Shah Rukh Khan’s last few films like Fan (2016), Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017) and Zero (2018) bombed at the box office. But looking at the hype for Pathaan, it seems like he’s going to bounce back with vengeance. Trade veteran Taran Adarsh made a dramatic statement on this aspect, “Shah Rukh is going to silence all the cynics and all the naysayers who wrote his obituary.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan observed, “It’s a very important film not just for Shah Rukh Khan but for the industry as a whole after a dismal 2022. For Shah Rukh, this film means everything It’s his first out of the 3 films in 2023. This film will indicate how excited people are to see him.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, said, “He’s coming after four years. He has got the biggest fan following when it comes to Hindi actors. Moreover, this is an action film, matching international standards. These are very strong factors that go in favour of the film.”

Boycott movement miserably fails

A section of netizens tried resorting to the boycott model. But it is clear that it has miserably failed in the case of Pathaan. Taran Adarsh said, “The numbers will give a karara jawab! Aap apni raai de sakte ho but you cannot tell the audience ki aap yeh dekho ya yeh na dekho.”

Atul Mohan thundered, “Boycott calls will fizzle out. Arre kyun ban karein? Aap reason toh do. They have no reason. There should be some logic behind such protests. Even Padmaavat (2018) was targeted. Yet, it collected Rs. 300 crores. Even the public understands that these people are just doing it for two minutes of fame.”

Raj Bansal agreed, “It has totally fizzled out. No boycott trend has affected any film. Now that the advance has slowly opened and one can sense the craze for the film, it is clear that the boycott movement has failed.”

Also Read: Ask SRK: Shah Rukh Khan leaves netizens in splits when a fans asks who will Pathaan kiss

The starkids Suhana Khan and Shanaya Kapoor, all set to make their Bollywood debut, were seen at the Dubai bash at Palm Jumeirah. While they are social media stars, the budding actors met supermodel Kendall Jenner at the event.

Shanaya Kapoor took to her Instagram stories to share the photo of the three of them. Suhana was dressed in a pink mini-dress paired with silver heels whereas Shanaya wore a strapless red figure-hugging dress and matched her heels with Suhana. Kendall was dressed in an olive green dress and all three of them smiled at the camera.

On the professional front, Shanaya Kapoor will make her Bollywood debut with Bedhadak, with Gurfateh Pirzada and Lakshya Lalwani. The film is being produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Shashank Khaitan.

Meanwhile, Suhana Khan recently wrapped Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies for Netflix. She will star alongside Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Yuvraj Menda, Dot, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina and Alyy Khan.

ALSO READ: Zoya Akhtar made Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor & The Archies cast undergo 1-year intense workshop, says Alyy Khan

There has been a lot of buzz about Pooja Entertainment's upcoming action entertainer Bade Miyan Chote Miyan as it brings together two of the biggest action heroes of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff for the first time. The film, which was announced some time back, went on floors today in Mumbai.

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran as he brings on board his acting prowess as the powerful antagonist. The film to be directed by Ali Abbas Zafar is set up on a massive scale.

After months of extensive prep BMCM kicked off with a big auspicious Mahurat today with producers, the entire cast and crew and well-wishers from the film world.

The film is the second in the franchise after the 1998 hit Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda. Sharing a note on the occasion, producer Vashu Bhagnani wrote on Instagram, “After 25 years, we gear up to return with our most successful franchise 'Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan'! It was special then and it is even more special now with two exceptional SuperStars leading the title @akshaykumar and @tigerjackieshroff and now with @therealprithvi also on board Directed by @aliabbaszafar together we will recreate a brand new Avataar of BMCM! Need ur blessings and good wishes as we begin to Shoot.”

 

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Jackky Bhagnani, who also looks after Pooja Entertainment, wrote on the same social media platform, “After months of toiling, dreaming and strategizing, we are ready to begin this massive ambitious journey. Truly humbled and honoured to stand alongside my ‘Bade’ and ‘Chhote’ without their nod my dream to achieve this wouldn’t have come true. @akshaykumar @tigerjackieshroff I’m overwhelmed and it’s a moment of immense pride and joy for us at Pooja Entertainment. Love, adore and respect these two and I can’t wait for the audiences to see what we have in store. So thankful to my Dad @vashubhagnani for believing and backing us and to my entire team and everybody associated with this film. Can’t wait to roll on this one.”

 

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Produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Jackky Bhagnani, Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Ali Abbas Zafar, this Pooja Entertainment Action entertainer is set to release in cinemas in December 2023.

Also Read: Bade Miyan Chote Miyan cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran joins Akshay Kumar – Tiger Shroff starrer as the antagonist, first look out

Today marks the 37^th birth anniversary of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The star passed away at his residence by hanging on June 14, 2020. Not surprisingly, there are continuous wishes pouring in for him on social media. This also includes Rhea Chakraborty, who was in a relationship with him. The actress took to her official Instagram page and shared a couple of her pictures with Sushant.

The first one sees the two of them in the background with their faces partially hidden by two white-coloured tea cups. Although one can only see Rhea’s eyes, it is evident that she is smiling wide. The second one is a clearer picture of another happy moment between Sushant and Rhea, with both dressed in dark colours. Surprisingly, except a heart emoji, Rhea didn’t put any caption for the post.

As expected, the comments section of the post is flooded with emotional messages from SSR’s fans. Along with them, one can find actress Shibani Dandekar’s comment too. Without saying anything in particular, she only dropped a red heart emoji for her friend, with whom she has been spotted quite a few times.

Sushant arrived on the scene for the first time with the successful television serial Pavitra Rishta. His character, named Manav, and the show gained a lot of popularity. His first movie turned out to be Kai Po Che. The actor’s last film Dil Bechara was released posthumously in 2020.

Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput’s Mumbai flat to finally go on rent after 3 years of his demise at Rs. 5 lakhs rent per month

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan is gearing up for his next release, Shehzada. Starring alongside Kriti Sanon, the duo returns on screen after their 2019 film Luka Chuppi. The actor had a successful 2022 with the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 as only a few Hindi films did well at the box office in the year. As the promotions are on in full swing, the actor reached the sets of Rajat Sharma’s chat show Aap Ki Adalat where he talked about his promise to producers on doubling their investment.

During an hour-long conversation, when asked why he is promising producers to double their investment within 25 days, Kartik Aaryan replied, “Sach hai (it’s true)…At the end of the day, investment matters. If you look at my past record, six of my seven films have been superhit.”

Sajid Nadiadwala, producer of Kartik’s upcoming movie Shehzada, who was sitting in the audience was also asked whether he has really promised to double the money within 25 days. Nadiadwala replied, “This is a new discovery since the invention of COVID vaccines. What he is saying is true, it’s not a fable.”

Kartik Aaryan has an interesting line-up for the coming year with multiple projects being in his kitty, including Shehzada. The ensemble star cast of the film also includes Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, and Manisha Koirala, among others. It is a remake of Allu Arjun-starrer Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which was released in 2020.

The actor also reunites with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 co-star Kiara Advani in Satyaprem Ki Katha. He has Aashiqui 3, and Kabir Khan’s next as well.

ALSO READ: Shehzada star Kartik Aaryan has a huge dream: ‘My movie should earn Rs. 1,000 crore, not Rs. 100 crore’

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan is gearing up for his next release, Shehzada. Starring alongside Kriti Sanon, the duo returns on screen after their 2019 film Luka Chuppi. As the promotions are on in full swing, the actor reached the sets of Rajat Sharma’s show Aap Ki Adalat where he described his uphill struggle in the film industry and the secret behind his films’ success at the box office.

During an hour-long conversation, Kartik Aaryan said in Hindi that he has a dream that his producers should be able to earn Rs. 1000 crore and not simply Rs. 100 crore. He says, “My dream is, my movie should earn Rs. 1,000 crore, not Rs. 100 crore. My producers want a good return on investment. I’ll never want my producers to lose, nor would I like my fans to lose heart.”

Kartik Aaryan has an interesting line-up for the coming year with multiple projects being in his kitty, including Shehzada. The ensemble star cast of the film also includes Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, and Manisha Koirala, among others. It is a remake of Allu Arjun-starrer Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which was released in 2020.

The actor also reunites with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 co-star Kiara Advani in Satyaprem Ki Katha. He has Aashiqui 3, and Kabir Khan’s next as well.

ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan leases Juhu apartment of Shahid Kapoor for monthly rent of Rs. 7.5 lakh

Abhay Deol is in the news after his recently released web series, Trial By Fire, got massive acclaim. He has been giving interviews to promote the show and one in-depth conversation he had recently was with the tabloid, Mid-Day. In this interview with the tabloid’s entertainment editor Mayank Shekhar, he spoke in length not just about Trial By Fire but also about his family, being an insider and yet an outsider, his past films and a lot more. He also broke the silence on the allegations made by Anurag Kashyap around two-and-a-half years ago.

In an interview with Huffington Post in June 2020, Anurag Kashyap claimed that working with Abhay was “painfully difficult” and that he doesn’t have great working memories with him. He said, “He wanted to do artistic movies but also wanted the mainstream benefits. The benefits and luxuries of being a ‘Deol’. He would stay in a five-star hotel while the entire crew stayed in Paharganj for a film that was made on a very tight budget. Also the reason a lot of his directors went away from him.”

On this, Abhay Deol clarified that he never demanded a five-star hotel room. To quote Abhay, “Anurag went in public and told a lot of lies about me. One lie was that I demanded a [five-star] hotel room during the shoot of Dev D. He had actually come up to me and said, ‘Listen you can’t stay with us, you are a Deol. So, I want to put you up in a hotel room.’ He literally told me that. What he told the press was that I demanded it.”

Abhay then minced no words as he thundered, “I had my heart on my sleeve, and all that is great — but you get taken advantage of, and then you get reactive. So, he (Kashyap) was a good lesson for me. Then I just avoided him, because I don’t need toxic people in my life. Life is too short, and there is so much more to explore. But he (Kashyap) is definitely a liar and a toxic person. And I would warn people about him.”

Abhay Deol then revealed that after Anurag Kashyap “said that crap” about him, he sent him apology messages. Abhay stated, “He does that all the time. He was like, ‘You want to shout at me, scream at me…’ And I was like, ‘I don’t care. It’s been 12 years. You don’t feature in my thoughts even now; get over it.’ He said, ‘Forgive me because I have had a bad day.’ I said you are forgiven. I never had a personal agenda. It was far bigger than just me. That is how I feel about everything. How much of this is he going to do? And I would have never taken his name and said the things, had he not gone public either.”

Last year, in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Abhay Deol was asked to describe some of the celebrities during a rapid-fire round. When asked about Anurag Kashyap, he called him a ‘gaslighter’. Abhay then explained that he wanted his films to speak for themselves and hence, didn’t like marketing himself. But certain filmmakers had reservations about it and hence he was ‘gaslit’ into thinking that he didn’t care much about his films.

Also Read: Huma Qureshi claims she will sue Anurag Kashyap for stealing her song

The release of Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, is less than a week away and the excitement is unprecedented. An exhibitor on condition of anonymity told Bollywood Hungama, “There’s a lot of demand to open Pathaan’s bookings. So many moviegoers are flocking to cinemas asking for ticket sales to commence. Aaj kal log theatre hi nahin aate. Iss baar log aa rahe hai advance booking karne.”

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh agreed to this, “Everyone in the industry is very euphoric and optimistic. I was talking to three prominent exhibitors. They are jumping with joy. Woh bol rahe hai ki ’Picture ko 25th ko mat leke aao. Jaldi leke aao’! Such excitement is very rare when the entire industry is dependent on one film. It’ll show the way forward. The first quarter has a lot of exciting films lined up. But jab pehle ball pe koi chauka maar deta hai, toh baat hi alag hoti hai!”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan observed, “There’s a lot of curiosity. Every moviegoer wants to watch Pathaan. The people are asking ‘Advance kab khul raha hai’. This doesn’t happen usually. Advance ka toh demand nahin hota. Yahan par toh advance kab khulega uska demand hai! Also, overseas advance booking is very impressive. And that’s not surprising as Shah Rukh is the king.”

Girish Johar, producer and film business analyst, exulted, “The curiosity and excitement levels and the noise levels are supremely high. Everyone is talking about the film. Even the boycott trends are adding to the hype. TV channels are discussing it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking his party members to tone down their statements over films in general added to the hype for Pathaan indirectly. So, awareness levels are 10/10. Shah Rukh Khan coming after 4 years is a major draw. The villain for any big film is very critical. John Abraham is a huge plus as he also has a mammoth following. Deepika Padukone is the queen of the hearts and box office. Hence, Hindi cinema cannot get a bigger or better film to bet on.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, in agreement, said, “After Drishyam 2, there has not been a good Hindi film. Hence, for more than two months, many have been waiting for a film that they can see in theatres. Pathaan, meanwhile, ticks all boxes – it has Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, it has action and is very well mounted.”

Kiritbhai T Vaghasia, who runs The Friday Cinema multiplex in Surat, said, “Every section of the society is aware of Pathaan, due to the controversy or because of the songs. Mostly, films come and go and the general public is not even aware. With Pathaan, that’s not the case.”

He added, “There are a lot of enquiries. It’ll surely have a rocking advance. Also, the trailer promises big-screen entertainment. It is shot in some stunning places and has action. The star cast is very exciting. Hence, I am 100% sure it’ll have a great run, even if reports are mixed. All those, who regularly watch films, will surely head to the cinemas to check out Pathaan.”

Also Read: Trade expects Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan to BREAK Baahubali 2’s record at the box office and emerge as the BIGGEST non-holiday opener ever

Recently, in a conversation with journalist, actor Kubbra Sait recalled about the time when she was shooting with her co-star Salman Khan for the film Ready. She revealed that Salman had arrived 5 hours late to shoot and asked for lunch break immediately.

Kubbra Sait, has made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khan’s film Ready that was released in 2011. She is also mostly known for her role as Kukoo in Sacred Games. Kubbra shared the difficulties she experienced while shooting with bug star Salman Khan. She revealed that the entire crew was waiting for Salman Khan since morning and he had arrived in the evening.

Kubbra played the character of a house help. Sharing her terrible experience at the set when she had asked for breakfast, she said, “I said breakfast? They said apple, they flung an apple at my face. I asked for one more and they flung another apple at my face. They were saying we’ll start the shoot at 10. That became 11, 11 became 12”.

While talking in a vide interview, Kubbra recalled the time when she had to wait for hours for Salman Khan at the set. She shared that at around 2:45 pm, Salman arrived on set, almost five hours late and only then the crew took notice. “You know someone important has arrived. That important person is the hero of the film. Everyone’s pulling up their pants and like let’s do some work and there emerges Salman Khan. We were shooting at a golf course so it’s a visual. There are these big, massive life-sized windows and Salman Khan comes and flexes his back, moves his head to either side and says, ‘Let's have lunch break?’... I had eaten just one apple since morning. Maybe we should finish some work also. But no, we had lunch.” she concluded, laughing.

However, the actress also shared the positives from the set. Kubbra said that working with Salman was special, as he made sure that everyone on set felt included.

Kubbra was last seen in Rajat Kapoor’s RK/RKay starring alongside Rajat, Mallika Sherawat, Ranvir Shenoy and Manu Rishi Chadda.

Also Read: Fashion Faceoff: Tamannaah Bhatia or Kubbra Sait; Who wore the Dash & Dot’s metallic block dress worth Rs. 5,990 better?

One of India’s biggest multi-genre music and lifestyle festivals is back after 3 years, with a range of pop culture-defining experiences! Adding to the excitement, Vh1 Supersonic 2023 has unveiled its stellar line-up of international musical sensations, Anne-Marie and CKay to India for the very first time! Marking their debut performances in India, the global artists and headliners will be joined at this 8th edition by India’s favourite musicians including rapper DIVINE, singer-songwriter Anuv Jain and indie sensation Prateek Kuhad. Performing LIVE for the first time will be OAFF & Savera, music producers of the critically acclaimed film music of the 2022 Bollywood movie Gehraiyaan. Adding to the indie scene at Vh1 Supersonic 2023, Farhan Akhtar will also be seen performing his indie-English set.

The most-anticipated latest edition promises an unrivalled experience of many ‘firsts’ for music and culture connoisseurs. Beginning with UK’s breakthrough pop star and Psycho-hitmaker Anne-Marie who will perform solo in India for the first time on the Vh1 Supersonic 2023 stage, the festival has already raised the bar. Adding to it, Nigerian singer Chukwuka Ekweani aka CKay, who blazed through global music charts and social media with Love Nwantiti, will also be seen taking the Vh1 Supersonic 2023’s stage by storm with his first performance in India.
Apart from the international stardom – of Anne-Marie and CKay, along with our country’s favourites – Farhan, DIVINE, Anuv Jain, Prateek Kuhad, OAFF and Savera, this year’s Superfam will also get to experience a wide musical spectrum featuring indie electronic music producer Anyasa, indie techno artist Arjun Vagale, British DJ Bill Brewster, Qilla Records founder Kohra, electronic producer Zokhuma, and multidisciplinary electronic and techno phenomenon BLOT!.

Playing with the broad landscapes of sound, Sandunes and finding new comfort in disco infused house and techno, Stalvart John, the line-up also includes Peter Cat Recording Co. and Lifafa. Experimental lo-fi artist Begum, soul/R&B band Easy Wanderlings, Hamza Rahimtula, and Ranj x Clifr, will provide a musically diverse experience for the attendees. Right from T.ill Apes, Tyrell Dub Corp, Bee Wise, Earl Gateshead, General Zooz, Harshal, I-tal Soup feat David Goren, Leah, Mozez x PlanB, Nida, Ninjahdread, Petah Sunday, Parallel Live, Praise Jah Sound, Sanyas-I, Sourfunk x Joven Roy, Sunflower Tape Machine to Yash Nirwan, music lovers are in for a sensory and auditory treat! More International and Indian artists to follow, adding to the musical score at – Vh1 Supersonic 2023, one of India’s biggest multi-genre music and lifestyle festivals.

Talking about performing at Vh1 Supersonic 2023, Farhan said, “As a singer-songwriter, there’s nothing more that I love than performing live for my fans, and Vh1 Supersonic is the perfect stage for it. I’m so looking forward to sharing my music with everyone at the festival!”

In conversation with Nikhil Chinapa, artists Savera and OAFF expressed excitement over performing at Vh1 Supersonic 2023. “It is going to be a fun experience as we are putting effort to go all out playing live”, said Savera. Further to this, OAFF added “It’s our first time connecting with our fans directly and it’s very new for us. So, we are super kicked to experience it at Supersonic. We previously have watched great acts at Supersonic, and since pandemic came it was really difficult to experience this. We are looking forward to play live which will have bunch of our songs, some new stuff with cool collaborators.”

Festival Curator, Nikhil Chinapa, said, “This year, Vh1 Supersonic continues on its journey of being a ‘Festival of Firsts’. As we’ve always done, this year too, we’ve got an epic line-up of ground-breaking global artists and indie musicians performing for the first time in India. Our lineup reflects our own passion for dynamism and progress and includes artists that many will find exhilarating and unique. Our festival layout sees many changes too, unfolding like an exciting graphic novel where each panel brings a new surprise and tells a different story, challenging our fans to explore, indulge and experience our Vh1 Supersonic festival, 2023.”

Gaurav Mashruwala, Business Head, Viacom18 LIVE (Integrated Network Solutions) added, “The excitement of our Superfam has only heightened over these three years, reinforcing how Vh1 Supersonic has always been at the heart of all things pop-culture. As we return after a hiatus amidst all the fan excitement, the 2023 edition will feature an incredible line-up of global artists and indie artists set to perform live in India for the very first time, making it a striking mix of musical styles and genres. With the support of our distinguished partners, we’ve curated a unique, multi-sensory fest combining multi-genre music stages, eclectic experience zones across fashion, food, art, and flea-style markets – all in one place. With an unprecedented curation of experiences, Vh1 Supersonic 2023 is set to bring a year of many ‘firsts’ for its Superfam.”

Vh1 Supersonic 2023 will encompass five spectacular stages. The Main Stage will offer attendees the best of Pop, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Indie Pop – an experience that will also be extended to Bangalore on the 24th of February where two of the main festival headliners will perform as well! Ardent LIVE music fans can get their dose of their favourite music at the NEXA Stage; festival-goers can also enjoy a striking car show by the automotive giant. The Reggae Stage will pack a musical punch, powered by 10,000 Lions Sound System. Budweiser will bring a dynamic BUDX Spectrum Stage, with a dancefloor to host Techno and House artists, and the Beer Garden, a one-of-a-kind, high-spirited experience for the guests. Last but not the least, India’s favourite bar, SOCIAL will have its own eponymous stage specially programmed by the team at SOCIAL!

Committed to an elevated pop-cultural experience, Vh1 Supersonic 2023 will also bring to its Superfam the SuperStreet arena, a melange of everything pop and trending including fashion wear, NFT and immersive augmented reality art and more by NRYTA & Sunday Soul Sante. The stage itself will be helmed by artists playing acoustic music. Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality will bring to the festival the exceptional - SuperFlea, a flea market inside the festival will offer mouth-watering food to fulfil the hunger pangs of all, from all the restaurants under the Impresario portfolio like SOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, Salt Water Cafe, Slink & Bardot, Boss Burger, Dope Coffee & many more.

Vh1 Supersonic 2023 is an audio-visual, multisensory music and lifestyle experience you don’t want to miss. SuperFam enthusiasts can block dates for the super-fest from 24th to 26th February 2023 at Mahalakshmi Lawns, Pune.

ALSO READ: Farhan Akhtar celebrates 10 years of his band 'Farhan Live', shares throwback video of the concerts

On Friday morning we woke up to reports of the indefatigable Mahesh Bhatt having undergone heart surgery. But when I touched base with the Arth director here’s what he had to say, “It’s technically incorrect to call this procedure a surgery. A surgery is where they use the knife. Angioplasty is a bloodless common procedure. It takes half hour and a mandatory stay in the ICU and then one is discharged the next day.”

Bhatt Saab is all praise for the medical team which handled his bloodless surgical procedure. “I was in the hands of the best of best team of doctors at the H.N Reliance Hospital. The procedure was on January 16. I was home on January 18. I am alive and ‘kicking’ my friend. And I was working on my next book since 5 am when your message pinged.”

Bhatt Saab further added, “My procedure was planned for the Jan 16. It was during a routine body check-up that the doctors raised a ‘red flag’ and suggested that since I am in good health we must take a pre-emptive step and deal with this.”

The unwavering filmmaker says he went into the surgical procedure as a pre-emptive. “I had no symptoms which compelled me to take this self-initiated step. I am 74 and with age the ‘calcification’ of the arteries does take place. Let me leave you with this unchangeable truth. Ageing is not optional it’s inevitable.”

Also Read: Mahesh Bhatt quotes Rabindranath Tagore at KIFF; says, “India is there to unite all races”

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh says that he believed the left side of his brain always had a short circuit as opposed to his right side which is dominant. The actor recently spoke about navigating through the film industry and said that he is more of a creative person than an analytical and strategic one.

In a recent interview with Femina, Ranveer said, “For a long time I used to believe that my left side had a short circuit. I wasn’t good at maths or accounting. I knew where my strengths lay from a very young age. My right brain is definitely more dominant. No doubt about it. I was always into arts and crafts, drama, dance, and singing. And the great gulf of disparity between my interest levels in both bunches of subjects also made it very apparent.”

Ranveer further said, “You have to have the ‘smarts’ when you are navigating the movie business. Fortunately for me, I’ve been surrounded by a support system that can make up for what I lack. I’m a creative person and I protect that aspect fiercely. So, the analytical and strategic stuff I leave to those who form my support system and are better equipped to deal with it.”

On the work front, Ranveer Singh will next star in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. It stars Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. It is scheduled for April 2023 release.

ALSO READ: As Ranveer Singh delivers three back-to-back flops at the box office, trade experts share their views; say, “When a film flops, the hero gets the blame”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were yet again lined up for a match against each other this Thursday. Ronaldo was playing for Saudi All-star XI against Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly match. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan greeted the footballers ahead of the match and shared his experience on his official Twitter account.

On Friday Amitabh Bachchan took to Twitter and shared a video of him meeting the top football players. In the video the actor can be seen walking with match officials to the stadium and meeting every player. He also shook hands with Messi, Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. Kids were amazed to see the actor on field. Amitabh expressed his feeling regarding his experience on meeting Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi first time. Sharing the video on his official social media handle, he said, “An evening in Riyadh' what an evening .. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Mbape, Neymar all playing together .. and yours truly invited guest to inaugurate the game .. PSG vs Riyadh Seasons .. Incredible !!!”

T 4533 - "An evening in Riyadh .. " what an evening ..
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Mbape, Neymar all playing together .. and yours truly invited guest to inaugurate the game .. PSG vs Riyadh Seasons ..
Incredible !!!#football #Ronaldo #Messi #AlNassr #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/fXlaw9meeV

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 20, 2023

Soon after the veteran actor shared the video, his fans flooded the comments section with love and respect. A user wrote, “We are proud of you Sir”, while another wrote, “Bollywood GOAT meeting Football GOATs”.

Meanwhile, on the professional front Amitabh Bachchan was last seen in Uunchai along with Anupam Kher, Parineeti Chopra and Boman Irani. The actor will next be seen in the sci-fi drama Project K which also features Deepika Padukone and Prabhas in lead roles. The Pan India project is directed by Nag Ashwin.

Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan starrer Uunchai to premier on ZEE5 on THIS date; deets inside

Priyanka Chopra has made a mark for herself not simply in India but in Hollywood too. As she launched her first make-up collection with Max Factor, she became the first Indian to be featured on the cover of British Vogue. For the very first time, the actress has posed with her daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas for a shoot though her face is hidden.

Malti Marie was born to Nick Jonas and Priyanka in the January of last year but she was kept in NICU for 100 days before the couple to taken her home. In the interview with the magazine, the actress opened up on the premature birth of her daughter. “I was in the OR [operating room] when she came out. She was so small, smaller than my hand,” she said, adding, “I saw what the intensive-care nurses do. They do God’s work. Nick and I were both standing there as they intubated her. I don’t know how they even found what they needed [in her tiny body] to intubate her.”

 

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Priyanka Chopra also spoke about how she opted for surrogacy. Talking to the magazine, she said, “I had medical complications, this was a necessary step, and I’m so grateful I was in a position where I could do this. Our surrogate was so generous, kind, lovely and funny, and she took care of this precious gift for us for six months…You don’t know me, You don’t know what I’ve been through. And just because I don’t want to make my medical history, or my daughter’s, public doesn’t give you the right to make up whatever the reasons were."

On the professional front, the 40-year-old actress has a bunch of projects in the pipeline; Love Again, Citadel (web series), and Ending Things to name a few. She also has a Farhan Akhtar film in her kitty, titled Jee Le Zaraa, which stars Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Jonas becomes the first Indian actor to rule the cover of British Vogue

Akshay Kumar did not have a great 2022 but it seems like he will make a fine start to 2023 with Selfiee. Also starring Emraan Hashmi in the lead, the film is much awaited due to the pairing of the two actors for the first time. Moreover, it is directed by Raj Mehta, who has proved that he’s a fine storyteller with his two films, Good Newwz (2019) and JugJugg Jeeyo (2022). Akshay has dropped hints that Selfiee’s theatrical trailer will be out soon. Reports also suggested that the trailer will be released today, that is, January 19.

Bollywood Hungama has learnt that the makers were indeed all set to unveil the trailer today. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “There were plans to have a grand trailer launch event in Mumbai. This is because the producers are quite confident about the film. However, two factors prevented them from doing so. Firstly, Akshay Kumar’s flight from London got delayed. He’s expected to now land in Mumbai today in the afternoon.”

The source continued, “Secondly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to have a grand visit in Mumbai today. He’s going to head to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to address a large gathering. Later on, he will be travelling to Andheri East to inaugurate the two metro lines, 2A and 7. The police have put up restrictions on vehicular movement on the Western Express Highway and in BKC. Even the Metro 1 services will be curtailed in the evening. As a result, many offices have allowed employees to work from home.”

The source then said, “It’s a practical call taken by the producers. They don’t want the media to get inconvenienced on a day when the traffic might spiral out of control. As a result, the trailer launch of Selfiee has been postponed. A new date for trailer release will be announced soon.”

Besides Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi, Selfiee also stars Nushrratt Bharuccha and Diana Penty. It is the official remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film, Driving License (2019).

Also Read: Akshay Kumar proves he “hates filters” with a hilarious video; shares update about Selfiee trailer, watch

Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth on the occasion of Pongal, recently shared pictures from her Pongal celebrations this year. She posted a string of photos featuring her along with father-veteran actor Rajinikanth, and Mother Latha Rajinikanth.

In the pictures shared, Aishwaryaa can be seen cooking in the kitchen, placing sweets on a banana leaf, feeding leaves to cows as a part of the rituals and much more. In the last picture, Aishwaryaa, with her sons, Yatra and Linga can be seen taking blessings from Rajinikanth and Latha. Filmmaker Aishwaryaa donned herself in a cream saree. Veteran actor Rajinikanth wore a white shirt and veshti. Latha was seen in an indigo saree. Sharing the post on Wednesday, Aishwaryaa wrote, "Hope you and your loved ones had a memorable #pongal..may god bless everyone with only happiness, peace, and prosperity in abundance".

 

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Soon after the photos were dropped, fan and industry friends reacted to the post. Actress Aditi Rao Hydari commented, "Byoot with a red heart emoji". A user commented, "Missing Dhanush", while another wrote, "Happy to see Thalaivar smiling face. Happy Pongal Mam, Hope You enjoyed your quality time with your family..."

Actor Dhanush and Aishwaryaa had shared a statement in regards to their separation in January. The couple had tied knot in 2004 and had been married for 18 years. They have two sons Yatra Raja and Linga Raja. Dhanush had shared a note that said, “18 years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well-wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting, and adapting".

“Today we stand at a place where our paths separate. Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better. Please do Respect our decision and give us the needed privacy to deal with this. Om Nama Shivaya! Spread love, D", the actor added.

On the professional front, Aishwarya Rajinikanth will be helming a project titled Lal Salaam, which will feature the megastar Rajinikanth in a special role. On the other hand, the film will have music composed by the legendary A.R. Rahman.

Also Read: This photo of Rajinikanth and his daughter Aishwarya flying with A R Rahman and his son A R Ameen is EPIC!

Aatmapamphlet is the first Marathi film which has brought three stalwarts, Zee Studios, Aanand L Rai, and Bhushan Kumar together. The film has been written by National Award winner Paresh Mokashi and has been directed by debutant director Ashish Bende. Zee Studios has added yet another film to its sprawling slate of films recognised internationally. The film has been selected in the Generation 14plus competition category.

Aatmapamphlet has been written by Paresh Mokashi, accredited with writing & directing films like Harishchandrachi Factory (2009), and the recent Vaalvi (2023). The film revolves around a young boy who falls in love with his classmate. It’s a heart-warming tale of one-sided love which transcends and transforms with dramatic socio-political changes around him. The film stars Om Bendkhale, Pranjali Shrikant Bhimrao Mude, and Ketaki Saraf in pivotal roles. It also marks the first venture of Colour Yellow Productions in Marathi films.

Director Ashish Avinash Bende says, "It's by far the biggest day of my life. The journey of pursuing my passion for filmmaking began while I was in college and has reached its zenith with my directorial debut venture being selected in one of the biggest film festivals in the world! As far as the movie is concerned, the process has been a rollercoaster ride for me. Despite so many challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown, everyone in my team gave their 100 percent and the results are out there for everyone to witness. At a time when the world is witnessing wars, this film speaks about spreading love."

Sharing his delight over this incredible feat, Producer Aanand L Rai shares “It’s great to see the region going global and especially finding its place in the prestigious Berlin film festival. Being part of Aatmapamphlet is an overwhelming experience. It’s a special film for our production house Colour Yellow Productions.”

Producer Bhushan Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, T-Series, adds, "Aatmapamphlet is an endearing tale that rightly captures the essence of India, especially Maharashtra! It's amazing to put regional content on the global films map and this very premier of this pure make in India project helmed by Ashish Bende at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival proves that quality content transcends boundaries!"

Shariq Patel, CBO, Zee Studios, stated, "Aatmapamphlet's selection at the Berlin International Film Festival will present Marathi cinema at a global level. As the leading studio and stakeholder in the Marathi film industry, this reinforces our belief in the power of local storytelling going global. Can’t wait to share this special film on the world stage."

Aatmapamphlet is written by Paresh Mokashi and directed by debutant director Ashish Bende. The film is produced by Aanand L Rai, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Kanupriya A Iyer, Zee Studios and Maysabha.

ALSO READ: Aanand L Rai confirms Akshay Kumar starrer Gorkha being on hold; says, “We are not making this film for now”

Ever since the first song of Pathaan has been released, the film has been facing several protests over the visual elements in the track. Many communal factions have raised an objection to the track, further demanding a ban on the release. With the release date nearing, the Gujarat multiplex association had approached the government, requesting them for help after they received the constant threats over releasing the film. Now, it has been reported that the police in the state have decided to provide protection to the multiplex officials when the Shah Rukh Khan film hits the big screen.

In an earlier report we had stated that the Gujarat multiplex association wrote a letter to the government requesting their help in the matter. For the unversed, groups like the Vishnu Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have threatened the theatre owners against releasing Pathaan. After receiving direct and indirect threats over the same, the Gujarat police have decided to intervene and further assure their protection. In a Pinkvilla report, Vandan Shah, the Secretary of Cinema Owner Association, Gujarat, was quoted saying, “It was a great meeting with the Government officials. He has promised police protection at the cinema halls if required to ensure a smooth release for Pathaan on January 25.”

Not just the communities but even many politicians in the past have expressed their objection over the song ‘Besharam Rang’. In a CBFC report that was released earlier this week, owing to the controversy, the censors have recommended some changes to be made in the track. The song featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone came under the radar for the latter wearing a saffron bikini. Many of them demanded a ban on the film owing to the same by claiming that their sentiments were hurt.

Talking about the film Pathaan, it is a spy-action entertainer that marks the comeback of Shah Rukh Khan on the big screen after four years. It features Deepika Padukone in an action packed role along with John Abraham essaying the antagonist. The film is slated to release on January 25 in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Pathaan director Siddharth Anand reveals Shah Rukh Khan will be seen first on the big screen before he starts any promotions: “We want the euphoria around SRK’s return to reach a crescendo by January 25”

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, one of the most loved pairs of Bollywood, had a wonderful and memorable 2022. They got hitched on April 14 last year and soon came the announcement that Alia is pregnant. On September 9, their much-awaited film Brahmastra was released on September 9. Their pairing was one of the major factors why the film was keenly awaited. Then on November 6, Alia Bhatt gave birth to their daughter, whom they named Raha.

And now in 2023, an interesting development is set to take place. Alia Bhatt’s first Hollywood film Heart Of Stone will release on August 11. Interestingly, on the same day, Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, will also be releasing.

Besides Alia, Heart Of Stone also stars Gal Gadot of Wonder Woman fame. It’ll have a direct release on Netflix. Yesterday, the streaming giant unveiled a video in which the release dates of as many as 34 films and web series were unveiled. The video not just mentions the August 11 release date but also unveiled another visual of Alia from this film. In November 2022, a BTS video was put out that also showed a glimpse of Alia in the film. Alia Bhatt can also be talking about the film and the text in the video indicated that her character’s name is Keya Dhawan. It also made it clear that she has a crucial role in the film, since only Gal Gadot, Alia and Jamie Dornan were given prominence.

As for Animal, it is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga of Kabir Singh (2019) fame. The first look of the film, showing Ranbir Kapoor covered in blood, has intrigued viewers. It also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol. Unlike Heart Of Stone, Animal will have a grand release in cinemas.

Meanwhile, Vivek Agnihotri, fresh from the super-success of The Kashmir Files (2022), is all set to bring his next, The Vaccine War, in theatres on August 11 as well. And reports state that Gadar 2, starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, is also expected to release in cinemas on the same day.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt talks about marriage and motherhood affecting her career, says “Even if it does, so be it. I don’t care”

Karan Johar is considered as one of the prolific filmmakers in the film industry. Besides this, he is also an affectionate parent to his son Yash and daughter Roohi. He had embraced parenthood via surrogacy in 2017. He recently shared a couple of adorable photos from his photoshoot with children Yash and Roohi and penned down a heartfelt note on parenthood in the caption. Fans and industry people went in complete awe of the photo.

On Wednesday, Karan Johar shared a series of black and white photos on Instagram. In the photos, Karan can be seen in a shirt with his spectacles. His daughter Roohi donned a frock while son Yash wore a shirt paired with shorts. The director-producer cuddles his children as they pose for the camera. Karan also shared a candid picture featuring only his children as they where Yash can be seen flashing his cute smile looking towards camera while Roohi looks down. Sharing the pictures, he captioned, “Being a parent is not an emotion … it’s an explosion of every emotion you may have experienced …. Words are not the best way to describe the feeling of being a parent… if only cuddles had a language of their own..thank you for shooting these precious images”, and tagged Ishaan Nair.

 

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Soon after the post was shared on Instagram, fans and industry friends poured their love in comments. Actress Kiara Advani, Neetu Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and many more dropped hearts expressing their love. A user commented, “Children are your hearts outside your body. God Bless”, while another wrote, “Heart warming picture”.

Meanwhile, Karan Johar is all set for his next directorial Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani with Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. The film is slated to release in April 2023.

Also Read: Karan Johar buries his hatchet with Kartik Aaryan? Filmmaker highly praises Shehzada trailer

In a surprising and unexpected move, director Vivek Agnihotri has decided to re-release his historic hit The Kashmir Files on January 19, six days ahead of Shah Rukh Khan’s much-vaunted hysterically hyped Pathaan. This could prove a serious setback for Yash Raj films who had planned a solo Republic-Day weekend release for Pathaan months in advance.

Announcing the re-release of The Kashmir Files, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri wrote, “ANNOUNCEMENT: #TheKashmirFiles is re-releasing on January 19, - The Kashmiri Hindu Genocide Day. This is the first time ever a film is releasing twice in the span of a year. If you missed watching it on BIG SCREEN, book your tickets NOW.

ANNOUNCEMENT: #TheKashmirFiles is re-releasing on 19th January - The Kashmiri Hindu Genocide Day. This is the first time ever a film is releasing twice in a year. If you missed watching it on BIG SCREEN, book your tickets NOW????. https://t.co/LP0NKokbaehttps://t.co/J7s03w8P31 pic.twitter.com/TNxhq0L68V

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 18, 2023

The return of The Kashmir Files six days ahead of Pathaan cannot be taken lightly. Agnihotri’s provocative political drama earned more than Rs. 340 crores worldwide when it was first released on March 11, 2022. The film has the staunch support of a huge section of Indian audiences who will now go back to see The Kashmir Files. Interestingly, this is the first time in the history of Indian cinema that a film is being re-released within one year of its original release.

For the uninitiated, Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal in association with Zee studios have given all-time blockbuster movies last year. The Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri directorial, The Kashmir Files captured attention from all around the globe and won hearts in 2022, there are viewers who have missed out on the film’s big screen experience.

Also Read: Mithun Chakraborty breaks his silence on the criticism The Kashmir Files received

Shah Rukh Khan returns to the cinemas after five long years with Pathaan and he reveals that he is realising his 32-year-long dream of being an out-and-out action hero on the big screen! In a video released by the producers, Yash Raj Films, the actor spoke about his character Pathaan and how he fits into the spy universe of YRF.

About his character in Pathaan, the superstar reveals, “Pathaan is an easy guy, doing lot of tough things and I think he's naughty, he's tough but doesn't wear it on his sleeve. He's trusting. He's honest and I think he very single-mindedly thinks of India as his mother.”

The hype around Pathaan is unprecedented. All the assets of the film that YRF has released so far have turned out to be super-hits right from the teaser, the two songs - 'Besharam Rang' & 'Jhoome Jo Pathaan' - and the recently dropped trailer that has caused an internet meltdown!

Pathaan is part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe and has the biggest superstars of the country Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in it. YRF’s Pathaan is set to release on January 25, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Shah Rukh Khan Warriors FAN Club founder on putting up 10,000 to 15,000 posters of Pathaan across India and how business owners are persuaded for it: “90% of the time, these people turn out to be SRK fans. Aur woh dil se kehte hai, ‘Shah Rukh hai toh aap poster lagaiye’”

By now it is common knowledge that filmmaker Rohit Shetty, much like the Marvel Universe is busy developing his cop universe. Comprising of Ajay Devgn from the Singham series, Ranveer Singh from Simmba and Akshay Kumar from Sooryavanshi, Shetty ambitious vision also makes space for a female driven story with Deepika Padukone apparently featuring as Lady Singham. Well, continuing with the cop universe saga, Shetty is gearing up for the next venture which will feature Ajay Devgn. Titled Singham Again the film will take the story from the previous two releases ahead. Interestingly, since its announcement there has been considerable buzz on whether Singham Again would feature cameos from Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar. Well, Bollywood Hungama is here to tell you that it will!

Confirming the presence of both Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh in the Ajay Devgn starrer Singham Again a source close to the project reveals, “It is an entire cop universe, and like the Marvel Universe where film featured cameos by other members, Singham Again will also feature cameos. Like in Simmba where both Ajay and Akshay made cameos, albeit in the post credits, and later in Sooryavanshi where Ranveer and Ajay were seen, Singham Again will also feature Akshay and Ranveer.” Ask the source for more details and he adds, “These films are being planned to coincide with each other, so it is obvious that all three will feature in each other’s films.” But will they lead to a common climax film like in the case of Marvel and the source adds, “There is still time to get there, but for sure there will be something grand to complete the cop universe saga when it does happen”.

If history is anything to go by, then seeing Akshay Kumar as Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh as Simmba in Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again will be as electrifying as seeing the previous cameos the other actors did in each others’ cinematic outings.

As for the film, Singham Again will see Ajay Devgn reprise his role as Inspector Bajirao Singham, while Deepika Padukone joins the cast as Lady Singham. However, unlike the previous films in the Singham franchise wherein Kajal Aggarwal and Kareena Kapoor Khan featured only as love interests, in Singham Again Deepika will feature in a meatier role as the first female cop in Rohit Shetty’s cop universe.

Also Read: Rohit Shetty on Singham Again, “It’s 10X bigger than Sooryavanshi, Ranveer Singh had goosebumps after the narration”

Sanjana Sanghi is usually in the headlines not only for her exciting projects but also for the humanitarian work that she does. This star has been at the forefront to expand Youth education, women empowerment, and other societal issues. The United Nations Development Programme India announced their partnership with Sanjana Sanghi, revealing that she is the face of their Flagship Program Youth Co:Lab India.

Speaking about this actor Sanjana Sanghi said, “ In my 7-year-long humanitarian journey, this is my biggest honour yet. I hope this provides you guys a springboard to make for a far stronger case and appeal at Summits, Youth Panels, and Festivals this coming year. If the UNDP has recognized our work and considered me worthy to be the face of their flagship program Youth Co:Lab, media platforms are ought to take notice of that credibility.”

 

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Along with United Nations Development Programme Sanjana Sanghi will be actively participating in encouraging the process of finding solutions to India’s massive issues through social entrepreneurship and innovation. Youth Co:Lab helps in encouraging young social entrepreneurs to take their initiatives to a higher level and make their dreams come true.

On the work front, Sanjana Sanghi will be seen next in Dhak Dhak and an untitled project with Pankaj Tripathi. The actress also has many other exciting projects in her pipeline.

ALSO READ: Sanjana Sanghi wraps up shooting for the Pankaj Tripathi – Parvathy Thiruvothu starrer