Sonu Sood pledges Rs. 1 crore in scholarships for Cyber Security enthusiasts, aims to build a stronger and more secure India

Sonu Sood's Sood Charity Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education and skill development, has announced the launch of the "Mera Bharat, Surakshit Bharat Initiative" in association with EC-Council, the world’s largest cybersecurity certification body. India is currently facing a high number of cyber-attacks, with 18 million attacks daily in the first quarter of 2022. The program provides an opportunity for individuals to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to defend against cyber threats and secure a fulfilling career in the cybersecurity industry. The scholarship offers full funding for EC-Council's Certified Cybersecurity Technician program, a globally recognized certification that can help individuals build skills in ethical hacking, network defense, digital forensics, and security operations that are required for in-demand job roles in cybersecurity. The program is created by the team behind the renowned Certified Ethical Hacker Program and is sure to impress recruiters and open doors to a successful cybersecurity career for many. "Our country is facing a significant resource crisis in cybersecurity, and I am proud to be a part of the solution through the 'Mera Bharat, Surakshit Bharat Initiative' scholarship program with EC-Council. By helping students and entry-level professionals gain the necessary skills and knowledge to defend against cyber threats, Sood Charity Foundation aims to build a stronger and more secure India. I urge all those passionate about cybersecurity to apply for the scholarship and take the first step towards a fulfilling career in this industry." - Sonu Sood, Actor and Philanthropist. The scholarship program is open to applicants who are committed to pursuing a career in cybersecurity and have the desire to contribute to keeping their country safe. Deserving applicants will be selected based on their career goals and potential for success in the field. "We are excited to partner with Sood Charity Foundation to support the education and skill development of future cybersecurity professionals. Cybersecurity is a critical need for organizations around the world, and we believe that investing in the education and training of cybersecurity professionals is essential to keeping India safe. This scholarship initiative will provide an opportunity for deserving candidates to gain the skills and knowledge they need to make a real impact in the cybersecurity community," said Jay Bavisi, CEO of EC-Council. The application period for the scholarship is now open and interested applicants can apply. ALSO READ: Sonu Sood fans set a world record by making 87,000 sq.ft portrait of the actor on the eve of Republic Day

Pathaan: Siddharth Anand says Shah Rukh Khan has been ‘soft target’ in recent years; breaks silence on boycott calls: ‘Audiences came out in large numbers and supported it’

Riding high on the success of Pathaan, filmmaker Siddharth Anand has now given two back-to-back blockbusters. After War and Pathaan, he has become the undisputed number-one director of his genre in India. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone & John Abraham, the film has already collected Rs. 591 crores gross worldwide! But, the film did face its fair share of controversies especially when boycott calls were made after ‘Besharam Rang’ was released. Several outfits had raised objections to Deepika Padukone wearing a saffron bikini. Speaking to Deadline, when asked if he was worried about the negativity around Pathaan ahead of its release, he said, “All I know is they tried to boycott Pathaan and audiences came out in large numbers and supported it. I think if you’re going to boycott something or raise your voice against it, there has to be some merit in that. It has to be substantiated with some facts and some reality. What they were trying to do with Pathaan was just ridiculous and the audience has given its verdict. There’s also been a huge amount of support for Shah Rukh who has been a soft target in recent years. That’s why the film has done such big numbers. There’s been such an outpouring of love – they came in wanting to like the film and not to judge it.” Talking about the recent surge of South movies doing really well in the North market and how Pathaan has broken several records, he added, “We’ve captured all four quadrants, families are going in large numbers, men, women, youth audience, across both multiplexes and single screens. It’s also firing in all territories. Earlier it was a little slow in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh because people were afraid of protests. That was on the first day. But by evening, the numbers started increasing. The South is also coming in with big numbers, not just the Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions, but they’re also coming for the original Hindi version because they want to hear Shah Rukh speaking in his original voice.” On the work front, Siddharth Anand is next directing Fighter headlined by Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. The film is set for Republic Day 2024 release. ALSO READ: Siddharth Anand proved to be 'pandemic proof'; delivers all-time blockbuster Pathaan

Colors show Durga Aur Charu to feature Rachi Sharma and Adrija Roy in lead roles after 10-Year leap

Colors show Durga Aur Charu, which started as a sequel to Barrister Babu, is all set to witness a thrilling turn as it jumps a decade into the future. Rachi Sharma will now bring to life the character of Durga, whereas Adrija Roy takes on the role of Charu after the show takes a ten-year leap.  The once inseparable sisters will  now be seen leading separate lives, each pursuing their dreams and facing new challenges. Durga is now a successful lawyer and still looks up to Charu as her inspiration. But Charu has changed and she does not value friendship any longer. Despite their differences, the paths of Durga and Charu are bound to cross, but the future of their relationship remains uncertain. The makers want the audience to experience an emotional rollercoaster as they can once again witness the sisters navigate love, friendship, and their changing dynamics. Talking about essaying the role of Durga, Rachi Sharma said, “Bringing Durga to life on screen has been a true labor of love for me. She is a character that resonates deeply with me, and I am honored to have the opportunity to bring her journey to life for the audience. She is a symbol of strength, love, and unwavering determination who will be an inspiration for all. Durga is a complex and multi-faceted character, and I am excited to delve into her world and bring her story to life. This role is a challenge, but I am up for it and can't wait to see where this journey takes me and the audience.” Continuing, Adrija Roy who will be seen as Charu, added, "I am thrilled to be stepping into the role of Charu, who is a truly inspiring and fearless character. As an aspiring lawyer, Charu battles her challenges with passion and determination, always striving for justice and truth. Taking on this role is a huge responsibility, but I am eager to do it justice and bring my energy and enthusiasm to the character. I hope the audience continues to love and support the show as it takes this exciting leap forward, and I can't wait to share Charu's journey with everyone." While the ten-year leap episode is expected to air from next week onwards, i.e. February 6, the show Durga Aur Charu airs from Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm on COLORS. Also Read: Colors to kick off its new show Durga Aur Charu, a sequel to Barrister Babu

Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor starrer Bawaal postponed due to VFX and technical requirements

Varun Dhawan fans have been eagerly waiting to see the actor on the big screen and Bawaal added to anticipation as it was bringing together VD and Janhvi Kapoor for the first time on the big screen. However, it seems that they have to wait a little more since the latest update on that front is that the film is witnessing a few delays due to technical issues. Sources close to the film claimed that the Sajid Nadiadwala production may be pushed further because Nitesh Tiwari and the team of the film are keen on using a special kind of technology for the film. Sources claim that the filmmakers are quite ambitious about the onscreen presentation of Bawaal and hence are even shooting it using a special technology in Poland. Confirming the same, the director Nitesh Tiwari explained that in order to maintain the quality of the film, they decided to postpone its release, instead of compromising on the effects. He said, “The visual finesse we want to achieve on these sequences will need more time than we expected. We don’t want to cut short at anything because our purpose is to bring nothing but the best version of our vision to our viewers.” Readers would be aware that Bawaal was extensively shot in Poland wherein Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor were constantly seen sharing photos and videos on social media, giving a glimpse of the picturesque locations they shot the film in. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film was expected to release on April 7, 2023. However, owing to the latest developments, while the release is pushed further, the makers are yet to make an announcement about the new release date of the film. Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor says Bawaal co-star Varun Dhawan brought out a side in her she never knew existed

Netflix to celebrate Yash Chopra’s legacy through the docu-series The Romantics

Streaming giant Netflix is all set to celebrate the late legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra and his banner Yash Raj Films through the docu-series titled The Romantics. Directed by Smriti Mundhra, the show will be released on the Valentine’s Day on February 14 and it will be Netflix’s tribute to Chopra, who was known as ‘Father of Romance.’ Throwing more light on The Romantics, an official statement from the makers said, “The star-studded, four-part docu-series will feature 35 leading voices of the Hindi film industry and dive into the history of Bollywood through the lens of YRF’s impact in making Bollywood a household name globally. The global streaming giant will release the trailer of the docu-series in 190 countries tomorrow. It will also subtitle the trailer in 32+ world languages, given the reach of Bollywood across the world and the impact that YRF has had in shaping the equity of Hindi film industry worldwide for 50+ years.” Speaking about the achievements of Yash Chopra, Monika Shergill, VP, Content, Netflix India, added, “Fondly remembered as The King of Romance, Yash Chopra’s films brought in a new wave of emotion, individualism and cultural change to Hindi cinema and helped turn one of the biggest film industries in the world into what it is today. In celebration of the iconic songs, stories and the nostalgia, we’re partnering with the creative powerhouses, YRF and Smriti Mundra to bring The Romantics to our global audiences. The gripping documentary series is the real and definitive story of Yash Chopra and his son Aditya Chopra’s journey to building a world class studio and will give our viewers a glimpse into the lives of one of the most influential families in Bollywood film history.” This will be yet another Netflix show for Smriti Mundhra after Indian Matchmaking and Never Have I Ever. Yash Chopra started his career with a bang with Dhool Ka Phool in 1959. In a career over 50 years, he became known for some iconic romantic films like Silsila, Lamhe, Kabhi Kabhie, Chandni, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, etc. Yash Raj Films is currently basking in the super success of their latest flick Pathaan, which stars Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone in pivotal roles. Also Read: 16 Years of Veer Zaara: “Yash Chopra was so fond of ‘Tere Liye’ that it remained as his ringtone till he breathed his last”, reveals Madan Mohan’s son Sanjeev Kohli

Diljit Dosanjh joins Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon in Ektaa Kapoor’s The Crew

The powerhouse producer duo Rhea Kapoor & Ektaa Kapoor took the Internet by storm by pulling the ultimate casting coup for their upcoming madcap comedy, The Crew! Starring the celebrated trio of Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon, this comedy of errors and mishaps set in the struggling airline industry is one of the most awaited films of this year. But the excitement doesn't stop there - the makers have just announced the addition of none other than the dynamic actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh to the exciting cast! After becoming a global sensation with his blockbuster music, Diljit has left a massively indelible mark with his celebrated acting performances in both Punjabi cinema and Bollywood. And now, he's joining forces with this sassy trio to take us on a rollercoaster ride of laughter with The Crew. Producer Rhea Kapoor, AKFCN Production, gushed about the new addition, "We are thrilled to have Diljit join the cast considering his discerning eye for quality projects. The Crew has always had a special destiny; it's unlike any entertainer you have seen before. The cast and I are excited to provide audiences with an exciting and memorable cinema experience," she said. The story follows three women who work and hustle to move on with life. But as they try to make their way forward, their destinies lead them to some unexpected and unwarranted situations, leading them to get caught in a web of lies. Directed by Rajesh Krishnan and co-produced by Balaji Motion Pictures Limited & Anil Kapoor Productions, The Crew is set to go on floors from the end of March 2023. Mark your calendars and brace yourself for one of the most highly anticipated comedies of the year! Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh rejected a big film from his favourite director: ‘I don’t do something just for the sake of money’

Shah Rukh Khan calls Pathaan a ‘big experience’, hints at the sequel days after the film’s release: ‘It will be my honour’

It’s been 7 days since Pathaan released in theatres. The team of film is processing the massive success of the film. Led by Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, the movie also stars Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film has crossed the mark of Rs. 300 crore at the box office in India breaking several box office records. To celebrate the success of the film, Yash Raj Films organized a special press conference with the three stars and the director on Monday evening. At the press meet, SRK hinted at the film’s sequel and Siddharth Anand too hoped for it. Shah Rukh Khan said, “Working in Pathaan was such a big experience and I am quite serious today. The love and success of the film have brought happiness to my family, friends, and all those close to me after a long time. So if you ask me, then I am quite happy about the opportunity given to me. And Inshallah, whenever Siddharth wants to do Pathaan 2, I am in.” SRK quipped further and said, “I am ready to grow my hair till hips this time for the sequel. I will try my best to give my all for Pathaan 2. It will be my honour.” Siddharth said, "Just like every filmmaker, I also had a wish list to once work with Shah Rukh Khan. I think you have to earn a Shah Rukh Khan film, I think it was my journey which I completed and that is when I got a gift to direct Shah Rukh Khan. Pathaan aayi hai, hit hui hai. Uske baad kya banayege (Pathaan has been released, and it has been a hit. What will we make after that?" While fans chanted Pathaan 2, Siddharth with a wide smile on his face, said, "Inshallah (God willing)". The film is currently running in theatres in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. It is the fourth installment in the YRF Spy Universe after Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai and War. The film marked the cameo of Salman Khan as Tiger and the mention of Hrithik Roshan’s character Kabir. On the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan will now resume the shoot for Atlee Kumar's Jawan on February 1, 2023. The film is scheduled for June 2023 release. He also has Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki set for December release. ALSO READ: Pathaan star John Abraham says Shah Rukh Khan is an ‘emotion’, ‘action hero’ & ‘national treasure’; responds to a fan who said ‘SRK is back’

Bigg Boss 16 contestant Ankit Gupta opens up about casting couch; recalls how he was asked if they can ‘touch it’

While his role in the popular Colors romance drama Udaariyaan came to an end, Fateh aka Ankit Gupta entered the Bigg Boss 16 house along with co-star Priyanka Chahar Choudhary aka Tejo. As audiences continued to root for their romance, Priyanka and Ankit have now gone their separate ways with the actress continuing her stint in the house and the actor moving on with other projects. In a recent interview, Gupta got a little candid about his struggling days and revealed a shocking incident of casting couch that he underwent. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Ankit Gupta opened up about how he struggled to become an actor, like any other newbie but at the same time, also mentioned that the rumours about casting couch may have some truth to it. He recalled how he was asked by one of the casting agents and talking about it, he said, “I said ‘no- I am not into guys’ and even if I am, I cannot do this. It was my worst experience. Okay, it is getting adult now. Someone said, 'Okay, you don't want to do it but at least let me touch it. Upar se hi hai.’ I was shocked and said to myself 'What is happening?'" The actor also reminisced about how some people advised him to go ahead with it because it was ‘normal’ in the entertainment industry. "Yaha to compromise karna padta hai (You have to compromise here). A lot of people, who wanted me to compromise, used to say 'See Ankit aise toh kaam milta nahi hai industry mein (See Ankit, this is how things work in this industry). We have launched several people'. They used to take names of biggies, stating that the celebs were launched by him." However, now, Ankit Gupta is one of the most prominent faces of the television industry. The actor is currently marking his second collaboration with Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta’s production house Dreamiyata productions. He will essay the role of a singer alongside his co-Bigg Boss 16 contestant Gautam Vig and actress Neha Rana in the forthcoming show Junooniyatt on Colors. Also Read: Junooniyatt: Ankit Gupta and Gautam Vig have a musical face off; Neha Rana joins them in this competition

Shah Rukh Khan opens up on his balcony appearances, “I go there whenever I feel sad”

Shah Rukh Khan is currently riding high following the super success of his comeback film Pathaan. The actor spoke his heart out about the Siddharth Anand directed film which also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in pivotal roles. As we are aware, SRK has returned on the big screen as the main lead after over four years and he had a low phases in terms of box office success before that. During this vanvaas (as said in Pathaan), Khan was seen at the balcony of his residence Mannat quite a few times to wave at his fans who would gather in thousands. During the success event of Pathaan, SRK opened up about his visits to the balcony of his bungalow. When the host told SRK that his fans have always loved him when he has given hits, the actor said, “Actually, they give me the same type of love even when my film doesn’t turn out to be a hit, to be honest. Elders from my family once told me that whenever you feel sad, go to those who give you love. If something doesn’t work or goes wrong, and we all will have things that go wrong in our lives; life is like that, it is meant to be like that. There will be good days and bad days.” He continued, “I was told, don’t go to the people you work with, don’t go to people who tell you how to do things better. Go to the people who shover love on you. I have been very lucky that there are millions and billions of people who give me love. So whenever I feel sad, I visit my balcony. When I am happy, I visit my balcony. God has been so kind to me that he has always given me a ticket of the balcony.” Interestingly, Khan’s balcony appearance scene was replicated in his film Fan on more than one occasion. Also Read: Pathaan Day 5 Overseas Box Office: Shah Rukh Khan starrer collects USD 5.3 million [Rs. 43.22 cr.] on Day 5; crosses the Rs. 200 cr. mark in the overseas

Shah Rukh Khan continues to win hearts in black pant suit while promoting Pathaan

Shah Rukh Khan is special, and that is a truth, not just an opinion, look no further than Pathaan. In a way that only a legend like Shah Rukh Khan can achieve, Pathaan has swept not only India but the entire world like a cinematic cyclone. Pathaan, a Bollywood film that is quickly rising to the top of the list of the most profitable films in Indian cinema history, has already surpassed the 400 crore rupee mark and shows no signs of slowing down. Shah Rukh Khan, in contrast to King Khan, is synonymous with alluring appearances and romanticism. Badshah of Bollywood unquestionably leads the fashion game by establishing undoubtedly stylish fashion trends that are the ideal direction for working men and college boys to plan their fashion calendars. Even his team holds this opinion. We cannot take our eyes off of Shah Rukh Khan in the photo that his manager Pooja Dadlani shared in praise of him. Aside from winning the hearts of several women till date, SRK's wonderful style has remained a constant throughout his magnificent career of 29 blissful years. Shah Rukh Khan's oh-so-svelte style created a lasting impression on us and won over many hearts. Shah Rukh Khan, who never fails to impress, wore a black suit to work today in preparation for hosting an Instagram live for his followers. Shah Rukh chose a notch-collared, double-breasted black jacket. He wore it with black pants and placed it over a black t-shirt. His hair was pushed back, and don't forget about the bracelets he was wearing. Every man has one well-fitted suit in his closet that represents him. The well-received collection from Shah Rukh Khan clearly doesn't require an introduction. Meanwhile, on the work front, Shah Rukh Khan is returned to the screens after four long years with Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan. Also starring Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana, the film is a part of YRF’s spy universe. Salman Khan has an extended cameo in the film and the fans can’t have enough of the two of them on screen. Shah Rukh will be next seen in Jawaan opposite Nayanthara and He also has Dunki in pipeline with Taapsee Panuu.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Pooja Dadlani Gurnani (@poojadadlani02) Also Read: Pathaan: Fans can’t keep calm after watching Shah Rukh Khan’s response to Deepika Padukone’s ‘Salaam Walaikum’

SCOOP: Kartik Aaryan delays Shehzada to February 17 out of respect to Shah Rukh Khan

Shehzada is among the most anticipated Bollywood films of the year and why not – it marks the return of Kartik Aaryan to the big screen after the blockbuster success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa. While the trailer and music of the film has been trending across all the digital platforms, Bollywood Hungama has discovered that Shehzada, which was announced to arrive on February 10, 2023, has now been delayed by a week. “Pathaan is doing unimaginable business at the box office in India and is finally the Bollywood film that can break the records of Baahubali 2. The film is doing record-breaking business in India and Kartik Aaryan feels it will be unfair to release just 2 weeks after a film that’s doing so well for the film industry. Out of respect to Shah Rukh Khan, and the fact of both films eating on to each other’s business, Kartik and Shehzada producers have decided to delay the film by a week,” a source told Bollywood Hungama. The Shehzada team is confident that this move will benefit both Pathaan and Shehzada. “Releasing on February 10 does not even make business sense, as Pathaan will continue to be the talk of the town due to its record-breaking run. It makes business sense to arrive a week later, as that would benefit both the films to earn big and also give a breathing space to the audience.” Shehzada also stars Kriti Sanon and Paresh Rawal in lead roles. It is directed by Rohit Dhawan and produced by Bhushan Kumar with Allu Arvind and Aman Gill. Also Read: Kartik Aaryan starrer Shehzada trailer crosses 100 million views across platforms

Suresh Triveni to direct two projects for his banner Opening Image following Jalsa

Filmmaker Suresh Triveni’s last movie Jalsa, which released last March on Amazon Prime Video, received appreciation for its content as well as the performances from Vidya Balan, Shefali Shah and veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi. Following the film, Triveni announced his own creative studio and production house named Opening Image, in partnership with Vikram Malhotra-led Abundantia Entertainment. Triveni is now ready to roll his next two directorial ventures under his banner. Sharing more about his plan, an official statement from his publicist said, “While one film is an out-and-out action drama, the other one is a dramedy with an element of thrill that explores questions of identity in today’s world. While more details on both films are being kept under wraps, both are set to feature prominent A-list actors and roll in the next 12 months. Beyond Suresh’s directorial films, there is an exciting slate of content in development with young and fresh writers and creators, all set to be launched under Opening Image.” Sharing further future plans, Trivedi said in a statement, “The vision for Opening Image is to create disruptive stories and provide a platform that encourages young talent to tell their stories. We want to build a community that provides an ecosystem for storytellers to flourish. On my individual front, I am excited to be back in the director’s chair and along with my team offer fresh stories to audiences across the world. The partnership with Abundantia Entertainment and Vikram is growing from strength to strength and we’re having a great time telling stories together where each one of us brings complimentary skills to the mix.” Vikram Malhotra shared his thoughts adding, “Suresh and Opening Image are truly building a forward-looking, audience-focused creative community and ecosystem like no other. It’s amazing to see the progress that Opening Image has made in such short time and heartening to see the platform that it is providing to upcoming writers and directors. On another note, I am super excited with the shape Suresh’s directorial films are taking. Unique and entertaining.” Before Jalsa, Triveni had made his directorial debut Tumhari Sulu in 2017. The film also starred Vidya Balan along with Manav Kaul. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Jalsa director Suresh Triveni on unveiling the plot early on, the scene that gave him a nightmare and Vidya Balan breaking down on set

Annu Kapoor discharged from hospital as his health improves

Veteran actor Annu Kapoor was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on January 26 after he complained chest pain. The artist was kept under treatment for four days. Thankfully, for his fans and well-wishers, his condition improved over the days and he was discharged from the hospital last night, as reported by Indian Express through the Press Trust of India. As per the agency, the news was shared by Dr Ajay Swaroop, Chairman, Board of Management, Sri Ganga Ram Hospital. As per the publication, Kapoor was treated by a team of cardiologists comprising, Dr J P S Sawhney, Dr Rajneesh Jain, Dr Rajiv Passey, Dr BS Vivek and Dr Sushant Wattal. The publication also quoted Dr Rajneesh, co-director of cath lab and head of unit, saying, “Kapoor was discharged today in a stable condition.” Kapoor has been one of the most accomplished actors from Bollywood over the decades. After making his debut in the parallel cinema of the early 1980s, he has gone onto act in over 100 movies, along with television serials. Since recent years, he has also ventured into the latest fad of web shows. His last released work in the web space was the Amazon Prime Video show Crash Course. Kapoor is also currently hosting the musical show Golden Era with Annu Kapoor since several years. Also Read: Annu Kapoor cheated of Rs. 4.36 lakh by an online fraudster pretending to be a bank employee

Bhushan Kumar and Anurag Basu’s joint production Metro…In Dino gets a release date!

Bringing together heart-warming stories of contemporary couples, Producer Bhushan Kumar and the ace director Anurag Basu finally announced the release date of their most awaited production venture, Metro… इन दिनों. With an ensemble cast of Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sensharma, Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh, this anthology will hit theatres on December 8, 2023! Produced by T-Series and Anurag Basu Productions, Metro... इन दिनों depicts stories of bittersweet relationships with a modern-day scenario. The film will soon hit the floors! Exploring diverse yet universal stories of different facets, shades and moods of love, this contemporary tale will have music score by Pritam that will compliment to the mood of the film as well as enhance the experience entirely. The first chapter of Life in a Metro was published in 2007. The ensemble cast included actors who portrayed the major roles, including Dharmendra, Nafisa Ali, Shilpa Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, and Sharman Joshi. A source had revealed that Anurag had been thinking about developing a sequel to the anthology for some time, but he didn't have the concept until the first lockdown of the epidemic. At the same time as he began drafting the script, he began casting. The four distinct sections of the film will finally be connected by it. Anurag does an amazing job of fusing four separate stories together in Ludo and presenting them all at once. Gulshan Kumar & T-Series in association with Anurag Basu Productions Pvt Ltd present Metro... इन दिनों . Directed by Anurag Basu, music by Pritam, produced By Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Anurag Basu and Taani Basu the film will release on December 8, 2023. Also Read: Anurag Basu starts shooting Metro: In Dino with Anupam Kher; watch their fun banter

Bigg Boss 16: Shalin Bhanot dances, sings, and shows his happiness after the eviction of Tina Datta

Ever since its inception, Shalin Bhanot and Tina Datta have been garnering attention owing to the multiple phases of their relationship, which has transitioned from hatred to friendship to love to hatred again. While audiences were left confused about their feelings about each other, all the drama of their love-hate has now come to an end with the Uttaran actress being evicted from the reality show. On the other hand, considering the current scenario of relationship between Shalin and Tina, the Grihasti actor couldn’t be happier about her elimination and didn’t leave any chance to showcase the same on camera. In a video that has been doing the rounds, Shalin Bhanot is seen speaking about how the elimination of Tina Datta has made him feel so much better about his health with his ‘mandali’ Shiv Thakare and MC Stan. The actor is seen dancing, singing, and thoroughly enjoying himself after Tina left the show. This did not go down well with Archana Gautam who also expressed her anger on Bhanot over his behavior to Priyanka Chahar Choudhary. While having a conversation with Tina’s friend Priyanka in the kitchen, Archana accused Shalin of ruining the reputation of two women, namely Soundarya Sharma and Tina, yet, feeling all the happiness instead of any guilt. For the unversed, Soundarya was eliminated last week.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) On the other hand, coming to Tina Datta, the actress interacted with the media post her elimination wherein she said, “I had my inhibitions about signing up for Bigg Boss 16 because surviving in this house is can be very challenging.  I’m happy to see my family, friends and fans be proud of the way I held myself together and stayed strong in the house. No other experience would have taught me as many life lessons I learnt on the show. I thank everyone who has worked hard to put this incredible show together. Now that I’m out of the house, I feel that I can take on anything. I wish all the contestants all the best, but I am rooting for Priyanka for the win.” Bigg Boss 16 airs from Monday to Friday at 10 pm as well as on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 pm on Colors. Also Read: Bigg Boss 16: Shehzada Kartik Aaryan gives a new task to contestants; Farah Khan accuses Tina Datta of ‘bullying’

Vicky Kaushal plays DJ Mohabbat in Anurag Kashyap’s Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat

After much speculation surrounding the role on whom the film’s title is based, Anurag Kashyap reveals Vicky Kaushal as DJ Mohabbat in his directorial Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat, co-starring Alaya F and Karan Mehta. This also marks the fourth collaboration between Anurag Kashyap and the actor, who plays a special role and will feature in a never-seen-before avatar in the coming-of-age romantic film. Talking about the special role of Vicky Kaushal in the film, Anurag Kashyap said, “The character of DJ Mohabbat is so integral to the story, that I wanted someone special to play it. DJ Mohabbat is the voice of love, and is the conduit between two stories and I wanted someone who is that. Someone everyone loves because they trust and believe him. Vicky is that to me since I’ve known him. Always speaks his heart, never forgets, is grateful to his audience and people and the characters he plays. When I asked ‘if not SRK then who?’. My whole cast and my daughter and her friends in unison said Vicky Kaushal.” On the other hand, continuing about this role, Vicky Kaushal aka DJ Mohabbat added, “Anurag Sir has been a mentor, a friend and in ways he’s been my window into the world of cinema. When he spoke to me about this role I was immediately on board and this special appearance is for a special film, made by my special friend.” Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat marks the debut of Karan Mehta and stars Freddy actress Alaya F as his love interest. The film is touted to be Anurag Kashyap's ode to modern love. Presented by Zee Studios under Good Bad Films Production, it is slated to release on February 3, 2023. Also Read: Laxman Utekar speaks on casting Vicky Kaushal for the role Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj; says, “We didn’t do any look test, I was sure that he is the one who can play Sambhaji”

Anurag Kashyap expresses regret for turning down Sushant Singh Rajput's invitation to collaborate

Anurag Kashyap recently made headlines where he expressed guilt over his public statement about his Dev.D actor Abhay Deol and privately about the late Sushant Singh Rajput. In an interview, Anurag accused Abhay of being difficult to work with, claiming that the actor insisted on staying in a five-star hotel separate from the rest of the cast and crew. Abhay had denied this.  Anurag had revealed shortly after Sushant's death that he had refused to speak with him about a project because he was resentful of being ghosted by the actor in the past. The filmmaker discussed his differences with Abhay and Sushant in a new interview with Showsha. He said, “It’s taken me a year-and-a-half of sickness to realise a lot of things. I was so reactive; I would say things. I would say things out of anger, out of reaction, to things I felt perturbed by. It took me time to realise that I’m shouting, I’m shouting in a room full of people shouting. Nobody’s listening to each other, not just to me. That’s what social media has become. And I stepped back. I said, ‘Why am I reacting to this? What is bothering me?'”  He further added, “A lot has changed, but I know I have no filter. But it’s also made me realise I don’t need to say everything… For example, that whole spat between me and Abhay. Somebody was doing an article about why a very good actor like Abhay is no longer in the movies, and I spoke about my experiences, something that happened 13 years ago. I didn’t need to say it publicly. And the day the unfortunate incident happened of SSR, I felt so bad. Three weeks prior to that somebody was trying to reach out because he wanted to talk, and I was like, ‘No, he ghosted me, I don’t want to talk’. You get pangs of guilt. So, I tried to reach out to Abhay and I apologised to him, because somebody had told me that he was upset about me speaking publicly about him.”  Anurag stated that he told Abhay that it was fine to yell at him and then apologised repeatedly for what he said. However, Abhay appeared to be upset about what Anurag had said about him as recently as last month. Abhay called the filmmaker a "liar" and a "toxic" person in an interview with mid-day. Anurag acknowledged that they had both changed and expressed regret for what he had said.  Anurag had stated in a 2020 interview with NDTV that he was disappointed that Sushant had backed out of projects with him in favour of more high-profile jobs. He stated, “YRF called him and said, ‘We’ll give you a deal. You do Shuddh Desi Romance.’ Sushant, who used to sit in my office with Mukesh and all of us used to sit together, signed up with YRF and dropped Hasee Toh Phasee, a film of an outsider because usko validation YRF ka chahiye tha (he wanted validation from YRF). It’s with every actor, so I am not holding any grudges… Years later, in 2016, before the release of MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Mukesh went to Sushant and said, ‘Anurag has written a script looking for an actor who can play someone based out of Uttar Pradesh.’ Dhoni released, became a success and he never called me back. I was not upset, I moved on, I did Mukkabaaz.”  Also Read: Anurag Kashyap on West trying to reach out to S.S. Rajamouli; says, “If they like something, they take it away” 

Rakhi Sawant pens down a heartfelt message after the death of her mother Jaya Sawant; celebs express condolences

After a protracted struggle with a brain tumour and cancer, Rakhi Sawant's mother Jaya Sawant passed away on Saturday. Rakhi’s mother had reportedly been in critical condition while being treated in a Mumbai hospital for several days. The actress posted the heart-breaking news along with a moving letter for her mother on social media.   Rakhi had posted updates on her mother's health as well as images and videos of her mother taken when she was in the hospital. In numerous paparazzi recordings, the actor had also pleaded with viewers to pray for her mother's quick recovery. Rakhi’s mother had receiving medical care in a hospital in Mumbai. She shared a post on Instagram on Saturday confirming that her mother Jaya Sawant had passed away following treatment for a brain tumour and cancer. According to a statement Rakhi posted on her Instagram story, the funeral will be held on Sunday.  Rakhi posted a touching video on Instagram with her mother. The actress was seen sobbing hysterically sitting on the floor while Rakhi's mother was shown fighting for her life in the video. Sharing the video she penned a heartfelt note, “Aaj meri maa ka haat sar se uth gaya…Or mere pass khone ke liye kuch nhi bacha…I love you MAA…Aap ke bina kuch nhi raha,ab koun meri pukar sunega or koun mujhe gale lagayega maa..Ab Mai kya karu…kaha jauuuu..I miss you Aai.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rakhi Sawant (@rakhisawant2511) Many Celebrities expressed their sympathy for Rakhi and her family. Reacting to the post, Jackie Shroff commented, “I feel your pain having lost my mom dad brother their soul will always be with us,” singer Ankit Tiwari wrote, “Very sad rakhi, please stay strong. OM SHANTI,” actor Sharad Malhotra commented, “Really sorry to hear about this…Rakhi pls take care of urself ….Om Shanti.” Several fans also shared their condolences with Rakhi in the comments section and asked her to stay strong.  Rakhi uploaded an image of a photo she had with her deceased mother on Instagram Stories along with a message on WhatsApp that read, "With deep sorrow, I Rakhi Sawant inform you (of) the sudden death of my beloved mother. Many of you know that she was suffering from some medical conditions, well I am sad to say that she is gone. Tomorrow join us for the funeral service of my mother at 12 noon. Address: Municipal Christian Cemetery, Oshiwara, Andheri, West." Rakhi Sawant’s mother was hospitalised after being diagnosed with cancer and a brain tumour. She had uploaded a video requesting prayers for her mother. She said, "Hi everyone...My mom is not well, she is in hospital. Please pray for her, she is not feeling her best. She is fighting a battle with cancer. We just came to know that she has a brain tumour with cancer."  Also Read: Bombay HC asks police to not take action against Rakhi Sawant till January 24  

Parag Desai bags the title of ‘PR Personality of the year for 2022’

The CEO of Universal Communications, Parag Desai is known for his significant contribution to the field of entertainment PR for over 25 years. Mr. Desai is one of the pioneers in Entertainment PR, known for his innovative Publicity campaigns. 2022 was again an extraordinary year for him and his company. Some of his most notable campaigns this year include: Gangubai Kathiawadi, Brāhmastra Part One - Shiva, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, PS-1, Drishyam 2, Cirkus, and many more that have been recognized for their strategic PR marketing. To honour him for his phenomenal contribution to the films, Urbane Awards felicitated Mr. Desai with ‘PR Personality of the Year’. Mr. Desai has done Publicity for Blockbuster franchises like Golmaal, Singham, Dhamaal, and more. His company is also at the forefront of many Hollywood film Publicity campaigns in India. Along with films, Parag Desai has also been handling the PR of celebrated actors like mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Director Rohit Shetty, Taapsee Pannu, Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra Sunny Singh, Sanjana Sanghi and more. After a successful 2022, Parag Desai and his company have multiple exciting films this year. Also Read: Armaan Malik shines in an all-black outfit at the Royal Opening Night in Dubai; shares about witnessing Beyonce’s concert

SCOOP: Hrithik Roshan backs out of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayan; makers in talks with Yash now

Nitesh Tiwari on multiple occasions has spoken about bringing Ramayan to life with a big-screen adaptation. Bollywood Hungama was among the first to reveal that Nitesh Tiwari and his producers, Madhu Mantena and Allu Arvind were in talks with Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor for the film. Everything was locked but now, the latest buzz in the industry is that Hrithik Roshan has taken a step back from Ramayan. "Hrithik Roshan doesn't want to play back-to-back negative roles. While he loved the script of Ramayan, he wants to be the hero now, as fans love him as a hero over a villain. After several rounds of discussions with Nitesh Tiwari and Madhu Mantena, he decided to take a step back," a source told Bollywood Hungama. Hrithik's move of stepping back initially put the makers in a panic state, but now they have got another option. "Rocking Star Yash is on the lookout for a script. His work is managed by an agency run by Madhu Mantena, who feels that Yash fits the bill for Ravana. They have already initiated talks with Yash and the Rocking Star has shown good interest in the film. If all goes well, Ramayan will happen now with Ranbir Kapoor and Yash. The casting has now gone to a Pan-Indian level," the source told us. Yash is known for his portrayal of Rocky Bhai in the KGF Franchise. The dynamic of Yash and Ranbir Kapoor will be interesting in Ramayan. Also Read: Hrithik Roshan reviews Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham starrer Pathaan; says ‘incredible vision’

Prem R Soni introduces his new set of wheels, a Mercedes-Benz E class limited edition worth over Rs. 72 lakhs!

Remember writer, director Prem R Soni who has given us films like Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, and Ishkq in Paris? Well the filmmaker who has been away from the spotlight for a while now, recently added a new acquisition to his garage. In fact, Prem has now become the proud owner of a brand new Mercedes-Benz E class limited edition worth over Rs. 72 lakhs! Taking to social media talking about the same, Soni revealed that the swanky set of wheels was a gift from his sister to mark his completion of 15 years in the industry. Sharing images while posing with the new set of wheels, Soni posted, “U know the meaning of PAMPERING in capital when your sister gifts you an E class Limited edition Mercedes Benz on completing 15 years in the film industry as a Director. Phew…… quite an achievement right ! Just confused it’s 15 years of working my ass off or achieving this mean machine as a gift is a bigger achievement. Lol Pour in your love guys. Thank you @avesthestar you make me proud of sponsoring all these years your holidays and shopping money. It all seems like a good investment today Love you Avi May you achieve more & more in life and keep gifting me more n more and mom @meeraso thank you for being us together in this world. Mwuaaah #mercedes #autohangar #pampered #15years #newcar” Back on the work front, Prem R Soni is currently working on an Indo-Turkish project based on the bestseller Sand & Sea. The said project will be the first collaboration between India and Turkey, and Soni intends to make this film on a grand scale. Also Read: Sushmita Sen gifts herself a swanky Mercedes AMG GLE 53 Coupe

FACT CHECK: Siddharth Anand NOT collaborating with Mulk producer Deepak Mukut

Siddharth Anand has become the hottest director in town. The fact that his latest directorial Pathaan starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham is setting new benchmark records at the box office, film producers are making a bee line to sign him. If going by certain reports, then apparently Mulk producer Deepak Mukut has roped in Anand to occupy the directorial chair of his next production venture. While the grapevine is buzzing with such claims, a well-placed industry source has exclusively informed Bollywood Hungama that it is untrue. Speaking exclusively to Bollywood Hungama the source who is also close to the filmmaker, denies the claims saying, “Siddharth Anand’s next is Fighter, a film that he is also producing under his banner Marflix. He is one of the biggest directors of the country and the biggest in terms of opening numbers. He will announce his next line up of films in due course of time but he is definitely not collaborating with Mulk producer Deepak Mukut.” While it is understandable for such rumours to find a base, especially since Siddharth Anand with two back to back hits, viz. War and now Pathaan, has become one of the most talked about and south after individuals, maintaining a modicum of truth is highly necessary. Back on the film front, Siddharth Anand, who is currently enjoying the success of Pathaan and certainly monitoring its record breaking and setting spree will resume work on his next soon. Titled Fighter, the film features Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor alongside an ensemble cast, is said to be India’s first aerial action film. Also Read: Pathaan director Siddharth Anand on scoring two back-to-back Rs. 50 crores+ openers; says, “It is a validation of all the hard work”

Mission Majnu: Adnan Siddiqui calls out ‘misrepresntation of Pakistanis’ in the Sidharth Malhotra starrer spy entertainer

Sidharth Malhotra returns to his patriotic avatar with Mission Majnu but this time he was seen essaying the role of a 70s spy in Pakistan, working for India. Co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, the film premiered on Netflix a few days ago but it seems that the film has been facing a little backlash from Pakistanis for their misrepresentation. Joining the debate now is Pakistani star Adnan Siddiqui, who is known for his performance in Sridevi’s last film, Mom, in which he essayed the role of her husband. He took to social media to review the Shantanu Bagchi film and expressed his disappointment over the same. Adnan Siddiqui took to Instagram to share a long note about Mission Majnu and how it misrepresented Pakistanis and portrayed a very wrong image of the residents in the country. He also called out the stereotype perception of their habits. He started off the note by saying, “How much misrepresentation is too much misrepresentation? Bollywood has the answer. I mean come on, yaar with all the money you have, hire some good researchers to do homework on us. Or allow me to help. Make sure to take notes—no, we don’t wear skull caps, surma, tawiz; no, we don’t ask janab about their mijaz; no, we don’t go around throwing adaab.” He continued, “There’s so much in #MissionMajnu that’s distasteful & factually incorrect. The hero’s saviour complex would’ve accentuated more if the villain was shown at par. A weak antagonist embellishes even weaker protagonist.” Adnan concluded the note saying, “Poor story, poorer execution, poorest research. Next time, come and visit us. We are good hosts. Will show you how we look like, dress up and live.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Adnan Siddiqui (@adnansid1) Mission Majnu also faced backlash by many Pakistanis when the trailer hit the tube. In fact, leading man Sidharth Malhotra too addressed the same during an interview with Film Companion, "We have consciously made an effort in the writing that it is never to take on a particular community.  It is never about a community or taking a dig, which digresses from the film - a religion or a community is never an issue in the film." Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under his banner RSVP Pictures, Mission Majnu hit Netflix on January 20, 2023. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Shantanu Bagchi comments on Mission Majnu being called “male version” of Raazi; calls Sidharth Malhotra starrer a copy of Romeo and Juliet

Jacqueline Fernandez receives permission to travel to Dubai from Delhi High Court

Jacqueline Fernandez, who is currently being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate owing to her alleged involvement in the Sukesh Chandrashekhar Rs. 200 crore extortion case, has been granted the permission to travel abroad for professional commitments, albeit with certain conditions. The actress had earlier approached the Delhi Patiala High Court seeking the permit for travelling abroad to attend her scheduled performance for PepsiCo India conference where she was to perform at the Annual Bottlers Conference in Dubai. On Friday, the Delhi Patiala High Court granted permission to Jacqueline Fernandez to travel to Dubai after her counsel argued that the actress may face lawsuit from the brand for non-participation if she doesn’t make it to the conference. Considering the same, the court has granted her permission to travel but along with that it has also observed that it will come along with some conditions. Owing to the fact that the ED is still investigating the Sukesh Chandrashekhar case, for which, she has been named as a witnessed, the court has laid certain guidelines for the actress including a FDR of Rs. 1 crore, in case she doesn’t return. As per the court order, the actress is also expected to give a full disclosure of her stay details in Dubai including itinerary, arrival, and departure. In the past too, Jacqueline Fernandez had filed a plea seeking permission to travel but had withdrawn the same. While the counsel argued that the actress decided to cooperate in the investigation and decided against traveling for personal reasons, the current reason for her to insist on leaving for Dubai is because of the professional repercussions she may face if she doesn’t attend the event. On the other hand, the ED opposed it not only stating that the case is still under investigation but also pointing out that Jacqueline is a foreign national which increases the threat of her fleeing. After listening to both arguments, the court upheld its decision of allowing Fernandez to travel for the conference but keeping in mind the ongoing investigation of the Sukesh Chandrashekhar Rs. 200 crore extortion case, the court has asked the actress to strictly adhere to the guidelines that have been laid down. For the unversed, Jacqueline Fernandez is being investigated for her alleged relationship with Sukesh Chandrashekhar. While the actress claims to be a victim of the conman, the Enforcement Directorate is investigating and has filed multiple chargesheets regarding the same. Also Read: Jacqueline Fernandez files new plea in Delhi court to fly to Dubai

Rashmika Mandanna, Alaya F join Alia Bhatt and others the list of Bollywood and South celebs in 30 Under 30

Last year, we saw the popularity of regional cinema, acceptance towards unconventional Bollywood films and audiences showering love on many of the younger generation of celebs. Celebrating the achievements of these young and popular artists, Eastern Eye presents the new annual list of 30 under 30 Asian celebs who have left a mark in the year 2022. While some of the names from last year’s list have retained their position this year too like Alia Bhatt, Ahan Shetty, musician Armaan Malik, and American-South actresss Avantika Vandanapu, the new names added to the list includes Alaya F, Akhil Akkineni and national crush Rashmika Mandanna. Readers would be aware that the fame of Rashmika Mandanna not increased ten folds due to the immense popularity of Pushpa: The Rise, but the actress added another feather to her cap by making her Bollywood debut and also being a part of two Bollywood films by far. Goodbye with stalwart Amitabh Bachchan and her recent release Mission Majnu with Sidharth Malhotra has only made her fan following in awe of her repertoire. Coming to Alaya F, the actress has made an impact with Freddy in which she essayed a grey character. The audiences appreciated her villainous role along with the young actress also leaving audiences swooning over fashion and style statements. She is currently gearing up for Anurag Kashyap’s modern day love saga Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat. As for Akhil Akkineni, the youngest son of Nagarjuna seems to be following the footsteps of his father and brother when it comes to stardom. While he is gearing up for the release of Agent alongside Dino Morea, Akhil, in the past, have managed to leave the Telugu audiences charmed with his adorable looks. Among celebs who have continued to gain the love and support from audiences and have been a part of this list yet again, Alia Bhatt has been in the limelight owing to her personal life because of her marriage, pregnancy, and becoming a mother, while, she has also achieved milestones in her career with Brahmastra releasing and her shooting for her Hollywood debut. As for other celebs, Armaan Malik has many new songs to his credit whereas Ahan Shetty and Avantika Vandanapu have continued to soar when it comes to their social media fan following. Also Read: From Ayesha Singh to Tejasswi Prakash, about eight television and OTT Indian stars make it to the 30 under 30 Asians list

From Ayesha Singh to Tejasswi Prakash, about eight television and OTT Indian stars make it to the 30 under 30 Asians list

The annual 30 under 30 lists have often featured Indian celebrities who have managed to break the mold and make a name, irrespective of the medium assorted with. From Bollywood superstar actresses to social media influencers and celebrities who have marked their presence, the list celebrates the achievements of these personas that have become trendsetters and won hearts and fans over a short period of time. While actresses like Ayesha Singh, Sumbul Touqeer Khan, Helly Shah, Asim Riaz, Debattama Saha, have been a part of the list before, names of popular star Tejasswi Prakash, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actress Pranali Rathod, and internet sensation Faisal Shaikh have been added to the list. In the 30 under 30 list this year, the latest achievements of these celebs is what have garnered them a special place in the list. Tejasswi Prakash, who is also known for her off screen romance with Karan Kundrra, is not only famous among #TejRan fans but she also managed to create a carve a niche for herself with the popularity of Naagin 7 in which she played a double role. On the other hand, Faisal Shaikh, took his internet popularity way further by becoming a reality show celebrity, not on OTT but on Television. While he has already explored the OTT space, he became a participant of the Indian version of Fear Factor, Khatron Ke Khiladi as well as the celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa that only added to his massive fan following. The list also includes Pranali Rathod, who started off with smaller shows, and suddenly shot to fame for playing Akshara Goenka Birla in the longest running television show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The actress’ chemistry with Harshad Chopda is much loved and it is important to note that she is playing the lead in one of the highest TRP-rated shows of national television. Talking about the rest of the names in the list, Ayesha Singh continues to be a part of Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin which has been adding to her popularity, along with Asim Riaz continues to garner a massive fan following on social media. Coming to the other achievements, Helly Shah managed to make her presence felt at Cannes last year, Debattama Saha is making her Bollywood debut with Kartik Aaryan starrer Shehzada, and Sumbul Touqeer Khan has taken her fame to the next level with Bigg Boss 16. Also Read: Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra pose for paps together as they get clicked in Bandra

Shah Rukh Khan’s first reaction to Pathaan box office performance, “You can’t plan your return”

Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback with Pathaan after over four years as the main lead hasn’t been any short of a dream so far. The film, which is directed by Siddharth Anand, is breaking new box office records both in Inadia and abroad. Amidst this, everyone has been eager to know SRK’s reaction to the crazy response to his film. Well, the Baadshah has finally reacted to the stupendous response the movie is getting. The 57-year-old actor, while acknowledging the response the film is getting, has said that he doesn’t believe that Pathaan is his comeback film. While sharing a dialogue from one of his favourite films, he wrote on social media, “Gattaca movie ‘I never saved anything for the swim back’. I think life is a bit like that…. You aren’t meant to plan your return…U r meant to move forward. Don’t come back…try to finish what u started. Just a 57yr olds’ advice things.” Gattaca movie “I never saved anything for the swim back” I think life is a bit like that….You aren’t meant to plan your return…U r meant to move forward. Don’t come back…try to finish what u started. Just a 57yr olds’ advice things. — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 27, 2023 As expected, SRK’s first reaction on Pathaan’s box office performance has sent his fans in a frenzy, which is indicated from the tremendous response the tweet is getting. Needless to say, his fans have flooded his comments section. As far as the Pathaan’s box office collection is concerned, it has earned a mammoth Rs 219.6 crores gross worldwide. The film’s total net collection in India in all languages is a whopping over Rs 125 crores. Produced by Aditya Chopra for Yash Raj Films, Pathaan is a spy action thriller also starring John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana. Also Read: Pathaan Box Office: Film crosses the Rs. 200 cr mark at the worldwide box office; collects Rs. 219.6 cr

Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films partners with author Harinder Sikka; acquires the rights of the novel "Vichhoda: In the Shadow of Longing"

Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films has announced its partnership with celebrated author Harinder Sikka. The company has acquired the rights to adapt Sikka's bestselling novel "Vichhoda: In the Shadow of Longing". This bestseller novel, which was first published in 2019, tells an untold story of strength, resilience, and sacrifice. Harinder’s first novel, “Calling Sehmat” was also adapted into a feature film Raazi, which was a blockbuster. Helmed by Meghna Gulzar, the film stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Maddock Films (@maddockfilms) "We are thrilled to be working with Harinder Sikha, one of the most talented and respected authors in the industry. His novel 'Vichhoda’ is a powerful and moving true story of deep love spanning a lifetime, we can’t wait to bring it to life” says Dinesh Vijan. ALSO READ: Dharmendra joins Kriti Sanon and Shahid Kapoor for Dinesh Vijan’s sci-fi romance

Post Pathaan release, Shah Rukh Khan to resume Jawan shoot on February 1; Sanya Malhotra to join the new schedule

With the release of Pathaan in cinemas worldwide, Shah Rukh Khan is soaring at the box office and has given a much-needed boost to even single screens. The film has collected Rs. 57 crores in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in India on the opening day. As the response continues to remain positive around the film, the actor is set to return to work after taking a one-month break for Pathaan. He will resume the shoot for Atlee Kumar’s Jawan on February 1, 2023. According to a report in Peeping Moon, Shah Rukh Khan returns to the sets of Jawan next week for a six-day schedule. The actor is expected to shoot major action sequences. Even Sanya Malhotra will be joining him for a short stint. The new schedule kicks off on January 31 and the team is currently prepping for the same. While SRK joins on February 1, Vijay Sethupathi and Priyamani will resume shooting later in February 2023 While Atlee Kumar and his team are working on post-production simultaneously, some bits of the Jawan shoot is left which will be wrapped by March 2023. The plan is to shoot in various cities. The commercial action entertainer also stars Nayanthara, Yogi Babu, Ridhi Dogra, and Sunil Grover. Red Chillies Entertainment presents Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead and produced by Gauri Khan. Jawan will be released on June 2, 2023, in five languages making it Shah Rukh Khan’s first pan-India film. Meanwhile, with Pathaan, Yash Raj Films kicks off the YRF Spy Universe. Shah Rukh Khan has obliterated the box office with his massive release. The film has already broken several opening day collection records of Hrithik Roshan starrer War (Rs. 53.35 crore) and Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2’s Hindi (Rs. 53.95 crore). Pathaan stars Shah Rukh Khan alongside Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. Helmed by Siddharth Anand of War fame, the film has arrived in theatres in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The film also stars Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia with the cameo of Salman Khan. ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut wants to rename Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan to ‘Indian Pathaan’; takes a dig saying ‘goonjega toh yahan sirf Jai Shri Ram’

Suniel Shetty’s family denies reports of Athiya Shetty-KL Rahul receiving luxurious gifts at their wedding: ‘Absolutely baseless and not true’

Actress Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul tied the knot this January 23 at Suniel Shetty's farmhouse in Khandala. The couple has been in a relationship for a long time and opted for an intimate wedding ceremony in presence of family and close friends. While not many celebrities were in attendance, it was reported that the couple received tremendous gifts which were in lakhs and crores. Several reports stated that Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul were gifted luxurious cars, bikes, watches and a flat. However, denying those reports, sources close to Suniel Shetty said, “All the reports published about the gifts are absolutely baseless and not true. We request the press fraternity to confirm details with us before publishing such incorrect information in the public domain.” Previous reports stated that Suniel Shetty gifted his daughter Athiya a luxurious apartment worth Rs. 50 crore in Mumbai. Salman Khan, who is a close friend of Suniel Shetty, gifted an Audi car to Athiya worth Rs. 1.64 crore. Jackie Shroff, who is another close friend of Shetty, gifted his daughter a Rs. 30 lakh Chopard watch. Arjun Kapoor, who is one of Athiya’s childhood friends and worked in Mubarakan together, gifted her a diamond bracelet worth Rs. 1.5 crore. It was also reported that KL Rahul’s friends from the cricket fraternity did not leave any stone unturned with their gifts galore. Former Indian Cricket team captain, star batsman and KL Rahul’s longtime friend Virat Kohli gifted him a BMW car worth Rs. 2.17 crore. Former Captain MS Dhoni was in attendance for the marriage ceremony and gifted Rahul with Kawasaki Ninja bike worth Rs. 80 lakh. According to an insider, the duo would be hosting a lavish post-wedding bash for all their industry friends and colleagues. Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul remained tight-lipped about their wedding. They have been together for a long time and their first official appearance was at the premiere of Athiya’s brother Ahan Shetty's debut film Tadap in Mumbai in 2021. ALSO READ: Athiya Shetty – KL Rahul Wedding: Suniel Shetty, Salman Khan give Rs. 50 crore flat & Audi; Virat Kohli gifts Rs. 2.17 Cr BMW car

9 Bajrang Dal activists detained for disrupting screening of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan in Faridabad

While a section of moviegoers is celebrating the return of Shah Rukh Khan on the big screen in the lead with Pathaan, some fringe groups across the country are still protesting against the film. For the unversed, ever since the makers dropped the song ‘Besharam Rang’ starring Deepika Padukone in a saffron-colour bikini, some ‘religious’ organisations, including Bajrang Dal, started the boycott call for the film. After all the protests, the film was released on the day it was slated to be, which was yesterday. However, Bajrang Dal continued to condemn the release of Pathaan even today. And, they did not stop there. In Faridabad, a bunch of their members disrupted a mall, in whose multiplex Pathaan was been screened. Reportedly, nine Bajrang Dal activists were detained in Faridabad for tearing posters of Pathaan and disrupting the film's screening at Crown Interiorz Mall. As per a report by ANI, on Wednesday, the manager of INOX in the mall registered a case that some miscreants have torn the posters of the Pathaan movie in the mall. Later, a local police team reached the spot immediately. It is said that the team has detained nine members of Bajrang Dal. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections including trespassing and an investigation is underway. Meanwhile, other accused are being identified through CCTV footage and the culprits will be sent behind bars for their hooliganism in Faridabad, stated the report. Speaking of the Siddharth Anand directorial, it has witnessed a record-breaking start at the box office. Besides SRK, the film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham whereas Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia are playing other significant characters. Going by the film’s day 1 report, it is expected to break numerous box office records. Also Read: Pathaan celeb review: Rajkummar Rao, Malaika Arora, Raveena Tandon and others heap praises on Shah Rukh Khan starrer

Parineeti Chopra receives the Outstanding Achievers award; pens heartfelt note

Parineeti Chopra, who recently returned to the big screen with Code Name: Tiranga and Uunchai, received a rare honour from the British Council. She has been conferred with the prestigious award for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Arts, Entertainment, and Culture. Expressing her gratitude towards it, the actress took to social media to share a heartfelt note about it. The Outstanding Achievement Award is conferred to individuals as an acknowledgement of their meritorious efforts in different fields of life. Parineeti Chopra took to Instagram to share a post wherein she thanked the British Council for presenting her with this honour saying, “Such an exciting development! I am honoured to be receiving the OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER AWARD in “Arts, Entertainment and Culture”, at the India UK Achievers Honours.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???? (@parineetichopra) She followed the announcement along with a thank you note saying, “Life has come full circle and I’m so glad to be back to where it all started! Having studied at Manchester Business School to be able to come back and receive this award at the UK Parliament is such an incredible, special feeling. So grateful to the British Council for this honour… I cannot wait to celebrate with my friends and family!” she signed off. Followed by her post, the actress received congratulatory messages from her fans across the world. While many of them showered their love by posting heart emojis, a few of them dropped comments like, “Congratulations well deserved.” One of them said, “I love you mam... my always favourite...” whereas another one expressed their pride adding, “Huge congratulations Pari <3” Talking about her work commitments, Parineeti Chopra has two biopics in the pipeline, Capsule Gill with Akshay Kumar as well as Imtiaz Ali’s Chamkila alongside Diljit Dosanjh. Also Read: Parineeti Chopra becomes a Master Scuba Diver; says, “My dream of 9 years has finally come true”

EXCLUSIVE: Aamir Khan’s sister Nikhat Khan Hegde plays Shah Rukh Khan’s foster mother in Pathaan

Shah Rukh Khan is back and how! Yesterday, fans thronged the theatres across the country as early as 6 in the morning to watch Shah Rukh Khan return to the big screen in a lead role with Pathaan. The anticipation was through the roof, social media pages were buzzing on the opening day and the fans are stoked to see SRK back in action. The film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham alongside Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia. Interestingly, SRK’s foster mother is played by Nikhat Khan Hegde. Bollywood Hungama can confirm that Aamir Khan’s sister Nikhat Khan Hegde plays Pathaan’s foster mother, an Afghani woman, in the film. In the movie, she not only calls Pathaan his son but also sies a taweez, an armband, during an emotional interaction in Afghanistan. Nikhat has been reposting video clips on her Instagram stories from audiences in theatres who were quick to recognize her. Last year, Nikhat Khan made her TV debut with the Star Plus show, Banni Chow Home Delivery. As an actor, she has worked on the films like Mission Mangal, Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior, and Saand Ki Aankh among others. She has also worked as a producer and has been the name behind many projects like Lagaan, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, and Tum Mere Ho, among others. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan stars alongside Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in Pathaan. Helmed by Siddharth Anand of War fame, the film has arrived in theatres in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. ALSO READ: 6 Years Of Raees: Mahira Khan celebrates the day by addressing Shah Rukh Khan as ‘My Pathaan’

Kangana Ranaut praises Pathaan’s box office performance, says, “Aisi filmein chalni chahiye”

Kangana Ranaut criticized the working style of Bollywood yesterday for its ‘obsession’ over box office figures on Twitter. The Twitterati felt this was an indirect attack on Pathaan, which was having a phenomenal opening day at the box office. However, hours later, the actress hailed the success of Pathaan and also highlighted that such films should do well at the box office. Speaking at the wrap-up party of her upcoming movie Emergency, Kangana said in a video surfaced online, “Pathaan film bhi achha kar rahi hai. Aisi filmein chalni chahiye. (Pathaan is doing well at the box office. Such films should do well). I feel the way Hindi cinema is lagging behind (in box office numbers), we should now try to come back to that level.” Kangana Ranaut - “Pathaan film bhi accha kar rahi hai, aisi filmein chalni chahiye.” pic.twitter.com/NaggjP0cXm — r ★ (@itzzRashmi) January 25, 2023 She was speaking in presence of veteran actor Anupam Kher, who plays a pivotal role in Emergency. As per a report in Indian Express, he added, “It (Pathaan) is a huge film, made on a huge budget.” Earlier in the day, Kangana posted a long tweet thread where she criticized the industry’s obsession with box office figures. She said that we never knew how classics like Pyaasa, Guide and Shri 420 did at the box office and while growing up she never came to know the numbers of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Hum Aapke Hain Koun. She also mentioned her films like Gangster, Fashion, Once Upon A Time In India and Queen in the same regard. Let’s track back when and how industry got obsessed with money. We don’t know how much money any of great classics Pyaasa/Guide/Shri 420 made. Growing up I never saw films that i liked DDLJ or HPHK had digits slapped on them after the weekend, I did Gangster i was told (cont) — Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 25, 2023 She ended the tweet thread saying, “So this digit drama has started only a decade ago, just how no individual should flash how much money they have/they made, no tackiness when it comes to films as well please. You made money good for you, now work on your next project. Even if you didn’t continue working please.” For those not in the know, Kangana was able to return to Twitter earlier this week after being banned from the platform in May 2021 for posting allegedly derogatory tweets. Also Read: Pathaan protests in MP: Home Minister Narottam Mishra says there is no point in protesting now

Yaariyan 2 starring Divya Khosla Kumar, Meezaan Jafri and Pearl V Puri to release in theatres on October 20, 2023

Yaariyan’s second installment, Yaariyan 2 starring Divya Khosla Kumar, Meezaan Jafri and Pearl V Puri will now release on 20th October 2023. The film also features an ensemble cast including Yash Das Gupta, Anaswara Rajan, Warina Hussain and Priya Varrier. Yaariyan 2 will be directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. In the first instalment of the film, Divya made her directorial debut with the college romance, and now she will be the one playing the lead in Yaariyan 2. Gulshan Kumar and T-Series present T-Series films and Rao & Sapru Films production titled Yaariyan 2. The movie which will hit theatres on 20th October 2023 is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Divya Khosla Kumar and Aayush Maheshwari and is directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan strike a pose; Meezaan Jaffery expresses excitement for Pathaan, see photo

Athiya Shetty – KL Rahul Wedding: Suniel Shetty, Salman Khan give Rs. 50 crore flat & Audi; Virat Kohli gifts Rs. 2.17 Cr BMW car

Making a lot of noise currently for their wedding is actress Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul, who tied the knot this January 23 at Suniel Shetty's farmhouse in Khandala. The couple has been in a relationship for a long time and opted for an intimate wedding ceremony in presence of family and close friends. While not many celebrities were in attendance, the couple received tremendous gifts. Several reports stated that Suniel Shetty gifted his daughter Athiya a luxurious apartment worth Rs. 50 crore in Mumbai. Salman Khan, who is a close friend of Suniel Shetty, gifted an Audi car to Athiya worth Rs. 1.64 crore. Jackie Shroff, who is another close friend of Shetty, gifted his daughter an Rs. 30 lakh Chopard watch. Arjun Kapoor, who is one of Athiya’s childhood friends and worked in Mubarakan together, gifted her a diamond bracelet worth Rs. 1.5 crore. It is also being reported that KL Rahul’s friends from the cricket fraternity did not leave any stone unturned with their gifts galore. Former Indian Cricket team captain, star batsman and KL Rahul’s longtime friend Virat Kohli gifted him a BMW car worth Rs. 2.17 crore. Former Captain MS Dhoni was in attendance for the marriage ceremony and gifted Rahul with a Kawasaki Ninja bike worth Rs. 80 lakh. On Wednesday, Suniel shared two new photos from the beautiful ceremony. In one of them, he and his wife Mana Shetty were emotional as they hugged Athiya. In another one, they were showering the newlyweds with flowers. According to an insider, the duo would be hosting a lavish post-wedding bash for all their industry friends and colleagues. Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul remained tight-lipped about their wedding. They have been together for a long time and their first official appearance was at the premiere of Athiya’s brother Ahan Shetty's debut film Tadap in Mumbai in 2021. ALSO READ: Ahan Shetty shares unseen photos from Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul wedding ceremony

Oscars 2023: Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes scores a nomination for India in Documentary Feature Film category

The 2023 Oscars are right around the corner. Before that, the nominations are an important milestone. The nominations for the 2023 Oscars are out and three of India’s projects were nominated. ‘Naatu Naatu’ from RRR for Best Original Song, The Elephant Whisperers for Best Documentary Short Film and Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes for Best Documentary Feature Film.

All That Breathes follows the story of two brothers Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad. In one of the world’s most populated cities, two brothers — Nadeem and Saud — devote their lives to the quixotic effort of protecting the black kite, a majestic bird of prey essential to the ecosystem of New Delhi that has been falling from the sky at alarming rates. Amid environmental toxicity and social unrest, the ‘kite brothers’ spend day and night caring for the creatures in their makeshift avian basement hospital.

Director Shaunak Sen explores the connection between the kites and the Muslim brothers who help them return to the skies, offering a mesmerizing chronicle of inter-species coexistence.

True story - your Documentary Feature nominees are... #Oscars #Oscars95 pic.twitter.com/NHf86Hskqw

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 24, 2023

On the nomination day, many team members met each other in New Delhi to watch the Oscars 2023 nominations while others including Shaunak Sen who is currently in Los Angeles joined via zoom call. Producer Aman Mann told News18, “It is very hard to describe what we all felt at the moment the nominations came through, the entire journey that film has had is extremely dream-like and we are just happy, relieved and grateful for how well the film has been accepted and appreciated. On behalf of the entire team, I can clearly say that it feels good to think that hopefully, this means that we were able to do justice to the story of our characters.”

The 95th Oscars ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will take place on March 12.

ALSO READ: Oscars 2023: Guneet Monga's The Elephant Whisperers bags the nomination in Documentary Short Film category

Oscars 2023: Guneet Monga's The Elephant Whisperers bags the nomination in Documentary Short Film category

Netflix’s The Elephant Whisperers bags the nomination for the 95th Oscars, Documentary Short Film. This documentary marks the directorial debut of Kartiki Gonsalves. The documentary is produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain under the banner of Sikhya Entertainment. The documentary was screened at the United States of America’s largest and most prestigious documentary festival - DOC NYC 2022 Film Festival on November, 10th 2022. The DOC NYC celebrates and supports the cultural shift of how documentary storytelling is flourishing like never before.

Producer Guneet Monga on The Elephant Whisperer getting nominated, “I feel so honoured to see The Elephant Whisperers reach the global stage with the 95th Oscar nominations as a producer and a filmmaker from India. It’s incredible to see how far our short documentary from the quaint town of Ooty has come. It is truly a testimony of the wonders that support from incredible platforms like Netflix can do. This is your soul and your story Kartiki Gonsalves, thank you for choosing us! We are over the moon that this year there are three nominations from India across categories at the Academy Awards and are being loved and watched around the world. My relentless team at Sikhya Entertainment, Achin Jain and incredible India which is full of colours and wonderful stories- this is for you.”

Director Kartiki Gonsalves on The Elephant Whisperer getting nominated, “It’s such an honour to have an Indian Indigenous documentary from the heart of South India acknowledged across the world. Thank you, members, of the Academy for nominating The Elephant Whisperers. I am very thankful to the wonderful team at Netflix for believing in the power of this truly unique family story which showcases the lovely sacred bond between man and animal. The Elephant Whisperers is a hopeful story of respect for and cooperation with nature in an era rife with conflict and denial of the threats to our beautiful planet.’ We hope this film helps create more awareness, empathy, and connection to elephants and other living beings that we share our spaces with. It took five years to make my debut documentary The Elephant Whisperers, a long personal journey from the place I call home, that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Kattunayakan Community, who opened their hearts and trusted us with their unique experiences and a pathway ahead. On behalf of Bomman, Bellie and our beautiful elephant friends Raghu and Ammu, we are thrilled to receive this great honour!”

This is Sikhya Entertainment’s second run at the Oscars, and Guneet's third (Period. End of Sentence won the Documentary Short category in 2019 and Guneet Monga’s Kavi was nominated in 2010).

The Elephant Whisperers is a heartwarming story of an indigenous couple who have been given an orphaned elephant, Raghu to look after. The story follows the couple's journey as they relentlessly work to ensure Raghu’s recovery and survival. The short documentary beautifully stitches the tale of how the couple falls in love with the majestic creature along the course of time. Set against the background of life in the wild spaces of South India The Elephant Whisperers highlights the beauty of exotic wildlife, unforgettable wild spaces, and the people and animals who share this space. It is available on Netflix.

ALSO READ: Guneet Monga writes an EMOTIONAL letter ahead of her wedding, “I have found my Raj!”

SCOOP: Salman Khan makes a SMASHING ENTRY as Tiger in the second half of Pathaan

If you watch Pathaan and don't find Salman Khan in the first half of the film, then we advice you to not be disappointed. Bollywood Hungama has exclusively discovered that Salman Khan aka. Tiger makes a smashing entry in the second half of the film to rescue Pathaan aka. Shah Rukh Khan from a goon of Russian mafia.

According to a source close to the development, Salman Khan has an extraordinary screen presence as Tiger in his 15-minute-long action packed extended appearance in Siddharth Anand's Pathaan. "From helicopter, to guns and hand to hand combats - you will see Salman Khan acing the space that he excels in to rescue his friend Shah Rukh Khan from tough times of being trapped by Russian Mafia," a source told Bollywood Hungama.

The two superstars have a dynamic presence in the film leaving the fans asking for more and more of the two. "And that combo will be back soon in a full-fledged film, as a crossover of Tiger and Pathaan is in the making. The idea of Aditya Chopra is to celebrate two of Hindi Cinema's biggest megastars - Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan," the source told us further.

Pathaan is an extension of YRF spy universe that kicked off with Ek Tha Tiger in 2012, followed by Tiger Zinda Hai and War. While it all started with the Salman Khan film, the superstar is now being joined by Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Shah Rukh Khan in this action packed universe, which is undoubtedly the biggest universe of Hindi cinema. Meanwhile, Pathaan has taken an earth-shattering opening at the box office.

Also Read: Confirmed! Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan teaser to be attached with SRK’s Pathaan

Pathaan Row: Factions withdraw protests against the Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone film after CBFC ruling

Readers would recall that multiplex owners in Gujarat had requested police protection owing to the massive controversy that followed the release of the song ‘Besharam Rang’ from Pathaan. Many Hindu faction groups raised objection over the visual content of the romantic dance number, picturized on Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. However, with the film only being a day away from its release, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other groups have asserted that they wouldn’t protest against the release after CBFC made modifications to the said track from the film.

In a recent statement released by the Gujarat VHP secretary Ashok Raval, he has congratulated the team of Bajrang Dal, further adding about how their protests prompted the Censor Board to revise the song and eliminate the obscenity and lewd words from the film. He explained as to how the CBFC modified its certification and has added over 40 changes in the film including the song ‘Besharam Rang’. He also mentioned that the decision comes as a success to the struggle that aims at protecting the religion and culture of Hinduism. In the same breath, he continued that while the struggle will continue, they have withdrawn the protest and has now left the choice to watch the film on the audiences.

This definitely comes as a relief to Yash Raj Films since the film hits the big screen tomorrow. Pathaan marks the comeback of Shah Rukh Khan on the big screen after four years and features Deepika Padukone in the role of a spy too. It has John Abraham essaying the role of antagonist and is directed by Siddharth Anand. The action entertainer will release on January 25 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, worldwide.

Also Read:#AskSRK: Pathaan star Shah Rukh Khan says it feels like ‘balancing act’ on the edge of his balcony whenever he greets the fans

EXCLUSIVE: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs winner Jetshen Dohna Lama reveals that ‘rock songs’ were her biggest strength

Readers would be aware that the weekend saw the grand finale of Zee TV’s popular kids singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs Season 9 which finally came to an end this weekend. With the iconic actor Jackie Shroff joining the judges Shankar Mahadevan, Neeti Mohan, and Anu Malik, the finale saw some stupendous performances from children on the show. And eventually, the Sikkimese girl Jetshen Dohna Lama was crowned the winner after three months of the show. Talking exclusively to Bollywood Hungama, the little girl shared her experience of winning her first reality show.

Readers would recall that Jetshen Dohna Lama has remained to be not only the audience’s favourite but also been a consistent performer throughout the season. “Rock songs has always been my strength,” confessed the Season  9 Li’l Champ in the Bollywood Hungama interview, adding that it was one of the major reasons why she believed she had a tad bit of an upper hand compared to her competitors. Now that the show has come to an end, she is a little upset about missing her friends, her judges, and everyone on the sets. “They will all be always be memorable. I am going to miss all of them,” she added.

Recalling her wonderful experiences on the show, Jetshen shared that she has learnt quite a bit of lessons from her mentors. “I have learnt a lot of things from my mentors. They have taught me the little things about music about the right way to ‘riyaz’, how much should I practice before performances etc. I think there are too many things to list.” She also reminisced about her moments on stage and opened up about her personal favourite performance.

“It was ‘Bheegi Bheegi Si Hai’ (Gangster). It is such a lovely song and had ample of variations. I thoroughly enjoyed performing it on stage because of the way the song flows,” concluded the singing star.

On the other hand, finalists Harsh Sikandar and Dnyaneshwari Ghadge were announced as the first and second runners-up of the show respectively.

Also Read: Jackie Shroff gets moved by a 9-year-old singer’s plight in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs, announces benefits for him

Athiya Shetty tied the knot with K L Rahul, confirms Suniel Shetty; brother Ahan Shetty distributes sweets to the media

For the past few days, the paparazzi couldn’t stop talking about yet another cricket-Bollywood pairing – Athiya Shetty and K.L. Rahul. The two of them have been dating for about three years and ever since the New Years, reports of their marriage failed to die down. Finally, after several reports surfaced online about their ceremony, a day ago, star Suniel Shetty aka Anna interacted with the media where he confirmed his daughter’s wedding festivities. The wedding was held at his palatial farmhouse in Khandala and now it seems that the rituals have ended.

Suniel Shetty and his actor-son Ahan Shetty visited the media who have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bride and groom after the ceremony, outside their bungalow Jahaan in Khandala. They distributed sweets and even expressed their happiness over the wedding of Athiya, confirming that the rituals have come to an end. In the interaction with the media earlier this weekend, Suniel Shetty had also confirmed that the bride and groom will soon arrive to meet the paparazzi waiting outside.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bollywood Hungama???? (@realbollywoodhungama)

We had earlier reported that the pre-wedding festivities began during the weekend wherein even a quintessential sangeet was held and it was being said that guests were danced the night away, until wee hours of dawn. However, let us also remind you that their wedding is a rather low key affair with only a few close friends, family making it to the functions. The attendance from the cricket and Bollywood has been kept at bare minimum since the couple wanted the wedding to a private and intimate affair.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bollywood Hungama???? (@realbollywoodhungama)

However, it was being said that Athiya Shetty and K. L. Rahul have decided to host a grand reception to celebrate their marriage with the industry colleagues and prestigious names from both the industries are expected to be a part of this bash.

Also Read: Photos: Suniel Shetty and Ahan Shetty meet media post KL Rahul – Athiya wedding

Nawazuddin Siddiqui – Bhumi Pednekar starrer Afwaah to release in theatres on February 24, 2023

The makers of the upcoming thriller Afwaah, Anubhav Sinha and Sudhir Mishra are all set to release their film on the big screen on February 24, 2023. The film has already grabbed everyone’s attention with its quirky pairing of power performers Nawazuddin Siddiqui, & Bhumi Pednekar and is now gearing up for theatrical release.

Producer Anubhav Sinha says, “Working on Afwaah was creatively fulfilling as a producer. Sudhir and I have been friends for many years and I am happy to bring this film to the audience. It is an intriguing story and the performances of powerhouse talents like Bhumi and Nawaz only add weightage and gravitas to the characters. ”

Director Sudhir Mishra shares, “Afwaah is a thriller which speaks of a very important message in the current times. I am glad that the release date is finally out and I am really looking forward to its release. The super-talented combo of Bhumi and Nawaz have given their best to this unconventional story and I am sure the audience is going to love watching them on the big screen.”

Producer Bhushan Kumar adds "Afwaah is a very unique story set in the roots of India and I am really glad to be associating with the team. The power-packed team of Afwaah has done a brilliant job and this is something that will be worth a watch for movie lovers. I am happy to present it to the audience.”

Directed by Sudhir Mishra, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar, Sharib Hashmi, Sumit Kaul, Sumeet Vyas, Rockey Raina, and TJ Bhanu. Afwaah is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Anubhav Sinha's Benaras Mediaworks. The film is set for a theatrical release on February 24, 2023.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Bhumi Pednekar on pay parity in Bollywood: ‘If the budget is Rs. 125 crore, the males get a good two-digit figure but then they want me to be thankful’