In a heartwarming gesture on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee embarked on a special visit to Jalsa, the Mumbai residence of Bollywood's iconic superstar, Amitabh Bachchan. The visit was punctuated by warm exchanges and captured in endearing photographs shared by the All-India Trinamool Congress on their official Twitter account.

The candid snapshots showcased Mamata Banerjee's amiable rendezvous with the Bachchan clan, including Amitabh Bachchan himself, his wife Jaya Bachchan, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter Aaradhya Bachchan, as well as daughters Shweta Nanda and Navya Naveli Nanda. The images were accompanied by a caption expressing gratitude and well wishes, “Today, Hon’ble CM Smt @MamataOfficial met Mr. @SrBachchan and Mrs. Jaya Bachchan along with their family at their residence in Mumbai. She wholeheartedly thanked them for their precious time and wished them luck in all their future endeavours. Few glimpses from the visit.”

Today, Hon'ble CM Smt @MamataOfficial met Mr. @SrBachchan and Mrs. Jaya Bachchan along with their family at their residence in Mumbai. She wholeheartedly thanked them for their precious time and wished them luck in all their future endeavours.

Few glimpses from the visit pic.twitter.com/MxgcoKi95B

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 30, 2023

After the warm interaction with the Bachchan family, Mamata Banerjee engaged with the media to share her sentiments. Expressing her joy, she conveyed to ANI, “I am happy today. I met Bharat Ratan of India, Amitabh Bachchan (Mamata Banerjee called Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan Bharat Ratan) and also tied him rakhi. I love this family. They are the number one family in India and they have a lot of contributions also… I also invited him to attend Durga Puja and International Film Festival.”

#WATCH | Mumbai: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee speaks on her meeting with Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan at his residence. "I am happy today. I met 'Bharat Ratan' of India Amitabh Bachchan (Mamata Banerjee called Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan Bharat Ratan) and also tied… pic.twitter.com/qoTsYbJVFH

— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2023

On the professional front, Amitabh Bachchan's cinematic journey continues to captivate audiences. His last appearance was in Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai last year, where he shared the screen with Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, and Parineeti Chopra. The megastar is currently working on various projects, including Kalki 2898 AD helmed by Nag Ashwin, a sci-fi film featuring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani. Simultaneously, Bachchan is set to feature in Ribhu Dasgupta’s Section 84.

Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan applauds Indian 4×400 relay team’s record-breaking feat; calls out neglectful commentary

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been relishing her well-deserved break from the world of showbiz, making the most of every moment. Samantha has been generously offering fans glimpses of her day-to-day adventures through her vibrant presence on social media platforms. After a refreshing sojourn in New York, the actress has once again taken to Instagram to share picture from her trip to California.

Samantha took to her Instagram account and shared some delightful photographs capturing the sunset scenery. She also uploaded some stunning images of herself basking in the sunlight. Within these photos, Samantha Ruth Prabhu can be observed wearing a ribbed turquoise bodycon top coupled with white trousers. The actress complemented her appearance with her short hairstyle, subtle makeup, a striking Bvlgari Serpenti wristwatch, and a bracelet. One of the pictures showcased Samantha proudly displaying a tattoo on her upper back, which had the initials "YMC," representing her debut film Ye Maaya Chesave. The post was accompanied by a caption saying, “Nothing else matters.”

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As for the work front, Samantha will be soon seen in Citadel India. It will showcase her skills in high-energy action sequences, alongside Varun Dhawan, who plays the male lead. Apart from Citadel, Samantha's next project is the film Kushi, where she will be paired opposite Vijay Deverakonda. The Telugu movie is set to release on September 1 and will also be available in Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam languages. The film features a stellar cast including Jayaram, Sachin Khedekar, Murali Sharma, Lakshmi, Ali, Rohini, Vennela Kishore, Rahul Ramakrishna, Srikanth Iyengar, and Saranya.

Also Read: Samantha Ruth Prabhu embraces break with enthusiastic road trip across California

Rani Mukerji has revealed that YRF is currently ideating on the storyline of Mardaani 3! Rani is the only actress to have a blockbuster franchise to her credit in Mardaani. She plays a feisty and fearless cop, Shivani Shivaji Roy, in this franchise and she takes on criminals who prey on women.

Rani discloses, “Mardaani 3 is in the ideation stage. Once YRF has a great and concrete story idea, Mardaani 3 will get into the scripting stage. I’m excited to see how Mardaani 3 shapes up! I am crossing my fingers because I would love to play the part of Shivani.”

She adds, “When I did Mardaani 2, I was quite nervous because I had never done a sequel before. I was like how will it happen? Because I leave my characters behind each time a film gets over and I don’t know if I will be able to reprise that part again. With Mardaani 2, I was surprised that I enjoyed reprising the part. So now I have tasted blood. So now I want to reprise it again in 3.”

Rani says Mardaani 3’s script will need to be exceptional because the expectation from audiences is sky-high from this franchise and they would need to see a crackingly fresh story!

Rani says, “I will be very happy and excited if the Mardaani 3 script comes about really something that we would make a film. Because I as an actor always believe that we don’t want to do a film because it sounds good. We need to do a film when the script is good and when we want to make a film which is making a difference.”

She adds, “With Mardaani 3 we can’t make a film if the story does not have that substance. It has to be something that people relate to today, the girls find it empowering. Only then we can do Mardaani 3. We can’t do it just because it sounds exciting. So I am hoping if they can crack a really good script, I would just like to get on with it.” ALSO READ: Rani Mukerji on marriage, “You need to shock your partner every day”

Megastar Shah Rukh Khan dazzled the audience by releasing the party number ‘Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ from his highly anticipated film Jawan on Tuesday. Now, his presence in Chennai has been met with solid enthusiasm. The superstar is currently in Chennai along with the director Atlee, actors Vijay Sethupathi, Sanya Malhotra, Priya Mani and music composer Anirudh Ravichander have taken over Chennai for the grand audio launch of the film at Sai Ram Engineering College. Addressing the huge crowd and the team of Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan gave a speech thanking the Tamil industry for being so warm for the past three years.

Talking about Anirudh Ravichander making music for Jawan, SRK said, “I remember Atlee sir telling me that, there is this young kid, I have seen him like a baby ‘Why this Kolaveri Di’, and from that time, I have been wanting to meet him. Atlee sir told me there is this young kid can we do one song with him in the Tamil version and the Hindi version I said no we have to do all the songs with only Anirudh and the amount of hard work he has put in, Thank you, Anirudh, I love you so much. And a big gratitude and love to your parents to both father and mother. Thank you, sir and ma'am.”

Watch: Full speech of Shah Rukh Khan from the pre release event of #Jawan !#ShahRukhKhan???? pic.twitter.com/BOe7ti4UYX — Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) August 30, 2023

Thanking choreographer Yogi Babu, he added, “Yogi Babu, thank you so much. I remember him from Chennai. He was so shy and so quiet. And I remember I came to market the film here. And everybody was screaming and shouting in the theatre. For one brief moment, I thought it was for me. And then I realized, no, they were all pushing me aside and they just wanted to say, Yogi Babu, so thank you so much for being part of Jawan, you are awesome sir.”

He continued his speech, “Our editor who's been working round the clock. He says I will only have a haircut only after he finishes editing the film. He's not had a haircut yet. I didn't know that you have to edit the many speeches now. It's not the film that you need to edit. Your speeches have to be edited. But I'm saying this all with love. I do not need to judge these great technicians who will be part of the film.”

“I see Vivek who has written the lyrics thank you for standing by us doing the whole film together. I'm forgetful with names. I call everyone baby and beta. Sunil beta. For him copying in the films and doing such a different role in Jawan. I'm so happy to share screen space with you and learn from you. Thank you so much. And I have to take the names of all my five girls and I'm not going to make a mistake I need your help Bhavna because I don't speak Tamil. So if I have to praise Atlee in Tamil I have to say 'Morana mas, Morana mass', Atlee, thank you so much. Then one of my friends is not here Vishnu. He's delivering the film. The cinematographer for the film. He's been such a wonderful human being. He's done such outstanding work in this film, and we all miss him as a team right here right now. So wherever he is, thank you Vishnu, and he's only in Morana mas. Vishnu. Then of course Maturaj ji, thank you so much for participating in the film and speaking so highly of a VFX unit. We call him Gumby. Ramana muthuraj, Thank you so much. And Ruben your name was Viru buru panna Reben,” SRK said.

He further said, “There are some people who are behind the scenes who are not here. I'd like to thank them. There's one young editor with Ruben darling. Please give him my love. He's been working so hard for the film.There is Shobi master, who made me dance like a mad man. I told him,I can't dance like Rajni sir. I cannot dance like Vijay Thalapathy, I can't even dance like Atlee. So please don't make me do this. But he forced me to you know, I have to tell you Bhavna, I was doing this that I had red marks for three days. Thank you Shobi garu, for making the song it made me look so cool in the red shirt. God bless you. For you the word is attam podal.”

Talking about the women in the film, he said, “Nayanthara, she’s not here. She wanted to come but due to Onam festivities she couldn’t but she gave all her love. She’s sent her love to all. And I thank all my girls, Priyamani, Girija, Aaliyah, Sanjida, and Ridhi. Love you all. Thank you for making this happen.”

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will release worldwide in theatres on September 7, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Jawan Audio Launch: Kamal Haasan sends across his best wishes to Shah Rukh Khan and team

Fans of the cult-favourite sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai were in for an unexpected treat as a heartwarming reunion of the show's beloved cast members recently unfolded. Rupali Ganguly, renowned for her portrayal of Monisha Sarabhai, shared delightful moments from the reunion on her Instagram profile, leaving fans in a frenzy of nostalgia and excitement.

The reunion, as captured in the shared video, showcased the stars of the show relishing a cozy gathering at a Mumbai eatery. The clip offered glimpses of the familiar faces of Maya Sarabhai (Ratna Pathak Shah), Rosesh Sarabhai (Rajesh Kumar), and Indravardhan Sarabhai (Satish Shah). However, Sumeet Raghavan, known for his role as Monisha's spouse Sahil Sarabhai, was notably absent from the video, eliciting a sense of longing among devoted fans. The absence of Sumeet Raghavan didn't go unnoticed by the show's ardent followers. The camaraderie and chemistry among the Sarabhai family members were cherished by viewers. Sharing the heartwarming reunion video, Rupali Ganguly fittingly captioned it with the words, “Some friendships last a lifetime.” The hashtags #friendslikefamily and #sarabhais accompanied her post.

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As soon as she shared the video, fans poured their love in the comments section. Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “Wooww.....so so happy to see u all together” while a fan commented, “Wow, this is so amazing seeing u together as a family once again we love you all, and I love you so much RG. be blessed”

Sarabhai vs Sarabhai remains an iconic show that has left an indelible mark on Indian television, known for its wit, humour, and unforgettable characters. As the cast members come together once again, their shared moments evoke cherished memories for fans and a longing for more from this beloved ensemble.

Also Read: Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Reunion: Rupali Ganguly gets trolled by Satish Shah; Rajesh Kumar recreates Rosesh Sarabhai

It seems like the long feud between Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan has come to an end which reportedly had started during Darr release. However, following the blockbuster success of Gadar 2, SRK made a call to Sunny to congratulate him on his win at the box office. SRK recently revealed that he had watched the movie and loved it.

Sunny told Times Now, “Shah Rukh Khan had seen the film. Before that, he had called me and wished me well. He was so happy, and he told me, ‘I'm so happy, you genuinely deserve it’ and I said thank you. Then I spoke to his wife (Gauri Khan) and his son (Aryan Khan). And he said tonight we are going to be watching this film. And after that, he had seen it, and I think that is when he tweeted.”

“It was so beautiful. Many times I've also called him up and we shared our thoughts on certain things,” he sai. He added, “About the past issues - whatever they were, I would say time heals everything and we move ahead. That's the way life should be.”

Previously, Deol was unhappy with the way SRK’s character in Darr was glorified. During an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, Sunny said, “At the end of the day, people loved me in the film. They loved Shah Rukh Khan as well. My only issue with the film was that I did not know they would glorify the villain. I always work in films with an open heart and believe in the person. I believe working with trust. Unfortunately, we have many actors and stars who don’t function in this manner. Maybe that’s the way they want to get their stardom.”

On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for the release of Jawan on September 7, 2023. ALSO READ: Sunny Deol expresses interest in collaborating with Alia Bhatt; says, “I’m talking it could be anything like a daughter-father”

Following his appearance alongside his partner Tamannaah Bhatia in Lust Stories 2, Vijay is eagerly anticipating the unveiling of his upcoming project, Jaane Jaan. This enigmatic thriller finds Vijay collaborating with fellow performers Jaideep Ahlawat and Kareena Kapoor Khan. In a recent interview, the actor delved into his encounters while working alongside these co-stars within the film.

Helmed by Sujoy Ghosh, the film is a rendition of the Japanese book titled ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’. When asked about collaborating with Kareena Kapoor Khan, the actor expressed that Kareena holds a special place in everyone's hearts. Vijay told DNA, “Her work is so iconic that today auditions are conducted using her lines and based on her characters. She has created a type. Now, in this film, she will be seen in a whole new avatar, something the audience has never seen before. It is a very inspiring performance.”

When discussing Jaideep, Vijay mentioned that he shared a sense of ease and familiarity with him. Vijay said, “Just like any cricket team, when you have good teammates, your game improves, and the audience likes it. Jaideep and I go long back. We have studied together so I had that comfort zone. From doing theatre exercises together to being on set together today, it has been a long journey. He is one of my favourite actors currently so he does make it easier.”

Apart from this, Vijay delivered back-to-back stellar performances with Darlings, Dahaad, Lust stories 2 and his most recent show, Kaalkoot. It definitely is the Year of Vijay Varma with a string of superlative performances. He will be next seen in Murder Mubarak alongside Sara Ali Khan and the much-anticipated Mirzapur 3.

Also Read: Vijay Varma on being typecast; says, “I have never been scared of typecast because the actors I have grown up watching did not believe in that either”

Basking in the resounding success of his recent cinematic endeavour Oh My God 2, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is wasting no time as he dives headfirst into his next project. The renowned actor has commenced shooting for the upcoming film Sky Force under the banner of Maddock Films, and his on-set presence has stirred a frenzy of excitement among fans. Arriving in Lucknow on August 24, Akshay wasted no time and was spotted in Sitapur just a few days later, engaging in a motorcycle scene on an expansive open ground.

On Tuesday, Akshay Kumar took to the open ground for his shot, an enthusiastic multitude of fans gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite superstar in action. Behind a secure fence, they cheered and waved as he rode the motorcycle, and Akshay responded with heartfelt waves and greetings. The actor's attire for the day was a white and blue striped shirt paired with denim jeans and shoes. Completing the look were sleek black sunglasses that added to his charismatic aura.

#WATCH | Actor Akshay Kumar in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur for the shooting of his upcoming film 'Sky Force' pic.twitter.com/jzd2hLXtkZ — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 29, 2023

The filming of Sky Force is currently underway at the PAC Battalion in Sitapur, which has been ingeniously transformed into an air base for the cinematic narrative. The film's backdrop is set against the dynamic canvas of the Indian Air Force, adding an element of patriotic fervour to the story.

Meanwhile, Akshay was recently seen in OMG 2 alongside Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam. The film earned praise from critics and audience alike and performed well at the box office. Apart from Sky Force, Akshay has Tinu Suresh Desai’s directorial, The Great Indian Rescue starring alongside Parineeti Chopra. The film is slated to release on October 5, 2023. He also has Jolly LLB 3, Welcome 3, Housefull 5 and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in his pipeline.

Also Read: Jolly LLB 3: Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi set to begin shooting in February 2024: Report

In the wake of his resounding success in the latest film Ghoomer, Bollywood actor Angad Bedi took to social media to offer fans a glimpse into the magic that went on behind the camera. The film, which has garnered immense praise from both audiences and critics alike for Angad's performance, has been a highlight of the cinematic landscape. Angad recently shared some candid snapshots featuring himself and the acclaimed director R. Balki and Saiyami Kher.

Angad Bedi took fans behind the camera and shared pictures. In the shared images, he can be seen alongside the accomplished director R. Balki. Alongside these photos, Angad humorously captioned, “Bugger learn how to romance.. #rbalki.”

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Within the film's intricate framework, Abhishek portrays a coach whose life takes an unexpected and transformative turn when he encounters a paraplegic athlete, played brilliantly by Saiyami Kher. Their shared journey unfolded amidst societal challenges and personal tribulations, all woven together by the distinctive storytelling prowess of director R. Balki.

Ghoomer continues to transcend the boundaries of the silver screen, not only for its captivating narrative and stellar performances but also for its capacity to touch lives and bridge diverse communities. Ghoomer was a sports drama directed by R Balki. The film centres around the journey of a paraplegic woman, portrayed by Saiyami Kher, who emerges as a star bowler for the Indian cricket team under the guidance of her coach, Abhishek Bachchan. Alongside Abhishek and Saiyami, the movie also starred Shabana Azmi and Angad Bedi in pivotal roles. Notably, the film also included the presence of legendary cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative.

Also Read: Abhishek Bachchan shares joyful responses of specially-abled children to Ghoomer

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is on cloud nine as his latest cinematic offering, Gadar 2, continues to shatter records at the Indian box office. The much-anticipated sequel has already achieved the remarkable feat of crossing the Rs 460 crore milestone, leaving industry insiders and fans awestruck. With its eyes set on a lifetime collection exceeding Rs 500 crore, Gadar 2 proves to be an unstoppable force in the world of Indian cinema. The film's triumphant success can be attributed to the electrifying charisma of Sunny Deol himself, who not only reprised his iconic role but also injected new life into it. Recently, Sunny Deol expressed his will to share screen space with Alia Bhatt.

During a recent discussion with Zoom, Sunny Deol was questioned about a female co-star he would like to work with. Sunny mentioned Alia Bhatt and emphasized that their collaboration wouldn't be limited to romantic pairing. He expressed his admiration for Alia Bhatt and the potential to work together on a film, even in roles like that of a father and daughter. Sunny said, “I like Alia Bhatt a lot. It will be interesting to do a film with her. I'm not saying as hero-heroine or opposite (each other), I'm talking it could be anything like a daughter-father.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh’s film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani hit theatres on July 28. Directed by Karan Johar, the film is garnering good reviews and performing well at the box office. The actress also made her Hollywood debut with Heart of Stones recently that is currently streaming on Netflix. In her pipeline, she also has director Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa with Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Gadar 2 director Anil Sharma believed Ameesha Patel was “weak at acting”; says, “Thoda sa attitude, ek ada hai unme jo kabhi kabhi tedhi-medhi ho jaati hai

Around 9 days are left for the release of Jawan and the excitement is growing with each passing day. Shah Rukh Khan fans are excited as the film’s promotion will reach its peak this week. Yesterday, the superstar revealed that the song 'Not Ramaiya Vastvaiya' will be unveiled today, that is, Tuesday, August 29. Its teaser has been loved and hence, its song release is keenly awaited.

This will be followed by a grand pre-release event of Jawan. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “The event will take place in Chennai, at Sri Sairam Engineering College in the evening. It will probably be held in its sprawling indoor stadium, the details of which are kept under wraps. Also, it’s unclear whether or not it’s a music launch event. Along with Shah Rukh Khan, the event will be graced by Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi and director Atlee. Music director Anirudh is also expected to grace the occasion. More than a thousand students and fans will be in attendance.”

The source continued, “Recently, the pre-release event of Sivakarthikeyan-starrer Maaveeran (2023) was also held at Sri Sairam Engineering College. The events of South films usually take place in this fashion but for a Hindi film, this is a first, that too in Chennai. The Tamil industry and fans are excited as Shah Rukh Khan has a huge fan base down South. Hence, to see him and his film being promoted in their style has given them a kick.”

After the Chennai event, the much-awaited trailer of Jawan is expected to drop on Thursday, August 30. Shah Rukh Khan yesterday announced that he’ll be heading to Dubai, UAE where he’ll attend the film’s trailer launch on Thursday at the iconic structure, Burj Khalifa. The star asked fans to be a part of it and to wear red clothes for the launch.

Besides Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, Jawan also stars Sanya Malhotra, Sunil Grover and Ridhi Dogra along with Deepika Padukone in a cameo. Jawan releases in cinemas worldwide on September 7, 2023.

Also Read: Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan starrer becomes first Hindi film to have 6 am show at iconic Gaiety Galaxy in Mumbai organized by a fanclub SRKUniverse

In a remarkable journey that began from the shadows of film sets, Prateik Babbar has risen to become a prominent figure in the Hindi film industry. The son of renowned actor-politician Raj Babbar and the late acclaimed actress Smita Patil, Prateik initially stepped into the industry as a production assistant. However, his burgeoning passion for acting soon took centre stage, propelling him to embark on a career under the spotlight. Away from the glitz and glamour of the industry, Prateik's personal life has also been capturing attention. Actress Priya Banerjee posted a charming video on her Instagram account on Monday, commemorating the third year of togetherness with her boyfriend, Prateik.

Set to the tune of AP Dhillion's latest sensation ‘With You’, the video showcased a collection of cherished memories from the couple's joyful journey. The video also provided a sneak peek into their holiday escapade. The montage further showcased candid moments of the couple sharing tender kisses and holding each other in a tight embrace. The inclusion of pictures featuring their beloved dog and glimpses of their shared vacations over the course of three years added a personal touch, giving fans a glimpse into their journey together. The video was accompanied by a caption that read, “Happy 3 soulmate,” signifying a milestone in their relationship.

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Meanwhile, on the film front, Prateik Patil Babbar is gearing up for his new role in the international film Lioness alongside Aditi Rao Hydari and British Actress Paige Sandhu. Lioness, certified by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the British Film Institute (BFI), is the first-ever official UK-India co-production being made under the bi-lateral treaty signed by both countries in 2008, the film was launched at the Cannes film festival and is written and will be directed by award-winning filmmaker Kajri Babbar.

Also Read: 15 Years of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na: “Mujhe Rs. 50,000 as acting fees milne waali thi and main woh paise apne doston ke saath udaane waala tha. That was my only motivation to do the film” – Prateik Babbar

The Archies’ cast Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Dot, Agastya Nanda, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina and Yuvraj Menda have officially announced the release date of their much-awaited musical film. Helmed by Zoya Akhtar, the film is set to arrive on Netflix on December 7, 2023. The announcement was unique as the cast was seen posing in front of a massive billboard that had the release date written on it.

The video sees all of the seven cast members being extremely excited about their billboard as the "100 days to go" countdown for the film begins. The billboard also has a countdown timer which tracks the number of days before the film launches on Netflix. The caption read, "Hamari kahaani ka countdown shuru ho chuka hai. This is a daily reminder that #TheArchies are making their grand entrance on 7th December."

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The Zoya Akhtar film is set in the 1960s, and it takes the audience to the fictional hilly town of Riverdale. The Archies is a coming-of-age musical following the lives of Riverdale’s favourite set of teenagers - Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel and Dilton. Seen through the lens of the unique Anglo-Indian community, The Archies explores friendship, freedom, love, heartbreak and rebellion. ALSO READ: Independence Day 2023: Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda and The Archies cast spread the cheer in special way

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is back with his latest release, Gadar 2. The film, helmed by Anil Sharma, also stars Ameesha Patel, and Utkarsh Sharma. It has entered the Rs. 450 Crores Club at the Indian box office. Till now, the film has collected Rs. 456.05 crores. However, in a recent conversation, the actor revealed that he is only focusing on acting now and won't be producing anything as he goes bankrupt while doing so.

In a conversation with BBC Asian Network, Sunny said, “The world has become very difficult. Years back, I could control things because distribution was normal. They were people we interacted with. There was a connection. Ever since the corporates have come in, there's nothing. For an individual to stand tall over there, it's difficult. You have to do your PR, and run around, and they won't give you your number of theatres. They don't want individuals to be there. I had a tough time with my films in this past decade. You're trying to do a certain kind of cinema, but you (don't get the backing)."

He added, “That's what I came in for. I became a producer, a director, wearing too many hats. A man can only do one job. So I said, ‘Throw everything away, just become an actor.’ So that's what I want to do now. Do as many films as I can as an actor.”

Helmed by Anil Sharma, the film is a sequel to the 2001 movie Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and it also stars Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma, Simratt Kaur and Manish Wadhwa. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Sunny Deol opens up on hiking his fees after Gadar 2; says, “I know my worth”

Filmmaker Abir Sengupta is set to bring an explosive saga of a modern-day existential crisis with his next feature titled Risky Romeo. The film, billed as an edgy and stylish neo-noir comic tragedy, stars Sunny Singh and Kriti Kharbanda in never-seen-before avatars. A passion project for the director, Abir is also producing Risky Romeo with Anushree Mehta under their banner Jaadugar Films in association with Priyanka Mehrotra and Rameshchandra Yadav of PR Motion Pictures.

The makers announced their film with a stunning and striking motion poster. "Thrilled to announce the film, writer-director Abir Sengupta— who had previously directed Kiara Advani starrer Indoo Ki Jawani and produced Radhika Apte starrer Mrs. Undercover," said Risky Romeo is a neo-noir comic tragedy that depicts human behaviour in a "very unusual manner."

"The script is filled with dark humour, outlandish characters and a surreal treatment. When I narrated the script to Sunny, he instantly picked up the essence of the film. My business partner and producer of the film Anushree Mehta then introduced me to Kriti. She too instantly connected with the script and I landed both my lead cast. After toiling with multiple stories and ideas for almost 3 years, Risky Romeo was something that had my heart and soul and I knew that I had to make this film," Abir said.

Looks like tragedy is the new comedy, or is it vice versa? ???????? Excited to present to you the first look of my next film #RiskyRomeo

Filming begins this winter ????????️@mesunnysingh @Abirsenguptaa @anushreeAmehtaa #PriyankaMehrotra @rcdgr8 #JaadugarFilms #PRMotionPictures pic.twitter.com/1DMDzCFvaI

— kriti kharbanda (@kriti_official) August 29, 2023

Producer Anushree Mehta of Jaadugar Films jointly with Priyanka Mehrotra and Rameshchandra Yadav of PR Motion Pictures said, Risky Romeo will offer a genre 'rarely seen in Hindi cinema.' "Both our lead actors Sunny and Kriti will be seen in never-seen-before avatars and we cannot wait for the world to witness the same. This is a passion project in its true sense, not only for the writer-director but for everyone who is a part of Risky Romeo.”

Excited to don the role of Risky Romeo, Sunny Singh shared, “I have never ever played a character even close to this before. It is thrilling and challenging at the same time. This film needs me to prepare hard and completely transform myself into the character that Abir has written. His vision with this film and for my character is very unusual and that is something that I am really looking forward to. Anushree, Abir and I have been wanting to collaborate on something for a while now and finally, it is happening with this film that is dear to all of us. This will be the first time that I will have Kriti as my co-star and I am looking forward to the riot on set!"

Kriti Kharbanda expressed, “Sets have always been my happy place and I can’t wait to face the camera. I am very excited and really looking forward to working with this wonderful team. I’ve always given priority to the script and character, and I look forward to the challenge Abir has set for me. This script of Risky Romeo is special for more reasons than one and I can’t wait for the world to see it unfold.” ALSO READ: Kriti Kharbanda recalls a hotel incident when she found a camera hidden in her room

Kareena Kapoor Khan is the original Bollywood fashionista. The actress looks lovely in practically every outfit she wears. Nobody can stop Kareena Kapoor from winning us over, whether it's through her acting or her jaw-dropping style statements. She has a broad fashion sense and a style repertoire that includes some of the top choices of all time. There is no denying Kareena Kapoor's exquisite fashion sense and penchant for all things fashionable. Kareena, the real-life 'Poo,' always dazzles the crowd with her costume selections. This time she was dressed in a red corset dress.

Jaane Jaan, which to be released in September 2023, will star Vijay Varma, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Kareena Kapoor. For the many years that Kareena has been in Bollywood, we have admired her exquisite sense of style and dress choices. Her most recent Instagram photo is another proof of how unique her style is. Kareena wore a stunning tube midi dress and looked effortlessly chic. The tube dress had a corset-style bodice, an A-line bottom, and a fashionable side cut. She even added a bright red full-sleeved coat to her monochromatic ensemble. She went for a glam look for her makeup, opting for a bright red lip, lots of mascara, kohl-lined eyes, well-contoured cheeks, and charisma. Kareena wore a pair of revealing pointed heels to go with her no-accessories look.

Meanwhile, Jaane Jaan is Kareena Kapoor’s OTT debut with Netflix, the streaming platform, on Friday, revealed the title of Sujoy Ghosh directorial. Titled Jaane Jaan, the film is an adaptation of the book ‘Devotion of Suspect X’ by Japanese author Keigo Higashino. The film also stars Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat. Apart from that, Kareena Kapoor has The Crew with Tabu, Kriti Sanon and Diljit Dosanjh in the pipeline. She will also be Hansal Mehta's The Buckingham Murders.

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Also Read: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma starrer titled Jaane Jaan, to release on Netflix on September 21

Anees Bazmee is one of the most celebrated directors of Indian Cinema with multiple memorable comedies under his name. The ace director was all set to start shooting for a double-role comedy with Shahid Kapoor in the lead, however, the film is now scrapped due to creative differences with the actor over the script. While most directors take time to cope with such setbacks, Anees Bazmee is unstoppable. According to our highly placed sources, Anees Bazmee has started working on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 for Kartik Aaryan.

"Anees Bazmee and team are currently working on the script of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and are ready to take the film on floors in February 2024. The film is targeted to release during the Diwali 2024 weekend along with Akshay Kumar's Housefull 5," a source close to the director told Bollywood Hungama.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is produced by Bhushan Kumar and takes the franchise forward marking the return of Kartik Aaryan as Rooh Baba. "It's a cult comedy franchise. Kartik Aaryan and Anees Bazmee raised the stakes of the first part with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and are now looking to make the biggest one in the franchise. Both are excited about the reunion and have already had multiple meetings in the last 10 days for this horror comedy," the source further told Bollywood Hungama.

Apart from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Anees Bazmee is also speaking to Varun Dhawan for a comic caper, which will roll in 2nd half of 2024.

Also Read: Hera Pheri 3: Paresh Rawal sets the record straight on Kartik Aaryan’s involvement in the film; says, “Kartik’s role was different and had a different kind of energy than Raju”

Kriti Sanon, the acclaimed Bollywood actress, embarked on her cinematic journey in 2014 with her debut film Heropanti. Fast forward nine years, and Kriti stands as a towering presence in the industry, commanding attention both on and off the screen. Her latest feat, clinching the coveted Best Actress award at the 69th National Awards, added another jewel to her crown. The award recognizes her exceptional performance in the 2021 release Mimi, where she brilliantly portrayed a surrogate mother. In the wake of her triumph, Kriti Sanon shared joyful moments with her family and industry peers, expressing her heartfelt gratitude for their support. However, the celebrations didn't stop there. On a recent Sunday, Kriti further commemorated her remarkable achievement with a grand celebration, attended by a slew of notable friends from the industry.

The celebratory gathering included the presence of industry luminaries such as Manish Malhotra, Varun Sharma, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, Nitesh Tiwari, Mukesh Chhabra, and Dinesh Vijan, the producer of Mimi. Manish Malhotra shared a picture from the celebration featuring himself alongside the award-winning actress. The caption for this image read, “Gorgeous Kriti Sanon celebrating the national award.” Kriti herself looked stunning in a black ensemble, elegantly complemented by golden hoop earrings. Additionally, the group of friends posed together, capturing the essence of their joyful camaraderie. Manish Malhotra captured the moment writing, “Celebrating Kriti Sanon,” accompanied by heart emojis. The post featured a snapshot of the radiant group.

Apart from this, Kriti was last seen in Om Raut’s directorial Adipurush. Produced by T-Series, Bhushan Kumar & Krishan Kumar, Om Raut, Prasad Sutar, and Rajesh Nair of Retrophiles, it was released worldwide on June 16, 2023. The actress will be next seen in Ganapath with Tiger Shroff, The Crew alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu, and an untitled next with Shahid Kapoor, which is set to release on December 7. There have also been reports about the yet-untitled film that will see Kriti as a robot and Shahid as a scientist, who falls in love with the former. Dharmendra is also part of the project. She also has venture with own production, titled, Do Patti.

Also Read: Kriti Sanon called Alia Bhatt after National Film Awards announcement: “Both of us were just too excited”

This Sunday, Soha Ali Khan graced her Instagram feed with a captivating photograph featuring herself alongside her illustrious mother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore. The snapshot radiated warmth as the mother-daughter duo showcased their infectious smiles.

The picture captured the essence of their bond, as Soha tenderly wrapped her arms around her mother. Dressed in an elegant blue and white ensemble, Soha stood in contrast to Sharmila Tagore's radiant appearance in a printed red and purple saree, perfectly paired with a matching blouse. The caption accompanying the post cleverly played with words, as Soha wrote, “Had to capture the mom-ent #keepcalmandcallmom.”

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As soon as she shared the picture, fans and industry friends showered their love in the comments section. Sharmila's daughter Saba Ali Khan, reacting to the snapshot, left a simple yet heartfelt comment, “Lovely.” A user commented, “Still the most beautiful lady on earth ! Ms Tagore,” while another comment read, “Sharmila Ma’am is still the most graceful and beautiful woman! Gorgeous both of you.”

Sharmila Tagore's illustrious career began at the age of 14 with a role in the acclaimed Bengali drama The World of Apu, directed by Satyajit Ray. She not only solidified her position in Bengali cinema but also emerged as a prominent figure in Bollywood. Her repertoire includes iconic films such as Kashmir Ki Kali, Amar Prem, Daag, among others. Sharmila Tagore shared the screen with legendary actors like Dilip Kumar and Bollywood icons such as Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and Sanjeev Kumar. Her versatile acting prowess left an indelible mark on the industry. More recently, she was seen in the family drama Gulmohar. On the other hand, Soha Ali Khan has carved her own path in the film industry. In the coming months, audiences can anticipate her appearance in Chhorii 2.

Also Read: Soha Ali Khan gives fans a sneak peek into Chhorii 2 dubbing session

After sharing years of companionship, Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar took their relationship to the next level with an intimate wedding on February 19, 2022. Their love story has been a delight to witness, with the couple often displaying their affection in public. As Shibani celebrated her birthday on August 27, Farhan marked the occasion with a heartfelt message for his beloved wife.

In a display of affection, Farhan took to Instagram to commemorate Shibani's special day. Alongside a joyful snapshot captured during one of their cherished date nights, he penned a heartfelt note that read, “Happy birthday partner…may life give you all you want and more…may you always have reasons to smile… (but enough about me) (wink emoji) love you loads. Have the best year yet. (heart emojis).”

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The warmth of their bond was evident as Shibani responded with equal love, writing, “I love you so much! Thank you for the best gift in the world! You!” Well-wishes and congratulatory messages flooded in. Even Farah Khan couldn't resist adding her humorous touch, stating, “She married into our family. Bas enough,” accompanied by a laughing emoji. Several other celebrities from the film industry extended their wishes. Reacting to the post, a user wrote, a fan expressed, “You guys make the most cutest pair mA,” while another comment read, “Happy birthday @shibaniakhtar . You have married the best guy & family of the world.” However, several fans enquired about Don 3 in the comments section.

Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar's journey has been one of love and growth. Their courtship spanned approximately three years before culminating in their wedding last year. Amidst their busy schedules, Shibani has continued to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Recently, she made waves with her appearance as a lesbian bride in an episode of Made in Heaven season 2. On the other hand, Farhan is embarking on exciting projects as well. The talented actor and filmmaker is gearing up for Don 3 and introduced Ranveer Singh as the new Don through a teaser unveiled earlier this month.

Also Read: Farhan Akhtar in talks to lead Begin Again remake; Nitya Mehra to direct

Veteran Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman has been very creative with her Instagram account since her debut on the social media platform in February. From cherished memories from film sets to captivating anecdotes from her travel diaries, and even delightful descriptions of her favourite cuisines, she takes her followers on a vibrant journey through her posts. In her recent Instagram update, Zeenat Aman took to her social media and posted an image of herself along with a note indicating that she doesn't have answers to all the questions. Just yesterday, Zeenat participated in an occasion where she discussed her professional journey.

Zeenat Aman shared a picture of herself and in reference to the event she attended recently. Zeenat wrote in caption, “During yesterday’s discussion, I put out a disclaimer: I don’t have all the answers. In fact no one does. And If someone claims otherwise - be wary!”

She further added, “See, life is messy. One day you can receive a compliment about your poise, and the next day you can spill chilli oil on your Sunday best!”

“(Photographed here towards the end of a leisurely lunch this afternoon. The picture has been artfully cropped so you don’t see quite how direct the above analogy is.),” Aman concluded.

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  A post shared by Zeenat Aman (@thezeenataman)

Zeenat Aman is an Indian actress and a former model. The Evil Within (1970), starring Dev Anand, marked the former beauty queen's acting debut. She has acted in films like Yaadon Ki Baarat, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qurbani, Dharam Veer, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Insaaf Ka Tarazu among others. The actress will soon return to the silver screen with Faraz Arif Ansari’s next, Bun Tikki. As per reports, the plan is to take the movie on floors by November of this year in Himachal Pradesh. The director plans to talk about parenting and gender identity throughout the movie. Abhay Deol will play the role of a father in the film.

Also Read: Zeenat Aman shares a “caption for men”; says, “Nothing screams insecure like a man who’s afraid of or disgusted by things associated with women!”

As the countdown to the release of Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited film Jawan inches closer, the excitement among fans has reached a crescendo. With just under two weeks left for the film's premiere, enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of its trailer. In the midst of this fervour, filmmaker Karan Johar stirred up the anticipation further by hinting at having witnessed something extraordinary.

Taking to his Instagram stories, Karan Johar dropped a tantalizing hint, leaving followers speculating if his enigmatic proclamation referred to Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan. Johar's post avoided disclosing the film's title, yet his words were enough to set the rumour mill spinning. The post read, “I just saw the trailer of the century!!!!!!!” followed by the hashtag “#iykyk.” Swiftly, the online community began connecting the dots, suspecting that Johar's statement could be a nod to the much-anticipated Jawan trailer.

The impending action-packed film marks the directorial debut of Atlee in Bollywood. Atlee, known for steering three consecutive blockbusters alongside Thalapathy Vijay, Theri, Mersal, and Bigil is gearing up to make his mark on the Hindi film industry. Speculations are rife that Vijay might make a cameo appearance in Jawan, further adding to the film's intrigue. Joining the star-studded lineup, Deepika Padukone is set to grace the screen in a special appearance.

The cast of Jawan includes notables such as Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Girija Oak, and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, among others. The film, presented by Red Chillies Entertainment, is directed by Atlee and produced by the esteemed Gauri Khan. Gaurav Verma contributes as co-producer. Fans across the globe can mark their calendars for the worldwide theatrical release of Jawan on September 7, 2023. The film will make its grand debut in theatres, offering audiences the experience in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages.

Also Read: Karan Johar discusses casting Jaya Bachchan in ‘nasty character’ for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani; says, “That was her personality on celluloid”

Bollywood actors Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel are back on the big screen with the latest release, Gadar 2. The film, helmed by Anil Sharma, also stars Utkarsh Sharma. It has entered the Rs. 400 Crores Club at the Indian box office. Till now, the film has collected Rs. 439.95 crores. However, in a recent conversation, the actor was asked about the ongoing criticism that the movie allegedly perpetuates anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim agenda.

In conversation with BBC Asian Network, Sunny was asked about how the film has been considered ‘anti-Pakistani’. The actor said that both countries have “hatred among one another” since the partition. “I think people in both countries are like let it all go, we are normal humans on both sides,” he said in Punjabi. He added that a story has to have a villain and a hero.

“But throughout the film, whenever I have portrayed any character, I have never run anyone down. I don’t believe in that. Even Tara Singh is not that kind of person, not that kind of character. And I believe in such cinema,” he added.

“But we need to look at cinema, it’s not trying to affect this side or that side. That’s not what we are. We are global, we are for everyone. It’s only when it’s read and spoken by a certain sectors of people, then that thoughts come in time. Majority don’t do that, it’s a handful of people. That’s when the wave comes,” he added.

When asked about the religious imagery around the villain of Gadar 2 when the current climate has been very disturbing, he said, “Don’t take these films so seriously. There’s so much rubbish happening on digital and even news channels. Cinema comes for entertainment.” However, Deol said that movies have a certain exaggeration to make them look good or bad.

Helmed by Anil Sharma, the film is a sequel to the 2001 movie Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and it also stars Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma, Simratt Kaur and Manish Wadhwa. ALSO READ: Gadar 2: Sunny Deol shares an emotional video as the film enters Rs. 400 Crores Club

The hype for Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited actioner Jawan is sky-high. Everyone is eagerly waiting to watch the action entertainer on the big screens. As the superstar Shah Rukh Khan always interacts with his fans through #AskSRK on Twitter, it's indeed a big treat for the fans to ask their question. From asking the superstar about music, the netizens flooded social media expressing their excitement for the film.

As soon as SRK started to answer his fans on the #AskSRK session, the fans came up with their question and received some really quirky and witty replies from the superstar.

One word for SRK's character

No tease, the one word that drives the movie is ‘Women’ it’s a film about women made for men!! Hope all like the Mass and Class….#Jawan https://t.co/FTKQhS7CyT — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

Poem on the motion poster

Ok while I was doing #AskSRK @Sumitaroraa asked me to do the poem on the motion poster. You all also make ur poem and send it…let’s see who does it better. #Jawan pic.twitter.com/N3TosqfZYy — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

Ahead on 5 faces of Justice

Actually there are many more faces in the film. Wait and watch….#Jawan https://t.co/E90QgNbEdp — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

Nailing the bald look

And the stranger thing is I did it right after Pathaan. So it was very odd to have long hair and then suddenly bald! Wonder how it will affect my kids??!! Ha ha #Jawan https://t.co/ZMFKB1gJcc — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

How many times Jawan can be watched

Ek baar Mann ke liye…ek baar Tann ke liye…ek baar Fun ke liye. Agar fan ho toh ek baar mere liye bhi dekh lena. 4 baar…#Jawan https://t.co/8YLU92gRI4 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

Who can watch Jawan

Bacche Buddhe aur #Jawan sab dekh sakte hain!! https://t.co/VigksgfeH5 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

SRK's best shooting experience from Jawan

Donning all the looks and varied roles. Hectic work but too much fun when I saw the results….#Jawan https://t.co/0hHqM3G8yA — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

Jawan prevue 2

What do all want Prevue Reloaded or a song now. All decide and tell me will push @Atlee_dir for that only. He has to make na. #Jawan https://t.co/MqROmJDXgq — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 26, 2023

While Jawan has left the nation absolutely dazzled with its action-packed prevue and captivating character posters, currently, the two songs 'Zinda Banda' and 'Chaleya' from the film are topping the charts, fans are eagerly looking for what next the superstar has for them to offer.

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, Produced by Gauri Khan, and Co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will be released worldwide in theatres on September 7, 2023 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages.

Also Read: Ask SRK: Shah Rukh Khan treats fans with teaser of next Jawan track, 'Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya'; watch

R Balki’s films have always had strong and unique scripts. The credit for it goes not just to this expert filmmaker but also to his writing partner, screenwriter Rishi Virmani. The talented writer has written Ki & Ka (2016), Chup (2022), Lust Stories 2 (2023) and the recently released sports film Ghoomer (2023), for R Balki. He has also written films for others as well like Shimla Mirchi (2020) and Nazar Andaaz (2022). Rishi is now dabbling in period films like Chhava, starring Vicky Kaushal and based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Main Atal Hoon, the biopic on Atal Bihari Vajpayee starring Pankaj Tripathi and a biopic on Saharashri Subrata Roy.

Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Rishi Virmani about Ghoomer, working with Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan and a lot more.

How has been the feedback for Ghoomer? The feedback has been quite good. For the first time, I have been flooded with a lot of phone calls and messages. My friends have been sharing screenshots of posts put up by people in their circle, appreciating the film. The point of the film was to tell an inspiring story. The message that one can fulfil their dreams despite shortcomings has reached people. A lot of mothers told me that they are taking their children to watch the film. Nowadays, fewer children pursue sports than before. We never had phones when we were growing up. Kids nowadays love to play football but on their phones, as the screen addiction is quite high. So many parents feel Ghoomer is apt to teach them the importance of outdoor sports.

The protagonists in R Balki’s films usually are a bit arrogant and have a dark sense of humour, from Amitabh Bachchan in R Balki’s first film Cheeni Kum (2007) or Abhishek Bachchan in R Balki’s latest release, Ghoomer. Where does it come from – you or R Balki? I don’t know where it’s coming from. In my point of view, every filmmaker comes with his own style. If it has an impression on the viewers, then they expect you to continue providing them with that kind of stuff. Like, after watching a refreshing film like Dil Chahta Hai (2001), you expect that newness from Farhan Akhtar every time. The tagline of Cheeni Kum (2007) was ‘a sugar free romance’. It made it clear that is film mein mithaas kam hogi! So, it was deliberately written in a certain manner. The character had lost the sweetness of life because he was 64, single, living with his mother who was forcing him to go to the gym! So, sarcasm was his mainstay. And it worked so well aur shayad uski jhalak har R Balki ki film mein dikh rahi hai.

Ultimately, when Bachchan says a dialogue, the impact he creates is very different from any other actor. We have always written for Amitabh Bachchan initially. In fact, we wouldn’t have made Cheeni Kum and other films had he refused. R Balki doesn’t settle for compromises.

Is R Balki also like the characters in his real life? (Laughs) He’s not like that at all. We have written characters who insult others in the film but he’s the opposite of that. He’s one of the nicest people in the industry. Certain people in the industry fly high as they see themselves as star makers or stars themselves. But R Balki is a very simple human being. He works, goes home and watches a film. You’ll never find him at a party. He just wants to make good films, which have not been made before. That’s his mantra. It inspires me to do original stuff.

Also, on his sets, there’s a nice professional set-up. It’s a no-nonsense environment. You don’t feel like tailing around stars to be in their good books as nobody is doing it. Everybody is focusing on giving their best, be it the DOP, the director etc.

Another USP of R Balki’s films is that one can explain its storyline in just one line… When he cracks an idea, he calls me. I would like to believe I am the first one to hear his story! Within 5 minutes, he will narrate the entire plot. He’ll never take 6 minutes! He’ll only take 5 minutes and I’ll clearly get an idea of the beginning, middle and end. And then we start writing. We don’t believe in saying ‘Aur sochte hai thoda’. We just attack! The more we write, the more the film gets clear.

How is it to work with Amitabh Bachchan? I was clear that I have so much respect for him that I would not like to hang around him and try to be friends with him forcefully. I felt it was the worst you can do to him! All my interactions with Amit ji happened during rehearsals before the shot. And he’s one of a kind. If he’s shooting outside in broad daylight, and clouds cover the sun, the unit has to wait until the sun shines again. The unit members estimate that it might take a couple of minutes for the shot to be filmed. Amit ji knows for the next 2-3 minutes, he’s not required. He won’t sit around with his phone or go to his van. Instead, he would call me and ask me to rehearse with him. We have already rehearsed 10 times before and yet, we’d do it again. This is how I have interacted with him, through dialogue readings! I cherish these moments. I feel ki isse accha aur kya ho sakta hai that I am helping him with his take.

How different is Abhishek Bachchan from Amitabh Bachchan? They are similar in many ways. Both are funny, humble and interact with everyone on the sets equally. And both are blessed with the best drunk performances. They can act like a drunk person better than a real drunkard! Be it Ghoomer or Shamitabh (2015), if you hear their lines carefully, you’ll find slurring at selective places. It’s not there throughout the line. There’ll be words that are difficult to pronounce once you are drunk. And they’ll nail this aspect beautifully, as if they have done a Ph.D. in such sequences!

Abhishek is amazing and one of the deepest actors we have today. The way he played in Paddy in Ghoomer, you can’t imagine anybody else. I remember we were shooting the three-page-long monologue scene late in the night at Panchgani in the winter. It was difficult to perform. He had to keep it very natural without making the scene melodramatic. We did some rehearsals. I even did the narration with him as we incorporated some improvisations. It was a three-camera setup. As soon as the camera rolled, we all had goosebumps as he got it right in just one take without any goof-ups or mispronunciation. To witness this kind of act in a challenging situation was magical. It is this magic that drives us in the field of cinema.

How did you enter the world of films? I was born in Meerut but I was brought up in Mumbai, in Andheri. I had access to the film industry through my school and college friends. I was lucky to know people who had some connection. As a kid, it used to be like ‘bachchon ko shooting dikhane le jao’. Through some uncle or aunty, I and my building friends had gone for film shoots and even trials in places like Natraj Studio, Sumit Theatre etc. When I was in college, I realized I had to work hard as Mumbai is an expensive place. My friends, meanwhile, were very wealthy. While some stayed in bungalows, a few of them had buildings of their own. One guy had a bowling alley in his house! Our lifestyle and income were drastically different. I was decent in studies and decided to get better academically, so that I have a bright future. I explored many options related to my stream, Commerce, like business management, chartered accountancy etc. But I would get bored with these courses and would quit in a few months. I guess it was God’s way of telling me that I was not meant for it. At that age, I didn’t realize.

Next to my college, Mithibai, there was an institution called Workstation which used to teach animation. I was eating wada pav one day when I happened to look at Workstation’s hoarding. I walked in. This was a time when animation was very new. I enrolled in a course. I started learning animation and this course bored me as well! I feared that I was going to land up nowhere.

Then I met a childhood friend. He was the first assistant director in Salaam-E-Ishq (2007). He suggested that I should also assist since I had already entered the creative world by doing the animation course. I didn’t know anything about this field but I felt safe as I knew that he would be there to guide me. By the time I tried to enrol in the film after a month, the direction team was full. He, however, told me that MAD Entertainment, which was producing Salaam-E-Ishq, was also making another film. That film turned out to be Cheeni Kum. This is how I met Balki and since then, there has been no looking back.

One of your most exciting upcoming projects is Chhava, based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj… The film is backed by Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films. He’s one of the most enterprising producers that we have. Producers usually provide you with whatever you want. Dinoo is a producer who will go a step ahead. Jo cheez nahin bhi hogi, woh bhi kahin se la ke de denge. If I tell him that I wish to meet some historian based in Pune for research purposes, within no time, an itinerary will be sent to me and all arrangements will be made. Director Laxman Utekar sir, on the other hand, knows the Maratha history inside out. Ask him any question related to that period and he’ll promptly answer. So yes, the research is quite extensive but these two gentlemen have made my work easier.

A lot of research is going on in all departments. Even the sets and artwork will amaze you. Everyone is putting their 100% to the project.

Are you happy with Vicky Kaushal’s casting in the lead role? Absolutely. I don’t think there’s anybody other than Vicky Kaushal whom you could think of playing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He was always in our minds when we were writing the film. I am sure once the trailers and posters of the film are out, everyone will realize that he’s just apt for the part. He’s a fabulous actor. His earlier films like Masaan (2015) and Love Per Square Foot (2018) were so different from each other. This shows his range effortlessly. In Sanju (2018), he was not even the main lead and yet, you can’t take your eyes off him.

Also Read: Vicky Kaushal says wedding with Katrina Kaif is his most treasured memory: “Happiest three days of my life”

Ananya Panday is currently seen on the big screen in her latest release, Dream Girl 2. The movie, released on Friday, also stars Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead role. In the middle of this, the actress has shared some pictures on Instagram that have got everyone talking.

The pictures show Ananya's father, actor Chunky Panday, dressed as a woman. He is wearing a pink outfit and a blonde wig. The pictures are from the song ‘Oye Pape Bachalo Tusi’ from the 1993 film Lootere. In the snapshot, Sunny Deol is seen wearing a turban, similar to his role, Tara Singh, in the blockbuster hit Gadar 2.

Ananya captioned the post, “Gadar 2 meets Barbie meets DreamGirl 2 [ROFL emojis] can't get over this. Thank you @divyasolgama for finding these gems.” Ananya's mother, Bhavana Pandey wrote "Love this" and added a bunch of red hearts and ROFL emojis. Chunky Panday followed suit.

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Coming back to Dream Girl 2, the film collected Rs 10.69 crore on day 1 at the box office. The actress celebrated this success by sharing a poster on her Instagram page. Her caption read, "Your Dream Girl is ruling hearts and the box office too! Thank you for all the pyaar!"

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Also Read: Dream Girl 2 Box Office Estimate Day 2: Jumps by 30 percent on Saturday; collects Rs. 14 crores

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has mourned the loss of her father-in-law, Jon Swindle.

Zinta shared a throwback photo of herself with Swindle on Instagram, along with an emotional message. "Dear Jon, I will miss your warmth, your kindness & most of all your incredible sense of humor," she wrote. "I loved going shooting with you, loved cooking your favorite Indian dishes and having conversations on every topic under the sun."

She added, "Thank you so much for opening your home & your heart to me & my family. The East Coast will never be the same without you. I know you are at peace right now & at a happy place. Rest in peace."

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Her fans and friends have expressed their condolences on social media. “My deepest condolences to you and Gene. What a lovely photograph exudes so much love,” wrote actress Celina Jaitly. Simultaneously, Sussanne Khan commented, “so sorry to you and Gene for your loss pree.. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

The photo shows Zinta and Swindle posing for the camera with an ear-to-ear smile. They appear to be at an Indian festival. For the unversed, Zinta married Gene Goodenough, Swindle's son, in 2016. The couple has two twins, Jai and Gia.

Also Read: Preity Zinta plays Koi Mil Gaya title track to put kids to sleep; talks about fond memories on Koi Mil Gaya’s 20th anniversary

Sridevi passed away in 2018, but she did get to see her daughter Janhvi Kapoor on screen before her death. In an interview with ETimes, producer Boney Kapoor, Sridevi's husband and Janhvi's father, revealed that they had seen the rushes of Dhadak when Sridevi was alive.

"We had seen the rushes of Dhadak when Sridevi was alive. So, she had seen her daughter on screen," Boney said. "Khushi had auditioned, too, and after Janhvi's audition, she got a scholarship at the New York Film Academy."

Boney also revealed that if Sridevi had been alive, she would have worked with Janhvi in the movie Kalank, which was earlier titled Shiddat. "When Janhvi grew up, Karan Johar came home and expressed his desire to launch her. He wanted to make Shiddat with Janhvi which was later released as Kalank.”

Kapoor further added, “He wanted Janhvi to play the role which was eventually played by Alia Bhatt in Kalank and he wanted Sridevi to play the role eventually played by Madhuri Dixit. Later, he decided to make Dhadak with Janhvi. Till Sridevi was alive, Kalank was called Shiddat. She had agreed to do the film reluctantly.”

Coming to Janhvi’s professional front, she was last seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s Bawaal, co-starring Varun Dhawan. The actress has an interesting line-up with a bunch of films in her kitty, including Mr. & Mrs. Mahi and Ulajh.

Also Read: Sridevi’s 60th Birth Anniversary: Khushi Kapoor drops a priceless throwback photo featuring Janhvi Kapoor; Boney Kapoor dedicates a special post

Bollywood couple Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja celebrated a heartwarming milestone as their son, Vayu Kapoor Ahuja, turned one recently. The occasion was marked by an intimate family gathering that included touching moments and generous gifts.

Amid the joyous celebration, veteran actor Anil Kapoor took to Instagram to share a precious, unseen monochrome snapshot from Vayu's first birthday celebration. In the candid photograph, Anil is captured looking affectionately at his daughter Sonam, who cradled baby Vayu in her arms. Anil captioned the post with a heart emoji, writing, "Can never get tired of watching my baby girl hold her baby boy."

The post quickly became a sensation among Anil Kapoor's fans, drawing an outpouring of love. Sonam Kapoor, moved by her father's post, commented, "Love you dad." Anand Ahuja, Sonam's husband, chimed in, saying, "Best. How he lays his head on her shoulders."

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Notably, the Kapoor family's matriarch, Sunita Kapoor, shared glimpses of Vayu's first birthday celebration on her social media. Her post included endearing photos of herself holding the young birthday boy, Sonam cradling Vayu, and a video showcasing the minimalistic yet heartwarming decorations for the event.

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In a heartfelt message, Sunita expressed her love for Vayu, writing, "Happiest birthday to our biggest blessing... may god always protect you my angel. Love you, love you and love you even more."

Also Read: Inside Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s son’s birthday: Actress shares beautiful décor and picture perfect moment with the entire family and her son Vayu

With only two weeks left before the release of Jawan, the anticipation for the Atlee directorial starring Shah Rukh Khan is on a full-time high. SRK and his looks in Jawan have intrigued the audiences since the launch of the prevue. The two songs ‘Zinda Banda’ and ‘Chaleya’, released in three languages, have also intrigued the audiences. Now, the makers plan to hold a grand audio launch in Chennai on August 30, 2023.

It is being reported that Shah Rukh Khan will join his co-star Nayanthara and director Atlee Kumar in Chennai on August 30 for the event. It is also a special occasion as the country will be celebrating the festival of Raksha Bandhan. It is also said that music composer Anirudh Ravichander will be in attendance and fans can expect a grand audio launch event.

Furthermore, the advance bookings for Jawan will reportedly start in India on August 27. It has already begun overseas.

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will be released worldwide in theatres on September 7, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan unveils the many faces of justice in new riveting poster: “There’s a purpose behind every face”

Palak Tiwari has become the first Indian woman to be appointed as the brand ambassador of the U.S. Polo Assn. in the women's line. The actress and singer is known for her stylish and confident personality, which makes her a perfect fit for the brand.

The brand announced Palak as its new face during an event held on August 25 in Mumbai. Besides her, a bunch of celebs also attended the event including Arjun Rampal and Isabelle Kaif.

U.S. Polo Assn. is a global lifestyle brand that is known for its classic American style. The brand has a wide range of clothing, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children.

Speaking of Palak, she is a young actress, who rose to fame for her music video ‘Bijli Bijli’ featuring Harrdy Sandhu. The song was a huge hit. She recently made her acting debut in the film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan alongside Salman Khan.

Coming to the professional front, she will be next seen in the Sanjay Dutt starrer The Virgin Tree. Helmed by debutant director Sidhaant Sachdev, the upcoming film is said to be a horror-comedy.

Also Read: Palak Tiwari becomes the face of Sol de Janeiro’s mist range

Kriti Sanon has come a long way in her journey ever since this outsider made her debut in the industry 9 years ago. Earlier this week, she won the Best Actress award at the 69th National Award for her performance in Mimi. Kriti shared the Best Actress award with Alia Bhatt who won for Gangubai Kathiawadi.  Following her win, she was seen visiting the Siddhivinayak Temple to offer prayers.

The actress looked naturally glowing and beautiful in a gorgeous yellow suit. The paparazzi photographers there were heard congratulating the actress for her recent win as she also sweetly offered prasad to them. Kriti was also seen posing with some of the kids and other public there.

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On the work front, Kriti Sanon will next be seen in Ganapath Part 1, a sci-fi love story with Shahid Kapoor, The Crew with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu along with her maiden production venture, Do Patti which also stars her in the lead along with Kajol. ALSO READ: Inside Kriti Sanon’s joyful celebration following her Best Actress win for Mimi; see pictures

Vicky Kaushal is happily married to Katrina Kaif. The actors had a private wedding ceremony in December of 2021, having kept their relationship away from the limelight for years. Kaushal admits that his wedding is the most treasured memory of his life.

In an interview with Grazia India, Vicky was asked, “What’s your most treasured memory?” He said, "My wedding, the happiest three days of my life, and many such moments, like even on film sets there have been moments when you feel like something special just happened. You felt it. Those moments are very special.”

He added, “When I cracked my first audition I told my mom about it and she started dancing. That was the first time I saw her dancing. Many such moments, like even on film sets there have been moments when you feel like something special just happened. You felt it. Those moments are very special.”

On the work front, Vicky Kaushal was last seen in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. He will next star in Meghna Gulzar's Sam Bahadur. He also has YRF's The Great Indian Family. ALSO READ: National Film Awards 2023: Vicky Kaushal and Shoojit Sircar dedicate the prestigious wins to late Irrfan Khan

Veteran lyricist Dev Kohli passed away today at his residence in Mumbai. He was admitted at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for about three months for age related issues. He was discharged just 10 days ago. He breathed his last today at 4 am. He was 81. His last rites would be conducted today at the Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai.

Dev Kohli wrote songs for over 100 Bollywood movies. He started his career in the early 1970s with films like Lal Patthar, Khoon Khoon, Salaakhen, etc. He acquired more fame in late 1980s and 90s for his work in successful films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Patthar Ke Phool, 100 Days, Bhabhi, Khiladi, Balwaan, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Baazigar, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Kaante etc.

Kohli was active in films till around 2007-2008. Along with romantic films, he also wrote lyrics for David Dhawan comedies like Judwaa, Gharwali Baharwali, Biwi No. 1, Jodi No. 1, Kyun Kii… Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta and Chor Machaye Shor, thereby proving his versatility.

The veteran lyricist was known for working with a number of well-known music composers like Shankar-Jaikishan, Raam Laxman, Ravindra Jain, Anu Malik, Anand-Milind and Anand Raj Anand.

Television actress and influencer Anushka Sen has announced that she has been appointed Honorary Brand Ambassador of Korean Tourism. The actress took to her Instagram account to share the news.

Sharing a series of photos of herself holding a plaque, she wrote, “Immensely happy and excited to announce that I’ve been appointed as the ‘Honorary Brand Ambassador’ of Korean Tourism. Thanks to Korea Tourism Organization for giving me this big opportunity, it was my dream to become the bridge between Korea and India, and now it’s comes true. @kto_india.”

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Back in 2022, she announced that she plans to extend her opportunities in the global market. She partnered with Asia Lab in order to enter the market and explore new opportunities. Anushka Sen wants to create content between India and Korea through various projects. "As a global platform for creatives, Asia Lab (based in South Korea) will manage Anushka Sen's expansion into the Korean and Global market. We are looking forward to various co-operations with the outstanding Indian actress," the statement read.

On the work front, Anushka Sen was last seen in Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 making her the youngest contestant to participate in the Fear Factor India format. She was recently seen in ‘Teri Aadat 2’ music video with Siddharth Nigam. ALSO READ: Celebrating Anushka Sen’s Style: Five Jaw-Dropping Indian Traditional Looks on Her Birthday

Jawan’s release is less than two weeks away and as expected, the fan clubs of Shah Rukh Khan are going all out. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke with the heads of two major fan clubs to find out what they are upto. They made it clear that they want to go beyond what they achieved during SRK’s last release, Pathaan.

Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club

Javed Shaikh, the founder of Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club, exclusively told Bollywood Hungama, “Last time, we had put up 20,000 posters. This time, we plan to put up 50,000 posters in 50 cities. On August 15, we did charity as well as promotions in 30+ cities. We distributed food among the underprivileged and also provided notebooks to school and college students.”

He connected us to Taha Jilani from the city of Kannad, situated in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Taha and other fan members went bald, just like Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan. Taha Jilani told us, “We were so excited to see Shah Rukh Khan sir’s bald look in Jawan’s Prevue that 4-5 people from our fan club, including me, decided to go bald. Later, 6-7 fans also got motivated and shaved their heads!”

Aurangabad SRK Warriors are surpassing their own benchmarks by promoting #Jawan through the distribution of food boxes within their city. This initiative not only enhances the movie's promotion but also contributes positively to the local community.#ShahRukhKhan #IndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/uTRbL2nS31 — Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) August 15, 2023

How do the town residents when they see bald SRK fans putting out posters of a bald SRK? Taha replied, “Logon ko deewangi dikhti hai Khan saab ke liye. It’s quite fun to go around the city with this look and put up posters. Even the onlookers enjoy watching us!”

He added, “We go all out. Even in places where there are no cinemas, we are promoting Jawan.”

SRKians in Bhiwandi, Mumbai, mark #IndependenceDay2023 by providing meals to the less fortunate ️ Thanks to @SaddamKhansrkf1 & Team!#JawanCharityEvent#Jawan #ShahRukhKhan #Chaleyapic.twitter.com/mBZDUWbyNd

— Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) August 15, 2023

We then spoke to Mizan Sayani, who works in a medical company and who replicated the bandaged look of SRK and promoted Jawan in Ahmedabad Metro! He was also joined by other fan members who also went around with their bandaged faces on the mass transit system.

Mizan said, “We had done a screening of Jawan’s Prevue the day it was launched. We loved sir’s dance in the metro at the end of the Prevue. I told the team then that we should do a metro activity. Then one day, we put up the bandage on our face and entered a metro station.”

When asked if they danced to ‘Bekaraar Karke Humein’ like Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan, Mizan Sayani laughed and said, “Yes, we did!”

SRK Warriors from Kannad promoting #Jawan in their city ️#ShahRukhKhanpic.twitter.com/OFvRLQu9Sy — Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) August 19, 2023

Mizan said that this campaign was an eye-opener for him and other fan club members, “It made us realize that Khan saab has so many more fans. The moment we entered the station, the police and the security staff got concerned. They asked us, ‘Aap logon ko kya hua? Kya aapka accident hua hai?’! We informed them that we were promoting Jawan and showed them sir’s bandaged look. They clicked pictures with us and we invited them to watch the film's first day first show.”

He continued, “Then we got into a train. A lot of women passengers were in our compartment. It was apt as Jawan is based on women empowerment. Some of the female members of our fan club gave them posters of the film and explained to them our activity. They expressed a desire to click pictures with us. We held the first day first show poster and clicked snaps with them. Then we went to a different compartment and interacted with more passengers. Some kids were also present and they loved our look. They told us that they loved Pathaan. Even senior citizens were present and they told us how much they love SRK. They were quite surprised to see us promoting the film in this manner.”

Ahmedabad ke Zinda Bando ne kiya Zabardast promotion #Jawan ka Well done @mizsayani & Team ️

| @iamsrk @Atlee_dir @RedChilliesEnt |#ShahRukhKhan #Chaleya pic.twitter.com/NNUECsZ54B

— Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club (@TeamSRKWarriors) August 13, 2023

Javed Shaikh proudly said, “I guarantee you that what we do for Khan saab and at such levels, no one can do. Some people often say that someone must be sponsoring us or it is a paid activity. But it’s not true. We do it ourselves and invest money from our pockets. Hamara pyaar hi aisa hai Khan saab ke liye. Well-qualified people from IT and other fields who earn a package of Rs. 15 lakhs are also on the streets and putting up posters of Jawan. Sochiye kis level ka pyaar hai!”

Talking about plans, Javed said, “The moment the advance booking commences, we’ll start booking tickets in cinemas where we’ll be doing the celebrations. We are already prepping for the first-day first-show celebrations. We’ll install a 50-foot poster, take out a rally etc.”

Thankfully, for SRK Fans, there’s no negativity surrounding Jawan, unlike Pathaan. Mizan Sayani revealed, “We faced some issues during Pathaan. In Ahmedabad, some groups tore posters of Pathaan, including the ones that we had put up. We held meetings with the police before the first day first show. My family members were also concerned. We were hoping that viewers come in full force and that they wouldn’t face any issues. Fortunately, it was a grand success. A lot of media also covered our celebrations. Their headlines were ‘Shah Rukh ke fans Bajrang Dal par huye bhaari’!”

He continued, “With Jawan, there’s zero problem. And we don’t know if such a film will ever come again. Hence, we are going full out.”

SRK Universe:

Yash Paryani, the co-founder of the biggest Shah Rukh Khan fan club, SRK Universe, shared his plans with us, “For Pathaan, we had screenings and events in 200 cities. This time, we have gone past the figure of 200. For Jawan, we are organizing screenings in 300 cities and counting. That’s roughly 10 cities in every state. We have figured out the major cinemas that are situated even in smaller towns and will be conducting our events there. Also, since Jawan is a Pan-India film, we have also targeted Southern cities compared to Pathaan. There, our celebrations will be full massy, just the way it is for the South films!”

He continued, “The 60-feet cutout of Shah Rukh sir will be there even this time. In some places, we have put up 40-50 feet posters already. In Mumbai, due to the permissions, we’ll be able to install only a day before release. We have also ordered lion rings, T-shirts, pants, masks etc. as special merchandise.”

Yash also stated, “Our fan clubs have branches in 60 countries. I don’t think our films even release in so many countries. The first day first show and all the major promotional campaigns will be held in these foreign countries too.”

Last time, SRK Universe organized screenings in Mumbai’s iconic single-screen complex, Gaiety-Galaxy. Yash Paryani, on this, exulted, “We’ll have the first day first shows not just in Gaiety but also in Ghatkopar and neighbouring cities like Navi Mumbai, Badlapur, Kalyan etc.”

He added, “During the release of Gadar 2, we put up the cutouts and standees of Jawan in many important theatres across the country.” He also said, “Even in London, we had Jawan-themed boat parties. We branded the boat with Jawan’s posters. It was a big success.”

And that’s not all. He revealed, “Some special plans are being made. We’ll unveil once it gets confirmed.”

Two weeks ago, SRK Universe celebrated the 10th anniversary of Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster Chennai Express (2013). Yash Paryani explained, “We held Chennai Express’s screening in 55 cities. It was a promotional activity as the film had a connection with Jawan. Just like Jawan, Chennai Express also had a South angle and featured Priyamani. We played Jawan’s Prevue before the film. The reaction videos went viral.”

SRKians from #Dhubri HAVING A BLAST at the special screening of #ChennaiExpress watching #JawanPrevue DM @iamsmh_555 to join our Dhubri team or @JoinSRKUniverse for the rest of the cities! @iamsrk @RedChilliesEnt @Atlee_dir @VijaySethuOffl #10YearsOfChennaiExpress… pic.twitter.com/lQKJH8ZIiD

— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) August 10, 2023

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan to illuminate the world’s largest IMAX screen in Germany

Wes Anderson’s visually stunning drama, Asteroid City, was finally released in cinemas in India on August 25. The film was scheduled to release in India on June 23, a week after its release in North America on June 16, 2023. However, the film was postponed as it was stuck at the hands of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film was allowed a theatrical release, after two visual cuts.

As per the cut list, Scarlett Johansson’s full frontal nude shot, lasting around 3 seconds, was axed by the CBFC. The scene has been edited smoothly and viewers won’t even realize that the crucial sequence had a cut.

Scarlett Johansson, in an interview, said that she didn't feel any discomfort about filming one of her rare nude scenes. She, however, added that Wes Anderson was uncomfortable filming the sequence.

The other scene cut by CBFC lasts around 30 seconds and shows a child smoking. The removal of this scene does affect the experience a bit for the viewers as it establishes the growing romance between the two characters.

After these cuts were carried out, the CBFC passed the film with a U/A certificate. The run time of Asteroid City, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 105 minutes, that is, 1 hour and 45 minutes. A source said, “The film was pushed by nearly two months as it took a while for the team in India to get approvals from the makers for the deletion of these two visuals.”

Asteroid City is not the first Wes Anderson film to get cuts from the Censors. His much-loved film, The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), was given an ‘A’ certificate and yet, four minutes of its scenes were removed. Scenes of violence and even the word ‘f**k’ were retained but shots involving sexual undertones and visuals were snipped. Shockingly, a non-violent and non-sexual scene where characters decide to escape from prison using chocolate-based confectionery was deleted. CBFC suffered a lot of backlash due to these cuts.

Last month, another Hollywood film that got cut was Oppenheimer. Unlike Asteroid City, the makers of Oppenheimer self-censored the much-talked-about sex scene involving Florence Pugh. The makers went as far as editing a nude shot of her with a CGI-made black dress, leaving viewers amused and even agitated. What also shocked viewers was that the controversial Bhagavad Gita scene was retained by the CBFC.

Also Read: Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans open up about their reunion with Jeremy Renner post his snowplow accident; actress says, “On the Avengers text chain, we’re like, ‘OK, you beat us all’”

Rani Mukerji's blockbuster Mardaani franchise, in which she essays the character of Shivani Shivaji Roy, has won her unanimous love and acclaim. The film completed 9 years earlier this week. Rani says, “I’m very proud of the Mardaani franchise. As an actor, I have tried to project women very differently through my films. I realised I could contribute towards showcasing women as real agents of change for society to look at.”

She adds, “I have tried to show women as ambitious, self-reliant, courageous, go-getters who are uncompromising, feisty and upright individuals. Mardaani fits into my vision for women in cinema aptly and because of this synergy, I think I have been able to give 200 percent to this character.”

Rani feels there is a lot of similarity between her Mardaani character, Shivani Shivaji Roy and how she is in real life. Rani says, “Shivani and I are the same. There is no difference. I have never let anyone tell me how to lead my life and I have fought all my battles by myself. Shivani Shivaji Roy is exactly the same. Maybe this is why people love the franchise and my character so much because I’m actually playing myself through this cop.”

“Mardaani franchise is quite a glass-ceiling-shattering one as it’s a blockbuster franchise with a woman as the lead. I hope the success of this franchise will help in many more films being made with women at the forefront,” she says.

Mardaani was a 2014 action thriller film directed by the late Pradeep Sarkar and starring Rani Mukerji. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it earned Tahir Raj Bhasin a lot of praise for his performance as the villain. ALSO READ: 9 Years of Mardaani: Tahir Raj Bhasin remembers late director Pradeep Sarkar; shares BTS featuring Rani Mukerji