Archive For The “bollywood” Category
A 33-year-old man from the United States allegedly stabbed his wife to death as he found his wife's obsession towards Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan unbearable, and later hung himself to death. As per reports, Dineshwar Budhidat from Queens was very jealous of the fact that his 27-year-old wife Donne Dojoy, a bar-tender by profession, was a huge fan of Hrithik.
Mala Ramdhani, a karaoke singer who worked at the same bar as Donne did, revealed that she was often stopped from watching songs or films featuring Hrithik at home as her husband would get jealous. Reports also state that the woman had moved out of the apartment where she lived with her husband, but has visited the place for some time.
After committing the murder, Dineshwar allegedly texted his sister-in-law confessing that he had killed her and also directed her as to how she could find the house key. Then he left the house and committed suicide nearby.
Donne was apparently abused, threatened and beaten by the husband in the past as well, and even had an order of protection from the court after Dineshwar was arrested in August, on charges of slapping and strangling her.
Disagreements between actors and directors happen but they usually tend to get sorted out before the release of the film. But looks tough on this one. Apparently, due to deteriorating relations, Akshay Kumar (plays ATS Chief Veer Sooryavanshi), and Rohit Shetty have had a major fallout while shooting for Sooryavanshi and stopped communicating with each other completely. Besides Akshay Kumar, the cop action-drama also stars Katrina Kaif, Gulshan Grover, Neena Gupta, Sikandar Kher and Niharica Raizada among others.
Says a trade source, “There are icy vibes between the lead actor and the director as they don't talk to each other on the sets of Sooryavanshi. Apparently, Akshay and Rohit have major problems with each other and to such a degree that they have stopped talking to each other. There were massive creative differences on the script and the way the movie was being shot which apparently led to a showdown between both one day. Since that day they don't talk to each other but communicate on the sets through the assistant directors who explain the shots to Akshay before filming. Rohit has a movie to complete with a release date (March 27, 2020) looming over him so maybe he pushes things around a bit to get things done his way. While those who have worked with Rohit realise that this is his style of working, to others like Akshay, who is working with him for the first time, it may look as if Rohit is doing whatever he wants and throwing his weight around so things have been spinning a bit out of control. One has heard that these days he comes on the sets after Akshay arrives. Everybody knows how punctual the superstar is and never makes anybody wait. The director ideally is one of the first to arrive to give instructions to his team on a movie set.”
The source adds that while creative differences have opened up between Rohit and Akshay, the main reason for their cold war goes way back – when the filmmaker had preponed the release date of Sooryavanshi to March 27, 2020, something which Akshay had apparently not been consulted over. “Akshay is a cool, hassle-free guy and a thorough professional. He never interferes in any decision that his director or producer makes but he was upset when Rohit decided to prepone Sooryavanshi without even informing him. Apparently, the filmmaker had made this decision talking to Salman Khan directly. A hurt Akshay kept quiet but when script issues spiralled out of control, he could no longer keep quiet as his dates were being jostled around. He is very organised and his dates are chalked out months in advance. With re-shooting of Sooryavanshi happening, his dates were getting messed up with his other projects. Apparently, Akshay is also unhappy with the re-shoot of some major scenes in the movie.”
A major fallout because of the rumoured rift between the filmmaker and the superstar, the trade source says, is a change of the promotional strategy. “Rohit and Akshay will not promote the film together. At the most they may come together for the promo launch only. But interviews and promotions they won’t be doing together. Apparently, relations have soured so much between them that one day, Karan Johar had to be called on the sets to intervene and sort things out. He is playing the mediator to make sure that the project gets completed on time.”
During the shoot of Dilwale, similar rumours of a rift between Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty had surfaced, leading to speculations that the two wouldn’t work together again. Recently, there was talk that Hrithik Roshan had left Farah Khan and Rohit’s next movie and the two filmmakers had approached Akshay for it. The trade source sums it up, “As of now, the way things are between them, it’s almost impossible that they will work together again.”
Also Read: Sooryavanshi: Katrina Kaif and Rohit Shetty look as happy as daises in this candid BTS picture
Raakhee Gulzar the legendary actress who ruled Hindi and Bengali cinema for more than 25 years with memorable performances in a slew of films in both the languages was last seen in Rituparno Ghosh’s whodunit Shubho Mahurat in 2003.
And now she is back on the screen with a Bengali film Gautam Haldar’s Nirbaan. It was screened on November 9 as part of the Kolkata International Film festival. Says the forthright actress, “The film has been ready for some time now. I’ve no idea why its release is delayed. But it’s a very relevant subject. We’ve made it in Bengali and Hindi.”
It was a triumphant homecoming for veteran actress Raakhee Gulzar when she touched down on Kolkata on November 8 as a special guest at the Kolkata International Film festival.
Shockingly, Raakheeji whose breathtaking beauty inspired Sahir Ludhianvi to write the lines Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai ke jaise tujhko banaya gaya hai mere liye, reveals that she has never been invited by Festival before. “This is the 25th year of existence for the Kolkata Film Festival. Not once did they invite me before this. This is the first invitation I’ve got and that too because Mamtaji (Bengal’s chief minister Mama Bannerjee) wanted me to be honoured. I said yes because of her.”
The honorary function went swimmingly with Bengal’s chief minister ensuring her presence throughout. Says Raakheeji appreciatively, “She was giving instructions about the Bengal cyclone on the phone while attending the function to honour me. She is a wonderful person, much misunderstood and vilified for being a powerful woman.”
Shah Rukh Khan was also present at the function to honour Raakheeji. Says the veteran actress fondly, “Shah Rukh is very fond of both me and Mamtaji. Ever since I played his mother in Baazigar and Karan Arjun he has been very close to me. And he hasn’t changed one bit over the years. He held my hand and greeted me with the same warmth.”
Raakheedi invited Shah Rukh to accompany her on stage. “On stage I made him recite two lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s O Amar Desher which talks about bowing one’s head to one’s motherland. Shah Rukh recited the lines like a Bengali.”
So her fans have something to look forward to?
She laughs her throaty laughter. “Fans? I don’t think anyone even remembers me today. Time has moved on. The young audience today is not familiar with my work…or maybe they know Kabhi Kabhie, Paroma and a few others.”
Any unfulfilled wishes? “Yes, I always wanted to work with Tapan Sinha. According to me he is the best filmmaker Bengal has ever produced. So progressive, so ahead of his times. It was my misfortune that I never got a chance to work with him.”
Working with Rituparno Ghosh was also a pleasure. “He was very very good with women characters. In fact I recommended Ritu to Aishwarya Rai when she was considering Chokher Bali. It is sad that he died so young. He was the most powerful emerging voice of Bengali cinema.”
Long-standing health issues have re-surfaced in mega-star Amitabh Bachchan’s life. Apparently, Bachchan has been advised a long layoff from acting by doctors. And this time, he has no option but to comply.
According to sources in the know, Big B would be taking time off right after the completion and release of Nagraj Manjule’s football film Jhund in December. “The other projects that Amitji has signed would have to wait,” informs a family source. “Right now it is imperative that he take a longish break. He is physically exhausted; his body needs rest repair and healing.”
This time, Big B’s family is also adamant about his time off.
“Wife Jaya, daughter Shweta and son Abhishek have made it very clear to Bachchan Saab that this time he must take the medical advice seriously. He has been seriously advised to take time off on several occasions in recent years. Each time he has disregarded the warning and continued to work. Not this time. The family will make sure he takes time off for rest,” says a family friend of the Bachchan family.
Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan indulges in a serious conversation with Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan
Time and again, Bollywood has hosted parties for several international celebrities. A couple of years ago, during Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan hosted an after-party for Coldplay after they performed here for the first time. Ed Sheeran has performed in Mumbai twice. During his second visit, Farah Khan hosted a huge bash and many photos and videos had gone viral of the British singer dancing and enjoying the party.
Now, joining the bandwagon, Karan Johar is all set to host a grand welcome party for American pop star Katy Perry. The singer is set to perform in Mumbai on Saturday. Before that, she will attend this bash which will reportedly see Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt among other stars.
On August 28, Katy Perry announced her return to India and wrote, “I am looking forward to seeing and singing with all of my Indian KatyCats."
Katy Perry had earlier come to India with her ex-husband Russell Brand who had proposed her in front of Taj Mahal. They even exchanged vows near a resort close to the Ranthambore National Park.
ALSO READ: Karan Johar, Karisma Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda celebrate Natasha Nanda’s 50th birthday
Ajay Devgn is gearing for the release of his next film, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior which marks his 100th film in the industry. The actor will essay the role of Tanaji Malusare, who fought alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Saif Ali Khan will take over the role of antagonist Udaybhan Rathod, who fought against Tanaji during the Battle Of Sinhagad.
Director Om Raut said that Ajay Devgn was his first choice for the role. He started writing the film in 2015 and gave the narration to Ajay two years ago. He said that he was fascinated by the story since he was a child.
Om Raut also said that Ajay has the persona, eyes, and physic that exudes power. For the filmmaker, it was difficult to recreate the 17th century without any visual references but at the same true they had to stay true to the characters and mileau.
Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn are all set to face off in the film. Om Raut further added that during the filming they realized that this was a battle royal between the two stars.
Kajol will be essaying the role of Savitri Bai, Tanaji Malusare's wife who stayed by his side through thick and thin. She will be playing a Maharashtrian role for the first time.
The epic battle will be released in 3D on 10th January 2020. Ajay Devgn starrer, Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior is produced by Ajay Devgn’s ADF and Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and is directed by Om Raut.
ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol congratulate Ajay Devgn as he celebrates his 100th film, Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior
The nightingale of India is well on the way to recovery. She did give us all a scare, though, when a chest infection landed her in the hospital on Monday. Just days before her hospitalization, I had spoken to her. As always I could sense she was not well from the moment she said her first word on the phone, ‘Hello’.
“Didi, what’s wrong?” my voice rose to a shrill near-hysterical pitch. “Calm down. I am fine,” she whispered in a rasping tone. “This is why I don’t tell you when I am unwell. You get so worked up that I end up regretting telling you about it. It’s a routine chest infection. Nothing major. I’ve fever. I feel a little weak but nothing to worry about,” she had reassured me.
But somehow, I wasn’t pacified. I knew this time her ailment was more serious than her cold-and-cough and the upset stomach. But, I didn’t press the point. I quickly reminded her that the last time we had spoken was on her birthday when my city was submerged in flood waters. In spite of the calamitous weather, I had to take her blessings on her birthday. How could I not? I feel every time I miss out on taking her blessings, I lose a precious chance to touch divinity.
So I reminded her that on her birthday this year, I insisted on wishing her and kept calling her until she came on the phone. “I had to take your call on my birthday because if I did not, you would keep trying until I did. You never give up,”she teased me.
We both laughed at that. Her laughter was frail though. I felt uneasy about her health. And I was right. This is the first time she was hospitalized in the last twenty years. I froze when I got to know of her condition. But even more alarming was he conjecture and exaggerations in the media.
“Lata Mangeshkar Critical,” … “Lata Mangeshkar On Ventilator…” Really?
Where does all this (mis)information come from? And why are alarmist headlines so popular? Why is is it more exciting to say ‘Critical’ rather than ‘Stable & Recovering?’
Lataji and I had spoken about alarmist headlines when Mr Bachchan was hospitalized recently. She wondered, “Why are people so eager to hear alarming news reports on Bachchan Saab? The nation wants him to be well and healthy always.”
As for reports filtering out of hospital sources giving away health bulletins, a source quoted in a leading news agency’s report claims Lataji was brought to the hospital in a 'critical condition”.
If this is not a violation and breach of an individual’s right to ail privately, then what is? Lataji was neither ‘critical’ when she was admitted into hospital nor was she ever in a high-risk area of health scare.
She was admitted as precautionary measure to ensure her condition remained stable. And it was alarm and dread that were projected in the press.A panic state of pseudo-concern concealing a disturbing glee gotten from celebrity distress.
As Lataji recovers, I remember telling her recently that I wished to come to Mumbai to meet her again. “Aaiye. Zaroor aaiye, Aapko kaun rok sakta hai,” she replied with that sense of mischief in her voice that belongs not to someone 90, but 9.
Keep laughing, Lataji. And don’t scare us again.
Also Read: “I never thought of myself as special”, claims Lata Mangeshkar on turning 90
Popular television actress Shweta Tiwari is all set to make her comeback with the show Mere Dad Ki Dulhan. The actress was last seen on the TV show Begusarai which aired three years ago. Of late, the actress was also in the news because of her personal life and her relation with Abhinav Kohli.
She recently spoke about her work and personal life in an interview with a media house. The actress said that one aspect of her life had gone bad, but that does not mean that she is using work to distract herself from that. Shweta said that she has her house, her kids, their school and her electricity bill to take care of and has to squeeze in work among all this.
Talking about taking a break from work, she said that she took a break after her second child was born as she did not spend much time with her firstborn, Palak. Shweta said that during her time away from work she realised that there are several problems in life other than just work, and she enjoys tackling them.
Despite all that has been going on in her personal life, the actress has always filled her Instagram feed with happiness. Shweta Tiwari said that she is indeed happy now and has managed to cut out all the negativity from life. She said that there was an infection, which was hurting her, and people thought she had a hand in it, but it was poisonous and she had to get it out. And that is what she did. She took it out and is healthy now.
Actor Jisshu Sengupta is popularly known for his work in Bengali cinema will be seen playing Vidya Balan’s husband in the film Shakuntala Devi - Human Computer. Talking to a media house, Jisshu Sengupta revealed that he is thrilled to be a part of Shakuntala Devi-Human Computer and to play the role of Paritosh Banerjee. The actor started shooting for the film in October and has already shot some scenes.
This is the second time Vidya Balan and Jisshu Sengupta are collaborating. The two were last teamed up for the NTR biopic. Jisshu Sengupta said that working with Vidya is fun as there is never a dull moment when she is around.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3zjiBwgieV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The film is based on the life of the mathematics genius, or ‘human computer’ Shakuntala Devi who was known for her ability to make incredibly swift calculations. The film also features Sanya Malhotra who plays Vidya Balan’s daughter in the film, while Amit Sadh will be seen playing Vidya Balan's son-in-law in the film.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4R5o0KgXU8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The film is presently been shot in Mumbai after a detailed UK schedule. Produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra and directed by Anu Menon, Shakuntala Devi will see a worldwide release in the summer of 2020.
Also Read: CONFIRMED! Amit Sadh to play the role of Vidya Balan’s son-in-law in Shakuntala Devi
Actor Jisshu Sengupta is popularly known for his work in Bengali cinema will be seen playing Vidya Balan’s husband in the film Shakuntala Devi - Human Computer. Talking to a media house, Jisshu Sengupta revealed that he is thrilled to be a part of Shakuntala Devi-Human Computer and to play the role of Paritosh Banerjee. The actor started shooting for the film in October and has already shot some scenes.
This is the second time Vidya Balan and Jisshu Sengupta are collaborating. The two were last teamed up for the NTR biopic. Jisshu Sengupta said that working with Vidya is fun as there is never a dull moment when she is around.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3zjiBwgieV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The film is based on the life of the mathematics genius, or ‘human computer’ Shakuntala Devi who was known for her ability to make incredibly swift calculations. The film also features Sanya Malhotra who plays Vidya Balan’s daughter in the film, while Amit Sadh will be seen playing Vidya Balan's son-in-law in the film.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4R5o0KgXU8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The film is presently been shot in Mumbai after a detailed UK schedule. Produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra and directed by Anu Menon, Shakuntala Devi will see a worldwide release in the summer of 2020.
Also Read: CONFIRMED! Amit Sadh to play the role of Vidya Balan’s son-in-law in Shakuntala Devi