On screen, action sequences are a marvel to watch. But executing them entails hard work and inherent risks. Karan L Butani, who has directed Aayush Sharma’s action fare Ruslaan, says that despite meticulous planning and stringent safety protocols, one of the stunt performers was injured during filming. “In the teaser, there is a shot of Aayush firing [at the baddie] and the character flying through a glass wall. This kind of glass is made for the purpose of stunts, and all safety protocols were adhered to. But still, a few glass splinters were lodged in the stunt performer’s hands. He had to be taken to the hospital. Luckily, there was nothing to worry about,” recalls the director. Butani adds that the stunt teams are often under-appreciated, despite them putting their lives in danger. Leading man Sharma echoes the director’s sentiment, asserting that their safety should be the top priority. “The safety of our team was paramount, and everyone was [mindful] of it. The accident on set served as a stark reminder of the risks involved in executing high-octane action sequences. When you go home after a day like that, you think of the bravery of the stunt performers,” he says. Ruslaan also stars Jagapathi Babu, Vidya Malavade and Sushrii Mishraa.
19 April,2024 06:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuJust in Summer ready: Sonal Chauhan; Zip it up: Vikrant Massey; no mood, No make-up: Ananya Panday Feeling hot, hot, hot Spotted outside a studio in Bandra, Aamir Khan looks at ease in his loose kurta pyjama and slicked back hair
19 April,2024 05:27 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIt is known that Shah Rukh Khan is teaming up with Siddharth Anand to produce an action thriller, which also marks the big-screen debut of his actor-daughter Suhana Khan. While the superstar was initially said to have an extended cameo in the Sujoy Ghosh directorial venture, now rumours are rife that he will play the lead in the film tentatively titled King, while Suhana will essay the parallel lead. Apparently, the screenplay has undergone quite a few changes. As a result, SRK’s character—who is a mentor to Suhana’s character and rescues her a few times in the narrative—has gained greater significance. Sujoy and Sid are now looking to begin pre-production next month and take the big-budget thriller on floors this August. In the wake of these changes, the makers are contemplating a late 2025 release. May date for geopolitical thriller? In the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, which begin today, several film releases have been rescheduled. Consequently, save for Rajkummar Rao’s Srikanth on May 10, and Manoj Bajpayee’s Bhaiyya Ji on May 24, there is no noteworthy movie arriving next month. However, talk in the trade is that John Abraham and Manushi Chhillar’s Tehran could salvage the dry summer month in cinemas. Debutant director Arun Gopalan’s geopolitical thriller was initially slated to arrive in the Republic Day 2023 window. It was deferred after the Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer Pathaan, in which John played the antagonist, was announced for the same date. Now, talk in the trade is that Tehran makers are eyeing the May 17 window to have a solo release. “The final decision will be taken in a couple of days,” said a source. Sudden change in plans On Wednesday, multiplexes announced April 19 as Cinema Lovers Day and that they would sell movie tickets at R99 on the occasion. Soon enough, the makers of today’s releases, Do Aur Do Pyaar and Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2, also came out with ads promoting the offer. However, most netizens were not too excited by the offer. Pointing out that theatres across India already celebrated Cinema Lovers Day on February 23, they questioned the intent as April 19 also marks the start of the first phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections. Wondering if the discounted price would discourage people from voting, one social media user wrote, “They could have instead combined this offer with voting; whoever shows the inked finger gets a discount.” Tagging the Election Commission of India, the netizen added, “If schools, colleges and offices are closed, why can’t movie theatres be closed for the polling day?” Eventually, the multiplexes withdrew the offer last morning, much to the shock and surprise of the two films’ producers and distributors. A b’day tribute Chiyaan Vikram turned 58 on Wednesday. To mark the special occasion, Jio Studios and Studio Green Films, which are backing his next, Thangalaan, paid him a tribute with a dekko of the much-anticipated period action thriller. The film’s director Pa Ranjith said, “Thangalaan is a vision to present a historical adventure story based on true events, backed by phenomenal effort from Vikram sir and the entire team.” Excited by the collaboration of the two studios, he expressed confidence in the movie reaching its target audience. The filmmaker added, “On the occasion of Vikram sir’s birthday, this tribute video is to showcase the efforts he has put in, which helped the film get its due attention and create huge expectations.” Fun times ahead Nora Fatehi, who is currently basking in the response to her last release, Madgaon Express, is said to be in the reckoning for two more comedies. Reportedly, the actor-dancer is being considered for a principal part in Bhoot Police 2. The first instalment of the horror comedy starred Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Yami Gautam Dhar and Jacqueliene Fernandez. The other film in question is with director Akshat Varma, who scripted Delhi Belly (2011) and helmed Saif’s Kaalakaandi. While things on these two films are yet to be finalised, Nora has Remo D’Souza’s Be Happy with Abhishek Bachchan, and Matka with Varun Tej lined up. News is also that director Sajid Khan’s new comedy, 100 percent, that will be revived with a revised script.
19 April,2024 05:18 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamImtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila has won unanimous praise. The director’s masterful storytelling and Diljit Dosanjh’s honest performance has endeared the slain Punjabi singer to the audiences. The musician’s songs though—which, in his lifetime, were wildly popular, but abhorred by a section of the society, who felt they objectified women—are a different story. But Ali believes that Chamkila wasn’t a sexist man. “In Punjab and everywhere else, I’ve seen that the sangeet songs in shaadis are always vulgar. There’s a reason for it—women are naughtier than men. Their naughtiness comes out through music,” reasons the director. He points out another aspect in the late Chamkila’s creations. “In his music, the women are smarter and equally participative. They are teasing the men. The first song that Chamkila sang on stage is about an old man who is trying to say that he is young and virile, and the woman is making fun of him. It’s not that the woman is being objectified all the time. It’s an equal relationship.” Imtiaz Ali Through the musical, Ali neither glorifies nor decries Chamkila’s songs. He doesn’t glorify the protagonist either. The director was certain he didn’t want to make a hagiography. “When you tell the story of someone’s life, you should represent all aspects of it. I don’t like biopics that endlessly glorify the [protagonist]; that becomes boring. I had to present the human side of Chamkila. He wasn’t a [flawless] person. But I was sure of his intrinsic good qualities—he didn’t come across as a star, he was always a servant of the masses. He came from the most disadvantaged background; he was humble.” Though the Netflix film delves into his partnership with his singer-wife Amarjot Kaur, played by Parineeti Chopra, it largely shows her as muted. “I relied on my research. This is how Amarjot always comes across, in the narration of people or in her videos. Plus, the film had to wrap up in a certain duration. Maybe, someone can make a film on Amarjot now,” he smiles.
19 April,2024 05:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaWhen we sit down for an interview with Pratik Gandhi for Do Aur Do Pyaar, it’s hard to not open our chat with the crackling Madgaon Express. The comedy is running in theatres weeks after its release, despite competition from recent offerings. “It’s all Kunal [Kemmu],” says Gandhi, crediting the director for giving Bollywood a smartly written comedy. “I’ve always wanted to do good comedy. Physical humour is tricky, but you have to do it with people who understand it. Kunal knows all sub-genres of comedy, and he is brilliant at them.” With Do Aur Do Pyaar, Gandhi is moving on to a different kind of comedy, rom-com. Shirsha Guha Thakurta’s directorial venture sees the actor and Vidya Balan play a couple whose marriage has long lost its spark. Gandhi says it is among the six releases he has lined up, and with each project, his attempt is to show his versatility. “Scam 1992 [The Harshad Mehta Story, 2020] changed everything for me. In the last two-and-a-half years, I have shot non-stop. With the audience’s love, I am getting more confident about my work and my choices. Do Aur Do Pyaar is poles apart [from my last film]. My character is goofy, vulnerable, and avoids confrontations. In the first narration, I was surprised by the story—the characters are cheating [on their spouse] and then, they cheat on their lovers [with their spouse].” Rom-coms are all about good chemistry. The script, he says, elevated his chemistry with Balan and Ileana D’Cruz. “We have no method to crack chemistry. We stayed true to the script and let the magic happen. We did a lot of reading, did the next day’s scenes before going home. That said, I don’t have a process. Art is not mathematics. I have to feel the emotions.” For Hindi film fans, Shah Rukh Khan was the poster boy for romance. Even as he moved to age-appropriate roles, there remained a set image of a romantic hero—someone who is swoon-worthy enough to sweep women off their feet. That mould has broken in the past few years. He shares, “The definition of a romantic hero has changed. He is not the guy with great physique and [bouncy] hair. A hero is anybody who can make you fall in love with the character and his emotions. I’m fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. People are now ready to see actors creating characters.”
19 April,2024 05:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuActor Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor is back at giving befitting replies to internet trolls, and here’s the latest one that’s brought him into the headlines. The ‘Mirzya’ actor was commenting on the football club Manchester City, when an X user out of nowhere attacked him in the comments section, resulting in a reply from Harsh. Harsh posted, “Manchester City .. like a ponzi scam .. one day the bubble will burst all the lies will be revealed .. pep will leave and they will fade.. they don’t have many real fans they don’t have a real history.. just hope when they fade were In a good place to dominate for a few years.” An X user commented on the post, “L*** kabhi ek dhang ki film karle kab tak apne baap ke paise se sneakers kharidta rahega ch****e.” (Do a great movie sometime, how long will you keep buying sneakers with your father's money, you idiot.) Harsh replied, “Where can I watch your films ? How many have you done? I’ve done Ray thar bhavesh joshi and Ak vs ak , mirzya .. who are you? An irrelevant loser who’s bitter on twitter who started supporting city once they got Rich with Arab money..” Where can I watch your films ? How many have you done ? I’ve done Ray thar bhavesh joshi and Ak vs ak , mirzya .. who are you ? An irrelevant loser who’s bitter on twitter who started supporting city once they got Rich with Arab money .. https://t.co/2VikQBa2dB — Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor (@HarshKapoor_) April 18, 2024 Earlier in a similar incident, Harsh revealed why he chooses to reply to faceless trolls on social media. He said, "The only difference is I never instigate it... I do my own thing, but if someone is logging onto Twitter, going on my page to quote tweet me and simultaneously trying to low blow me (contradictory from them, by the way), I'll say what I want to them if I'm in the mood." Notably, Harsh Varrdhan made his Bollywood debut with director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's film 'Mirzya' in 2016 which failed to impress the audience at the box office. In 2022, he shared screen space with his father Anil Kapoor in 'Thar' alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh. Helmed by Raj Singh Chaudhary, the film premiered on the OTT platform Netflix which got decent responses from the audience. Harsh Varrdhan was also seen in 'Bhavesh Joshi Superhero', which was released in 2018. In the coming months, he will be seen essaying the role of Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra in his biopic. (With inputs from Agencies)
18 April,2024 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNewly engaged couple Aditi Rao Hyadri and Siddharth were seen attending a special screening of MAMI Select, a collection of films shot on iPhone, in Mumbai on Thursday. The pictures and videos from the event show Aditi wearing a black off-shoulder top with floral work and matching trousers. Siddharth was dressed in a black T-shirt, a denim shirt, and denim trousers. Videos shared by the paparazzi show the two holding each other close on the red carpet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Other celebs who attended the special screening included Kiran Rao, Jim Sarbh, Shobhita Dhulipala, Mouni Roy, Vijay Varma, and Zoya Akhtar. Last year, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival introduced 'MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone,' allowing emerging filmmakers to redefine cinematic norms. The five emerging filmmakers were mentored by Vishal Bhardwaj, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Rohan Sippy. Meanwhile, Aditi and Siddharth got engaged secretly at a temple in Telangana last month. They began dating after working on the 2021 film 'Maha Samudram'. However, the two always kept their relationship away from the public eye. Aditi was previously married to actor Satyadeep Misra, who recently tied the knot with fashion designer Masaba. On the work front, Siddharth will be seen in 'Indian 2'. Directed by Shankar the film features Kamal Haasan, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, and S. J. Suryah among others. Aditi will be seen in 'Gandhi Talks,' a silent film co-starring Vijay Sethupathi and Siddharth Jhadav. She is also all set to star in the Indo-U.K co-production 'Lioness'. The film, inspired by the research of Peter Bance, the historian who discovered the story of Princess Sophia Duleep, is the story of two British Punjabi women living in the UK, a century apart. She also has Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'. Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, the show promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi, offering a compelling narrative that is sure to enthrall audiences worldwide. It also stars Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah Badussha, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman in pivotal roles. (With inputs from ANI)
18 April,2024 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Tanishaa Mukerji, who didn’t taste the same amount of success and stardom as her sister Kajol, recalls the time she had a horrific accident while shooting her debut film ‘Sssshhh…’. Directed by Pavan S. Kaul, the slasher film also featured Karan Nath and Dino Morea. In an interview with News 18, Tanishaa said, “I was brain damaged. I fell off a mountain and I had a massive concussion. For pretty much one year of my life, I had to go for regular EEGs because you have to check if the swelling in my brain had reduced. It took one year for it to actually come back to its normal size.” “I didn’t tell anybody this but I did have a lot of difficulty because I was shooting my first film. I used to literally shoot for 2 hours and sleep for 3 hours. I would literally shoot for 2 hours because it would be so hectic and I would pass out. I wouldn’t be able to stay awake because my brain was exhausted,” she added. Over the years, Tanishaa went on to do films like 'Neal 'n' Nikki', 'Sarkar', and 'Tango Charlie' to name a few. Tanishaa, who was away from the silver screen for a long time, returned in 2021 with a spy thriller titled 'Code Name Abdul'. Talking about her reason for being away from films Tanishaa told ANI, "I don't think that's a conscious choice. That just happened by default, when these things happen...I think there has been a break in my released films, but I haven't taken a break from acting." On the work front, Tanishaa will be seen in ‘Luv You Shankar’ alongside Shreyas Talpade. Directed by filmmaker Rajiv S Ruia, the film also stars Sanjay Mishra, Elakshi Gupta, Abhimanyu Singh, Hemant Pandey, Master Mann Gandhi, and Prateek Jain. Tanishaa told IANS, "Being a part of 'Luv You Shankar' has been a truly fulfilling experience. It's a film that celebrates the human spirit and the power of love, and I'm excited for audiences to embark on this divine journey with us." The film will be released on April 19.
18 April,2024 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood style icon and fashionista Malaika Arora set the internet ablaze with her latest Instagram post. The gorgeous mama shared scintillating pictures wearing a white one-shoulder fishtail maxi dress exuding summer vibes. Malaika’s couture option is not that heavy on the pockets either and can easily be a wardrobe addition for a party this season. The Katarina dress by Club L London costs around Rs 9,350 but is currently on sale at Rs 5,500. Check out the pictures below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Malaika Arora (@malaikaaroraofficial) Growing up, fashion has always been a form of self-expression for Malaika. She told mid-day.com, “I was drawn to its power to convey emotions, attitudes, and cultural influences. It's like wearable art that allows me to showcase my personality and creativity.” As an OG fashionista from the 90s, Malaika says the evolution of fashion has been fascinating. Explaining her take on the transition in the arena, she said, “From the minimalistic chic to the bold, expressive trends of today, it's been quite a ride. A significant one has been the advent of inclusivity and diversity, both in terms of representation and design aesthetics, which I wholeheartedly embrace.” Fashion is more accessible now. However, back in the day when there was no social media, “staying ahead of trends required a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of fashion's cyclical nature,” said Malaika. She asserted, “It involved immersing myself in various cultural influences, from magazines and runways to street style and travel experiences. Networking with industry insiders and trusting my instincts also played pivotal roles in staying ahead of the curve.” Meanwhile, on the work front, Malaika was recently seen judging the reality show 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' with actor Arshad Warsi and choreographer Farah Khan. She recently featured in her son Arhaan Khan's podcast called 'Dumb Biryani'. Arhaan has collaborated with his two other friends, Arush Verma and Dev Raiyani, for the six-part series which has cameos by various celebs from the entertainment world. Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan had Arhaan in 2002. They parted ways after almost 18 years of marriage. She is currently dating actor Arjun Kapoor, while Arbaaz is married to makeup artist Sshura.
18 April,2024 08:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFashion designer Masaba Gupta is expecting her first child with actor-husband Satyadeep Misra. She took to Instagram and shared the happy news with her followers. The couple posed in front of a mural with feet in one of the pictures. Masaba wrote in the caption, "In other news - Two little feet are on their way to us! Please send love, blessings, and banana chips (plain salted ONLY) #babyonboard #mom&dad" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Masaba 🤎 (@masabagupta) Masaba’s mother and veteran actress Neena Gupta also shared the same post and wrote, “My children are going to have a child. What can be happier than this?” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neena Gupta (@neena_gupta) Masaba and Satyadeep tied the knot in January 2023. Her wedding was attended by her mother Neena, her father and former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards, and step-father Vivek Mehra. Neena and Vivian had Masaba out of wedlock and have lived separately throughout their life. Neena welcomed her daughter Masaba on November 2, 1989. She raised her alone. In 2008, Neena got married to chartered accountant Vivek Mehra. During an interview with Twinkle Khanna on the Tweak India YouTube channel, Masaba opened up about her feelings about growing up as a child to celebrity parents. also mentioned that there was a common misconception that she would inherit a substantial fortune from her father. "I was very grateful that I had what I had. Everyone tells me, ‘Oh you’ve become successful because of your mum and your dad’. Someone once apparently told a friend once that, ‘What does she have to do. Her dad left her hundreds of crores’. I said no, there’s no hundreds of crores. They are being built, but I am building that myself.” She added, “But I never felt that it was a negative. I thought it was a positive because I had such a great benchmark. I had two examples in my house on how great you can be and I always saw it like that.” Masaba was previously married to producer Madhu Mantena. They got married in 2015 and in 2019, they parted ways. Satyadeep was earlier married to Aditi Rao Hydari but the couple separated in 2013. Masaba Gupta was seen in the semi-fictionalised show 'Masaba Masaba', which showcases the life of fashion designer and actor Neena Gupta's daughter Masaba on screen, following her unique background, diverse worlds she straddles across fashion and family, and her foray back into the dating world. It came out with two seasons on Netflix. (With inputs from ANI)
18 April,2024 07:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Athiya Shetty took to Instagram and shared an unseen picture to wish her husband and cricketer KL Rahul on his birthday. Athiya took to Instagram and wrote, “My whole heart for my whole life…happy birthday, my everything,” with a red heart emoji. The picture shows KL Rahul and Athiya basking in the sun on a romantic vacation, which seems to be in an exotic location. The other picture is a monochrome frame of them sharing a mushy moment. Filmmaker Karan Johar also commented on the post and wrote, “Happy birthday @klrahul!!! Have the best year.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Athiya Shetty (@athiyashetty) For those unversed, the cricketer had appeared on the chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’. Earlier, veteran actor Suniel Shetty recently took to social media to share a touching birthday tribute to his son-in-law. The picture-perfect moment captured the essence of their bond, resonating with warmth and familial love. Amidst the golden hues of the setting sun, Suniel, his son Ahan Shetty, and KL Rahul exuded laid-back vibes. Sharing the picture, he wrote, "They say it's not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters ...feeling blessed to have you in ours for it's a connection I can't explain ...happy birthday Rahul ... love you son." Ahan Shetty also extended his wishes to his brother-in-law on this special day by sharing a picture with the latter on his Instagram story. KL Rahul and Athiya made their relationship official on Instagram in 2020, and since then, their social media accounts have been filled with lovey-dovey posts for each other. They tied the knot on January 23, 2023, at Suniel Shetty's farmhouse in Khandala. The duo was in a relationship for three years before they got married. After tying the knot, in a joint post, the couple wrote, "'In your light, I learn how to love...' Today, with our most loved ones, we got married in the home that's given us immense joy and serenity. With a heart full of gratitude and love, we seek your blessings on this journey of togetherness." The wedding was an intimate affair attended by close friends, relatives, and family members. (With inputs from ANI)
18 April,2024 05:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
