Katrina Kaif's action scene with the song, ‘Noor’, in the background from Tiger Zinda Hai is amongst the most powerful sequences featuring a female lead over the last 20 years. The actress pulled off some larger than life stunts with utmost conviction and proved why she is among the fittest actresses of Indian cinema. Five years after the film, the actress is all ready to step into the shoes of Zoya again in Tiger 3.
"Katrina as Zoya is among the most iconic characters of her career and for Tiger 3, the makers have devised a massive action sequence featuring her character. It's said to be the biggest action scene of Katrina's career and she will be seen performing some never seen before stunts in the schedule," a trade source told Bollywood Hungama, adding further that Katrina has been silently working towards her physique to do all the stunts by herself.
"Katrina at present is in the best shape too, and it's a result of all the hard work that she has put in as a part of her prep for Tiger 3. She values the character of Zoya and wants to take the bar a notch higher with the third part. The action scene in question is a solo action set piece featuring her, which is the biggest ever for a female lead in Indian cinema," the source informed. According to the source, Kat will be a part of many more action scenes in Tiger 3 alongside Salman Khan, who spearheads the franchise.
"Watch out for the banter between two ISI agents - Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi," the source shared. Tiger 3 is currently being shot in Mumbai and this will be followed by a marathon schedule abroad from the second half of August. The movie is confirmed for a 2022 release in cinema halls across the globe.
Also Read: Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif amp up fitness quotient for action scenes in Tiger 3
On Friday, July 23, Ronnie Screwvala and Harman Baweja announced that they have signed Kartik Aaryan for Captain India, which will be directed by Hansal Mehta. The next day, producer Subhash Kale accused them of plagiarism and claimed that the plot of the film is similar to that of their project, Operation Yemen. Subhash Kale’s film, which will be directed by editor-turned-director Sanjay Sankla is about Operation Raahat, a 2015 operation wherein the Indian Armed Forces under the leadership of General V K Singh evacuated Indian and foreign citizens from Yemen during the Yemeni crisis.
When Bollywood Hungama reached out to Subhash Kale, he said, “We have been working since 2016 on this project. The cousin of our director Sanjay Sankla was the pilot on this mission. Sanjay Sankla has been a reputed editor and has worked on nearly 95 films. He researched extensively and when he narrated the idea to me, I said that we should work on it as it’s an interesting subject. We took 9 months to pen the script. We even got Mission Mangal (2019) writer Nidhi Singh Dharma on board. Our pre-production was nearly done. I wonder where the idea got leaked from. This episode is in the public domain but we were the first ones to register at the Screenwriters Association (SWA).”
Subhash Kale even claims, “Captain India waalon ne toh script likhna shuru bhi nahi kiya.” And then adds, “They had dates of Kartik Aaryan. The idea has not leaked from our side because we have signed a confidentiality agreement with everyone associated.”
The announcement press release of Captain India doesn’t mention that the Kartik Aaryan starrer is based on Operation Raahat. When asked about this, Subhash Kale reasoned, “Yes but the city of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen is visible on their poster, just like how it’s depicted in our poster as well. And that city’s architecture and landscape are such that it doesn’t match with any other city in the world. Also, the poster shows carpet-bombing happening over the city, an aeroplane going over Sana'a and the title Captain India are clear giveaways that their film is based on the same incident.”
Subhash Kale also said that he hasn’t reached out to the makers of Captain India, “Hansal ji is my friend. But maine unse iske baare mein baat nahi ki. Baat karke kya karenge? And anyway, hum unki film pe stay toh laayenge hi. IMPAA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association) has said that they’ll bring a stay on this film. T P Aggarwal and advocate Ashok Saraogi have confirmed. Screenwriters Association has told us that once Captain India makers reveal the film’s plot on social media, they’ll take action. Even if the scripts of both films are different, the storyline would be the same and hence both films would also be similar. Do same picture toh nahi ban sakti. It’ll then become a repeat of Scam 1992 (2020) and The Big Bull (2021) episode.” Interestingly, Scam 1992 was also helmed by Hansal Mehta.
Subhash Kale then revealed that reputed actors had shown interest in Operation Yemen, “We had spoken to Akshay Kumar and he had liked the subject. Paresh Rawal has even given his nod. So we have moved quite ahead and we’ll do the film, come what may. Captain India makers plan to shoot in 2022. We hope to film from November or December 2021.”
Subhash Kale then tells us, “We were only waiting for the actors to sign on the dotted line and come on board. We had also approached Ranbir Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. We spoke to Vicky Kaushal through his father Sham Kaushal ji. Vicky liked the subject but his dates were not available. We hope to launch a poster after signing the actors. Akshay ji said he’ll have a narration after returning from London, and then decide whether he wants to come on board. He had met Sanjay Sankla. Both have a great relationship and Sanjay had edited several of his films like Rowdy Rathore (2012).”
He continued, “For the role of V K Singh, we spoke to Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Boman Irani. All three were interested to do the film. We were zeroing on Paresh ji as his age is apt for the part. He had told us to send the script today, which we’ll do. Mostly Paresh ji toh haan hi bolenge. If Akshay ji comes on board, we’ll shoot in 2022 as he doesn’t have dates. He got interested due to its patriotic theme.”
Subhash Kale heads Vikrant Studio, one of the top VFX studios in Bollywood. They plan to put their resources to good use for Operation Yemen. He said, “We are working on virtual technology in this film. Ronnie Screwvala won’t be able to do the same because only we have that facility. So we plan to create virtual sets of the airport and also the aeroplane. We even plan to show Sana'a city through CGI. We have spoken to a team in Turkey about it. The aim is to make a film matching international standards.”
Richa Chadha and Pratik Gandhi are all set to share screen for the upcoming web series Six Suspects. The duo will be seen playing investigating officers in the series directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. Six Suspects is an adaptation of author Vikas Swarup's 2008 novel of the same name. The show has been produced by Ajay Devgn Ffilms and Reel Life Entertainment and will soon be streamed on Disney+Hotstar.
On Friday, Richa and Pratik took to their Instagram handles to share their first look as investigating officers in Six Suspects. Sharing the first look, Richa wrote, "The murkiest murder I have ever investigated. There are six suspects but very little time. Will I be able to solve this? Watch me on Six Suspects, a crime thriller all set to blow your minds. Coming soon on Disney+Hotstar!"
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During a virtual event hosted by Disney+ Hotstar, Richa said, "My part in Six Suspects is extremely layered and complex. She is an upright investigating officer who is trying to make it work in the male-dominated investigation space... I have wanted to work with Tigmanshu Dhulia for a while, since Paan Singh Tomar. This is also based on a good book. So you will see a lot of shades in my character."
Talking about his character, Pratik said, "The genre is also something that I have not explored. I am sure the audience will see me in a new avatar. Even I was surprised with myself while I was shooting for the show because I have not played a part like this."
ALSO READ: Richa Chadha joins official jury of the Short Film Section of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
Mann ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 is the sequel of the popular drama Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya which aired on Star Plus from 2009 to 2012. The first garnered immense popularity for Pratigya's character of a bold and strong woman (played by Pooja Gour). While it got also popular for Pratigya and Krishna's chemistry(played by Arhan Behl).
Seeing the popular demand, the makers Rajan Shahi and Pearl Grey decide to come back with its sequel. While most of the cast including Arhan and Pooja were the same, it didn't really manage to win the audience's heart, unlike its first season.
Now, according to a tabloid, the show will go off air next week as it is not doing well in the TRP charts. A source close to the show has informed the tabloid that the sequel has not done well in terms of the rating ever since it was launched. Several tracks were introduced to spice up the show but nothing worked. The makers also introduced a year's leap but even that didn't work. Eventually, after experimenting with various tracks, this decision was taken to wrap up the show in the next few days. The news has also shattered the entire cast and crew of the show. The show will air its final episode next weekend.
Akshay Kumar’s Bellbottom arrives on the big screen this August 19th! The actor took to social media on Friday, Julu 30 to make the announcement along with a video.
"Mission: To Entertain you on the BIG SCREEN. Date: August 19, 2021. Announcing the arrival of #BellBottom! #BellBottomInCinemasAug19," he wrote on Twitter.
Mission: To Entertain you on the BIG SCREEN
Date: August 19, 2021
Announcing the arrival of #BellBottom! #BellBottomInCinemasAug19@vashubhagnani @humasqureshi @LaraDutta @ranjit_tiwari @jackkybhagnani @honeybhagnani @monishaadvani @madhubhojwani @nikkhiladvani @EmmayEntertain pic.twitter.com/4z9jCdmJj3— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 30, 2021
Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, the spy thriller was shot extensively in Scotland. It is written by Aseem Arrora & Parveez Shaikh. Produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikkhil Advani, Bell Bottom also stars Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi.
With the focus of creating content for all mediums, Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP continues to change the landscape of content consumption in the country with another announcement. Directed and show run by Rensil D'Silva, this multi-season series Panthers stays raw and rooted to the Indo - Pak spy games of the late '60s and early '70s. The 45 minute-episodic thriller follows the exploits of RAW heroes of the bygone era as they follow clues, nab their targets, gather information, and link together the pieces of the puzzle.
Interestingly, a major highlight of the series is the conspiracy surrounding Rajiv Gandhi's plane hijack that shook the nation, apart from the other RAW agent missions that ranged from audacious to outlandish.
Ronnie teams up with Premnath Rajagopalan of Blue Monkey Films for Panthers, a project that will shake the way political and espionage thrillers are viewed in India. After successfully bringing A Thursday and Dhyanchand, RSVP and Blue Monkey Films will be teaming up for the third time for this project.
Says producer Ronnie Screwvala, "Panthers is the story of India's burgeoning spy agency against a politically volatile setting. It is as eye-opening as it is gripping and boasts of the right balance of realism and entertainment, making it the perfect project for us at RSVP to get behind. Rensil is the right man at the helm of this one"
Adds director Rensil D'Silva, "The nation is embracing true stories like never before. All the covert operations mentioned in Panthers have taken place in real life. This series is a tribute to the daring feats of the RAW agency before it ascended to legendary status."
The caption read, "An ode to our RAW agents that put India before self ….Presenting to you, RSVP’s latest riveting espionage series - PANTHERS! Directed and Showrun by Rensil D’Silva. Co-produced by Blue Monkey Films."
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Says producer Premnath Rajagopalan "When Mukesh Radha brought us this project we were excited to collaborate with him and take it forward as this is a story that would make all us Indians proud. We at Blue Monkey Films are excited to further our association with Ronnie and RSVP as they have long been associated with clutter-breaking and riveting content."
Producer Mukesh Radha Krishna Tak says "The series is all about cloak and dagger games played between nations. It is the saga of our faceless men and women, living and dying in the shadows with courage, determination, and valour."
RSVP and Blue Monkey Films’ Panthers goes on floors in the first quarter of 2022.
Kriti Sanon, who is receiving plaudits for her sincere portrayal in Mimi, doesn't have much time to enjoy it. She is juggling the shoot of Adipurush with the preparation for her next film, Ganapath, after recently wrapping work on Bachchan Pandey. The actioner holds a particular place in her heart because it reunites her with Tiger Shroff seven years after their first collaboration, Heropanti (2014).
Though it's unknown when the Vikas Bahl-directed film will begin shooting, Sanon says she's already started laying the groundwork so she can match her co-star — who is famed for his action abilities — punch for punch and spark for flash. In Ganapath, Kriti claimed she has some action sequences. She's getting ready for them [whenever] the Adipurush shoot allows her to take a break. In February, the film was unveiled with a motion poster depicting her as a femme fatale. While posing on a dirt bike was simple, she admits that the real struggle is still to come.
According to reports, Ganapath will go on floors sometime this year.
Also Read: Kriti Sanon says she’s nervous to perform action scenes opposite Tiger Shroff in Ganapath
Over the past few weeks there have been a number of reports about the Kartik Aaryan starrer Dhamaka. In fact, the Ram Madhvani directorial that has since been acquired by streaming giant Netflix made headlines when the OTT platform announced its list of forthcoming release. Though Netflix did not really set a date for the release of Dhamaka, Bollywood Hungama has learnt that the film will release on the OTT platform in October 2021.
A well placed industry source informed Bollywood Hungama, “The current scenario is such that more and more films are opting for an OTT release especially since theatre business has drastically declined due to Covid. Keeping this in mind, OTT platforms are now slotting releases in quick succession, and Kartik Aaryan’s Dhamaka is one of them.” Further talking about the release in October the source continues, “Yes, Netflix has locked the release of Dhamaka in October this year. The reason being, the festive season of Navratri and Dusshera. Being the usual release pattern for films to release on festive occasions, the digital giant is looking to maximise its viewership with a similar method.”
While an official announcement of the release date is awaited, Dhamaka which is directed by Ram Madhvani is said to be a remake of The Terror Live, a 2013 South Korean film. The story of the film revolves around a news anchor played by Kartik Aaryan who tries to use a terrorist attack in order to boost his career.
Zee TV and Balaji Telefilms have come together yet again to present viewers with an exciting story about life, love, karma, and destiny. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, Bhagya Lakshmi will depict a classic story of Lakshmi and her belief that good karma leads to good bhagya. While television actress Aishwarya Khare has been paired opposite the heartthrob television actor Rohit Suchanti to play the lead characters of Lakshmi and Rishi respectively, featuring alongside them will also be the famous Indian television and Bollywood actress, Smita Bansal.
Best known for her hit Zee TV shows like Amanat, Aashirwad, and Sarhadein, Smita Bansal is all set to impress her fans by playing a pivotal character in Bhagya Lakshmi. Her character, Neelam Oberoi, is shown as a dutiful wife and a doting mother of the lead character Rishi (Rohit Suchanti). However, in a surprising twist, viewers will witness her grey shades too.
Talking about her character, Smita Bansal mentioned, “It feels amazing to make a comeback on TV after a long break with Bhagya Lakshmi. I’m excited to perform as I have seen such characters being played but it’s the first time that I will be performing something like this. The character of Neelam has a social status, she is a conscious woman, who is very protective of her family members and has control over the house and its members. She is very possessive about her son too and will go to any length for his happiness. Apart from that, you will see the character of Neelam having different shades too and I am sure it will make the character more interesting and exciting to perform. The whole story of Bhagya Lakshmi is drafted so beautifully that viewers will surely love it and I can’t for its grand premiere.”
Bhagya Lakshmi follows the journey of Lakshmi, a selfless girl of limited means, who despite her humble background and the curveballs life has thrown at her, puts others’ needs before hers. The narrative of the show will have you fall in love with this girl who lives for others’ happiness in a thousand little ways every single day, so much so that you’ll pray for destiny to treat her kind - Auron ki khatir jeena hai jiski taseer, kuch khaas hi likhi hogi rab ne uski taqdeer.
When a quirk of destiny and the most unusual circumstances have Lakshmi crossing paths with Rishi, find out how it changes her bhagya forever only on Zee TV as Bhagya Lakshmi premieres on 3rd August and will air every Monday to Saturday at 8.30 pm.
Actor Kartik Aaryan is on a signing spree. He has been roped in for multiple projects in the past month. Now, he is teaming up with Ekta Kapoor and Shashanka Ghosh on an upcoming romantic thriller, Freddy. It will be directed by Ghosh whereas Ekta Kapoor will produce with Jay Shewakramani.
According to a tabloid, the project has been in the pre-production stage for the last three months. The leading lady is yet to be announced. The plan is to go on the floor by the first week of August in Mumbai. There are multiple sets erected in the city and the actor will reportedly juggle work between Freddy and completion of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Post these two films, he begins the remake of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which is again being produced by Ekta Kapoor. The announcement of Freddy will be made soon.
Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan has signed a Nadiadwala Grandson Limited project and Captain India with Hansal Mehta. He is gearing up for the release of Dhamaka on Netflix.
With cinemas opening in Delhi, there’s has been a lot of excitement among the trade and exhibitors. The release of Hindi films will take time but Hollywood films will try their luck and hopefully get audiences to cinemas. Bollywood Hungama was the first one to tell you that Warner Bros has decided to release Mortal Komat on July 30 followed by The Suicide Squad on August 5. The Independence Day weekend, meanwhile, would see the release of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Meanwhile, Universal Pictures on July 28 made a grand announcement of the release dates of many as 7 films, including the most awaited Hollywood biggie of the season, Fast & Furious 9. Earlier, the studio had decided to release the actioner on August 5 in India. But since the reopening of cinemas in various states took time, the film has been pushed by two weeks and it’ll now release on Thursday, August 19..
Meanwhile, a discussion has been going in the trade and exhibition circles that Bellbottom, starring Akshay Kumar, has been blocked for August 27. A source informed Bollywood Hungama, “The exhibitors have been given dates of the films that will release or are expected to release in August. Bellbottom also features in this list and its date has been given as August 27. Of course, it’s a tentative date and it all depends on when the key state of Maharashtra allows the theatres to restart.”
On July 29, Rajesh Tope, the Maharashtra health minister, announced that cinema halls would be permitted to open in 25 districts with less number of cases, including Mumbai. However, the terms and conditions for the reopening of cinemas and when the theatres can resume operations would be announced later.
The source also added, “Unlike Hollywood films, the Bellbottom makers want the film to have a release in most markets, especially Maharashtra, which contributes to a major chunk of the business.” He also revealed that the producers of this action thriller are looking at making an announcement this week.
Besides Akshay Kumar, Bellbottom also stars Vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Lara Dutta and Adil Hussain. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, it was one of the first Bollywood films to be shot amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
A trade expert said, “If Bellbottom releases on August 27, it’ll miss out on the Independence Day holiday (Sunday, August 15) and also the Raksha Bandhan holiday (Sunday, August 22). But that would be fine as viewers would throng to cinemas whenever it releases as it’s a big film starring a superstar like Akshay Kumar. Moreover, the date is 27 and 2+7 equals 9, which is Akshay’s lucky number. Hence, it’s very much possible that Bellbottom would arrive in cinemas on the said date.”
The trade expert also remarked, “If Fast & Furious 9 is releasing on August 19, then chances are that Bellbottom would not release on the same day. A clash of 2 big films is not being encouraged right now.” However, an industry insider said, “Fast & Furious 9 won’t release in non-2k cinemas. Bellbottom can still release on August 19. Let’s wait for the official announcement.”
While the very decorous Shilpa Shetty has chosen the path of a dignified silence in this whole sordid mess involving her husband Raj Kundra in a porn racket. Sources close to the actress say she is “worried sick” about her children, 9-year old Viaan and Shamisha who is barely 1 year old.
As rumours of her imminent arrest gather momentum, Shilpa’s worries grow. A producer-director very close to Shilpa and her family reveals, “She is a strong woman with very strong family values. This (scandal) has hit her like a bolt from the blue. She never thought something so awful would ever happen to her. Now she’s bracing herself for the worst. If it happens she’s only worried about her two children”
Throughout this ongoing ordeal Shilpa’s mother Sunanda Shetty and sister Shamita have stood by her.
“They are a rock-solid presence in Shilpa’s life. She would have crumbled without them. But she is holding up strongly in spite of the lack of support from her own fraternity, thanks to her mother and sister who are right there by her side,” says the movie moghul who has worked with the actress in the past.
Also Read: Producer Ratan Jain sympathizes with Shilpa Shetty Kundra; claims that she cannot do such a thing
The creative head of Venus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, Producer Ratan Jain has come out in the support of actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra after her husband Raj Kundra's arrest. Ratan has been associated with Shilpa from her debut days and also produced her comeback movie Hungama 2. When industry colleagues and friends are distancing themselves from Shilpa, her mentor Ratan Jain has shown confidence in her. Raj Kundra was arrested for his alleged involvement in the porn racket and the whole of Bollywood was tip-lipped about the same. Producer Ratan Jain not only defended Shilpa but also claimed that she cannot be involved in such kinds of activities.
Ratan Jain felt sad for Shilpa Shetty and said that he has known her for many years and she cannot do such a thing. While he said that he cannot tell how much knowledge Shilpa had about her husband's activities, but he is sure that Shilpa cannot be a part of it. The producer further went on to say that a person should not do such a thing by putting his family at stake. Till the end, Ratan was firm on his statement about Shilpa and finally said that now the decision lies on the Mumbai police who are carrying out the probe.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra has not come out in the open and given any statement to the media after Raj's arrest. On Wednesday his bail was rejected by Mumbai Esplanade court and he was sent for detainment for the next 14 days. The Securities and Exchange Board of India on July 28, fined Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra, and Viaan Industries with Rs 3 lakh for violating insider trading rules.
The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 were issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in February, with the goal of making artists more accountable for their work. According to the laws, streaming companies should have a redressal mechanism in place to handle users' issues, which many see as a way to limit the creative freedom of OTT platforms and content creators. The standard’s implications can already be felt five months after their establishment. Netflix India received a complaint against Anurag Kashyap's short film in the 2020 anthology, Ghost Stories, on Tuesday, which was one of the first to be filed.
The complainant is concerned by a scene in which the protagonist, played by Sobhita Dhulipala, is seen devouring her miscarried fetus. The complaint notes, “The scene is not required for the story, and if the creators wished to add such a scene, there should have been a trigger warning for women who have gone through the trauma of miscarriages.” User complaints must be registered within 24 hours of receipt and resolved as soon as possible, according to the guidelines. Netflix's Grievance Redress Officer is currently looking into the matter (GRO).
According to reports, the representative stated that because this was a partner-managed production [RSVP Movies and Flying Unicorn Entertainment], they contacted the production business to inform them of the complaint.
Ghost Stories was premiered on Netflix in 2020, starring Janhvi Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sukant Goel. The directors of Emmy-nominated Lust Stories (Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, and Karan Johar) reunite for this quartet of thrillers.
Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor garners praise for her work in Ghost Stories ahead of its release
In a recent step in Kangana Ranaut's legal fight with writer Ashish Kaul, the author filed a contempt petition in the Bombay High Court against Ranaut for lying to the court. According to the report, Kaul's lawyers, Adnan Shaikh and Yogita Joshi said they sent a letter to Javed Akhtar and learned through his response that there was falsification of facts in the passport application, which is a major offense. They went on to say that they have a responsibility to bring this to the attention of the Hon'ble High Court and that if fraud against the court is proven, there would undoubtedly be consequences.
Allegedly Kangana Ranaut did not disclose all the cases filed against her in various courts. Javed Akhtar filed an intervention petition alleging that Kangana purposefully withheld information in order to obtain a favorable passport renewal order. Earlier in the day, news agencies reported that the Bombay High Court had rejected Akhtar's interim appeal, in which he claimed that Ranaut withheld information from the court regarding an impending defamation lawsuit he had filed against her. Ranaut turned to Instagram to express her gratitude to the High Court for dismissing Akhtar's appeal.
For the film, Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda, Ashish Kaul filed a copyright infringement action against Kangana Ranaut. In the copyright case, the writer has made it obvious that he will oppose any relief for the actress. In response, Kangana Ranaut and her brother Akshat Ranaut have petitioned the Bombay High Court to have the FIR against them in the matter dismissed.
Also Read: “Journey like no other”, says Kangana Ranaut as she shares her look from Thalaivi and Dhaakad
Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani are on a mission to create great stories for their audiences. After the grand success of Kabir Singh, the producer duo have announced multiple big projects which include Kartik Aaryan starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Sandeep Vanga directorial Animal starring Ranbir Kapoor and now they are all set to create the Hindi remake of the Tamil hit Thadam. The producer duo has brought on board Aditya Roy Kapur to essay the role of the lead character in this action thriller.
Based on true events, this yet-to-be-titled thriller will see Aditya Roy Kapur in a double role for the very first time in two completely different avatars. Helmed by debutant director Vardhan Ketkar the film is tentatively planned to go on floors in September this year.
Aditya Roy Kapur excited to work on this challenging role says, “I am inspired and excited to be part of telling such an interesting story. The original film was incredibly riveting and entertaining, and it left a lasting impression on me. As an actor, getting a chance to do a double role is double the preparation and double the challenge, and I’m certainly up for it! I look forward to collaborating with Bhushanji, Murad Bhai, and Vardhan to bring this exciting thriller to the screen soon.”
Talking about his latest association with Murad Khetani and working again with Aditya Roy Kapur, producer Bhushan Kumar shares, "When Murad Bhai shared the idea of the Hindi remake of Thadam I was excited as it had received a lot of acclaim down south. Working with like-minded people is always fun, that is why I like collaborating with Murad Bhai. The last film we did with Aditya was an action film and everyone loved him in that role. We all mutually agreed he will fit the characters in this as well".
Since the release of Thadam in 2019, producer Murad Khetani was keen to make the film for the Hindi audience. Talking about the film he shared, “When I watched Thadam, I instantly knew that this story needs to reach the masses. Soon after I reached out to the Tamil makers and acquired the rights of making this film in Hindi. When I shared the story with Bhushanji, he came on board immediately. Aditya has been doing great work and his image as an action hero is being highly appreciated. Since our movie needed a strong personality like his, we reached out to him and he instantly agreed to come on board. We are also looking forward to working with Vardhan Ketkar who is making his directorial debut with Thadam.
The film is being produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Murad Khetani’s Cine1 Studios.
They say, nothing is better than a group of three besties, SonyLIV’s upcoming Marathi series – Shantit Kranti, is all set to roll out a story that defines ultimate friendship goals. 3 best friends – Shreyas, Dinar and Prasanna, one road trip, truck-loads of humour, emotions and a journey of self-discovery. Shantit Kranti which signifies the epitome of peace and wellbeing is a story that will showcase deep-rooted friendships in an absolute classic way that is sure to connect with viewers across demographics. Adding perspective and peace to this beautiful evolution of a cheerful camaraderie among the three protagonists, the show also marks the debut of Bollywood actor – Shikha Talsania, in Marathi cinema.
Portraying the role of a Yoga practitioner, Shikha plays a prominent role in Shantit Kranti. In a show filled with moments of awe, laughter, and joy, her character stands out as someone who throws light on the importance of meditation and mental well-being, breaking all stereotypes of how a typical Yoga Practitioner is perceived to be. Her newest, larger-than-life avatar, brings out hard-hitting elements about friendships and life in general to ponder upon. The biggest hurdle while preparing for this role was not knowing the language. However, her commitment to this role is highly commendable as she learnt to speak Marathi with less than a week of training, making her flawless on-screen presence and her command over the language is definitely praiseworthy.
Shikha Talsania shares, “It has been an exhilarating experience shooting for SK! Initially, it was challenging to perform while speaking a language that I wasn’t very comfortable with. In such cases, you don’t trust your own improvisation or if an actor changes one of the cues, you're completely lost. But I had the best coach, Chetan, who is also one of the writers of the show, he was extremely patient, very encouraging, and literally helped me pick up the language with ease. Having said that, I also had the best directors, co-actors, and the entire team that truly watched out for me and guided me with my pronunciations etc. I’m excited to start a journey with SonyLIV by being part of a fun-filled project that helped me look beyond and learn.”
Introducing popular Marathi actors - Abhay Mahajan (Shreyas), Alok Rajwade (Dinar), and Lalit Prabhakar (Prasanna) in the lead roles, Shantit Kranti is directed by Sarang Sathaye and Paula McGlynn.
Shantit Kranti will make you plan a reunion with your friends, immediately. Coming soon on SonyLIV.
Actress Shilpa Shetty and husband Raj Kundra have been in the headlines for the past few weeks. Bollywood actor's businessman husband was arrested and is in judicial custody for allegedly making pornographic films for mobile applications. While his bail has been rejected and he will be in judicial custody for a while, the couple is in the news for another issue. Now, it is been reported that market regulator Sebi on July 28, slapped Rs. 3 lakh fine on Viaan Industries Ltd, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, and Raj Kundra for disclosure lapses and violation of insider trading norms. The monetary penalty has been imposed on them jointly and severally. The noticees refer to Viaan Industries, Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Ripu Sudan Kundra, also known as Raj Kundra.
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra are joint promoters of Viaan Industries Ltd which is named after their son. The order follows a probe that was conducted between September 2013-December 2015 by entities for violation of Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) norms. According to the reports, in October 2015, Viaan Industries made preferential allotment of Rs. 5 lakh to four persons and 1,28,800 lakh shares each which amounts to Rs 2.57 crore each that were alloted to Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty. They were required to make timely requisite deposits as the transactions exceed Rs. 10 lakh in value.
"It is on record that the relevant disclosures under the PIT Regulations were made by the Noticees with a delay of more than three years," Sebi said in a statement to PTI. "Therefore, considering these facts and circumstances, I hold that this case deserves imposition of monetary penalty upon the Noticees," said Suresh B Menon, adjudicating officer, in an order.
From modeling to trainee assistant director to an established actor in the Hindi film industry, Sidharth Malhotra has come a long way in his journey in the entertainment business. He has always been one of the top names for brands for the association and the actor is making a massive buzz with his upcoming film Shershaah. According to our sources, the actor has now decided to take complete charge of his business and associations. What does this mean? The actor has called off his nine-year-long association with Reshma Shetty's talent agency Matrix Entertainment, who has been handling all his business ever since he made his acting debut with Student of The Year in 2012.
Sidharth will now personally curate his portfolio, along with his team, and oversee his brand management instead of delegating it to an external agency. However, there is no clarity yet as to why Sidharth has decided to go independent with his associations especially ahead of the release of his much-awaited film Shershaah. Sources say that the actor seems confident about this move.
While he has decided to go independent for now, it would not come as a surprise if he soon announces his association with Karan Johar’s talent agency Dharma Cornerstone Agency which was launched earlier this year.
In February this year, DCA was formally launched, and they introduced their first four talents- Shanaya Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Gurfateh Pirzada, and Lakshya. They also have Mrunal Thakur and Dhairy Karwa in their rooster. Actor Ananya Panday and singer Dhvani Bhanushali have also left CAA Kwan and Matrix respectively to join DCA. It is expected that with time actors associated with Dharma will be joining DCA, sooner or later.
Sidharth's association with Karan Johar goes way beyond his debut film. He stepped into the film world by assisting Karan in his 2010 film My Name Is Khan as a trainee. His next film, Shershaah which will mark his first real-life biopic role as he plays Captain Vikram Batra. The film is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and the team is leaving no stone unturned in promoting it.
ALSO READ: Sidharth Malhotra looks charming in a fusion kurta custom made by Kunal Rawal
Post the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput, what made headlines was the film Nyay: The Justice a biographical drama based on the life of Sushant Singh Rajput written and directed by Dilip Gulati, and produced by Sarla A. Saraogi and Rahul Sharma. But, given the film’s topic, a stay order was sought by advocate Vikash Singh, who filed a petition for the same in the Delhi High Court. However, responding to the petition, the Delhi HC, dismissed the same allowing the makers of the film to opt for a theatrical release.
In its ruling, the Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Shakdher refused to issue any order prohibiting the further distribution of the film citing that the movie had already been released on a website and since the bench was available only for that day, it was not inclined to hear it or issue notice. Further the Delhi High Court has denied a stay on the movie Nyay: The Justice while allowing the makers of the film to opt for a theatrical release once cinema halls reopen. Interestingly, the stay order petition, filed Advocate Vikas Singh is not the first case filed against the film. In fact, earlier another potion had been filed seeking a complete ban on the venture.
Post the new verdict, producer Rajat Sharma stated that he felt pleased with the outcome and mentioned that the film was not being made to profit from the events, but rather to bring the truth to light and see justice done.
As for the film itself, Nyay: The Justice, features Zuber Khan and Shreya Shukla are in lead roles, Aman Verma as ED chief, Asrani as Mahinder Singh’s Father, Shakti Kapoor as NCB Chief, Kiran Kumar as Advocate of Mahinder’s father, Anant Jog as Mumbai Police Commissioner, Anwar Fatehan as Bihar Police Commissioner, Sudha Chandran as CBI chief and other actors in pivotal roles.
Bigg Boss 14 runner-up and singer Rahul Vaidya tied the knot with girlfriend Disha Parmar on July 16, 2021 in Mumbai. The wedding was a grand affair and had multiple ceremonies including reception and after-party. The reception and after-party were attended by most of Rahul's friends from Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 and his co-housemates from Bigg Boss 14. However, Rubina Dilaik, Abhinav Shukla, Nikki Tamboli and Jaan Kumar Sanu were not present at any of the ceremonies.
Now, in an interview with a digital portal, Jaan Kumar Sanu had revealed that he was not invited to the couple's wedding. Jaan, who is the son of singer Kumar Sanu wished all the best to Rahul and Disha. He says that he is glad that they got married amid the pandemic. He even called their wedding 'absolutely beautiful' and 'something out of a fairy-tale. He also said that he is not at all sad and upset about not being invited and says that Rahul had his own guest list and he respects that.
During Bigg Boss14, Rahul Vaidya and Jaan Kumar Sanu did not get along well and also had some nasty fights including Rahul's comment of 'Nepotism'. Jaan further also expressed that he would have not attended the wedding even if he was invited. He feels that because there are a certain number of things that have gone south with both of them. At last, Jaan wished the newlyweds all the best and hopes that Rahul does great and has a very happy married life.
Actress Pooja Hegde is very happy to star opposite superstar Salman Khan in Bhaijaan and shared her admiration towards him. She said that he is a genuine person who never shies away from speaking his heart out. If he loves a person he will shower them with love and if he doesn't then he will not. Pooja likes this quality of Salman and appreciates his frankness and honesty.
The actress wants to show her side and identity in Bollywood to audiences through Bhaijaan and it is making her nervous owing to connecting with different audiences. Pooja feels that she will get to learn a lot of things from Salman Khan which will only add magic to her acting skills. She feels acting with big stars not only enhances her acting but also gives depth to her character. Bhaijaan was first titled Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali and was later changed to the former name.
On the work front, Pooja Hegde has Rohit Shetty's Cirkus opposite Ranveer Singh, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Varun Sharma, Radha Krishna Kumar's Radhe Shyam with Prabhas and Beast directed by Nelson Dilipkumar alongside Vijay.
Also Read: Pooja Hegde is addicted to Clash of Clans and this Instagram photo is proof enough!
Murder mystery as a genre has always been something that grabs a lot of attention, and well, donning the role of an investigating officer once again is actress Swara Bhasker. Produced by Moffy Production and co-produced by K.P production, Mimamsa promises to keep you on the edge while taking you through a mystery. Directed by Gagan Puri, the film will also feature Bijendra Kala.
After receiving rave reviews for Flesh, this will be the second time that she will be seen as a cop. She will take on the role of Adhira Dixit in the movie that is based in Bhopal. Talking about the same, Swara said, ''The experience of shooting for the movie was one of its kind as it kept me invested throughout the shoot and I am sure that the viewers will be too when they get to watch it. This was also the first film I shot for after lockdown last year, and that makes the movie extremely special to me, and it helped me have a sense of gratitude for the work I do. Without revealing much, I am just going to say that the movie will take you on a journey that is layered, is mysterious, and thought-provoking.''
Adding to that, director Gagan Puri mentioned, ''We have tried to keep a sense of mystery about the movie, and with talented actors like Swara and Bijendra on board, it only adds to the buzz. Viewers will be able to enjoy the movie best if there's not much that is revealed about the movie, therefore allowing them to enjoy the film with a fresh perspective.''
The film is currently in its post-production phase and further details about the film's release are expected to be unveiled soon.
We were the first to inform our readers that Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala's next collaboration which was initially titled Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali has undergone a title change and is now addressed as Bhaijaan. Salman will play the titular role in the film, that of an unmarried brother to three. And now, we have another scoop on this Farhad Samji directed comedy drama.
"Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala recently met to discuss the shooting schedule and release date of Bhaijaan and they have unanimously decided on making an attempt to bring it during the Diwali 2022 weekend. The duo is of the opinion that the script is loaded with comedy and family based emotions, making it an ideal watch for the audience during the festive season of Diwali," a trade source informed Bollywood Hungama.
The shooting for Bhaijaan will begin in the month of November in India, once Salman wraps up shooting for on-going action thriller, Tiger 3. With Farhad having wrapped up with Bachchan Pandey, he will now jump onto the pre-production of Bhaijaan. "It's an ambitious film for the team and the audience will be surprised with the larger context of the subject that the makers are touching upon," the source further said.
This would be Salman's first Diwali release after Sooraj Barjatya's 2014 family drama, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. "The shooting and release date is subject to Covid scenario," the source added. Bhaijaan stars Pooja Hegde as the female lead and marks her first collaboration with Salman Khan.
Also Read: Salman Khan flaunts his ripped body in the ad film for his brand FRSH
Naseeruddin Shah is always known to call a spade a spade. All hell broke loose when in a self-penned tribute to the great Dilip Kumar in the Indian Express, Naseer said, “It’s incomprehensible why an actor of such immaculate craft, one whose very presence elevated any film he was in, one who just had to nod his head to set any project he fancied into motion, one justly acclaimed as the finest in the country, one financially secure for several generations, chose to play safe the way he did…. It is also no mystery why, instead of using his clout to encourage filmmakers deviating from the norm, to scripts depicting the truth of their times, and thus to films which may have altered his understanding of the actor’s contribution, he opted instead for a series of indulgent, clunky embarrassments some of which did set the box-office on fire, but also compelled many ardent admirers, myself very much included, to perceive him anew… If being a star does curious things to people, being resident legend does even curiouser things I suppose.”
The country known to worship the dead couldn’t take the criticism of the acting God in their stride. Now clearing the air once and for all Naseer says, “Those who decided to take offence at what I said about Dilip Saab should have read the entire article and they would have realised that my praise, though conditional, for his acting chops was nothing less than glowing. I practically ran out of superlatives when describing his acting abilities.”
So what exactly was Naseer’s complaint? “My 'complaint' had nothing to do with that at all. However the reaction of people who choose to see meanings where there are none doesn't bother me.”
Reacting to my query if he stands by what he said Naseer replies, “I said what I had to say, and if I hadn't meant it I wouldn't have said it.”
It was widely rumoured that there were problems between Dilip Saab and Naseer Saab during the shooting of Subhash Ghai’s Karma, the only films in which the two brilliant actors came together?
Replies Naseer, “The supposed problems we had during the making of a film which I'd rather forget, was all the invention of the media and some vested interests who made our working together sound like some sort of acting duel that was to take place, when considering the nature of our respective roles, I actually didn't stand a chance. All this fanned the non-existent flames when the fact was we hardly even met including in the scenes we had together.”
For Naseer acting is never about one-upmanship. “I don’t consider acting to be a contest or a game of one-upmanship and I was far from happy with all the talk of Dilip Kumar Versus Me. I have never denied that it was my childhood dream to act with and not opposite, him.”
Also Read: Naseeruddin Shah opens up on turning 71
