Aditya Chopra pens a note as his Broadway musical Come Fall In Love, inspired by DDLJ to open at San Diego on September 14

Inspired by one of the biggest hits in Indian cinema, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the Broadway musical Come Fall In Love by Aditya Chopra is all set to premiere in the US. The show will open in San Diego on September 14 and will continue till October 16. Along with a special note by Aditya Chopra, the news was posted on the official Instagram account of Yash Raj Films. For the uninitiated, the original Bollywood film featured Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the lead and released was in 1995.

Yash Raj Films shared the news on social media saying, “Aditya Chopra’s Broadway-bound musical Come Fall In Love (CFIL) is set to open at The Old Globe, San Diego on September 14. Here’s his note inviting people to see a celebration of love on stage… The musical’s official Opening is on Wednesday, September 14, and will run through October 16. #ComeFallInLove @theoldglobe”. Explaining how close Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is to his heart, Aditya Chopra penned the note saying, “I first conceived the story of DDLJ (even before it was called DDLJ) as a Hollywood story of a white American man and an Indian woman. My main motivation at that time was to present Indian culture and values to a global audience. Years later, as I reimagine the story as a Broadway musical. My mainstay is still the same, showcasing Indian culture to a world audience. And the most powerful way to depict a country’s culture and values is to see it from the perspective of someone who does not belong to the same culture. That is the starting point of Come Fall In Love, the story of Indian Simran, her culture and heritage through the eyes of American Roger.”

He went on to share, “Come Fall In Love is the story of Simran, an Indian American. She is at the center of the musical’s story, as she struggles to balance her love for Indian tradition and her family with her love for Roger. He is a white American man who falls madly in love with Simran and then falls in love with her culture and her country. He aspires towards India and finds a new version of himself in India’s energy, values, and way of life.”

“I’m not directing DDLJ for Broadway. I’m adapting it as Come Fall In Love to tell the story of how powerful love is in unifying cultures, especially today. In 2022, the notion that DDLJ could be adapted to present a vision of diverse cultures coming together in a story that celebrates love and the power it has to unify everyone moves me greatly. For me, Austin Colby as Roger and Shoba Narayan as Simran are the perfect vehicles to drive home this message of cultural unification in a fragmented world. They are joined by a cast, crew, and creative team that represents all that extraordinary talent Indian cinema and Broadway has to offer. The representation and artistry of India reverberates through every part of this production. Come Fall In Love is not only my heartfelt vision of ‘love in every color’ as the musical’s finale puts it, but a celebration of joy, togetherness, and inclusivity in a divisive and an increasingly toxic world of intolerance. It is also my love letter to India and the Indian heritage we carry with us wherever we may be,” he added.

“In making a new DDLJ for a new moment and new audience, I’ve departed from some aspects of the films that our fans revere. But I believe that the heart of Come Fall In Love beats with everything that is essential in DDLJ even as it speaks, sings and dances to this moment, in a different place and time, with hope, optimism, and love. I look forward to sharing Come Fall In Love with those who cherish DDLJ and I'm also looking forward to introducing the story to audiences discovering it for the first time. I'm well aware that DDLJ has a special place for many Indians living across the world and, as its original producer and director, I'm well aware of the responsibility I have in representing India to the world. I'm grateful, humbled, and excited by this opportunity. Hope I see you at the theatre and we can, together, celebrate the magnetic force of love that can shatter all barriers,” he concluded by signing off as Aditya Chopra.

 

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Speaking of the film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was record breaking success and the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema. The film has been screened at Maratha Mandir in Mumbai for over 19 years.

Also Read: “Come Fall in Love is a heartfelt and relevant show that explores the importance of inclusivity” – Simran of Aditya Chopra’s Broadway debut, Shoba Narayan, opens up about how the musical is celebrating diversity

Ranveer Singh kicks off the new campaign with Adidas Original; actor to appear with football icon Karim Benzema

Ranveer Singh is the brand ambassador of Adidas Originals in India. Some global celebrities with iconic status like the legendary French footballer Karim Benzema, Argentinian DJ and producer Bizzarap, and multi-hyphenate Brazilian performer Anitta have been roped in for a whole new campaign which focuses on paying homage to the Bollywood actor’s journey.

A source close to the brand informed about the details of the new campaign saying, “Ranveer stands amongst a list of celebrities whose choices and personalities are adored and followed by people all over the world. This ‘Made Originals’ campaign will pay homage to his journey and the uniqueness of his achievements. A salute to iconic footwear and a brand that resonates with youth globally, Ranveer will front this campaign because of his versatility and cultural adaptability.”

Ranveer Singh shared his thoughts on the campaign, saying, “My journey with Adidas Originals goes right back to my college days when I purchased my first pair of Superstars. Such classics have been an integral part of street culture, and they are nowhere near done making history. With this campaign, I am excited to push beyond our boundaries and usher in a new era of originality as a tribute to these iconic sneakers and especially the brand new NMD_V3 silhouette.”

 

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On the work front, Ranveer Singh will next be seen in the Rohit Shetty directorial Cirkus that also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Pooja Hegde. The actor will also reunite with his Gully Boy actress Alia Bhatt for the Karan Johar directorial Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The film also features an ensemble cast of veteran stars like Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, and Jaya Bachchan. While Cirkus is expected to release this year, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani is expected to hit the big screens next year.

Also Read: Ranveer Singh wants to go on a holiday to Yas Island with his fans; here’s how you can be part of it

House Of The Dragon renewed for second season after record breaking premiere of season 1

The legacy of the house of fire and blood unravelled on August 22 on Disney+ Hotstar as the much-awaited HBO series, House of the Dragon, premiered in full glory. Based on George R.R. Martin's book Fire and Blood, the 10-episode series is the remarkable, turbulent story of the House of Targaryen, set 200 years before the events that captivated global audiences in Game of Thrones.

Now, the series has been renewed for season 2 right after the premiere of season 1. “We are beyond proud of what the entire House of the Dragon team has accomplished with season one,” told Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming to The Hollywood Reporter. “Our phenomenal cast and crew undertook a massive challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as must-see-TV. A huge thank you to [co-creator and executive producer George R.R. Martin and co-creator and showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik] for leading us on this journey. We couldn’t be more excited to continue bringing to life the epic saga of House Targaryen with season two.”

Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon on HBO achieved a record-setting audience as nearly 10 million viewers (9.986 million) watched the premiere on Sunday night. As per latest update, the premiere episode has been seen by over 20 million viewers.

Fire reigns. #HouseoftheDragon has been renewed for Season 2. pic.twitter.com/6CxhzC7SKv

— House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) August 26, 2022

The series is a gripping saga that takes us deep into the extraordinary world of Westeros and explores the Targaryen family - the all-powerful dragon riders who are the seemingly invincible rulers of the seven kingdoms. Bitter rivalries, jealousy, lust, the quest for power, and betrayal will tear the Targaryens apart and threaten to destroy a dynasty that has ruled unchallenged for a century.

Directed by Miguel Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel and Greg Yaitanes, with George R. R. Martin, Ryan Condal, and Miguel Sapochnik along with Sara Hess, Vince Gerardis and Ron Schmidt, helming as executive producers. Even though the series is a prequel to Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has an individual storyline with new characters played by an impressive cast, including Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, and Sonoya Mizuno.

Also Read: House of the Dragon becomes HBO’s biggest series premiere with nearly 10 million viewers

Gauahar Khan reacts to Ranbir Kapoor apologizing about his ‘phailoed’ comment on wife Alia Bhatt and she has an advice for them

TV and Bollywood actress Gauahar Khan, who is also quite popular on social media, took to the platform, reacting to the recent apology given by Ranbir Kapoor on a comment he made on Alia Bhatt. The actress, in her post, mentioned that people in recent times have become too sensitive and are quick to react to even jokes that are cracked between a couple. In her statement, she also asked people to take things a little more lightly and sportingly.

Taking to Twitter, Gauahar Khan posted, “Aaj kal log kuch zyaada hi sensitive ho gaye hain. Ab apni biwi se kuch halka phulka mazaak karne pe bhi paabandi hai , kya pata kaun kahaan pe offend ho jaaye. (These days, people have become over-sensitive. There are restrictions on even joking about little things with your wife. Because you never know, who gets offended by it.) Take a chill pill yaar, take light, it will resolve a lot of the issues in the world,” she said.

Aaj kal log kuch zyaada hi sensitive ho gaye hain . Ab apni biwi se kuch halka phulka Mazaak karne pe bhi paabandi hai , kya pata kaun kahaan pe offend ho jaaye . Take a chill pill yaar , take light , it will resolve a lot of the issues in the world .

— Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) August 25, 2022

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are currently promoting their film Brahmastra. In an Instagram chat with fans, the actor referred to his wife’s baby bump and said, “Well I can say somebody has phailoed” (aka inflated) as a joke. But it seems that the comment did not go down well with social media users who trolled the actor and called the statement, misogynistic, insulting, and in bad taste.

Following the uproar, Ranbir Kapoor clarified it during the South leg promotions of Brahmastra. He said, “Firstly, I love my wife with everything I have in my life. It's a joke that didn't turn out to be funny. It wasn't my intention. I spoke to Alia about it later and she laughed it off. My sense of humour falls flat on my face sometimes. I apologize to those who got offended by it."

Coming to Brahmastra, the film is a fantasy adventure drama based on Indian mythology. Featuring an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, and Mouni Roy along with Ranbir and Alia, it will also have Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in pivotal cameos. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, it is produced by Dharma Productions and is slated to release on September 9 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor apologises for ‘phailaod’ comment made on Alia Bhatt: ‘My sense of humour falls flat on my face sometimes’

Raju Srivastava still on ventilator; daughter Antara Srivastava denies rumours of him gaining consciousness

Just a day ago, news of Raju Srivastava gaining consciousness went viral after certain reports claimed that the actor-comedian has come out of ventilator. However, denying these, daughter Antara Srivastava took to Instagram to share a note where she not only updated everyone about Raju’s health condition but also requested them to only believe statements given by family members and doctors. However, in the note, Antara did assure fans and well-wishers that the actor-comedian’s health is indeed improving.

Antara Srivastava took to the official Instagram account of Raju Srivastava to share a note saying, “Dear all well-wishers, My dad Raju Srivastava Ji’s condition is stable and he continues to recover slowly. He is on the ventilator at the moment.” The clarification statement came after the personal secretary of Raju Srivastava, Garvit Narang assured everyone that the actor-comedian is out of ventilator and gained consciousness in a statement given to news agency ANI.

Furthermore, Antara, in her note, also requested everyone to only trust information that is given by AIIMS hospital in Delhi and the official social media accounts of Raju Srivastava. “Only statements from AIIMS Delhi and Raju Ji’s official social media accounts are trustworthy and genuine. Any other news or statements from anyone else is unreliable. The doctors and their entire team at AIIMS Delhi are working hard and diligently. We’re thankful to them and his well-wishers. Request you all to continue your love and prayers for his speedy recovery,” the statement concluded.

 

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For the uninitiated, Raju Srivastava was admitted to AIIMS Delhi after the actor-comedian collapsed during his gym training session on August 10 due to cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the hospital by his trainer and later, the doctors had to perform CPR at least twice to recover his heartbeat. Followed by the incident, the actor-comedian is also said to have suffered brain damage and is currently on ventilator.

Also Read: Comedian-actor Raju Srivastava gains consciousness after 15 days

Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer The Bypass to be screened at the Bandra Film Festival

Late Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer The Bypass will be screened at the Bandra Film Festival under the theme Hidden Gems and will release on August 30, 2022. Written and directed by Amit Kumar, The Bypass is a 2003 short silent Bollywood film that was shot on a stranded road in Rajasthan. Having no dialogues, this short only features some spectacular and raw performances of actors.

The film was earlier screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Aubagne Film Festival. The Bypass is about two friends played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sundar Dan who frequently mug and ultimately kill the people who travel by the nearby road and Irrfan Khan played the role of a corrupt police officer.

Director Amit Kumar spoke about the screening, saying, “In my first film, The Bypass, I had the honour of bringing two great actors together - Irrfan Khan and Nawaz. It was one of those times when everything came together perfectly: the fabulous cast, the wonderful crew and the evocative locations. My film is also a tribute to the silent era, where acting chops, a strong script and visual storytelling were the most important tools of filmmaking. Not only did this allow me to work with my Uncle and early inspiration, Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, AKA Baba, it was also an exciting early step in my creative collaboration with my friend from our film school times- the Oscar winning Asif Kapadia.  Who knew we’d still be happily collaborating nearly 20 years later! With so many happy memories attached to it, it’s great to see the film get another run after so many years. Bandra Film Festival is doing a fabulous job of showcasing interesting films which may not have had an exposure in the mainstream."

British filmmaker & producer of The Bypass Asif Kapadia shared, "The Bypass was a key moment in my journey as a filmmaker, it was a long time ago, but it still feels so vivid, the crazy experience far off the beaten track in the burning hot desert. Was it a dream? Or a nightmare? For a film to bring together the late great, dearly loved and missed Irrfan, and the fantastic Nawaz at the start of his incredible career. My good friend Amit (bhai) Kumar writing and directing, what I think is his best film, because it was made with no compromises.  It was a family affair with Rajeev Ravi as cinematographer, Oscar winner Dario Marianelli as composer. BAFTA winner Andy Shelley editing and creating the sound design. What a cast and crew!! I feel the only true way to judge a film, any film, is to see if it stands the test of time, and The Bypass does, with flying colours. It is still as brilliant, tough, shocking and raw as the day it was completed. It’s pure cinema, it’s perfect and like all great cinema it deserves to be seen by audiences far and wide."

The Film Festival which has Abhay Deol and Assem Chhabra on its advisory board kick-started in February 2021, showcasing almost 100 films from filmmakers across the country cutting across genres, languages and formats and it is currently in its second year.

Also Read: Irrfan Khan was to supposed play Krishna’s Radha and Duryodhana in Qissa director Anup Singh’s next

Saiyami Kher to pair up with Pratik Gandhi for next project titled Agni

Saiyami Kher has interesting projects in the pipeline. There are talks of the actor collaborating with Pratik Gandhi for her next project. For the uninitiated, Pratik is best known for portraying Harshad Mehta in Sony Liv series Scam 1992. The said film has been titled as Agni and will be produced by Excel Entertainment whereas it will be directed by filmmaker Rahul Dholakia.

A source close to the team confirmed the developments adding, “Saiyami and Pratik are collaborating on the project, which will be produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment and will be directed by Raees movie director Rahul Dholakia. The film’s title is Agni which also stars Divyendu Sharma as one of the leads. It is based on firefighters and their challenges. While not much of the details of the project are known, the film has already gone on floors. Most of the shooting will be happening in Mumbai and Delhi.”

The team of Agni already kicked off the first shoot schedule of the film earlier this month. Interestingly, this is not the first project of the two actors together. Last year, Saiyami Kher and Pratik Gandhi collaborated for a podcast titled Gangistan which is streaming on Spotify.

On the work front, Saiyami Kher will soon be seen in the third instalment of popular web series Breathe into the Shadows. She also has a film titled Ghoomer, where she will feature opposite Abhishek Bachchan and it is directed by R Balki.

Also Read: Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher star in first look of R. Balki’s Ghoomer, see photo