Actor Sonu Sood has once again captured hearts with a heartfelt appeal aimed at raising awareness for an elderly woman, Kamaljeet, who sells ber fruit (jujube) by the roadside. In a video shared on his Instagram handle, the Fateh actor expressed his admiration for Kamaljeet's hard work and shared a deeply personal message concerning her family situation. Sonu visited Kamaljeet's stall, where he highlighted the struggles she faces while working tirelessly to make a living. In the video, the actor said, “Today, we are at Kamaljeet's stall, where she sells her fruit. How much are you selling this for? One and a quarter kilos for 100 rupees, and the same price for a full kilo. She is working very hard.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonu Sood (@sonu_sood) Sonu shared that Kamaljeet has lost one son and that her other son is unable to visit her due to the restrictions imposed by his wife. He added, "If her son is watching this video, I want to say that Kamaljeet’s one son is no more, and her other son cannot come to his mother because the daughter-in-law doesn't let him.” The 'Dabangg' actor then made a direct appeal to the daughter-in-law, urging her to allow her husband to visit his mother. "Daughter-in-law, I humbly request you to let your son meet his mother. Your mother is selling ber, and one day, if something like this happens to you, your daughter-in-law might not let your son meet you either. Every child should support their parents. Please don’t keep children away from their mothers," Sonu emotionally stated. Sharing this video, Sood wrote in the caption, “Ma #supportsmallbusiness.” Meanwhile, the 51-year-old actor had previously visited a coconut water stall in Chennai and urged his followers to support local businesses in India. Sharing the video, Sonu emphasized the significance of supporting local businesses in India's unorganized sector, stressing that it is the responsibility of every Indian to care for their fellow countrymen and assist them in any way possible. On the work front, he was last seen in the action thriller "Fateh,” which also marked his directorial debut. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 March,2025 03:36 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor returned to Mumbai from Alibaug as soon as they heard the news of their friend an filmmaker Ayan Mukerji's father Deb Mukerji's demise. On Thursday, Alia and Ranbir were seeing heading to Alibaug from Gateway of India to ring in Holi and the 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' actresses ' birthday on March 15. However, they cut their trip short and came back to be by their friend Ayan's side. Alia-Ranbir return to Mumbai Ayan is a close friend and more like family to Ranbir and Alia. The trio have worked together in the film Brahmastra. Apart from that Ranbir and Ayan have collaborated on films like Wake Up Sid and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. The filmmaker was also part of Alia and Ranbir's new year holiday with their families. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Deb Mukerji passes away Confirming the news, his spokesperson revealed that he died in the morning due to age-related health issues. A prominent member of the renowned Samarth-Mukherjee family, Deb was the father of filmmaker Ayan Mukerji and the father-in-law of director Ashutosh Gowariker. Deb Mukherjee's funeral will be held at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Juhu on March 14. The funeral is likely to be attended by members of his extended family, including Kajol and Ajay Devgn, Rani Mukerji, Tanuja, Tanissha, and Aditya Chopra. Friends of Ayan Mukerji, including Hrithik Roshan, Sidharth Malhotra, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh are also expected to attend the funeral. Deb Mukherjee, born in Kanpur in 1941, hails from a renowned and accomplished film family. His mother, Satidevi, was the only sister of legendary figures Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar, and Kishore Kumar. His siblings included the actor Joy Mukherjee and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, who was married to Bollywood actress Tanuja. His nieces are famous actresses Kajol and Rani Mukerji. Deb Mukherjee was married twice. His daughter Sunita, from his first marriage, is married to filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, while his son Ayan is from his second marriage. For the unversed, Deb Mukherjee started his career in the 1960s with small roles in films such as "Tu Hi Meri Zindagi" and "Abhinetri." As his career progressed, Deb transitioned to supporting roles in movies like "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander" and "King Uncle." His final appearance on screen was a cameo in Vishal Bhardwaj's "Kaminey" in 2009. (with inputs from IANS)
14 March,2025 02:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran actor Deb Mukerji, the father of filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, passed away on Friday, March 14. He was 83 years old, and was undergoing a prolonged medical treatment at the hospital in Mumbai. Mukerji’s daughter, former actor Sharbani Mukerji confirmed the news to mid-day. She said, “He passed away in his sleep this morning [at 7.30 am].” View this post on Instagram A post shared by North Bombay Durga Puja (@northbombaydurgapuja) Deb Mukerji was also the uncle of actress Kajol. His brother, Joy Mukherjee, was an actor, while another brother, Shomu Mukherjee, was married to Tanuja. He had acted in several films in the 1960s and 1970s. He began his career with films like Lal Patthar (1971), Adhikar (1971), and Ek Bar Mooskura Do (1972). More recently, in the 1990’s, he was seen in films like King Uncle (1993), and his last theatrical appearance -- Kaminey (2009). He was also instrumental in organising the popular North Bombay Sarvajanik Durga Puja Pandal, one of Mumbai’s largest Durga Puja celebrations, which attracted several Bollywood celebrities every year. Deb Mukerji's funeral will take place today at 4.00 pm at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai.
14 March,2025 01:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ PanchalMore than 17 years ago, Namastey London, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah, became one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films. Blending comedy, drama, and patriotism, it won hearts across the world. However, one of the film’s most powerful moments is Akshay Kumar’s iconic monologue, where he passionately speaks about India’s greatness while Katrina Kaif translates it into English. The scene remains a fan favorite. But did you know? During filming the iconic scene, the attitude of local Britishers changed after hearing the facts about India. In an interview, Vipul Amrutlal Shah recalled how the attitude of the local British crew changed after hearing Akshay Kumar’s powerful monologue in Namastey London. He revealed that when Akshay and Katrina Kaif first read the script, they knew about the scene but were promised a stronger version. Upon seeing the revised scene, they were highly impressed and confident it would be a big hit. Vipul instructed them to keep it simple, believing in the power of the dialogue. They delivered it with such sincerity that the scene was completed in just 2-3 hours. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Reliance Entertainment (@reliance.entertainment) Vipul Amrutlal Shah recalled being eager to see how Akshay Kumar would deliver his first major monologue in Namastey London. As filming began, he noticed the British crew’s reaction—many were surprised by the facts about India. Out of all crew members, only 12-13 were from India, while the rest were from the UK. Some British crew members initially assumed the facts were exaggerated or fictional. However, they were shocked to learn that every line was historically accurate. "Namastey London," directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Released in 2007, it became a huge hit for its mix of romance, comedy, and cultural themes. Now, 18 years later, the beloved rom-com returns to theaters on March 14, 2025, rekindling its magic.
14 March,2025 01:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAbhishek Bachchan showered praise on his "Be Happy" co-star Nora Fatehi. During the premiere of "Be Happy", Abhishek lauded Nora's dedication to carving her own path in the film industry. The 'Paa' actor even urged filmmakers to cast her in substantial roles beyond dance numbers. He said “To Nora, I want to say, hats off to my girl for going against the grain, believing in yourself, believing in Remo, and delivering such an amazing performance. And after this, Milap, no more songs for her—you have to give her a full role, okay? Because she is going to go on to be one of the finest actresses that we have in this film industry!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) While Nora initially gained widespread recognition as a phenomenal performer, she has recently been flaunting her impressive acting skills in the films "Batla House" and "Street Dancer 3D", among others. Circling back to "Be Happy", the project stars Inayat Verma, Nassar, Johny Lever, and Harleen Sethi in key roles, along with others. Produced under the banner of Remo Dsouza Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the drama intertwines the warmth of family, the power of dreams, and the resilience of love. The film is a heartfelt tribute to the unbreakable bond between a devoted single father, Shiv, and his spirited, quick-witted daughter, Dhara. Wise beyond her years, Dhara dreams of performing on the stage of the country’s biggest dance reality show. But when an unexpected crisis threatens to shatter that dream, Shiv is faced with an impossible choice. Determined to keep his daughter's hopes alive, he embarks on an extraordinary journey—challenging fate, rediscovering himself, and uncovering the true meaning of happiness along the way. “Be Happy” is slated for an OTT release on March 14, 2025. Up next, Nora is all set to star in "Kanchana 4", alongside Pooja Hegde, and Raghava Lawrence. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 March,2025 09:39 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSRadhikka Madan on Thursday took a stroll down memory lane and shared several BTS images and videos from the shoot of her film 'Angrezi Medium', which also starred late actor Irrfan Khan. "The 'Tarika' in me is still alive! This little girl with big dreams in her eyes, the drive to conquer the world and take on anything that life offers her! An outsider is always looking for that one opportunity and THIS was my opportunity. I can never thank @homster and @maddockfilms enough for this. #5yearsOfAngreziMedium. Always remembering you fondly @irrfan sir," she captioned the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radhikka Madan (@radhikkamadan) Madan has time and again expressed her gratitude to be able to work with the late actor and learn from him.Irrfan Khan succumbed to a case of colon infection on April 29, 2020, after he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in 2018. Earlier, sharing a picture with the deceased actor on Instagram, Madan said, "I remember I was playing with his beard before the shot and he told me you know what maybe this is the reason 'Champak' would not have cut his beard...I was like exactly! And we laughed.." "We had created our own pool of memories, our own bubble...where there were no words...silences spoke out loud...where I was trying very hard not to be this 'I wanna learn everything from you' fangirl and he was unknowingly teaching me either about life or art every single day. To endless silent teachings and love...To this phenomenon, people call Irrfan. Celebrating you every single day Legend. Miss you," she wrote. 'Angrezi Medium' also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan and Dimple Kapadia. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 March,2025 07:29 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIDirector-choreographer Farah Khan left cinema buffs nostalgic with her 20-year-old picture with actresses Shilpa Shetty and Urmila Matondkar. Taking to Instagram Story, Farah took a stroll down memory lane and shared the throwback image.The snap shows Farah posing with Urmila and Shilpa. The trio was dressed in black outfits. Through her caption, Farah humorously highlighted how Urmila and Shilpa still look the same after 20 years. She wrote, "Throwback!! How cn Shilpa Shetty n Urmila Matondkar look the same 20 yrs later... meanwhile...(sic)." Reposting Farah's image, Shilpa wrote, "You are mad." On professional front, Farah Khan is currently busy working as a Celebrity MasterChef. Lately, she has earned a huge fan following through her YouTube channel. Her fun bond with her cook Dilip is the major highlight of her YouTube show. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 March,2025 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIThe much-awaited action drama Sikandar, starring Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, is all set for its Eid release. Ahead of the festival of Holi that is set to take place Friday, the makers have unveiled a brand-new poster featuring Salman in an intense look. Salman, on Thursday, took to his Instagram account to share the poster along with a poster wishing fans a "Happy Holi." "#HappyHoli Milte hai Eid par! #SajidNadiadwala's #Sikandar Directed by @a.r.murugadoss," read the caption of the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) The poster shows Salman Khan standing on top of a burning vehicle, surrounded by flames and smoke. Ahead of Holi, the makers also released the song 'Bam Bam Bhole' on Tuesday. The track features Salman and Rashmika dancing to a high-energy beat. The song, composed by Pritam and sung by Shaan, Dev Negi, and Antara Mitra, has a festive and vibrant feel. Last month, Salman shared an intriguing teaser for his high-octane film. The one-minute and 21-second-long teaser introduced Salman's character, named Sanjay, who is affectionately called Sikandar by his grandmother. Salman showcased his full massy avatar in the teaser, packed with high-octane action sequences and punchy, 'paisa-vasool' dialogues."Kayde mein raho fayde mein rahoge" and "Insaaf nahi hisab karne aaya hun" are some of the one-liners that Salman delivered with his trademark swag. The film is directed by AR Murugadoss, renowned for his Tamil and Hindi blockbusters like Ghajini and Thuppakki. Sajid Nadiadwala has produced the project, marking Salman Khan's reunion with him after their 2014 blockbuster, Kick. Salman had also revealed a new poster for Sikandar, showing him deflecting an attack from a sharp object. Sikandar is set to release this Eid. Salman will also appear in Kick 2 in the coming months. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 March,2025 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIVeteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who is known for films such as ‘Karz’, ‘Hero’, ‘Taal’, ‘Ram Lakhan’ and others, recently declined to take the credit for making carving stars out of Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, and Meenakshi Seshadri. The filmmaker said that all of the aforementioned actors were destined to become stars, it’s just that destiny brought them together, and allowed them to get the best out of each other. Subhash Ghai spoke with film trade pundit Komal Nahta on his podcast ‘Game Changers’, and shared insights into his unique approach to working with some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. When Nahta asked about his process of transforming these actors into stars, the filmmaker responded with humility, “I didn’t make them stars, their destiny did. Destiny brought us together, and I found them good, honest, like students, eager to learn. They didn’t seem fake, artificial, or cosmetic. That’s why I asked them to work together, whether it was Jackie, Madhuri, Anil, Sanju, whoever”. He emphasized that his approach was rooted in an actor’s willingness to grow and learn. For him, the key factor in choosing actors was their authenticity and their hunger to improve, not just their talent. "For me, the most important thing is that a person who wants to learn and has the desire to do something, you can nurture their talent as a director”, he added. Earlier, the filmmaker had shared the reason behind the title of his memoir, ‘Karma's Child: The Story of Indian Cinema’. The filmmaker took to his Instagram, and shared a throwback picture featuring veteran writer Gulzar and himself. He also penned a long note in the caption sharing what Gulzar once told him. He wrote, “Why did they name your book as karma ‘s child ? Gulzar saab told me the reasons coz it only instinctive talent of child like you cud make such time less classics. It just happens”. He further mentioned, “It’s your own karma n courage to go ahead n shine as a film maker for 40 years. I felt overwhelmed by his deeper affection n love for me while he launched my book in mumbai film festival. Thank u gulzar sahab. I am still a student (sic)”. ‘Karma's Child: The Story of Indian Cinema's Ultimate Showman’ was launched at the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 March,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor John Abraham met with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. The meeting was held in New Delhi on Thursday ahead of the film's theatrical release. John Abraham meets EAM Dr Jaishankar Dr. S Jaishankar shared his thoughts on the interaction via social media, stating, “An interesting conversation with @TheJohnAbraham on his new movie The Diplomat. As also on football, the North East and our respective worlds.” An interesting conversation with @TheJohnAbraham on his new movie The Diplomat. As also on football, the North East and our respective worlds. pic.twitter.com/BGQbzgcmb1 — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 13, 2025 John Abraham also took to social media to express his gratitude, saying: “Was a pleasure and honour to meet a man who I so intently follow, we discussed diplomacy, the North East and football amongst many other things. Truly an honour Sir! @DrSJaishankar @NEUtdFC #TheDiplomat.” Was a pleasure and honour to meet a man who I so intently follow, we discussed diplomacy, the North East and football amongst many other things. Truly an honour Sir! @DrSJaishankar @NEUtdFC #TheDiplomat https://t.co/RJGczbWuFY — John Abraham (@TheJohnAbraham) March 13, 2025 The Diplomat is set to delve into the intricate world of international relations, with Abraham portraying a character inspired by real-life Indian diplomat J.P. Singh. The film aims to shed light on the challenges and nuances of diplomacy, offering audiences a gripping narrative intertwined with real events. This meeting between the actor and the minister underscores the film’s commitment to authenticity and depth, reflecting the intricate dance of diplomacy and storytelling. The Diplomat showcases John Abraham in a never seen before avatar, portraying a character rooted in tact, wit and negotiation. CBFC's disclaimer demand for The Diplomat With The Diplomat, John Abraham and director Shivam Nair are bringing a political thriller inspired by the 2017 episode of Uzma Ahmed’s repatriation. ,The makers screened the movie for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the first week of March. Following that, on March 6, the Abraham, Sadia Khateeb, and Revathy-starrer was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with a mandate—the makers were instructed to add a disclaimer stating that they support maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries. In The Diplomat, Khateeb’s character is modelled on Ahmed, who, in May 2017, had escaped from her husband’s house in Pakistan, and knocked on the doors of the Indian Embassy in Islamabad for help, claiming that she was forced to marry him at gunpoint. Indian diplomat JP Singh, who had led her repatriation to India, is played by Abraham. Sources indicate that the MEA screening focused on ensuring that the film’s narrative did not adversely affect India’s diplomatic ties with Pakistan. The CBFC’s demand for the disclaimer was a step towards that. The Diplomat is produced by Bhushan Kumar & Krishan Kumar (T-Series), John Abraham (JA Entertainment), Vipul D. Shah, Ashwin Varde, Rajesh Bahl (Wakaoo Films), and Sameer Dixit, Jatish Varma, Rakesh Dang (Fortune Pictures/Seeta Films).
14 March,2025 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentManjiri Pulapa is earning accolades for her stellar portrayal of Trupti in Superboys of Malegaon, directed by Reema Kagti. Among her biggest admirers is the film’s writer, Varun Grover, who believes Manjiri brings the character to life with remarkable depth and charm. Varun Grover praises Manjiri Sharing his thoughts on her performance, Grover said, "When I wrote the script, Trupti is someone who is very expressive but also there's a hidden layer to her, and that's why we needed someone just great with these nuances and balances. We wanted someone who gets these nuances every time, and Manjiri does this flawlessly. I can't be more thankful that we found her for this role. In the first scene itself, she becomes so endearing and fun that you are with her throughout!" Manjiri’s ability to balance Trupti’s playful exterior with her deeper emotions has struck a chord with audiences. Fans are praising her for adding a refreshing energy to the film while effortlessly capturing the complexities of her character. Manjiri on her admiration for Madhuri Dixit The actress recently also opened up about her deep admiration for Madhuri Dixit and how performing the iconic song ‘Ek Do Teen’ in her debut film was a dream come true. She shared how the song has always been her favorite and how it felt like her life had come full circle as she got to recreate the magic of Madhuri’s iconic number for her character Trupti’s entry. In a statement, Manjiri shared, “As a 90’s kid, no birthday parties were complete without us, children dancing on the trending songs. And I remember always choosing Madhuri’s ‘Ek Do Teen’ as my all-time favorite. Now, having Trupti—my character—enter over this very same song in my debut film feels like my life has come full circle. It’s poetic justice to my childhood obsession with Bollywood. There couldn’t have been a better launch for me to enter the big Bollywood dream.” Written by Varun Grover and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, and Reema Kagti, 'Superboys of Malegaon' got recognized internationally as it premiered at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival. The film was also released internationally in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and UAE.
14 March,2025 07:06 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
