Actors Ram Kapoor and Sanjay Mishra join hands for a con-comedy film
Yoodlee Films, known for putting out content-driven movies, have announced their next film — Bahut Hua Sammaan. The film directed by Ashish Shukla will bring together actors Sanjay Mishra and Ram Kapoor. The con-comedy film is set in Varanasi and revolves around the lives of two young engineering students known for their quick con jobs in their college circuit.
Penned by Avinash Singh and Vijay Narayan Verma Bahut Hua Sammaan also features Nidhi Singh of Permanent Roommates fame, dancer-turned-actor Raghav Juyal and debutant Abhishek Chauhan. Juyal and Chauhan will be playing the role of college students. Flora Saini and Namit das also play a significant role in the film. The director talking about the film said that his endeavour is to create something that can dent the prevalent pop culture that surrounds us, with a sense of sharp wit and irony, in a racy comedy of errors.
Siddharth Anand Kumar, VP Films and TV and Producer at Yoodlee Films, added the film is a heartland caper comedy that delivers a relevant message. He also said that with Shukla at the helm of things, the film promises to be a racy, quirky, and comedic thrill ride.
With production underway, Bahut Hua Sammaan will be shot across Mumbai over the next few months.
Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’souza donate Rs 25 lakh for Maharashtra Floods relief fund
Many parts of the country have become the victim of floods this monsoon season. Maharashtra is dealing with the same crisis as well. Actors Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’souza have done their bit to help the victims of Maharastra Floods. The couple donated Rs 25 lakh towards Chief Minister Relief Fund for Maharashtra floods on Monday.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to Twitter to thank them for their donation. “Thank you Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh for the contribution of ₹25,00,000/- (₹25 lakh) towards #CMReliefFund for #MaharashtraFloods ! @Riteishd @geneliad”
Riteish urged everyone to help people in need. “Over the past few days the floods have caused havoc in Maharashtra & other parts of the country..the visuals have been distressing and disturbing, @geneliad and myself met our Hon CM this morning and made a humble contribution towards the CM Relief Fund through ‘Desh Foundation’,” he wrote on Twitter.
On the work front, Riteish Deshmukh was last seen in Total Dhamaal. He will be next starring in Housefull 4 and Marjaavaan.
Vidya Balan reveals why Indira Gandhi biopic is delayed
The critically acclaimed Vidya Balan is busy with many projects. The actress is currently promoting her film Mission Mangal which is based on ISRO’s mission to Mars. While the actress has been playing real-life roles for years, biopics keep coming her way. She is set to star in Shakuntala Devi biopic.
Besides these films, Vidya Balan will also play former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi onscreen. Journalist-author Sagarika Ghose had revealed earlier this year that her book ‘Indira: India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister’ will be adapted into a film by Vidya Balan and Roy Kapur Films. Since then, there hasn’t been any update on the film.
When asked Vidya Balan about the film, she recently said that the film is not likely to take off anytime soon. A lot of work is still to be done. Ronnie Screwvala is helping her with the material and what they want to tell to the audience.
Sagarika Ghose’s book has all the stories from Emergency in 1975 to Indira Gandhi’s failed marriage, her not so good relationship with her son Sanjay Gandhi and her political career.
Shah Rukh Khan says he has 20 – 25 years of good cinema left in him
For the last three decades, it has been the era of Khans. With a rollercoaster of a career in the films, each of them is still the top choice for the producers. But, in a couple of years, they have also seen roadblocks. Shah Rukh Khan has not given a hit in a while now. After back to back flops, the actor has taken a step back and is busy producing more movies and digital content. With Fan, Jab Harry Met Sejal and Zero not doing well at the box office, the actor has taken a step back from films.
Shah Rukh Khan, last weekend, attended the 10th edition of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), where spoke about seeing the passion of cinema in people around him which drives him to tell good stories. “What drives me to do a film is the people around me who make such a great cinema… And I think I have a huge amount of capacity to do some really good cinema. I have 20-25 years of good cinema left in me,” Shah Rukh said.
Shah Rukh Khan’s last release Zero did not perform well at the box office which is why the actor has taken a short break and traveling to explore stories. “I just finished the last film I made and to put it lightly, it was a disaster. I said to myself that let me enjoy a little bit of un-success as I had success for so long. So I have taken some time off for next four or five months,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’m on these breaks… Coming here (Melbourne) and meeting people, realising and discovering new stories, doing intellectual speaking,” the actor added.
Additionally, IFFM bestowed upon superstar Shah Rukh Khan – the ‘Excellence In Cinema’ award who SS quoted saying, “Awards are odd because to me an art form be judged for its quality feels counter intuitive. Art is an expression and cinema is the ability to create emotions and share experiences through stories. To be an actor, is to live to know that each one is a mere illusion. When you are making a movie you can change a lot by changing the angle of the light and it strikes you that life is a lot like that as well. It’s the simple things that can alter your journey and pondering makes your story worth telling. It’s not the awards you get, it’s just the part of creating process that is an exhilarating experience for an artiste.”
On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan is busy producing shows for Netflix. Three of these shows are – Bard Of Blood, Class Of ’83 and Betaal.
This is what Prabhas said when he was asked to speak in Hindi
Actor Prabhas along with the team of Saaho was present in Mumbai on Saturday, August 10 for the launch of the trailer of the film. The film stars Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead and will be released simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
This is the first time Prabhas will be seen on screen after Baahubali 2 which was released in 2017. At the trailer launch of the event, Prabhas was asked to speak in Hindi for his Hindi-speaking fans. He initially evaded the question but later gave a hilarious response. “Jai Hind,” he said.
Prabhas also revealed that he himself dubbed for his voice in the Hindi version of the film. The actor said that he does know how to read and write in Hindi, but they do not speak the language. So it was difficult for him, but he managed to do it.
Prabhas amassed a massive fan following across the country post the release of Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The End. Prabhas was asked if he was ready to give the Khans of Bollywood (Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan) a run for their money. His response to the question once again left the audience in splits. “Thank you, ma’am. Can I leave?” he said.
Distributor Anil Thadani said at the trailer launch that Saaho will have a grand release across the country. “It will be one of the widest releases. Around 4,500 screens only in North India. South will be separate,” he said.
The film scheduled to release on August 30 also stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Chunky Pandey, Jackie Shroff, Mahesh Manjreakar and Mandira Bedi.
Nithya Menen responds to allegations of being insensitive in the wake of Kerala floods
South Indian actress Nithya Menen will soon be seen making her Hindi film debut with Mission Mangal. The actress will be seen playing a scientist alongside actors such as Taapsee Pannu, Vidya Balan, Akshay Kumar, Sharman Joshi, Kirti Kulhari and Sonakshi Sinha. The actor who is currently busy promoting the film is being criticised for being insensitive towards the Kerala floods.
Nithya Menen, who hails from the state of Kerala is a prominent face of the Malayalam film industry. The actress unable to take in any more comments about her being insensitive responded to the allegations through a video she posted on social media. She began the video by saying that she usually let go of what people say. However, this time she chose to respond as the comments were getting vindictive and ignorant. She said that she was accused of not doing anything about the Kerala floods that has caused major devastation.
“Just because I am not posting anything, it does not mean I am not doing something. I think those who are critical and selfless are very superficial. They think that by me putting a social media post I will be doing something great and you all will be happy,” she said.
The actress said that she does not find it correct to post about something for the sake of it and then move on with her life. “I actually do something about it and we all help. Just because you don’t hear about it doesn’t mean we are not helping,” she added.
Menen also pointed out how people were commenting on her promoting for the film while Kerala and its people are in distress. Talking about the same, the actress said, “Promotions are a part of what I have to do as an actor. We have to look like we are enjoying what we are doing. That is not us having fun, it is clearly promotions for a film.”The actress also clarified that actors do not get paid for promotions as some comments said that the actor was doing it for money.
“When you are pointing at others it is easy, because then you do not look at yourself. Do consider this and be more considerate and kind,” she concluded.
Mission Mangal directed by Jagan Shakti is scheduled to release on August 15.
Rahul Rawail gets hate mail from Mammootty fans
The Southern film industry is known to be fanatical about its actors. Hero-worship has gone to another level with Malayali fans of the legendary Mammootty up in arms over his exclusion from the National film awards which were announced on Friday. Apparently Rahul Rawail who headed the jury has been getting the ugliest hate-mail from Mammootty’s fans asking why their idol was not given the National award.
According to source from Rawail’s jury, “Rahul has been subjected to the vilest attack from Mammooty’s fans. They have been threatening to cause harm to his family, making nasty comments about his father (the late and much-revered filmmaker H S Rawail) and saying ugly things about his children…Rahul is very disturbed.”
The source further adds that Mammootty’s fans’ zeal is quite misplaced. “They wanted Mammootty to get the National award for best actor for the Malayalam film Peranbu. But that film wasn’t even in consideration for our jury. It was rejected at the regional level itself. So where is the question of giving him the National award to a film that the jury didn’t even see?”
In fact, Rawail had shared the message he sent to Mammootty online. The message read: “Message sent by me, as Chairman of the Jury of 66th NFA, to Mammootty: ‘Hi Mr.Mammoty. There has been a lot of ‘hate mail’, that too extremely nasty, that I have been receiving from your fans, or so called fan clubs, as to why you were not given the National Award as Best Actor for the film ‘Peranbu’. Let me set the record straight: Firstly, NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO QUESTION A JURY DECISION. Secondly, your film ‘Peranbu’ had been REJECTED by the Regional Panel and hence did not contend in the Central Panel. Your fans and/or devotees should stop fighting a lost cause. Never question a Jury! (sic)”
The ‘Peranbu’ actor replied with an apology. Rahul had even shared the message sent by the actor where he said, “Sorry sir. I have no knowledge about it. Still I apologize for what had happened’.
However, Rawail deleted both the posts later and the reason is unknown.
John Abraham reveals that he read the Quran for his role in Batla House
Actor John Abraham who is gearing up for the release of Batla House plays the role of police officer Sanjay Kumar in the film. The role is inspired by DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav (then ACP, Special Cell, Delhi Police), who was involved in the controversial Batla House encounter of 2008.
Both the director Nikkhil Advani and John Abraham had spent a considerable amount of time with the police officer understanding his mannerisms and language. It was during these meetings that the director noticed the Quran in the DCP’s library. He learned that the officer read the Quran to understand the guys he was having conversations with as they would often quote verses from the holy book. It helped the officer to better understand their beliefs during interrogations.
John Abraham, too, read the Quran and even learnt a few verses. He said that while talking to a certain character it is important to understand his thought process. He also said that one needs to be well-read to have a point of view. The Parmanu actor said that he is aware of a lot of things but thinks that some people have a skewed view of everything.
The film Batla House also stars Mrunal Thakur and Ravi Kishan and is scheduled to release on August 15. However, a petition had been filed against the film requesting to postpone its release. The petition claimed that the film has the potential to influence the ongoing trail of Batla House encounter. The High Court has adjourned the case until August 13.
Move afoot to ban Mika from all Indian recordings after his Karachi performance
In a shocking disregard for public sentiments singer Mika Singh trouped off too Karachi with his band and performed at the wedding off a Pakistani billionaire’s daughter’s wedding. Understandably there is widespread outrage amongst Indians for what is clearly an insensitive and seditious surrender to avarice.
It seems Mika is all set to pay a very heavy price for his unforgivable transgression. Bollywood has decided to ban Mika en masse. Speaking on behalf of the Hindi film industry, Ashoke Pandit lashed out angrily, “Does this man have no conscience? Does he know the ‘s’ of ‘sensitivity’? Or is it all money money money in his greedy head? Doesn’t he see what the nation is going through vis a vis its relations with Pakistan ? How could he even think of performing in Pakistan at a time like this, and that too at a wedding of a relative of someone as controversial as Pervez Musharraf?”
Ashoke wonders about Mika’s sanity. “He needs help. Who gave him and his troupe the visa to go to Pakistan at a time like this? There must be a serious inquiry into this aberration.”
In the meanwhile a move is afoot to ban Mika from all recordings, live performances, playback singing etc. in Bollywood. Says Ashoke, “All the film federations and producers’ associations are meeting on Monday evening to arrive at a unilateral decision about Mika Singh. Henceforth he will be banned from all professional activity in India. Maybe he can shift to Pakistan to pursue his career. Yahan toh unka waqt khatam ho gaya (his time is over in India).”
Badhaai Ho filmmaker Amit Sharma to begin shoot for sports biopic with Ajay Devgn
Filmmaker Amit Sharma is all set to roll out his next film with Ajay Devgn in the lead. The film is a sports biopic on the legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Amit Sharma who helmed the 2018 film Badhaai Ho as director, co-writer and co-producer won the award for the Best Popular film providing wholesome entertainment. The yet-to-be-titled project will trace the journey of Syed Abdul Rahim, under whose leadership the Indian football team won the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962.
Syed Abdul Rahim was born in 1909 in the city of Hyderabad. He was appointed the head coach of the Indian football team in 1950. The very next year, Syed led the team to a gold win at Asian Games 1951, thus proving his mettle. In the next few years, he and his team won several international tournaments.
But it was the Indian football team’s game at the Melbourne Olympics of 1956 that grabbed everyone’s attention towards the team. The team defeated Australia to reach the semi-finals. Though they lost the semi-finals, it is considered as the biggest achievement of India in football. In the 1962 Asian Games, Syed Abdul Rahim who was battling cancer guided his team to win the finals.
The film will be produced by Boney Kapoor. The producer said that he was amazed that not many are aware of Rahim and his contribution to Indian football. He hopes that the film inspires youngsters to play football and one day help India win the World Cup.
Priyanka Chopra gets verbally attacked by Pakistani woman at an event; PC’s reply shuts her up
The tension between India and Pakistan has worsened after the government revoked Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status. While celebrities have openly either welcomed or criticized the decision of the Indian government, there is still a lot of outrage. But, amid all this, Priyanka Chopra was recently called a hypocrite for her past tweet related to Balakot airstrike.
Priyanka Chopra was at BeautyCon event in Los Angeles, during the weekend, for a special panel where she was taken aback after being called a hypocrite. A Pakistani woman called her a hypocrite for tweeting in favour of the Indian Army despite being a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. During the Q&A session, the woman accused Priyanka of encouraging nuclear war against Pakistan.
“I have many, many friends from Pakistan and I am from India. War is not something I’m really fond of but I am patriotic, so I’m sorry if I hurt sentiments to people who do love me and have loved me,” PC responded to the outrage by the woman. Many news outlets picked up the story and praised Priyanka for showing composure during this scenario.
However, the woman in question took to Twitter to tell her side of the story and claimed that Priyanka turned the narrative against her and made her look like the bad guy. In a series of tweets and videos, the woman revealed how during the question and answer time, she asked the question and the mic was snatched from her.
Her tweets read, “Hi, I’m the girl that “yelled” at Priyanka Chopra. It was hard listening to her say, “we should be neighbors and love each other” — swing that advice over to your PM. Both India and Pakistan were in danger. And instead, she tweeted out in favor for nuclear war. It took me back to when I couldn’t reach my family because of the blackouts and how scared/helpless I was. She gaslit me and turned the narrative around on me being the “bad guy” — as a UN ambassador this was so irresponsible.”
The woman hinted at the Indian Army tweet after the airstrike in Balakot in February this year. The actress had lauded the army and wrote, “Jai Hind. Indian Armed Forces.” It had led to an outrage where some Pakistani netizens demanded UNICEF remove Priyanka as Goodwill Ambassador.
Since the videos from the event went viral, netizens attacked the Pakistani woman for spreading lies about Priyanka Chopra and India – that they called for nuclear war.
Shweta Tiwari accuses husband Abhinav Kohli of domestic violence; daughter responds in an Instagram post
Actress Shweta Tiwari and her daughter Palak were spotted near a police station on Sunday. Reportedly, the actress was in tears, crying and screaming very loudly. According to reports, the actor has reported about her husband Abhinav Kohli for abusive behaviour towards her and her daughter.
There have been rumours of trouble in their marriage from almost a year now. While Shweta had chosen not to comment on her marriage, Abhinav had chosen to deny all the rumours. But, things reached its peak, when Abhinav allegedly slapped his step-daughter Palak.
A report has been filed against Abhinav Kohli which read that the 38-year-old had abused Shweta’s daughter using filthy language. The actress accused her husband of outraging the modesty of her daughter by passing very obscene comment and showing her obscene picture of models on his cell phone since October 2017. Shweta also stated that the her husband was often under the influence of alcohol when the said things have happened.
Abhinav was later brought down to the police station on Sunday afternoon. He was interrogated for nearly four hours in the presence of Shweta and Palak.
The official confirmation on this police investigation is awaited.
Meanwhile, Palak Tiwari took to Instagram to clarify the facts in a long post.
