Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan now gets behind the microphone to pursue yet another passion. On the occasion of Independence Day 2022, the superstar treated fans and audiences across the country to his rendition of 'Vande Mataram'. The actor also hails from a music family and has a long tryst with music. Paying tribute to the men and women of the Indian Defence Forces and celebrating the undying spirit of India, Hrithik lent his vocals to ‘Vande Mataram’ originally produced by Jackky Bhagnani’s JJust Music, composed by Vishal Mishra and sung by Tiger Shroff.

Taking to social media he shared, "Felt it . Sang it. Put some shots together to present it. It’s better on headphones altho won’t make the bad singing better. In hope & dedicated to the true spirit of Freedom. Freedom for every single individual. Thank you @jackkybhagnani for allowing me to use your creation. Thank you @vishalmishraofficial , been humming this since I heard this wonderful track. Thanks to my man @tigerjackieshroff for inspiring this , following your lead my friend. Thank you @purpose.studios for working on a holiday and taking a spontaneous thought n working your magic on it. Sorry for taking you by surprise @shannondonaldmusic promise to do proper way next time :) @jjustmusicofficial @warnermusicindia #VandeMataram."

 

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Sussanne Khan, who was previously married to Hrithik. left a comment on his post saying “Faaaab god bless you Rye. to always motivate and inspire all of us in the newest ways!! ✊this is amazing."

Music has always been in the superstar’s blood. His grandfather Roshanlal was a celebrated musician, his grandmother Ira Roshan too had sung for films including a duet with Lata Mangeshkar for the film Anokha Pyaar in 1948 and his uncle Rajesh Roshan has been a prominent music composer for over 50 years.

In the past, Hrithik Roshan lent his voice to songs like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobarra’s 'Senorita' , Guzaarish’s 'What A Wonderful World' and 'Kites In the Sky' from Kites and is often seen crooning on his social media posts including Koi Mil Gaya’s Jaadoo on a throwback BTS post from the sets of Super 30 and the classic 'Tere Jaisa Yaar Kahan' amoung others.

ALSO READ: Prabhas starrer Salaar to clash with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's Fighter at the box office on September 28, 2023

Both Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumar-starrer Raksha Bandhan faced ‘boycott’ campaigns on social media, though the former faced it more. The trolls spread the narrative that Aamir Khan is ‘anti-national’ and they tried to prove it by claiming that he hurt religious sentiments in PK (2014) and that he hinted that India is intolerant in 2015.

Did the boycott campaign lead to a poor day 1 for Laal Singh Chaddha? Trade veteran Taran Adarsh replied, “There has been some effect of the boycott campaign. Let’s face it. Even Aamir Khan addressed this issue. He was feeling the heat and therefore, he came on record to speak about it.”

But he also said, “Having said that, any film which is in rich in merits can take boycott; Exams, IPL, bad weather and any other kind of opposition. In case of Laal Singh Chaddha, the film was devoid of merit. Also, when an A-lister is making an expensive film, he has to cater to an all-India audience. You can’t target your film just for the premium multiplexes. It is understandable when Aamir makes a film like Taare Zameen Par. It’s budget was also reasonable. But Laal Singh Chaddha was expensive and yet, wasn’t a film for audiences across India. Aap interiors mein haalat dekho picture ki.”

The rest of the experts didn’t agree though. Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, “I don’t think the boycott campaign had any effect. The way the social media had gone berserk over boycott calls, had it had an effect, Laal Singh Chaddha would not even have had a double digit opening.”

Girish Johar, producer and film business analyst, said, “I don’t believe that boycott is the reason. Social media is too small a fraction to cause a boycott effect on cinema. I wouldn’t have taken into account the word of mouth had there been a start at the ticket window. For example, Thugs Of Hindostan also had a negative word of mouth. However, it managed to get audiences in hordes on day 1. So, when there’s no start at the box office, clearly, the star pull is diminishing in general for the Hindi film industry. None of the big stars have given a good start at the box office this year. Many Hollywood and South films, meanwhile, have opened very well. So, the audience is clearly there but they are not excited that much to watch a Hindi film at present.”

Owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur Raj Bansal, in agreement noted, “Boycott didn’t matter. Dono films kharaab hai. In the near future, the films of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan could also get boycotted. But if these films are well-made entertainers, then nothing can stop them from doing Rs. 250 crores plus business. It all depends on the products.”

Improvement in the weekend?

Laal Singh Chaddha and Raksha Bandhan both released on Thursday, August 11. Monday, August 15, is a national holiday due to it being Independence Day. As a result, the film enjoys a five-day weekend. Hence, is it fair to say that all is not lost and these films can still work?

Taran Adarsh opined, “Raksha Bandhan has an edge in the mass circuits. Even on day 1, it was ahead of Laal Singh Chaddha in mass centres. So it’ll manage to get decent numbers. In multiplexes, it’s not performing. Laal Singh Chaddha is scoring in a few multiplexes in a few cities.”

Girish Johar said, “These films do have a chance as both are word of mouth and family films. But the trajectory of both the films are not good. I hope some miracle happens and they collect more than Rs. 100 crores at the box office. However, the costing of these films and the actor’s fees have completely gone for a toss. So, we need to get the ecosystem in sync.”

Raj Bansal, meanwhile, feels that long weekend can prove detrimental, “A five-day weekend does more damage than good, in my opinion. A lot of people like to take advantage of it and go for a holiday or visit their family in their hometown. Watching films in theatres is not the priority.”

Way forward

When asked what the industry should be done to improve the numbers, Taran Adarsh said, “There has to be rethinking on the kind of movies that are being made and the star prices should be brought down. The stars are still sleeping. When will they wake up, no one has an idea.”

Girish Johar felt that all hope is not lost, “Films like Laal Singh Chaddha are pre-pandemic products. So that’s a small saving grace that these films are old while the audiences have matured in terms of their tastes after consuming content on OTT.”

Raj Bansal painted a dismal picture as he remarked, “2022 will be remembered as the year when almost all top actors and actresses have given the worst ever performance in the history of Indian cinema. Taapsee Pannu, Ayushmann Khurrana, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor, Tiger Shroff - all have given major flops.”

He signed off by saying, “Don’t blame the audience. The industry is to blame. We are not making good cinema.”

Also Read: Aamir Khan goes into a state of shock after Laal Singh Chaddha’s failure; distributors ask for monetary compensation after suffering heavy losses

Malaika Arora is all set to announce the latest feather added to her cap. The model-actress-entrepreneur has invested and has joined hands with the young & powerful head honcho - Namrata Karad to bring to India the globally popular artisanal accessories brand, Ahikoza. Namrata and Malaika are aiming to recreate the global magic of Ahikoza in India. The brand has already amassed a hugely exclusive club for itself in the international markets panning across USA and Europe. The Indian fashion savvy women will soon be able to access Ahikoza and lay their hands on these arm candies which thus far have been seen only on the red carpet.

For the uninitiated, Ahikoza was founded by Namrata Karad and the brand prides itself in its unique geometrical design, handcrafted finesse and quality. Their aesthetic geometry, inspired by architectural installations and sculptures, has inspired not just Malaika but many other celebrities to sport their minauderies to the red carpet making this a unique and enviable statement. Not many would known that a collaborative initiative between Namrata Karad and veteran model, Barbara Fialho, back in 2017, made Namrata Karad the first Indian designer to co-design a handbag with Victoria’s Secret model.

“Over the years, Namrata’s experience of being an entrepreneur and industry professional has provided her with a robust skill set in marketing, content strategy, consumer growth and strategic business development. She has been privy to numerous distribution partnerships and celebrity endorsements, which has made her leader par excellence in her segment of exclusive and elusive artisanal accessories. So for me to accept her partnership was a no brainer because I am sure together we can make magic”- says Malaika.

Namrata commenting on this partnerships says, “Malaika continues to represent a diverse set of businesses across categories such as Fashion, Food & Beverage, Ayurveda, Skincare, Fitness, FMCG, and many more. Malaika epitomizes grace and class. By following her passion and staying true to her ethos, Malaika has also become an example of breaking stereotypes in the film industry. With changing times, she has reinvented herself into many new avatars and built a strong social media presence. Today the businesses she is invested in see a huge value in her association and a rise in following and consumer base. Her authenticity in yoga, fitness, food choices, lifestyle and fashion remain undisputed. Her followers, especially progressive women, look up to her as an icon who has built and nurtured the life of dreams. For us having Malaika in our dream team was a big win”

With over 16 million followers on Instagram, Malaika Arora stays in touch with her fans every minute of the day. She posts fashion tips, her fitness regime, offers healthy food advice and also jumps on to trending reels. On numerous occasions, she has been seen sporting Ahikoza bags because the brand has been her favorite for a while in terms of exclusive fashion and therefore this marriage was inevitable. Malaika and Namrata met to discuss how Malaika’s allegiance and Namrata’s business acumen can come together and make Ahikoza the new Indian sensation and the rest is history.

The India launch of Ahikoza comes after the brand has already made its presence felt among celebrities and the elite. The exclusive brand has been a go-to choice for many big names. One of the prime reasons why big names love the brand is its attention to detail. Each product is finessed to the user’s personal choice. Namrata ensures that the products are very chic, sophisticated, trendy and always in style. Ahikoza's distinctive candy-colored clutches remain a coveted accessory in the wardrobes of many Indian celebs including Malaika.

ALSO READ: Koffee With Karan 7: Arjun Kapoor opens up on marrying Malaika Arora; reveals his plans for marriage

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff are teaming up for Ali Abbas Zafar's actioner Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. It will be an out-n-out action entertainer and is expected to be mounted on a huge scale. For the same, the filmmaker has begun scouting locations. The team began recce in England and Scotland to film biggest action sequences.

Sharing picture with the team, Ali Abbas Zafar wrote, "First big location Scout for #BMCM in England and Scotland over , with the highly skilled team we are playing to do some crazy action sequences on real locations. Excited & nervous as always #BadeMiyanChoteMiyan Stay tuned."

First big location Scout for #BMCM in England and Scotland over , with the highly skilled team we are playing to do some crazy action sequences on real locations. Excited & nervous as always ???? #BadeMiyanChoteMiyan Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/AubXBTnzFD

— ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) August 15, 2022

Vashu Bhagnani and Pooja Entertainment presents Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in association with AAZ films. Written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. Produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Jackky Bhagnani, Himanshu Kishan Mehra, and Ali Abbas Zafar. This Pooja Entertainment production is set to release in five languages Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam on Christmas 2023.

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar was recently seen in Samrat Prithviraj whereas Tiger Shroff was last seen in Heropanti 2. Akshay has an array of line-up including Ram Setu, Gorkha, Mission Cinderella, Raksha Bandhan, Selfiee, and Sorarai Pottru remake. Tiger Shroff, on the other hand, has Baaghi 4, and Ganapath Part 1. Ali Abbas Zafar has two projects lined up - one with Katrina Kaif and another one with Shahid Kapoor.

ALSO READ: What went wrong with Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan? Trade experts share their views

It's been 10 years since Salman Khan arrived as Tiger on the big screen with Yash Raj Films' Ek Tha Tiger. Helmed by Kabir Khan, the film had Katrina Kaif in the lead role. While Kabir didn't return to direct the second part Tiger Zinda Hai, it was helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar. With the hype around the third installment rises, the makers are celebrating 10 years of the franchise today. The film released on Independence Day back in 2012.

On 75th Independence Day, Yash Raj Films shared a montage of several clips from the Tiger franchise. The tweet read, "10 Years ago, he roared his way into your hearts. And now he's set to be back again, all guns blazing in #Tiger3 on Eid 2023. Celebrating #10YearsOfEkThaTiger. Celebrate #Tiger3 with #YRF50 only at a big screen near you on 21st April 2023. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu."

10 Years ago, he roared his way into your hearts. And now he's set to be back again, all guns blazing in #Tiger3 on Eid 2023. Celebrating #10YearsOfEkThaTiger.
Celebrate #Tiger3 with #YRF50 only at a big screen near you on 21st April 2023. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. pic.twitter.com/Kd8CgUdLdS

— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) August 15, 2022

Produced by Aditya Chopra, Tiger 3 brings Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif back as Tiger and Zoya. It is being helmed by Maneesh Sharma and will release in theatres on April 21, 2023.

ALSO READ: Salman Khan and Pooja Hedge are all smiles at the airport as they head for Bhaijaan shoot

The 13th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is taking place in Australia. For the past two years, the festival was a virtual event owing to the pandemic situation. The film festival was formally launched by a number of Bollywood superstars, including Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Shefali Shah, Sona Mohapatra, Anurag Kashyap, Rithvik Dhanjani, Kabir Khan, Aparna Sen, Nikkhil Advani, and Shoojit Sircar.

Tamannaah Bhatia is constantly stealing the show at the Melbourne Indian Film Festival. Her most recent post has an off-shoulder dress with the celebrity having a diva moment. This voguish moment is all that we adore. Tamannaah shared photos of her glamorous attire for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2022 on Instagram on Sunday. The pictures show the celebrity busy posing for the camera while wearing a statement outfit. She is wearing attire from the Safiyaa clothing line. The silk satin dress worn by Tamannaah Bhatia has an emerald green and black colour scheme. It has an off-the-shoulder bow-shaped neckline that gives the rest of her outfit a sensual appearance. Additional features include a calf length hem, a front slit that is knee-high, and a bodycon fit that wonderfully accentuates Tamannaah's contours. Her dress is worth Rs. 1,17,813.

Tamannaah gave her stylish outfit a modern spin by pairing the two-toned dress with translucent opera gloves. The last touches of glam were a pair of gold earrings in the shape of a heart that were set with a stone, a side-parted sleek hairstyle, shimmering nude eye makeup, coral-hued lip colour, mascara on the lashes, sleek eyeliner, shining complexion, beaming highlighter, and sharp contouring.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Tamannaah Bhatia will feature in Nagashekar’s romantic drama, Gurthunda Seethakalam. She also has movies like Bole Chudiyan, Bhola Shankar, Bubbly Bouncer, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga and Yen Endru Kadhal Enben coming up in 2022.

SUMMARY OF LOOK DETAILS:

ACTRESS: Tamannah Bhatia

OUTFIT: Safiyaa

STYLIST : Ami Patel

HAIR & MAKE-UP : Florian Hurel

EARRINGS: Amama Jewels

 

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Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia spins magic in vibrant green saree worth Rs. 69K as she attends The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

A lot of expectations were riding on Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumat-starrer Raksha Bandhan. Sadly, both the films opened below expectations and collections didn’t improve over the weekend due to mixed word of mouth. We asked trade experts to tell us what they felt didn’t work for these films.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan explained, “4-5 years ago, before the pandemic, people didn’t have this kind of access to films. Now, when the audiences find out that Laal Singh Chaadha is a remake of Forrest Gump, they can easily download it on their phones, at times even for free. That awareness has increased now.”

He continued, “Moreover, it was an American character and the original movie was released 30 years ago. Laal Singh Chaddha meanwhile is lengthier than Forrest Gump and quite a slow film. Slow picture toh do ghanta bhi mushkil hota hai dekhna. 2.45 hours ki slow film kaise dekhegi public? Hence, it was a wrong choice to make the film in the first place.”

Regarding Raksha Bandhan, he opined, “I guess when there’s a clash, the business is bound to get divided. If Raksha Bandhan was a solo release, it would have collected Rs. 4-5 crores more on day 1. Also, a day 1 of Rs. 8 crores is not a disastrous start. It’s a decent performance for a film which released in a clash and came on part-holiday. Its big advantage is that the ladies are loving it. So, there are chances that it can pick up in the long run.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, said, “The reports of both films are negative. Ek film paune teen ghante ki hai toh dusri paune do ghante ki. With Laal Singh Chaddha, if it was 2.15 hours long, then it would had been better. As for Raksha Bandhan, the film looks lengthy despite being less than 2 hours long.”

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh minced no words as he thundered, “Kartik Aaryan is a comparatively new face. He has not been around for as long as the Khans and others. Yet, his film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 still holds the record of having the biggest day 1 of 2022. It collected Rs. 14.11 crores on a non-holiday. And Aamir Khan on a holiday couldn’t go beyond this mark, that too with an event film! Even Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh failed to collect as much. It is alarming.”

He also said, “Aamir Khan ne ek se ek behtareen films di hai. People wait for his films as it’s synonymous with quality. Even a film like Thugs Of Hindostan opened at Rs. 52.25 crores on day 1 due to his stardom. He inaugurated the Rs. 100, Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 crore clubs. And now his film is opening at Rs. 12 crores on a holiday! Somewhere, he needs to do a rethink and introspection.”

Girish Johar, producer, and film business analyst, stated, “On non-holiday, I could have understood had these films taken such a start. But for these films to open this way on a holiday is not acceptable. Also, on non-holidays, films like Thor and Doctor Strange have taken flying starts. Choosing to shy away from these realities is a wrong option.”

Raj Bansal stated, “If audience doesn’t come to see on the first day, there’s still hope that they’ll make it to the cinemas on day 2 and by day 3, it’ll be a big hit, provided the word of mouth is positive. In case of these two films, the reports started coming in that both films are unbearable. As a result, there was a fall of 20 to 25% in collections and footfalls in my theatre on day 2 as compared to the first day.”

He further said, “The OTT also damaged things. If the film is not upto the mark, the audiences prefer waiting for 4 weeks rather than spending a bomb on movie tickets. Though the window has been increased to eight weeks, the word perhaps hasn’t spread yet.”

He also added that tremendous negativity on social media for both films, by media and trolls, spoiled the scenario.

Also Read: Aamir Khan gets family support; niece Zayn Khan shares support video for Laal Singh Chaddha, daughter Ira Khan shares it

Bollywood actors and parents-to-be Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor were seen at the Mumbai airport on Monday morning as they returned from their babymoon in Italy. The couple had taken a short break from their Brahmastra promotions for a mini holiday. The two stars stepped out in style.

Ranbir Kapoor was seen in blue denim shirt, matching pants, a cap and white sneakers. He carried a bag pack. Alia Bhatt donned an all black ensemble with a white jacket and matching sneakers. She carried a crossbody bag. Both of them wore face masks.

 

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Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor was most recently seen in Shamshera whereas Alia Bhatt starred in Darlings. Their film Brahmastra is slated for September 9 release. It is directed by Ayan Mukerji.

ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt goes trendy with Chanel printed cardigan for a whopping Rs. 5 lakh for Darlings promotions

Actors Salman Khan and Pooja Hegde will be seen together on screen for the first time in Bhaijaan, which was previously titled Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. The two stars began the shoot a few months ago. Now, they were seen at Mumbai's private airport as they headed to an undisclosed location for the next schedule of the shoot.

At the airport, Salman Khan kept it casual in dark grey T-shirt with denim jeans. Pooja Hegde was all smiles donning a black crop trop and track pants along with a bag.

Salman Khan, in May 2022, kicked off the shoot for Bhaijaan. The film stars him alongside Pooja Hegde, Venkatesh, Raghav Juyal, Jassie Gill, Siddharth Nigam, Palak Tiwari, and Shehnaaz Gill. He recently roped in  Tajik singer Abdu Rozik.The film will release on December 30, 2022.

ALSO READ: Salman Khan responds to neighbor Ketan Kakkad’s allegations of his involvement in nefarious activities at his Panvel farmhouse

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who has been busy with the shoot for Shehzada, took a day off to spend some quality time with Indian Navy officers. Ahead of India's Independence Day, the actor shared several photos and videos of himself with the officers.

Kartik Aaryan posed with Indian flag, played a game of tug of war, was seen playing video game with them. He also danced with the army men, posed with firearms at the camp and cooked a meal with them.

He captioned the post, "जय जवान !! एक दिन नौसेना के जांबाज़ जवानों के साथ."

 

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On the work front, Kartik Aaryan will next star with Kriti Sanon in Shehzada. The actor has Sajid Nadiadwala's next Satyaprem Ki Katha with Kiara Advani, a film with Kabir Khan, Captain India and Freddy.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Kartik Aaryan reveals people did not know his name for over 6 years – “They used to call me monologue wala ladka”

Veteran investor and trader, popularly referred to as the ‘Big Bull of Dalal Street’, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala passed away earlier today morning. The ace stock market investor, Jhunjhunwala was rushed to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai at around 6.45 am after he suffered a cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, he was declared dead on arrival by the hospital authorities.

As per reports, Jhunjhunwala who recently launched his own airlines, Akasa Air was apparently suffering from multiple health issues and was discharged from the same hospital a few weeks ago after being treated for kidney-related issues. With an estimated net worth of around USD 5.8 billion, Jhunjhunwala was the 36th richest billionaire in India.

Termed as an investor with a Midas touch, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was also dubbed as ‘India's Warren Buffett’. Overall, Jhunjhuwala had investments in more than three dozen companies including the likes of Titan, Star Health, Tata Motors and Metro Brands which were also some of his largest holdings. He was also the Chairman of Hungama Media and Aptech.

Sharing his condolence over Jhunjhunwala’s sudden demise Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter saying, “Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was indomitable. Full of life, witty and insightful, he leaves behind an indelible contribution to the financial world. He was also very passionate about India’s progress. His passing away is saddening. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was indomitable. Full of life, witty and insightful, he leaves behind an indelible contribution to the financial world. He was also very passionate about India’s progress. His passing away is saddening. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/DR2uIiiUb7

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 14, 2022

Joining the PM was veteran politician and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who also Tweeted, “Anguished to learn about the passing away of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Ji. His vast experience and understanding of the stock market have inspired countless investors. He will always be remembered for his bullish outlook. My deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti Shanti.”

Anguished to learn about the passing away of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Ji. His vast experience and understanding of the stock market have inspired countless investors. He will always be remembered for his bullish outlook. My deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti Shanti.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 14, 2022

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal sent out his condolence as well saying, “Deeply anguished at the demise of veteran investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. He was an inspiration for wealth creation for crores.”
Embed:

Deeply anguished at the demise of veteran investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. He was an inspiration for wealth creation for crores.

My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti.

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 14, 2022

Bollywood Hungama too sends out its heart felt condolence in these trying times to Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s family and friends.

India woke up today to the terrible news of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s sudden demise. The reputed investor was just 62 years old when he passed away early morning on Sunday, August 14. He had earned a fan following his achievements in the fields of stocks and investing. However, many are not aware that Rakesh Jhunjhunwala also had a Bollywood connection.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala has been credited as a producer in four films – Sridevi-starrer English Vinglish (2012), Amitabh Bachchan-Dhanush starrer Shamitabh (2015), Arjun Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Ki & Ka (2016) and Akshay Kumar’s social drama Pad Man (2018). Incidentally, all the four films were directed or backed by R Balki.

In an interview to a news channel a few years ago, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala had revealed how he got involved into the movie business and his association with R Balki. He had said, “I find films very interesting and I happened to meet Balki, and really liked his movies, Cheeni Kum (2007) and Paa (2018). More than that, I felt he’s a very fine man.”

He had also stated, “We judge a company, buy the stock and leave it to the management. I like the man, I liked his movies, he comes from the corporate world. I’m not afraid of losing money, I’m afraid of sour relationships. I know the film industry is not a very healthy place to be in. I intuitively liked his skills, his approach and intuitively trusted him.”

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala is also a part of two more films of R Balki, which are unreleased. One is Chup, starring Sunny Deol, Pooja Bhatt, Dulquer Salmaan and Shreya Dhanwanthary. The other film is Ghoomer, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Saiyami Kher.

When Bollywood Hungama exclusively contacted R Balki, he spoke about his memories with him, “He was a great partner. I met him at an event after the release of Cheeni Kum. He gave me his card and told me that he’d like to work with me. I had no idea who he was. It’s only later I found out!”

R Balki further said, “I was looking for a co-producer for English Vinglish. That’s when he came on board and our film was able to roll. He had the vision to back a film like English Vinglish at that point in time when many in the industry didn’t have the confidence to do so.”

English Vinglish marked the directorial debut of R Balki’s wife Gauri Shinde. It was also the comeback vehicle of the late Sridevi, and was a success at the box office.

R Balki revealed, “Rakesh Jhunjhunwala didn’t even hear the script of English Vinglish before backing it. He just said, ‘If you are making it, I am on’. I asked him, ‘Won’t you like to hear the story before coming on board?’. He replied, ‘No. If you are making it, it has to be worth it, right?’. That’s the kind of equation we had with him. He never questioned me. He didn’t really make a lot of money through films and yet, he was in this business for the passion of cinema.”

When asked when he last saw him, R Balki replied, “I last met him a few weeks ago. He was not keeping well but his mind was as sharp as ever.” He continued, “Gauri and I would miss him a lot.”

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala also had another filmy connection. During Diwali, he used to have a chat with Bollywood heroines on the ET Now news channel.  Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Nargis Fakhri etc have appeared on these shows and have quizzed and have been quizzed by the Big Bull of Dalal Street, as he was fondly called.

We at Bollywood Hungama extend our heartfelt condolences to the Jhunjhunwala family.

Recently in a candid interview with Bollywood Hungama, Gippy Grewal made some interesting comments. One amongst them was when he spoke about making a biopic. Asserting that biopics need everything authentic, the actor-singer maintained that Punjabis hate it when people pretend to be a part of that community faking bears and moustaches. In the same breath, he also couldn’t stop gushing about how perfect Aamir Khan was as Laal Singh Chaddha.

Readers would be aware that Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha opened to a rather low start at the box office. Moreover many Punjabis and Sikhs have taken offence to Aamir Khan playing the role. But Punjabi singer-actor Gippy Grewal is all praises for the superstar. He said to Bollywood Hungama, “Biopic karni hai kisi ki toh proper honi karni chahiye. Aise nahi nakli daadi-mooch laga li, jaise yahan pe laga rahein log. (If you want to do a biopic then it should be proper. You can’t just fake the moustache and beard which people tend to do very often here.)”

He went on to request everyone to not do this because it hurts the sentiments of Punjabis. He went on to share, “Aur as a Punjabi jab hum Punjabi bande ki photo dekhte hain, nakli daadi and nakli everything, woh humein achha nahi lagta. (As a Punjabi, I can say that when we see a photo of a Punjabi character and if they are using fake beard and moustache, we don’t like it.)”

In the same breath, he appreciated Aamir’s portray in Laal Singh Chaddha adding, “Jaise abhi Laal Singh Chaddha hai, Aamir Paaji pure Sardaar lagte hain. Kaam karna chahiye uss taam-jaam pe. (For example in Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir Khan looks like a sardaar. You should work and research on that character and prep for it well before playing it.)” he concluded.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Gippy Grewal says Dharma Productions didn’t tell him his ‘Nach Punjaban’ vocals will be used in Jugjugg Jeeyo: ‘The entire trailer has been cut around my vocals’

Over the past few weeks Aamir Khan has found himself in the eye of a storm especially with the release of his new film Laal Singh Chaddha. Though the film hit screens on Thursday, August 11, social media has been buzzing with calls to boycott the film, and the actor as well. The reason being, Aamir’s comments on the state of affairs within the country, and his ex-wife Kiran Rao’s query whether they should migrate. However, with Independence Day just round the corner, Aamir not surprising decided to join the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

Joining the Central Government’s campaign which urged people to hoist the tricolor in their homes from August 13 to 15 to celebrations of 75 years of India's Independence, Aamir did just that on August 13. In fact, while the Indian tricolour flag is visibly hoisted from the actor’s balcony, Aamir himself was later spotted sharing a conversation with daughter Ira Khan on the balcony.

 

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Back on the work front, Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha which was directed by Advait Chandan opened below expectations. In fact, on its second day running the business of the film even witnessed a drop in collections. However, early predictions claim that on Saturday Day 3, Laal Singh Chaddha has seen an increase in footfalls and collections.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan reviews Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha; says, “Go now. Watch it”

Earlier this week news broke that popular comedian Raju Shrivastava had been been hospitalized after suffering from a heart attack. Currently admitted to Delhi’s AIIMS hospital, reports claim that the comedian’s brain has not been functioning normally, due to which he has been kept under observation. However, despite this the latest update on his health was that he had shown slight movement and was marginally improving. While the comedian recovers, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, who has in the past had his share of health scares, decided to send Shrivastava a voice note, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Though Shrivastava’s family have not yet made the note public, the audio clip was played to the comedian after consultation with the doctors. As per the audience clip, it is reported that Amitabh Bachchan can be heard saying, “It's enough Raju. Rise up Raju, and keep teaching us all to laugh.”

As for the comedian, social media has been buzzing with rumours of his demise. However putting those to rest, Shrivastava’s family released a statement which read, “Dear all Raju Srivatava ji's condition is stable. We are praying for his speedy recovery. The doctors are treating him and are doing their best. Thanks to all the well-wishers for their continued love and support. Please ignore any rumour/fake news being circulated. Please pray for him”.

Also Read: Raju Srivastava suffers a heart attack; best friend and comedian Sunil Pal assures fans that he is recovering

The Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha was released on the auspicious day of Rakshabandhan on Thursday, August 11. Directed by Advait Chandan and also featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan the film which is a remake of the Tom Hanks starrer Forrest Gump came with immense expectations. But, despite the hype surrounding Laal Singh Chaddha the film opened on a less than expected note, only to see a drop in business on its second day. However, industry folks have been vociferously supporting the film with some like Richa Chadha, Sushmita Sen, and Randeep Hooda narrating their positive experience watching the movie. Joining them now is none other than the Krissh star Hrithik Roshan.

Taking to the micro-blogging site Twitter Hrithik Roshan narrated his experience watching Laal Singh Chaddha. Claiming that the film is ‘just magnificent’ Hrithik even requested the audience to go watch the film immediately, “Just watched LAAL SINGH CHADDA. I felt the HEART of this movie. Pluses and minuses aside, this movie is just magnificent. Don’t miss this gem guys ! Go ! Go now . Watch it. It’s beautiful. Just beautiful.”

Just watched LAAL SINGH CHADDA. I felt the HEART of this movie. Pluses and minuses aside, this movie is just magnificent. Don’t miss this gem guys ! Go ! Go now . Watch it. It’s beautiful. Just beautiful. ❤️

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) August 13, 2022

As for the film, Laal Singh Chaddha which was expected to open in excess of Rs. 15 cr saw just Rs. 11.50 cr coming in. Following the mixed reviews and less than appreciative audience word of mouth and Friday being a working day the collections of the film dropped by nearly 38% on day two managed to collect Rs. 7.25 cr. Interestingly, on its third day, Saturday advance reports claim that Laal Singh Chaddha has, in fact, witnessed an increase in footfalls and business.

Also Read: Sushmita Sen reviews Laal Singh Chaddha; says, “What a treat of beautiful performances!!”

Laal Singh Chaddha has been facing several protests ever since the trailer. Even before the release of the film, #BoycottLaalSinghChaddha started trending with many of them reposting an old interview of Aamir Khan speaking about religious intolerance in India. Post the release of the Aamir, Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer, while it received a lot of appreciation from the industry friends and colleagues, it seems that the film has continued to offend some people in the country. Former England cricketer with a Punjabi descent, Monty Panesar has commented on the film, expressing his displeasure over the Forrest Gump remake.

While a day ago, Indian cricketers like Virendra Sehwag and Suresh Raina couldn’t stop gushing about Laal Singh Chaddha and how it has captured the Indian emotions right, Punjabi-British cricketer Monty Panesar has a completely different outlook. Comparing it to its original, the Oscar winning Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks, Monty took to social media and explained why the scenes in the Indian film couldn’t be same as the American movie.

Aamir plays a moron in Lal Singh Chadda .......
Forrest Gump was a moron too !!
Disrespectful. Disgraceful.#BoycottLalSinghChadda#BoycottLaalsingh pic.twitter.com/hpq8qvpbdi

— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) August 10, 2022

“Forrest Gump fits in the US Army because the US was recruiting low IQ men to meet requirements for the Vietnam War.  This movie is total disgrace to India Armed Forces Indian Army and Sikhs !!Disrespectful. Disgraceful. #BoycottLalSinghChadda,” he posted on Twitter. He also shared another post on the platform in order of the Indian awards presented to honour the achievements by adding the hashtag, #BoycottLalSinghChadda.

1 Padma Vibhushan,
1 Padma Bhushan,
21 Indian Order of Merits,
14 Victoria Crosses,
2 Param Vir Chakras,
4 Ashoka Chakras,
8 Maha Vir Chakras,
24 Kirti Chakras,
64 Vir Chakras,
55 Shaurya Chakras,
375 Sena Medals,#BoycottLalSinghChadda

— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) August 10, 2022

This is not the first time where the film has been bashed for its portrayal of Sikhs. Prior to this, a fringe group in Punjab had also taken offense to the content in the film and had stopped its screening in Jalandhar.

Speaking about the film, Laal Singh Chaddha also marked the debut of South star Naga Chaitanya in Bollywood. The film, directed by Advait Chandan, released on August 11.

Also Read: Laal Singh Chaddha Box Office Estimate Day 2: Aamir Khan starrer registers a 35% drop on Friday; collects Rs. 7.8 cr.

The Aamir Khan – Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha released earlier this week on Thursday, August 11. After receiving less then appreciative reviews, the film which was touted to be one of the biggest money-spinners of the year shocked everyone with its lacklustre opening. However, a few from the industry have been praising the film for its entertainment value. In fact, following Sushmita Sen and Richa Chadha, the next one to praise the Advait Chandan directorial Laal Singh Chaddha was actor Randeep Hooda.

Taking to Twitter Hooda narrates that though he was initially apprehensive about Laal Singh Chaddha, his views were certainly changed after watching the film. Posting the tweet he wrote, “Having seen Forrest Gump many times over I went in a bit apprehensive about #LaalSinghChaddha BUT.. while watching I was captivated, invested and came out thoroughly entertained. A great adaptation of a classic. Watch it for its Indian-ness !! Good Luck #AamirKhan & Kiran.”

Having seen Forrest Gump many times over I went in a bit apprehensive about #LaalSinghChaddha BUT.. while watching I was captivated, invested and came out thoroughly entertained. A great adaptation of a classic. Watch it for its Indian-ness !! Good Luck #AamirKhan & Kiran. pic.twitter.com/AsPjOObLgB

— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 11, 2022

Besides Randeep, Sushmita and Richa a few other celebrities as well took to social media websites taking about their experience watching Laal Singh Chaddha. As for Hooda, back on the work front, the actor who was last seen in the 2021 release Radhe will next be seen in Unfair & Lovely followed by Swatantra Veer Savarkar.

Also Read: Sushmita Sen reviews Laal Singh Chaddha; says, “What a treat of beautiful performances!!”

Salman Khan approached the High Court on Friday after his Panvel farmhouse neighbor, Ketan Kakkad accused the superstar of being engaged in several nefarious activities. The superstar has now filed a case accusing Ketan of not only for making defamatory but also communally provocative comments. This comes after NRI resident Ketan Kakkad allegedly posted videos accusing Salman Khan of several things including drug and human trafficking.

As per these videos shared by Ketan, he alleged that Salman Khan wants to shut down a Ganesha temple and compared him to Mughal Emperors, Babar and Aurangazeb. The actor’s lawyer Mr. Kadam was quoted in these reports saying, "In the video, the defendant (Kakkad) compares Salman Khan to Babar and Aurangazeb. He (Kakkad) says it had taken 500 years for the Ayodhya Mandir (temple) to come up and here Salman Khan is trying to shut down a Ganesha temple.”

In his videos, Ketan also went on to accuse Salman of being involved in drug, human, and organ trafficking as he went on to further assert that he is associated with gangster Dawood and his gang.

According to reports, Salman Khan had approached his neighbor to sort the matter amicably. However, when it didn’t work, the star sought the help of the civil court where he requested them to pass an order to take down the videos and also help stop Kakkad from making any more comments. But, the single bench of Justice C V Bhadang did not grant the star any relief in terms of the defamation suit, after which, the superstar decided to approach the High Court.

Reportedly, Salman Khan’s lawyer Mr. Kadam argued that the videos uploaded by Ketan Kakkad were not only defamatory but were also communally provocative. "These videos are watched by lakhs of viewers who then post their comments against Salman Khan. This is clearly provoking the viewers against Salman. The videos have communalized everything and made it Hindus vs Muslims," the lawyer was further quoted.

On the other hand, lawyers of the NRI resident argued that the defamation suit was an attempt to pressurize Kakkad to give up his land.

Also Read: Salman Khan meets the Navy force at INS, Visakhapatnam; spends day with the soldiers

There was a time when movie tickets and the snacks available in cinema halls were reasonably priced, and within the reach of the common man. In the last few years, however, watching a movie has turned out to be an expensive affair. Not only are the ticket prices high, especially on the weekends, but even the price of food and beverages has touched the skies. Consuming popcorn is an indispensable part of the movie-watching experience and hence its inflated rate has pinched the moviegoers the most.

In a recent interaction with Economic Times, Ajay Bijli, chairman and MD of PVR Cinemas broke his silence over massive criticism on this aspect. He admitted that consumers can’t be blamed for speaking against expensive snacks in PVR Cinemas. However, he made it clear that there’ll be no change in the F&B rates as India is still transitioning from single screens to multiplexes. Hence, to cover these and other operational costs, the snacks will be sold at high rates.

Ajay Bijli then explained that they need to spend capital on squeezing in multiple screens in a limited space, paying rents and upgrading or installing the infrastructure. He remarked that in the olden days, the single-screen cinemas would have one projection and one sound system. The foyers in the theatres were never air-conditioned. He said that with the coming of multiplexes, costs rose 4 to 6 times as theatres now would have as many projection rooms and sound systems as the screens. Also, the foyer is now fully air-conditioned in every multiplex.

Ajay Bijli revealed that the F&B Business is now worth Rs. 1,500 crores and added that this wouldn’t have been possible to achieve had people been unhappy with the quality of snacks available in their multiplex.

Last month, Gautam Dutta, CEO of PVR Cinemas, said that PVR used to increase ticket rates by 5-7% every year in the pre-pandemic era. For 2 ½ years, the multiplex chain couldn’t do so. Now, they have hiked the ticket prices by up to 23%. He said PVR had to do so to cope with the rising electricity costs, rent and maintenance charges. Interestingly, the ticket price increase helped the company post its best ever quarterly revenues of Rs. 1000 crore plus in Q1 of FY 2022-23.

Also Read: Aamir Khan and PVR sign a mega deal for Laal Singh Chaddha; gets upper hand in showcasing as compared to Raksha Bandhan

A while back Sushmita Sen made headlines for her apparent relationship with Lalit Modi. While the model turned actress received heaps of praise and appreciation for her candour, there were some who trolled her for her choices. However, this has never and will never faze her who staunchly believes in calling a spade a spade. But away from her personal life, recently Sushmita Sen like so many other took the time to watch the newest release Laal Singh Chaddha, and her review of the Aamir Khan starrer caught our attention.

Post watching the film, Sen took to the micro blogging website Twitter sharing her views of the film. Posting an appreciation tweet of the effort that went into making the film she wrote, “What a treat of beautiful performances!! ????????❤️ Congratulations to the entire team #LaalSinghChaddha loved watching the film!! ????????”

What a treat of beautiful performances!! ????????❤️ Congratulations to the entire team #LaalSinghChaddha loved watching the film!! ???????? pic.twitter.com/NTZiM05EkZ

— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) August 10, 2022

As for the film, Laal Singh Chaddha directed by Advait Chandan features Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan in lead roles. Released on Rakshabandhan, August 11 the film has been facing difficulties at the box office. Apart from the competition from the other release, Laal Singh Chaddha seems to have drawn the ire of some, calling for a boycott on the film. At the box office though, Laal Singh Chaddha despite a slow opening is expected to see growth in business over its opening weekend.

Also Read: Richa Chadha reviews Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha; says, “film delicately navigates so many seminal moments of our past”

On Thursday August 11, we finally saw the release of the Aamir Khan – Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha. A remake of the Hollywood film Forrest Gump, the Indian adaptation written by Atul Kulkarni has been making news for a while now. On its release, Laal Singh Chaddha shocked the industry with an unexpected opening. Contrary to trade expectations the film opened on a less than appreciative note. However, this meagre opening has not slowed the film’s march at the box office. While Laal Singh Chaddha continues its box office run, some in the industry who watched the film took to social media sharing their views and reviews of Laal Singh Chaddha. One such person was Richa Chadha.

Taking to the micro blogging site Twitter, Richa Chadha came out in full support of the film. “As a Chadha I whole heartedly endorse #LalSinghChadha Made us laugh and cry in unison, collective gasps emanating from the theatre audience at key cameos were excellent work by ALL! Like @AshGowariker said 5 masaledar golgappas! Amazing adaptation @atul_kulkarni kudos,” tweeted Richa talking about the film and its writer.

As a Chadha I whole heartedly endorse #LalSinghChadha ????Made us laugh and cry in unison, collective gasps emanating from the theatre audience at key cameos were ????????????excellent work by ALL! Like @AshGowariker said 5 masaledar golgappas! Amazing adaptation @atul_kulkarni kudos ????????

— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) August 12, 2022

Further expressing what Laal Singh Chaddha signified and stood for Richa shared another tweet saying, “The film delicately navigates so many seminal moments of our past which is so hard to achieve! Salute @AKPPL_Official #AmirKhan #Advaitchandan #KareenaKapoor for making a film about love! काफ़ी दिन बाद पड़े पर्दे वाली पिक्चर!Watch with family. (PS -yes,love scares the unloved)”

The film delicately navigates so many seminal moments of our past which is so hard to achieve! Salute @AKPPL_Official #AmirKhan #Advaitchandan #KareenaKapoor for making a film about love! काफ़ी दिन बाद पड़े पर्दे वाली पिक्चर!Watch with family. ????(PS -yes,love scares the unloved) https://t.co/cKXQcc8rTB pic.twitter.com/22O7qyzT1N

— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) August 12, 2022

For the uninitiated, the Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha which hit screens on August 11 has been facing boycott calls on social networking sites. Released globally, the film has not really been performing as expected at the box office. Trade reasons that the lacklustre performance of Laal Singh Chaddha is due to the competition from the other release along with mixed reviews of the film.

Also Read: Ranveer Singh joins for a foosball game with Fatima Sana Shaikh at the after party of Laal Singh Chaddha premiere in Aamir Khan’s residence