Anushka Sharma & Virat Kohli are blessed with a baby boy: “we welcome Akaay and Vamika’s little brother”

New Delhi:MMNN:21 Feb 2024
After lot of speculations and the rumour mills doing the rounds, the cat is finally out of the bag and it has been officially announced that Virat and Anushka Sharma have been blessed with a baby boy. The duo shared a post on their social media handle and announced it with a letter.
It read, “With abundant happiness and our hearts full of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15th February. we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika's little brother into this world! We seek your blessings and good wishes in this beautiful time in our lives. We request you to kindly respect our privacy at this time. Love 8 Gratitude. Virat & Anushka.”
In other news, recent cricket developments took center stage when Virat Kohli unexpectedly withdrew his participation from the initial two cricket test matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released an official statement on January 22, disclosing Kohli's request forwithdrawal from the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons. This unexpected decision stirred speculation and left fans curious about the circumstances surrounding the former India captain's absence.

New Trailer For Fast X Screeches Online

New Delhi:MMNN:20 April 2023
If you expect one thing from a new Fast & Furious trailer, make it FAMILY. Another? Physics mown down in a blaze of speeding car tires or exploding motors. Vin Diesel growling something. A giant threat to our heroes that can only be faced in demolition derby fashion and, yes, FAMILY again. The new look at Fast X has screeched in
Having fought off worries about franchise fatigue (Fast 9 didn’t hit at the box office quite as well as some of its predecessors) and behind-the-scenes drama (veteran director Justin Lin departed the movie after 10 days of shooting), Fast X is being described as the beginning of the end of the road, since the 11th main movie is the big finale for the franchise. Assuming you believe that…
So what's the story this time? Official synopsis time!
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything — and everyone — that Dom loves, forever.
In 2011’s Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist, Dom and his crew took out nefarious Brazilian drug kingpin Hernan Reyes and decapitated his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. What they didn’t know was that Reyes’ son, Dante (Jason Momoa), witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay the ultimate price.
Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged, and old enemies will resurface. But everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry) is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.
The regulars are joined by the likes of Brie Larson, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson and Rita Moreno, and Universal are clearly happy with the job that incoming director Louis Leterrier was able to achieve, as he's returning for the next one.
Fast X is due in cinemas on 19 May. FAMILY.

Priyanka Chopra says she was 'tired of politics' in Bollywood; 'I had beef with people'

New Delhi:MMNN:28 March 2023
Priyanka Chopra moved to Hollywood and made India proud. She is among the rare few from India who could establish her name and attain massive fame in the west. Not that she had less of a career in Bollywood but when Hollywood knocked, she grabbed the opportunity instantly. In a recent interview, Priyanka Chopra spilled beans on why she decided to go away from Bollywood. She said that she was looking for a way out of the industry as she was tired of politics.
Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra opens up about her move to seek work in the US On the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Priyanka Chopra was asked what made her seek work in the US. To this, Priyanka Chopra said that Acharia of Desi Hits approached her for a music video and career in the US while she was shooting for Saat Khoon Maaf. She described that period as when she was looking for a way out of Bollywood. She added that she was tired of politics in the industry and that she needed a break from it. She was quoted saying, "I was being pushed into a corner in the industry (Bollywood). I had people not casting me, I had beef with people, I am not good at playing that game so I kind of was tired of the politics and I said I needed a break." She further said that the music video gave her the opportunity to go beyond boundaries, and not crave films that she did not get that required her to 'schmooze certain clubs and cliques of people'. She felt that she had worked for a long time in Bollywood and she needed to do it.

Priyanka Chopra's Oscar Dress On Google Year In Review List, 'Thanks For The Love,' She Tweets

New Delhi:MMNN:15 Dec. 2016
Priyanka Chopra's annus mirabilis continues, even as 2016 winds up. Google has released its annual lists of top searches for the year and Priyanka Chopra - specifically, Priyanka's Oscar dress - is on one of them. Earlier this year, Priyanka attended and presented at the Oscars, winning the red carpet in a lacy white strapless Zuhair Murad gown.
Google reports that it was the seventh most searched Oscar outfit - Oscar fashion is a category on its own in the Google searches. The 34-year-old actress, surely one of the most social media savvy celebrities around, posted a thank you note on her accounts on Wednesday night. "Thanks for the love," she wrote. You're welcome, Priyanka.
The most-searched Oscar dress this year was Jennifer Garner's black Versace. Between her and Priyanka, there are - Jennifer Lawrence and Charlize Theron in Dior, Rachel McAdams in August Getty, Brie Larson in Gucci and Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton. Cate Blanchett in Givenchy, Kate Winslet in Ralph Lauren and Olivia Wilde in Valentino round of the top 10.
The Oscars weren't Priyanka Chopra's only international red carpet success - we particularly loved the red pleated chiffon Jason Wu dress she wore to the Emmys, where she also presented an award. Priyanka has been all but claimed by America this year - she currently lives and works in New York, filming the second season of her show Quantico.
She won a People's Choice Award this year for her performance as FBI-turned-CIA agent Alex Parrish and is nominated for a second time at the People's Choice Awards coming up next year.
Priyanka also filmed her Hollywood debut in Baywatch, which releases next year and in which she plays the villain opposite Dwayne Johnson. She was placed #8 on Forbes' list of 2016's highest paid TV actresses.
At home, Priyanka Chopra was awarded the Padma Shri this year. She also starred in the film Jai Gangaajal and produced Marathi movie Ventilator.
Meantime, Anita Dongre was the seventh most-searched designer, mostly because Kate Middleton wore one of her dresses when visiting India this year.

Big B, Sunny hot favourites to win PETA's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity contest

Mumbai:MMNN:5 Dec. 2015
Amitabh Bachchan and Sunny Leone are leading the votes tally in PETA's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity Contest 2016 that is currently underway, with other vegetarian stars like Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez and R Madhavan also not far behind.
Audiences can vote for their favourite vegetarian celebrity on PETAIndia.com and the results are slated to be announced at the end of this year, which would not just be based on the votes but also on several other factors.
Sunny, who makes her debut on this list, stated on social media, "[T]ook me a while [to] come [to] terms with [vegetarianism]...but I have seen things I can't erase from my mind. Which made me stop eating meat".
"These hot stars prove that vegetarian eating is not only kind to animals but also great for the body!" says PETA India Associate Director of Celebrity and Public Relations Sachin Bangera. "There's nothing sexier than a fit body and a kind heart. Stars swear by it."
The recent video titled 'Glass Walls', narrated by R Madhavan, had depicted the poor conditions animals have to face in slaughterhouses before they are eventually slaughtered. The United Nations too had stated that raising animals for food is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global" and that harmful effects of climate change can be averted by a shift to a vegan diet on a global level.

Yuvraj Singh, Hazel Keech tie the knot: All the photos from their gurudwara wedding

MMNN:1 Dec. 2016
The bride wore red. So did the groom.

And over Wednesday afternoon - 30 November 2016 for those of you who like to be precise - cricketer Yuvraj Singh and actress Hazel Keech tied the knot in a gurudwara ceremony that capped a romance which began in 2014.

If the engagement was in Bali, then the couple chose Chandigarh as the destination for their wedding, performed as per Sikh rituals at the Fategarh Sahib Gurudwara. This is only the first ceremony for the couple - a wedding as per Hindu rites will take place in Goa over 2 December, followed by a grand reception in Delhi.
Firstpost brought you all the details from Yuvraj and Hazel's pre-wedding celebrations - the mehendi, sangeet/cocktail party where the Indian national cricket team headed by Virat Kohli showed up - and the wedding itself, which turned out to be a star-studded affair.

Yuvraj Singh-Hazel Keech wedding: Indian national cricket team kickstarts celebrations The Yuvraj Singh-Hazel Keech wedding celebration is a star-studded affair.
The couple was to reach the gurudwara by 12 pm; however, thanks to the chaos outside their hotel as fans crowded around for a look, they finally left only at 3 pm. After the ceremony, Yuvraj and Hazel reached their new house at Mansa Devi Complex, Sector 4, at 8 pm, reported The Tribune.

Now, a few images from inside Yuvi and Hazel's wedding have also been released on social media.
Couturier JJ Valaya - whose creations both Yuvraj and Hazel wore for their big day, as well as the pre-wedding celebrations, posted this portrait of the couple in their bridal outfits.

Biography of Phogat to be launched ahead of 'Dangal' release

Mumbai:MMNN:24 Nov. 2015
An authorised biography on wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, 'Akhada' by sports journalist Saurabh Duggal, will be launched a week preceding the mid-December release of Aamir Khan starrer 'Dangal', based on the life of Phogat.
"We've wanted to publish Mahavir's amazing story ever since we learned of his remarkable journey and that of his daughters and nieces. Our hunt for a biographer who could do this story justice led us to literary agent Kanishka Gupta who introduced us to Saurabh Duggal, a sports journalist who lives and breathes the Olympics," said Poulomi Chatterjee, Editor-in-Chief of Hachette India, the publisher of the biography.
"Work on 'Akhada' began at once. We are so proud to publish this spectacularly inspiring book that shows us what can be achieved when we refuse to be defined by narrow societal expectations and aim for the stars. This year's Olympics has kindled a conversation on our exemplary female athletes and 'Akhada' lifts the veil on the story of our best women wrestlers. We hope Mahavir's dedication to the sport he loves and his steadfast conviction in his daughters' abilities will inspire new stories of achievement in India," she added.
'Akhada' tells the remarkable story of a man of tremendous fortitude, of a father who fought against all odds to give his daughters a future they could not have dreamed for themselves.
"It is often a struggle to get wrestling the attention and recognition it deserves in India, particularly women's wrestling. If my daughters' and my story, narrated through this book and adapted by Aamir Khan in 'Dangal', can help wrestlers get their due, I will be extremely happy.
I hope this inspires many others - both men and women - to get into this sport and make a name for themselves, as well as motivates parents to believe in their daughters," commented Phogat.

Brad Pitt cleared by FBI in child abuse case with 'no charges'

MMNN:23 Nov. 2015
Brad Pitt has officially steered clear of investigation made by the 'Federal Bureau of Investigation' concerning an alleged child abuse a couple of months ago. The FBI is no longer investigating the 52-year-old actor regarding his involvement in an alleged incident with a child aboard a private plane on September 15.
A statement released by an FBI spokesperson reads, "In response to allegations made following a flight within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States which landed in Los Angeles carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation.
" Adding, "No charges have been filed in this matter."
Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt citing 'irreconcilable differences' and sought custody the former couple's all six children.
Accordingly, the kids will remain with their mother while continuing 'therapeutic visits' with their father.
At this point, Pitt has seen his children twice since. Both A-listners recently made their way back into the spotlight after the very public split.
While Jolie appeared in a video for the 'International Criminal Court' in support of a recent policy regarding children, Pitt hit the red carpet for his latest film 'Allied' with co-star Marion Cotillard.

At Geeta Phogat's Wedding, What Aamir Khan Said About Currency Ban

New Delhi :MMNN:21 Nov. 2016
Aamir Khan is a man who chooses his words with great care, more so after his remarks on 'intolerance' last year provoked an absolute torrent of recriminations and angry protests. Nobody should be surprised, then, by what the 51-year-old actor said when he was asked about the currency ban last weekend, at the wedding of wrestler Geeta Phogat in Haryana.
Geeta is a daughter of former wrestler Mahavir Phogat, played by Aamir Khan in upcoming film Dangal. The wedding, held in Balali village in Haryana on Sunday, was attended by the entire cast of the film, led by Aamir who was not only guest of honour but also participated in proceedings as a member of the family.
Aamir, who is very close to the Phogats, offered to gift Geeta her wedding outfit - she refused, saying his presence was gift enough - and personally supervised the buying of gifts for both the bride's and groom's families. So when he appeared to address the press, wearing a red safa and black Nehru jacket, reporters asked him about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's currency ban. Diplomatically, Aamir said, "I will not comment on this matter."
He did, however, say that it hadn't been difficult to implement wedding preparations. "As far as cash for the wedding is concerned, I had no issues. All my cash is in the bank and payments were made in cheque," he told reporters outside the wedding venue in Balali, Haryana.
Some two weeks ago, PM Modi sprung a massive surprise on the country by declaring all 500 and 1000 rupee notes invalid. Severe restrictions have been placed on the exchange of old notes and on the withdrawal of cash from banks and ATMs.
Geeta Phogat's wedding, for which Aamir skipped the Coldplay concert in Mumbai on Saturday, was a grand affair. Aamir was pictured with the bride, her father and her family as well as his co-stars from Dangal - TV star Sakshi Tanwar, who plays his wife and actress Sanya Malhotra, who plays Geeta. Fatima Sana Shaikh, who features as Geeta's sister Babita was not present at the wedding.
Dangal, expected to be one of this year's biggest films, tells the story of how Mahavir Phogat defied convention and disapproval from his village to train his daughters in his chosen sport. Geeta and Babita Phogat are two of India's most celebrated wrestlers, winning medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Aamir, who plays Mahavir Phogat as a young and middle-aged man, said, "We portrayed the village as truthfully as possible." Dangal was mostly shot around Ludhiana in Punjab.
An Aamir Khan film, coming as it does once in a year sometimes two, is almost always an event that is worth the wait. Watch Dangal, however, for the performances of the young actresses playing Geeta and Babita, says the actor.
"If I have to rate our performance in the film, I would say that these kids performed 10 times better than what I did. No, I am not exaggerating anything. Once the film releases, the audience will understand. I have been working in the industry for last 25 years, but these kids are highly talented," he said.
The younger versions of Geeta and Babita Phogat are played by child actors Suhani Bhatnagar and Zaira Wasim.
Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is the year's second wrestling film after Salman Khan's Sultan. It opens on December 23.

Five decades and 200 films later, Jackie Chan finally wins Oscar

Los Angeles :MMNN:14 Nov. 2016
When Jackie Chan saw an Oscar at Sylvester Stallone's house 23 years ago, he said that was the moment he decided he wanted one.
On Saturday at the annual Governors Awards, the Chinese actor and martial arts star finally received his little gold statuette, an honorary Oscar for his decades of work in film.
"After 56 years in the film industry, making more than 200 films, after so many bones, finally," Chan, 62, quipped at the star-studded gala dinner while holding his Oscar.
The actor recalled watching the ceremony with his parents and his father always asking him why he didn't have Hollywood's top accolade despite having made so many movies.
He praised his hometown Hong Kong for making him proud to be Chinese," and thanked his fans, saying they were the reason "I continue to make movies, jumping through windows, kicking and punching, breaking my bones."
The actor was introduced by his Rush Hour co-star Chris Tucker, actress Michelle Yeoh and Tom Hanks, who referred to him as Jackie 'Chantastic' Chan.
Hanks said it was especially gratifying to be able to acknowledge Chan's work because martial arts and action comedy films were two genres often overlooked during awards season.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, hosts of the annual ceremony, also bestowed honorary Oscars on British film editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and prolific documentarian Frederick Wiseman.
The evening was attended by Hollywood's elite, including Denzel Washington, Lupita Nyong'o, Nicole Kidman, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Amy Adams and Dev Patel.
Stalmaster, 88, credited with securing career-defining roles for actors such as Jeff Bridges, Andy Garcia, Christopher Reeve and John Travolta, is the first casting director to receive an Oscar.
Coates, 90, who won the film editing Oscar for 1962's Lawrence of Arabia and has edited more than 50 films, said she shared her honorary Oscar "with all the unsung heroes" of filmmaking.
Wiseman, 86, whose documentaries include 1970's Hospital, 1987's Blind and last year's In Jackson Heights, said: "I think it's as important to document kindness, ability and generosity of spirit as it is to show cruelty, banality and indifference," he said.

Brangelina divorce leaves Hollywood, fans shocked

MMNN:22 Sept. 2016
Even as the guessing game is on as to what caused the split of Hollywood's power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt -- his marijuana and alcohol use, a possible affair with French actress Marion Cottilard or the irreconcilable differences that Jolie stated -- members of the film fraternity and their fans across the globe have expressed shock, sadness and sarcasm.
They had been in a relationship for long, but wed in August 2014.
According to Hollywood news website TMZ, Jolie cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split, and legal documents reveal she's demanding physical custody of their six children, with visitation rights for Pitt.
"I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time," Pitt said in a statement to People magazine.
If another TMZ report, quoting a source close to Pitt, is to be believed, he will fight hard for joint physical custody of the children.
Multiple sources are conjecturing different reasons for their split, but Jolie's father and actor Jon Voight is sure "something very serious must have happened" that made Jolie take this step.
Ever since the split news broke, hashtags #Brangelina, #Brangelexit, #Brangelinacheat and #BrangelinaBreakup started trending on Twitter. Their star friends, including George Clooney, have reacted.
"That's a sad story and unfortunate for a family," said Clooney.
On Twitter, one user rued: "I feel like my parents have split up Brangelina. Another 'genuinely sad' user wrote: "They seemed more than happy, and so accepting and inclusive with their kids. Sad day. Brangelina."
The couple met on the set of their spy thriller 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' in 2003, while Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston. He broke up with Aniston in 2005.
Later, Jolie revealed that it was Pitt's relationship with her son Maddox, who had 'out of the blue called him dad', that encouraged their togetherness.
In July 2005, Jolie finalised the adoption of her second child, Zahara, from Ethiopia - as a single parent, and six months later, she revealed she was expecting her first child with Pitt, who also adopted Maddox and Zahara. Shiloh joined the expanding brood.
Less than one year later, the couple announced yet another bundle of joy -- they adopted son Pax, then 3, from Vietnam.
The duo also took their children -- Pax and Zahara -- for a boat ride during their brief and highly publicised stay in the Indian city Mumbai in 2006, while Jolie was in India to shoot for Michael Winterbottom's 'A Mighty Heart'.
In February 2008, the couple confirmed that they were expecting a baby once again -- and they happened to be twins. The family welcomed Knox and Vivienne in August 2008 in Nice, France. It was after welcoming their fifth and sixth children, the couple became slightly more public about their relationship.
In 2008, Pitt said that they had no plans to get married until "it's legal for everyone else. However, in 2011, he revealed that their children were pressuring them to make things official. Still, Jolie maintained they weren't in a rush to tie the knot.
Their bond strengthened when Jolie went through a preventative double mastectomy after genetic tests showed that she had a high risk of developing breast cancer.
After spending years of knowing and loving each other and raising a family, they finally walked the aisle in an intimate ceremony on August 23, 2014. The fact that the children were an important part of their lives was visible when part of Jolie's wedding dress was scribbled with the kids' artwork.
In December, the couple released 'By the Sea'. Though the movie followed the disintegration of a marriage, Jolie revealed that they were stronger than ever.
The Pitt family was last seen together in public in July, when they stopped into a Jamba Juice store in Los Angeles with Shiloh.

Swara Bhaskar lauds Katrina Kaif's Smita Patil Memorial Award win

NEW DELHI:MMNN:19 Sept. 2016
Katrina Kaif has been facing a lot of negative criticism online, after news broke of the actress winning the Smita Patil Memorial award for her contribution to the Bollywood film industry.
Critics strongly opposed this win, saying that there were many other actresses who were 'more deserving' of the award. Netizen feel 'Nil Battey Sannata' actress Swara Bhaskar and 'Parched' star Radhika Apte fit the bill for the award. However, in a column, Swara hit back at haters and lauded Katrina's win, and even went on to say that 'if Katrina is as successful as she is today, then she worked damn hard for it'.
In her column, Swara writes, "Whether or not Katrina Kaif is a good actor notwithstanding, there is no denying that she is a hugely hard-working, disciplined and diligent person. It reflects in her work. And any artist of any field will tell you that hard work is something to be respected."
She adds further that the Indian audience's fascination towards 'fair-skinned beauties', cannot be held against the actress, as her films with superstars prove to perform well at the box office. She says, "If Katrina Kaif captured our collective imagination the way Aishwarya Rai had done a generation earlier, that's not her fault, like it was not Ms. Rai's back then. If Indians are captured by a certain kind of fair-skinned beauty and Indian audiences apparently do not need their heroines to act or speak the language that they purportedly act in, that's not the actor's fault or problem."
Swara even went on to question if Katrina was at the receiving end, only because she is an 'easy target'. She writes, "Is Katrina Kaif an easy target because she is a beautiful, hugely successful woman, who speaks with an accent, reeks of elitism and snobbery (though many who know her swear that she is by personality type intensely private, as a person), seems impermeable and most importantly, just does not quit?"
Director Karan Johar, who also happens to be Kat's good friend applauded Swara for her column and her attitude towards the entire hullabaloo. Actor Prateik Babbar also stood up for the 'Baar Baar Dekho' actress saying it was 'good news' as he has heard that Katrina is a hardworking actress.
On the work front, Katrina will be seen next in 'Tiger Zinda Hai' opposite Salman Khan. Rumours buzzing around town also state that she has bagged the leading lady's role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Anand L. Rai's next.

Haryanvi singer Sapna Choudhary attempts suicide

NEW DELHI:MMNN:5 Sept. 2016
Haryanvi singer Sapna Choudhary, who is accused of insulting a particular caste through a song at a stage show, allegedly attempted suicide at her Chhawla residence here on Sunday morning claiming that she was being harassed online.
According to the police, the condition of the singer is now stable.
A note purportedly written by the 21-year-old accuses one Satpal Tanwar of abetting her suicide by running an online campaign against her and even casting aspersions on her character, the police said.
"I am in this profession to earn a livelihood...The reason for my step is only and only Satpal Tanwar. With folded hands I appeal to those in the Haryana Cabinet to not trouble my mother after this and ensure the strictest possible punishment for Tanwar [sic]," said the note.
Satpal is the man on whose complaint the Haryana Police had booked Sapna under the SC And ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in July.
Bone of contention
The basis of the complaint was a song Sapna sung during a stage show in February. Certain lines in the song had objectionable content as they were considered disrespectful towards a particular caste. In her suicide note, she has also expressed her displeasure and disappointment over the registration of the case claiming that the song "Ragini" sung by her had been sung by other artistes in the past as well.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) Surender Kumar said that around 6 a.m. family members of Sapna (she lives with her mother and a younger brother) noticed froth coming out of her mouth and she was continuously vomiting.
"When they asked her, she told them that she had consumed rat poison. The family then rushed her to Cliffton Hospital in Chhawla in south-west Delhi where she is currently admitted. The family informed us around 8-30 a.m. after which we started our probe," said Mr. Kumar.
Mr. Kumar said Satpal had sent objectionable message to Sapna on WhatsApp and Facebook.
A copy of the six-page suicide note in Hindi has been sent to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar as well, said the police.

Anushka Sharma's 'no questions about Virat Kohli' stance is an important one: Here's why

New Delhi:MMNN:11 Aug. 2016
There's a newer, braver breed of stars in Bollywood - they're not afraid of being forthright, they don't wrap up their thoughts in PR-approved phrases, and their articulation isn't hindered by what others might perceive it as. Anushka Sharma is one among those.
The actress features on the cover of Filmare this month, in a story titled 'Take That'. In the piece, she talks about her Rs 300-crore grosser Sultan, working with all three Khans - Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh, her second home production Phillauri and charting a successful career in the film industry. What she doesn't talk about, is rumoured beau Virat Kohli.
In fact, Sharma tells the interviewer right at the outset why she won't talk about her relationship with Kohli; she learned the hard way that being open didn't help.
Cut to late-2014, when Kohli had launched his apparel brand Wrogn.
During the press interactions at the launch event, Kohli voiced what had been the subject of much conjecture - he confirmed that he was dating Anushka Sharma. The cricket star put it in the most matter-of-fact way: If you see two people together all the time, it's fairly obvious that they are together, isn't it? he asked mediapersons.
He further added that since he and Sharma had made no attempt to hide that they were spending time together, they felt no need to put into words what must be fairly obvious.
Even as the couple were congratulated for being so open about their relationship - certainly not characteristic of their peers - the Sharma-Kohli relationship began to unravel.
When Team India lost the semifinal match in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015, Sharma - who was in the stands cheering for Kohli - was blamed for his lacklustre on-field showing. The actress was relentlessly trolled on social media.
The pressure perhaps was too much for the young couple, who were believed to have split up sometime in 2015.
By 2016, however, there were reports of a rapprochement.
The reconciliation talk gained traction when, once again, Kohli and Sharma were spotted in each other's company on various occasions. Last heard, the duo were together in St Lucia, where Kohli has been playing in the series against West Indies.
There have been stories aplenty about who was spotted where, and when.
Coming back to Anushka's interview with Filmfare, such stories, she says, are the exact reason why she doesn't wish to discuss her personal life with the press anymore:

"I was open about my relationship because I thought that's me handling something maturely and I expected people also to handle it maturely. But I feel not everyone knows how to do that. All they are interested is in scoops."

Sharma further pointed out that once she opened up about her relationship with Kohli in 2015, she was subjected to all manner of juvenile questions about it - and the focus shifted entirely from her work (and this was the year when she won rave reviews for her turn in NH10, and for being one of the youngest actresses to turn producer), to her love life:

"The kind of things that happened last year...like the kind of questions they would ask. You are there to talk about a film and they want to ask you stupid-high-school-kids-questions like how did you meet each other."

Sharma - who has not just Phillauri but also Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil releasing during Diwali this year (the film goes head to head with Ajay Devgn's Shivaay) - has made her businesslike, no-nonsense stance evident in her photo shoot for the magazine cover as well: she poses in a pinstriped power suit, her sleeves are folded up to the elbow in the classic let's-get-to-work sign; but she hasn't styled her hair in the typically severe way that most shoots that have women wearing masculine suits do. It's worn soft and loose, and it's a wonderful display of her strength and feminity.
Sharma's words offer much food for thought - on the way female actors' personal lives are held up to not just inspection, but also judgment, in a way that is different from their male counterparts.
Alia Bhatt articulated the issue very well in a recent interview with Huffington Post.
"Because ours is a very real price to pay," she said, of why actresses couldn't afford to be open about their relationships:

"In India, you are a part of a society that's very judgmental. Here, girls having multiple boyfriends is still a huge-ass deal and something that is frowned upon. I mean, look at Taylor Swift. She's dated, like, everybody. But if she was here, she'd be totally shamed for making those choices. Her image and appeal would be very different. The reason actresses don't talk about their private lives is because in our society there is a lot of slut-shaming. Eventually, I have a responsibility and I have to protect myself."

For actresses, probing personal questions often come at the cost of no attention being paid - as Anushka Sharma says - to their work.
And it isn't limited just to Bollywood.
Amazing Spider-Man actress Emma Stone has spoken out about why she refuses to entertain questions concerning her relationship with Andrew Garfield. This was in mid-2015, when there were rumours that the couple, who had been dating for three years, had split up.

"See, I never talk about this stuff for this exact reason - because it's all so speculative and baseless. Once you start responding - once you're like, 'No, that's not true' - then they're like, 'Well, if we push enough, we'll get a comment, so let's see what else we can make up'," Stone said.

In January this year, there was a campaign called 'Ask Better Questions' whose aim was for female celebrities to be asked less sexist questions on the red carpet at events like the Academy Awards.
The campaign touched on what is a norm when interviewing female professionals from the entertainment (or even other) industries - questions about their bodies, relationships, marriage, babies, fashion and diets are par for the course. It isn't that the men don't get asked these questions; it is that they aren't asked these questions alone.
Top actors like Sharma, Bhatt and Stone (or personalities like Sania Mirza or Hillary Clinton) are firm about not just what they won't talk about- they're as clear about why they won't talk about those things.

BAFTA 2016: Indo-Brit director Asif Kapadia's documentary on Amy Winehouse wins

London:MMNN:15 Jan. 2016
Indo-British filmmaker Asif Kapadia has won the Bafta for his poignant documentary Amy on late British singer Amy Winehouse. Kapadia's Oscar-nominated film beat Cartel Land, He Named Me Malala, Listen to Me Marlon and Sherpa to win the honour.
The filmmaker in his acceptance speech paid tribute to the tragic star, who died in 2011 at the age of 27, following a battle with drug and alcohol.
"We really fell in love with her when making the film and our aim and mission was really to try and tell the truth about her. To show the world what an amazing person she was, how intelligent, how witty, how beautiful she was, before it all kind of got out of control and went a bit crazy," Kapadia said referring to the tabloid circus around Winehouse's life.
The film has been critics favourite since making its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Though the singer's father Mitch has distanced himself from the documentary, calling it a disappointment.
It is Kapadia's third trophy at the British Film Awards.
He previously won for sports documentary Senna in 2012 and Irrfan Khan-starrer The Warrior in 2003.
The 44-year-old filmmaker, later, took to Twitter to thank the crew of the film. "Thank you to all of the crew and all of our contributors who trusted in us #AMY #EEBAFTAs @AmyFilmUK @AmyTheMovie."

Rahul Dravid - One of cricket's finest gentlemen turns 43!

New Delhi:MMNN:11 Jan. 2016
Rahul Dravid: Ten quotes from cricket legends that prove he's one of a kind
Fans poured in their wishes for cricket legend Rahul Dravid as he turned 43 on Monday.
Dravid is not just regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation, but also as one of the finest human beings to have played the game.
Respected abroad and revered at home, India's U-19 cricketers must consider themselves very fortunate to be coached by Dravid.
On the occasion of his birthday, here are ten iconic quotes from legendary cricketers that show why Dravid is one of a kind.
Brian Lara: If I have to put anyone to bat for my life, it'll be Kallis or Dravid.
Glenn McGrath: If there was one Indian player who could get a direct entry into the famous Australian team of the late 90s, it would be Rahul Dravid.
Shoaib Akhtar: Even though Sachin is great, I have always found Rahul more solid and hard to get out. He has a solid defense and plays less shots than others. When a batsman plays less shots then it is tough to get him as he makes less mistakes.
Sourav Ganguly: He's a champion at everything. I really admire him. I am very impressed with the way he approaches life.
Matthew Hayden: All this going around is not aggression. If you want to see aggression on cricket field, look into Rahul Dravid's eyes.
Sunil Gavaskar: He brings a serenity to the crease that is so good for the nerves in the dressing-room. He also helps ease the tension away by the way he plays. He then proceeds to make the fastest of bowlers look easy to bat against. His economy of movement and the preciseness of his footwork gets him into position quickly, and so, the bowlers look quite clueless. The fastest of deliveries is played as if it's done every day and with minimum fuss.
Chris Gayle: Dravid Could play attacking cricket like me but i could never play like him.
VVS Laxman: I learn from and admire his consistency. We have been together for four-five years and it is a great learning process to bat with him. It definitely helps when I bat alongside Rahul, a guy who is so intense and is concentrating at all times kind of inspires you at the other end.
Brett Lee: If you can't get along with Dravid, you're struggling in life.
Sachin Tendulkar: He (Dravid) is a perfect role model for youngsters. He has set a great example for all of us to follow. We are all trying to follow that path.

Priyanka Chopra wins 'Favourite Actress' at People's Choice Awards 2016

Los Angeles:MMNN:7 Jan. 2016
Bollywood actress and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra made India proud yet again by winning a People's Choice Award for her international debut as FBI agent Alex Parish in American TV thriller series "Quantico". She is said to be the first South Asian actress to win the honour.
Priyanka was named the Favourite Actress in a New TV series at the gala on Wednesday night.
Ecstatic with the victory, she said: "I'd like to thank everyone who voted for 'Quantico'. It is my first year in the US, and to come to another country and actually get this kind of acceptance is I guess what America is all about.
"So, thank you for accepting me, thank you to my mom, my manager, the cast and crew, the writer, ABC...everyone. I'm really overwhelmed."
The 33-year-old star was given the trophy by Hollywood action star Vin Diesel, who also gave a touching tribute to his late "Fast and Furious" co-star Paul Walker by singing the song "See you again" during the course of the show.
"Furious 7", Walker's last film before he passed away in November 2013 in a car accident, was named the Favourite Movie and the Favourite Action Movie at People's Choice Awards 2016.
Other Hollywood celebrities who received awards at the ceremony held here at the Microsoft Theater were Ellen DeGeneres, Sandra Bullock, Chris Hemsworth, Johnny Depp and Meghan Trainor.
Hosted by Jane Lynch, the gala honoured the best in movies, TV and music, on the basis of public voting.
Melissa McCarthy, Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres were some of the other winners.
While McCarthy won the Favourite Comedic Movie Actress and Favourite Comedic TV Actress awards, DeGeneres took home the trophies for Favourite Daytime TV Host and Favourite Humanitarian.
The Favourite Female Artist and Favourite Pop artist awards were given to Swift.
In the movies section, Channing Tatum was chosen as the Favourite Movie Actor, while Bullock was announced as the Favourite Movie Actress. The Favourite Action Movie Actor award was taken by Chris Hemsworth and Shailene Woodley was honoured as the Favourite Action Movie Actress award.
Other winners included the Favourite Comedic Movie award to "Pitch Perfect 2", Favourite Comedic Movie Actor to Kevin Hart, Favourite Dramatic Movie to "The Martian", Favourite Dramatic Movie Actor to Johnny Depp, Favourite Dramatic Movie Actress to Dakota Johnson, Favourite Family Movie to "Minons" and Favorite Thriller Movie to "Taken 3".
On the small screen, the Favourite TV Show award was given to "The Big Bang Theory", which was even named the Favourite Network TV Comedy trophy.
The awards for Favourite Dramatic TV Actor and Actress were given to Taylor Kinney and Ellen Pompeo.
"Homeland", which featured Bollywood actress Nimrat Kaur, won the Favourite Premium Cable TV Show.
Other winners in the television category included Jim Parsons as Favourite Comedic TV Actor, "Grey's Anatomy" as Favourite Network TV Drama, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" as Favourite Cable TV Comedy, "Pretty Little Liars" as Favourite Cable TV Drama, Kevin Hart and Sasha Alexander as Favourite Cable TV Actor and Actress, Dwayne Johnson and Kristen Bell as Favourite Premium Cable TV Actor and Actress among others.
Meanwhile, in music categories, singer Ed Sheeran was given the award for Favourite Male Artist, American girl group Fifth Harmony was chosen as Favourite Group and singer Shawn Mendes was given the Favourite Breakout Artist award.
The Favourite Male and Female Country Artist awards went to Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood.
Singers Nicki Mnaj and Meghan Trainor were given the awards for Favourite Hip-Hop Artist and Favourite Album respectively. And Justin Bieber's hit single "What do you mean?" was announced as this year's Favourite Single.
Madonna was announced as the Favourite Music Icon.
Amongst other popular categories, Britney Spears was named as Favourite Social Media Celebrity; the Favourite Social Media Star award was taken by Matt Bellassai; Candy Crush Saga was picked as the Favourite Mobile Game, Super Smash Bros was named as Favourite Video Game and Connor Franta called the Favourite YouTube Star.
Apart from that, the People's Choice Awards 2016 also featured some power-packed performances by Jane Lynch, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Jason Derulo, Jordan Smith and David Foster.

Dilip Kumar's 'Tearful Moment' at Padma Awards Ceremony

Mumbai:MMNN:14 Dec. 2015
Ailing screen icon Dilip Kumar, known as the 'tragedy king of Bollywood', turned emotional when he was presented with Padma Vibhushan by Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday for his contribution to Hindi cinema spanning over six decades.
Dilip saab, 93, who shot to fame with Naya Daur, Jugnu, Andaz and Devdas, was given the country's second-highest civilian award comprising a medal, certificate and shawl in the presence of his 71-year-old wife Saira Banu.
Dressed in a black suit, the actor could barely open his eyes and was helped by Sairaji when the national honour was bestowed upon him. He felt 'happy and got emotional' at the recognition, Sairaji said.
Rajnath Singh, who presented the award to Dilip saab, said, "The Prime Minister asked me to go and personally present him with the Padma Vibhushan Award in Mumbai. When Padma Vibhushan was presented in Delhi, Dilipji couldn't make it due to health concerns."
Dilip Kumarji has contributed a lot to film industry. Considering that, we've presented him with Padma Vibhushan"
Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar were also present on the occasion.
Asked about Dilip Kumar's reaction after receiving the award, Sairaji later told reporters, "He has always been quiet about himself. He is happy, he smiled and there were tears in his eyes. He is an emotional and sensitive person. For him material things do not matter. He is a simple man, down to earth."
"I am very proud with the honour that the government has given him. I was emotional. I am the proudest wife. Apart from the award people always love and respect him, that matters the most. This is the biggest award," she added.
The announcement to honour Bollywood actors Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award was made by the government on the eve of Republic Day on January 25, 2015.
However, Dilip Kumar's ill-health did not allow him to attend the special function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in April when other awardees were honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee.
"It was kind of Rajnathji to come here personally and honour him. He could have sent anyone, but he came. When this function happened Dilip Kumar was not well. We couldn't go there. It's a great honour," Sairaji said.

Sooraj Pancholi made false promises to Jiah Khan, drove her to commit suicide: CBI chargesheet

Mumbai:MMNN:12 Dec. 2015
Bollywood actor Sooraj Pancholi made false promises to his girlfriend, model-actress Jiah Khan, and drove her to commit suicide in 2013, CBI has said in its chargesheet even as a Court here reprimanded the agency for leaking parts of the document to media.
"Investigations revealed that the note written by the deceased (Jiah) establishes that Sooraj ruined her life," said the charge sheet, filed in a Special Court two days ago.
The false promise given by Sooraj to Jiah in the note (suicide note), that "you promised me once we made it to one year we would get engaged" made her emotionally attached to the 25-year-old actor, it said.
"The wilful conduct of the accused drove the accused to commit suicide," the charge sheet said, adding hence Sooraj is liable to be punished for abetting her suicide.
"Jiah and Sooraj were in contact since September 2012 through Facebook, and used to stay together till her death (on June 3, 2013). They were also into physical relationship", it said.
The agency said handwritten notes of Jiah, which were subjected to forensic analysis, showed her mental status and circumstances and reason behind her suicide.
The CBI said the three-page suicide note was written by Jiah in which she has narrated her intimate relationship with Sooraj, the physical abuse, mental and physical torture she underwent.
"Though the note is not signed by Jiah or addressed to Sooraj, evidences on hand suggested that this incriminates Sooraj only."
Investigations have brought out that Jiah used to clean Sooraj's room, iron his clothes and stack them in a cupboard. She also bought decorative articles for Sooraj's flat and presented gifts to him.
The agency accused Sooraj of giving incomplete and fabricated statements on relevant issues. "They indicated he is concealing relevant information about the actual reason behind the incident," the charge sheet said.
"On the basis of forensic psychological assessment and behavioural analysis interview, it may be inferred that Sooraj is hiding some relevant information related to death/suicide of Jiah and did not want to disclose some content of last argument with her that may be a cause of her death."
No unknown person or any suspicious person was captured on CCTV footage obtained from the actor's building on the day of the incident, it said.
In the charge sheet, the CBI said in November 2012 Jiah informed Sooraj she has got injured and needed medication. He arranged Dr Anand Pal for treatment.
"Pal treated for the cut injury on her left hand and confirmed that this injury was a self inflicted one by Jiah."
The document also said Dr Rahul Datta treated Jiah for mental stress when she was in relationship with Jaydeep, her secretary.
"On December, 2, 2012, she was treated (again) by Dr Datta for the same problem but this time she did not disclose anybody's name for her stress and depression."
In January 2013, Sooraj and Jiah went to a hospital after she complained of stomach pain. She underwent some tests and reports confirmed she was pregnant.
"In the same month Jiah and Sooraj contacted Dr Datta to take advice for aborting pregnancy. Dr Datta prescribed some tables and after consuming it she started bleeding continuously," the charge sheet said.
Dr Datta later referred her to Dr Sejal Desai who executed a patient agreement form for medical abortion.
"After two days (around January 19, 2013) Dr Datta received a call from Sooraj, saying Jiah was sitting on the pot and half the stuff (foetus) was stuck inside. Dr Datta advised him to take her to the nearby hospital," it said.
Later again Sooraj called Dr Datta and said he helped her pull out the 'remaining stuff' (foetus).
The fact, the CBI said, was written by Jiah in her note saying, "I was scared of getting pregnant but I gave you myself completely. The pain you have caused me every day has destroyed every bit of me, destroyed my soul and I aborted our baby and it hurt me deeply."
On January 27, 2013, when she got a call from one Maneka Harsingani to collect costumes, Jiah told her she was having sever cramps on her leg. "When Harsingani asked Jiah about Sooraj, she said he left the place on seeing the suffering and pain," the CBI document said.
When Harsingani reached Jiah's place, she saw Sooraj and his servant present in the building premises with his car. Sooraj was helping Jiah sit in the car and the starlet was repeatedly saying 'I am sorry'.
"Harsingani stated that once she went to Jiah's house for dressing her up for some programme, she saw some injury marks on her neck and shoulders. When asked, the starlet said they were the marks of beating by Sooraj."
CBI said Jiah went to London in February 2013, and told her mother Rabiya about Sooraj. "Rabiya tried to convince her to keep away from Sooraj as he was concentrating on his (acting) career and was not suitable for Jiah. But Jiah tried to convince her mother showing messages sent by Sooraj that he was very caring while she was in Mumbai."
The document said after Jiah's return to Mumbai she told Sooraj her mother was not happy with their relationship. On April l3, 2013 when Rabiya came to Mumbai, Sooraj took her and Jiah to a hotel. In the hotel, the actor told Rabiya he was deeply in love with her daughter and wanted to marry her.
"Rabiya advised them to get engaged and when she asked Sooraj about his parents, he said his father (actor Aditya Pancholi) does not care about him and he was staying separately."
The charge sheet said on May 18, 2013, Jiah missed her plane. Later Sooraj came to Rabiya's residence and informed her about it and also said she was at his flat.
"Rabiya told Sooraj there was no problem as they liked each other. But Sooraj informed her Jiah was under depression as she had no work (film) and also said that due to depression once she tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrist. He told Rabiya he wants some space between him and Jiah as he is going to start his career."
A day before her suicide, Jiah told her mother a producer has selected her for a role in a Telugu movie. On the night of June 2, 2013 (a day before suicide), she received a bouquet from Sooraj for getting the role. Jiah thanked Sooraj but asked her watchman to throw the bouquet in the dustbin.
The charge sheet said some witnesses heard Jiah and Sooraj talking in a very angry manner that night. The next day Rabiya found Jiah hanging from the ceiling.
Meanwhile, the Special Women's Court today took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by CBI on December 9.
However, the Court rapped the Central agency for leaking to the media parts of the charge sheet. "How come the contents of the charge sheet is known to media even before I got to know about it," Judge A S Shende said.
"CBI is the only source from where it got leaked. This is a very serious thing. Be careful about it in future," she warned and later adjourned the matter till January 18.
Sooraj appeared before the court and collected a copy of the charge sheet.
Meanwhile, outside the court, Jiah's mother Rabiya told reporters he was not satisfied with the CBI charge sheet. "I am not happy with the chargesheet, there is much more to be revealed."
Jiah, an American citizen, was found dead at her Juhu home here on June 3, 2013. Police later arrested Sooraj on the basis of a six-page letter, purportedly written by the Bollywood starlet, and booked him for 'abetment of suicide'.
According to police, Jiah (25) was in a relationship with Sooraj, who was then trying to make a foothold in Bollywood, and made his screen debut with "Hero", which hit the theatres in September this year.
The Bombay High Court had subsequently granted bail to Sooraj. His bail application contended that the two were in a consensual relationship, and the letter was being misused by Jiah's mother.
In October 2013, Rabiya moved the High Court alleging that her daughter had been murdered and sought a CBI probe.
The suburban Juhu Police on January 16, 2014, filed a 447-page chargesheet in Andheri Magistrate's Court. The case was transferred to CBI in July 2014.

Birthday Special: Why Dilip Kumar is irreplaceable in Bollywood

MMNN:11 Dec. 2015
'Devdas', 'Madhumati', 'Daag', 'Ram aur Shyam', these are some of the trendsetter movies that formed the base of the 'Bollywood' we know today. What all these films have in common is a legendary actor who made these film memorable in the minds of every cinema lover. Dilip Kumar or Yusuf Khan, the tragedy king of Bollywood , created a niche for modern day Bollywood along with Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt. He was the first receiver of Filmfare best actor award in 1954.
While Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor were known for showing the perils of post colonial India and busy building entertainment around it, Dilip Kumar emerged as a director's actor. Coming from a non-filmy background , Yusuf Khan was spotted in a military canteen by actress Devika Rani and her husband actor-director Himanshu Rai and was cast in 1944's 'Jwar Bhata'. This is when Yusuf Khan became Dilip Kumar. In front of the camera Yusuf was Dilip, an actor, a performer, a character and once the camera stopped rolling the film star resided back to his former, simple self.
That was the charm of Dilip Kumar, he knew how to live the life of an actor without losing his real self. Ace film maker Satayajit Ray called Dilip Kumar the 'master of method acting'. One who could adapt a character into his soul and makes it difficult for the fans to find their star in their favourite character.
In 1950's, Bollywood or the Hindi film industry was revamping itself, with artists choosing between Bombay and Lahore as their 'karmbhumi'. Amidst that chaos, industry found a man who would take Bollywood to new heights. Actors at that time and even today change their names- making it easier for the audience to connect with them. Yusuf Khan became Dilip Kumar to gain a larger acceptance in Hindu dominant society in front of the camera, however he remain Yusuf for himself . He never wanted to lose his identity after becoming a star so he created a different version of himself. One for the camera and one outside of it.
His roles from Shyam to Sooraj and Shankar, all had a real connect to the world. They were the types who were present in everyone. They were all common men stuck in the turmoil, and struggling to come out of it. Aamir Khan might be touted as the one who goes to great extent to transform himself according to the character he plays. But Dilip Kumar went into the emotional aspect. He used to observe his character and feel him to the grass root level. It is his emotional character study , that kept him ahead in his skills and made him an actor of the masses.
Dilip Kumar as Shankar (Daag) was a different alcoholic than Dilip Kumar as Devdas. Shankar had a rags to riches story. His tragedies and heartbreaks were society oriented. He was a poor man drinking on his poverty and his incapability to cope up with the debts, later in the same film he drinks to drown the sorrow of his mother's death and lover's separation. Devdas might seem very same from the character construction and narrative but it was Dilip Kumar's intense connect with the two characters that separated thm. He made the end look like an obvious happy ending in 'Daag' and lived the novel-ic tragedy in 'Devdas'. Shankar always had a ray of hope that Devdas didn't and it was Dilip Kumar who successfully mastered the thin line.
Today, as Dilip Saheb turns 93, we salute the spirit of the man who made common man relevant in Bollywood. One who established commercial success amidst simple narrative. Rajesh Khanna to Shah Rukh Khan, everybody's 'favourite star' Dilip Kumar is a legend who is irreplaceable in Bollywood. He is one of the pillars on whose techniques and lines actors today function, be it the role of a misunderstood man, a devastated lover, a true blue patriot or a twin brother. He is an institution in himself and Bollywood is indebted to him for his talent.

'Bestie' Farah Khan throws birthday party for Sania Mirza

Mumbai:MMNN:4 Nov. 2015
The bond between Farah Khan and Sania Mirza seems to be getting stronger as Farah recently threw a party to celebrate the tennis star's 29th birthday.
Posting a group photo with the birthday girl, Riteish Deshmukh, Tabu, Sajid Khan, Genelia D'Souza and Parineeti Chopra, the 50-year-old director tweeted, "N the party begins!! The early guests r here!!"
Her tweet was followed by a group collage from the party that was captioned, "What a night!! Must say the hostess (me) had the best time if I'm awake til 4 am..Happy bday again @MirzaSania .."
Showing her gratitude towards the host, Sania later tweeted, "Thank you for being the best friend and best host ever I love you baby @TheFarahKhan Thank you for being the best friend and best host ever I love you baby @TheFarahKhan."

Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech's roka ceremony this month?

Mumbai:MMNN:4 Nov. 2015
We were the first to announce last month of cricketer Harbhajan Singh's nuptials to actor Geeta Basra.
We were also the first ones to spill the beans on captain Virat Kohli and chief cheerleader, actor Anushka Sharma's, wedding plans for next year.
But the big secret wedding date of a cricketer-actor is that of Yuvraj Singh.
The sixer-specialist is actually bowled over by actor Hazel Keech (she acted with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor in Bodyguard).
The two have been dating surreptitiously and seriously for months now, and very few of their friends are privy to their relationship status.
That is until last weekend, when Ms Keech accompanied Yuvi to the Bhajji- Basra wedding. We hear a Punjabi-style rohka (engagement) ceremony is due this month.

At Harbhajan Singh's reception, political bigwigs to sporting icons mark presence

New Delhi:MMNN:2 Nov. 2015
Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra's marriage has been the talk of town. And it touched the all time high with presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wedding reception held at Hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi. The special occasion of newlyweds was marked by the presence of present PM Modi along with the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who blessed the couple. The veteran Indian cricketer shared number of pictures on his Facebook page of the excited couple with Narendra Modi.
The 35-year-old cricketer married his long time actress girlfriend in a traditional Punjabi wedding on October 29. While the pre-wedding ceremonies including mehandi and sangeet saw several guests, the reception held in the national capital saw more than 1000 guests joining in. The spotlight was undoubtedly on the Prime Minister Modi who made to the event to make the occasion even more special for Harbhajan and Geeta.
Harbhajan and Geeta once again chose to keep their outfits colour co-ordinated. Dressed in blue sherwani Harbhajan looked dapper while Geeta stole thunder with electric blue colour with mirror work and sequins, an Archana Kochhar design. Geeta has been styled by the ace designer right from the pre-wedding celebrations to the wedding reception.
Earlier in the day, Harbhajan Singh's close friend kept dropping by to congratulate the cricketer on his marriage. The star guests included his childhood friend and all rounder Yuvraj Singh, Indian Test cricket captain Virat Kohli and Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma who came with his fiancee Ritika Sajdeh.

India Test cricket captain Virat Kohli finally met the recently wed veteran cricketer Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan got married to long time actress girlfriend Geeta Basra on October 29 in Jalandhar. Along with beautiful wises for the couple, Virat also snapped a selfie with Harbhajan, a memorable picture proof of their get together shared on Instagram with his fans and followers.
The 26-year-old dashing star batsman was not present during the Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra's wedding ceremony. Virat compensated it with a sweet meeting, described as 'a lovely get together Harbhajan Singh paji' in his own words. The complete post on the social media read, "What a lovely get together bhajju paji. Had lots of fun . God bless you both always. Rab rakha #blessings#specialoccasion".
The Delhi batsman is enjoying the break in between the rigorous home series against South Africa. He was seen enjoying some football action of his co-owned team FC Goa in the Indian Super League second edition tournament on Friday. Virat will lead Team India in 4-match Test series with the first Test match beginning from November 5 at the Punjab Cricket Association in Mohali. Virat will also be celebrating his 27th birthday on the same day he starts his Test campaign on the home soil.

The wedding was attended by some close relatives and friends, including cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and wife Anjali. The high-profile reception is slated for November 1 in New Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expected to grace the occasion.
Apart from his Team India teammates like Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli, Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachhan, Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra are also likely to attend the reception in the capital.

The lavish wedding reception of veteran cricketer Harbhajan Singh and wife Geeta Basra saw a string of celebrities attending it. But going by the pictures, it was gorgeous Sakshi Dhoni, wife of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who stole the limelight. Clearly the best dressed guest of the evening, pout queen Sakshi shared a cleavage showing selfie much to the amusement of both her as well as MS Dhoni's fans.
While the 33-year-old Ranchi batsman looked dapper in stylish in sharp cut suit, it was his beautiful wife Sakshi who was the real star of the event. Wearing a floor length body-fit gown with deep neck, Sakshi pulled off the neck-plunging attire with ease. The mother of one, Sakshi shared a selfie as the leading WAG (Wives and Girlfriends) pouting all the way. There were other photographs with the couple having a blast at the occasion.