Dutt, (originally picturised in Munna Bhai MBBS) Vidhu Vinod Chopra told The Telegraph that the father-daughter duo had actually cried and so, they decided to retain it in Sanju too.
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COMMENTS"When the film was being written, I discovered a Sanjay Dutt I didn't know... a Sunil Dutt I didn't know... and this after having known them for 20-25 years. I was stunned to know that the scene in Munna Bhai MBBS when Dutt saab and Sanju cry after the son asks the father's forgiveness and they hug each other was actually real... that they were crying for real. Imagine I was standing there on the set of Munna Bhai and I had no idea they were actually living that scene! We have kept it in the film," Mr Chopra told The Telegraph.
Irfan Khan On 'Shock, Panic, Terrifying Hospital Visits' After Tumour Diagnosis
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 19 Jun 2018
Actor Irrfan Khan, battling neuroendocrine tumour, has briefly returned to Twitter, where he shared an interview he gave to Bombay Times. A couple of months ago, the 51-year-old actor had opened up about battling neuroendocrine tumour and he travelled to London after that. "A note from London," reads the caption on Irrfan's article for Bombay Times and begins as, "It's been quite some time now since I have been diagnosed with a high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. This new name in my vocabulary, I got to know, was rare, and due to fewer study cases, and less information comparatively, the unpredictability of the treatment was more. I was part of a trial-and-error game."
"In this chaos, shocked, afraid and in panic, while on one of the terrifying hospital visits, I blabber to my son, 'The only thing I expect from ME is not to face this crisis in this present state. I desperately need my feet. Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable'," Irrfan added.
In March, he had shared an update about his health. "Learning that I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour as of now has admittedly been difficult... I hope to be back with more stories to tell," read an excerpt from his post.
That was my INTENTION. AND THEN PAIN HIT. As if all this while, you were just getting to know pain, and now you know his nature and his intensity. Nothing was working; NO consolation, no motivation. The entire cosmos becomes one at that moment - just PAIN, and pain felt more enormous than GOD," he told Bombay Times.
"As I was entering the hospital, drained, exhausted, listless, I hardly realised my hospital was on the opposite side of Lord's, the stadium. The Mecca of my childhood dream. Amidst the pain, I saw a poster of a smiling Vivian Richards. Nothing happened, as if that world didn't ever belong to me," he added.
Last month, the Internet had spotted a picture of man, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Irrfan Khan, at the Lord's, watching a cricket match.
Last seen in Blackmail, Irrfan Khan is currently awaiting the release of Karwaan. His film with Deepika Padukone has been stalled as of now.
Mine.' Deepika Padukone's One Word Comment On Ranveer Singh's Pic Says It All
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 18 Jun 2018
Ok folks, we'll be dispensing with the 'rumoured boyfriend/girlfriend' business now because if the comment Deepika Padukone, 32, left on Ranveer Singh's Instagram post over the weekend doesn't speak volumes, we don't know what does. The post is a selfie of Ranveer, 32, one in which he looks pretty swoon-worthy. Deepika's succinct comment - 'Mine,' accompanied by three heart-eyed emoticons. Let's give it up for emoticons, peeps. Especially when they are posted by the usually reserved Deepika Padukone. On an aside, Anil Kapoor also commented on the picture, but for once our attention is otherwise engaged.
Deepika's comment was noted and embraced by Ranveer's other followers. Responses range from 'aww' to 'omg omg omg' to 'God bless you both' to 'best couple in the universe.' Same, from us.
Deepika and Ranveer have steered serenely through months of wedding rumours, after years of stopping short of making their rumoured, there's that word again, romance official, despite having shown up hand-in-hand to party after party and event after event. We'll take it as official now.
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have co-starred in three films so far, all directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali - Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani and, most recently, the controversial "Padmaavat."
Deepika has spent the last couple of months juggling international appearances at the Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival. Last week, she featured in the headlines of another sort after the top two floors of the Mumbai apartment complex in which she has a home and an office caught fire. The actress marked herself safe in a tweet and no other casualties were reported.
Race 3 movie review: Not a Salman Khan fan? Mind your own business
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 15 Jun 2018
Race 3
Director - Remo DSouza
Cast - Salman Khan, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Saqib Saleem, Daisy Shah
Rating - 1/5
During one of the many forced fist fights in Race 3, Salman Khan is getting the better of his opponents when he is hit by a rod. He smirks, turns towards the camera and punches the enemy in face as if he is punishing the man for not recognising the Bhai of Bollywood. The camera doesn’t cut to the rod, which, I am sure, is broken in half by now. Such is Salman’s unparalleled rage and such is the vision of director Remo D’Souza.
Race 3 is everything film students are taught not to do, but then what do they know? From the first scene in which Anil Kapoor blows up a gang member with the help of a pen bomb to Salman coming to the rescue of his family in a base-jump suit, Race 3 unabashedly targets the fans. There isn’t any pretension of logical filmmaking or sound screenplay. It seems Race 3 categorically wants the non-Salman fans to mind their own business.
Shamsher Singh (Anil Kapoor), a runaway criminal from a village near Allahabad, has built an empire in Al-Shifa Island in the Middle East, which was bought by his elder brother for difficult days. Sikander alias Sikku (Salman Khan) is Shamsher’s stepson who runs his illegal arms’ business. Sanjana (Daisy Shah) and Suraj (Saqib Saleem) are Shamsher’s other kids. There is an intra-family rivalry going on among all of them for the control of business and assets. But they don’t know ‘iss khel ka asli Sikander kaun hai (who is the real boss of this game)’. You have seen the trailer, right?
Let’s get back to the race, I mean the story, which starts, speeds up and finishes with black SUVs, airborne fighters and a barrage of bullets.
Consider this example: Sanjana, the cool-headed MMA champ, and Suraj, a mostly screaming psychotic gangster who likes to break beer bottles on his own head, are trapped in the den of an adversary. Shamsher isn’t worried about his children because “Sikander tak message pahuch chukka hai (The message has reached Sikander).” You know what that means?
This means the killing of more than 10 dozen weapon-wielding trained bodyguards and a song thrown in between. The icing on the cake is Saqib’s reaction to his rescue, “What the hell bro!” Exactly, what the hell!
No wonder, Salman introduces himself as, “My name is Sikander, Sikander Singh.” He is James Bond with tonnes of extra confidence. Before I forget, he is Oxford-educated as well.
Dialogues in the film play on a different level altogether. Just when you thought nothing could surpass ‘My business is my business, none of your business,’ Daisy Shah comes up with another gem: ‘Isko dil nahi Dell khol ke dikhao (Don’t open your heart, switch on your Dell laptop)’.
Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley -- you name it and D’Souza will blow it up for you. He is so obsessed with blasts in the film that he doesn’t mind blasting a tree if he doesn’t find anything else.
Not that Race and Race 2 were classics, but Race 3 has taken things too far. Remo D’Souza’s idea of a dysfunctional family is far more juvenile than Abbas-Mustan’s.
Then there are shirtless people, undercover agents with outrageously simple plans and a twist that does more harm than help. By the end of it, Race 3 turns so bad that you can’t help but laugh nervously.
Let me simplify it for you: A bad guy, who was initially presented as the most powerful person on the planet, challenges Sikander in dual. After being punched for a couple of times, he is lying in the pool of blood. Sikander, meanwhile, is taking care of other business. The fallen guy says something from behind a big black car. Of course, Sikander doesn’t like it, so what does he do? He simply pushes the car and it crushes the previously powerful guy. So simple.
Gloss and glam are expected to mask an appalling film, but it’s really difficult to sit through 160-minutes of terribly bad filmmaking. Even Tom Struthers’ (Tiger Zinda Hai, Dunkirk) action choreography is dull. As for the rest of the cast is concerned, I feel for Bobby Deol and Jacqueline Fernandez
Race 3 is a mere show-reel for Salman Khan fans. Celebrating Eid at home is likely to entertain you more.
Zero Teaser: Shah Rukh And Salman Khan Replace Eid Hugs With Kisses And It's So Darn Cute
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 14 Jun 2018
The Eid-special teaser of Shah Rukh Khan's Zero simply trumps any form of cuteness that you will witness today, courtesy the two Khans. Oh, did we forget to tell you that it also offers the first glimpse of Salman Khan, who features in a cameo role in the movie? We know Shah Rukh has been cast as a dwarf in the movie and new trivia which we learnt from the teaser is the name of his character - Babua Singh. He is known as the one jo "jiske peeche lag jaate hain, uski life bana dete hain" and his reputation has reached Salman Khan also (who features as the real life superstar in the film). The new teaser shows Babua Singh accidentally bumping into Salman at some entertainment event, when Salman says: "Suna hai jiske peeche lag jaate ho, uski life bana dete ho?"
Babua Singh, who took a while to acknowledge that he indeed is standing in front of the Dabangg Khan, greets him with an adaab.
Then, these two break into all forms of crazy dancing. Both dressed in leather jackets and pants with gamchhas around their necks, send love and blessings to the audience (both in the teaser and those who are watching the teaser) on Eid.
The famous Salman-Shah Rukh iftaar party hugs seems to have been replaced with kisses and we just can't keep calm.
Katrina Kaif also makes a cameo of sorts in the teaser. How closely have you noticed Babua Singh's t-shirt?
On Thursday, Shah Rukh shared the teaser after fan-clubs flooded social media with stills from the teaser ahead of its official release in India. The stills were apparently curated after the teaser was reportedly played during the USA premiere of Naa... Nuvve. This is what he wrote: "Yeh lo..yeh lo Aanand L Rai ki taraf se...Iss baar Eid ka meetha bahut tez hai. To everyone from me and the whole team of Zero... Eid Mubarak. Love u all and hope you like it."
Directed by Aanand L Rai, Zero, which also stars Anushka Sharma, releases in December this year.
Pic Of Priyanka Chopra With Nick Jonas At Wedding Sends Internet Into Meltdown
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 12 Jun 2018
A new day brings a new piece of gossip about one of the most talked about rumoured couples - Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. Days after their photos at travelling together at the New York airport went viral, photos of Priyanka attending Nick Jonas' cousin Kevin's wedding found their way on to the Internet. Priyanka, dressed in a gold dress, looked charming as she confidently mingled with Nick's family. She blushed, laughed and took pictures with the other wedding guests. Priyanka's participation there was captured and shared by several fan clubs. "The youngest JoBro and Priyanka were arm-in-arm at his cousin's wedding near Atlantic City over the weekend... While they haven't made any official announcement ... all the "new couple" signs are there," a TMZ report stated.
Going by the viralness of these photos, it seems that the Internet approves of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. "Whatever it is... I'm feel so happy seeing these pictures," wrote a happy Instagram user. "I can't handle it.... I lovee it... they look so happy," said another user. A section of the Internet cannot get over their age difference - Priyanka Chopra is 35-year-old while Nick Jonas is all of 25. But some Instagram users shut the trolls up by saying: "They are adorable...so stope taking about age."
Priyanka's apparent relationship with Nick Jonas is not the only subject keeping her on the trends list. Priyanka is currently on the receiving end of social media's wrath after an episode from her show Quantico angered several Indian fans. Priyanka apologised days after the row and tweeted: "I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change.
Meanwhile, after completing Quantico (currently in its third and final season), Priyanka will return to India to start filming Bharat opposite Salman Khan.
Alia Bhatt Dines With Ranbir Kapoor And Family, Walks Out Hand-In-Hand With His Niece
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 11 Jun 2018
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are trending again and this time for pictures of the Udta Punjab actress exiting a restaurant with the Kapoors holding Ranbir's niece Samara's hand. On Saturday, Alia Bhatt dined with Ranbir's family - his mother Neetu Kapoor and sister Riddhima can be seen navigating their way through the paparazzi behind Alia and Samara, who were twinning in white. Alia looked protective of Samara as the photographers closed in while the Kapoors (Ranbir Kapoor included) trailed behind Samara and her new best friend. Samara is the daughter of Riddhima and businessman Bharat Sahni. The pictures of the Kapoors and Alia are all that the Internet can talk about. Apparently, a section of the Internet has given its blessing to the rumoured couple.
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are co-starring for the first time in upcoming film Brahmastra. They are currently preparing for their next schedule of the film with Amitabh Bachchan. The cast and crew will soon leave for Bulgaria for the said schedule.
Reports of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor dating started doing the rounds on social media after they arrived together at actress Sonam Kapoor's reception in Mumbai. Recently, Ranbir Kapoor kind of confirmed their relationship telling GQ: "It's really new right now, and I don't want to over speak."
From scraps of information on social media, we also know that Alia Bhatt gets along well with Riddhima and Neetu Kapoor. Riddhima, who is a jewellery designer, recently gifted a bracelet to Alia, which the actress "loved." Neetu Kapoor and Alia Bhatt often comment and counter-comment on each other's Instagram posts.
We also know that Neetu Kapoor attended Alia's birthday celebration in Bulgaria with the rest the Brahmastra cast and crew:
Brahmastra is a trilogy, the first part of which is scheduled for 2019 release. The film is directed by Ayan Mukherji and produced by Karan Johar.
Bollywood box office report: Veere Di Wedding, Raazi rule as Avengers Infinity War breaks records
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 8 Jun 2018
Bollywood box office has thrown quite a few surprises this year. While films like Padmaavat, PadMan and Baaghi 2 came true to the trades expectations, it were the surprises that 2018 offered female-centric Raazi and Veere Di Wedding and a small film such as Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety that truly brought cheer to the film industry.
Deepika Padukones Padmaavat remains the top grosser, highest weekend grosser and highest first week grosser of the year. Alia Bhatts Raazi recently managed to dethrone the surprise hit, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, becoming the fifth highest grosser and fifth film to cross Rs 100 crore mark this year.
And now, Veere Di Wedding, headlined by an all-female cast, touted to be a film about female friendship, reached the top five list for the first week collection, earning Rs 56.96 crore within a week of its release. Veere Di Wedding is also the fifth highest opening weekend grosser of the year.
The other films in the top five list are Akshay Kumars PadMan (at no. 4 spot, with Rs 62.87 crore earning), Ajay Devgns Raid (third, Rs 63.05 cr) and Tiger Shroffs Baaghi 2 (second highest earner, with Rs 112.85 cr).
According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Padmaavat has topped the week one collection for 2018 while Veere Di Wedding made it to the fifth slot.
We also saw three major Hollywood releases affecting the Indian box office like never before - Black Panther, Deadpool 2 and Avengers Infinity War.
Avengers Infinity War topped most box office lists, including the record made by Padmaavat, with Rs 120 crore opening weekend collection in India. Avengers: Infinity War became the highest grossing Hollywood film in India with Rs 246 crore in less than two weeks while Black Panther earned a little over Rs 67 crore.
Ryan Reynolds Deadpool 2, on the other hand, would be sixth in the opening weekend collection list, after earning Rs 33 crore within four days at Indian ticket windows. Deadpool 2 also features Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Karan Soni, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic and Leslie Uggams.
With Salman Khan-starrer Race 3 and Ranbir Kapoors Sanjay Dutt biopic Sanju lined up for release later this month, the status quo is likely to change.
'Kaala' Records Lowest Ever Opening For A Rajinikanth Film: Reports
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 7 Jun 2018
Kaala recorded the lowest ever opening for a Rajinikanth film in recent times, reports news agency IANS. Shocked? As per actor activist Vishal Krishna, the first day numbers of Kaala have been affected by the film's 'ban' in Karnataka and may be even director Pa Ranjith. Vishal Krishna, who is a member of the Tamil Nadu Films Producers' Council (TFPC), explained: "Kaalahas been unnecessarily embroiled in the Cauvery controversy. How much this has affected the film's opening, I don't know. What I do know is that at the end of the day Rajini sir is Rajini sir. Any film of his evokes a massive response. The opening of 'Kaala' may be on the lower side - I haven't found the time to check - because his last film with the same director (Pa Ranjith) had not been appreciated that much."
But Vishal says the box office fate of Kaala, which collected over Rs. 200 crore before release, hasn't been sealed yet. "Rajini Sir's fan club is stronger than ever. And I am a member. They will ensure a smooth run for 'Kaala'. Let's not forget, this is the Ramzan week and a sizable chunk of the audience likes to refrain from watching films during this period even if it is Rajini Sir's film. I intend to see 'Kaala' the soonest possible," Vishal told IANS.
Trade analyst Atul Mohan listed other reasons for 'Kaala's' slow start. Atul Mohan said that the meagre collection despite shows stating as early as 4 am, may be due to the 'lean Ramzan period' and the delay in the film's release. "This may be due to some of the factors like couple of postponements in release date, Ramzan period, particularly the week before Eid which is dullest for business, as next Friday the big film of Salman Khan (Race 3) releases."
Atul Mohan also said that the slow start can also be attributed to the poor commercial results of his previous films. "Also his last few films haven't done well. The promos of Kaala haven't established a connect with Hindi audiences. It looks like a Ninetis film. But we hope they have some great story to be shared which may be liked and the film does well," IANS quoted him as saying.
Kaala released alongside Hollywood film Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom, which according to Atul Mohan may hinder Kaala's box office growth. He told IANS: "'Kaala' has to compete with a Steven Spielberg franchise - Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom - which is a huge event. Also, a section of Rajinikanth's audience is not happy with his entry into politics."
Kaala received a grand welcome from his fans worldwide today. From fireworks to dance and music, fans started celebrating the release of Kaala early morning on June 7.
Kaala is produced by Rajinikanth's son-in-law Dhanush and it also stars Nana Patekar and Huma Qureshi
Arjun Rampal And Mehr Jesia Separated Because Of Sussanne Khan? 'It's News To Me,' Says Actor
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 6 Jun 2018
Arjun Rampal is least perturbed about the latest link-up reports involving him and Sussanne Khan and dismiss all the rumours in his latest Instagram post. After Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia announced separation, the actor was linked to Sussanne Khan, who was married to actor Hrithik Roshan. On Tuesday, Arjun crushed the rumours in a cryptic post, which he captioned: "Some mornings start with freshly brewed coffee, others with freshly stirred link ups! Right now it's just my cuppa and me." He added the hashtag "#newstome" to further reiterate the implausibility of the rumours. Check out Arjun Rampal's post here:
On May 28, Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia announced separation after 20 years of marriage. In a joint statement, they said: "After a 20-year-long beautiful journey filled with love and beautiful memories, we would like to share, that all journeys have different paths. We feel that it is time for us to move on to different destinations henceforth. We have always been solid when it has come to us, we will continue to be solid for each other and our loved ones, as we embark upon a new journey."
Arjun Rampal, 45, and Mehr Jesia, 47, married in 1998 and they are parents to two daughters - Mahikaa, 16, and Myra, 13."Where the truth can get distorted and lost. We are a family, our love for each other is forever intact and we shall always be there for one another and most importantly, for our children Mahikaa and Myra. We won't be commenting on this any further," their statement read.
Arjun Rampal has featured in films like Om Shaanti Om, Rock On!!, Housefull and Raajneeti. Arjun was last seen in Daddy and his upcoming film is Paltan.
Forgive Me': Rakhi Sawant Apologises For Once Telling Sunny Leone To 'Get Lost
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 5 Jun 2018
Rakhi Sawant apologised to actress Sunny Leone for making unpleasant comments about her on Rajeev Khandelwal's new talk show Juzzbaatt - Sangeen Se Namkeen Tak, reports mid-day. Rakhi apparently had an issue with Sunny Leone working in the Hindi film industry and hence, she had made some nasty remarks against her. "Hi Sunny, forgive me," said Rakhi to Sunny Leone on the show, mid-day reports, admitting that she was wrong because she didn't know about her struggle. Years ago, during a media interaction, Rakhi had said, "You, Sunny Leone, you get lost from my India. Ok? You just get lost from my film industry." She had also referred Sunny as a 'competition.'
Rakhi said that she had 'judged' Sunny Leone because she is not in a position to do what the Ragini MMS 2 actress has done. Sunny Leone, 37, before entering Bollywood, was an adult film star. She made her debut with reality show Bigg Boss 5. Rakhi Sawant was a part of the first season.
At the same show, Rakhi Sawant also opened about her own struggles to enter the industry. She said to have been 'exploited by the producers' when she entered the industry as an 'innocent' girl in the hope of getting work, mid-day reports. Rakhi Sawant appeared on Juzzbaatt - Sangeen Se Namkeen Tak with Arshi Khan, also an Bigg Boss alumnus.
Rakhi Sawant has appeared in hit dance sequences like Mohabbat Hai Mirchi, Pardesiya and Dekhta Hai Tu Kya. She had a small role in films such as Masti and Main Hoon Na.
Meanwhile, Sunny Leone has films like Jism 2, Jackpot, Ragini MMS 2 and Ek Paheli Leela on her resume. She has appeared in hit songs like Laila Main Laila and Pink Lips. She is currently working on her Tamil debut Veeramadevi.
Veere Di Wedding Star Swara Bhasker Slammed By Pakistani Actress Urwa Hocane For 'Contradictory' Statements
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 4 Jun 2018
Back in 2015, when Veere Di Wedding actress Swara Bhasker had visited Pakistan, she had praised the country and said that 'every city fails in front of Lahore,' claimed Pakistani actress Urwa Hocane, in a tweet she posted over the weekend. Swara has been criticised for her contradicting statements about Pakistan and to support her views, Urwa posted two clips. The first is from an interview Swara gave to a Pakistani channel during her visit and the other is from her recent interview with team Veere Di Wedding to an Indian news channel, where she describes Pakistan as a 'failing state.' "Need I say more?" Urwa wrote while tagging Swara in the post.
"Pakistan is not like how it is described. I swear, I have been to many places like London, New York, Istanbul, Paris but every city fails in front of Lahore," is what Swara says in the old video, posted by Urwa. And, in the second one, she points out that Pakistan is a 'non-secular state' and adds, "I don't understand why we keep taking pleasure and self-worth from all the silly things that happen in Pakistan."
Also, in a series of tweets addressed to Swara, Urwa wrote, "This only reflects on you as an ignorant person who is also quite contradictory in her own statements. It's not a failing state for sure but you come across as a 'failing human being'."
Swara Bhasker, who has been trending on and off a couple of reasons apart from Veere Di Wedding, hasn't yet responded to Urwa, but has tweeted to posts addressed to her over the 'hatred.'
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Swara replied to tweets condemning her for a particular scene in Veere Di Wedding, for which she received severe backlash. Swara hit back by saying they were 'paid trolls.'
In April, Swara had blasted Twitter users for 'photoshopping' her tweets and 'spreading lies.' For her tweets, in which she was brutally trolled for 'posing with make-up' for #JusticeForOurChild campaign, started after the Kathua rape case. Before this, Swara featured in headlines for her open letter on how she felt "reduced to a vagina" while watching "Padmaavat", directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Her op-ed, published on The Wire, was critical of the film's glorification of jauhar and sati.
Meantime, Swara's Veere Di Wedding, in which she co-stars with Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Shikha Talsania, opened to positive reviews and has earned over Rs. 20 crore at the box office.
Sanju Director Raju Hirani's Version Of Why Aamir Khan Rejected Role Is A Bit Different From Actor's
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 1 Jun 2018
Just a couple of days before, Aamir Khan had revealed why he refused to play Sunil Dutt's role in the upcoming film Sanju. Now, at the trailer launch event of the film, director Rajkumar Hirani opened up about what Aamir Khan said when he was offered the role of Sanjay Dutt's father. Sanju director told IANS that when he narrated the story to Aamir, he had asked him if he would play the role of Sunil Dutt but the actor refused to take up the role since he didn't want to play an older man post Dangal. "Aamir showed me Dangal and said, 'look I'm already playing an older man's role. And after Dangal, my next film has me play an older man again, then people will stop giving me a young man's role!' That was a valid argument. Finally, we had Pareshji (Rawal) playing Dutt saab," Mr Hirani told IANS.
Aamir Khan played the role of an aged Haryanvi wrestler - Mahavir Singh Phogat - in Dangal. Actresses Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra were cast as his onscreen daughters.
Mr Hirani said that he read out the script of Sanju to Aamir not with the intention of asking him to play any character. But the director ended up offering him the role of Sunil Dutt in the film out of "greed". "Not with the intention of asking him to play any role. He reacted interestingly to the script and liked it. Then just out of greed, I asked Aamir if he would play Dutt saab's role? He took it seriously and gave it a thought," Mr Hirani added.
Aamir Khan had said in a statement earlier that it was Sanjay Dutt's role that had "won his heart" and he was not willing to take up any other role. "In this film I can't do any other role apart from Sanjay Dutt's, which I can't do because Ranbir is doing," Aamir Khan said at a previous media interaction.
Rajkumar Hirani has a tinge of humour added to every film that he directs and on being asked if Sanju will have the trait, the director said: "It is not that we haven't added element of laughter in it. There is definitely fun in the film but that percentage can be more and less."
"I will never say my films like PK and Lage Raho Munnbhai were a comedy film because that film had strong message to tell. In that film, also there was humour but there was lot of drama and other emotions as well so, in this film there is lot of emotion but audience will not get feeling that it is less in humour, " IANS quoted Sanju director saying.
Sanju stars Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt, Anushka Sharma as a biographer, Vicky Kaushal as Sanjay Dutt's childhood friend, Sonam Kapoor as one of his love interests, Manisha Koirala as Nargis Dutt, Paresh Rawal as Sunil Dutt and Dia Mirza as wife Maanyata. The cast of the film was present at the trailer launch of the film which took place in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Sanju Trailer: Ranbir Kapoor As Sanjay Dutt Is Brilliant. You Will Laugh And Cry With Him
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 31 May 2018
The Sanju trailer is a must watch because "Itna variety wala life aapko kidhar milega?" Ranbir Kapoor, as Sanjay Dutt in the much awaited trailer, explains his point in the following line: "Main bewra hoon, tharki hoon, drug addict hoon, saab hoon.. lekin terrorist nahin hoon." Ranbir brilliantly paints the life of Sanjay Dutt in the powerful trailer with all shades available on the colour palette of emotion. The trailer begins with the younger days of Sanjay Dutt, when Sanju - his onscreen character - opens up about his drug addiction, his affairs and also makes a reference to an alleged connection with the underworld and the media speculation surrounding it.
The trailer is proof that Sanjay Dutt did not shy away from sharing bold details about his much talked about controversial life, ranging from his drug addiction to multiple link-ups
In one scene, Sanju was asked by a biographer (Anushka Sharma) about how many affairs he's had and as response, he provided a rounded off figure - 350. Sanju also reveals that the first time he experimented with drugs was when he was upset with his father Sunil Dutt (played by Paresh Rawal) and the next time he indulged in drug abuse was when his mother Nargis (played by Manisha Koirala) was under medical diagnosis. By the third time, he confessed to being an addict.
All this while, you will find yourself on a rollercoaster ride with Sanju but soon, the ride ends on a rather harsh note when begins his trial for the illegal possession of arms in connection to the 1993 Bombay blasts. Just like with his colourful days, his jail term has also been brought alive with much animation, and this time, Ranbir as Sanju will indeed make-you teary eyed.
The trailer also has glimpses of Sonam Kapoor, who is reported to have been cast as Tina Munim, who is rumoured to have been Sanjay Dutt's love interest. Dia Mirza features as Mr Dutt's wife Maanyata while Vicky Kaushal plays his childhood friend and now brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav.
Priyanka Chopra And Nick Jonas' Pics Trend. 'Are They Dating,' Asks The Internet
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 30 May 2018
"Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, are they dating?" read a comment on their pictures, which are trending big time today. The pictures have reportedly been taken during their outing in Los Angeles. Both Priyanka and Nick are seen sitting next to each other and are accompanied by several other friends. The Internet has chanced upon two pictures of the stars - one appears to be taken during a group lunch and in the other they are enjoying a boat ride. "Seems they are dating" is what one section of the people think while the others have declared that the duo are surely in dating. "They're looking so cute together," read another comment.
Priyanka Chopra, 35, is a Bollywood star and is currently busy with her Hollywood projects while Nick Jonas, 25, is an American singer-songwriter.
Another video of them, where the duo are seen entering Los Angeles' Dodgers Stadium to watch a baseball match, has also surface online.
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COMMENTSPriyanka and Nick met at last year's Met Gala event and had also posed together on the red carpet. He had posted two pictures of Priyanka from the Met Gala.
On the work front, Priyanka Chopra is busy with her Hollywood projects - A Kid Like Jake and Isn't It Romantic?. She currently features on the American TV series Quantico 3. She made her Hollywood debut last year with Baywatch. Priyanka is expected to soon start shooting for Salman Khan's Bharat, her first Hindi film in two years.
Race 3: Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez Schooled On Consent After Boy Was Made To Hug Actress
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 29 May 2018
The Internet is seriously upset with Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez for "not understanding the importance of consent" after they appeared to playfully tease a young participant on dance reality show Dance Deewane recently. Jacqueline recently Instagrammed a short glimpse of the show, in which she and her Race 3 co-star Salman can be seen interacting with an adorable participant, who said he doesn't want to be hugged by Jacqueline Fernandez but eventually had to on Salman's insistence. Sometime later in the video, Jacqueline can be seen signing off from the stage with a tummy rub to the little dancer on stage, who was also asked by Salman to give one last parting hug.
Jacqueline shared the video with the caption: "Kids usually love me, this boy was an exception.. at least I got my hug in the end," and her Instafam is furious about it. "Wow. I wish you understood the concept and importance of consent irrespective of age and gender Jacqueline and Salman," read a comment while another one sarcastically added: "Consent be damned."
Here are some of the other comments with which netizens attempted to enlighten Jacqueline and Salman about consent. "Hey, heard about this thing called consent? It's not something only girls should have, and not something only adults should have. Can you imagine how awkward this would be if a female participant refused to hug Salman and he still went for it? And rubbing his tummy, for God's sake? You're making him uncomfortable on national television," said one user while another added: "How is this okay? It is important to teach children that their body is theirs and consent is important. The kid is totally uncomfortable. Expected better from you."
Earlier this year, singer Papon apologised after he was spotted kissing an 11-year-old girl in a Facebook live video. Papon, who also added that he was "victimized for no fault", was seen requesting someone to edit the footage in the same video. The young girl was on the team of Voice India Kids, which Papon was mentoring.
Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez were also accompanied by their Race 3 co-star Anil Kapoor on the show, where they were promoting their upcoming film. Shashanka Khaitan, Tushar Kalia and Madhuri Dixit were also spotted on the panel of judges
Sonam Kapoor And Anand Ahuja. Just Like This, Forever
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 28 May 2018
Sonam Kapoor's husband Anand Ahuja delighted us with some yet other adorable pictures of themselves and they are sending the Internet into a meltdown (sort of). "Cool... not cool," Anand captioned his post with the hashtag 'Everyday Phenomenal.' (This was their wedding hashtag too). Sonam, currently busy with Veere Di Wedding duties, was quick to respond to Anand's picture and commented, "I'm cool always," adding wink and heart emoticons. (Sonam and Anand, you guys are adorable). "You'll are too cute and equally cool" and "they are setting the goals too high" are some of the several comments posted on their pictures.
A couple of days ago, Anand Ahuja explained why they had zeroed in on 'Everyday Phenomenal' as their wedding hashtag. "Everyday phenomenal reminds Sonam Kapoor of the importance of appreciation, positivity, and gratitude...that happiness is not something you get, it's something you are," read an excerpt from Anand's post.
Just few hours after Anand's post, Sonam filled Instagram with a loved-up picture of the duo, which was actually a response to her husband's post. In the comments section, Anand revealed why Sonam actually posted it. "Sonam to me: 'How come you get to post and I don't get to post!? I also want to post!'... 2 min later... 'Anand, see your Instagram!'" read Anand's comment.
Sonam Kapoor married businessman Anand Ahuja in Mumbai on May 8. After the wedding, the couple hosted a grand reception for their friends and colleagues. Later, the newly-weds flew to Delhi (Anand's hometown) for a brief stay and from there, Sonam went to attend the Cannes Film Festival
Bioscopewala Movie Review: Danny Denzongpa's Performance Is First-Rate In This Well-Crafted Sparkling Little Gem
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 26 May 2018
As loose an adaptation of a short story as any ever attempted, Deb Medhekar's Bioscopewala takes the kernel of Rabindranath Tagore's fabled Kabuliwala and turns it, on one level, into an affecting meditation on paternal love, bereavement, loss and redemption. On another, the tender, warm, pensive film, set in contemporary Kolkata and Afghanistan, ruminates upon the ravages of war and time, the repercussions of religious bigotry and the regenerative power of stories that humans tell, no matter where they come from.
First-time director Medhekar, who also wrote the film's screenplay with inputs from Radhika Anand, imparts a mellow tone and distinctive visual texture to Bioscopewala, which is as much a celebration of the manifestations of humanity across cultural boundaries as an ode to cinema as a means of both recreation and rebellion.
The well-crafted film is wonderfully served by a fine cast and its cinematographer Rafey Mahmood, whose lighting and angles imbue the frames with dynamism and an air of immediacy as two individuals, separated by geography, social moorings and age, seek desperately to reconnect with emotions that once defined their deep bond but have inevitably faded with time.
The passage of time may dim the glow of moving images just as it can reduce the intensity of human feelings, but do they ever vanish altogether? In Medhekar's take on Tagore's timeless classic, they certainly do not; if anything, they assume new depth and urgency. Like the hand impressions of two five-year-old girls imprinted on a piece of cloth keep the titular protagonist from disintegrating in the face of a series of misfortunes, memories of life-affirming connections of yore help a grieving girl surmount the untimely loss of her father.
Bioscopewala is the story of Rehmat Khan (Danny Denzongpa), a man uprooted from his homeland. He depends upon his bioscope for livelihood and emotional sustenance. Having lost his makeshift cinema hall in his small Afghan village in a vicious attack by Taliban militants, he lugs around the contraption, chased by children clamouring for a view.
Fleeing the conflict in his country in the early 1990s, he ends up in Calcutta, where he befriends five-year-old Minnie (Miraya Suri), the only daughter of a widowed fashion photographer who is acutely aware of the things that he has left unsaid to the person dearest to him.
The story, credited to producer Sunil Doshi, takes many a liberty with Tagore's original work, published 126 years ago, in order to give it a contemporary spin. The departures do not, however, in any way dilute the spirit of the tale. The 'Kabuliwala' here does not sell dry fruits and shawls nor does he lend money to loan seekers. He isn't a Pashtun either. He belongs to the persecuted Hazara community.
Other plot details are done away with (like Minnie's mother), substantially modified (for instance, with regard to the circumstances that lead to Rehmat killing a man and being jailed) or added (in the form of a few characters that do not exist in Kabuliwala).
Bioscopewala opens in the present. A tragedy strikes Minnie (Geetanjali Thapa). Her father Robi Basu (Adil Hussain), who is on trip to Kabul after having penned a confessional letter to his daughter, dies in a plane crash. Minnie rushes back home from Paris, where she studies cinema, for the last rites.
The arrival of a mysterious, Alzheimer's-stricken old man, who is warmly received by the family retainer Bhola (Brijendra Kala), nettles her. But as she plunges into unravelling the mystery behind her father's voyage to Afghanistan, memories of her bonding with Rehmat, the bioscope man of her childhood, begin to waft back. The presence of the 70-year-old man in the house now assumes a new significance.
Minnie ferrets for more information about what happened to Rehmat during the past 25 years and, in the process, encounters a Sonagachi sex worker Wahida (Tisca Chopra) and Ghazala (Maya Sarao), a woman who escaped the flesh trade trap. The two women fill her in with different aspects of Rehmat's life, which help Minnie make up her mind to make a bid to reunite the man with his own daughter back in Afghanistan.
The performances in Bioscopewala are first-rate. Danny Denzongpa gets so completely into the skin and soul of Rehmat Khan that it is difficult to separate the actor from the character. He leaves us wondering why we do not see him more often in substantial roles.
Geetanjali Thapa, who is on the screen far longer than any of the other actors in the cast, carries the burden of holding the film together with confidence and conviction. Hers is finely tuned performance. It takes her minimum effort to exude a combination of melancholy and resolve.
The supporting cast is effective too. Adil Hussain, Tisca Chopra, Brijendra Kala and Ekavali Khanna do full justice to their significant cameos, adding to the tapestry that Bioscopewala creates in its attempt to capture, and transmit, the humanist core of the Tagore story. A sparkling little gem, applause-worthy all the way!
Parmanu - The Story Of Pokhran: John Abraham Returns With A Chapter From Indian History
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 25 May 2018
John Abraham is back with full Force (pun intended) after two years. His new film Parmanu - The Story Of Pokhran is all set to open in theatres tomorrow. Parmanu, which also stars Diana Penty, Boman Irani and Yogendra Tikku, is the fictionalised retelling of the events of nuclear bomb test conducted by the Indian Army at Pokhran in 1998.Parmanu - The Story Of Pokhran would have released earlier this year but the makers decided to postpone to avoid clash with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" and then with Anushka Sharma's Pari. Parmanu's release date was also delayed due to a conflict between John's production company, JA Entertainment, and former co-producers KriArj Entertainment owned by Prernaa Arora.
After weeks of legal battle, John Abraham won the right to release the film under his production banner without crediting KriArj Entertainment.
When asked why he took two years to return to the big screen, John told news agency IANS: "I like taking time for the right subject. So, I am very happy to wait for two years and come back with this film. After Force 2 I could have signed 10 films out of insecurity, but I didn't do that. As a producer, I have the authority to decide what kind of film I want to do and what not."
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COMMENTSParmanu - The Story Of Pokhran releases with Bioscopewala, a Deb Medhekar-directed film, which has toured several international film festivals. The clash of Parmanu and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero was averted after the latter postponed the release date to June 1.
This Tribute To Sridevi Moved Daughters Janhvi, Khushi And Husband Boney Kapoor
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 23 May 2018
A special tribute to Sridevi by her three female fans moved the late actress' filmmaker husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi. According to an IANS report, Janhvi, Khushi and Boney Kapoor invited Paridhi Bhati, 26, Bhavana Varma, 33, Tonu Sojatia, 29 for a meeting at their Mumbai home and of course, to get a glimpse of their special tribute - a car decorated with stills from Sridevi's films. In April, the three women drove from Pune to Goa and back in the car as a part of an all-women safari and now, they met the Kapoors over the weekend. "We were thrilled. They hosted us for nearly 40 minutes, came down to see our car and admired it very much. They insisted we stay back for lunch but we had time constraints, so we enjoyed delicious coffee with them," Tonu Sojatia told IANS.
She added that Boney Kapoor also guided them on how to click pictures "for the best possible angles and outcome."
We consider it an honour that Boney Kapoor invited us to meet and acknowledged our efforts. He is such a humble, down-to-earth personality and even Janhvi is such a doting daughter. For us it was a touching and emotional meeting. We miss Sridevi," Tonu Sojatia added.
Tonu Sojatia told IANS that they've covered Sridevi's entire film journey from the age of 4 to her last film MOM, for which she posthumously won Best Actress National Award. "The Sridevi-theme shows various moods of Sridevi - love, anger, innocence and dance - with corresponding images from some of her most well-known films in Hindi and south Indian languages, including Lamhe, Chandni," she told IANS.
Before parting, the trio presented Boney Kapoor with stills of Sridevi from her film Solva Saavan (1979), when "he first fell in love with his future wife" and to her daughters Janhvi and Khushi, they gifted images from the film Kumarasambhavam (1969), when Sridevi was all of four.
Sridevi died in a hotel in Dubai in February and she was cremated with state honours in Mumbai.
Sonam And Kareena Kapoor's Pic Is The Perfect Response To 'Actresses Can't Be Friends'
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 22 May 2018
Rumours about reported tiff between Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor's have resurfaced time and again, prompting the 32-year-old actress to lash out at gossip columns, branding them as "outdated, irresponsible and harmful." On Monday, we chanced upon a photo on Rhea Kapoor's Instagram, which is perhaps the perfect response to the myth the female co-stars can't really be friends. Rhea's photo is from Sonam's wedding day, in which the new bride and Kareena feature sharing an adorable moment together. "And they say actresses can't be friends. Couldn't help myself. Real and reel bride. Happy girls, strong independent, crazy talented and also just crazy. It's been a two year long journey and now it's all just ten days away. #sentimentalproducer #sentimentalsister also just mental (sic)," is how the Veere Di Wedding producer captioned the photo.
Kareena attended Sonam's wedding with her full-house in attendance. She was accompanied by sister Karisma, husband Saif Ali Khan and son Taimur. Sonam married Delhi-based entrepreneur Anand Ahuja on May 8 and rounded off the wedding festivities with a reception in the evening, of which Kareena was also part of.
Speaking to mid-day, Sonam recently clarified that gossip is just an inevitable part of being a star and they are not really a point of concern for either her or Kareena: "Such gossip doesn't bother us because we are in a secure space. Bebo and I are the third generation of actors and we know how the media functions. We are great friends. We have made a kick-ass movie and proved that women can work with each other and get along. We had a blast."
Sonam also revealed they are part of WhatsApp group:"There's no rivalry between us. In fact, Bebo, me, Rhea and Lolo have a WhatsApp group, called The Kapoor Girls. We post each other's yesteryear pictures on it. Bebo and I have been friends for 15 years."
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COMMENTSIn October last year, Sonam addressed the rumour of an alleged rift between her and Kareena with strongly worded tweets and wrote: "Veeres stand together, through "blind stories", false accusations and smear campaigns. That's true friendship." She also put out a lengthy statement in a tweet, which read:
Kareena and Sonam Kapoor co-stars with Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania in Veere Di Wedding, which is a story of friendship about four girlfriends. Directed by Shashank Khaitan, Veere Di Wedding releases on June 1.
In 1997, I Was Raped By Harvey Weinstein Here': Asia Argento's Powerful Speech At Cannes
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 21 May 2018
Italian actress Asia Argento was one of the first women to publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault when she told the New Yorker last year that the powerful Hollywood producer forcibly performed oral sex on her in a French hotel during the 1997 Cannes Film Festival when she was 21 years old.
Argento, now 42, said she didn't tell anyone because she feared the producer would destroy her career. "I know he has crushed a lot of people before," Argento told the magazine. "That's why this story - in my case, it's 20 years old, some of them are older - has never come out." She characterized coming forward as a terrifying experience - "Just talking to you about it, my whole body is shaking," she said - but, in doing so, she and several other women contributed to the burgeoning #MeToo movement.
The actress also spoke boldly at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, and this time, she did not appear to be shaking. Instead, she bluntly recounted her accusations against Weinstein, pulling no punches.
"In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground," she said.
She was there in 1997 promoting the movie B. Monkey, a crime drama she starred in that was distributed by Miramax, the company Weinstein co-founded with his brother, Bob. She said one of Weinstein's producers invited her to a party at a nearby hotel, only she arrived to find there was no party - only Weinstein waiting for her in a hotel room.
Her story echoes that of many of Weinstein's accusers: She said he praised her work, before leaving the room and returning in a bathrobe with a bottle of lotion in his hand. He eventually coerced her into giving him a massage, during which "he pulled her skirt up, forced her legs apart, and performed oral sex on her as she repeatedly told him to stop. Weinstein 'terrified me, and he was so big,' she said. 'It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare,' " the New Yorker reported.
"I was not willing. I said, 'No, no, no.' . . . It's twisted," she told the magazine. "The thing with being a victim is, I felt responsible."
Weinstein has denied this and all allegations through his representative Sallie Hofmeister, who told The Washington Post in a statement that "any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."
"I want to make a prediction: Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again," she said at Cannes on Saturday night. "He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes.
"And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those that need to be held accountable for their conduct against women for behavior that does not belong in this industry, does not belong in any industry or workplace," Argento added. "You know who you are. But most importantly, we know who you are, and we're not going to allow you to get away with it any longer."
The room, which remained silent during the minute-long speech, exploded in applause. Quickly, the speech spread far from France across social media.
"So proud of & grateful to you," tweeted actress Mira Sorvino, another early accuser of Weinstein, whom she said sexually harassed her and attempted to force her into a physical relationship. "You have not backed down in any way as you remind the world of the hideousness of Harvey Weinstein's (& others like him) crimes & the complicit support he still receives."
Rose McGowan, an actress who has also accused Weinstein of rape and who has been a loud and controversial voice in the #MeToo movement, tweeted to Argento after the speech.
"People must understand the bravery involved in what she did. Speaking the raw truth of rape is incredibly hard. Being around the complicity machine that helped the lie last for so long is brutal," she tweeted, adding, "I love you my righteous sister in survival. Bring that fire. End the hunting grounds . . . Keep cleaning house, be brave. It's time."
"Bravo," tweeted Argento's partner, Anthony Bourdain, who called it an "absolutely fearless off-script nuclear bomb of a speech to a stunned crowd."
Even Argento herself tweeted, saying, "For all the brave women who came forward denouncing their predators, and for all the brave women who will come forward in the future. We got the power #metoo."
What Is Priyanka Chopra Upto Hours Before Meghan Markle And Prince Harry's Wedding
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 19 May 2018
Priyanka Chopra arrived for the royal wedding in London one day in advance. The 33-year-old actress is on the guest list of Meghan Markle, who is marrying Britain's Prince Harry today. After her arrival in London, Priyanka Chopra posted two pictures - one of the perfect summer weather (the royal wedding will look blissful) and in the other picture, she laughed and joked with her team in the cottage where she's staying, still waiting for the arrival of the dress she'll wear to the wedding. Priyanka Chopra is staying within a 10-mile radius from the wedding venue - St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Priyanka and Meghan Markle have been friends for over a year but the Quantico star is not among the bridesmaids.
Last month, Priyanka Chopra told People magazine that she's super excited about Meghan Markle's big day. "It's not just going to be life-changing for both of them, it's life-changing for the world that needs to see strong women as icons, and I think Meghan has the potential to be that," she was quoted as saying.
Earlier this year, Priyanka Chopra wrote an essay for Meghan Markle to accompany her mention on the Time Magazine's 2018 list of 100 Most Influential People. Though she's not a bridesmaid, this line from Priyanka's write-up seems perfect for a toast: "Meghan, standing shoulder to shoulder with Harry, will be a princess for the people."
Prince Harry and the former Suits star will say 'I do' by noon and they'll later travel through Windsor in a carriage. They will attend the a reception for congregation guests at St George's Hall and later in the evening, Prince Charles will also host a private reception for the couple and close friends and family.
Hey Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor Also Has A Crush On You
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 18 May 2018
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have had the rumour mills abuzz and both of them seem "raazi" with all the attention. They made a grand entry together at actress Sonam Kapoor's wedding reception in Mumbai and for a moment all the attention had moved away from the newly-weds to what everyone assumed could be the new couple. Soon after, Alia, who has never shied away from admitting that Ranbir Kapoor has always been her "big crush," put a picture of them on Instagram, which prompted her instafam to ask 'why aren't they dating, already?' So when we told Ranbir that it's a dream come true for his Brahamastra co-star to work with her "crush," the 35-year-old actor said, "Well, I have a boy crush on her now." It certainly managed to get an "aww" out of Alia's mentor Karan Johar
Ranbir Kapoor was all praises for Alia Bhatt's new film Raazi. He said: "I watched the film one week before release and it blew my mind it's one of the greatest films ever made in Indian cinema."
Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar are in New Delhi to announce the 19th IIFA weekend in Bangkok. When asked what were the lessons Karan Johar had learnt from last year's IIFA gig (remember the 'Nepotism Rocks' fiasco?), the filmmaker said: "To keep my mouth shut and open it only when the teleprompter comes out and not give my vishesh tippani on anything on the stage."
Karan Johar will be hosting the ceremony yet again and Ranbir Kapoor is all set to perform this year. Ranbir also reminisced about IIFA 2012, when his jacket was swapped with his father Rishi Kapoor's jacket during their performance, which had not amused the 65-year-old actor much.
The IIFA weekend is a three-day Bollywood party... So what does one do when you come face-to-face with someone you are trying to avoid? "I love everyone in Bollywood. I'm very well brought up. I say hello and smile at everyone," said Karan Johar.
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COMMENTSBut the host admits his worst fear onstage is when you get stuck with a co-host who only follows the teleprompter blindly and doesn't get your humour. Now, co-hosting with Karan can be a tough task for anyone.
The IIFA weekend will also see Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra perform onstage together and making his IIFA debut as co-host is the new poster boy of cool, Kartik Aaryan.
Salman Khan On Blackbuck Verdict: 'Did You Think I Was Going To Go In Forever?'
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 17 May 2018
Salman Khan's blackbuck poaching case verdict may have given sleepless nights to the producers who've invested in his films but not the 52-year-old actor. At the event to launch the trailer of his new movie Race 3, Salman Khan's blackbuck verdict was invoked. When Salman was asked if he was under pressure while filming Race 3 because of then-impending blackbuck verdict, a media coordinator tried to digress by saying that no questions on the blackbuck verdict and the Karnataka elections would be entertained but Salman Khan answered anyway. Salman asked the journalist: "Did you think I was going to go in forever?" And when a journalist replied in the negative, Salman Khan added: "Thank you, because I was worried."
The Internet is not very impressed with Salman Khan's reply and lashed out on Twitter. "Oh yeah, in our country one can get away with anything," wrote one angry user. Another comment read: "We know the power of money... police and justice both are up for sale to the highest bidder."
Salman Khan was found guilty of hunting blackbuck while filming Hum Saath Saath Hain in Rajasthan in 1998 and he was sentenced to five years in prison. His co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam were charged with inciting the actor to hunt but have been acquitted for lack of evidence. Salman spent two days in prison in Jodhpur from April 7 to April 9, when he was granted bail. Salman Khan has filed a petition for suspension of his jail term, the next hearing of which will be held on July 17.
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COMMENTSSalman Khan's Race 3 releases on June 15. The Remo D'Souza-directed film also stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor and Daisy Shah
Race 3: Salman Khan Reveals Why He Asked For Changes In The Film
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 16 May 2018
Since the time Salman Khan officially took over Race 3 as the protagonist, reports of the 52-year-old superstar suggesting changes to the film's script have done the rounds on the Internet. Now, at the trailer launch event of the movie in Mumbai, Salman was asked about how he landed the role, which was played by Saif Ali Khan for two consecutive turns. Salman revealed that he asked producer Ramesh Taurani to tweak the script to make it more Salman-like. "Race 3 script was offered to me two years ago but I didn't think I fit in the genre. I asked Ramesh Taurani to make some changes because I didn't fit in that genre. Once that was done, I thought it would be actually a lot of fun to do this film," IANS quoted his as saying.
last year, it was reported that Salman asked the makers to tone down the intimate scenes, add more humor to the script and revise the film's drugs-peddling angle.
Elaborating on the flavour of the movie, Salman said it's a first-timer for him with a genre that includes everything. "Earlier, we used to have a 'musical action bonanza' which hasn't come in a while. A film with big scale music, emotion, action, youth kind, which you watch, whistle in the end and go back home happy. This is one of those films, which I've never done at all," IANS added Salman as saying.
Salman Khan co-stars with Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqeb Saleem and race regulars Jacqueline Fernandez and Anil Kapoor in Race 3. Talking about adding star-power to the film's cast, Salman said that the ensemble cast of the film has been utilised "fairly". "We didn't go for the star value, we went with the characters. They should justify that. It doesn't matter who's doing well and who isn't. Everyone has been treated equally in the film. Once you watch it, you'll realise this," he also told the reporters.
Remo D'Souza has taken over the director's duties from Abbas-Mustan for Race 3 but dealing with the stars was not really a difficult job for him: "Salman had heard the script two years ago, I came in later. Then we all worked on the script and made necessary changes. The script was so brilliantly written, all the characters were etched out," IANS quoted him as saying.
Cannes 2018: Sonam Kapoor Just Checked In Looking Incredibly Chic, Peeps
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 15 May 2018
Yes, Sonam Kapoor has finally checked into the French Riviera and her OOTD is a black and white maxi dress from the studios of Mother of Pearl. Sonam has aced her look with Chloe boots, a black tote bag by Bottega Veneta and trendy sunglasses. (Classy is the word). "Hey Cannes," Sonam captioned her posts. She has been styled by her sister Rhea Kapoor (who isn't accompanying her though) and Deep Kailey. Sonam Kapoor, 32, flew out of India last night minus her husband Anand Ahuja. This is Sonam's eight appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. She will walk the red carpet tonight and on Tuesday.
From the Cannes-bound flight, Sonam posted an emotional message for her sister Rhea on her Instagram story and said, "It is the first Cannes I am going to without my sister. She has to release Veere Di Wedding. I miss you, Rhea and I am super nervous without you."
Sonam and Anand posted similar Instagram stories a while ago and wrote they are missing each other. The shared these picture. (Anand also had a message for Sonam and her team). Sonam Kapoor and businessman Anand Ahuja married on May 8 in Mumbai
30 Years After Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Aamir Khan Shares Trivia Only A True Fan Would Know
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 14 May 2018
It's been 30 years since Aamir Khan made his Bollywood debut with the romantic film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. His breakout film, directed by Mansoor Khan, turned out to be a blockbuster. The film was written and produced by Nasir Hussain and also starred Juhi Chawla. The cast and crew of QSQT, as it is called for short, were present at a reunion party in Mumbai last weekend, followed by a screening of the film. Aamir, Mansoor and other cast members shared some interesting trivia about the making of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak during their media interaction.
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Was Not The Original Title
Mansoor Khan: "Initially, we had kept very boring names. The initial title was Nafrat Ke Waris, that's from a line from the dialogue from the film. My father (Nasir Hussain) was very good at names. One evening he thought the story starts from one Qayamat and ends at another Qayamat so he came up with the name Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and we all liked it, so we just finalized it."
When Aamir Khan Made A Mistake While Shooting The Climax
Aamir Khan: "If you remember the climax of the film - Juhi gets shot, I run to her and she is dying. So I had to run to her, I have to cry and take her name Rashmi, and then I stab myself. So once we were ready, Mansoor said 'action,' I did all that I was supposed to do, and I picked up Juhi, and I started shouting 'Juhi, Juhi' instead of 'Rashmi, Rashmi.' Mansoor said, 'Cut', I was like 'it's going so well, why is he saying cut?' He then looked at me and said 'it's Rashmi, not Juhi!'"
Happy End Or Tragic End?
QSQT was a modern day take on classic tragic love story Romeo and Juliet, but Nasir Hussain was not sure for a long time if the film should have a happy end or a tragic one.
Aamir: "In our first schedule we shot the climax of the film. Nasir saab had told us to shoot two different ends - happy and tragic. First schedule of the film was the portion where we were lost, that was in Ooty, and then we shot the tragic end. Then Mansoor told us now we have to shoot Daddy's end also so we were like, 'Oh ok!'"
Mansoor: "Every evening my father would call and tell that we had to shoot the happy end. So we had to shoot the happy ending as an option. Eventually, he gave in to the idea of a tragic end."
Aamir Khan's Breakout Film
Mansoor: "I was writing Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and my dad was writing QSQT. Of course, we had Aamir in mind for the launch. My dad finished writing the script first, so he told me 'since you have not finished writing you listen to my story.' So I was forced to hear his story. When he told me it's a love story, I asked him, 'Dad, isn't every film a love story?' Even then Aamir had a great sense of audience. He said we hadn't had a good love story in the theatres for a long time. When he narrated the first eleven scenes, I was convinced about QSQT."
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COMMENTSExcited Aamir Stuck Posters On Auto-Rickshaws
Aamir Khan: "We were very excited about the film. Raj Zutshi and I used to roam around the streets of Mumbai and put up posters on walls, and some autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers let us put it behind their vehicle for free. So we used to feel very happy after sticking those posters behind rickshaws and cabs."
Jacqueline Fernandez escapes unhurt in car accident, was returning from a Race 3 party
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 12 May 2018
While returning from a party at Salman Khan’s resident, Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez escaped unhurt after her car was hit by an autorickshaw allegedly driven by a drunk driver at Bandra (Mumbai) on Saturday morning, officials said.
The 32-year-old actress from Sri Lanka was returning home around 2:45 am. from Salmans residence after attending a party to celebrate the upcoming film Race 3. The accident took place on Carter Road, Bandra.
Speaking to Spotboye, Jacqueline said, Yes, it did take place. The rickshaw driver was drunk. We will soon give out an official statement. We are fine. Police came and sorted it out
Her car suffered minor damage but she did not suffer any injury. The police were summoned.
Directed by Remo DSouza, Race 3 features Salman, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem and is likely to be released during Eid. The trailer of the film will be unveiled on May 15.
Cannes 2018: Deepika Padukone, Ready To 'Rock And Roll,' Is Sheer Beauty On The Red Carpet
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 11 May 2018
After three absolutely chic appearances during media interactions at the Cannes Film Festival, Deepika Padukone walked the red carpet looking like this. Deepika Padukone, 32, wore Zuhair Murad couture accessorised with Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings and Nicholas Kirkwood heels. Deepika looked fabulous in an all-sheer outfit which proves that the cape trend is here to stay. Deepika ditched her signature sleek hairdo in favour of soft curls - bonus point for that. This is Deepika Padukone's second year at the Cannes Film Festival, which she's attending on L'Oreal's invite. Earlier in the day, Deepika Padukone experimented with three different styles and designer outfits - each better than the previous.
When on L'Oreal ambassador duty, Deepika Padukone put her fashionable foot forward. Her first appearance of the day was in classic denims and t-shirt combo. It was followed by a cute candy-stripes dress by Tome and she later changed into an argyle pattern dress by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will take over from Deepika on May 12 and May 13. Aishwarya is expected to arrive in Cannes with her daughter Aaradhya soon. After Aishwarya, it will be Sonam Kapoor's turn on the red carpet from May 14 to May 15.
Cannes 2018: Desi Girl Kangana Ranaut Is A Retro Vision In Black Saree And Bouffant Hair
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 10 May 2018
Kangana Ranaut is truly a vision to behold at the Cannes Film Festival. The Queen actress made her debut at the film festival in a glamorous black embellished saree by Sabyasachi. Kangana has accentuated her look with a teenmaniya necklace, crafted out of rose-cut diamonds, Colombian emeralds and basra pearls, as stated by the designer. Kangana's pictures were shared by Sabyasachi and the posts give a detailed description about her debut appearance at the Cannes. (Wow, wow and wow. Full marks to Kangana for her retro look). Kangana will attend the Cannes Film Festival for three days but will walk the red carpet on May 10 and she will also talk about the status of women in films.
Take a look at Kangana Ranaut's ultra-glamourous look at the French Riviera.
Kangana is attending the film festival in association with a liquor brand. "It is overwhelming to witness the recognition and appreciation for Indian cinema at international platforms like Cannes," Kangana had told news agency IANS. She left for French Riviera on Tuesday night and was pictured at the Mumbai airport after she attended Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding reception
Meanwhile, actress Huma Qureshi is also there at the French Riviera and looks breathtakingly beautiful in white. "I'm very proud to be part of the celebration of cinema at a global platform like the Cannes Film Festival 2018," she had earlier said
Deepika Padukone will walk the Cannes red carpet on May 10 and 11. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and newlywed Sonam Kapoor will walk the red carpet on May 12-13 and May 14-15, respectively.
Sonam Kapoor And Anand Ahuja's Reception: Shah Rukh, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor Dancing With The Newlyweds Will Make Your Day
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 9 May 2018
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's reception on Tuesday night was one helluva event. The Kapoors and the Ahujas were on their feet since morning but they showed no signs of fatigue, in fact the groom was the heart and soul of the party as he danced to hit Bollywood tracks with Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and his father-in-law Anil Kapoor among others (now we know why he wore the sneakers!). Videos of celebs dancing like no one's watching hit the internet and it's a guaranteed smile on anyone's face. Salman Khan and Mika Singh engaged in a jugalbandi of sort as they sang Aaj Ki Party (from Salman's Bajrangi Bhaijaan) as SRK and Anil Kapoor danced. The trio pulled Sonam and Anand for a dance when Tan Tana Tan Tan Tan Tara was being played. Like the wedding hashtag said, "EveryDayPhenomenal."
After the reception, Shah Rukh Khan in a heart-warming tweet said: "I kind of know, how it feels when a piece of your heart gets married. Danced and celebrated love for daughters with my inspiration Anil Kapoor."
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja got married as per Sikh traditions on the morning of May 8 and the reception was held later in the evening. Several celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Rekha, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan and Alia Bhatt were in attendance. At the reception, Sonam wore a dazzling gown by Anamika Khanna while Anand Ahuja complemented her in an achkan paired with Nike sneakers.
A bevy of Bollywood celebs had attended the anand karaj in the morning held in Sonam's aunt's Bandra Bungalow. Aamir Khan along with wife Kiran Rao and son Junaid, Amitabh Bachchan with his son Abhishek and daughter Shweta, Kareena Kapoor joined the Kapoors and the Ahujas.
Its a wrap for Manoj Bajpayee, John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 8 May 2018
Actor Manoj Bajpayee has wrapped up shooting for his upcoming film Satyameva Jayate.
Director Milap Zaveri on Monday shared on Twitter a photograph of himself along with Manoj, who is seen sporting a police officers uniform.
Its a wrap on Satyameva Jayate for Manoj Bajpayee sir! What a pleasure it has been to direct you sir You rocked each of the 1500+ dialogues I gave you, Zaveri captioned the image.
Satyameva Jayate promises intense action and power-packed dialogues. It is produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series and Nikkhil Advani of Emmay Entertainment.
The film, which also stars John Abraham, will release on August 15.
Sonam Kapoor-Anand Ahuja Wedding: Inside The Rocking Mehendi
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 7 May 2018
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding festivities started last evening with a grand mehendi ceremony, hosted at Anil Kapoor's Mumbai home. The bride-to-be Sonam looked radiant in an Anuradha Vakil lehenga, which she paired with big danglers and Anand complemented her in an achkan. Several pictures and videos from the ceremony have been shared on social media by the Kapoors. The guests started arriving at the venue in the evening and they certainly had a blast (we have pictures to prove it). Late actress Sridevi's daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor turned heads in Manish Malhotra's costumes. Karan Johar, Rani Mukerji, Kirron Kher and other celebs attended #SonamKiMehendi.
No Bollywood party is complete without Karan Johar. He is also reportedly performing at the sangeet, scheduled for this afternoon.
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja will marry on Tuesday as per Sikh traditions and later in the evening, a grand wedding reception will be hosted by the couple.
Their wedding announcement arrived last week via a joint statement by their families: "The Kapoor and Ahuja families, take great joy and pride, in announcing the marriage of Sonam and Anand. The wedding will take place on the 8th of May in Mumbai. Since it is an intimate affair, we request you to respect the family's need for privacy. Thank you for all your blessings and love, as we celebrate this special moment in our lives."
Omerta Movie Review: Rajkummar Rao Gives Pitch Perfect Performance In This Riveting Thriller
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 4 May 2018
A riveting, if not nail-biting, character-driven thriller, Hansal Mehta's Omerta does not bank upon the established devices of the genre. It employs a judicious, subtle blend of real-life events and dashes of dramatic licence to probe the radicalization of a young Pakistani-origin British national.
The Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh story - the abduction of Western tourists in India in late 1994, his arrest and imprisonment in Delhi, his release in exchange for the IC-814 hostages in 1999, the kidnap and killing of American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 and his trial and conviction in Pakistan, where he is still in prison awaiting judicial review - is in the public domain. So the Omerta plot does not deliver big surprises. It presents, in a detached, deadpan, docu-drama style, the circumstances in which the dreaded terrorist executed his plans.
Driven by hate, prejudice and a sense of victimhood, Omar is on a mission to avenge the wrongs done to his "brothers and sisters" in Bosnia, Palestine and Kashmir. Lead actor Rajkummar Rao, in his fourth collaboration with Mehta, gives the film its teeth with a pitch-perfect performance. He slips into the skin of Omar with chilling conviction.
The well-crafted, fast-paced Omerta, much like Mehta's Shahid and Aligarh, focuses on a man who stands apart from the crowd. It, however, ventures into a terrain that is far removed. The London School of Economics dropout who makes peace with the demons of his mind and harnesses them to wreak havoc on the world obviously does not evoke any sympathy.
This portrait of pure evil is drawn largely from news reportage. The film itself plays out like a journalistic account of a life lived in darkness. At crucial points, the screenplay takes recourse to fictive, free-wheeling interpolations and TV news footage to bolster the narrative. Omar is cold, clinical, calculating. His acts, committed without the sligjtest trace of remorse, induce instant revulsion.
Shahid sparked in the audience outrage at the fate that befell its human rights lawyer-protagonist who took up cudgels on behalf of innocents implicated in terrorism cases. Aligarh, similarly, elicited deep sympathy for a sensitive university professor victimized by a conservative, insensitive establishment for his sexual orientation. Mehta delved deep into the minds of both men. In contrast, in Omerta - the title is an Italian word denoting the 'code of silence' that mobsters are sworn to - he can only offer glimpses of the outer world of Omar.
Omerta gives us only snatches of information aimed at piecing together the reasons why Omar Sheikh is the way he is, especially when it intercuts back and forth between scenes in a Delhi jail where the man is lodged and sequences in terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In jail, Omar forces a Muslim accomplice to observe 'roza' during the month of fasting. In a camp in Pakistan, a militant ridicules him for being a London boy, not hardy enough for the dangerous missions ahead. Omar turns upon the man and wrestles him to the ground.
When he is nabbed in Delhi and produced in court, Omar asks his lawyer, Majeed: "Are you happy in India?" The latter replies: "Very happy." Not that the assertion makes any dent in Omar's worldview.
It isn't Omar's innermost thoughts that Omerta probes as much as it presents a description of the senseless violence that he unleashes, both in person and through his accomplices. Mehta leaves out the minutiae of Omar's life and plunges right into his global terrorist persona. How a middle-class boy living in comfort in London strayed into the dark, dangerous world of terrorism is left largely unexplained.
The bafflement that the audience might feel is given voice to by Omar's father Saeed Sheikh (Delhi theatre guru Keval Arora), who has no inkling why his son has gone astray. "I've decided to go to Bosnia," Omar tells his father, presenting the statement as a fait accompli. The old man pleads with him to complete his LSE course but to no avail. "I am going to help my people," Omar insists.
When Pakistan's ISI finds Omar a trophy wife on his return to Karachi from an Indian prison, his exasperated father says: "I hope your wife and children will make you see sense. Your abba (dad) has given up."
Running a little over an hour and a half, the film hits the ground running and dives straight into Omar's covert arrival in Delhi, where he uses his wiles to lure three young British men and an older American woman into captivity. His mission is busted by the police. He ends up behind bars.
Five years on, Omar is one of three terrorists freed in exchange for the hostages on Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandahar. His depredations continue and his involvement is suggested in the 9/11 terror attack. But it is the kidnapping and brutal killing of Daniel Pearl, Wall Street Journal correspondent investigating ISI's links with terror outfits in Pakistan, which catapults him into the international spotlight.
In recounting a widely documented tale, the screenplay hits the right thriller buttons. When violence is perpetrated indiscriminately and without any moral context created with the aid of a detailed back story, it can only be deeply disconcerting. Omerta is just that and therein lies its success
Will Deepika Padukone Attend Sonam Kapoor's Wedding To Anand Ahuja? The Answer Here
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 3 May 2018
Deepika Padukone may not attend Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's big fat Indian wedding, scheduled to take place in Mumbai on May 8. Deepika is currently in New York and on May 7 (Sonam's mehendi), she will be attending the MET Gala, reports mid-day. Later, she will walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Sonam, who is a Cannes veteran now (of sorts), will also walk the red carpet after Deepika. Both Deepika and Sonam debuted in Bollywood in 2007. Deepika's Om Shanti Om was a huge hit while Sonam's Saawariya tanked at the box office. Sonam had debuted opposite Ranbir Kapoor, whom Deepika previously dated. Rumour had it that Sonam and Ranbir were also dating. However, they always maintained they were good friends.
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COMMENTSMeanwhile, Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding invite has been printed and the festivities have been spread over for two days. May 7 is the mehendi and on May 8, the wedding will be followed by a party in the evening. The reported guests are - Bachchans, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, Malaika and Amrita Arora, Karan Johar, Farah Khan and also Ranveer Singh (whom Deepika is rumoured to be currently dating).
After weeks of rumour, Sonam and Anand's families announced their wedding with a statement that read, "The Kapoor & Ahuja families, take great joy and pride, in announcing the marriage of Sonam & Anand. The wedding will take place on the 8th of May in Mumbai. Since it is an intimate affair, we request you to respect the family's need for privacy. Thank you for all your blessings and love, as we celebrate this special moment in our lives."
What Sonam Kapoor Said To Soon-To-Be Husband Anand Ahuja After Confirming Wedding
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 2 May 2018
Yes, Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja are getting married. Their big fat wedding is scheduled for May 8 (just next week). After weeks of rumours, the Kapoor and Ahuja families confirmed their wedding by releasing a joint statement on Tuesday evening. Soon after the wedding announcement, an Instagram post by Anand kept the Internet busy and Sonam's cute reply added more to it. The caption is a quote from novelist-poet Roald Dahl and reads as, "One idea that has always amazed me is, 'If we can all make one, just ONE person happy, the whole world would be happy.' How true and simple is that. The answer to world peace is simply loving those around you." Oh, Sonam's reply is here - 'Everyday phenomenal.' She added love emoticons also.
Here's Anand Ahuja's post, he tagged Sonam
The Kapoor and Ahuja families, take great joy and pride, in announcing the marriage of Sonam and Anand. The wedding will take place on the 8th of May in Mumbai. Since it is an intimate affair, we request you to respect the family's need for privacy. Thank you for all your blessings and love, as we celebrate this special moment in our lives," read the statement, shared by Sonam and Anand families.
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja have never publicly admitted to their relationship until now. They have been trending on and off for the last few days.
Sonam Kapoor, 32, is currently awaiting the release of her much-anticipated film Veere Di Wedding. Soon after the wedding, she will walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14 and May 15.
Happy Birthday, Anushka Sharma. See Virat Kohli's Post For His 'Love'
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 1 May 2018
Actress Anushka Sharma is celebrating her 30th birthday today. Anushka, who is currently accompanying husband Virat Kohli for the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, appears to have a quiet birthday celebration. Virat shared a picture with Anushka and wrote, "Happy birthday, my love. The most positive and honest person I know. Love you," adding a heart emoticon. Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli married last December at a Tuscan resort (Italy). Only family and close friends attended the wedding, which was preceded by engagement, mehendi and sangeet ceremonies. The duo went to the snow-capped mountains of Europe for honeymoon and after returning to India, they hosted two wedding receptions - Delhi and Mumbai.
Virat Kohli is the captain of IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore. Anushka has been spotted cheering for her husband and his team for most of the IPL matches. Over the weekend, pictures of Anushka from Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium went crazy viral.
Anushka Sharma was last seen in Pari and now has Sui Dhaaga, Sanju and Zero in the pipeline. In YRF's Sui Dhaaga, she is paired opposite Varun Dhawan and Zero stars her with Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. In Ranbir Kapoor's Sanju, which is a biopic on Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, she plays a journalist.
Shraddha Kapoor will marry a man of her choice, says father Shakti Kapoor
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 28 April 2018
Bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor says his daughter and actress Shraddha Kapoor will marry a man of her own choice. Shakti spoke at the teaser launch of his film The Journey of Karma on Thursday.
Asked about Shraddhas wedding plans, Shakti said, Every father wants that his daughter to get married in a good and respected family. I wish that she grows in her personal and professional life, but I think as a parent, you have to give some kind of liberty to your children because now that period is gone when parents used to marry their children (to a person) of their choice. Now, we have to ask them about their choices in terms of everything, including their life partners. She is right now very busy in her career, but whenever she will tell us about her marriage plans, she will marry a man of her own choice and we dont have any objection with that.
As a father, Shakti is happy that Shraddha, who will next be seen in Indian shuttler Saina Nehwals biopic, is working hard to take on challenging roles. In todays time, every actor is taking challenges in his career. If you see actors right from Ranbir Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar, all are doing really good in biopics in which they have worked. Every actor is working hard in the film industry. Now Shraddha will play the character of Saina Nehwal. She has trained with Saina in Hyderabad and now, she is continuing her training. Apart from that, she will also head to Abu Dhabi to shoot for Saaho along with Prabhas. She is also working with Rajkummar Rao in Stree and Batti Gul Meter Chalu... So, I am really happy that she is working in every genre of films at this point in her career.
On his own journey in the film industry, Shakti said, My journey in film industry has been really good and children are also doing really well in their life. I think God has been really kind and it is also blessing of the audience.
Shakti, who is also close to the Dutt family, is happy to see the teaser of Rajkumar Hiranis Sanju, starring Ranbir. He said, I think the teaser of Sanju is extraordinary. I think its one of the finest teasers that I have seen. Ranbir Kapoor is looking and acting crazily close to Sanjay Dutt in the teaser. My real name is Sunil Kapoor but Mr. Sunil Dutt named me Shakti Kapoor. So, I am close to Dutt family.
Avengers: Infinity War - Your 10 Pressing Questions Answered Before You Watch The Film
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 27 April 2018
WASHINGTON: As the embargo lifted Tuesday on film reviews for Disney/Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War, the stream of early verdicts began to accumulate toward critical consensus: The mega-movie fairly succeeds on many fronts, but a mission this massive is bound to expose some structural flaws.
Ahead of Friday's official opening, here is how film critics' impressions are answering key, essentially non-spoiler questions about what the Hollywood Reporter calls a "densely packed superhero orgy."
1. Is the film worth seeing?
Early tallies gave Infinity War an 88 percent "fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes and an average pro-reviewer score of "68" on Metacritic. Basically, Infinity War is no Black Panther (aka the highest-scoring Marvel Cinematic Universe film on Rotten Tomatoes) - it's not even a Thor: Ragnarok - but this huge, 2.5-hour cliffhanger hits its marks and sets things up solidly for next year's follow-up moneyed monstrosity: Infinity War, Chapter 2.
2. But look at these scores of superheroes! Is this movie too darned bloated?
"Infinity War does suffer at times from a certain bloat," writes IGN. "There's no getting around the abundance of characters and subplots that are feeding into (villain) Thanos' bigger story."
Variety writes with praise: "Avengers: Infinity War can, at times, make it feel like you're at a birthday party where you got so many presents that you start to grow tired of opening them. But taken on its own pinata-of-fun terms, it's sharp, fast-moving and elegantly staged."
And the Associated Press lauds the relative dexterity of this behemoth: "Infinity War rarely, surprisingly feels as overstuffed as such a superhero smorgasbord ought to, a testament to the filmmakers' adept plate-spinning skills."
3. But doesn't it get confusing when trying to follow about a half-dozen narrative threads across the universe? Won't my head spin like one of those plates?
Gratefully, the veteran filmmakers here are expert traffic cops of such major franchise intersections.
"Directors Joe and Anthony Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely - none strangers to the Avengers franchise - find clever groupings of characters and an equitable rhythm as the film shifts between narratives," Vanity Fair writes. "They wrestle some kind of balance out of crossover chaos, doing an expert bit of crowd control."
And USA Today weighs in: "It could have been an unholy mess, but with directors Anthony and Joe Russo at the helm, Infinity War is instead a glorious, multilayered and clever comic-book adventure with loads of emotional stakes."
4. But doesn't stocking the film with a decade's worth of MCU superheroes result in too many of them getting short shrift?
"No one is relegated to stock player, no matter how small their role," writes IGN. "Yes, War Machine fans, there's even something here for you."
But the AP counters: "There may be some hint of overpopulation anxiety in Thanos' ambition and in the Russos' frighteningly overcrowded film." And Entertainment Weekly slams: "Marvel is sitting on such an embarrassment of riches with its deep bench of characters that some don't have much more to do than act as glorified extras."
And this super-packed cast prompts a sly Slate headline that says in part: " 'Infinity War' suggests Thanos is right about there being too many Avengers."
5. OK, but what about tone? I hear this film goes dark.
"Infinity War is big, blustery and brave, taking viewers to places that they may not be used to going," writes Washington Post critic Michael O'Sullivan, pointing to narrative shadows uncommon for the MCU.
6. So does Marvel's signature humor help leaven the proceedings this time?
The screenwriters "have a deft, jokey, sometimes glib touch that spreads the humor around and prevents this long film from ever getting stodgy," says the Hollywood Reporter, adding that the actors "snap off one-liners and sharp remarks with an extra edge of sarcastic disdain."
But New York magazine's Vulture is no fan, writing: "The relentlessly lame one-liners of those poor galaxy guardians are the movie's low points."
7. So how does Thanos stack up against the best MCU villains?
The worlds-crushing Thanos (Josh Brolin) measures up - perhaps even bests - such past baddies as Loki and Killmonger, becoming one of the film's true highlights.
"Brolin makes Thanos a suitably authoritative, melancholy villain - someone who really does seem deluded enough to fancy himself a merciful deity rather than a mass murderer for the ages," writes the Los Angeles Times.
And the Hollywood Reporter says: "Brolin's calm, considered reading of the character bestows this conquering beast with an unexpectedly resonant emotional dimension, making him much more than a thick stick figure of a supervillain."
8. Infinity War pits goateed egotists against each other, as well as several actors named Chris. How does it all shake out?
"Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) stage a Sherlock Holmes meta-duel and compare goatees," writes the New York Times. "The hunky-Chris showdown - Hemsworth vs. Pratt (Peter Quill) vs. Evans (Captain America) - ends in a three-way tie."
9. So how do you classify such a huge cliffhanger of a cog within the efficient and massive Marvel Studios machine?
"As an exercise of studio might ... it has no peer," writes Vulture. "Flagrantly, bombastically extravagant, it plays its audience like a hundred-million fiddles."
"Infinity War isn't really anything you could call a movie - it's more of a fulfillment center," scalds Time magazine.
And one of the best passages on that front comes from the New York Times: "This synergistic expression of the corporate interests of Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Company ... has come to be less a creative or commercial undertaking than an immutable fact of life, like sex or the weather or capitalism itself."
10. One last question: Just how many films are there so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
It is sometimes reported that there are 18 movies in the MCU, but don't be fooled - and don't forget Universal's The Incredible Hulk (2008). The correct tally is 19 films, say such outlets as Time (one of the few major publications that shares a name with an Infinity Stone) - as well as Box Office Mojo.
Who Will Die In Avengers: Infinity War? Here Are The Candidates (Warning: Iron Man Is On It)
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 26 April 2018
NEW DELHI: On Monday night's episode of Disney-owned Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the late-night host asked his five guests promotingAvengers: Infinity Warwho might die in the new film, which officially opens Friday. After all, Kimmel noted, someone has to perish in a war.
The cast members stayed mum, but their nervous laughter only seemed to confirm the speculation that has swirled around the Disney/Marvel movie for months. Surely, one of the major superhero players won't live to see the final credits, will they?
Here is our breakdown on who, among the major players, is most likely to die in Infinity War:
10. The Hulk/Bruce Banner: The Hulk makes for an awfully big target, narratively speaking, and as Thor: Ragnarok showed, he can be beaten in the ring. Plus, there are obstacles to Hulk starring in his own film again (the past two have not been memorable). Yet Hulk has become a great second (green) banana, and besides, Mark Ruffalo is still working on a multiyear contract. Verdict: Hulk lives!
9. Thor: If Taika Waititi's Ragnarok hadn't rejuvenated the solo franchise, perhaps Chris Hemsworth's Thor would be at greater risk. But Thor is too vital now, and a crucial comedic member, too. So our prediction: Thor lives on.
8. Spider-Man: Here's the question: Would Marvel ever ice Spidey (Tom Holland) in its own universe while Peter Parker continues his solo franchise for Sony? Our verdict: It's too soon to close off that route, as young Holland's puppy-dog friskiness enlivens all scenes opposite the relatively aging Avengers and Guardians.
7. The Winter Soldier: Once upon a time, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) seemed vulnerable. Now, having been last spotted healing in Wakanda, he is poised to take a lead role going forward - especially if Captain America goes down.
6. Hawkeye: Jeremy Renner's archer is so vulnerable. Because, really, who other than Black Widow would deeply miss him?
5. Gamora: Being Thanos' daughter could ultimately prove to be a narrative safeguard, but then again: Big baddie Thanos (Josh Brolin) may have no love lost in his mission to crush and conquer, family be damned.
4. Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr. has gotten awfully expensive to keep around as ringleader and spiritual godfather after a decade. But this feels like one film too soon to say farewell to Tony Stark - short of Iron Man becoming the franchise's Obi-Wan from beyond in Avengers 4. Which leaves ...
3. Captain America: Marvel loves to ice Cap (Chris Evans) in the comic books, so the end is likely near for Steve Rogers on screen, too. But given how much noise Evans has recently made about departing the franchise after Avengers 4, our money is on one more film from Captain America before, say, Bucky or the Falcon inherits the shield.
2. Loki: Can an indebted trickster holding the Space Stone ever be too safe? Super-baddie Thanos may make short work of Thor's sib if he has no more need for him. But it might not be worth losing the franchise's comedic lightning bolt when another major stone-holder might be more vulnerable. Which brings us precisely to ...
1. Vision: When Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 stars promoted their movie last year on Jimmy Kimmel, Team Disney/Marvel made sure to include a star (Michael Rooker) whose character was meeting his maker in that very film. In that context, does it loom ominous that Paul Bettany was at the end of Kimmel's couches Monday night? Consider, too, that the trailers showed Vision having an Infinity Stone pulled from his cranium. For Vision's sake, we hope that scene was a million-dollar feint.
Saroj Khan's Defence Of Casting Couch Outrages Celebs And Twitter. 'Lost Respect,' They Say
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 25 April 2018
Saroj Khan's unabashed defence of the casting couch on Tuesday made the Internet face-palm. Saroj Khan, who is one of Bollywood's top choreographers, said that the casting couch is "age-old" and added: "At least the film industry gives work, doesn't rape and abandon." Saroj Khan apologised for the comments but the damage was done. Speaking to news agency PTI, Saroj Khan said: "I have already said I am sorry. But you don't know the question that was asked... And now there's so much ruckus." Sri Reddy, who recently staged a nude protest against the casting couch in Chennai, and Sophie Choudry condemned Saroj Khan's statement. "I lost respect for you Saroj ma'am. It is giving a wrong indication that you have to be a slave to producers," Sri Reddy told news agency ANI. Sophie Choudry countered Saroj Khan's statement, in which she also said that artistes have a choice, and tweeted: "Nobody wants to sleep with someone for work. But they are made to feel it's the only way and "acceptable". And for those who don't, it's a tough road! This has to stop."
Saroj Khan's defence of the casting couch infuriated Twitter as well. "Who gave her the right to speak anything unjust and shameless like this?," read one angry tweet. Another incensed Twitter user tweeted: "What's wrong with this woman, has she lost it completely. How can she defend casting couch! It's akin to defending rape!"
However, a section of the Internet sided with Saroj Khan and said, "She's not wrong." Here are some tweets in Saroj Khan's defence.
Saroj Khan is a three-time National Award winning choreographer. She choreographed most of Madhuri Dixit's hit numbers (Ek Do Teen, Dhak Dhak Karne Laga, Choli ke Peeche and Tamma Tamma Loge) in the Nineties. She has also worked with Rani Mukerji, Aamir Khan, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Raveena Tandon among others.
Saroj Khan was also the judge of reality shows Nahc Baliye 5 and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa
Ranbir Kapoor Makes Tone-Deaf Joke On Casting Couch, 'Insensitive,' Says Twitter'"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 24 April 2018
If choreographer Saroj Khan's headline-making justification of the casting couch wasn't outrageous enough, actor Ranbir Kapoor has prompted criticism by appearing to make light of Ms Khan's remarks at an event to release the teaser of his new film Sanju. Asked to comment on the casting couch, Ranbir offered neither a criticism of what Ms Khan said nor of the film industry's dirty secret - the exchange of sexual favours for work. Instead, he joked, "I have never faced it. If it's there, it's the worst kind." In response, Sanju director Rajkumar Hirani, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and others on stage can be seen doubling up with laughter. The comments thread is flooded with rebukes for Ranbir and his colleagues. "Is it a joke" asks one angry user; "What a bunch of insensitive dolts," says another. Some tweets invoked the N-word - nepotism
Saroj Khan, a National Award-winning choreographer, has been roundly slammed for appearing to defend the casting couch and saying that "at least the film industry provides work and doesn't rape and abandon you." She also said that women consent to trading sexual favours, asking, "Why would you sell yourself if you have talent?" Ms Khan has since apologised for her comments but not in time to prevent Twitter from denouncing her. Telugu actress Sri Reddy and singer Sophie Choudry have joined the chorus of outrage over what Ms Khan said.
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COMMENTS The existence of the casting couch is not in contest, no matter how tight-lipped the film industry stays. Some actors have spoken about being asked to trade sexual favours for roles, among them actor Ranveer Singh - no names have ever been named, at least not in Bollywood. Actress Richa Chadha has spoken about why those subjected to the casting couch rarely speak up - doing so ends careers, she said.
Sanju, meanwhile, is the much-awaited biopic of controversial actor Sanjay Dutt, played in the film by Ranbir Kapoor. The cast also includes Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Manisha Koirala and Dia Mirza. Sanju will release on June 29.
Pooja Bhatt Trolled For Calling Out Amitabh Bachchan's No-Comment Comment On Kathua And Unnao Rapes'"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 23 April 2018
Actress-turned-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt was trolled for calling Amitabh Bachchan out for saying "don't bring up this issue," when asked to comment on the recent Kathua and Unnao rape cases as an ambassador of the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' initiative. After Amitabh Bachchan's statement went viral, Pooja Bhatt tweeted: "I can't help being reminded of a film called Pink. Can our images on screen please be reflected in reality?" In Pink, Mr Bachchan played the role of a lawyer who defended three women against false allegations after one of them was molested. The film won the National Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. "Only brainless thakelis like Pooja Bhatt would even think of comparing movie roles or fictional stories to real life issues," read one tweet. Pooja's retort was:
Another Twitter user targeted Pooja Bhatt's past as an alcohol addict and wrote: "A known alcoholic trying to gain publicity by using the name of a legend." Pooja, who quit drinking in December 2016, replied: "A 'recovering' alcoholic and proud of it. In a country where people don't even acknowledge they have a drinking problem, let alone discuss it, I am grateful to stand away from the crowd that considers holding your frailties to light shameful. #485dayssober.
Pooja Bhatt came clean about her battle with alcoholism last year. She celebrated her nine-months sobriety with her fans on Instagram and recently talked about the irony of having 'saved' an alcoholic father in her debut film Daddy only to battle drinking problem herself.
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COMMENTSHere are some of her Instagram posts, in which she celebrated her sobriety and talked about her battle with alcoholism.
Pooja Bhatt has featured in films such as Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin and Sadak. She directed her first film Paap, which released in 2003. She is currently making the sequel of Sadak, which will retain Sanjay Dutt from the original cast.
When Priyanka Chopra Lost A Hollywood Film Because 'They Wanted Someone Who's Not Brown'"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 12 April 2018
Priyanka Chopra is a boss lady when it comes to her career choices - there's no two way of saying it. So, when she says she was rejected for a project in Hollywood for her skin colour, it's completely okay to be at a loss for words. In an interview with InStyle Magazine, the 35-year-old actress, who headlines American TV show Quantico, said she lost a role in Hollywood simply for being "brown" and her agent was intimated about the rejection in 'very polite' terms, we must say - Priyanka was considered unsuitable for the role owing to her "wrong physicality." Speaking to InStyle, Priyanka said: "I was out for a movie, and somebody (from the studio) called one of my agents and said, 'She's the wrong-what word did they used?-'physicality'."
Priyanka said her immediate reaction was to figure out what exactly was the reason behind her not getting the part, which was soon enough simplified by her agent. "So, in my defence as an actor, I'm like, 'Do I need to be skinnier? Do I need to get in shape? Do I need to have abs?' Like, what does 'wrong physicality' mean? And then my agent broke it down for me. Like, 'I think, Priy, they meant that they wanted someone who's not brown.' It affected me," InStyle quoted Priyanka as saying.
In her interview, Priyanka also mentioned that an inevitable part of being a successful star in the showbiz industries (back home and in the West) is an ongoing battle with pay disparity, especially if it's Hollywood and "she's a woman of color". "No one will say that a woman is getting paid less because she's a woman of color, but the numbers mostly end up reflecting that," InStyle quoted Priyanka as saying.
COMMENTSEarlier in 2016, when Priyanka was shooting for the second season of Quantico, the actress reportedly had a brush with racism at an US airport. "Priyanka said that whoever goes to Hollywood after her should be careful about the kind of roles they do," DNA quoted a source as saying. Priyanka was reportedly questioned for sitting in the first class lounge at an US airport and was later apologised to.
Priyanka Chopra is currently in Ireland, busy shooting for Quantico 3, which premieres on April 26. Last year's Baywatch was her Hollywood debut and she has two more Hollywood films in the pipeline - Isn't It Romantic? and A Kid Like Jake. Priyanka Chopra is yet to announce her next Bollywood project.
Kapil Sharma's New Show, Meant To Be Big Comeback, Reportedly Put On Hold After No-Show"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 11 April 2018
After Kapil Sharma apparently failed to turn up on sets of Family Time With Kapil Sharma to shoot for new episodes, the makers have decided to 'put his comeback show on hold.' reports Indian Express. Kapil had cancelled some shoots and also failed to film an episode with Rani Mukerji, who came to promote Hichki. Also, last weekend, no new episode of Family Time With Kapil Sharma was aired. "We did not have a bank of episodes to air as the show had just begun. Also, his health issues or personal issues has been deviating his attention and focus from work. In such a scenario, it is better that we keep the show on hold for now. At least the whole of April, we aren't shooting. We will figure out the rest once he feels better. Right now, we want to him get better first. So that once he is back, he is completely devoted to work like he has always been," a source told Indian Express.
Of the cancelled with Rani Mukerji, the source told Indian Express that it was due to his 'personal issues' but the makers of the show were 'left in lurch.' "See the first episode of Kapil's latest show was nothing like its predecessor. It was a hotchpotch of too many things put in together for this 90s style game show. It only did well on TRP charts as Kapil has a very ardent fan following and was going to be back on television after a hiatus of seven months. So naturally, his fans did watch their favourite comedian's new show but it lacked the punch that they expected. However, owing too few personal issues, he had to cancel Rani Mukerji's shoot and this left us in a lurch."
mid-day had reported that Kapil Sharma remained out of reach which was a 'major embarrassment' for them as well as the channel. "Alarm bells have started ringing as it spells loss of marketing revenue. They are clueless about when Kapil will resume shooting," a source told mid-day.
Kapil Sharma hasn't yet spoken about the whole issue. However, he featured in headlines again for his tweets. He had filed an extortion case against producers Neeti and Preeti Simoes, who were the creative directors of The Kapil Sharma Show (his previous show)
On Friday evening, several abusive posts from his Twitter account shocked the social media. Later, he clarified that his account was hacked.
Aamir Khan May Not Make The Mahabharata After All. Here's What Happened"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 10 April 2018
Aamir Khan is apparently "seriously reconsidering" his decision to adapt the Mahabharata on the big screen because "doing history or mythology has become very, very tricky," a source told Bollywood Hungama. Citing the example of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat," a source told Bollywood Hungama: "Aamir Khan is weighing the pros and cons of doing the Mahabharata knowing he's bound to land up in trouble with fringe groups protesting left, right and centre. Aamir may drop his plans of doing the Mahabharata for now." The release of "Padmaavat" was opposed for months and even when it did hit the screens (after Supreme Court's intervention), several theatres and two states in India refused to screen Mr Bhansali's movie. Rajput fringe outfits opposed the film's content alleging that it demeaned Rani Padmini, the protagonist of the film.
In 2016, Aamir Khan made a case against the "rising intolerance in India" when at an event he said that his wife Kiran Rao considered leaving India over 'growing intolerance.' Aamir Khan's comment was criticised and the actor was brutally trolled. However, Aamir later told PTI that he was 'wrongly quoted' and added: "I never said India was intolerant. To speak about 'rising intolerance' and to say India is 'intolerant' are two different things."
Last year, Aamir Khan announced that he wants to adapt the Mahabharata on the big screen and that he may play the role of Karan or Krishna in the proposed five-part series. The topic resurfaced recently when it was reported that the project will be co-produced by Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani. A section of social media did not like the idea of Aamir Khan's involvement in the project because he is Muslim. Aamir's colleague Javed Akhtar silenced the trolls with a few scathing tweets - but that's another story.
Aamir Khan is currently filming Thugs Of Hindostan and it was earlier reported that the actor hasn't signed another project after the YRF film to concentrate on a project that will occupy him for several years, which many believed is the Mahabharata.
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COMMENTSApart from Aamir Khan, filmmaker SS Rajamouli has also expressed his desire to make the Mahabharata and Aamir Khan at that time told news agency PTI that he would "love to collaborate" with the Baahubali director. Aamir Khan and Rajamouli's plans to adapt the Mahabharat are still in the ideation stage.
However, there's one confirmed project on Mahabharata. South star Mohanlal has been cast as Bheem in the adaptation of critically acclaimed Malayalam novel Randamoozham, which chronicles the events of the Mahabharata from Bheem's perspective.
Salman Khan 'Protecting Someone For Silly Reasons,' Tweets Simi Garewal On Blackbuck Case"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 9 April 2018
Actress Simi Garewal says that Salman Khan is "protecting someone for silly emotional reasons" in the blackbuck poaching case. A post from Simi Garewal's unverified Twitter handle read: "The charity, the generosity, etc of Salman Khan is irrelevant here. What is all-important is the fact that he did not pull the trigger. He did not commit the crime. He is protecting someone for silly emotional reasons. Even at a huge cost to himself." The tweet was posted after Salman Khan was sentenced to five years jail term by a Jodhpur court in connection with the poaching case. Salman was sent to jail on April 5 and he stayed there for two days. The actor walked out after his bail was posted on April 7 and the next hearing has been scheduled for May 7.
Salman Khan, 52, was held guilty by the court for hunting blackbuck while filming Hum Saath-Saath Hain in 1998. His co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Sonali Bendre were acquitted by the court on the same day. Simi Garewal had also posted this:
Salman Khan returned to Mumbai hours after his bail was posted. The actor was welcomed by his fans outside the Galaxy Apartments. His colleagues - Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Sneha Ullal and Shatrughan Sinha among others - have been spotted coming in and out of Salman's home after his arrival.
Salman Khan's current work-in-progress film is Race 3, for which he was shooting in Abu Dhabi until day before his hearing in Jodhpur. Salman has also signed up Ali Abbas Zafar's Bharat and TV reality show 10 Ka Dum season 3.
Salman Khan Sentenced To 5 Years In Jail, Other Actors Acquitted In Blackbuck Poaching Case"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 5 April 2018
JODHPUR: Salman Khan, one of India's biggest stars, was sentenced today to five years in jail for killing blackbucks while on a film shoot in Rajasthan 20 years ago. The 52-year-old actor has also been fined Rs. 10,000 for hunting the rare antelopes in forests near Jodhpur while filming "Hum Saath Saath Hain" in 1998. His bail request will be heard tomorrow. His co-stars in the movie, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam Kothari, have been acquitted for lack of evidence.
Here are the top developments from the Salman Khan blackbuck poaching case verdict:
Salman Khan was in court for the verdict in what is known to be his "lucky" black shirt. His sisters Alvira and Arpita reportedly broke down when the judge read out the order.
Salman Khan was taken straight to the Jodhpur Central Jail, where he had briefly served time in 2006. As he emerged from the court, a loud cheer rose from a crowd of Bishnois, the community that is passionate about protecting the blackbuck, an endangered species. The news of Salman Khan's jail sentence saw varied reactions on micro-blogging website Twitter.
Because of threats to the actor's life from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, heavy security has been arranged at the jail where he is likely to be put up in the same barracks as Asaram Bapu, the self-styled godman accused of raping a schoolgirl.
The antelopes were shot dead near a village of Bishnois, who are the main petitioners in the case. Salman Khan spotted a herd of blackbuck and shot dead two of them, the court was told.
The court heard 28 witnesses including Bishnoi villagers who came out running from their huts on hearing gunshots.
The Bishnois alleged that they took a bike and chased the Gypsy, but the actor got away. Deer carcass was found at the spot after the actors left.
In hearings over two decades, the actor had argued that he had an air gun that doesn't kill. Reports that the animals died of "overeating" or that they were killed by dogs were also submitted in court.
In an interview in 2009, Salman Khan had told NDTV that he had "saved the deer" and fed it. "We saw a fawn caught in a bush. He was petrified. I took him out of there, gave him some water. The whole herd was there. (The fawn) ate a few biscuits and went away". The whole controversy started then, he claimed.
Salman Khan is one of the most bankable stars in India with a cult fan following. Currently, around Rs. 700 crore is believed to be riding on him in the bustling Hindi film industry dubbed Bollywood. He just completed a mega budget film, Race 3.
In 2015, Salman Khan was cleared in a 2002 hit-and-run case in which his Toyota Land Cruiser had crashed into men sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai's Bandra, killing a homeless man.
Ajay Devgn Reportedly Trolled For Smoking Next To Son Yug"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 4 April 2018
Actor Ajay Devgn, who is currently holidaying in Paris with wife Kajol and children, was apparently trolled for smoking next to his son Yug. Ajay Devgn had posted a picture with Yug earlier this week and in it, he is seen holding a cigarette in his right hand. Yug stands next to him. The comments appeared to be deleted now but several media reports have posted screenshots of the messages. "Ajay Devgn, wish you a very happy birthday, but cigarette smoking is injurious to health" and "Smoking right next to your kid? You can do better than this Ajay" were some of the comments posted on the picture, reports Spotboye.
The picture was posted by Ajay Devgn on his birthday. He turned 49 on April 2. He had shared two pictures of Yug (one with him and the other featured Yug with a bag full of chocolates) and captioned them as, "Before and after."
Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Yug and the couple's daughter Nysa left Mumbai on Sunday. In Paris, they were joined by Vatsal Sheth and his wife Ishita Dutta. Both of them have worked with the Golmaal Again actor previously.
Ajay Devgn and Kajol married in 1999. Their daughter Nysa, 14, studies in Singapore while Yug, 6, stays with them in Mumbai. Last week, Ajay Devgn's Raid co-star Ileana D'Cruz told news agency IANS that he's 'obsessed with his kids.' "He's a massive family man. He's obsessed with his kids, which is very lovely. He's really a positive person. When you are working with likeminded people then there are no pretences. So, it's nice working with him."
Ajay Devgn has Total Dhamaal, Sons of Sardaar and a film with Tabu in the line-up. He is also producing Kajol's Eela
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan On Bringing Up Aaradhya: "Not An Army Of Help, Have One Nanny By Choice"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 3 April 2018
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opened up about her experience of dividing duties between being a "busy" star and a mother to her six-year-old daughter Aaradhya in an interview with Vogue India. The 44-year-old actress said that she is well aware of the perception that a celebrity mother must have plenty of assistance in bringing up a daughter by virtue of her being a star but, that's not how she planned her motherhood to be. "I spend all my time with Aaradhya, and I have one nanny, by choice," the actress said in the interview. "I read comments saying, "Ah, she must have an army of help" and I understand the perception, but I choose this way, which means life is always busy," she added when asked about her day's schedule.
Aishwarya, who sure has a busy roster on the work front, added that every experience counts and as a mother, retiring as "tired" is not really an option for her - "B-positive is not just a blood group and that everything in life is a learning curve". "That's something I'm imparting to Aaradhya," she added.
By now, it is well known that Aaradhya Bachchan is Aishwarya's favourite travel buddy and plus one at parties. Only recently the mother-daughter duo featured in headlines after Aaradhya attended the big fat Ambani bash as a special guest. Apart from parties and Pro Kabaddi matches, Aaradhya is also a Cannes regular, just like her mother - she has been accompanying Aishwarya to the French Riviera since she was a baby.
COMMENTSLast year, while attending the Cannes Film Festival, Aishwarya told PTI Aaradhya is now accustomed to the ways of being a star kid: "Because she is travelling with me, meeting new people, seeing our world, I don't have to sit her down and tell her what her mother does. She sees it, she is growing up with. She has now developed an ease (with media) which you all are seeing."
Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan married in 2007 and Aaradhya was born to them in 2011, which was a year after Guzaarish, Aishwarya's film with Hrithik Roshan. She made a comeback on the big screen with 2015's Jazbaa and also went on to star in Sarbjit and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. She will next be seen in Fanne Khan, co-starring Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao. She's also been approached for the remakes of Woh Kaun Thi? and Raat Aur Din.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson On His Secret Battle With Depression: "I Was Crying Constantly"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 2 April 2018
Wrestler turned actor Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) talked about his secret battle with depression in an interview with The Express one month after he recalled on Instagram how he had saved his mother from a suicide attempt. "Struggle and pain is real. I was devastated and depressed. I reached a point where I didn't want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly," Dwayne Johnson said. A fan recently told Dawyne Johnson that he's battling depression and the Fast And Furious actor replied: "I hear you. I've battled that beast more than once."
In February, while shooting for the upcoming season of television series Ballers, Dwayne Johnson talked about the day when his mother tried to commit suicide. Dawyne was all of 15 and they were evicted from their apartment, he shared on Instagram. "She got out of the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and cars swerving out of the way not to hit her. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road. What's crazy about that suicide attempt is to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn't," he wrote.
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COMMENTSThe actor added: "Many of us have been affected by suicide of our friends, family. Struggle and pain is real. We've all been there on some level or another."
The Rock was last seen in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, a reboot of Robin Williams' 1995 Jumanji. It was the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2017 worldwide. His upcoming films are Rampage, Skyscraper and Fighting With My Family.
Baaghi 2 Movie Review: Tiger Shroff Can't Carry This Awful Action Film 'Baburao Kaha Hai,' Asks The Internet"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 30 March 2018
Baaghi 2 Movie Review: This is an action film without enough action and a romantic drama where you don't feel for the characters
Cast: Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani, Prateik Babbar, Manoj bajpayee, Randeep Hooda, Deepak Dobriyal
Director: Ahmed Khan
Rating: 1 star (out of 5)
"Hey baby," leers a lecherous villain in Baaghi 2. "I mean bhabhi." You and I may groan, but this might be the kind of directness the heroine of the film actually appreciates, given how in college she rebuked a boy for tailing her ("I hate stalkers") but then commended him for speaking his mind. "Don't act desperate," she then warned, "I'll carry pepper spray." Then she turned away and laughed mischievously, as if the mere mention of mace is a sexual come-on.
When we meet the film's hero - the aforementioned indiscreet stalker - he is an Army Commando in Kashmir who ties a man to the front of his jeep and uses him as a human shield. Wow. It is the kind of thing I expected Hindi cinema to tackle at some point, but not in a Tiger Shroff film where his reasoning for this inhumanity is that somebody burned the Indian flag. As if the film's loathing for subtlety wasn't immediately clear enough, we then see that his commanding officer is played by a man who calls himself Grandmaster Shifu-Ji, a creator of hate-filled YouTube propaganda videos, whose own website lists him as a "Revolutionary Orator" and a "Freelance Mentor." God save us all.
A girl has been kidnapped but does she even exist? Baaghi 2 - technically a sequel to the entirely unrelated film Baaghi, and a remake of the Telugu hit Kshanam - has a decently twisty plot about kidnapping and deceit, one that could have worked in the hands of an actual filmmaker.
Choreographer Ahmed Khan isn't up to the task of making ineffective leads look like actors, which basically means storytelling via montages so clumsy you can all but hear the director's voice as the performers abruptly alter their expressions: "Now look sad, more sad, eyes lower." That kind of thing. In the film's first scene, where Disha Patani finds herself assaulted by masked men, she looks more confused than hurt: how, she seems to be asking herself in slow motion, can I look more vulnerable, more surprised, more in pain? (Look to us, miss. Look to our faces to see what being brained with a blunt object looks like.)
The lack of finesse hurts the actor. Tiger Shroff - who has the earnest likability of the one-stunt pony - is fine delivering flying kicks over a table, but Khan tries to make him appear emotionally driven, which translates to him grimacing when firing a machine gun - not the best look for a Rambo wannabe. The fight sequences are set to odd music, liberally use slow-motion, and rely too heavily on turn-by-turn choreography. Plus, the hero pauses in the middle of a fight to reverentially gaze at the Indian flag kept on a policeman's desk, while he bashes in both policeman and desk. Despite the actor's core strength being his core, most of these action scenes appear inexplicably late, long after the film has hammered us with weak melodrama and inexplicably poor writing.
Tiger tries hard to suck in his cheek, square his jaw and Jackie it up, but this mediocrity is too much for him to handle. Half the film involves him overwhelmed, while the other half has him beating up people and then using a Batman voice to growl "I'm looking for a little girl." Okay then. Patani, playing a high-strung role, is particularly insipid. "Have you seen my daughter?" the hysterical heroine asks, running from stranger to stranger in what looks like the parking lot of a shopping mall. "I don't know," says a man, understandably feigning a phone call to get away from this woman.
Shroff and Patani have very little on-screen chemistry, exemplified in a song sequence that shows us two youngsters who dance at each other instead of with each other, like rivals at a Zumba class. The posters of this film showed me two frighteningly fit youngsters and I thought maybe she'd get a chance to kick butt as well, but there is alas no dice. In fact, on the basis of this role and her work in MS Dhoni, Patani could well be in danger of being labelled the next Yami Gautam, a girl with a nice smile who rarely lasts the whole mile.
The extras seem to have walked in from Gold's Gym, but some familiar faces show up, like Randeep Hooda playing a cop who looks like an unemployed Rasta bassist (and who, refreshingly, gives zero damns whatsoever to the film) and Prateik Babbar, doing such an unconvincing job of being on drugs that the actor must be trying to assure us he doesn't know what they look like. In one scene, bona fide actors Deepak Dobriyal and Manoj Bajpayee sit across from each other possibly wondering why they're in this film. Later, one of them gets to lean on an honest-to-goodness Trojan Horse sculpture, while the other gets a line about Hyderabadis knowing their way around both biryani and qurbani.
It is a long, painful film capable of giving audiences post-traumatic stress disorder. Right when I thought Baaghi 2 couldn't possibly get worse, an electrocuted Jacqueline Fernandez showed up with a sickening take on Ek Do Teen. We're down for the count
Akshay Kumar And 'Old Friend' Suniel Shetty Take A Selfie. 'Baburao Kaha Hai,' Asks The Internet"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 29 March 2018
A selfie of actors Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty has made the Internet very, very happy. The picture credit goes to Akshay, who captioned the post as, "This is not a throwback but takes me back to so many. As always, was lovely catching up with one of my oldest friend and co-star Suniel Shetty today." While Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty's fans were elated to see both the actors together and comments such as "my favourite actors of all times" were posted, some of them asked about Baburao. Remember Baburao Ganpatrao Apte? Arre haan, Paresh Rawal from Hera Pheri. "Raju aur Shyam, Baburao kaha hai?" a user commented. Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal had featured together in 2000's comedy-drama Hera Pheri and the second part, Phir Hera Pheri, released in 2006. Both the films were successful at the box office.
Apart from the Hera Phera films, the trio have collaborated for movies such as De Dana Dan, Aan - Men At Work and Awaara Paagal Deewana. Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty have worked together in hit films like Mohra and Dhadkan. Hera Pheri 3 is also in the lineup but Akshay will reportedly not be a part of the film, which stars Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal.
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COMMENTSAkshay Kumar, 50, is currently busy with several projects. He was last seen in PadMan, produced by wife Twinkle Khanna. He has 2.0 (with Rajinikanth), work-in-progress film Kesari and Gold in the pipeline.
Suniel Shetty, 56, was last seen in A Gentleman. His daughter Athiya debuted in Bollywood in 2015.
Kartik Aaryan Wants Kareena Kapoor To Be His 'Rani.' The Internet Outrages On Saif Ali Khan's Behalf"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 28 March 2018
Kartik Aaryan and Kareena Kapoor recently walked the ramp for Manish Malhotra in Singapore - and the duo had plenty of fun at the backstage. The Pyaar Ka Punchnama actor roped in Kareena for an Instagram video - he lip-synced to Ban Ja Tu Meri Raani while Kareena kept him company throughtout. Now on Instagram, Kartik's post reads: "Ban jaa tu meri Rani," which has quickly been noticed by fans and flooded with cautionary warnings about flirting with Kareena, who is eight years older and married to Saif Ali Khan. "Someone tag Saif Ali Khan in here," read a comment while another added: "Kisi aur ki rani hai wo." Here's what another user said: "Kareena ji already rani hai kisi ki unko rani maat banao!"
Shared on Wednesday afternoon, Kartik Aaryan's video has garnered over 372,476 views and thousand comments in just two hours, most of which have reviewed the video as "cute" and "adorable" and has also requested that the two be cast in a movie together soon. "You guys are looking fabulous. We all want to see you guys together in the movie," said one user and another one wrote: "Both are looking so adorable.., Love u both... Why can't you do a movie together?"
The Manish Malhotra show, held earlier this week, saw Kareena set the ramp on fire in an embellished lehenga and bra-let while Kartik complemented her in a blue bandhgala and pants. Photos from the show have also previously made Kareena trend after a section of the Internet decided to troll the actress for looking "malnourished" and "like a skeleton."
Kartik Aaryan, who is six-films-old in Bollywood, was last seen in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Kareena Kapoor will next be seen in Shashanka Ghosh's Veere Di Wedding, which also stars Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar.
At Ambani Party For Akash And Shloka: Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Katrina Kaif And Other Stars"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 27 March 2018
Nita and Mukesh Ambani hosted a grand party for their son Akash and his fiance Shloka Mehta in Mumbai. The young couple got engaged over the weekend in Goa. Several Bollywood stars and other prominent personalities attended the party. Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, her daughter Aaradhya, Katrina Kaif, Karan Johar and Kiran Rao arrived early. They were photographed outside the venue - see pictures below. Akash is the eldest of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh and Nita Ambani three children. Akash's fiancee Shloka is the daughter of diamond magnate Russel Mehta. The families are yet to release an official statement on their engagement and wedding. On Sunday evening, the Ambanis, along with Shloka, visited Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple. Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta have reportedly studied together at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School.
Please welcome Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta. The couple posed happily for the paparazzi. See Akash and Shloka's picture here.
Shah Rukh Khan posed for the shutterbugs.
Aishwarya opted for a black gown while Aaradhya looked cute as a buttion in pink.
Katrina Kaif smiled as she made her way to the venue.
Karan Johar and Kiran Rao posed together.
SRK and Karan Johar also posed with Akash and Shloka.
Sagarika Ghatge and Zaheer Khan made a couple entry.
Harbhajan Singh at the party.
John Abraham waved at the shutterbugs.
Rajkumar Hirani arrived with family.
News agency PTI reported that Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta's wedding is planned for early December and festivities will be hosted over four-five days, possibly December 8-12, at a five star hotel in Mumbai.
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COMMENTSSee pictures of the Ambani family with Shloka at Siddhivinayak Temple. Apart from Akash, Nita and Mukesh Ambani are also parents to daughter Isha and son Anant.
The Ambanis have previously hosted some star-studded parties for Bollywood celebrities.
Shloka's dad Russel Mehta is the owner of Rosy Blue Diamonds. Shloka is believed to have studied at Princeton University and the London School of Economics.
Kareena Kapoor Trolled For Looking Like 'A Skeleton', Asked To Start Eating"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 26 March 2018
Kareena Kapoor's religious gymming appears to have paid off - the 37-year-old actress looks a lot like her size zero self from a few years ago - and people aren't entirely impressed. Kareena, who gave birth to son Taimur in December 2016, recently walked the ramp for her "favourite" designer Manish Malhotra in Singapore and a behind-the-scenes moment from the show, featuring Kareena and best friend Amrita Arora, has been flooded with vile comments on Instagram. Kareena, who was dressed in a Manish Malhotra ensemble - an embellished bralet and lehenga, was trolled for looking "too skinny" and was asked to start eating and gain weight. "Kuchh kha liya karo," she was told. The trolls also added that she resembles a "skeleton" because of her toned midriff. "Seems like Kareena underwent some treatment to look skinny," read one of the comments while another speculated that Kareena might be suffering from malnutrition.
"What happened to Kareena? She looks like a skull," wrote another follower in the comment's section. Some also said that the actress looked older than her age: "Amrita looks fab and you look aged
Kareena Kapoor and Kartik Aaryan were Manish Malhotra's showstoppers for the night
Kareena Kapoor has been frequently photographed hitting the gym in the last year and shed her post-pregnancy weight within months. Her strict work-out regime allowed her to resume work commitments - she returned to filming Veere Di Wedding after a short maternity leave.
In 2008, Kareena made headlines for becoming a "size zero" for Tashan. Kareena, who reportedly starved herself before shooting a beach sequence in a bikini, fainted on the sets of the film
Those who remember, Deepika Padukone was subjected to similar trolling after her photoshoot for the jewellery edition of Vanity Fair UK in July last year. "Dead body" to "anorexic" are some of the adjectives she was referred to with. She was also told to "eat a burger.
Kareena Kapoor will next be seen in Shashanka Ghosh's Veere Di Wedding, which also stars Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhasker
Rani Mukerji On Hichki's Success: "Audience Celebrated Working Mothers"
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 24 March 2018
Actress Rani Mukerji's Hichki, tale of an aspiring teacher with Tourette Syndrome, passed with flying colours on the opening days. The film opened across 961 screens and earned Rs. 3.30 crore on Day 1, for which Rani Mukerji said: "This box office validation gives me incredible confidence to continue my journey as a working mother who can aim to balance her professional and personal life to a T. Thank you all for giving me the power to continue living my dream." Rani returned to the silver screen after a gap of four years (she was last seen in 2014's Mardaani) and in a statement she said that she enjoyed being a mother to her 2-years-old daughter Adira during the sabbatical of sorts but acting was her "first love."
Rani Mukerji said that the commercial success of Hichki was immensely important for her and "for all my fellow lovely, outstandingly talented actresses who dream to follow their passion post their marriage, or even after becoming a mother." She added: "Deep down I was nervous that if I fail, I would be forever succumbing to the archaic stereotypes, to the same hichkis that have been prevalent for so many years."
Rani Mukerji said that the success of Hichki reinstates the fact that for the audience "good cinema and good performance is the only thing that matters - not marital status, not parenthood." She said that the movie-goers have "celebrated working mothers today."
Hichki is directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and it is co-produced by Maneesh Sharma and Yash Raj Films.
Hichki Celeb Review: 'Watch Rani Mukerji's Film With A Box Of Tissues
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 23 March 2018
Rani Mukerji's Hichki has already earned a lot of love from her colleagues, who have every nice to say to say about it. Celebrities like Aamir Khan, Karan Johar, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Sushmita Sen, Shilpa Shetty and Urmila Matondkar have enjoyed special screenings of the movie ahead of its release and shared their reviews on social media. Aamir Khan, Rani's co-star of Ghulam, watched the film just a day before release and reviewed it as "one of the most enjoyable films". "Great story, amazing perfomances! Superb film," he added.
Mr Kapoor was one of the first to post his review on Twitter. In a tweet directly addressed to Rani, he wrote: "Watched Hichki last night and absolutely loved it! The whole team has done an exceptional job especially the kids and Neeraj Kabi! And Rani you are my new favourite teacher! Your performance has left me speechless!"
Karan Johar, who has directed Rani in films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, said Hichki will indeed make you nostalgic about school and that Rani is "the soul and life of this film." With Hichki, Rani makes a comeback after four years and plays a teacher named Naina, who suffers from Tourette Syndrome - a disorder, which leads one to make involuntary sounds and movements. In Naina's case, she utters "chuck, chuck" as she speaks.
Madhuri Dixit, who reportedly got teary eyed while watching Hichki, Instagrammed to say: "Hichki is a moving and heart-warming film helmed by a brilliant story with a wonderful cast. A strong content driven film, very well directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and of course another stupendous performance by Rani. Kudos to Team Yash Raj Films."
Shilpa Shetty gave Rani a shout out for her "splendid and flawless performance" while Sushmita Sen said Hichki "is a must watch with a box of tissues." This is what Urmila wrote: "Congratulations dearest Rani on yet another superlative performance.
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Maneesh Sharma, Hichki releases tomorrow.
Salman Khan's Veergati Co-Star Pooja Dadwal Receives Help From Ravi Kishan
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 22 March 2018
For Salman Khan's Veergati co-star Pooja Dadwal, who is battling tuberculosis alone in a Mumbai hospital, actor politician Ravi Kishan extended a helping hand, reports Hindustan Times. Earlier this week, Pooja told Navbharat Times that tried to contact Salman Khan to help her fund her treatment but she's not been able to reach the 52-year-old actor, who is busy with several projects. However, Ravi Kishan, who co-starred with Ms Dadwal in 1997 film Tumse Pyar Ho Gaya, came to her rescue when he got to know about her condition while promoting his upcoming film in Hyderabad. According to a Hindustan Times report, Ravi Kishan sent his colleague with money and fruits for the actress, who is admitted in Mumbai's T B Hospital, Sewri for the past 15 days.
A video of Ravi Kishan's colleague handing over the money and a carton full of fruits is also being circulated on the Internet.
Earlier, Pooja told Navbharat Times that she is "penniless" and had to "depend on others for even a cup of tea." The former actress said that she was working as a casino manager in Goa for several years before she was diagnosed with tuberculosis, after which her family had also abandoned her. "I got to know six months ago that I was suffering from tuberculosis. After learning about this I tried to contact Salman Khan but there's been no response yet. I have been admitted to the hospital for 15 days now. I was the manager at a casino in Goa for several years. I am penniless. I am dependent on others for even a cup of tea," she told Navbharat Times
Aamir Khan's Magnum Opus Mahabharata To Be Co-Produced By Mukesh Ambani
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 21 March 2018
MUMBAI: EXCLUSIVE >> Insiders in the know have told mid-day that Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani, who had only recently invested in entertainment companies Eros and Ekta Kapoor's Balaji, will co-produce superstar Aamir Khan's most ambitious film yet, the Mahabharata series, for the big screen.
Whether this marks Ambani's full-fledged foray into film production with a separate company, or he'll be involved through his existing media-related entities, Jio, Viacom 18 (where he holds controlling stake), is not known. The source, however, insists on the former, stressing on this being a "one-off" engagement.
COMMENTSImagined along the lines and scale of Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings trilogy, HBO series Game Of Thrones, Khan's Mahabharata franchise has already created much buzz in film trade circles owing to rumours flying over a Rs. 1,000 crore budget. This, of course, is impossible to ascertain, given the series - likely to comprise anywhere between three to five parts, involving multiple directors - is only at a pre-production/ideation stage. Sources say international writers will be brought in to sharpen Mahabharata's story-line, to appeal to a global audience
Late last year, Aamir Khan's planned magnum opus - something he has publicly spoken about as his dream project in the past - came into news, when the actor-producer (currently shooting for the Yash Raj production, Thugs Of Hindostan), had to turn down Mahesh Mathai's biopic on cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, to be produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, owing to the big-ticket series that's going to singularly keep him busy for the next few years.
How Kareena, Saif And The Kapoors Celebrated Shashi Kapoor's Birth Anniversary
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 20 March 2018
The Kapoors got together over the weekend to celebrate the 80th birth anniversary of Shashi Kapoor, who died in December last year. Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan reportedly hosted a dinner to mark the special day, a photo from which has been doing the rounds on the Internet. In attendance were Kareena's husband Saif Ali Khan, father Randhir Kapoor, his sister Rima Jain, Kareena's cousins Armaan and Adar Jain, Shashi Kapoor's son Kunal Kapoor and several other Kapoors. It's always a delight to see the Kapoors getting together, like during the annual Christmas brunch or for birthday celebrations. In an interview with mid-day, just days after Shashi Kapoor died, Randhir Kapoor explained why fam-jamming together is essential for the Kapoors.
"My uncle (Shashi Kapoor) was a family man and always believed in celebrations. In fact, he had told us that we should not mourn his death and instead, celebrate his life. I think his kids are just doing that and are paying an ode to him. Like my father, Raj Kapoor said, 'The show must go on'," he said.
Christmas was celebrated and gifts were exchanged in the Kapoor household last December, especially as a tribute to Shashi Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Randhi Kapoor, Rima Jain, Krishna Raj Kapoor, Neila Devi, the Jain brothers - Armaan and Adar and the Kapoor sisters - Kareena and Karisma had also arrived with the families. This year, Christmas was all about sharing fond memories of Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor had told mid-day: "Like every year, we are expecting the entire family to be there. As usual, there will be lots of food, and this time around, it will be special as we will remember Shashiji and share our fond memories of him.
On December 4, Shashi Kapoor died in Mumbai after battling kidney-related ailment for months. The legendary actor was cremated with state honours with a three-gun salute by Mumbai Police the next day
Salman Khan's Veergati Co-Star Pooja Dadwal Is Ill And Reportedly Trying To Contact Him For Help
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 19 March 2018
Former actress Pooja Dadwal, who once co-starred with Salman Khan in 1995 movie Veergati, is reportedly trying to reach out to the superstar for financial aid. A report in Navbharat Times states that Pooja is suffering from tuberculosis and lung-related ailment and has been admitted to Mumbai's T B Hospital, Sewri for the past 15 days. The report also adds that Pooja has reportedly tried to get in touch with the 52-year-old actor to ask for financial help but apparently Salman has not responded yet. "I got to know six months ago that I was suffering from tuberculosis. After learning about this I tried to contact Salman Khan but there's been no response yet," Navbharat Times quoted Pooja as saying.
Pooja, who appears to have sent a video message to the actor, claims that her financial condition is extremely weak. The report quotes her as saying that she was a casino manager in Goa before she got diagnosed with tuberculosis. "If Salman Khan sees my video, he might help me. I have been admitted to the hospital for 15 days now. I was the manager at a casino in Goa for several years. I am penniless. I am dependent on others for even a cup of tea," she told Navbharat Times.
COMMENTSMeanwhile, there's been no reaction from Salman Khan yet but a section of Twitter has urged Salman to provide aide. "Pooja Dadwal waiting for your financial help. Please help her," read a tweet
Navbharat Times report also states Pooja Dadwal was abandoned by her husband and in-laws once her health started deteriorating. Pooja Dadwal has also starred in films like Inteqam, Hindustan and Dabdaba.
Raid Movie Review: Ajay Devgn's Brooding Presence Makes This Riveting Fare
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 16 March 2018
Raid movie review: Together, Ajay Devgn and Saurabh Shukla give Raid its heft
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'Cruz, Saurabh Shukla
Director: Raj Kumar Gupta
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Five years after the misfiring Ghanchakkar, a film that went round in circles with no apparent purpose, director Raj Kumar Gupta regains some of his mojo in Raid, a gripping search-and-seizure procedural boosted by its focused intensity and the commendably restrained performances from Ajay Devgn and Saurabh Shukla. It hits the right buttons consistently and, barring the largely gratuitous background songs, does not stray from its chosen course.
Inspired by "true stories" surrounding an early 1980s tax raid on a powerful Uttar Pradesh political goon, the film has contemporary resonance because the broad themes that it touches upon are undeniably as relevant today as they were four decades ago. The nation and its people may, on the surface, seem to have moved on, but, at levels that matter, the rot has only worsened in alarmingly dangerous ways.
Raid, scripted by Ritesh Shah, tells the story of an income tax deputy commissioner, Amay Patnaik (Devgn), who lands in Lucknow with his wife Malini (Ileana D'Cruz) on his 49th transfer in seven years. He wastes no time in making his presence felt in UP's capital city. Acting on an anonymous telephonic tip-off, Patnaik, with a posse of policemen and tax officials, marches into the den of a dreaded, crooked politician Rameshwar Singh "Tauji" (Shukla) with a search-and-seizure warrant.
What ensues from here onwards is a riveting battle of attrition between a power-crazed man convinced that he can get away with murder and an upright, intrepid government functionary wedded to his none-too-easy job and mindful of the rules of service that he must necessarily adhere to.
The film's action is principally confined to one house occupied by a large joint family presided over by the ruthlessly domineering Rameshwar. His hold over his brood is emphasized in the course of two protracted dining table sequences that lay out the relational dynamics between him and his brothers, sisters and ageing mother. Both scenes are wonderfully written and perfectly placed in the flow of the narrative.
In a way, Raid is a classic cop and robber yarn. But it is set apart from the norms of the genre just a tad because the man leading the crusade against the bad guy isn't a beefed-up action hero in uniform. Neither is his antagonist a scowling, snarling, sadistic law-breaker. He is simply a man with a bloated sense of self-importance, one who has gotten so accustomed to a culture of impunity that he is baffled by the temerity of the taxman.
After his bluff and bluster comes to naught, Rameshwar Singh hurls a challenge at Patnaik: let me loose and see what I can do. The income tax officer takes his word for it and lets him go even as the raid continues. Rameshwar turns to everybody - the state chief minister, the Union finance minister and even the then Prime Minister (a lady, obviously Indira Gandhi, but the actor's face is never revealed) - with an appeal to have the tax recovery operation called off. His entreaties yield little as Patnaik stands his ground and deflects all pressure.
When somebody describes the protagonist as a fearless officer who doesn't kowtow even to the Prime Minister - she, on her part, is heard saying later that the country needs more officers like Patnaik - how one wishes that we actually had more of this man's ilk in times when all major institutions in this country are being brazenly manipulated and compromised.
Pitched as a tribute to unsung officers who keep the wheels of the economy running despite the scourge of widespread corruption, Raid probes the price one has to pay for being honest in a system that entices many, and browbeats some, into opting for the line of least resistance and putting self-preservation ahead of duty.
The passing allusion (in a dinnertime conversation between Patnaik and his wife) to Munshi Premchand's short story Namak Ka Daroga lends the current and ever-relevant tale its timelessness, a pointer that the issue has been alive forever and isn't going away anytime soon.
In one scene, the hero says to Rameshwar that it isn't the poor who are to blame for the poverty that they are condemned to; the dishonest rich who corner most of the wealth generated in the country are the culprits. At another point in the film, the corrupt MLA, seeking help from political higher-ups, draws the chief minister's attention to the funds that he put into the party coffers at election time. 1981 and 2018 - same difference!
Raid obviously alludes to an array of economic offences - black money, sales tax and excise duty evasion, money laundering, hawala rackets. None of these has been weeded out. If anything, they have only assumed new forms, just as corruption, as a whole, has.
Raid isn't without its share of flaws. While Ritesh Shah's screenplay and dialogues are first-rate, it is hard to fathom why the film needed to use Punjabi lyrics for a couple of its background songs or draw attention to the courage of the hero through the means of a corny number that goes Mar bhi gayaa agar/marne ka darr nahi. Amay Patnaik does enough through the 128-minute film not to require this sort of unsubtle musical underscoring of his defining trait.
Devgn's brooding presence, which shores up film, is reminiscent of the actor's Najaayaz and Zakhm> days. Shukla is brilliant as the cynical politician who does not abandon his defiant stance even when the chips are hopelessly down. Together, the two actors give Raid its heft.
The fetching Ileana D'Cruz is unlikely to fetch too many points for this performance: the character of the wife, rebellious enough not to sport a mangalsutra but dutiful enough to take lunch in a tiffin-carrier for her husband and his team all the way to the supposedly top-secret raid location, is riddled with contradictions.
Mercifully, the film, as a whole, isn't. Raid delivers riveting fare without resorting to too many standard Bollywood tics
Amitabh Bachchan's Doctors Are 'Fiddling Around With His Body' In Jodhpur
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 13 March 2018
Actor Amitabh Bachchan, 75, is being attended in Jodhpur - where he's filming - by a team of doctors from Mumbai, who arrived in Jodhpur today morning. "I am getting my team of doctors in tomorrow morning to fiddle around with my body and set me up again. I will rest and keep informed in process," Mr Bachchan wrote on his blog in a post shared early this morning. Exactly what has happened to him is not clear - his blog seems to indicate that he's been working long hours on Thugs Of Hindostan - the film he's currently shooting in Jodhpur - and that "it's been rough."
Some people need to work for a living and work hard," Amitabh Bachchan wrote - that's pretty much most of us, Mr Bachchan. He seems quite cheerful on Twitter, however. This was his last tweet, shared some hours after his blog post:
He tweeted before that about getting back from his shoot at just short of 5 am
The accident on the sets of Coolie that put Amitabh Bachchan in a coma all those years ago has left him with a list of medical complaints. Mr Bachchan has written earlier about living with pain. He was pictured at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai last month, reportedly because of lower back trouble. Hospital authorities later revealed that it was a routine check-up. The actor was admitted briefly and discharged the same day. Mr Bachchan later posted a poem on his blog which began "Jee haan janaab, main aspatal jaata hoon."
Amitabh Bachchan's work-in-progress project Thugs Of Hindostan also stars Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Mr Bachchan also has 102 Not Out with Rishi Kapoor lined up for release.
A Tribute To Sridevi, From The Tamil Film Industry. Janhvi, Khushi And Others Attend
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 12 March 2018
Late actress Sridevi was fondly remembered in a prayer meet organised by actors and filmmakers of the Tamil film industry in Chennai on Sunday. Sridevi is survived by her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters - Janhvi and Khushi - all of who were part of the prayer meet held at a city hotel in Chennai. Sridevi's close friend designer Manish Malhotra also appears to have accompanied the family to Chennai and shared a few photos on Instagram. The media was not present at the event but photos have been curated by several fan clubs on Instagram. Sridevi was born in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu on August 13, 1963. Her debut in film was as a child artiste in 1969 Tamil movie Thunaivan.
Ahead of that, Southern film stars including actors Sivakumar, Sripriya and Padmini along with actor-filmmaker K Bhagyaraj, had paid their last respects to the late superstar at an event organised by the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA), which is also referred to as Nadigar Sangam in Chennai. Those who gathered at the prayer meet, paid their last respects to Sridevi in front of a photograph of the actress adorned with white flowers. SIAA President and actor Nasser was also part of the meet.
On Twitter, actor-director Manobala, who is also part of South Indian Artistes' Association, shared a photograph of the SIAA members remembering Sridevi.
Earlier, other celebrities like actor Ajith, filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress Meena visited the residence of Sridevi in Chennai to pay their tributes. In February, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and his wife Latha Rajinikanth had also visited Anil Kapoor's residence in Mumbai to be Sridevi's family after her death.
On February 24, Sridevi accidentally drowned in a hotel bathtub in Dubai, where she was attending the wedding festivities of nephew Mohit Marwah. After three days, Sridevi was flown back to Mumbai and a condolence meet and funeral were organised by the Kapoors on February 28.
COMMENTSSridevi, whose is best known for films like Chandni, Mr India and Nagina, took a sabbatical from the big screen after she married Boney Kapoor in 1996. She made a comeback with English Vinglish in 2012 and Tamil fantasy drama Puli remains one of her last movies. MOM was her last film that released and she has also shot for Shah Rukh Khan's Zero, which releases later this year.
Get ready to fall in love with Ronnie, Neha in O Saathi from Baaghi 2
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 10 March 2018
Song O Saathi from Sajid Nadiadwalas Baaghi 2 showcases the innocent and pure love story of two students Ronnie and Neha played by Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani respectively.
Featuring Tiger Shroff as the star player and Disha Patani as the cheerleader, the second song from the action film is the perfect love song of the season.The first song Mundiyan showcased the two dancing powerhouses set the dance floor on fire, the second song showcases the love story.
One of the most good looking couple, Tiger and Disha prove to be the best example of an ideal college romance.The soulful melody and heartwarming lyrics perfectly compliment the endearing video featuring the leading pair.
The trailer had created a mystery behind their love story, O Saathi showcases how the duo fell in love in their early days as students.Baaghi 2 would bring to celluloid the pair of Tiger and Disha for the first time. Sajid Nadiadwala has managed to bring to screen one of the most anticipated pairs of Bollywood.
There has been immense excitement amongst the fans to witness the powerhouse of action perform kickass stunts yet again. The trailer has been receiving rave reviews from all quarters. Tiger is being lauded for his deadly action avatar creating anticipation for the film.
The second instalment will enhance the action for the audience showcasing Tiger Shroff in a more muscular avatar than the prequel. Co-Produced by Fox Star Studios and Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner name Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Baaghi 2 is directed by Ahmed Khan and is slated to release on March 30.
Dil Juunglee Movie Review: Taapsee Pannu And Saqib Saleem's Film Is More Pain Than Fun
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 9 March 2018
Dil Juunglee Movie Review: Every bit in Taapsee Pannu and Saqib Saleem's film is a bit on the wild side, completely arbitrary and illogical
Cast: Tapsee Pannu, Saqib Saleem, Nidhi Singh
Director: Aleya Sen
Rating: 1.5 Stars (Out of 5)
It all begins with a girl in a tearing rush. She is about to elope with her lover. Bites of brinjal sandwiches, loads of airy-fairy talk and a diamond ring later, the flaming red car carrying the twosome veers off a highway and plunges into a river. The duo survives the mishap and ends up in a jungle. The trek through the forest does them no good at all. They disappear ever deeper into the woods as they seek to shrug off the repercussions of the accident.
Their fate mirrors that of Dil Juunglee, written and directed by debutante Aleya Sen. The shallow, soulless rom-com never finds a clearing large enough for sunlight to filter in and illuminate the goings-on. Neither the heroine, a corporate scion who is obsessed with romance and aspires to be a writer of love stories, nor the hero, a Lajpat Nagar gym instructor and Bollywood star aspirant, evolves into believable characters that we could wrap our hearts, if not our heads, around.
Sumeet Uppal (Saqib Saleem) is hopelessly aquaphobic. The staid Koroli Nair (Taapsee Pannu), who teaches spoken English to the former in order to prepare him for his foray into Mumbai filmdom, keeps coming within inches of being drowned. But the love story of the two, when it plays out on terra firma and wanders off in no particular direction, first in Delhi and then in London, holds no water.
It takes the girl nearly two hours to figure out that "we sound really, really boring together". O yes, they do! But by then the boy is too far down the path of unreason to take her seriously and attempt a course correction. "Get a life, Sumeet," Koroli suggests. He refuses to. And so does the film. Dil Juunglee looks pretty in a superficial sort of way, but at no point of its sloppy narrative arc does make any sense even in a superficial sort of way
The female protagonist, who is constantly berated by her entrepreneur-dad for not taking any interest in the thriving family business, is a strange creature. Despite being a girl apparently with a mind of her own, she is willing to surrender to a mamma's boy who is easily swayed by the reservations that his mother (Supriya Shukla) has about the prospect of her only son bringing home a manglik bride.
It is only when Sumeet refuses to come to her aid when she falls into a river from a rope-bridge that realization dawns on Koroli. She wakes up, discovers her spine, and walks away from a temple wedding, leaving the hero high dry.
Seven years on, Koroli, now rid of her hideous wavy wig that she sported in the first half, is in London launching a fashion line of her own and taking active part in the running of her dad's biz empire. She is for good measure also on the verge of marrying Jai Singh Rathore (Santosh Barmola), the uber-rich son of her father's childhood pal. Re-enter Sumit on the pretext of an under-production movie to be shot in London. The mess already created gets infinitely worse as the would-be husband asks Koroli sheepish questions about their compatibility as a couple.
Sumeet seems to regard Koroli as his personal property. The girl's suave but feckless fiancee is no better. He repeatedly refers to Koroli as a "deal" - she's been the best deal ever, I know when a deal is off, and so on. It is hard to believe at times that Dil Juunglee isn't Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, that it is a film that has been conceived and executed by a woman.
Everything about Dil Juunglee is a bit on the wild side, completely arbitrary and illogical. The screenplay does not, for instance, care to explain why Koroli would want to spend as much time as she does with her ex-flame when her life has moved well and truly away from Sumeet's orbit. Of course, the audience knows where the narrative is headed as Koroli and Sumeet loiter around the city, allowing the camera to take in the sights of London. Without any convincing psychological underpinnings to help it along, the romantic drama can only limp and lurch without striking any highs
The acting is rudimentary although it must be said that Taapsee Pannu looks fetching and Saqib Saleem tries his very best to rise above the limitations of the script. In both cases, the effort shows. They both deserve, and are capable of, better.
COMMENTSThe other actors in the cast, notably Nidhi Singh in the guise of a garrulous movie starlet for whom the hero falls on the rebound and Shristi Srivastava as the heroine's bestie, ham their way through the film.
In one scene, the heroine, dismissing the possibility of her ever reuniting with her former lover, confesses that "we were just kidding, it was a joke". Indeed. But Dil Juunglee does not work even as a joke. It is more pain than fun.
International Women's Day 2018: How Virat Kohli Made Anushka Sharma Feel Special
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 8 March 2018
Anushka Sharma is "the extraordinary woman" in Virat Kohli's life, there's no doubt about it. But just to make Anushka feel special on International Women's Day, Virat posted a subtle note on Twitter. "Tag the extraordinary woman in your life who is #BetterThanEqual," wrote Captain Kohli, tagging Anushka. Isn't he just adorable? This is just one of the many sweet, little ways Virat makes Anushka smile. Remember how he contributed to the promotional duties ahead of Pari's release and then even touched down in Mumbai just in time for a special screening. Virat Kohli was playing series matches in South Africa.
Apart from being the "extraordinary" one in Virat Kohli's life, Anushka is also Virat's favourite actress, especially after watching Pari. "Watched #Pari last night, has to be my Wife's best work ever! One of the best films I've seen in a long time. Got quite scared but so very proud of you," is how Virat reviewed Anushka's Pari a day ahead of the film's release. Earlier, Virat did not shy away from saying that he was "blown away" by the trailer of Pari and that he "loved" the teaser
Moving on, Anushka Sharma also did her part and shared an inspirational message for fans and followers on Women's Day: "Every step makes a difference when you believe in something strongly and do your bit. It might not show immediately but the results do create a ripple and an impact. To all the women fighting for what they believe in, don't give up," she tweeted.
After years of being together, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli had a big fat Punjabi wedding in December last year after. After the shaadi festivities, Anushka accompanied Virat to South Africa. Virat had stayed on for the series while Anushka returned to work commitments. Pari done, Anushka She also has films like Sui Dhaaga and Zero lined up for release this year.
Sridevi Cremated With State Honours. Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif Attend Funeral
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 28 February 2018
Wrapped in the national flag and dressed in bridal red, iconic actress Sridevi was cremated with state honours in Mumbai on Wednesday. Her last rites were attended by Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and other stars, as well as industrialist Anil Ambani. Sridevi was taken to the Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle from the Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala, where the film fraternity and thousands of fans, some of them who had come from Chennai and Karnataka, lined up to bid Sridevi farewell. She was then accompanied by her family - husband Boney Kapoor, brothers-in-law Anil and Sanjay Kapoor, stepson Arjun Kapoor and nephew Mohit Marwah - to the last rites. Her glass casket was draped with flowers, an enlarged picture of her forming a backdrop. Tearful fans, holding flowers and photos of the star, crowded the route - a distance of 5 km - from the Lokhandwala club to the crematorium.
Shah Rukh Khan, who co-starred with Sridevi in Army, and Katrina Kaif were not among the morning's mourners - they went directly to the cremation. Their December release Zero will see Sridevi in a posthumous cameo.
Many others attended the funeral - some, like Vidya Balan, had also been at the Lokhandwala club in the morning.
The morning's mourners included most of the Hindi film industry. The South was represented by Chiranjeevi, Sridevi's co-star in several films, Prakash Raj and Tohfa co-star Jaya Prada. Rekha, Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit were there; Aishwarya, Jaya and Shweta Bachchan; Deepika Padukone, Kajol, Ajay Devgn and Tanuja; Vidya Balan, Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput; Tabu, Karisma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Amrita Singh and daughter Sara Ali Khan, who is a good friend of Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor - there were few from the film fraternity who didn't make it.
Fans of the Sridevi, who considered to be India's first female superstar, were on the streets holding posters, pictures and flowers. "It's a shock to believe that she is no more. We want to pay her one last visit today and thank her for all her wonderful performances," Nandini Rao, a 32-year-old teacher, told news agency AFP.
The heavy police presence at the funeral did not deter those who loved Sridevi. "I'm an avid Sridevi fan. I loved her smiling personality. She had such a commanding presence in the film industry. Her death was so sudden and I feel terrible," 45-year-old Kuldeep Singh told AFP.
Sridevi died on Saturday in Dubai. A post-mortem report stated that she drowned due to accidentally drowning in the bathtub of the hotel she was staying in. She was brought to India on Tuesday, after a delay of three days.
Sridevi has made 300 films in a career spanning fifty years in several languages. Her best known Hindi films are Sadma, Mr India, Chaal Baaz and English Vinglish.
COMMENTSSridevi is survived by her husband Boney Kapoor and two daughters - Janhvi and Khushi.
Sridevi's Stepson Arjun Kapoor Flies To Dubai To Be With Dad Boney Kapoor
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 27 February 2018
Sridevi's stepson Arjun Kapoor left for Dubai this morning to be with his father Boney Kapoor, Yash Raj Films' PRO told news agency ANI. Sridevi died at a hotel in Dubai on Saturday. She was 54. The PRO informed that Arjun has gone to Dubai to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey. Meanwhile, Sridevi will be brought to Mumbai later today. On Monday afternoon, Dubai police said that a postmortem revealed that she 'accidentally drowned' in her hotel bathtub. Arjun, an actor, is Boney Kapoor's son with his first wife Mona, who died in 2012. Arjun also has a sister Anshula. Janhvi and Khushi are their stepsiblings.
After Sridevi's sudden death, Arjun Kapoor flew to Mumbai from Amritsar, where he was shooting for Namastey England, one of his upcoming films with Parineeti Chopra.
Sridevi, along with husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi, attended nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding in UAE all of last week. Their elder daughter Janhvi skipped the festivities due to work commitments. Her debut film Dhadak is scheduled to release this year. Most of Sridevi's family members were also in attendance, including Arjun.
Sridevi's MOM co-star Adnan Siddiqui was among the first few people to meet Boney Kapoor after Sridevi's death. "When everything was settled, Boney saab called me upstairs. He was there along with a family friend, his wife and a daughter. Boney saab was crying like a baby; he was inconsolable. I was with him until 5 am. He was under a lot of stress, so I advised him to rest, and then left," he told mid-day.
COMMENTSA stream of Bollywood celebrities gathered at Sridevi's brother-in-law Anil Kapoor's Mumbai home on Monday to pay their condolences.
Sridevi Died A Day Before Himmatwala Anniversary. Co-Star Jeetendra's Memories Of Her
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 26 February 2018
Actress Sridevi died at 54 in Dubai late Saturday (February 24), just a day before her blockbuster film Himmatwala, co-starring Jeetendra, would have completed 35 years. Speaking to mid-day, Jeetendra, 75, revealed that Rekha was the original choice for the film and Sridevi's death has terribly shocked him. "We all know how it changed both our fortunes. Not many know that Rekha was the original choice for Himmatwala. But I guess Sridevi was destined to do the film - she bagged the role and the film became one of the biggest grossers of the year. And with it, Bollywood woke up to the magic of Sridevi. Today [February 25] marked the 35th anniversary of the film's release and it's tragic how she passed away just a day before... I was terribly shocked when I heard about her demise," Jeetendra said.
Himmatwala, directed by K Raghavendra Rao, proved to be a turning point in both Sridevi and Jeetendra careers. Sridevi had made her debut as a heroine in Bollywood with Solva Sawan (1979) but it was Himmatwala, which made her a star. It was a remake of Telugu film Ooruki Monagadu, starring Krishna and Jaya Prada. Songs like Nainon Mein Sapna and Taki O Taki were instant hits.
"I first met Sridevi at the 100th day jubilee function of one of her Tamil films. I walked up to this bright-eyed girl and congratulated her on her performance. Little did I know that we would be working together in a few months' time. I was going through a low phase after Deedar-E-Yaar (1982) - the film suffered heavy losses, and brought me back to square one as an actor and producer. Sridevi, too, was coming out of Solva Saawan (1979), her debut film as a full-fledged heroine in Bollywood. The film didn't fare well and almost put her out of the Hindi film industry. So Himmatwala, directed by K Raghavendra Rao, was a turning point for both of us," Jeetendra told mid-day.
After the successful pairing in Himmatwala, Sridevi and Jeetendra co-starred together in 15 other films, including Tohfa, Majaal, Aag Aur Shola and Ghar Sansaar. "Sridevi was one of my closest co-stars and we did 15 movies together. She was an actor par excellence. What was even more admirable about her was her dedication to the craft - she would keep rehearsing a scene until she was fully satisfied with it. I had deep admiration for her discipline towards her work," Jeetendra told mid-day.
"I remember I used to be nervous whenever I would have to dance with Sridevi. She was a fabulous dancer who would get the steps perfectly, right at the first attempt while I had to keep doing rehearsals to match up to her. I have so many beautiful memories of Sridevi. It's still so difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that the woman, who ruled over everyone's hearts with her shy smile and bright eyes, is no more," he added.
Jeetendra's son Tusshar Kapoor condoled the death of Sridevi and shared a still from Himmatwala. "Ironically, today is also the 35th anniversary of #Himmatwala! Mam u will be missed! Huge loss for the audiences that welcomed her back to films!" he wrote.
His daughter Ekta Kapoor also remembered the megastar.
Himmatwala was later remade by Sajid Khan in 2013, starring Ajay Devgn and Tamannaah. Sridevi died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Dubai. She was also the star of blockbusters like Sadma, Lamhe, Nagina, Mr India, Chaal Baaz and Chandni. Her body will be flown to Mumbai on a private jet and the last rites are expected to be performed today.
Sridevi is survived by husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi.
Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety: another hilarious romcom from Luv Ranjan with class act by Karthik
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 24 February 2018
In Pyaar Ka Panchnaama and Pyaar Ka Panchnaama 2, he entertained us with stories on the flip side of love and relationships where men were at the receiving end of the flippancy of the women.
In Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, director Luv Ranjan brings to viewers a fresh take on love and relationships with an element of bromance thrown in between. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is a story about two brothers from another mother, Sonu (Kartik Aaryan) and Titu (Sunny Singh) and Sweety (Nushrat Bharucha), who acts as a spoiler in their relationship.
Titu is the sanskaari boy while Sonu is a street smart guy who is aware of all the tricks of love.Everything is fine in life of Sony and Titu till Titus family starts finding a suitable girl for him.Sonu, who has been his best friend at every juncture of Titus life and who has found a family in his parents, is now scared of losing him to a girl.
The film is about the happenings among the trio of Sweety, Sonu and Tutu.The film seems to be an extension of the two films in the Pyar Ka Panchnaama series in that the director delves at length on the flippant and crafty nature of women in relationship with men.
For instance, the film shows Sonu indulging in attempts to paint Sweety as greedy and one who is after Titus wealth.Infact , attempts by Sonu to paint Sweety as greedy leave the audience laughing in the aisles. As the director, Luv Ranjan gives us another hilarious romcom after the Pyar Ka Panchnaama series.
In terms of performances, Karthik Aryan is clearly the best of the lot. After his monologue in Pyar Ka Panchnaama 2, Karthik again impresses with his comic timing. He also manages to look quite hot in the film, which is likely to leave the female audiences drooling over him.
As the sanskaari Tutu, Sunny Singh comes across as the epitome of innocence with his innocent boy look evoking a sharp laugh among the audience. .As the greedy Sweety, Nushrat Bharucha does an excellent job. She exudes the required style and attitude for the role.Others like Alok Nath and Virendra Saxena too impress, especially with their ability to evoke laughs.
The music of the film is another USP with many foot tapping songs. Hitesh Soniks background music is another highlight and carries forward the story.Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is another hilarious romcom from Luv Ranjan with brilliant performances by the cast.
Viral: Kareena Kapoor's Son Taimur Ali Khan Can't Take His Eyes Off Dad, Saif Ali Khan
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 23 February 2018
Taimur Ali Khan's recent picture of him looking at his father Saif Ali Khan's photo has gone viral. Dressed in a blue t-shirt with his curly hair tied in a cute pony, Taimur looked adorable. The picture was shared by one of Kareena's fan clubs. Taimur, who has always been one of the Internet's favourite star kids, surely knows how to get attention - just sit back and look cute. His pictures usually make it to the top trends, even if he's simply peeking over his nanny's shoulder.
Take a look at Taimur's picture:
Whenever Taimur is spotted with parents or his nanny, he instantly gets followed by the paparazzi, something which really annoys his grandfather Randhir Kapoor. During a media interaction Mr Kapoor said: "Every day, I get up in the morning and I see a picture of my grandson in the newspapers. Now everyone recognises his maid also! That's because of the paparazzi," reported Filmfare. Taimur is Saif Ali Khan's third child and first with wife Kareena Kapoor.
Even Kareena doesn't want his son Taimur to be 'looked upon as a star kid'. "I just don't want him to be looked upon as a star kid. I want him to grow up as normally as possible. I want to let him be just the way he is," PTI quoted Kareena as saying.
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COMMENTSKareena is awaiting the release of Veere Di Wedding, her first film since Taimur's birth.
Deepika Padukone And Irrfan Khan's Film With Vishal Bhardwaj Delayed. Here's Why
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 22 February 2018
Piku co-stars Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan's next film with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has been delayed due to both the stars' health issues. Mr Bhardwaj, who is directing the untitled film announced it on Facebook and wrote, "I am pushing back the film by a few months as both of my lead actors are down with different health problems. Irrfan is down with jaundice and it will take him a few weeks to recover and Deepika Padukone's back problem which had previously developed during the shooting of "Padmaavat" has now resurfaced." On Wednesday, news agency IANS reported that Irrfan Khan has been advised complete bed rest and his team is working on 'rescheduling all his commitments.'
Meanwhile, Deepika was reportedly spotted with a bandage on her neck at the airport earlier this week. She suffered a neck injury while filming "Padmaavat" last April.
"Her role in the film is very physically demanding and the doctor has advised her not to do any strenuous work for a couple of months. In the past few weeks, I felt like I was back in the days of Maqbool while prepping with them. Deepika and Irrfan's look tests have come out exceptionally well, nothing like you've seen before, and it took me a moment to recognize them when I saw the test photographs. I want both of them to be strong and fit before we start the film," read Vishal Bhardwaj's Facebook post.
Is the film a biopic on mafia queen Rahima Khan (Sapna Didi)? No, it's not. Vishal Bhardwaj dismissed the reports suggesting the same and wrote, "I would also like to clear that the film is still untitled and is not based on Rahima Khan/Sapna Didi's life. Yes, it's a take-off from the story Femme Fatale from Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai but as we worked on this idea, the story and screenplay have taken on a new identity and shape which is nowhere close to the above-mentioned names. Hence, it's definitely not a biopic
Sridevi Shares Pic From Mohit Marwah's Wedding. Missing - Janhvi
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 21 February 2018
Actor Mohit Marwah is now a married man. The Raag Desh actor married his longtime girlfriend Antara Motiwala on Tuesday in a lavish ceremony hosted in Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah in UAE. Sridevi was one of the first in the Kapoor family to introduce 'Antara Marwah' to the world. In the picture Sridevi instagrammed, Antara and Mohit posed with her, Boney Kapoor and Khushi. Antara looked pretty in a pastel shade embellished lehenga festooned with kundan, emerald and pearl jewellery. Mohit looked dashing in an ivory sherwani. Sridevi wore a beautiful green embellished lehenga with banarasi dupatta. Khushi looked gorgeous too. Sridevi's elder daughter Janhvi skipped the wedding festivities probably because of her work-in-progress film Dhadak
Filmmaker Karan Johar also shared a selfie with the newly-weds. "With the most gorgeous couple. Bless them with years of happiness and love." Take a look at Karan Johar's post here
Karan also posted a picture with his 'shaadi poser' partner, Shweta Bachchan. "With the gorgeous Shweta Bachchan at the #antumoh (the wedding hashtag) Shaadi," he captioned the picture. Karan Johar wore a fabulous achkan designed by Manish Malhotra.
Several fan clubs shared glimpses of the baaraat procession. Of course, Anil Kapoor was the life and soul of the baaraat with his scintillating dance moves
Maheep Kapoor shared the initial few pictures of the baaraat where her daughter Shanaya performed some rituals to be carried out by the groom's sister
Mohit is the elder son of Reena and Sandeep Marwah (founder of Noida Film City). Reena is Boney, Anil and Sanjay Kapoor's sister. His younger brother Akshay is a producer. Sonam, Rhea, Arjun, Anshula, Shanaya, Khushi and Janhvi Kapoor are Mohit's cousins.
Mohit Marwah made his Bollywood debut in 2014's Fugly and he was last seen in Tigmanshu Dhulia's Raag Desh. Mohit has also featured in short films such as Strangers In The Night (directed by Shakun Batra) and Love Shots - The Big Date
Ameesha Patel Trolled For Photoshoot Pics. Why Are We Not Surprised?
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 20 February 2018
Actress Ameesha Patel posted pictures from a photoshoot on Instagram, which have gone viral because of some vile comments posted by social media trolls. The 41-year-old actress shared two similar pictures from a recent photoshoot, which were bombarded with appalling comments. Some Instagram users slut-shamed her for 'posing without clothes' while some comments read: "Pull that bed sheet further down and reveal more." Some Internet users also called the Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai actress "aunty" adding, "(She is) now old with bags under her eyes."
Ameesha Patel debuted opposite Hrithik Roshan in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai in 2000. It seemed like Ameesha was in the game to stay after her second film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha rocked the box office. Soon her success graph deteriorated with projects such as Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (also with Hrithik) and Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai, but there were occasional hits like Humraaz and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Her upcoming projects are Bhaiyyaji Superhitt and Desi Magic.
COMMENTSIn the last few years Ameesha featured in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In 2016, she snubbed actress Pooja Hegde, who debuted opposite Hrithik Rohan in the ill-fated Mohenjo Daro, saying: "I'm sorry that Mohenjo Daro didn't do well, and the plan was to come with a newcomer, but every film cannot achieve the same success as Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai."
Before that it was reported by mid-day that she flipped out at a journalist who called her by her name, saying, "Call me Ameesha ji."
BAFTA 2018: Complete List Of Winners
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 19 February 2018
Crime drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won maximum prizes at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, which took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday. (Monday morning in India). Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri swept five trophies including Best Film, Best British Film and the Best Actress for Frances McDormand. Gary Oldman's Darkest Hour won two awards, including the Best Actor prize for his performance as Winston Churchill in the film. Both Frances McDormand and Gary Oldman won a Golden Globe last month and have also been nominated in the Best Actress, Actor category respectively at next month's Oscars. The Shape of Water took three trophies, including Best Director for Guillermo Del Toro.
COMMENTSHere's the list of winners for BAFTA 2018:
Best Film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Outstanding British Film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Director: Guillermo Del Toro, The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins, Blade Runner 2049
Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Adapted Screenplay: James Ivory, Call Me by Your Name
British Short Film: Cowboy Dave British Short Animation: Poles Apart
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer:I Am Not a Witch, Rungano Nyoni (writer/director), Emily Morgan (producer)
Special Visual Effects: Blade Runner 2049Best Animated Film: Coco
Best Film Not In The English Language: The HandmaidenBest Documentary: I Am Not Your Negro
Best Production Design: Paul Austerberry, Jeff Melvin, Shane Vieau, The Shape of Water
Best Editing: Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss Baby Driver
Best Sound: Dunkirk
Best Original Music: The Shape of Water
Best Costume Design: Phantom Thread
Best Make Up & Hair: Darkest Hour
The Ee Rising Star Award (Voted For By Public): Daniel Kaluuya
Pari Trailer: Who's Afraid Of Anushka Sharma? You Will Be
NEW DELHI:MMNN: 16 February 2018
The trailer of Anushka Sharma's upcoming film Pari was just unveiled and it is every bit horrifying. The trailer opens on Anushka Sharma and a spooky voice echoes in the background. "Jiss kaam ke liye bani hai na, vo kaam jaan jao ho gaya," is heard. Later, Parambrata Chatterjee's character is introduced, who rescues Anushka Sharma, against the wishes of his mother. He asks her, "Kaun maarna chahta hai?" Her reply - "Vo aadmi." Enter Rajat Kapoor. It seems that Anushka plays the role of a possessed girl. However, it is unclear whether she will star in a double role in the film. Now, coming back to Pari trailer. As mentioned earlier, it is surely not for the faint-hearted and it 'isn't a 'fairy tale.'
Pari is Anushka's third film as a producer, after NH10 and Phillauri. The film is directed by Prosit Roy. She co-owns the production house Clean Slate Films with her brother Karnesh Sharma. Actor Parambrata Chatterjee is best-known for his role in Vidya Balan's Kahaani.
Anushka has earlier scared the heck out of us with some spooky screamers and posters of Pari. Like these:
Pari releases on March 2 (during Holi). Ready for it? After Pari, Anushka Sharma has Zero and Sui Dhaaga lined-up for release.