Siddharth Anand started his career as a director with romcoms and light films like Salaam Namaste (2005), Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) and Anjaana Anjaani (2010). But he then switched gears and dabbled in action with Bang Bang (2014), starring Hrithik Roshan. The actor and then superstar collaborated on War (2019). It also starred Tiger Shroff and became a huge hit. This was followed by the recent release, Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan. It has emerged as an all-time blockbuster. As a result, Siddharth Anand is now the most sought-after director in Bollywood and already has a few films in his pipeline.

And if reports are to be believed, then Siddharth has also been offered to direct one of the most awaited sequels of Indian cinema, Krrish 4. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “As we all know, this is a superhero film and it requires a director who can handle scale and grandeur effortlessly and excel in the emotional scenes. He should also have an ear for hit music. Siddharth Anand ticks all these boxes. Also, Hrithik has worked with him and both share a comfort level.”

The source added, “The talks are at an advanced stage. It remains to be seen if Siddharth Anand takes up the offer and if he does, how will he find time for it.”

At present, the director is busy with Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. The aerial action entertainer will release on Republic Day 2024. This will be followed by Tiger vs Pathaan, starring Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. It is expected to release in 2025. There are also unconfirmed reports that Siddharth Anand is in talks to direct a film with Prabhas.

Krrish 4 is the fourth film in the franchise and stars Hrithik Roshan in the lead. The first film, Koi Mil Gaya (2003), also starred Preity Zinta and was a story of a developmentally delayed kid who gets superpowers from an alien. The sequel, Krrish (2006), was about his son who discovers his powers and becomes a superhero. It also starred Priyanka Chopra and both also were seen in Krrish 3 (2013), along with Vivek Oberoi and Kangana Ranaut.

All these three films were directed by Rakesh Roshan and he’s currently writing Krrish 4. In a recent mid-day interview, he revealed that the fourth installment will not begin before the end of 2024. He also explained why the scripting is taking time, “Such a concept has barely been attempted before in international movies, let alone in India. I have not attempted this kind of story before where I have no reference point, and hence, it is taking time. There is an emotional core too.”

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan takes on intense training to play the Fighter jet pilot in Siddharth Anand’s next

Based on the famous Kalidasa novel about the love story of Shakuntala and Raja Dushyanta, Shaakuntalam featuring Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dev Mohan released a day ago. The Pan India film seems to be one of the most anticipated projects and Pushpa star Allu Arjun recently couldn’t stop from showering his love on it. Not only did the superstar expressed his best wishes for the film’s team right before its release but he also penned a special note as a proud father as he opened about the big screen debut of his daughter Allu Arha in the film.

For the unversed, Allu Arha will be seen in a pivotal role of Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s child in the film. In the note shared by Allu Arjun, wishing good luck for the team, and said, “All the best for #Shaakuntalam release . My best wishes for @Gunasekhar1 garu, @neelima_guna & @SVC_official for mounting up this epic project . My warmest wishes to my sweetest lady @Samanthaprabhu2. My Mallu  brother @ActorDevMohan & the entire team.” In another note shared by the Pushpa actor, he expressed his gratitude towards the filmmaker about Arha’s debut saying, “Hoping you all like the lil Cameo by #AlluArha . Spl thanks to Guna garu for introducing her on screen and taking care of her so preciously . Will always cherish this sweet moment.”

All the best for #Shaakuntalam release . My best wishes for @Gunasekhar1 garu , @neelima_guna & @SVC_official for mounting up this epic project . My warmest wishes to my sweetest lady @Samanthaprabhu2 . My Mallu brother @ActorDevMohan & the entire team. — Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) April 14, 2023

Hoping you all like the lil Cameo by #AlluArha . Spl thanks to Guna garu for introducing her on screen and taking care of her so preciously . Will always cherish this sweet moment . — Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) April 14, 2023

For the unversed, Shaakuntalam is inspired by the folklore of the love story of Shakuntala and Dushyanta, who are said to be the parents of Bharata. The latter’s name is the reason behind India being referred to as Bharat. The film released on April 14 in languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi.

On the other hand, Allu Arjun was recently seen winning hearts as he gave them a glimpse into the world of Pushpa 2 that is currently in the shooting stage.

Also Read: Allu Arjun expresses gratitude to fans on his 41st birthday: ‘I am truly blessed’

The Brahmastra couple, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, who not only tied the knot last year but also became parents to a little angel, have been taking the internet by storm. Recently, they left fans swooning over their romance as they were recently seen together on the special day of their wedding anniversary. While posing for the paparazzi, not only did they share sweet poses but Alia also kissed Ranbir’s cheeks.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt tied the knot on April 14 last year amidst close friends and family at their residence in Bandra. In the recent video, the couple were seen in their deglam avatars as they were seen together in a car, while they were flocked with cameramen around them. Photos and videos of the same have left Ralia fans wanting for more as they couldn’t stop gushing over their love. While some fans showered comments on their love, a few others dropped comments about Ranbir’s uncanny resemblance with Sanjay Dutt.

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One of the users commented, “The way she kissed him” and added a heart emoji. Yet another user wished the couple on their special day saying, “Happy marriage anniversary”. A user added, “Wow <3 look at Alia’s beautiful blushing face, she’s madly in love with her huby” whereas another one dropped a comment, “Ranbir is all shy..Such a cute couple”. A few other appreciative comments included, “Beautiful couple”, and “Love them cutieeeessss”.

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Readers would be aware that Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt met on the sets of Brahmastra. While the film was on floors for seven years, the couple dated for a while before getting engaged in February last year and later, tying the knot in April 2023. They became parents of their daughter Raha in November.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor admits he is not a great husband to Alia Bhatt; claims, “I have the desire to be better”

Bollywood actress Pooja Hegde has put an end to the rumours circulating on social media about her alleged relationship with superstar Salman Khan. Speculation about the duo's supposed romance began ahead of the trailer launch of their first collaboration, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, which will soon hit the theatres. Setting the record straight, Pooja broke her silence on the matter during a recent interview.

It all happened during Pooja’s interview with ETimes for the promotion of KKBKKJ. When the portal asked the actress to shed some light on the same, Hegde asserted, “What do I say to that? I keep reading things about me. I am single. I love being single. I am genuinely concentrating on my career right now. I am hoping from one city to the other city, that’s my goal right now. I can’t even sit and address these rumours anymore because what do I do now?”

Coming back to Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, the Farhad Samji directorial is slated to release on April 21. Having said that, it is worth mentioning here that Salman will be returning to the Eid release after four years. Besides Khan and Hegde, the ensemble star cast of the film also features Venkatesh Daggubati, Jagapathi Babu, Bhumika Chawla, Vijender Singh, Abhimanyu Singh, Raghav Juyal, Siddharth Nigam, Jassie Gill, Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari and Vinali Bhatnagar.

Talking about the film, Farhad Samji briefly spoke about it with Bollywood Hungama. When asked to share his thoughts on the film’s estimated collection, Samji said, “I am focusing on the film’s scene numbers! Right now, my focus is also on ‘Edit mein yeh cheez nikalte hai, yeh cheez rakhte hai, yeh action scene badhate hai, slow motion add karte hai’ etc.” He further added, “For instance, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan has the biggest interval point. Aisa interval scene kisi ne nahi dekha hoga. We have also worked hard on the climax action to ensure that Salman sir’s heroism is shown in all its glory.”

Also Read: Shehnaaz Gill blocked Salman Khan’s number when he called her to offer Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan

Yami Gautam knows how to dress for the season and sets high standards for her followers' wardrobes. It is worth drawing inspiration from her springtime vibrant clothes, summertime pastels, and wintertime dark solid colour scheme. The actress does everything in her can to impress those who love her, whether it is through her flawless fashion sense or her on-screen abilities. Yami Gautam looks gorgeous in anything she wears. As she attended Jio Studios event with her husband, all eyes were on the actress to see what she would be pulling out from her wardrobe. We are pleased to inform that the Vicky Donor star did not let us down one again by showing up to the event in traditional form.

Nothing compares to the allure of a stunning white saree. In a world of bling and vibrant designs, a white saree provides all the simple fashion answers we could ever need. After appearing at the Jio Studio event that was recently conducted in Mumbai, Yami Gautam gave us that response today. We couldn't help but look at her when she arrived, holding her husband. She wore a tone-on-tone floral saree with a blouse that was also exquisitely embroidered, giving the ensemble a festive feel. Yami Gautam's shine gives her saree, which may not be garish but is undoubtedly otherworldly, an air of elegance. She looks incredibly stunning with her long, wavy bob haircut with subtle makeup and a dewy face. We adore her unusual accessory selection, which elevates her status as a fashionista in our eyes. Aside from the drop earrings, the wooden clutch is a surprising feature that we were delighted to see.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Yami will be next seen in OMG 2. OMG 2 is an upcoming Indian Hindi language satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Amit Rai. It is a spiritual sequel to OMG – Oh My God! (2012) and stars Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi and Arun Govil. The film revolves around the subject of Indian education system. She also has film Dhoom Dhaam in pipeline.

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Also Read: When Yami Gautam was advised to get a nose job done, “I don’t agree with all those things”

Another elegant and lavish event that recently took place in Mumbai was the Jio Studios event. Bollywood diva after diva appeared on the red carpet, all dressed to impress, from Yami Gautam and Mouni Roy to Kriti and Shanaya. Bollywood brings out its most fashionable weapons on the red carpet. Either classic saris or the most dazzling cocktail dresses are worn. For the Jio Studios event, Bhumi Pednekar chose a spotless white pantsuit to make a beautiful entrance. It was expected that when she walked in, every spotlight would focus on her.

Pantsuits frequently convey a strong sense of fashion. They not only give off boss girl vibes, but they also reveal a lot about your fashion preferences. Who better to instruct us on this than actor Bhumi Pednekar? We adore Bhumi Pednekar's bold sense of style. The diva gives fashion police a run for their money with her beautiful and jaw-dropping clothes. In a white pant suit from the brand Coperni, Bhumi raised the temperature dramatically.  She was seen by us sporting white pants and a blazer. The waist of the blazer has been carved out, giving it a sculptural aspect and giving it an energetic twist. A secret snap button placed into one side allows the silhouette to open up seemingly by itself. This design celebrates heritage while still embracing modern innovation with powerful shoulders, notched lapels, and a single rear vent. Her trousers, which feature a low-slung waist and slouchy straight legs, are softly pleated in optic white and have a cool, laid-back vibe.

Bhumi accessorised with a pair of dramatic silver earrings and rings. She chose to wear glossy lipstick, contoured cheeks, and pulled her hair back into a bun, which was the ideal finishing touch for the look. Not to forget her gorgeous white heels.

SUMMARY OF LOOK DETAILS:

ACTRESS: Bhumi Pednekar

OUTFIT: Coperni

STYLIST: Chandini Whabi

MAKE-UP: Sonic Sarwate

HAIR: Seema

JEWELLERY: Simran Chabbra Jewels

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Also Read: Bhumi Pednekar is twirling her way into our hearts while donning an ivory lehenga set

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is once again heading to Cannes. His upcoming project Kennedy has been selected for the Midnight Screening at the 76th Cannes Film Festival 2023. The announcement was made on Thursday, April 14.

Film distributor Iris Knobloch and Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, made the announcement on Thursday at the official press conference. It was followed by the update made on the Twitter page. “KENNEDY by Anurag KASHYAP #SéanceDeMinuit / #MidnightScreenings #Cannes2023,” the post read.

KENNEDY by Anurag KASHYAP #SéanceDeMinuit / #MidnightScreenings #Cannes2023 — Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) April 13, 2023

This is not the first time Anurag Kashyap is headed to Cannes Film Festival. His gangster cult classic Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) was screened at the 2012 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. The anthology project Bombay Talkies premiered at the 2013 festival under the Special Screenings section. He followed it up with the screening of Ugly in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. This was followed by Raman Raghav 2.0 at the 2016 festival in the Director’s Fortnight section.

The opening ceremony of the 76th Festival de Cannes will begin on May 16. ALSO READ: EXPLOSIVE: Abhay Deol SLAMS Anurag Kashyap; claims he never demanded a five-star hotel room during Dev D’s shoot: “He is definitely a liar and a toxic person. And I would warn people about him”

Legendary lyricist, filmmaker and poet Gulzar, recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, unveiled the poster of writer-director Raj R’s 8 A. M. Metro at his Bandra home. Starring Gulshan Devaiah and Saiyami Kher, the film is an emotional roller-coaster slated to release on 19th May. The film is being distributed by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon Distribution. Raj, earlier directed the award-winning Telugu film Mallesham in 2019 and was associated with the 2021 Malayalam film, Paka, which was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Gulzar was elated to contribute 6 of his poems to the film. During the film’s poster launch, he expressed a warm sense of euphoria and mentioned how he felt a pinch in his heart, the first time he read the lovely script; a feeling that instantly inspired him to contribute passionately to the film. Speaking about the film and Gulzar's contribution, Raj says, “It’s a story of two strangers who inadvertently bump into each other in the metro and strike up an unlikely friendship, in the process finding themselves and each other. I can’t thank Gulzar Saab enough for this magnanimous gesture and feel a deep sense of gratitude towards the legend that he is.”

Saiyami plays a 29-year-old housewife Iravati whose mundane life in Nanded is turned upside down when she has to rush to Hyderabad to tend to her pregnant sister who is confined to the bed. Fighting off recurring panic attacks, she turns to Gulshan’s Preetam, a banker with more to him than meets the eye, and the duo subsequently go on many journeys, both physical and metaphysical, finding solace in each other’s company. “But there’s a catch because my character harbours a secret which can tear them apart and also what they believe in,” shares Gulshan, who was instantly intrigued by this deceptively simple story.

For Saiyami, it was the snatches of poetry that she writes and which Preetam comes to appreciate that was one of the attractions of the project. “Can you believe I’m mouthing poetry written by Gulzar Sahab!” the actress exclaims.

Apart from Gulzar’s poetry, the movie music, done by Mark K. Robin, features songs written by Kausar Munir, and sung by artists like Jubin Nautiyal, Jonita Gandhi, Javed Ali, Vishal Mishra, and the Nooran Sisters. The film is slated to release on 19th May in cinemas across India. ALSO READ: Saiyami Kher to start her cricket show on Cricbuzz titled Match Party

Megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who recently gave a blockbuster with Pathaan, has been included in Time magazine's annual 100 Most Influential People of 2023. The actor is on the list of Icons for the year 2023 which includes stars like Pedro Pascal, Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, Doja Cat, Ke Huy Quan and Jennifer Coolidge among others. SRK's Pathaan co-star Deepika Padukone penned a note for him and called him a 'phenomenon'.

Deepika Padukone wrote, "I’ll never forget the first time I met Shah Rukh Khan. I had just arrived in Mumbai from Bangalore with one suitcase and a dream. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in his house! I was being considered for a role in a film opposite him. It’s been 16 years since. What makes our relationship special is the love, trust, and respect we have for one another. Shah Rukh Khan will forever be known as one of the greatest actors of all time. But what truly sets him apart is his mind, his chivalry, his generosity. The list goes on …"

She added, "For someone who has known him intimately and cares for him deeply, 150 words will never do justice to the phenomenon that is Shah Rukh Khan."

Deepika Padukone debuted in the industry opposite SRK in Om Shanti Om. They went on to star in Chennai Express, Happy New Year and now Pathaan.

On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan is basking in the success of Pathaan. The film, released in January 2023, surpassed Rs. 1000 crore mark at the global box office. He is currently on the verge of wrapping the shoot for Atlee Kumar's Jawan. The film is scheduled for June 2023 release. He also has Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki set for December release. ALSO READ: Kajol reveals she would choose ‘Aman’ Salman Khan over ‘Rahul’ Shah Rukh Khan in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai if she were Anjali in real life

Bollywood actor and philanthropist Jackie Shroff, continues to inspire millions with his noble initiatives. Recently, he was invited to facilitate an awareness initiative on leprosy, organised by Alert India and Euro School, Thane.

Jackie, known for his commitment to social causes, expressed his gratitude towards Alert India for their dedicated efforts towards creating awareness about leprosy. He said, “I am honoured to be associated with Alert India, an organisation that has been working towards leprosy awareness for years. It is heartening to be a part of initiatives that aim to spread awareness about leprosy and its impact on society. I am grateful to Ms Veera Rao for organising the visit to Euro School, Thane, and creating awareness amongst the students, faculty, and parents. It is heartening to see young minds being sensitised to such social issues.”

During his visit to Euro School, Thane, Jackie exhibited his warm and affectionate side as he interacted with the children. He was seen making them laugh, engaging with them, and posing for pictures with them.

Jackie's unwavering dedication to social causes continues to inspire millions. Recently he was also spotted at NMACC event. Jackie won over the hearts of fans and netizens with his unique approach to life. Jackie's campaign of 'ped lagao' resonated with his fans, as he was seen carrying a potted plant to promote the planting of trees. He is a true nature lover and is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment.

Apart from this, on the film front, Jackie Shroff will next be seen in Baap, starring alongside Mithun Chakraborty, Sunny Deol, and Sanjay Dutt.

Also Read: Jackie Shroff to reunite with his Hero director Subhash Ghai after over 20 years

On Wednesday, Jio Studios held a special event at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. At the occasion, the production company will reveal a schedule of new movies as well as web series. Jio Studios has revealed a sizable slate of films for the future, including Bhediya 2, Stree 2, Dunki, and Bloody Daddy. There is something for everyone, from some of the eagerly anticipated movies to OTT releases for others. The line-up features a variety of regional languages, web series, and movies. In the meantime, last night's celebrity line-up featured everyone from Hrithik Roshan to Shahid Kapoor. It's a known truth that Kriti Sanon converts every event into her own personal runway. She also arrived with her sister Nupur Sanon. Fashion trends are well-known to Kriti Sanon. She is skilled at making an impact with her fashionable outings, and we were once again pleased by her choice for the Jio event.

Kriti Sanon's film preferences have had a significant impact on Indian cinema. However, one can confidently assert the same about her fashion preferences. From her daring monochrome outfits for movie promotions to her gorgeous festive attire, Kriti has earned a flawless score of 10 out of 10 in our evaluation of fashion style. Kriti chose a blood red co-ord set from Galvan London's racks for her most recent outfit. A crop top with a square neckline and mirror sequins all over was part of her coordinated outing. She wore it with a mirror-sequin-and-thigh-high slit, colour-coordinated skirt. She wore it with a mirror-sequin-and-thigh-high slit, colour-coordinated skirt. The bodycon fit of Kriti's dress highlighted her slender frame. The diva added accessories like several finger rings and strappy transparent heels to the outfit. Kriti had minimal makeup on and her mane was left free in beach waves.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti has an interesting line up of films coming up. She will be next seen in Adipurush, featuring actors Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh, Saif Ali Khan and Devdatta Nage. The upcoming Indian mythological film based on the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Kriti is also shooting for film The Crew opposite Tabu and Kareena Kapoor. Film is directed by Rhea Kapoor. Kriti has also announced an untitled film with Shahid Kapoor. The film will release in Oct 2023. Her film Ganpath with Tiger Shroff is also in works.

SUMMARY OF LOOK DETAILS:

ACTRESS: Kriti Sanon

OUTFIT: Galvan London

STYLIST: Tanya Ghavri

HAIR & MAKE-UP: Aasif Ahmed & Adrian Jacobs

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Also Read: Kriti Sanon opens up on her journey in Bollywood; says, “I have evolved through these years and sort of found my own craft”

Jio Studios revealed their forthcoming portfolio of movies and web series on Wednesday. The studio also provided a few sneak peeks at some of their upcoming movies, including the film starring Vicky and Sara which is now titled as Zara Hatke Zara Bach Ke.

The film is directed by Laxman Utekar and is going to be a rom-com. It is produced by Dinesh Vijan under the banner of Maddock Films. Last year, Sara had taken to Instagram and shared a post featuring herself along with Vicky Kaushal. She announced the wrap of the film. Sharing the picture, she wrote in caption, “It’s a film wrap. Can’t believe it’s already over! Thank you @laxman.utekar sir for giving me Somya. Thank you for all the guidance, patience and support. Thank you for always being so understanding and always pushing me to do better and better.”

Lauding co-star Vicky Kaushal, she added, “@vickykaushal09 every day with you on set has been a blast. From enjoying Punjabi songs and bonfires to early morning drives and copious cups of chai. Thank you for making this journey so memorable for me. You’re one of the most humble, talented and gifted actors I’ve met, and I’m so privileged that I got to share screen space with you and learn so much from you.”

She continued, “@pvijan #DineshVijan @maddockfilms thank you for being such considerate, caring and loving producers. Set and work truly felt like home, and you people truly felt like family.

@raghav_dop working with you has been so much fun! And I can’t wait to do it again soon

@jatinbajaj20 @sujit_dube @punit_dave__ @_pawni_tripathi @bruh_mistha @rohit_utekar1 you’ll have been a great team! Thank you all for taking such good care of us.

@kavyesharmaofficial @hairbytabassum @devanshipatil thank you for making Sara look like Somya and making us both feel pretty and confident.”

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Jio studio is prepared to release more than 100 stories in numerous languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Bhojpuri, in original films and web series of various genres. For their forthcoming films, Jio Studios, the media and content division of Reliance Industries Ltd, has announced collaborations with renowned directors like as Raj Kumar Hirani, Sooraj Barjatya, Dinesh Vijan, Ali Abbas Zafar, Aditya Dhar, Prakash Jha, Amar Kaushik, and Laxman Utekar.

The impressive film line-up includes Dunki, which stars Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapoor starer Bloody Daddy, an untitled film starring Shahid and Kriti Sanon, Bhediya 2 with Varun Dhawan, Bhul Chuk Maaf, which stars Kartik Aaryan and Shraddha Kapoor, Stree 2 with Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, and Section 84, which stars Amitabh Bachchan. Bhediya 2 will be released in theatres in 2025, while Stree 2 will be released on August 31, 2024.

Also Read: Sara Ali Khan gets candid about her emotions for mother Amrita Singh; says, “Mom is the reason to wake up”

Veteran actress Uttara Baokar passed away at the age of 79, on Tuesday at a hospital in Pune after a protracted illness. As per reports, her final rites were carried out on Wednesday morning.

The National School of Drama (NSD)-trained actress Uttara Baokar has performed in a variety of roles, including Padmavati in Mukyhamantri, Mena in Mena Gurjari, Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello, and mother in playwright Girish Karnad's Tughlaq, among others. For her work in Mrinal Sen's Ek Din Achanak, Baokar also won the National Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1984, she also won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Her performances in Govind Nihalani's Tamas and Rukmavati Ki Haveli received praise as well.

Several celebrities took to social media to express their grief on her demise. Actor Manoj Joshi tweeted, “Demise of Uttara Baokar Ji is an irreparable loss to Indian Film Industry. Deeply pained by her demise. Om Shanti.”

Demise of Uttara Baokar Ji is an irreparable loss to Indian Film Industry. Deeply pained by her demise. ॐ शांति pic.twitter.com/nX0IMevO3P — Manoj Joshi (@actormanojjoshi) April 12, 2023

Actress Neena Kulkarni wrote on Twitter, “A remarkable actress. A sensitive and private person in real life, Uttara tai was the epitome of dignity and humility. Time spent with her during the making of films Uttarayan and Shevri, have added value to my life.

उत्तरा ताई….. भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली”

#UttaraBaokar A remarkable actress. A sensitive and private person in real life, Uttara tai was the epitome of dignity and humility. Time spent with her during the making of films Uttarayan and Shevri, have added value to my life. उत्तरा ताई….. भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली pic.twitter.com/2o2PolpzLw — Neena Kulkarni नीना कुळकर्णी (@neenakulkarni) April 12, 2023

She collaborated on multiple films with director Sunil Sukthankar, who described her as a disciplined performer. He claimed that she used to have a no-nonsense attitude while working on sets. PTI quoted him as saying, “She played a variety of female roles in our movies and she was one disciplined actor. When on the sets, there a no-nonsense attitude used to prevail.”

With all eyes set on the next big movie of Shah Rukh Khan, there has been interesting update about his film Jawan. The Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi starrer has yet again grabbed eyeballs and this time photos from the sets of the film have found its way online. It seems that the cast is currently in Mumbai shooting for the movie and if reports are to be believed the team is putting together a song.

Fan clubs of superstar Shah Rukh Khan took to social media to share photos from the sets that seems to be the backdrop of Bandra-Worli Sea link in suburban Mumbai. From what we hear, the makers of Jawan are currently shooting a song with the leading actor as well as Nayanthara. A fanclub page has also shared photo of Farah Khan Kunder being present on the sets of the film wherein she is seen engrossed in work. Whereas another fan has posed with Atlee with the Sea-link backdrop.

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Besides all these, Farah Khan Kunder too has confirmed her presence at the location by sharing a photo with the same backdrop. However, members of the Jawan team are missing from the picture. She posted a simple caption without revealing details of her shoot saying, “Long time no Sea #shootlife #sealink #mumbai pic credit: @dop_gkvishnu”. Her tagging the cinematographer of the SRK starrer has only further confirmed the details of the shoot.

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Jawan is expected to have a blend of South and Bollywood stars. With Vijay Sethupathi as the antagonist, the film also stars Yogi Babu, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, among others in pivotal roles. Produced under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan too is expected to be a pan India that will release in multiple languages on June 2.

Also Read: Will the teaser of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan be attached to Salman Khan’s Eid release Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan?

Alia Bhatt is set to take the global stage ahead of her anticipated international debut with Heart of Stone. She is all set to debut at one of the biggest fashion events of the year MET Gala. Alia has carved her own space with her unique fashion choices and is now taking it globally on the most sought-after red carpet across the world. For the event, Alia will be wearing a Prabal Gurung outfit for the red carpet.

The year 2022 was a landmark year for her with Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR and Brahmastra becoming the biggest blockbusters and the acclaimed Darlings, which was her maiden production venture.

On the work front, Alia Bhatt has an exciting year ahead with the release of Netflix’s Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. She also has Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt pens emotional review for Rani Mukerji starrer Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway; says, “Saturday night was spent in tears”  

Deepak Dobriyal is considered a very talented actor but he’s mostly remembered for his comic roles. With Bholaa, however, he stunned the viewers. As Ashwathama aka Ashu, he played an all-out negative character very convincingly. No wonder, he became the highlight of this film, which featured Ajay Devgn not just as the lead director but also as the director. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Deepak Dobriyal spoke about Bholaa, his journey and a lot more.

What kind of feedback have you received for your role in Bholaa? I often remarked before the release that this is a re-launch for me. And I was bang on. Ever since Bholaa was released, I have been on my phone from morning 8:00 am till midnight, replying to messages. I have been flooded with praises and compliments like never before. I am so happy to see the impact that my character has had. Usually, when you do comic roles, you’ll rarely be offered such a well-fleshed-out character, belonging to a different shade. When it comes to negative roles, examples are few and far between of actors who dabbled in this genre from comedy. For a long time, I had the desire to essay a negative character. While doing theatre with Arvind Gaur’s Asmita theatre group, I used to do only serious plays. Main serious actor karke jaana chahta tha. But in Mumbai, survival became difficult and I realized that no one is offering me a serious role. When I was offered comic roles, I was unsure ki mere andar se comedy niklegi ya nahin niklegi. It was never my forte.

In fact, at one point, I got irritated as well by doing comic roles. Of course, I got a lot of love for doing these roles and I am thankful. My Delhi friends, who had seen me do plays, used to be quite shocked and amused seeing more do funny roles. They’d be like, ‘Yeh kya hai, Deepak?’! I got tagged as a comic actor. Every month, I am offered 4-5 comic roles. Most of these characters are written on the same line as my part in Tanu Weds Manu (2011). I decided to not take up such roles. I believe that if I kept doing only comic roles, as an actor, aap khaali ho jaaoge. If you keep doing the same stuff, you won’t even be able to imagine a new layer yourself. Thankfully, with Bholaa, my image of being only a comic actor has busted.

Who recommended your name for Bholaa? Was it the writers, the casting director or Ajay Devgn? Ajay bhai did. Someone told me, ‘Ajay bhai sab se lade aap ko cast karne ke liye’. I was like, ‘Kamaal hai yaar’! I knew that if Ajay bhai has so much faith in me, fir toh main phail sakta hoon. Aur main film mein phail gaya!

There’s a shot in the ‘Paan Dukaniya’ song where you murder a person while dancing. It was quite unique and memorable… It became possible thanks to Master ji, that is, choreographer Ganesh Acharya. Also, my character came out so well due to Ajay bhai’s expert direction. There was no item song in the original film (Kaithi; 2019). But here, Ajay bhai added it and he was sure that in the song, he wants to show my maniac side. He and Master ji get the credit for it. Also, look how Ajay bhai has shown my swag in the film. You cannot expect swag from a comic actor. Most filmmakers expect comic timing from a comic actor and that he should look cute and goofy. But in Bholaa, I am happy with the way I have been presented. Aisi acting toh bahut actor kar lenge. Par sabke paas Ajay Devgn nahin hai! (smiles)

Special mention should also go to Anjali Verma, who did my make-up, Radhika Mehra, who designed my costume, Farooq Shaikh, who did my hair and lastly, Aseem Bajaj, our cinematographer. So, it’s teamwork.

Often, when actors are criticized for their performance, they blame their co-actor, script, director etc. When they are praised, they take all the credit! I have clarity and all other actors should also be aware of who all were responsible for their fabulous work in a film. In my case, main 2-3 din hawe mein udta hoon. I enjoy the praise coming in. Fir uske baad aukaat pe aa jaata hoon! And this reality check is very important. You’ll do a grave mistake if you don’t give credit to your team. Agle film mein aap pakde jaaoge.

Your character dies too soon in the film. We wish you had more screen time… Many people told me the same thing to me. But I have no complaints as I am inundated with love from all quarters. It means everything to me.

You began your career more than 20 years ago with small roles. And then you featured in a plum part in Omkara (2006). This film must have been very important for you in your career… It ended my struggle! I didn’t had to go for auditions after Omkara. Producer ya director direct bulate the. Before Omkara, I used to tell struggling actors that ‘It’s just a matter of time. Work on your craft. Improve your art daily. Yahan pe koi kisi ka maai-baap nahin hai’. However, no one used to take me seriously then as I was also a struggler. After Omkara, I won a Filmfare and then they took my words seriously. And I would tell them ‘Main pehle bhi yahin baat kar raha tha! Soch badi rakho. Soch choti mat rakho’!

I believe one should concentrate on their personal life as well. The problems you face in your life can act as a hindrance towards your craft. Jab aap yeh issues sort out karte ho, toh aapka craft aur nikhar ke aata hai. So, your real life is the main playground.

You won the Filmfare Award for Omkara. During your winning speech, you said ‘Itni gaali khaane ke baad kuch mila toh sahi’! What made you say that? Bahut se log tab respect se baat nahin karte the. The casting people and coordinators would address me as ‘yeh patla sa actor hai’ or ‘skinny actor’. But my performance in Omkara silenced them all and they began treating me with dignity.

Now, the scenario is much better. Some very talented and reputed casting directors are there in the industry like Mukesh Chhabra, Vaibhav Vishant, Shanoo Sharma, Tess Joseph etc. They understand the depth of actors and because of them, a lot of artists have progressed

A landmark performance from you was in Tanu Weds Manu. As Pappi, you were terrific and you brought the house down in the sequel, Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015). In an interview, you mentioned that you rejected the film 4-5 times! Why was that and what made you come on board? That’s because writer Himanshu Sharma wrote the character very beautifully. Hence, I told Aanand ji (Aanand L Rai), ‘Yeh role koi bhi actor karega, woh lajawab tarike se hi karega’. This was a time when I was busy creating my image. As an actor, you feel that you can also contribute in some way to the role. I remarked, ‘Yeh toh bana banaya role hai’. I assumed that main iss role ke hisaab se bada hoon. But then I realized that Mumbai is an expensive city! Yeh shehar aapki soch ko chota nahin, par jhuka zaroor deta hai. Hence, I took up the film. Also, Aanand ji ne bahut pyaar diya. If he has made up his mind that this particular actor fits a role, he’ll go to any length to get him or her on board. For an actor, this is a motivating factor. Woh actor bhi fir poori jaan laga ke kaam karta hai unki film mein.

Your dialogue in Tanu Weds Manu Returns, ‘You are a good question but your question hurt me’ has become famous today… (Smiles) Oh yes. The ‘shuddh gareeb’ meme from Hindi Medium (2017) is quite used as well. Woh meme dekh ke bhi bada mazaa aata hai. However, nowadays a lot of writers have started writing dialogues with the idea that ‘yeh dialogue aage chal ke meme banega’.

Do you think it’s a good trend? After all, the makers of Tanu Weds Manu Returns or Hindi Medium never imagined that their dialogues would become memes… I don’t think writers ko meme ke hisaab se sochna chahiye. Meme banna hoga, toh ban jaayega. Meme ek context se nikalke aata hai. The writers need to focus on concept and content. Public needs a catchy concept. Warna Instagram pe toh kaafi aisa bina concept ka content mil jaayega. One of the reasons why films are not working as much is because the whole world is on Instagram and social media. It has made things tough. But as I said before, if the concept and concept are strong, then nothing can stop it from going viral or becoming meme worthy.

In your career, you have never done a web series… I have shot for one recently and it’s about to release. It’ll be out on Disney+ Hotstar in May.

Which are your forthcoming films? I am doing Sector 36, co-starring Vikrant Massey. I am also a part of Manoj Bajpayee’s next. It is directed by Raam Reddy, who made the acclaimed Kannada film Thithi (2015).

Now that you have completed more than 20 years in the industry, what’s your plan for the next 20 years? Do you have a roadmap? I just want good scripts to come my way. And I want to surprise people. Log soch na sake, uss tarah ke roles karna chahunga. Toh main bolna nahin chahta, karke hi dikhana chahta hoon! I remember after Omkara, I had expressed the desire to do a biopic. It’s been 17 years. Sab ne biopic kar li hai, sivaay mere!

Any plans to turn director or producer? I want to concentrate on acting. I do wish to direct sometimes though.

Also Read: Ajay Devgn celebrates his birthday by hosting special screening of Bholaa for 100 underprivileged children in Mumbai, see photos

Celina Jailty, who started off her career as a Bollywood actress, may be away from the industry. But she has gained fame as a popular social activist and since then the actress has combated several trolls on social media. But the recent one seems to have crossed a line as Jaitly lashed out at the user and, requested the platform to take action against the troll after the troller accused her of sleeping with Fardeen Khan and Feroz Khan.

For the unversed, Celina Jaitly got her first big break in Bollywood because of late actor-filmmaker Feroz Khan and actor Fardeen Khan as she debuted in the industry with their film Janasheen (2003). In the tweet, the social media user had written, “#CelinaJaitley is the only Actress in Bollywood who slept with both Father ( Feroze Khan ) & son ( Fardeen Khan ) many times.”

The tweet obviously did not go down well with the former Bollywood star who took to the platform to lash out at the user saying, “Dear Mr Sandhu hope posting this gave you the much needed girth & length to become a man & some hope to cure you of your erectile dysfunction. There are others ways to fix your problem..like going to a doctor, you must try it sometime!” She also added, “@TwitterSafety pls take action”.

Dear Mr Sandhu hope posting this gave you the much needed girth & length to become a man & some hope to cure you of your erectile dysfunction. There are others ways to fix your problem..like going to a doctor, you must try it sometime! #celinajaitly @TwitterSafety pls take action https://t.co/VAZJFBS3Da — Celina Jaitly (@CelinaJaitly) April 11, 2023

Talking about her debut, while the film failed to make a mark, Celina Jaitly soon gained a place in the industry with films like Zinda, Apna Sapna Money Money, Golmaal Returns, among others. The actress, then married Austrian hotelier and entrepreneur Peter Haag in August 2011 and is currently a mother to three kids, namely, Winston Haag, Viraaj Haag, and Arthur Haag.

Also Read: Celina Jaitly reacts to trolls that say they remember transgender ‘only at traffic signals’

Two of the biggest stars of our country, Hrithik Roshan & NTR Jr. are coming together for a brutal, epic showdown in War 2. The film, which is a part of Aditya Chopra’s YRF Spy Universe, is being directed by Ayan Mukerji and is expected to start its shooting schedule in November this year!

A trade source says, “Get set for the biggest theatrical experience when Hrithik Roshan takes on NTR Jr. in War 2. The film is being mounted on a scale that has never been attempted before in India. Aditya Chopra and Ayan are clear that they want to make it a spectacle and a global cinematic moment for India. Pre-production is in full swing for this action extravaganza that starts its shooting schedule in November.”

The source adds, “War 2 is a huge pan India movie right now, given the casting coup by Aditya Chopra to get NTR Jr. in this film. The YRF Spy Universe is expanding at a rate that is unimaginable and all the films of this universe are now the biggest event films for audiences to enjoy in theatres.”

Hrithik Roshan will return as the slick spy Kabir in Yash Raj Films' War 2. However, instead of War director Siddharth Anand, YRF has roped in Ayan Mukerji to take over the sequel. ALSO READ: Not Siddharth Anand, Ayan Mukerji to direct Hrithik Roshan starrer War 2

Kareena Kapoor Khan on Tuesday posted an adorable photo of her son Taimur Ali Khan with his older sibling Ibrahim Ali Khan. Ibrahim is Saif Ali Khan's son from his first marriage to Amrita Singh. The siblings share an adorable bond and Kareena has often given a sneak peek of these moments.

On National Siblings Day, Kareena Kapoor Khan took to her Instagram to share a photo of Ibrahim and Taimur. Ibrahim was flaunting his abs in the picture. She wrote, "Was Siblings day yesterday or today …OR..is it everyday? Iggy and TimTim (red heart emoticon)."

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  A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan)

Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan was last seen in Laal Singh Chaddha with Aamir Khan. The film released on August 11, 2022, and arrived on Netflix on October 6, 2022. She also has the adaptation of The Devotion of Suspect X with Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. She has wrapped the shoot for Hansal Mehta's next. She is currently shooting for The Crew with Tabu and Kriti Sanon. ALSO READ: Uorfi Javed asks ‘what is Ranbir Kapoor ki aukad’ after Kareena Kapoor Khan appreciates her fashion sense

The team of the upcoming American TV series, Citadel, was busy promoting the series in India. The India premiere of the show in India was attended by the who’s who of the B-Town, including Varun Dhawan, who is also going to be part of the Hindi version of the show. The series also stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

As confirmed the makers are slowly finalising the other cast for the Hindi version and Sikandar Kher is the latest addition to the cast. The show is going to be directed by the hit filmmaker duo Raj and DK.

A source close to the production team says, ‘Sikandar Kher is the latest addition to the cast of the Hindi version of Citadel. He even attended the India premiere of the American version that happened in Mumbai. Citadel is anticipated to be one of the biggest shows of the season. This will be the first time that Sikandar will be working with Raj and DK.”

The Hindi version will have Varun Dhawan in the lead. The show will also see Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing the part which was originally played by Priyanka Chopra. ALSO READ: Varun Dhawan confirms Indian version of Citadel is interconnected with Priyanka Chopra – Richard Madden starrer: ‘It’s just a very amazing process to be a part of the universe created by the Russo Brothers’