Actress and artist Elli AvrRam has unveiled ‘Ellness Life’, a new platform that reflects her personal journey of growth, healing, curiosity and self-expression. Described as more than just a platform, Ellness Life is envisioned as a space that encourages authenticity over perfection while inspiring people to reconnect with themselves and the world around them.

According to its vision, Ellness Life represents living with heart, mind, body and purpose, celebrating the beauty of becoming rather than striving for perfection. Through honest reflections, movement, dance, creativity, nature, mindfulness, wellness and conscious living, the initiative aims to encourage people to slow down, breathe and embrace everyday moments as opportunities for self-discovery.

The platform also underlines that growth is not limited to major life milestones but can be found in everyday choices—choosing kindness, presence, movement, gratitude, authenticity, curiosity and care for oneself, others and the Earth. It emphasises that every individual moves at their own pace, making the journey about personal progress rather than comparison.

Ellness Life is envisioned as a home for those seeking to become more conscious human beings. Inspiration on the platform will come in many forms, including thoughts, conversations, dance, paintings, walks in nature, books, quotes and even quiet moments over a cup of tea. Elli also plans to share mindful living practices, wellness and self-care, movement and dance, creativity, artistic expression, nature, personal reflections and experiences that continue to shape her life.

Speaking about the initiative, Elli AvrRam shared, “Ellness Life isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious enough to keep asking the questions. It’s where I’ll share the things that continue to inspire me to grow, to become more conscious, and to live with more heart. If something I share resonates with even one person, then this little seed has already begun to bloom.”

She further explained the purpose behind the platform, saying, “Ellness Life is not about becoming someone else. It’s about gently returning to who you’ve always been. This is for those who are on a similar path and aligns with it. It’s another side of mine that I have been sharing bits of throughout my years on my personal page elliavrram. And now I want to share more of what my interests are. And it’s for those who feel like being part of it. There’s the actress/artist Elli AvrRam who gets into characters and perform different dance numbers and shares bits about her world. And then there is Elli who is just a normal girl on an inner journey to figure out herself and life, like most of us are. So it will be a parallel page I’ll be handling while I continue my work in the entertainment.”

With Ellness Life, Elli AvrRam is opening a new chapter that runs parallel to her work in the entertainment industry, offering followers a deeper glimpse into the interests, practices and perspectives that have shaped her personal journey beyond the screen.

Also Read: Elli AvrRam on mental and physical well-being, “I must allow myself to switch off sometimes too!”

Former actor Raja Chaudhary, the ex-husband of television actress Shweta Tiwari, has made a series of allegations regarding her personal life during a recent conversation with Siddharth Kanan. Speaking about the period when Tiwari was working on the popular television show Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Raja claimed that she was involved in a relationship with her co-star Cezanne Khan.

During the interview, Raja alleged that his suspicions about the two actors' relationship were based on incidents he claims to have witnessed at the time. "Not just Cezanne Khan. There are so many people. She had an affair with each and every person, I feel," he said.  He went on to elaborate on his allegations, claiming that people close to them had also spoken to him about the matter. “What I saw at that time was totally proven... yaar (friend), she was working with him. She was staying in his house. Even a common friend of ours confessed that she used to come here with him. What else can a man believe, yaar? Even he himself said yes, that we're in a relationship. Teri himmat hai toh tu aaja mere ghar, Koliwada (If you have the courage, come to my house in Koliwada).”

Raja further claimed that although he confronted the situation, he did not pursue a confrontation. "Ab main ye ladai karne baithunga kya tere sath (Am I supposed to sit and fight with you over this now)... but she never accepted. She said, 'No, no, we're just good friends.'” Recalling a phone conversation that he alleged took place with Cezanne Khan, Raja said, "He said this on the phone. I said, 'Why are you doing this? Why are you spoiling this family?' Bola, 'what family? She's never with you. Since day 1, she's with me. You're just his unpaid boy.' He said that. Be happy the way you're."

Speaking further, Raja questioned what he described as inconsistencies in Tiwari's whereabouts during that period. "Bhai (brother), you say you're going for a shoot, and the next day newspapers say you're in Delhi opening some showroom. What all does this indicate? In a relationship, you're lying and relying on this person with whom you're working. Maybe she got unbalanced between reel and real life. She mixed her reel life into real and real into reel. Usne kya socha hoga usse better toh koi nahi janta (No one knows better than her what she must have been thinking)."

Claiming that he personally witnessed incidents that strengthened his suspicions, Raja added, "Ye aapne aankhon se dekha. Ye proven hai (I saw this with my own eyes. For me, it was proven)." He further recalled one such incident, "She claimed she's going to shoot. Uske gadi mein mera kuch saman rakha tha (Some of my belongings were in her car), I went to pick them up. I went to the set. She wasn't there. But after an hour, she is coming in his car, and her car is followed by his driver." Raja also described another instance, "Second, she said I'm in a dubbing. I went to the dubbing to surprise her or something. Dubbing people said she's not there. There is no dubbing today. Where's she then? She's with Cezanne." According to him, there were multiple such occasions. "Two-three incidents happened like this."

He concluded by reiterating his allegations and claiming that dishonesty had damaged their relationship, "‘Aur isse zyada kya (What more proof do you need)?’ and you're not saying I'm with him. I'm somewhere else. Pile of lying. She lied about everything." Looking back on that phase of his life, Raja added, "What all I can say... I don't even remember. It took me a lot of time to get rid of this thought."

As of now, neither Shweta Tiwari nor Cezanne Khan has responded publicly to Raja Chaudhary's latest allegations. Their response is awaited.

Also Read: Palak Tiwari quips Shweta Tiwari is in her “teenage era”: “She steals my face masks”

World Nature Conservation Day 2026 serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the planet's natural resources and biodiversity for future generations. Marked every year on July 28, the day encourages individuals and communities to adopt sustainable practices while recognising that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility. Joining the conversation this year, filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani, actors Sadia Khateeb and Harshita Gaur, and actress-dancer Lauren Gottlieb shared their personal perspectives on why protecting nature matters and how conservation can become a part of everyday life.

Filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani highlighted the inseparable bond between nature and storytelling, saying, “As someone who's spent years working in cinema, I've come to realise that nature isn't just scenery we place a story in front of, it actually shapes the stories we end up telling and the memories we carry as an audience. Some of our most iconic landscapes have become inseparable from the films and folklore built around them. Take away the location, and often the story loses a part of its soul. Our festivals, our traditions, our folklore, all of it is deeply rooted in the natural world in ways we don't always stop to acknowledge. So when we talk about protecting nature, we're not just talking about the environment; we're talking about preserving cultural identity for the generations who come after us. That's what makes conservation feel personal to me, not abstract.”

Sadia Khateeb reflected on the importance of learning from traditional practices while embracing modern solutions. She shared, “Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for conservation isn't inventing something new, it's preserving the wisdom we've already inherited. Traditional practices, the ones our grandparents followed without even calling them 'sustainable,' were built on a relationship with nature that was far more balanced than what we practise today. They didn't have the language of conservation, but they lived it in how they cooked, how they farmed, how they stored water and food for the seasons ahead. That restraint came from actually understanding scarcity, not from lack of access, but from respect for it. I don't believe progress and tradition need to compete with each other. We can move forward with new technology and still carry that older wisdom with us, using it as a foundation rather than something we've outgrown. For me, conservation starts with looking backward before we look forward.”

Harshita Gaur stressed that conservation begins in our immediate surroundings and that even small actions can make a meaningful difference. She said, “We tend to think conservation is something that happens far away, in national parks or wildlife sanctuaries, somewhere removed from our everyday lives. But honestly, it begins right where we live. It's the birds that visit our balconies, the butterflies in a nearby park, the trees and plants that somehow still manage to survive in the middle of our cities. We just don't notice them enough to protect them. Even our cities can support biodiversity if we make a little room for it, instead of paving over every inch of green space. Something as simple as planting a native species instead of an ornamental one, or protecting a small patch of green in your locality, has a ripple effect that goes further than we realise. I think that's the part people forget, that conservation is often small and local before it's ever big and global.”

Lauren Gottlieb, meanwhile, spoke about responsible travel and the importance of respecting the places we visit. She said, “I love how much travel teaches you, if you let it go beyond just seeing a place. For me, the best way to experience somewhere new is by respecting it, not consuming it. I try to actually learn about the culture, the food, the people, and the environment of wherever I go, instead of just passing through it. It deepens the whole experience in a way that a checklist never could. I always try to leave a destination the way I found it, or better, whether that's how I engage with the local community, how I treat the land, or the small choices I make along the way. Local ecosystems aren't just photo backdrops for me; they're living, breathing systems I feel lucky to be a temporary guest in. There's something so grounding about that mindset; it makes every trip feel more meaningful.”

Also Read: Lauren Gottlieb had auditioned for Michael Jackson’s final tour: “I got to perform in front of him”

Vishal Bhardwaj is known for his Shakespeare trilogy in the form of Maqbool (2004), Omkara (2006) and Haider (2014), adapted from Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet. Out of these, Omkara completes 20 years today. The film starred Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Vivek Oberoi who reprised the characters of Othello, Iago, Desdemona and Michael Cassio respectively from the original Shakespearean play. It is still remembered for its bold storytelling and trying something hugely different at that time with mainstream Hindi film stars.

Omkara is also special for filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey as he was an associate director and co-writer on the project. In an exclusive and candid interview with Bollywood Hungama, he looked back at the enjoyable process of making Omkara.

Personal milestone

Chaubey calls Omkara a “milestone” for his career. “This was just the second film which I had written,” he said. “This was also the biggest film I had done in my life. It just fell into my lap because we were not expecting Vishal to make a thriller at that point of time. He was making something else. This happened all of a sudden. I had a fantastic time being a part of this film. It was Kumar ji’s (Kumar Mangat Pathak) first production and he didn’t leave any stone unturned. So, we were never in want of anything. There was very little stress on set. We enjoyed making the film.”

Script written in a jiffy

Chaubey had said in an interview that they had written the script of Omkara in 18 days. He elaborated on how it happened. “In 18 days we did the adaptation formally,” he said. “But when we were working on the post-production of Maqbool, Vishal and I were just generally talking that if he were to do another Shakespeare, what would it be. And he wanted to do Othello. There were no plans of making anything but just for fun we used to talk about adapting Othello. So, there were certain ideas about the film we had through our discussion about Othello early on; a year or two before we made the film,” he said.

Hence, when the opportunity came to adapt Othello, they were better prepared because they had a good vision about the film. “There was some amount of clarity with which we started,” said Chaubey. “It was not completely blind start in that sense. We had to write the film in a short period of time because Kumar Mangat had come as producer and got Ajay Devgn on board. Ajay was very keen to do a Shakespeare with Vishal but the condition was that his dates were open in January and we were already in September. So, we had to write the film in double quick time, otherwise we would lose out on his dates. Although there was pressure, it was a good pressure.”

Meeting real gangsters and politicians

Sharing the interesting research process, Chaubey revealed, “Robin (Bhatt) da joined us. Then Vishal, me and Robin da went on a general trip of western UP, particularly Meerut. We spent about a week there and met various kinds of people – gangsters, people behind bars, etc. Just a political and crime landscape of Meerut. Plus, Vishal is from Meerut, so he knew a lot of people we could meet and talk to. That energized us and also gave us a feel of the film, like how the characters are, how they talk, behave, etc. Directly from Meerut we went to Mussoorie to write the film.”

Due to their research and familiarity with Othello, which Chaubey had even studied in college, they were well-prepared when they sat down to write. “We would have discussions about the adaptation during the day – the story, characters and all of that. During lunch time, I would polish the notes Vishal ji and Robin da had discussed. Then post-lunch during tea time we would revise it and Vishal would that evening only try and do the dialogues of those scenes. It was almost like we were working double time. We wrote it very rapidly. It was a very long time ago. I was very young, so I had a lot of energy. I remember enjoying the process tremendously,” recalled Chaubey.

Only Vishal Bhardwaj was convinced about Saif Ali Khan’s casting as Langda Tyagi

Recalling the casting of Saif, Chaubey said, “I was of the view that for the role of Langda Tyagi we would be going for a different, more serious kind of an actor or an arthouse actor because we were coming from Maqbool and all of that. But Vishal said that he is going for Saif. And I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ Saif hadn’t done anything like this before, right? He played romantic characters in urban films. The only film where he had negative shades was Ek Hasina Thi. He was very good in it but he was playing a very urbane character. This was a very different and rugged sort of a character.”

Chaubey added, “I wasn’t sure if it would work but Vishal was supremely confident that he would make him do it. I have to give credit to him because not just me but everybody around him was not very sure about his choice. But Vishal being a director could see something which we, obviously, couldn’t. And when Saif got to know that he is getting to play Iago, he quickly jumped at it. I think his mother Sharmila ji had something to do with it. She, sort of, encouraged him to play this part because, knowing Shakespeare, she told him that Iago is the most memorable character of this play. But his dates were not clear. I think he was doing Race. But then Race got pushed and he came on board.”

Chaubey recalled that Kareena came on board fairly quickly because Desdemona was a great character for her. She also wanted to be in a Vishal Bhardwaj film specially with Ajay Devgn leading it. He said that the rest of the casting also happened very quickly.

Saif didn’t hesitate to use cuss words

Omkara was one of the earliest mainstream films to have a lot of cuss words, especially uttered by Langda Tyagi’s character. When asked whether Saif had any hesitation in uttering cuss words, Chaubey said, “Saif jumped at the opportunity (laughs). He said, ‘I am never going to get a chance to do something like this again’. There were some apprehensions how it will be acceptable to the Indian audience or how the censor board will pass it. But our intention behind it was very clear. Shakespeare has great poetry. So, there has to be something in the dialogue that gives it a rhythm and feel that sets it apart from what you normally see in a Hindi film. The way Vishal ji used the dialogue and even the abusive language worked – and I mean this seriously – in a very poetic way. It was not like how cuss words are used now without a thought carelessly.”

“20 years ago, the CBFC was more enlightened”

The reaction of how the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to the cuss words was an obvious question to Chaubey. “CBFC of that era was very different from CBFC of present,” he said. “My first film (Ishqiya) came in 2010. It had a bold theme and colourful language. But at that time, people would give you Adult certificate and as long as anything was not demeaning to a gender or a community, they would let it be. In Omkara, there were some dialogue cuts but very minimal, which the committee felt were abusive towards a gender or anything of that sort. But otherwise, they let it pass. I think we had a very enlightened Censor Board 20 years ago. I think we have gone 20 years behind today.”

The craze behind “Langda Tyagi Baahubali”

Post the film’s release, the dialogue uttered by Deepak Dobriyal’s character, “Langda Tyagi Baahubali, Baahubali Langda Tyagi” became a rage and it continues to be popular. “When I saw it on set while shooting, I knew this is going to be a hit,” said Chaubey. “We had written it and we wanted it to be iconic. But when Deepak and Saif played that scene and then Deepak started jumping and saying this dialogue, we knew instantly that this is going to catch.”

Chaubey was speaking from Jharkhand where he was for a recce to scout locations for his upcoming web series.

Also Read: Saif Ali Khan makes an attention grabbing appearance at Lord’s Stadium; heritage-inspired Winchester College tie becomes the highlight of his look

After making her mark as an actor, Sheetal Menon has now ventured into filmmaking. Following her directorial debut with the short film Siblings, she is all set to release her deeply intimate and ambitiously cinematic second short, Duet. Backed by acclaimed filmmaker and her husband Bejoy Nambiar, Duet stars Sidhant Gupta as a pianist going through a turbulent phase in his life. Duet also stands out for being the first film to release on Spotify. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Bejoy also had a release, Tu Yaa Main, starring Adarsh Gourav, Shanaya Kapoor and a terrifying crocodile. It was one of the most appreciated films of the year and yet, it didn’t get the box office success that it probably deserved. Moreover, it was a film meant for the big screen and to witness audiences freaking out and screaming in fear in some scenes added to the fun. Despite so many factors, the film missed the tag of a theatrical hit.

Sheetal Menon, who was credited under ‘Special Thanks’ in Tu Yaa Main, opened up about the creature thriller’s box office performance in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama. She said, “You always hope that a film works. You try your best and hope that it has everything required to succeed in theatres.”

She added, “But what exactly does a film need to run successfully in cinemas? You put in your best effort, and the response to Tu Yaa Main was overwhelming. Yet, the film had mixed results at the box office. Of course, it is disappointing at some level. But you cannot sit with that disappointment. You have to get up, move on and try again.”

Sheetal admitted, “However, it wasn’t easy. You also feel helpless at times. How do you convince people to come to theatres and watch a film? We are living in a difficult period when audiences are no longer going to cinemas regularly. It is becoming increasingly difficult.”

Sheetal Menon added, “At the same time, there is still hope. I don’t think an experience like this would make anyone say, ‘I’m never going to do this again.’”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Sheetal Menon praises Sidhant Gupta’s EXTRAORDINARY dedication to her short film Duet: “I asked for 3 days; he gave me 9 months…even learned to play the piano”

The makers of the Raghav Juyal-starrer Bhai Tera Star Hai recently released the song ‘Aankhon Se Tune 2.0’, a recreated version of the popular track from Ghulam (1998), starring Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji. Meanwhile, in the trailer, Raghav’s character can be seen claiming that he would play Bhaijaan’s bhai in an upcoming film. The meta reference alludes to Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), which starred Salman Khan and featured Raghav as one of his brothers. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, producer-director Vivek B Agarwal spoke about this aspect and much more.

When asked if Bhai Tera Star Hai will have a grand premiere, Vivek B Agarwal replied, “We are working on it and are also planning to invite our industry friends. Making this film was like one big party for us! It was a comedy, and off-screen, everyone was indulging in crazy things. We had rehearsed the film so much ki sabko ek dusre ke dialogues yaad ho gaye the. So, we want to carry this momentum forward and hold a big cast-and-crew screening, which we can call a premiere. It’ll be held a day before the release, and we intend to celebrate the fun we had while making the film.”

Since Salman Khan and Aamir Khan are also connected with the film, would they be invited to the premiere of Bhai Tera Star Hai? Vivek Agarwal smiled and answered, “I would love it if they could come and if they have the time. I do know that Salman bhai called up Raghav and congratulated him on the trailer. He was very happy with the trailer. Raghav met him as well. He told him, ‘I saw your trailer twice and the Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan joke in the end was fabulous’. So, I am happy that people are enjoying the humour and taking it in their stride. It’s also good to be encouraged by people who have seen it all and done it all.”

Bhai Tera Star Hai releases on July 30. Speaking about his future plans, Vivek B Agarwal said, “There are quite a few films in development. These are ideas that I have been writing and developing for years. It’s just that I had to take the step of producing films myself, and hence, those projects took a backseat. But yes, there are several things in the pipeline, and I hope to get them going in the early part of next year. Also, my wife (Avantika Hari Agrawal) is a National Award-winning writer-director, and she’s working on her next project. We are trying to put the cast together and hopefully get the film on the floors as soon as possible.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Bhai Tera Star Hai was shot in LESS than a month,” says Vivek B Agarwal; adds, “It takes a phenomenal actor like Raghav Juyal to make bad acting look so convincing…Sanjay Kapoor wore the wig even when he wasn’t shooting!”

Recently, Salman Khan created a storm with his tweet about the happenings in the country. Interestingly, 14 years ago, another tweet by the superstar changed the course of several lives. It was through this tweet that he announced Sajid Nadiadwala’s directorial debut with Kick (2014). This is when he announced that Sajid Nadiadwala will turn director with Kick. The action entertainer was a blockbuster at the box office and one of the biggest box office successes for a debutant director. The film is remembered not just for providing wholesome entertainment but also because the makers released a special coffee table book ‘Kick: A Karizmatic Journey’. Launched a few months after the film’s release, it consists of rare BTS images and fascinating trivia shared by Sajid Nadiadwala and the various HODs. As Kick completed 12 years on July 25, Bollywood Hungama revisited this rare coffee table book to unearth fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia and previously unseen pictures from the blockbuster.

1. Zero VFX, 100% Salman’s swag

Cinematographer Ayananka Bose opened up about the legendary scene involving Salman Khan and the railway train, “The iconic sequence was never a part of the original plan. Mr Khan was supposed to ride across the tracks on the cycle but just before he was to perform the shot, he came with this idea that he would dismount the cycle, push it ahead and just walk across the tracks nonchalantly, without even looking at the train which was a fraction an inch away from him. Sajid sir asked the team to film both the options – first what Salman had suggested and second was the original idea of cycling across the tracks. It sounded impossible to place the camera on the path of an incoming train without the help of VFX for such a sequence. This is when we decided to dig a hole and place it right in the middle of the tracks onto the path of the train. In those failing light conditions, the crew worked frantically, including Sajid sir, who was most worried about the safety of Salman sir. With the failing light conditions, it was a one-shot ‘now or never’ moment.”

He added, “What followed was history. Once the walk across the track was filmed, the original idea was never filmed!”

2. From 27 takes to no retakes:

Sajid Nadiadwala revealed a fascinating anecdote about Randeep Hooda, who had a crucial part in the film, “On the first day of the shoot, we tried doing very different stuff for the role and I was not very satisfied on the monitor. We had about 27 takes until Randeep gave the shot exactly as I was looking for. From that day, we never had any issues and for all subsequent shots, he did not cross the second take.”

3. Apprehensions that were soon put to rest

As for Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s character, Sajid Nadiadwala revealed, “He was the last possible choice on anyone’s mind. Many of my HODs did not agree on his casting, but I was very sure.”

4. The evolution of the mask

Suresh Selvarajan, special prop designer, admitted, “We made nearly 300 different masks before settling for this one, and then we did an 8-month-long research on the material. This was the first time the mask was made using 3D print technology in India…we were clear that it would be a first-time-ever or never-before mask.”

5. How Salman turned singer

Sajid Nadiadwala explained how he convinced Salman Khan to sing ‘Hangover’, “We have been hearing him for the last 20 years in a room. So, this was the best chance for the world to hear him too.”

6. London’s bus in Poland

The double-decker bus chase scene is quite memorable. The veteran filmmaker revealed, “We started from London, then Glasgow, followed by Warsaw. Thank God we got permission to shoot in Warsaw. Otherwise, we would have had to shoot in Bangkok or Hong Kong. We put both buses on trucks to transport them from the UK to Poland as they were not allowed to drive on the highway on their own.”

7. Adorable cameos

Kick marked the debut of Sajid Nadiadwala as a director and one of his sons in front of the camera. He said, “My elder brother, Subhan, has made his lucky charm appearances in most of my productions, from his debut appearance in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and thereafter in Heyy Babyy (2007), Housefull (2010) and Housefull 2 (2012). It was only befitting that with Kick, in which his father was making his debut as a director, my younger son, Sufiyan, also made his debut screen appearance with Subhan…their presence added to the sweet taste of Kick’s success, like the ice creams they were enjoying through the filming.”

8. Sajid’s Eureka moment

In one scene, Salman Khan admonishes bystanders for failing to act in the face of injustice. Sajid explained, “There was this particular real-life incident in which a few brave boys had unfortunately lost their lives amidst indifferent onlookers. The incident had disturbed me deeply. A Eureka moment occurred when I was taking a shower in the morning and got an idea to interpret this incident in my own way. I narrated the scene to my wife as I stepped out of the shower and her reaction gave me the positivity that I had hit the right chord.”

9. The girl who left the nation teary-eyed

Diya Chalwad, who played Jhumki, was the soul of the film. Sajid Nadiadwala confessed, “Every time this part of the scene was scheduled to be filmed, I used to look for some excuse to push it back as I was not emotionally prepared to take on this part. Finally, we filmed it towards the end of the schedule, when I matured as a director and was in the right emotional space for it.”

He continued, “A special mention to Diya who could emote and cry effortlessly and made us cry on the set”

10. Salman’s 2011 blockbuster to the rescue

Ayananka Bose also revealed, “I asked (Sajid sir) how he chose me for such a big project, when he could have hired anyone from India or abroad. He answered with such simplicity that while watching the film Bodyguard (2011; also starring Salman Khan), which was shot by multiple DOPs, he came across the song ‘Teri Meri’ that was shot by me. He liked it and decided on that basis. He said his most memorable visual from the sets of the film was “the ever-smiling face of Mr Sajid, be it rain or shine, a quality rare and to be learnt”.

11. How the writer’s block was overcome

Rajat Aroraa, one of the much-loved writers of the film, remarked, “The breakup scene was one of the hardest to crack. Time was running out…I had only the beginning of the scene sorted. Things were a little tense. Sajid sir walked up to me and told me, ‘Don’t worry, Rajat. It’ll work out. Like in life, har cheez mein problem second half mein hi aati hai.  And that’s it. That’s how I got the line, ‘Main tumhare saath boodha hona chahta hoon, tumhari wajah se nahin’!”

12. Sajid’s uncompromised vision

Production designer Rajnish Hedao of Acropolis stated, “Sajid Nadiadwala’s philosophy was that if you were going to show a close-up, make it closer than any close-up has ever been. And if you are going to take a long shot, make it a larger long shot than anyone else has ever done.”

13. Action directors floored by Sajid

The action directors of Kick have spoken highly of the director-producer. ANL Arasu said, “I found the greatest producer in the film industry, Mr Sajid Nadiadwala…he is a great captain. I can proudly say that my grandfather is Sajid Nadiadwala. May God bless him.” Stefan Richter, international action director, stated, “I was given the biggest chance in my career. I will never forget the time with you guys.”

14. The hard work behind the animation sequence

Kick’s animated sequence was lovely and set the mood. Viral Thakkar, VFX Supervisor, Pixion, opened up on what lengths they had to go, “We used various references of Salman sir’s childhood and teen pictures from the internet and carefully designed the characters. The idea was not to make it look too caricature-type. We had a task in front of us with the image he carries globally. The audience loves him. We had to make him look very appealing and lovable.”

He continued, “We went through various visual references from Salman sir’s previous films on the way he performs his comic scenes. He has his own style and the task we had in hand, as far as animation was concerned, was to capture his nuances. At one point, we had to make our animators perform like him in our office just to make sure they got the animation right.”

15. The untold story behind the car

The vehicle driven by Salman Khan at the beginning of the film was a cross between a car and a motorcycle. Deepak More, DC Motors, admitted, “Despite an intensive attempt to source a pristine VW Beetle, we couldn’t find one decent one in the whole country. Hence, we were forced to follow a process that is only done when prototyping elaborate programmes for auto manufacturers. We had to build a 3D data of the VW Beetle…”

Veteran actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan has voiced his support for the students protesting at Jantar Mantar, becoming one of the few prominent South Indian film personalities to publicly speak out on the issue. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the actor shared a strongly worded statement, questioning the country's education system and urging those in power to address the concerns raised by the protesting youth.

Expressing solidarity with the students, Haasan criticized what he described as systemic failures that have left young people feeling unheard. He also appealed to education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his ongoing fast while emphasizing that the responsibility now lies with the nation to respond to the students' demands.

Sharing his thoughts on social media, Kamal Haasan wrote, “We should have listened when one child cried. Instead, we waited until far too many of our children died. A system where coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit is rotten. A nation has failed when its children are met with barricades and batons instead of answers. @Wangchuk66, the nation will need your conscience for the journey ahead. Please end your fast. To the children of India: You are the best of us. You have done your duty. It is now time for the country to do its duty by you. May your dreams forever be bigger than our failures. @cockroachisback #CJPProtest.”

We should have listened when one child cried. Instead, we waited until far too many of our children died.

A system where coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit is rotten.

A nation has failed when its children are met with…

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 23, 2026

The actor's statement comes amid growing conversations surrounding the ongoing demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, where students have been demanding accountability and reforms. Haasan's post highlights concerns over the pressures of the current education system and calls for meaningful action instead of confrontation. While several celebrities from the Hindi film industry have expressed support for the protesting students over the past few days, Kamal Haasan is among the few leading South Indian stars to publicly take a stand on the issue.

As the protests continue to draw nationwide attention, Haasan's message adds to the growing list of public figures urging authorities to engage with students' concerns and work towards meaningful solutions rather than allowing the crisis to deepen.

Also Read: PM Modi completes 12 years: Ajay Devgn, Kamal Haasan, Govinda, and other celebs react to historic milestone

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has opened up about his decision to distance himself from Bandar, starring Bobby Deol, revealing that the version released was not the one he had envisioned. During a conversation with comedian Kunal Kamra, the filmmaker candidly spoke about creative compromises, the impact of corporatisation on filmmaking, and why he deliberately chose not to respond to the criticism the film received.

Explaining his silence after the film's release, Kashyap admitted that he did not feel comfortable defending a project that no longer reflected his intended vision. Addressing the criticism surrounding the film, he said, “When I said don't watch, it's because I can't own up… If you noticed, I didn't give any interviews on the film. Because whatever came out is not my final cut. So, the criticisms that came the movie's way are quite valid. I wanted to put out something I could stand up for. As a result, I couldn't stand up against the criticisms against the movie."

The filmmaker also reflected on how the industry's functioning has changed over the years, suggesting that the increasing corporatisation of cinema has altered the creative process. Comparing the current ecosystem with the past, Kashyap remarked, "Unlike before, things have become corporatised today. It’s not like all producers are making movies by mortgaging their houses or because they believe in the work. Some are making just to ensure that their movie is a success."

Speaking further about the themes explored in Bandar, Kashyap maintained that audiences who understood his intent would recognise what he was trying to convey, despite the changes made to the film. He said, "Those who could see my intention, they didn't need to watch it, because they already know what's being shown. The problem is with those who don't know what it's about and they need to watch it to understand the perspective. Only those who aren't self-aware get carried away; or those who aren't aware of what goes on. Those who are aware won't have expresses solidarity with... protests, asks what... a problem; they will dismiss it right away.”

Kashyap further clarified that while the film largely retained his visual storytelling, editorial changes significantly altered its perspective. Elaborating on the impact of the final edit, he said, “Cinematically, everything else is pretty much mine… but they changed it by taking something out. Thus, the perspective has been changed. The tilt has changed a little bit. Whatever was there, was made by me. I shot it. But what they have edited out has really affected the outcome.”

His remarks have once again reignited conversations around creative freedom, director's cuts, and the influence of studios and producers on the final version of a film. While Bandar was discussed for its subject matter and performances, Kashyap's latest statements shed light on the challenges filmmakers often face in preserving their original creative vision.

Also Read: Anurag Kashyap joins Chaar Diwaari as presenter ahead of North American premiere at Fantasia Festival

Actor Kajal Aggarwal has shared her thoughts on the differences between the Hindi and South Indian film industries, saying she prefers the discipline and punctuality followed on South film sets. During a recent interview with Shubhankar Mishra, the actor also recalled that Salman Khan made her wait the longest while working on a Hindi film.

Kajal Aggarwal compares work culture in Bollywood and South cinema Speaking about the contrasting work cultures, Kajal said schedules in the South are followed much more strictly. "In Hindi films, things don't always happen on time. In the South, we work according to the clock. If the call time is 6 am, it means exactly 6. I've become used to that way of working and I really like it. We work until 1 pm and then everyone gets a proper lunch break on time. In Hindi films, it's not always like that," she said. Kajal Aggarwal recalls waiting the longest for Salman Khan on set Recalling one of her experiences in Bollywood, Kajal revealed that Salman Khan kept her waiting for the longest during a shoot. However, she chose to make productive use of the time. "Salman Khan made me wait the longest. I was wondering, 'What's going on here?' So I would go and work out in the gym that was set up on the film set. At least I managed to lose some weight during that time, so it worked out well. But the point is that I have become very used to the punctuality and discipline of the South Indian film industry," she shared. Why Kajal Aggarwal prioritised South films over Hindi cinema The actor also explained why she became selective about signing Hindi films despite being a familiar face among audiences in North India. "The kind of quality work I was getting in the South was something I wasn't getting in Hindi films at that time. The roles and characters I wanted were being offered to me there. For me, the quality of work over quantity of work was my priority. Since I was getting strong and meaningful roles in the South, I didn't see a reason to do supporting or average roles elsewhere," Kajal said.

Kajal Aggarwal is currently promoting her upcoming film The India Story. She will also be seen in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana Part 1 and Ramayana Part 2, where she essays the role of Mandodari.

Also Read: The India Story trailer out! Kajal Aggarwal and Shreyas Talpade take on pesticide farming crisis in hard-hitting social drama

The makers of Ramayana have shared a new video offering a behind-the-scenes look at Pratham Sankalp, the grand launch event held in Delhi to introduce audiences to the vision behind the much-awaited two-part mythological epic. The event, which took place at Bharat Mandapam, brought together the film's cast, creators, members of the media, and several dignitaries.

The newly released video captures key moments from the evening, including producer Namit Malhotra speaking about his ambition to present one of India's most celebrated epics on a global scale. It also features appearances by the film's cast and crew, along with a surprise entry by Sunny Deol, who essays the role of Lord Hanuman in the film.

Sharing the video on social media, the makers wrote, "Here's a glimpse into Pratham Sankalp, an evening that marked the beginning of our journey from -Bharat to the World. @iamnamitmalhotra's Ramayana Directed by @niteshtiwari22 In cinemas, globally - Diwali 2026 & 2027."

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Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is based on the ancient Indian epic and is being mounted as a two-part cinematic franchise. Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Ram, while Sai Pallavi plays Sita. Popular pan India star Yash takes on the role of Ravana, with Sunny Deol portraying Lord Hanuman and Ravi Dubey essaying Lakshman.

The project is backed by producer Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios in association with eight-time Academy Award-winning visual effects studio DNEG and Yash's Monster Mind Creations. The makers have positioned the film as a large-scale cinematic adaptation that combines mythology with advanced visual effects technology for a worldwide audience.

Ramayana will release globally in IMAX, with Part 1 slated to arrive during Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in Diwali 2027. With the release of the Pratham Sankalp event highlights, the makers have offered audiences another look at the scale of the project as anticipation continues to build ahead of its theatrical release.

Also Read: Siddharth Anand praises Ramayana trailer, says, “Expect the world, and you shall not be disappointed”

Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are all set to reunite on the big screen with Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, and fans are already looking forward to seeing the beloved Main Khiladi Tu Anari duo share screen space once again. Ahead of the film’s release later this year, the two actors were recently spotted spending some quality time together in London, where a candid moment involving Saif’s son Taimur Ali Khan has now gone viral on social media.

Saif Ali Khan, who frequently visits London with his family, was in the city with his nine-year-old son Taimur to watch the India vs England Test match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Joining the father-son duo was Akshay Kumar, making for a delightful reunion that quickly caught the attention of fans online.

For the outing, Akshay kept it casual in joggers, a printed white shirt, and sneakers, opting for a relaxed look that contrasted with Saif Ali Khan’s more polished appearance. Several videos and pictures from their stroll through the streets of London have surfaced on social media, but one particular clip has become the talking point among fans.

The video shows Saif, Taimur, Akshay, and their security entourage walking together when Akshay suddenly appears to trip while walking down the street. The unexpected moment leaves both Saif and Taimur laughing instantly, and Akshay soon joins in with a smile himself. The clip has sparked speculation online, with many wondering whether the actor deliberately pretended to trip to make Taimur laugh or whether it was simply an accidental yet amusing moment.

akshay kumar is looking like an Italian lothario with that white beard pic.twitter.com/HrBgQL829Q — . (@diljaaneyaa) July 20, 2026

On the professional front, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are gearing up for the release of Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan. The recently unveiled first-look poster has generated considerable buzz among Bollywood fans.

The film is the official Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, starring Mohanlal. Priyadarshan has previously revealed that adapting the acclaimed film into Hindi had been a long-cherished ambition ever since the original was released.

Touted to be a neo-noir crime thriller, Haiwaan will feature Saif Ali Khan as a visually impaired man, while Akshay Kumar plays a pivotal role. The film is slated to hit theatres on September 11, marking one of the most anticipated Bollywood releases of the year.

Also Read: Saif Ali Khan makes an attention grabbing appearance at Lord’s Stadium; heritage-inspired Winchester College tie becomes the highlight of his look

Actors Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi, director Oni Sen, producers Sanjay Routray, Sarita Patil and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar, executive producers Abhijeet Singh Parmar (also the writer) and Kushal Srivastava, and Monika Shergill and Tanya Bami of Netflix attended the trailer launch of Operation Safed Sagar in Mumbai. The launch was memorable for many reasons. To begin with, several real-life personalities connected with the story, including Group Captain Amit Gupta, Group Captain Alok Chaudhry, Group Captain Tarun Kumar Singha, former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and Alka Ahuja, wife of the late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, were felicitated.

During the Q-and-A session with the media, Jimmy Shergill was asked about going on a digital detox while playing the role. The journalist even heard that Jimmy used a basic feature phone from Nokia while shooting the series.

Jimmy Shergill revealed, “Main waise bhi bahut khush hota hoon jab mere paas phone nahin hota hai (laughs). So, I was very happy. Haan, mera staff dikkat mein aa gaya tha! They were a bit hassled.”

He clarified, “I didn’t even carry the old Nokia phone. Main phone bhi chod ke aa jaata tha. I used to get a lot of peace and whenever I would be free, I would take a nap.”

Jimmy Shergill added, “I never missed my phone. All of you will also not miss it if you try to give it up. I think we lived much better in those times. That’s what I believe in.”

The event ended with an explosive answer from Jimmy Shergill, where he remarked that the youth today is not interested in joining the Armed Forces. He thundered, “If I talk about my time and especially those who were in public schools, 99.99% of us wanted to join the armed forces. I had scored over 90%, yet I still fell short of the cut-off marks. Therefore, even though I had applied, I didn't qualify. There was so much competition. In today's day and age, it seems like no one is interested. Sabko filmein karni hai. Everyone has been handed a phone and they are encouraged to (shoot Reels). Har aadmi bas filmein hi bana raha hai. Toh desh ke liye kaun ladega bhai? Ya apne andar hi ladte rahoge?”

Operation Safed Sagar releases on Netflix on August 7.

Also Read: Operation Safed Sagar trailer launch: Siddharth CRIES as martyr’s wife says, “At least, I have an image of Ajay Ahuja now”; then raises laughs while talking about hand injury: “Old age bolte hai isko!”

Actors Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi, director Oni Sen, producers Sanjay Routray, Sarita Patil and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar, executive producers Abhijeet Singh Parmar (also the writer) and Kushal Srivastava, and Monika Shergill and Tanya Bami of Netflix attended the trailer launch of Operation Safed Sagar in Mumbai. The launch was memorable for many reasons. To begin with, several real-life personalities connected with the story, like Group Captain Amit Gupta, Group Captain Alok Chaudhry, Group Captain Tarun Kumar Singha, former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and Alka Ahuja, wife of the late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, were felicitated. Meanwhile, Siddharth had tears in his eyes, which made everyone emotional. However, he also made sure to make up for it with his witty one-liners.

Alka Ahuja was asked a question by a journalist. She decided to answer by coming on stage. As a mark of respect, everyone stood up. After she replied, Siddharth told her, “Yesterday, Abhijeet Parmar and I spoke for a long time. Both of us are emotional and we spoke about you a lot. You said something to me and Abhijeet, which I’ll share with you all later. But from my side and everyone else on this stage, thank you so much for the permission to do this. We would not have done that without you.”

Alka Ahuja smiled and stated, “I don’t have any videos of Ajay. At least, I have an image of Ajay now!” Hearing this, Siddharth had tears in his eyes.

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Siddharth came wearing a sling and he was asked about it. Earlier, the younger actors remarked that they had grown up watching Siddharth’s films and it became a joke. When Siddharth was asked about his hand, he quipped, “Bachpan se meri filmein dekhte aa rahe hai yeh log. Toh zaahir si baat hai kahin na kahin toh chot lagna hi hai. I am just kidding (smiles).”

He then explained how he got the part, “Oni and Abhijeet met me and we had a conversation. My first reaction was of hesitation. There’s a way our heroes are depicted in our entertainment and engagement, especially our martrys, who are not here to defend or accept portrayals that you are portraying for them. It’s little difficult for me and it's easier for me to play a fictional character. Secondly, the moment we know someone is a martyr, we tend to sterilise them. We tend to whitewash them. None of us is like that. Heroes don’t look like heroes. They are heroes because of their actions.”

He added, “I didn’t want to do injustice to somebody’s memory. So, I had a lengthy discussion with Abhijeet, Oni, Kushal and everybody else who made the show. We ensured that we always stayed true to the integrity of a great man’s memory and a soldier’s story. Also, I asked only one question after that – ‘Did she (Alka Ahuja) allow it?’” Yet again, Siddharth got teary-eyed.

He still didn’t answer what happened to his hand and the journalist let it pass. However, one mediaperson shouted and asked, “Aapke haath ko kya hua?”. Siddharth replied, “It's just due to a small operation. It's regular wear and tear. Old age bolte hai isko!”

He then made the situation light and made another joke about younger actors watching since childhood. He turned to Adil Hussain and remarked, “I want to pass on the compliment and favour. I have grown up watching Adil sir! And you have done very selective work; so, I have grown up very slowly!”

Operation Safed Sagar releases on Netflix on August 7.

Also Read: Shabana Azmi taken to safety after falling ill at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest

Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, director Nitesh Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra, Kunal Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Arun Govil, Ajinkya Deo, Shobhna, sitar player Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, Swami Ramdev, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and others attended the grand trailer launch of Ramayana held in Delhi. The event was hosted by Kumar Vishwas, who has also contributed to the film in a big way. Towards the end of the event, Yash came on stage and he gave a rare speech in Hindi.

He began by saying, “I am really happy to be a part of this wonderful project. Sab Hindi mein baat kar rahe hain yahaan. Main bhi koshish karunga. Iss mukaam tak laane ke liye all credit should go to Namit Malhotra. Unhone mujhe yeh patra nibhaane ka avsar diya (laughs), uske liye main unko dhanyawaad kehta hoon. Hindi seekhne ka bhi mauka mila (smiles).”

He added, “This is India’s dream. We all have come together with one vision and one conviction – to put our story on the global platform. So, all of us are keeping all our interests aside. We have only one interest – to tell Prabhu Shri Ram’s story to the global audience, and also to celebrate him in our country. So, thank you, Namit, for having this courage and conviction. Thank you so much, Nitesh sir, for guiding me and helping me understand the character’s nuances.”

Yash then praised the film’s actors, “Ranbir, you’ve been phenomenal. The whole of India will understand how you’ve surrendered to this role and what magic you have created! Sai, of course, is a fabulous actress. To see her perform Sita’s role was a great experience. Her eyes say it all. Watch out for how Rakul Preet has carried the role of Surpanakha. It's our luck that Shobhna ma’am agreed to do this role as she brings in so much grace and value to the role. Ravi Dubey will be a surprise package; all viewers will become his fan. Vivek and I had a lot of fun. There are a lot of surprises in the film.”

Ramayana is a two-part saga with the first part releasing on Diwali 2026. As for the second part, it'll arrive on the big screen on Diwali 2027.

Also Read: Ramayana Delhi trailer launch: Sai Pallavi says, “On the sets, I would meditate and say, ‘Sita Maa, you act through me. Whatever comes through me is what you want for the film’”

Bhatt Saab, it’s been seventeen years since Jannat released? Seventeen years. It feels like yesterday—and yet, a lifetime has passed. On May 16, 2008, Jannat walked into our lives—not with fanfare, but with that quiet confidence some stories carry when they know they’ve touched something true. Now, as I look back, what comes to me is not the success, not the applause—but a moment. A face.

Whose face? I was in Gurgaon, at a friend’s home, when his wife—a middle-class woman draped in ordinariness but lit from within—was serving me hot chapatis. With a quiet intensity in her eyes, she said, “Jannat is about the war inside every man. Between the hunger to grab everything in the shop window—and the strength to walk away.” She didn’t speak of Arjun and Zoya as characters, but as mirrors. She had seen the film not just with her eyes, but with her life.

That just about sums up Jannat? Zoya, she said, was the true hero. Because when the man she loved broke under the weight of his own desire, she chose to endure. She chose dignity. And that one moment—her son returning a toy because his mother couldn’t afford it—cut deeper than any scene I’ve ever staged. In that simple act, a generation turned. The father who once smashed windows to steal what he craved was gone. The child had chosen another way. That, to me, was Jannat’s true victory.

Kunal Deshmukh was pretty impressive in his directorial debut? Kunal Deshmukh—young, unscarred, unafraid—took a gamble with this film. His first. He wove a tale of cricket betting and love, yes. But beneath it all was the seduction of sin and the price of surrender. He didn’t just direct a film. He lit a fire.

And your favourite, Emraan Hashmi? Emraan Hashmi… What can I say that hasn’t already been felt in a million hearts? His character Arjun was flawed, but Emraan gave him a soul. We rooted for him even as we knew he would fall. Because inside all of us, there’s an Arjun—burning, wanting, losing. And Sonal Chauhan, as Zoya, brought a rare grace—a quiet rebellion, a refusal to let life harden her.

The music of Jannat is remembered to this day? And then there was the music. Pritam gave us not just a soundtrack, but an ache. Zara Sa, Haan Tu Hain, Jannat Jahan—songs that felt like diary entries from a time when love hurt in the best possible way. KK, who is no longer with us, lives on in those notes. His voice was the shadow under our dreams.

Your closing thoughts? Jannat was never just a movie. It was a parable. A whisper in a noisy world. A reminder that every choice leaves a mark—and that sometimes, the strength to hold back makes the loudest noise of all. To Kunal, to Emraan, to Pritam, to Sonal, to that woman in Gurgaon who saw more clearly than most critics ever could—and to you, the audience, who’ve kept this story alive in your hearts—thank you. Jannat lives not on screens, but in memories. And memories… don’t age.

Also Read: Emraan Hashmi starrer Ground Zero offers Rs 99 tickets for one day ONLY! Check deets here

Ananya Panday is no stranger to scrutiny, but the actress is now speaking out with honesty and introspection about the toll of unrealistic beauty standards and how they impact young women — including herself.

In a heartfelt conversation with popular YouTuber Lilly Singh, Ananya recalled the early days of her career when she was just 18 or 19 and how the criticism she faced was deeply personal. “I was really skinny, you know, and everyone used to kind of make fun about that. They were like, oh, you have chicken legs, and you look like a matchstick, and you don’t have t**s, and you don’t have an a**,” she said. “So that was what it was first.”

Even as her body changed and she grew in the public eye, the commentary didn’t stop. “They were like, oh, there’s no way she’s got her b*** done, or she’s got this done. So you can never win. People will constantly have something to say and criticize that,” she added, noting how such commentary disproportionately targets women. “That’s something that I’ve seen, especially with women. I don’t feel like they do that to men at all.”

The 25-year-old actress also took a moment to reflect on the role that the film industry plays in shaping public perception, admitting, “I feel like it’s our fault also, because we have set unrealistic beauty standards in the films that we’ve… You know, I, as an actress, feel like sometimes I do put that messaging out there in the films that I’ve done or the songs that I’ve done — that, oh, you’re all beautiful, you wake up in the morning, and your hair’s done, and it’s not true.”

Trying to counter the filtered perfection seen on screen, Ananya emphasized the importance of authenticity. “You kind of have to balance that out somewhere. You have to talk about it, and you have to tell people that that’s not the reality. We also don’t look like that. And I try to balance that out, maybe, by not being like that when I’m, you know, off-camera.”

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On the work front, Ananya is gearing up for Chand Mera Dil, a romantic drama under Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. The film pairs her with Lakshya and is already generating buzz. Along with that, the actress is also expected to return as Bella aka Bae in her popular web series- Call Me Bae for Season 2 on Prime Video.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Mishra CONFIRMS Ananya Panday-starrer Call Me Bae Season 2 to start shoot this year: “Everyone is SUPER EXCITED to be back on sets”; BREAKS silence on possibility of The Royals Season 2

Raj how did your first project materialize? It took us almost four or five years to get that film going because we were new to Mumbai. It was the first time we had landed in the city, and we didn’t know anyone. All we knew was that we could write a script. So, we wrote 99, Shor in the City, and Go Goa Gone, I think. As engineers aspiring to be filmmakers, we thought that if we wrote three scripts, at least one of them might get made. More scripts meant better odds. 99 was our first one. But again, we didn’t know anyone.

How did you convince a producer to back 99? Just making contacts, approaching any actor or producer—it was all taking forever. And we had zero clue how to go about it. Plus, we looked like we were from another world. We didn’t look like we belonged in Mumbai. People didn’t know who we were. But they did say the script was fun, fresh, and something they hadn’t read before.

So, 99 had no reference point? Right. That kind of proved to be tough and good at the same time because there was no precedent. We couldn’t say, “It’s like that film.” That made it harder. The only person we knew was Anupam Mittal, the CEO of Shaadi.com. He was a friend before we made the film. One day he said, “I’ll produce a film,” and that’s how it started.

Was it tough getting that impressive cast without any experience in feature filmmaking? Absolutely. We had no connections and no way to prove we were filmmakers. So we decided to make a short film based on Shor in the City. We had a full script, but we picked one part of it and shot it over a weekend. That short film came out really well. It became our calling card. It went to a bunch of festivals, and we started showing it around in Bombay to see who would bite. Based on that, we began casting. And before we knew it, we had a really cool ensemble: Kunal Khemu, Vinod Khanna, Boman Irani, and Cyrus Broacha—who was doing a feature film for the first time, I think. It was really fun.

Was it tough putting 99 out there? The release was another big pain point. We had no money for marketing. I don’t think we even had newspaper ads. Just ten hoardings in the city—that was it. No TV spots, no radio promotions. It just opened... and sat there.

The opening must have crushed you and DK. We thought it had sunk on Day 1 because nobody knew about it. It opened just about okay. We felt low on Friday and gave up. But by Sunday, things turned around. We visited packed theatres, and it was a relief. Word of mouth was strong, and the film ended up running for several weeks. We experienced all kinds of emotions in that one release.

So, a happy ending? Yeah, in the end, it was a happy one in terms of how the film ran. It had a great afterlife too. People still fondly remember it. Every time the anniversary of 99 comes around, we get sweet messages. The trailer had a great line: “The difference between 99 and 100 is one. Just one—but it’s a big one.” That really sums it up. So much happened on that set, and we learned a lot. We grew as a team.

You had quite a team. Yes, DK, Sita Menon, and I came together. And we’ve remained a team since. Filming was great fun. 99 is the only film we shot on Super 35 film stock. Even though digital was already mainstream, we wanted to shoot on film—because we felt it might be our last chance. It was so cool. We didn’t know the “rules” of filmmaking. We just made what we wanted to make.

You really carved your own space with that film. We realized there wasn’t really a crime comedy in Hindi cinema back then. So we said, let’s do something that’s not out there. Hence, 99. It was kind of a historical fiction in a weird way. We created a backstory that linked it to the real-life betting and match-fixing scandal. It was an original idea. A lot of fun to make.

It couldn’t have been easy cracking such a sensitive idea. Like walking on grass? Yes, it took a long time to crack the script. We were basically writing our first real Hindi feature film, and we had to figure out structure, climax, all of it. It was very satisfying. Interestingly, while we were working on 99, we started jumping between scripts—we don’t know why, but it turned out well for us. So, 99, Shor in the City, and Go Goa Gone were all being developed at the same time, in various stages.

Also Read: Raj Nidimoru of Raj-DK fame on Citadel: Honey Bunny, “We didn’t shoot it like a Hollywood production, we shot it like how we shot The Family Man”

Darsheel, May 14 marks 15 years since your first post-Taare Zameen Par release. Wow—15 years of Bumm Bumm Bole! Time really does fly. Shooting for it right after Taare Zameen Par was such a memorable experience. I was still quite young, and everything felt new and exciting. I wouldn’t say I got “star treatment” in the typical sense—but yes, there definitely was a sense of familiarity and warmth from the crew after TZP. I felt looked after, and that made a huge difference. 

What was it like being directed by Priyadarshan? Working with Priyadarshan sir was a complete learning curve. His energy and pace on set were infectious, and he had such a clear vision of what he wanted. I remember how precise he was—even with emotions. We hardly wasted any time. He made sure we stayed natural while still hitting the right emotional notes. It’s always amazing to work with and be in the same room as someone as experienced as Priyan sir. 

Do you remember the spunky girl Ziyah Vastani, who played your baby sister? Of course, I remember Ziyah! She brought so much spunk and energy to the set. She really felt like a little sister to me during the shoot—I enjoyed annoying her! Spending so much time with her made me more caring and loving toward my own sister, whom I was always teasing. We had a blast working together. 

Did you get a chance to watch the original film by Majid Majidi? Yes, I watched Children of Heaven before and during the shoot. It’s such a beautiful, heartfelt film. Knowing that Bumm Bumm Bole was inspired by it was humbling. I felt proud to be part of something that echoed such a touching story. Some conversations I had with the writer and director during that time sparked my curiosity—and eventual love—for filmmaking. 

What are you working on now? Right now, I’m working on a few exciting projects—two films and a web series that I recently wrapped. It’s a fun mix of genres, and I’m super excited to share them with you soon!

Also Read: Subhash K. Jha speaks on Bumm Bumm Bole

Actress Mrunal Thakur recently opened up about her personal and professional aspirations in a candid chat with Cosmo India. While reflecting on a goal she recently checked off — sending her brother to study filmmaking in the U.S. — Mrunal gave a peek into what’s next on her evolving bucket list.

“Currently, I am focusing on my bucket list, which includes sending my brother to America to study filmmaking at a place I would have liked to go,” she said, noting how fulfilling it was to live that dream vicariously through him.

Looking ahead, Mrunal's ambitions reflect both a desire for personal growth and a deep commitment to her craft. “I want to travel with my family to America, London, and Europe — basically, take them everywhere,” she shared, adding that one of her broader goals is “to change the definition of how Indian women are perceived” and to embrace motherhood along the way. “I think I’ll be a good mom. I just don’t know with whom, so that is something that I’m working on,” she said, candidly.

On the professional front, Mrunal isn’t limiting herself to the industries she’s already conquered. “I want to explore acting — not just stay limited to Telugu, Hindi, and Marathi films, but also debut in Tamil, Malayalam, English, and Spanish films,” she said, emphasizing her intent to expand her horizons, one step at a time.

The actress also shared her dream list of filmmakers she hopes to collaborate with. “I want to work with filmmakers that I have grown up watching — those who have inspired me to be in this industry. I loved the adaptation of The Namesake by Meera Nair,” she said. “Then, of course, I want to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, because who doesn’t love him? Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap — the list goes on.”

Coming to the work front, the 32-year-old actress is currently busy shooting Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, co-starring Varun Dhawan and Pooja Hegde. Interestingly, it is reported that Mrunal will be sharing the screen space with Siddhant Chaturvedi in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next project.

Also Read: Mrunal Thakur says she’s the “first girl in the family to own a Mercedes” as she recalls promising her mother a “crazy car” at age 12