We have often seen filmmakers have 2 releases in a span of a few months or even on the same day. But very rarely it happens that a director will have as many as 4 releases, all in cinemas, within 6 months. That filmmaker, who is all set to create a record, is none other than Ananth Narayan Mahadevan. At a beautiful café in the suburbs, he spoke exclusively to Bollywood Hungama about his latest release, The Storyteller, starring Paresh Rawal and Adil Hussain, which is all set to hit theatres this Friday after travelling to various film festivals across the world. He also talks about his upcoming films and a lot more.

You are all set to create history. Your 4 directorial ventures will release in just 6 months… The Storyteller releases on September 15. In December, my Marathi film Aata Vel Zaali will be out. I made it 1 ½ years ago. It did the festival rounds and now it’s ready for release. I had co-produced it and Dinesh Bansal is the main producer. It’s the first feature film I have produced. In February 2024, Phule will arrive in theatres. Somewhere in between, The Confession will make it to cinemas. Since it’s about a priest, I was hoping we could release it just before Christmas. This could be an apt time.

You had got the rights to The Storyteller in 2017. Tell us about the journey of making this film… The journey of The Storyteller is a story in itself! My friend Tapobrati Das brought a chapter from a Bengali book and informed me that it was written by Satyajit Ray. I felt as if she read my mind. I always wanted to pay tribute to Satyajit Ray. He was one of the stalwarts who drew me towards cinema of substance.

I recently met Majid Majidi. I remarked that they (Iranian filmmakers) make such great films, that too with non-actors. Then what’s stopping us, the biggest film industry in the world, from doing cinema of substance and not being scoffed at, at international film festivals? He replied that he became a filmmaker after getting inspired by Satyajit Ray (smiles)! He added, ‘Yours is the country of Satyajit Ray. Nothing should deter you from making the kind of films you want to make’. It was a big shot in the arm as I realized I shouldn’t be losing my morale and confidence.

People used to tell me that The Storyteller was a nice, fascinating story but didn’t want to come on board. Some suggested that I should directly release it on a digital platform. I was not ready for it. I wanted to make a film which would appear as if Ray had made the film or close to what he would have thought. It was a healthy and not a misplaced ambition.

One senior official in a corporate entity asked me ‘Who is Ray? Why are you harping on him?’. Finally, my Bittersweet (2020) producers Suchhanda Chatterjee and Shubha Shetty came on board. They wanted to make the film at any cost. It gave me a big boost. Then, Jio Studios backed the film. Shobha Sant, Jyoti Deshpande and all others in their team were very convinced that this was a film that they wanted to make. I was like, ‘Sanity still prevails and there’s still hope for world cinema in this country’.

I enjoyed the process of making the film, particularly with my actors. Alphonse Roy, my cinematographer, is very close to Revathi. He spilled the beans about The Storyteller. She called me and asked me, ‘Why am I not in your film?’. I explained that it’s the story of two men and that the women have very small roles. Yet, she said she was game. Paresh Rawal was the pillar. He stood by me for three years though he knew I was fighting to get a producer. Any other actor would have quit. But he used to regularly ask me for updates.

The Storyteller travelled to the film festivals in Busan, London, Houston, Chicago, and Melbourne. At the IFFI, it was in the international competition. It was also screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala.

The challenge was you can’t resort to gimmicks in a film like this in every way. The dialogues can’t be cheesy. The performances can’t be over the top. The camera can’t have fancy angles and the edit process needs to have a flow. That’s how Ray would have envisioned it. Had the world said, ‘Why the hell did he have to touch Ray’s work’, I would have failed. Thankfully, the world over, the feedback I have got is that it is one of the best adaptations of Ray.

It’s a very clever story. It’s about a Bengali storyteller and a Gujarati businessman. Both don’t know each other’s language. The only way of communication is in Hindi. As a result, this film could never be made in Bengali. Otherwise, I don’t think this story would have been spared by anyone. I guess I was destined to make it.

You made some thought-provoking films like Gour Hari Dastaan (2015). But often, these films didn’t work in cinemas. You had said in the past that such films should have lower ticket rates… At that point, PVR had promised us 180 to 200 cinemas for Gour Hari Dastaan. Then Brothers (2015) was released on the same day. And we were reduced to 50-60 cinemas all over India. I was fine. Across the world, many arthouse films get limited releases. But at least, they should have priced the ticket at Rs. 100. Why would anybody pay Rs. 300 for a film that is not mainstream? Viewers would pay Rs. 300 to watch Shah Rukh Khan but won’t do it for a lesser cast. PVR, however, declined, citing that it’s not their policy. I guaranteed them that I could get them sold out shows in 100 screens if tickets cost Rs. 100 but I can’t do that if the price per ticket is Rs. 300. However, they did not see a reason. That's one of the reasons why the film did not get the mileage that it could have got. Since its release in 2015 and ever since it went up on digital platforms, the response has been amazing. It hasn’t got one negative review or comment.

I guess that's what happened to Guru Dutt as well. I am not comparing myself to a great man like him. But is this country going to honour people posthumously? Or will it acknowledge them while they are alive so that they can make more films and better films? The only reason I want my friends to be acknowledged or even awarded or rewarded at festivals on the national level is that it will pump up the energy in me to try the impossible again and to make better cinema. There was a time when I thought there was no acknowledgement anywhere whether I made Staying Alive (2012) or Red Alert (2010). But when Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (2010) got 4 National Awards totally on merit, it put the faith back in me. And I didn’t know a fly in that jury room.

What kind of release will The Storyteller get? Also, it’s releasing just a week after Jawan… It’ll release in select cinemas. And then they’ll build it up. Jio Studios wants to give The Storyteller a chance on the big screen. Also, the kind of awareness and publicity that they have created on social media has been very good. People know about the film.

What do you have to say about films being made in the current times? We are taking 2 steps forward and 20 steps back. See the kind of films that are running. I have nothing against these films. When I was a kid, I enjoyed Amar Akbar Anthony and Deewaar as much as I enjoyed Aandhi or Koshish. At that time, Nasir Hussain, Manmohan Desai, Prakash Mehra etc co-existed with Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee, Gulzar etc. All these directors and also Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak were flourishing. Where did that era go? Today, why don’t we have filmmakers who make a difference and are given an opportunity and screens to exhibit their work along with popular films? I have nothing against popular films. It gets in the revenue and the audience. But then it’s not the only cinema. People cannot ignore what cinema really is. All over the world, it is accepted. But the Marvel universe and Hollywood have corrupted India. The biggest corrupting factor has been James Bond! Thanks to it, every film now has a hero and a villain and the hero has to defeat the villain. That they do it with panache and flair is a different thing. Today, we are just sticking to this formula. Producers say, ‘Aisi hi film banao’. Audiences are drugged. It happened with saas-bahu serials on television too.

I often feel Govind Nihalani was the last of his kind. Even Ketan Mehta did some good movies, though he was inconsistent. He made Bhavni Bhavai (1980) and Sardar (1994) and then he also made Hero Hiralal (1988) and Oh Darling Yeh Hai India (1995)! You can’t understand where his mind was going. He wasn’t consistent.

You said Govind Nihalani was one of the last filmmakers who made sensible cinema. But what about the filmmakers who are also making such films today and are often celebrated? In the last 10-15 films, all their films are inspired by Tarantino and Scorsese. A lot of their films have style over substance. The films are dark. A filmmaker once said, ‘When I made a particular film, I was told by Scorsese that this is not graphic enough’. So now, the violence and gore pour out like an avalanche hoping that it is graphic enough for the world to accept. That’s why, I am not naming these 5-6 filmmakers of today who are trying to be different but I know where their origins are. If they were really versatile, they’d make different films. But they are making only one kind of film. These people have created a formula for themselves. These people created a clique where only those 10 people are acknowledged. They have also created their own social circles and media partners. They are holding these directors up and claiming ‘This is the new face of Indian cinema’. Well, God bless them!

You made 4 films and you also act regularly. How do you get time? There is lots of time. It’s pure time management. In fact, I am underworked! Today, I went to the studio and sat on the edit. I uploaded my film on Vimeo to be sent to a film festival. I came to talk to you. I did nothing today! I phase out my acting and directorial projects. After my mother’s death, I was shattered. During that time, The Storyteller was to go on floors. I didn’t know I would last the schedule. Some strength pulled me through it. While I was working on the post-production, The Confession fell into my lap. I finished it and went abroad to shoot for Mission Raniganj. I also shot a short film there with Kumud Mishra and Shishir Sharma on an iPhone. During the day, there was no shooting. I am sending this short film to festivals. I came back and did Phule. So, this year took the life out of time. I am taking a break now till December. I am writing a script at the moment and I’ll shoot it in January or February 2024. So you just need to find the time. There’s a lot of time. There’s time to burn and there’s time to waste!

Acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has revealed that the first cut of his 2012 gangster drama Gangs Of Wasseypur was over seven hours long. The film was eventually released in two parts, but Kashyap says that he had originally planned for it to be a trilogy.

"I just kept writing," Kashyap said in an interview with Cyrus Broacha. "I thought it would be three films. But somehow Vikram(Aditya) Motwane came in, saved it, and it ended up as two films. It could have been three films because my first cut was seven and a half hours long."

Kashyap also revealed that the second part of Gangs of Wasseypur was "mostly improvised". He said that he believes that filmmakers are too scared of improvisation these days, and that they just want to stick to a formula that has brought them success in the past.

"The second part of Gangs of Wasseypur was mostly improvised," Kashyap said. "I don't think that happens much today. I think filmmakers are scared of improvisation. They just want to stick to a formula that has worked for them in the past."

Gangs of Wasseypur is known for its quirky dialogues, and one of the most widely quoted lines from the film is "Tumse na ho payega". Kashyap revealed that this line was improvised by Tigmanshu Dhulia, who played the role of Ramadhir Singh in the film.

"It was not even me," Kashyap said. "Tigmanshu Dhulia improvised it. He was just so good and natural that we were like rolling with laughter. It was done there and then."

Kashyap believes that his actors manage to bring the best out of themselves because he gives them a free pass to experiment. He said that he does not give his scripts to actors in advance, because he believes that this allows them to be more natural and spontaneous on set.

"I just say what not to do, I don't tell them what to do," Kashyap said. "I let them go. The good scenes have come out of that only. Scripts should be just a map. That's why I don't share my scripts with actors."

Anurag Kashyap is currently seen playing a negative role in the ZEE5 film Haddi, which is led by actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Also Read: Anurag Kashyap on his films releasing on illegal websites: “I used to identify with porn in the sense that I was like porn; people watched my films secretly”

Shah Rukh Khan continued to engage directly with his fans through X (formerly known as Twitter) post the release of his film Jawan. As the film enjoys a successful run in theatres, Shah Rukh recently took to X once again to express his gratitude to the devoted fan clubs that have been sharing videos from various cities.

Fans' enthusiasm for Jawan was palpable, with some even donning the look of the film's characters. During this interaction, one fan had an interesting request, asking if they could call him "Robinhood Rathod."

Shah Rukh Khan responded in his characteristic style, saying, "Don't know about Robin Hood, but Vikram Rathore is a philanthropist and a true Indian too."

Robinhood ka pata nahi , par Vikram Rathore daani bhi hai aur sacha Hindustani bhi!! https://t.co/F5Omlnu9ye — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 9, 2023

Another fan inquired about his association with Vijay Sethupathi's character, Kali, to which Shah Rukh replied, "I myself am a big fan of Vijay sir. But I have taken Kali's black money, now look, I am bringing it from Swiss banks of Leo and others too. Just waiting for the visa. Ha ha."

I am a big fan of Vijay sir too… par Kaali ka kaala dhan toh le liya ab dekho doosron ke bhi Swiss banks se lekar aata hoon… Buss visa ka hi wait kar raha hoon. Ha ha!!! https://t.co/bgrzn77VVD — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 9, 2023

Responding to a query about the abundance of female co-stars in the film, Shah Rukh Khan humorously told fans to focus on his versatile performances rather than counting his on-screen companions.

Yeh sab kyun ginn raha hai… mere looks ginn na!! Keep love and respect in your heart and maa aur beti ka samman karo….aur aage badho! https://t.co/Gb8dC0fYr1 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 9, 2023

Directed by Atlee, Jawan features Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay Sethupathi, along with Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, Priya Mani, Sanya Malhotra, and Ridhi Dogra, among others. The film was released on Thursday, on the occasion of Janmashtami, and is dominating the box office.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan forgives fan for giving away Jawan spoiler “for the good of the country”: “Everyone should exercise their right to…”

Shah Rukh Khan, the reigning King of Bollywood, has set the silver screen ablaze once again with his latest blockbuster, Jawan. Audiences worldwide have been singing praises for the film, which is currently dominating the box office. Recently, a fan took to his social media handle and praised SRK while being mindful of giving any spoilers. However, Shah Rukh had a witty response to the same.

The fan had tweeted that they had really liked the actor's speech at the end of the film, but didn't want to give out any spoilers. Khan replied, saying, “Arree, there are no spoilers in it... For the good of the country, all spoilers are forgiven. Everyone should exercise their right to vote intelligently and responsibly.”

He further added, “But yes... Leaving this aside, I'm not giving away spoilers for the rest of the film! And please don't reveal them either.”

Arree Usmein spoiler nahi hai…. Desh ki bhalaai ke liye sab spoilers maaf. Everyone should exercise their right to vote intelligently and responsibly. Par Haan… Isko chhodh ke Baaki film Ki spoilers main Nahi bata raha hoon! Aur aap bhi matt bataana please! https://t.co/dnz0RRs9F3 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 9, 2023

The film, directed by Atlee, addresses pressing political and societal issues, with corruption taking centre stage. Besides SRK, it boasts a stellar cast, including Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Priya Mani, Sanya Malhotra, and Ridhi Dogra, among others. Released on September 7, Jawan has collected Rs. 175 crores in three days of its release.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “With Salaar getting postponed, Jawan has a clear field,” says Taran Adarsh

It’s been a year since Brahmastra released in theatres. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles, the film was directed by Ayan Mukerji. The fantasy mythology-inspired drama gave a peak into the world of astras (celestial weapons). Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone had cameos in the movie. Today, a year later, Karan Johar and Ayan Mukerji are reminiscing about the world of astras.

Sharing a video, Ayan wrote on Instagram, “Happy 1st Birthday, Brahmāstra! Thank you for all the Creativity, all the HardWork, and for all the Lessons in Film-making, and in Life! P.S.: Will share some early artwork from the next stage of the Brahmāstra journey in a bit…!”

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Karan Johar also shared the same video and wrote, “Today we mark and celebrate one year of this labor of love. Truly, one experience….one journey….one story that is told with the heart and soul. An army of people giving in their best to showcase nothing short of magic on the big screen. The power of love & light will continue to shine bright!!”

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Brahmastra is a story about Shiva and Isha, a young couple played by Ranbir and Alia, who learn about the secrets of the astras. Together, they try their best to stop the forces of evil from destroying the universe. The film also starred Nagarjuna, Dimple Kapadia and Mouni Roy. ALSO READ: Karan Johar and Guneet Monga’s KILL is already a winner ahead of its premiere at TIFF 2023

Shah Rukh Khan’s most anticipated Jawan finally arrived on the big screens on September 7 and has obliterated the box office. The film opened at Rs. 65.50 crore on Thursday and is truly shining with rave reviews coming from all across the world. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta took to Twitter on Saturday to talk about SRK, Jawan and how he did not give in to the bullying of the underworld in the 90s.

In his tweet, Sanjay mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan did not bow down to the underworld and called himself a Pathan. Sanjay said, “I saw Jawan. I feel compelled to share this. Back in the 90s, when the underworld bullying of film stars was at its peak, @iamsrk was the only star who never gave in. "Goli marni hai mar do, par tumhaare liye kaam nahin karoonga. Main Pathan hoon.’ He said. He’s the same today.”

I saw JAWAN. I feel compelled to share this. Back in the 90’s when the underworld bullying of the film stars was at its peak @iamsrk was THE ONLY star who never gave in. “Goli marni hai mar do, par tumhaare liye kaam nahin karoonga. Main Pathan hoon.” He said. He’s the same… — Sanjay Gupta (@_SanjayGupta) September 9, 2023

Jawan is being lauded by superstars from down south also. Mahesh Babu and SS Rajamouli took to Twitter on Friday to rave about the movie and Shah Rukh Khan.

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film released on September 7, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: “With Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan is saying, ‘I am not going back’,” asserts Taran Adarsh

Pre-eminent public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam may soon see himself on screen with Aamir Khan playing him. The project, which was being talked about for some time, has now been confirmed to this writer by cinematographer-director Avinash Arun, who had earlier directed the award-winning Marathi film Killa.

Confirming his project with Aamir Khan, Avinash Arun said, “Yes, we are in talks.” Further probing revealed that Aamir Khan is not convinced that he is the right fit for the role and would rather produce the Ujjwal Nikam biopic. However, writer-director Avinash Arun insists that he will direct the project only if Aamir agrees to produce and play the lead.

Aamir Khan was last seen on the big screen last year in Laal Singh Chaddha. Directed by Advait Chandan and produced under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions, the movie was the official Hindi remake of the Hollywood classic Forrest Gump. It also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, Naga Chaitanya and Manav Vij in pivotal roles.

As a producer, Aamir’s next is the quirky comedy Laapataa Ladies. Produced by his banner and Jio Studios, the movie is directed by Kiran Rao and it stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan. It is slated to release in theatres on January 5, 2024.

Also Read: Aamir Khan inks a multi-film deal with Jio Studios; includes Rajkumar Santoshi’s next & Ujjwal Nikam biopic

Shah Rukh Khan’s latest release Jawan has shattered the box office by creating a new opening day record of Rs. 65.50 crore. In this way, the actor has broken his own opening day record of Rs. 57 crores, which he achieved earlier this year with Pathaan. In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Hungama, veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh spoke about what this means to the industry.

He said, “What an opening! It’s Rs. 65.50 crores, which is 19% higher than Pathaan, which was the highest ever at Rs. 57 crores. Just imagine if it was a holiday. So the potential of the film is Rs. 70-75 crores on any single day. Of course, it was a part holiday but its Shah Rukh Khan… Everyone said that it’s his comeback with Pathaan. And with Jawan he is saying, ‘I am not going to go back.’”

Some time back, Taran Adarsh had predicted such an opening for Jawan. Recalling that, he said, “I was very confident not because of my prediction or whatever; I don’t want to give myself any credit for that. I would say only one person (made it possible) – Shah Rukh Khan himself. I feel whatever collection you are witnessing, it’s because of this force called Shah Rukh Khan. As I have always said, he is number one to number five. We can’t even give rankings to him. He has reached that stage.”

He added, “I would like to tell you that he has brought so much happiness to the industry in terms of box office numbers. Pathaan and Jawan have had such fantabulous starts at the box office. It’s a whole circle in the film industry, which benefits from a good opening.”

Generally, in a masala film, one is advised to keep logic at home. However, Adarsh feels that one shouldn’t do this with Jawan because it’s much more than just a massy entertainer. “Here we need to advise people to take their brains with them because the film has a lot of messages from start to end,” he added.

Directed by Atlee Kumar and produced by SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan also stars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Sanya Malhotra, Priya Mani, among others.

Also Read: Jawan Overseas Box Office: Shah Rukh Khan starrer is unstoppable in key international markets

Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan is doing record business. A lot of people contributed big time to the film, apart from its leading actors, directors etc. One of them is Shah Rukh Khan’s body double Prashant Walde. He spoke exclusively to Bollywood Hungama about his experience of working on the film and a lot more.

Prashant Walde began by talking about having a bald look. He said, “For the first time, I did such prosthetic make-up in my life. We shot for almost a month in this look. I used to get boils as chemicals are used in prosthetic make-up. My skin used to get burnt. If the prosthetics were applied on alternate days, then it would not be a problem.”

He said his family members were amused by his bald look, “Unko dekh ke maza aata tha. It’s a work that requires the utmost attention. Agar theek se nahin kiya, toh fatt jaata tha. It takes 2-3 hours. There were times when Shah Rukh bhai used to look at my prosthetics and remark, ‘Tera toh bada accha laga hua hai’! Toh bada taam jaam rehta tha set pe!”

Prashant continued, “There was a lot of detailing. They made sure that the shade of the bandage didn't change. Even for the old look, a lot of care was taken. Atlee sir used to keep an eye on these details.”

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He went on praising the blockbuster director, “Atlee sir worked with a lot of dedication and we can see today how it has worked big time. And of course, Shah Rukh bhai also gave his life and soul to the film. He had to face several problems during the course of the shoot. In our hearts, we knew that yeh film dhamaal karne waali hai! And that’s what happened. Until now, Bollywood had never seen a film like this. Everyone is unanimously saying that this is Shah Rukh Khan’s best film!”

Prashant Walde added, “Even when we shot for the first teaser, I got a feeling from inside that Jawan will create history. I told this even to Shah Rukh bhai’s team. They used to tell me, ‘Prashant, chup reh. Nazar mat laga’ (laughs)!”

Explaining why he felt so, he explained, “I have done many films and ads in 17 years. But the experience and vibe of Jawan were something else. Atlee sir’s shift used to be for 12 hours but we would end up working for 14 hours. I don't remember the shoot getting over in 12 hours ever! We used to be tired and yet, we couldn’t wait to report to the set the next day. Atlee sir would tell me, 'Tum monitor pe baithe raho. Kabhi bhi zarurat pad sakti hai'. I had no qualms as I had never seen such direction before. His whole team was also quite dedicated. In Bollywood, jo humein diya gaya hai, log wohi kaam karte hai in terms of the breakdown of scenes. But Atlee sir and his team used to always wonder how they could make the scene better. Everyone on the set was always running as if they’ll miss the train if they slow down!”

He further stated, “Atlee sir ko jo chahiye, agar unhe us cheez ko Shah Rukh bhai nahin dete the, toh Atlee sir khud karke dikhate the. And Shah Rukh bhai would surrender. He ensured he delivered as per Atlee sir's requirement. Both would never compromise. The dedication of Atlee sir and hard work of Shah Rukh bhai...you had to see it to believe it.”

Prashant Walde also revealed that Atlee was a stickler for punctuality, “Once, there was a major traffic jam around Kalina University due to Maharashtra’s former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's visit. I got stuck. Our call time was at 6:00 pm. Suddenly, I saw Atlee sir speedily walking towards the shoot venue. I called him and asked him to join me in the car. But he politely declined, saying that he was late. He walked a great distance since he realised he'd reach faster on foot.”

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At Kalina University, the scene of the hospital in the first half was shot. Prashant Walde revealed, “The blast that took place in the scene in the government hospital was quite risky. In 18 seconds, 28 blasts were carried out. We all were told to stay as far away as possible due to the risk. But I said, 'Mujhe toh dekhna hai'! And it was quite a sight. Aise khatarnaak blasts hue the! There were so many camera setups and other preparations that they had to do it in one take. And they managed to do so.”

Prashant Walde then mentioned about the climax scene, comprising Azad and Vikram Rathore, both of which were played by Shah Rukh Khan. He said, “Sometimes, Shah Rukh bhai used to shoot for the young character, that is, Azad’s portions. At times, he used to play Vikram Rathore. If he’s playing Vikram, I would be performing the role of Azad and vice versa.”

Prashant then praised Vijay Sethupathi, “Vijay Sethupathi ji would deliver dialogues in Tamil. He would then memorize dialogues in Hindi and deliver the lines. However, at times, the energy or feel would be less than what it was when he said the lines in Tamil. He used to ask Shah Rukh bhai constantly, ‘Is this okay? Better?’. Shah Rukh bhai would reply, ‘Yes, better than the previous shot’. This would lead to a lot of retakes.”

He continued, “The scene where he’s about to shoot Vikram Rathore just before the latter gets his memory, everyone on the set, comprising 1000-1500 people, clapped after Vijay Sethupathi ji delivered the lines in Hindi. His secretary was well-versed in the language. She used to categorically tell him if the Hindi dialogues weren’t delivered properly by him. Though he had got claps, he still went for a retake (after she gave her feedback). In the previous take, he had given 40% energy. In the next take, he gave more than 100% energy. Shah Rukh then felt that even he should perform energetically. Atlee sir, however, told him that it’s not needed as per the scene and his Azad character. Atlee sir also told me to stand in one shot opposite Vijay Sethupathi ji. It was a lot of fun.”

Finally, Prashant Walde is content that Jawan has worked big time, “We are a very small part of the film. But I am happy to see that Jawan is so well received. Itni mehnat karne ke baad upar waale ne fal de diya! Also with Gadar 2 and many other films also doing well, the industry will benefit immensely. So many people will get work.”

As for what next, he replied, “After Pathaan and Jawan, I am sure Shah Rukh bhai’s next Dunki will also be a blockbuster!”

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Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan responds to Anand Mahindra after he calls Jawan star a “natural resource”: “I keep trying in my small humble way to make our country proud in terms of making cinema”

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has returned to acting with the newly released Haddi. The film sees him in an antagonist role. While promoting his film, Kashyap spoke about how he faced difficulties in his initial years in getting his films to cinema halls and how some of them were released on illegal websites.

On the podcast Cyrus Says hosted by Cyrus Broacha, the host spoke about Kashyap’s films which were not released in theatres and were released on piracy websites. Anurag agreed and said, “That’s the story of my life.” He also said that he only earned one-eighth of what he could have earned because his films were released illegally. He said, “People used to walk up to me and say, ‘Aapki film dekhi (Saw your film)’ and I used to be like ‘Lekin kahan dekhi (But where did you watch it)?’ I used to identify with porn in the sense that I was like porn; people watched my films secretly.”

He further said that people would watch his films and then question his “morality and character”. He said, “At that time, the critics used to be like, ‘What kind of a guy is this?’”

Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap is currently seen in Haddi, which is now streaming on ZEE5. The film is led by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. ALSO READ: Anurag Kashyap shares thoughts on Kartik Aaryan getting his due in Bollywood; says, “Jisko bahut jaldi milta…”

After having kept the nation in great anticipation for the release, Shah Rukh Khan’s most anticipated Jawan finally arrived on the big screens on September 7 and has obliterated the box office. The film opened at Rs. 65.50 crore on Thursday, surpassing SRK's own record with Pathaan.

As the celebration galore is at its peak as Shah Rukh Khan is seen in a double massy avatar on the big screen, the superstar took to Twitter to thank everyone. After thanking several fan clubs, he wrote, "Thank you for all the love and appreciation for #Jawan!! Stay safe and happy… Please keep sending in the pics and videos of all of you enjoying at the movies…. And I will be back soon to see all of them! Until then… Party with Jawan in the theatres!! Lots of love and gratitude!"

Thank you for all the love and appreciation for #Jawan!! Stay safe and happy… Please keep sending in the pics and videos of all of you enjoying at the movies…. And I will be back soon to see all of them! Until then… Party with Jawan in the theatres!! Lots of love and… — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 8, 2023

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film released on September 7, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Jawan midnight shows to start from today in various cities of India

Earlier in the week, Bollywood Hungama was the first one to report that Shah Rukh Khan’s latest release Jawan won’t have midnight shows on its first day. The reason was that the film has quite a few surprises and the makers didn’t want them to get spread before the morning of September 7, the film’s release date. We had also said that the makers would start the midnight screenings of the film from the second day onwards.

This is exactly what has happened as in various cities a lot of theatres will be having midnight shows for Jawan from today at 11:55 or 11:59 pm. After doing some research, we have found out that from the major cities, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Kolkata and Kochi are having midnight shows. Mostly these shows are timed at 11:55 pm whereas a few at 11:59 pm. Cities like Hyderabad and Chennai have last shows at 11:30 pm.

As found out by us, the tickets for these late night shows are getting booked rapidly.

Directed by Atlee Kumar and produced under SRK’s banner Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan had a tremendous opening yesterday as the film went onto collect a mammoth amount of Rs. 65.50 crores in India. This is the highest opening for any Hindi movie till date. As reported by Bollywood Hungama, the film is expected to collect Rs. 50 crores today, which is excellent considering that it’s a working day.

Jawan also stars Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Sanya Malhotra, Priya Mani, Ridhi Dogra, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Girija Oak, among others.

Also Read: Jawan Box Office Estimate Day 2: Shah Rukh Khan starrer is excellent on Friday; collects Rs. 50 crores across India

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are back together in a new TVC for a brand of spices. The TVC begins with Shah Rukh prancing around his vanity van, waiting to eat biryani. But as soon as he steps out, he is mobbed by paparazzi. To escape them, he reveals that Big B is in the next vanity van.

"Udhar jaiye, Amit ji hain vahan (Go there, Amit ji is there)," he tells them. But the senior actor, who is also dreaming about biryani, dissuades the paparazzi from interviewing him. "Arre udhar jaiye, Shah Rukh Khan, superstar, superstar (Go there, Shah Rukh Khan)," he tells them.

Shah Rukh Khan calls Amitabh Bachchan, "super se bhi uppar star (a star even above a star)." The senior actor addresses his Mohabbatein co-star as "dillon ki dhadkan (everyone's heartbeat)."

But when both fail to escape the media, they scream "Alia" and point in different directions. This makes the photographers run to take Alia Bhatt's photos, and SRK and Big B get a chance to run away to their respective cars.

The TVC is a fun and light-hearted take on the two superstars' popularity. It also makes a reference to Alia Bhatt, who is one of the most popular actresses in Bollywood today. 

Also Read: Ask SRK: Shah Rukh Khan CONFIRMS reuniting with Amitabh Bachchan after 17 years; says, “He beat me in…”

Film producer Ravindhar Chandrasekaran, aged 39 and associated with Libra Productions Pvt. Ltd., has found himself in legal trouble. The Central Crime Branch's Entrustment Document Fraud (EDF) Wing-I took action, arresting Ravindhar Chandrasekaran on charges of investment fraud.

As per a report by The Hindu, the case stems from a complaint lodged by Balaji Kapa of Madav Media Pvt. Ltd. Balaji Kapa reported to the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner that in October 2020, Ravindhar Chandrasekaran approached him with a business proposal. 

The proposal involved the conversion of municipal solid waste into energy, for which Ravindhar sought financial assistance. Consequently, an investment agreement was inked on September 17, 2020, with Mr Kapa providing an investment of Rs 15.83 crore.

However, what followed was a breach of trust. Ravindhar failed to initiate the energy business as promised and did not return the invested funds. In response to the complaint, the EDF initiated an investigation. Subsequently, it was discovered that Ravindhar Chandrasekaran had utilised forged documents to secure the investment from Mr. Kapa.

As a result of these findings, Ravindhar Chandrasekaran has been placed in judicial custody. 

Akshay Kumar is on a high these days, thanks to the super-success of OMG 2. The film faced several challenges before release and moreover, it got an ‘A’ rating. Yet, thanks to the hype and word of mouth, it managed to collect more than Rs. 140 crores. On September 6, he announced that the teaser of his upcoming film, Mission Raniganj, will be out on September 7. And that won’t be the only announcement coming from the superstar this week.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Akshay Kumar’s birthday falls on Saturday, September 9. The announcement of Welcome To The Jungle will be done on this day. The makers felt that this was the right day to make the much-awaited announcement. It’s like a gift from the producers to Akshay Kumar’s envious fan following on his special day!”

The source continued, “Welcome To The Jungle’s announcement is expected to be grand and never-before-seen as it has a very huge star cast and also has two surprise names. The makers are confident that it’ll become a talking point and immediately enhance the hype for the film by many notches.”

Welcome To The Jungle is produced by Firoz Nadiadwala and directed by Ahmed Khan.

In December 2022, Bollywood Hungama was the first one to break that Welcome 3 has been titled Welcome To The Jungle. The blockbuster producer spoke exclusively to us and said, “It’ll retain the humour, wit and entertainment that is associated with this franchise and moreover, it’ll be based against a military action backdrop. The action will be huge in this film. We’ll make use of the 'huey' helicopters and for the first time in an Indian film, aircraft carriers will be used in action scenes. It’ll be made on a scale which has never been seen before in Indian cinema in terms of production value, grandeur.”

He also added, “Towards the end, it’ll have a very strong and emotional patriotic touch. 65-70% of the film will be set in the jungle. We’ll have real ex-military people on board who’ll guide us on how to handle big guns, RPG, SAM (surface-to-air missile) and other such solid military hardware.”

Also Read: Welcome 3 aka Welcome To the Jungle to reunite Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon on the big screen; report

After much anticipation and buzz, the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan finally released today, that is September 7. Ever since its inception, the Atlee directorial was in the headlines for various reasons, including speculations around Thalapathy Vijay’s cameo. Well, the film has surely treated Vijay’s fans in Tamil Nadu.

Jawan’s first-day-first-show in theatres of Tamil Nadu begins with the teaser of Leo, an upcoming Thalapathy Vijay starrer. Interestingly, the mutual edit left fans hooting for the duo in theatres. Speaking of Leo, it is an upcoming Tamil-language film. The forthcoming flick is a part of Lokesh's Cinematic Universe (LCU).

Coming back to Jawan, besides Shah Rukh, the mass entertainer also features Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Sunil Grover, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra and many others. Hours before the screening of Jawan started across the country, Red Chillies Entertainment shared an emotional note for fans.

“We faced a lot of challenges while shooting and we tried our level best to show you our film on 2nd June, 2023 as scheduled. Yes, there was a postponement which disappointed many but our priority was to give you a project with a good mix of quality and quantity and your support gave us more energy during the film shooting and post-production,” read an excerpt from the note.

Also Read: Jawan makers share emotional note ahead of Shah Rukh Khan starrer release: “A journey of various emotions worth remembering”

Get ready for an electrifying cinematic experience as the dynamic trio of Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, and Jyotika come together to captivate audiences in an upcoming supernatural thriller. Directed by the acclaimed Vikas Bahl, this spine-tingling, edge-of-the-seat thriller is poised to hit theatres on March 8, 2024, marking a significant moment in the world of Indian cinema.

Intriguingly, this film not only showcases the extraordinary acting prowess of Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, and Jyotika but also introduces the promising talent of Janki Bodiwala, making her Hindi film debut. The ensemble cast promises to deliver performances that will linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll.

Presented by Jio Studios, Ajay Devgn Ffilms, and Panorama Studios International, this supernatural thriller boasts a stellar production team. It's produced by industry stalwarts Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, Kumar Mangat Pathak, and Abhishek Pathak. Under the skilful direction of Vikas Bahl, this film is set to push the boundaries of the supernatural thriller genre.

Also Read: BREAKING: Jyotika returns to Hindi films after 25 years; joins Ajay Devgn and R Madhavan in supernatural thriller

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has said that he believes actor Kartik Aaryan deserves his due in the industry, but he also pointed that it took him “some time” to get there. It all happened when Anurag Kashyap, in a candid conversation with Pinkvilla alongside director Akshat Ajay Sharma for their upcoming project Haddi, discussed the topic of actors getting recognition later in their careers.

While mentioning Kartik’s name, Anurag asserted, “But I believe everyone should get their due time. If someone achieves it too quickly, they may lose it just as swiftly. Look at other stars too, like Kartik Aaryan. How long did it take for him to reach where he is now? It’s the same for anyone else; if they attain it too rapidly, they might also lose it just as swiftly,” in Hindi.

Coming to the professional front, as mentioned above, Anurag Kashyap is currently seen in Haddi, which also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role. Simultaneously, fans of the director are eagerly awaiting the release of his directorial venture, Kennedy, which has been screened at various international film festivals.

On the other hand, Kartik recently started shooting for his next, titled Chandu Champion. A month ago, the makers dropped his look poster. He was seen sporting buzz-cut hair with an intense expression on his face.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Anurag Kashyap DEFENDS Made In Heaven 2 makers amid plagiarism row; questions motives of Yashica Dutt and says, “It looks like an opportunist”

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty is gearing up for the release of her next film, Sukhee. At the trailer launch event on Wednesday, she revealed that she had initially turned down the role, but was convinced by her husband Raj Kundra to take it up.

It all started when Shilpa revealed that initially, she had reservations about doing the film due to personal reasons. Shetty said that she was not in the right headspace to do the film at the time, but Kundra read the script and told her that she had to do it.

"He told me, 'Are you crazy? You have to do this film!’ He convinced me to take up the film. He forced me to do it and told me there’s a ‘Sukhee’ in all of us. If a man can think that way for a woman-oriented film…," Shetty said.

Shilpa also revealed that she suggested alternative actors for the role. The film's producer, Vikram Malhotra, was understanding and patient, assuring Shilpa that they would proceed with the project whenever she felt ready. This led to an eight-month delay in the film's production.

Directed by Sonal Joshi, Sukhee also stars Chaitanya Chaudhary, Kiran Kumar and Kusha Kapila. It is set to release on September 22.

Also Read: Shilpa Shetty Kundra takes center stage in Aslam Khan’s mesmerizing lehenga, closing the show with unparalleled grace

The makers of Jawan, the action thriller starring Shah Rukh Khan, penned an emotional note ahead of the film's release. The note, shared on social media, reads:

"A journey of various emotions worth remembering. It all started from the year 2019. Discussions, meetings and what not. With a slow and steady process, we got our star cast consisting of Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Sunil Grover, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra and many others. With technicians like G.K.Vishnu, Ruben and music composition by one and only Anirudh, we were all set.”

The note further continued, “We faced a lot of challenges while shooting and we tried our level best to show you our film on 2nd June, 2023 as scheduled. Yes, there was a postponement which disappointed many but our priority was to give you a project with a good mix of quality and quantity and your support gave us more energy during the film shooting and post-production.”

The note goes on to thank the fans for their support and anticipation for the film. It also promises a lot of surprises for the audience.

Jawan is directed by Atlee and the film released in theatres today on September 7, 2023.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Shah Rukh Khan is going to compete himself,” says Taran Adarsh; speaks about Jawan ahead of its release

As the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan is on its way to create history, Bollywood Hungama spoke to trade experts and exhibitors to get a better idea of the excitement on-ground. Trade veteran Taran Adarsh euphorically said, “It will create tehelka, aag laga degi. Toofan aa raha hai September 7 ko!” He added, “Look at the advance booking trend. It is unbelievable. The tickets are getting sold so fast. It’s like there’s a sale and shoppers are rushing to the mall before others grab the best deal. Moreover, the tickets don’t cost Rs. 50 or 100. These are priced at blockbuster rates.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, stated, “The advance is mind-blowing and above my expectations. I was indeed expecting big numbers but this is huge. After Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Gadar 2, OMG 2, Dream Girl 2 and now Jawan, Hindi cinema has come back and how!”

Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, who in a rare instance will play the 6:00 am show of Jawan, said, “We played 6:00 am shows for KGF - Chapter 2 (2022) and Pathaan (2023) and have now kept for Jawan due to insane demand.” He added, “The response is very good, as expected. Aisi film banayenge toh response toh aayega hi na!”

Taran Adarsh said in agreement, “Exhibitors told me that 6:00 am or 7:00 am shows are fast-filling. That shows that people are ready to step out so early in the morning. This happened for Pathaan and KGF - Chapter 2 as well.”

Girish Johar, producer and film business analyst, observed that the trailer also did the trick, “I loved the trailer. It caters to all sections of the audience. It looks like a complete masala action entertainer, which is what was expected from the film.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan added to this point, “The trailer came out in the last moment. And the advance opened the next day. It capitalized on the anticipation among the audience. Also, the way Shah Rukh Khan promoted the film in Chennai and Dubai was quite smart.”

He even said, “The demand for this film is so huge that the makers could have released the trailer only in cinemas instead of YouTube. They could have charged Rs. 50 per ticket. Issi se Jawan Rs. 100-150 crores kama leti!”

Jawan vs The Nun II Jawan, however, will have to share the showcasing with the Hollywood horror film, The Nun II. Taran Adarsh feels the film also has a chance to score, “A lot of moviegoers reach a theatre and don’t get the ticket of their desired film. So that spill over of that film, which in this case is Jawan, benefits the next film. People think ‘Itni duur aaye hai toh dusri film dekh lete hai’. Jawan, obviously, will be the first priority.”

Girish Johar also said along the same lines, “It’s a given that not just 2, even if 3 films arrive on the same day, all can do well. They might get the overflow of Jawan. If it’s a good film, it’ll benefit.”

Vishek Chauhan said, “The previous film did a business of Rs. 46 crores. This shows that it has an audience and hence, The Nun II can also work.”

He also thundered, “A film creates its own demand. Some so-called experts were predicting that Jawan will be affected by the Gadar 2 wave. But look at the advance of Jawan. Gadar 2 had a huge run and OMG 2 also made its mark. If there’s merit in your film and a demand, the audiences will flock to the cinemas. Even Oppenheimer and Barbie co-existed and earned well globally. Gadar, OMG 2, and Dream Girl 2 ran successfully together. If your film comes solo, it’ll still suffer if it’s not worth it.”

Atul Mohan made a pun-intended statement about The Nun II’s clash with Jawan, “None will sustain opposite Jawan!” He also said, “Jawan will get maximum screens. Look at the craze. It’ll get more shows. Warner Bros will have to struggle for screens.”

Raj Bansal agreed, “I doubt the film can work. There’s no way it can get shows in single screens. In the multiplexes, it’ll get but only in metros. In multiplexes of smaller cities, it might not get a single show.” He also remarked, “Chandigarh, Indore, Jaipur ke theatres mein majboori mein ya studio ke pressure se show de denge. But when exhibitors see that Jawan has sold so many tickets in limited shows, they’ll give the balance shows to the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer as well. They want to make money, after all.”

Ruban Mathivanan of GK Cinemas, Chennai revealed, “Only the multiplexes in Tamil Nadu will play The Nun II. The single-screens will only screen Jawan. Also, a prominent distributor, Red Giant, is distributing Jawan here.”

To conclude Jawan once proves the supremacy of Shah Rukh Khan, “Call him King, Baadshah, whatever. The fact is that he’s number 1 to number 5. Even overseas, he’s the undisputed emperor.” He also said, “Jawan will set new records. Shah Rukh Khan is not going to compete with anyone. He’s going to compete with himself. It’s Shah Rukh vs Shah Rukh aka Jawan vs Pathaan.”

He smiled as he remembered the golden days of cinema, “Ek positivity ki lehar aa rahi hai. The Kerala Story, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Satyaprem Ki Katha, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Gadar 2, OMG 2 and Dream Girl 2 all did very well. The time is taking me back to the 70s. Then, there used to be a release of a multi-starrer every second week. And most of these films used to be big hits at the box office. I used to wonder ki woh din kab aayenge aur lo, acche din wapis aa gaye!”

Vishek Chauhan compared the current time with the 90s, “90s waala time wapis aa raha hai. Then, Sunny Deol’s action film would prove to be a big hit followed by Shah Rukh Khan’s big-ticket film. All these films used to have terrific openings.”

He also made a plea to the Bollywood producers before signing off, “There was a song in Bombay Boys (1998), ‘Khaane Ka Peena Ka’, which had a line, ‘Abey asmaani kabootar. Balcony se utar kar stall mein aa’. This is what the audience is telling Bollywood, ‘Balcony se utar ke stall mein aa jaao kyunki Ganga yahin pe hai’! If you make a film for the stalls, even the balcony audience will enjoy.”

Also Read: Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan reveals the real reason behind signing action movies: “I do action films because my kids get very impressed that I am doing some cool things”

Katrina Kaif has once again demonstrated her prowess as a business icon and a prominent figure in the beauty industry, making significant waves. This time, she's making headlines by introducing her latest creation: lip oil, a valuable addition to her well-established beauty brand, Kay Beauty. Kay Beauty Lip Oil exemplifies Katrina's dedication to harmonizing glamour and skincare, effortlessly uniting beauty and self-care.

Featuring a lightweight formula, they provide lip hydration and impart a luxurious gloss. Infused with enriching oils, this lip oil revolutionizes lip care, staying true to the brand's ethos of #MakeupThatKares. Expressing her excitement, Katrina Kaif said, “I'm thrilled to introduce this product, especially as a Lip Oil enthusiast myself. Our Kay Kommunity is always at the heart of everything we do so we've heard your requests loud and clear and meticulously crafted the Kay Beauty Hydrating Lip Oil. Infused with a blend of oils, the formula not only adds the perfect glazed sheen but also works to nourish and protect my lips all day. I'm confident that our Lip Oil will become a favourite!”

Katrina Kaif's foray into the beauty industry reflects her commitment to enhancing self-confidence. Kay Beauty Lip Oil blends elegance and practicality, serving both beauty enthusiasts and those seeking effective lip care. In today's self-care era, this oil emphasizes holistic beauty, and Katrina's star status adds allure. ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal admits feeling “odd” when initially getting attention from Katrina Kaif; says, “I had trouble coming to terms with that reality”

Kareena Kapoor Khan is all set to make her digital debut with Jaane Jaan later this month. Netflix unveiled the trailer of the upcoming thriller starring Kareena, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma on Tuesday. The film is directed by Sujoy Ghosh.

Talking about her streaming debut, Kareena Kapoor Khan said at the trailer launch on Tuesday, “I am more nervous today than I was 23 years ago. I am nervous as people are going to watch me so closely on their screens. Everyone’s doing such good work on OTT, I didn’t want to be left behind. Sujoy Ghosh and I have been wanting to work together for over a decade, so I am glad this happened. I got to learn so much from my costars, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma.”

The trailer of the movie gives a glimpse into all the mysterious happenings in the chilly and pine-tree covered Kalimpong, as it delves into the complex intertwined relationships and secrets. Maya (Kareena Kapoor Khan), Naren (Jaideep Ahlawat) and Karan (Vijay Varma) navigate through a web of emotions and unforeseen circumstances as they cover up and uncover clues in a bid to outwit each other.

Jaane Jaan will release on September 21, 2023. ALSO READ: Jaane Jaan: Kareena Kapoor's debut OTT film was originally meant for Saif Ali Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan; Sujoy Ghosh says, “We were supposed to do the film but…”

After a successful maiden festival in 2021, The Himalayan Film Festival (THFF) is all set to unveil its 2nd edition, once again bringing the magic of Indian cinema beyond the mainstream, to the landscapes of the Himalayas. Organized by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh, in collaboration with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, THFF is poised to showcase a diverse array of cinema, ranging from mainstream gems to compelling documentaries, and captivating short films. Nestled in the heart of Ladakh, The Himalayan Film Festival promises an enriching cinematic experience that showcases the talent of Himalayan filmmakers. The festival is scheduled to take place from September 29 to October 3, 2023.

The festival presents an exciting lineup of events that not only captivate audiences but also engage and empower filmmakers. The festival's offerings include the Screenwriters Lab, Short Film Competition, Photography Workshop, and Masterclasses, curated by esteemed professionals from the Indian film industry, apart from the array of films that the festival will showcase over the five-day duration.

For amateur photographers from Ladakh keen to hone their skills, The Himalayan Film Festival is hosting an exclusive photography workshop led by renowned photographer and filmmaker, Achal Mishra. Hailing from the city of Darbhanga in Bihar, Achal’s debut feature film Gamak Ghar premiered at the Mumbai Film Festival, and was awarded the Manish Acharya Award for New Voices in Indian Cinema. This one-day, hands-on workshop is designed to elevate one's photography skills amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. As part of the interactive session, Achal will also display some of his own work to illustrate different aspects of the craft, including the editing and sequencing process.

THFF invited filmmakers across the 12 Himalayan States/UTs of India who find inspiration in the rugged beauty and majestic allure of the mountains to participate in their Short Film Competition. The competition this year is themed 'The Mountains Are Calling,' and offers a stage for budding filmmakers to showcase their craft and learn from some of the best in the industry. A distinguished jury will select the top 15 films for screening. The three best films will receive a generous cash prize at the closing ceremony of the film festival.

True to its commitment, THFF showcases an exceptional selection of films from across India, with a special emphasis on content from Ladakh in particular and the Himalayan states in general. The festival boasts an exciting film lineup that includes acclaimed titles like Haqeeqat which was filmed in Ladakh, Jubilee, Tora's Husband, Spawo (Warrior), Ama (Mother), Jungwa: The Broken Balance, Lunana: A Yak In the Classroom, Por Thozhil, Sunpat, the evergreen Lage Raho Munna Bhai among others, promising a cinematic journey that spans emotions, narratives, and cultures.

The Screenwriters Lab, an initiative tailored to empower and amplify the voices of budding Ladakhi filmmakers, is set to provide an immersive experience that nurtures talent and encourages the exploration of innovative storytelling. Through intensive mentoring sessions led by Satyanshu Singh, participants will have the privilege to refine their craft under the guidance of a National Award-winning filmmaker, writer, and esteemed professor of cinema. Satyanshu Singh, known for his exceptional contributions to the world of cinema, brings his expertise to the table. His directorial debut short, Tamaash, and his debut feature, Chintu Ka Birthday, have not only garnered critical acclaim but also earned prestigious awards. With a rich background as a script consultant for prominent OTT platform SonyLIV, Satyanshu's debut web series, Jehanabad, continues to captivate audiences. Selected participants will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to executives from major OTT platforms who will be present at the festival. This is a great opportunity for budding talent from Ladakh to shape their dreams.

Renowned filmmakers, industry experts, and luminaries are all set to grace the event. Amit Sharma, Rima Das, and Dominic Megam Sangma led the esteemed jury for the short film competition, adding a layer of expertise to the evaluation process. The festival will also welcome the presence of distinguished filmmakers and actors like Janhvi Kapoor, Kenny Deori Basumatary and Vikramaditya Motwane, among others who will share their insights and experiences through masterclasses and various other discussions.

Padma Angmo, Commissioner/Secretary, Information, Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh talking about the second edition of The Himalayan Film Festival said, “We received a great response during the first edition of The Himalayan Film Festival in 2021. The primary aim of organizing the festival is to provide a platform to local Ladakhi filmmakers to showcase their films, encourage local talent, build their capacity, and connect them to experts and the market. It is a small community, but one that is very active and very creative. We hope that they will benefit from the opportunity to network with established filmmakers from other parts of the country. We hope that filmmakers from across the country, and the world, see Ladakh as a filmmaking destination, and utilise local talent in their filmmaking endeavors.”

Janhvi Kapoor will be participating in a masterclass at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 and said, “The Himalayan Film Festival is a great way for filmmakers from the Himalayan regions to showcase their talent and learn from industry experts. The festival will also provide an opportunity for viewers to see a variety of films and interact with filmmakers from across the country! I am really looking forward to it!”

Filmmaker and Writer, Vikramaditya Motwane whose web series Jubilee will be screened during the festival and who will be participating in a masterclass at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 said, "I think the Himalayan Film Festival is very important, not just for film lovers who get the chance to actually listen to speakers, watch a lot of movies and experience something like this, but I think it is also important for local filmmakers to be able to access and learn tools that will enable them to go out there and create their film. The more we take cinema to different corners of the country, the better it is for everybody."

Achal Mishra, Filmmaker and Photographer, fronting the Photography Workshop at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 said, “I feel a film festival’s purpose shouldn’t just be bringing films from outside to a local audience, but also to give a platform to the local filmmakers and their films. And I’m happy that The Himalayan Film Festival is doing just that for Ladakh, a place I dearly love, and which has been my second home for the last 5-6 years.”

Filmmaker Rima Das whose film Tora’s Husband will be screened during the festival and who will be a part of the jury for the Short Film Competition at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 said, "India is such a diverse country with so many wonderful stories still untapped and unexplored. I am so happy that The Himalayan Film Festival is creating a platform to empower budding filmmakers, expose them to different kinds of films and nurture their talent."

Filmmaker Dominic Megam Sangma who is part of the jury for the Short Film Competition at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 said, “Festivals like THFF are like a bridge that connects two or more regions, helping the local community get more exposure to the world of cinema, and at the same time help reveal talent from this region to the world outside. Films from Himalayan regions hardly get represented in mainstream cinema, but festivals like this give the opportunity to showcase the works from this region. Anybody who wants to make films or loves cinema should take full advantage of this event by attending all programmes, meeting people and networking.”

Filmmaker Amit Sharma who will be participating in a masterclass and is part of the jury for the Short Film Competition at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 said, "Before IPL came to India, we had only 11 cricketers. But after IPL, we had multiple teams playing in different countries. This is what happens when you have film festivals. We get to tap into the talent in the region. Festivals like The Himalayan Film Festival help artists nurture their talent through which they can really experience working in the film industry. They can make their own short films, they can get into ad films, and they can get into feature films. I think it’s a brilliant thing that's happening, and film festivals have always helped people who want to be filmmakers.”

Filmmaker and actor Kenny Deori Basumatary whose film Local Utpaat will be screened during the festival and who will be participating in a masterclass at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023 said, “A film festival can be a life-changing experience. While I'd wanted to be a filmmaker since my school days, it was a film festival at the Indian Habitat Centre in Delhi that gave me further encouragement to pursue this ambition. Whenever people ask me about becoming filmmakers, I tell them to make lots of shorts. Film festival competitions help give one an idea of kaun kitne paani mein hai. And workshops with industry professionals are very very important, because we learn some vital details from working people. For example, even after fifteen years, I remember Sriram Raghavan's advice on using Indian cinema's interval point to our advantage.”

Mentor of the Screenwriters Lab at The Himalayan Film Festival 2023, Filmmaker and Screenwriter Satyanshu Singh said, “It makes me immensely happy to be associated with The Himalayan Film Festival as a mentor. It is a fertile ground for local filmmakers to hone their skills through workshops and masterclasses. The festival is set to bring cinema from the corners of the country to the forefront, a treat to cinephiles.”

The Himalayan Film Festival is all set to captivate audiences from September 29th to October 3rd, 2023 bringing together the best of Indian cinema ALSO READ: Janhvi Kapoor looks like a work of art in the red linen saree, which will undoubtedly transport you to another era

Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan has been making waves right from the day of its announcement and the trailer just pushed it up to the next level. As the action entertainer is nearing its release date, the makers are leaving no stone unturned to elevate it to the next level and now, to treat the audience with the super hit songs altogether by releasing the Jukebox. Be it 'Zinda Banda', 'Chalega', or 'Not Ramaiaya Vastavaiya', all the songs from the album Jawan have received a phenomenal response from the audience. Elevating the ever-rising craze, the makers have now released the Juke Box where the audience will able to enjoy the entire album from the film.

On Tuesday night, Shah Rukh Khan tweeted, "There’s more to enjoy in the film too. Thanks to all in our team and also the partners for coming on board and giving us the smashing Sound of Jawan. Happy listening…..#Jawan7thSeptember."

There’s more to enjoy in the film too. Thanks to all in our team and also the partners for coming on board and giving us the smashing Sound of Jawan. Happy listening…..#Jawan7thSeptember https://t.co/ahAdr8my5f — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 5, 2023

'Zinda Banda' is composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The couplet in the song is given by Wasim Barelvi while the lyrics are given by Irshad Kamil. The vocals of the song are by Anirudh Ravichander. The 'Chaleya' song is beautifully sung by Arijit Singh & Shilpa Rao. The electrifying party number 'Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya' has been composed by Anirudh Ravichander and the lyrics are by Kumaar. The energetic voice in the song is given by Anirudh Ravichander, Vishal Dadlani & Shilpa Rao.

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will be released worldwide in theatres on September 7th, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Trade predicts that Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan can collect Rs. 70 crores on day 1 to become the BIGGEST Hindi film EVER

Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal is doing his first out-and-out family entertainer in his 10-year career with YRF’s The Great Indian Family (TGIF). Vicky reveals that he is lucky to have finally found a film from his favourite genre with TGIF as it brings back fond memories from his growing-up years!

He says, “I remember when I was growing up, some of my favourite memories were about us as a family going to a theatre and watching a film that we all could enjoy together. I used to look forward to such films because it became an event for my family. It was just a lovely experience, an unforgettable one.”

Vicky adds, “So when I decided to become an actor, I hoped I could do a film that families would love to come out and see. I wanted to deliver the same experience that I got. I’m really proud to be a part of a family entertainer like TGIF because of the beautiful message that it will deliver to audiences.”

The actor hopes that the film will tug at people’s hearts and move them with a beautiful message! He says, “I hope TGIF is a film that people will connect to and engage with at an emotional level as well as entertainment level. I look forward to sharing our film with the audiences on 22nd Sep.” ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal reveals he went without sleep for three nights to shoot for ‘Kanhaiya Twitter Pe Aaja’ from The Great Indian Family; says, “I was sleepless”

With two days left before the release of Jawan, the anticipation for the Shah Rukh Khan starrer is on an all-time high. This marks his second release following the blockbuster Pathaan in January. Ahead of the release, the actor visited Tirupati along with his daughter Suhana Khan, co-star Nayanthara and manager Pooja Dadlani.

After seeking blessings at Vaishno Devi last week, Shah Rukh Khan was seen seeking blessings at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple. In the video has surfaced online, he wore a white traditional attire for the temple as he waved at them and blew flying kisses. Suhana was donning a white salwar suit. The actor was also joined by Nayanthara who was also dressed in all-white who came along with her husband Vignesh Shivan.

Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana, and Nayanthara prayed at Sri Venkateshwara Swamy in Tirupati ahead of #Jawaan release.#tirupati #tirupathi #tirumala #itsmytirupati #jawan #srk #shahrukhkhan #Jawan7thSeptember2023 #JawanFanMania #JawanFirstDayFirstShow pic.twitter.com/xuWWBhjEfy — It's My Tirupati (@Itsmytirupati) September 5, 2023

Shah Rukh Khan along with Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan visits the famous #Tirumala Tirupati temple ahead of #Jawan’s release on September 7th.#ShahRukhKhan #Nayanathara #JawanTrailer #Jawan7thSeptember2023 #SRK #Tirupati pic.twitter.com/1jTrVqekay — Ajay AJ (@AjayTweets07) September 5, 2023

Meanwhile, the film looks set to open to a thunderous start. In fact, the film had sold as many as 246,000 tickets in the two biggest national multiplex chains in India for the first day alone until 10.45 am on September 4. As per the update Jawan has seen sales of 203,000 tickets across PVR + INOX and a further 43,000 tickets being sold across Cinepolis theatres. Interestingly, these sales are just for the film’s opening day, September 7.

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will be released worldwide in theatres on September 7th, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan is quite hot down South; expected to emerge as the BIGGEST Hindi film in Tamil Nadu

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who passed away in April 2020, would have turned 71 on September 4. On his birth anniversary, his Agneepath co-star Sanjay Dutt penned a heartfelt note. He also shared a photo of himself with Rishi and Ranbir Kapoor.

Speaking highly of Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt wrote, "Chintu Sir was more than family, he embodied the essence of one of the finest actors and human beings. His infectious laughter, stories, and genuineness knit us together. On his birth anniversary, the void he left is palpable, but the warmth of his memory keeps him alive in our hearts. Miss you, sir."

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Kapoor's Aap Ke Deewane co-star Rakesh Roshan also shared a throwback photo and wrote, "Chintu miss you, buddy, it's 4th Sept Celebrate!"

Rishi Kapoor battled leukaemia for two years before passing on April 30, 2020. The actor was being treated in New York and had returned to India. He died at the age of 67. ALSO READ: SCOOP: Sanjay Dutt gets a staggering fee to be a part of the Telugu film Double Ismart

Bollywood actress, Entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty Kundra dazzled as she closed the fashion show for renowned designer Aslam Khan in a spectacular display of fashion and grace. The event, set in a wedding-themed ambiance, was a perfect canvas for Aslam Khan's exquisite creations, and Shilpa Shetty Kundra was the epitome of elegance as she sashayed down the ramp in a breathtaking lehenga.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra, known for her impeccable style and timeless beauty, left the audience in awe as she took centre stage. The lehenga she adorned was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, featuring intricate embroidery, luxurious fabrics, and a colour palette that exuded regal charm. The ensemble perfectly blended traditional aesthetics with contemporary flair, reflecting Aslam Khan's signature style. As she walked the ramp, Shilpa Shetty Kundrra’s confidence and grace captured the essence of the bridal couture collection. Her every step showcased the intricate detailing of the lehenga, from the delicately embroidered blouse to the voluminous skirt that flowed gracefully with her movements.

Don't you concur with us when we say Shilpa Shetty has amazing fashion sense and consistently astounds her followers with her varied wardrobe choices? The actor knows how to keep her style metre ticking along during reality shows and movie promotions. The starlet left her admirers flabbergasted by selecting a blue lehenga this time. She looked stunning in an Aslam Khan lehenga with silver and powder blue embellishments that found the perfect blend between modern and traditional. Shilpa completed her look with a stylish blue and silver blouse that complemented her lehenga and gave it a beautiful finishing touch. With a silver maang tikka and extravagant bracelets that complemented her ring, she added sparkling embellishments to her outfit so that her bling would stand out. Shilpa wore bare makeup with glittering eyeshadow, kohl eyes, and glossy lip colour, leaving her silky mane unbound.

Concluding the show, Shilpa Shetty Kundra not only exhibited Aslam Khan's outstanding designs. Her graceful stride in the exquisite lehenga became the show's standout moment, seamlessly fusing tradition with fashion, etching an indelible memory. Shilpa's presence elevated the wedding-themed celebration of Indian culture, beguiling the audience with her radiant smile and composure, all while enrapturing them with Aslam Khan's artistic and beautiful creations.

Also Read: Shilpa Shetty opens up about her journey, admits she was never in the top 10 actors list; says, “Today, look at me! I am doing biggest series”

With Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma starrer Jaane Jaan set to release on September 21 on Netflix, production house 12th Street Entertainment is ready to take us for another thrilling ride. While their upcoming slate is packed, the production house is thrilled to be working on several projects. Amongst them is the sequel to Bhoot Police. The sequel, which has been in the works, has been officially announced by the producer.

Bhoot Police released in 2021 and stars Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez and Yami Gautam. It was directed by Pawan Kripalani. The horror-comedy is now getting a second installment. However, the cast and the other details are under wraps. Back in October 2022, Saif Ali Khan told Bollywood Hungama, “I loved the script and I liked my role in Bhoot Police. It continues to be one of the most watched films on that platform, and they are very keen to do a sequel.”

Additionally, 12th Street Entertainment is also gearing up for the remake of the 2010 South Indian neo-noir film Aaranya Kaandam. The Tamil-language crime drama, written and directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja, stars Jackie Shroff, Ravi Krishna, Sampath Raj, Yasmin Ponnappa, Guru Somasundaram and Master Vasanth. The film was released in 2010.

With successful films like Badla, directed by Sujoy Ghosh and starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu, and Gaslight, a psychological thriller starring Sara Ali Khan, Vikrant Massey and Chitrangada Singh in its repertoire, producer Akshai Puri is currently gearing up for several projects. ALSO READ: Saif Ali Khan confirms Bhoot Police 2

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited action entertainer Jawan has created the proper noise. With only three days remaining for its release in the theatres, the superstar hosted a Q&A session on Sunday amid the much anticipation around the movie. During the #AskSRK session, an X user, formerly Twitter, answered several questions about Jawan. He also hopes that Nayanthara is appreciated for her hard work by the Hindi audience.

He wrote, “The movie reflects upon how we as people can make a change that we want around us. Empower women and fight for the right. #Jawan.”

The movie reflects upon how we as people can make a change that we want around us. Empower women and fight for the right. #Jawan https://t.co/MTJ7W8wAIY — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

In another tweet, he called Jawan a “mix of mass and international class in terms of action” and that the movie has some really “cool background music.”

#Jawan is a mix of mass and international class in terms of action. With some really cool Background music! #Jawan https://t.co/Np9PgDagHI — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

Very proud!! Hope the policemen who do such amazing service for the country appreciate it. #Jawan https://t.co/rdnckhkD31 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

There is a lot of love and emotion left in #Jawan by me. Some very heartfelt things hope u appreciate it when u see #Jawan https://t.co/VxY540hjFb — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

Talking about Nayanthara, he added, “She is so beautiful and such a wonderful actor. Has added immensely to her role. Hope her fans in Tamil Nadu fall in love with her all over again and Hindi audience appreciates her hard work.”

She is so beautiful and such a wonderful actor. Has added immensely to her role. Hope her fans in Tamil Nadu fall in love with her all over again and Hindi audience appreciates her hard work. #Jawan https://t.co/Pbv2OxZAnZ — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

While defining his characters, he said, “Upright Honest and Patriotic.” Talking about his song ‘Chaleya’ which was shot on the Mumbai streets, he felt good to back filming in his home.

Jaise apne ghar mein dance kar raha hoon…felt like home as always. #Jawan https://t.co/ilQfnHn6MD — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

Upright Honest and Patriotic. #Jawan https://t.co/gDSrUt6nE4 — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will release worldwide in theatres on September 7th, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Ask SRK: Shah Rukh Khan gives apt response after being asked about real advance bookings vs corporate bookings of Jawan: “Yeh social media waali ghatia baatein mat karo yaar”

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited action entertainer Jawan has created the right noise amongst the masses. With only three days remaining for its release in the theatres, the superstar hosted a Q&A session on Sunday amid the much anticipation around the movie. During the #AskSRK session, an X user, formerly Twitter, asked about the corporate booking and the actual advance bookings for the film. However, SRK had an apt response.

The actor was asked, “#Jawan ka kitna booking cooperate hai aur kitna real (how much of the Jawan advance booking numbers are real and how much is fake)? #AskSRK.”

Shah Rukh Khan, in his witty way, responded, “Yeh social media waali ghatia baatein mat karo yaar (Don’t do social media type rubbish talks). Have positive thoughts and good feelings for all. Better for life.”

Yeh social media waali ghatia baatein mat karo yaar. Have positive thoughts and good feelings for all. Better for life. #Jawan https://t.co/1mWv5qPH3O — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 3, 2023

As per the earlier report, 1,00,000 tickets are blocked by brands for the holiday period, which will be distributed among their privileged consumers. Meanwhile, as per a Bollywood Hungama report, the film had sold as many as 222,500 tickets in India's two biggest national multiplex chains for the first day alone until 7 PM on Sunday, September 3. As per the update Jawan has seen sales of 183,500 tickets across PVR + INOX and a further 39,000 tickets being sold across Cinepolis theatres. Interestingly, these sales are just for the film’s opening day, Thursday September 7.

Jawan is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation directed by Atlee, produced by Gauri Khan, and co-produced by Gaurav Verma. The film will be released worldwide in theatres on September 7th, 2023, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages. ALSO READ: Jawan Advance Booking Report: Shah Rukh Khan starrer sells 222,500 tickets for Day 1 as of 7 pm

After Kareena Kapoor Khan unveiled her look of a single mother, who looks terrified and trying to protect her daughter, the next avatar unveiled by the makers is that of Jaideep Ahlawat. This newly unveiled poster of Jaane Jaan showcases an astounding makeover of the actor where he is seen sporting a completely different avatar, which is that of a menacing, partially bald man. It also seems that Ahlawat underwent a remarkable weight loss to achieve his look in the movie.

Speaking of Jaideep Ahlawat's physical transformation for this thriller, let us tell you that the actor actually underwent remarkable physical transformations for both of his upcoming ventures, namely, Paatal Lok 2 and the Netflix film Jaane Jaan. For Paatal Lok 2, he underwent a significant weight gain to reprise his role as Hathi Ram Chaudhary, collaborating closely with experts for a healthy transformation. Now, in Jaane Jaan, he has shed those pounds for a crucial character of a socially awkward genius. Fans are eagerly awaiting both projects to witness Ahlawat's versatility on screen.

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Earlier this week, the makers of the movie unveiled the title of the movie as Jaane Jaan which is inspired by an iconic song sung by Lata Mangeshkar of the same name from the 1969 film Intaqam, picturized on Helen. The song is written by Rajinder Krishan whereas it was composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.

The Netflix movie Jaane Jaan is expected to feature him in a never-before-seen avatar of a genius mathematician. For the unversed, the upcoming thriller is an adaptation of the Japanese novel Devotion of Suspect X written by Higashino Keig and the movie is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. Along with Kareena Kapoor Khan, the film also stars Vijay Varma who is expected to essay the role of a cop.

Also Read: Jaane Jaan poster unveiled: Kareena Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Jaideep Ahlawat film’s trailer to release on THIS date!

Dancer-actress Nora Fatehi has recently taken on the role of a judge for the third time in a popular dance reality show. Alongside her sat mentor and renowned Indian choreographer, Remo D'Souza. The show has achieved a remarkable feat, earning a place in the Guinness World Records for orchestrating the largest on-ground Hip Hop performance.

Adding to the grandeur of the finale were the notable presence of singer and rapper Badshah, as well as Raftaar. The concluding episode was a spectacle featuring a joint performance by the judges, who enthralled the audience with their graceful moves set to the rhythm of Indian pop melodies.

Following Nora Fatehi's electrifying performance, Remo D'Souza showered praise on talented dancer. He went on to hail her as the “number one female Bollywood dancer” presently gracing the industry. While acknowledging Nora's dance skills, Remo also took a moment to recognize the unparalleled mastery of Hrithik Roshan. Remo remarked, “Male dancers mein ham sabko pata hai ki number one pe kaun aata hai, Hrithik Roshan. Female dancers mein, after this performance, no doubt, Nora Fatehi!”

Nora Fatehi has carved a distinctive niche for herself within the Bollywood realm. With numerous projects in the pipeline, she is set to take on her first titular role alongside Vidyut Jamwal in the sports-action film Crakk. Additionally, she will make her debut in the Telugu film industry, starring opposite Varun Tej in Matka. Nora's versatility shines as she juggled diverse roles in two ongoing projects, namely Remo D'Souza's Be Happy, alongside Abhishek Bachchan, and Kunal Khemu's Madgaon Express.

Also Read: Promo of Nora Fatehi and Remo D’souza’s dance reality show Hip Hip India out, watch

Hrithik Roshan, often hailed as the Greek God of Bollywood, continues to defy age and set fitness standards that leave both fans and fellow celebrities in awe. The actor's commitment to fitness is a well-known facet of his life, and he frequently treats his fans and followers to glimpses of his chiselled body and intense workout sessions on social media. Despite a hectic shooting schedule, Hrithik remains dedicated to maintaining his sculpted abs and toned physique.

Recently, Hrithik Roshan took the internet by storm when he shared a captivating black and white picture of himself. The actor posted a shirtless picture that left Bollywood celebrities, including Anil Kapoor and Karan Wahi, exclaiming in amazement. Alongside the picture, Hrithik wrote, “Can't see the finish line.”

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Fans flooded the comments section, expressing their admiration for the actor's dedication to his physique. Anil Kapoor showered the actor with multiple emojis, applauding his fitness journey, while TV personality Karan Wahi simply couldn't resist saying, “Uffff.” Saba Azad, Preity Zinta and several other industry friends reacted.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Hrithik Roshan has been the talk of the town due to his upcoming projects that promise to push the boundaries of his versatility as an actor. Eagerly anticipated by his fans, Hrithik is set to don the role of an air force pilot in the movie Fighter, a highly anticipated film that also stars Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. Additionally, the actor has set the rumour mill spinning with reports of his involvement in a new instalment of the popular Krrish franchise, which has left his ardent followers brimming with excitement.

Also Read: Aditya Chopra targets Republic Day 2025 for Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR’s War 2

The industry, trade and moviegoers are gearing up for the release of Jawan, starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The social media and entertainment news websites are regularly reporting about the insane ticket sales and it has further enhanced the excitement for the action entertainer. However, Jawan is not the only major release on September 7. The Nun II will also arrive in theatres on the same day. With Jawan getting an unprecedented response from the advance ticket sales, the Hollywood horror film is finding it very tough to get screens.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Warner Bros team is in constant touch with the multiplex chain and other theatres. They are aware that Jawan is a very big opposition. Hence, they are asking for limited shows. Even then, many theatre owners don’t seem interested.”

The source continued, “Warner Bros was one of the first ones to release films in cinemas in 2020 when most producers preferred to wait for normalcy or released their films directly on OTT. This was a time when the studio released not just big-ticket films like Tenet (2020) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) but also smaller films. It was done in the larger interest of the theatres so that they have content to play and the habit of watching films in cinemas is re-cultivated among audiences. And now, the theatres are showing their back to the same studio that supported them in tough times.”

The source also added, “And it’s not like The Nun II will not find an audience. It’s a huge franchise. The previous part, The Nun (2018), collected Rs. 8 crores on day 1 and had lifetime earnings of Rs. 46.46 crores. The Nun II can also have healthy collections if it’s given a chance. Just last month, the monstrous blockbuster Gadar 2 set the box office on fire. But it wasn’t the only release. OMG 2 was also released on the same day and did huge business. Similarly, Evil Dead Rise, also backed by Warner Bros, clashed with Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan on Eid 2023 and collected Rs. 36.50 crores. The same model can be successfully applied with Jawan and The Nun II as well.”

An exhibitor on condition of anonymity said, “The single-screens have no choice but to play Jawan, looking at the response. The multiplexes should release The Nun II. But theatres with two or three screens will find it hard to do so as they also have to accommodate holdover releases like Gadar 2, OMG 2 and Dream Girl 2, all of which are still doing well.”

Another source said, “The Nun II will be able to get a minimum of 1000 screens. Things will be resolved in a few days.” The horror film releases not just in English but also in dubbed Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions.

Meanwhile, there are chances that Warner Bros will release Barbie in IMAX in India on September 22. The blockbuster film will be released with extra footage.

Also Read: After clashing Evil Dead Rise with Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ka Jaan, Warner Bros to now clash The Nun II with Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan

Shilpa Shetty Kundra embarked on her illustrious acting journey back in 1993 when she graced the silver screen for the first time in the iconic film Baazigar, sharing the screen with none other than the Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan. Since that pivotal debut, Shilpa has not only garnered recognition for her acting prowess but has also left an indelible mark with her exceptional dancing abilities. In a candid and reflective interview, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who marked her 30th year in the Hindi film industry, shared her thoughts on her remarkable journey and her outlook on the future. While looking back on her illustrious career, Shilpa emphasized that she doesn't dwell on the past and remains focused on her professional growth.

Despite not consistently ranking among the top ten actors in the industry, Shilpa Shetty expressed her contentment with her career trajectory. She told ETimes,, “I feel there is poetic justice of life, always. I was never in the top 10 actors (list). I may have received a lot of love and adulation but never counted in the top 10 actors - maybe lack of opportunity, or what, I don't know. Today, look at me! I am doing biggest series, I have just finished filming a movie, I am doing a multilingual film, and I have nothing to complain about today. We all have our journey, I have carved a niche on TV, my brands are doing well.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Shilpa will be next seen in film Sukhee opposite Amit Sadh. She also has the web series Indian Police Force directed by Rohit Shetty. The show also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi.

Also Read: Shilpa Shetty spreads the love for sarees yet again in floral saree and one-shoulder blouse

Veteran Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman has been very creative with her Instagram account since her debut on the social media platform in February. From cherished memories from film sets to captivating anecdotes from her travel diaries, and even delightful descriptions of her favourite cuisines, she takes her followers on a vibrant journey through her posts. In her recent Instagram update, Zeenat Aman took to her social media and offered her fans and followers a glimpse into the media's portrayal of her during that era, along with some of the accusations and speculations that surrounded her at the time.

Zeenat Aman shared a series of old magazine covers that featured her along with the caption, “If the headlines were to be believed, in 1979 I had cursed myself, in 1982 I was being picked on, in 1984 I was out of sync, in 1985 I was marching towards self-destruction, and in 1998 I was shattered!”

The actress further added, “There was a time that I subscribed to glossies and tabloids, but that passed very quickly. I could not relate at all to the person they presented me as. The headlines would be adulatory one day and vicious the very next. There was little by way of fact checking, and no remorse for errors made. When they got the story right - it was usually a colossal breach of privacy. When they got it wrong - those blatant lies would be taken as the gospel. These “scandals” took their toll. It was its own form of public humiliation, and I remember the anxiety, outrage and grief that came with these.”

“At some point my skin toughened, and the realisation dawned that it was impossible for me to challenge the persona that they wanted to create. The one time I confronted an erstwhile editor about a malicious story, she was full of excuses but not a single apology. I made up my mind then not to take it personally. Undignified as it was, their only interest was selling their magazines,” said Aman.

“All this is just to say - people will always find reason to talk, and so it’s probably best not to allow their opinion or perception to define your life. You can do that for yourself,” Aman concluded.

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

Also Read: Zeenat Aman shares Instagram wisdom; says, “Life is messy”

Tamannaah Bhatia, who has been a part of some of the biggest films in the South and Bollywood industry, recently decided to take a trip down memory lane as she completed 18 years of her acting journey. Talking about how this art has always been her first love, the actress took to social media to reminisce about some of her best films including Baahubali, Lust Stories 2, Jailer, and the recent web series Aakhri Sachi in which she essays the role of a cop. Along with these glimpses, she also penned a heartfelt note describing her journey.

Tamannaah Bhatia took to Instagram to share these montages from her films and in the caption she wrote, “From teen dreams to adult realisations…. from a damsel in distress and the girl next door to a badass bouncer and now a fearless investigator… what a ride it’s been! 18 years on this journey to eternity with my first true love… acting. (being loved emoji”. She further went on to add why her role as a cop in Aakhri Sach is special as she continued, “Anya is an extremely special role for me. Playing a cop in a gripping narrative like Aakhri Sach was a challenge for sure… but one I welcomed with open arms. My attempt was to channel every emotion into this character and do complete justice to it. Hope you guys like Anya!”

She concluded the note by adding, “Meanwhile, had some time to reminisce these wonderful memories and wanted to share it with you all… the ones who support me the most on this dream ride. Thank you and I love you all <3<3<3”. While many of her peers and fans wished her on the day of her anniversary, her friend and co-star Kajal Aggarwal too expressed her happiness in a short note as she added, “18 years! Bigggg congratulations darling Tammy! here’s to a lifetime of romance with your true love, ahead! can’t wait to witness your magic as inspector Anya #akhrisach”.

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  A post shared by Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks)

Aakhri Sach features Tamannaah Bhatia as a no-nonsense police officer Anya Swaroop who investigates the shocking death of an entire family. If reports are to be believed, the show is inspired by the controversial case of Burari deaths.

Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia escapes to Maldives for a well-deserved getaway; see pictures

The month of August was a great one for the industry thanks to the performance of films like Gadar 2, OMG 2, Jailer, Dream Girl 2 and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The Hindi version of Jailer didn’t get adequate shows due to the release of too many films. But it managed to trend quite well, surprising trade and industry since all the dubbed Hindi versions of South films that were released earlier in 2023 had flopped. But this Tamil blockbuster was an exception as it found takers in Hindi.

Bollywood Hungama has now learnt that the Hindi version of the Rajinikanth starrer suffered a few cuts. As per the cut list, three modifications were requested by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The visuals of the beheaded body were reduced and replaced with suitable shots. Similarly, the visuals of Muthu (Rajinikanth) holding a sliced ear were modified.

And that’s not all. The CBFC’s examining committee also asked for an audio cut. It asked the makers to remove the mention of blockbuster filmmaker Rakesh Roshan as ‘the name was used in a derogatory context’.

Once these changes were carried out, the Hindi version of Jailer was given a censor certificate on August 8. The film was passed with a U/A rating with the final run time of 165 minutes, that is, 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Hindi version of Jailer, like the original version, was released in cinemas on August 10.

The Tamil version of Jailer suffered more cuts. It went through 11 modifications, most of which were of violent and gory visuals being modified or removed. In a rare instance, the CBFC asked for the blood splash level in a few scenes to be reduced. A few changes in the dialogues were also carried out after which the censor certificate was granted on July 27, 2023.

Rakesh Roshan was recently in the news when his much-loved sci-fi classic, Koi Mil Gaya (2003), starring Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta, completed 20 years on August 8. Then last week, when Chandryaan-3 mission was successful, the West Bengal Chief Minister mistakenly referred to Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma as Rakesh Roshan. The video clip went viral in no time.

Also Read: Jailer producer gifts Rs 100 crores from film’s profits to Rajinikanth along with BMW X7 worth Rs. 1.20 cr