Have you heard? Aamir, Sunny to collaborate

Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol

In the last 33 years, Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol have vied for the box-office pie on three occasions - Dil vs Ghayal (1990), Raja Hindustani vs Ghatak (1996), and Lagaan vs Gadar (2001). Now, the two actors are set to collaborate for the first time. Interestingly, Aamir has decided to back Sunny's next with filmmaker-friend Rajkumar Santoshi. Interestingly, the movie in question is the National Award-winning director's passion project, Lahore, 1947. For over a decade, Santoshi has been keen on bringing to screen novelist-writer Asghar Wajahat's Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya O Jamya Nai. Life comes a full circle for him as he reunites with old friend Sunny, with whom he had first planned the movie. After they parted ways in the early 2000s, the filmmaker was contemplating making it with Sanjay Dutt and then with Anil Kapoor. Earlier this year, Santoshi told mid-day that he would be making the film with Sunny. Sharing the news on social media through Aamir Khan Productions' handle, the perfectionist actor-producer wrote, "I, and the entire team at AKP, are most excited and happy to announce our next, starring Sunny Deol, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, titled Lahore, 1947. We look forward to collaborating with the immensely talented Sunny, and one of my favorite directors Raj Santoshi. The journey we have embarked on promises to be most enriching. We seek your blessings."

Musical breaks

A self-confessed fan of larger-than-life musicals on stage, Vaani Kapoor indulged herself while juggling work commitments in the US recently. The actor, who caught three of the longest-standing musicals - Aladdin, Six, and MJ - in New York when she got time off her busy schedule, says, "A live play or musical is so alluring with each moment so well enhanced on stage that it can never be duplicated. I've always felt lighter, happier and creatively inspired by it." Vaani adds, "The energy of being in a Broadway theatre with a live audience is unbeatable. Going back to Broadway shows is like going back for a little more magic, making every moment truly immersive and unparalleled."

Temple run

Richa Chadha recently visited the Siddhivinayak Temple with her team to thank Bappa for the audience's response to her latest release, Fukrey 3. She said, "Portraying Bholi Punjaban has been a challenging yet rewarding experience, and I am grateful to the viewers for embracing this character and the film with such enthusiasm." Calling it a team effort, Richa added, "No one can achieve greatness alone. We should always thank God for the blessings bestowed on us and not always make demands because I feel grateful to have received multiple blessings, not just with this film but with my life in general."

New date, old clash

Yesterday, the makers of Sidharth Malhotra's Yodha advanced its relesae date from December 15 to December 8. Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, which is backing the action thriller, shared the update on social media, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, get ready as the engine of Yodha is all revved up and ready to make its touchdown in cinemas on 8th December 2023 (sic)!" Soon enough, the makers of Merry Christmas also announced that director Sriram Raghavan's thriller, starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, will now arrive in cinemas on the same date. Wonder what KJo, who had posted a sly tweet aimed at Merry Christmas makers the last time, has to say about this now.

All for a cause

Shaheen Bhatt, an active advocate for mental health, has been roped in as the ‘cause ambassador' for MTV Question Marks. Given the ever-increasing academic pressure on students, this initiative is aimed at challenging the conventional definition of success. By inviting parents to reevaluate their perspectives on success, the campaign also hopes to foster healthier relationships and alleviate undue burden placed on young shoulders.

Avoiding a crowd

They say two's company and three's a crowd. The makers of Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's yet-untitled romcom have opted to avoid just that. Instead of fighting for eyeballs in a three-way clash with Yodha and Merry Christmas, producer Dinesh Vijan preferred to defer his movie's date with cinemas. Helmed by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah, the film, which has Sasha playing a robotics engineer and Kriti a robot, will now arrive on February 9, 2024. The makers are chalking out a unique marketing strategy to promote this hatke romcom as a Valentine's weekend offering.

Shaheer joins Kajol, Kriti-starrer

After acting in several shows on television over the last 14 years, Shaheer Sheikh is set for his big leap into the movies. The actor plays the male lead in Do Patti, starring Kajol and Kriti Sanon, who doubles up as the producer with Kanika Dhillon. In a recent interaction, Shaheer shared that he has been prepping for his part and Do Patti is the right project for him to foray into the movies. "I am thrilled to embark on this new journey, and work alongside a wonderful cast and crew to bring such a riveting story to life. I'm nervous and excited in equal measure," he has been quoted as saying. Helmed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, the mystery thriller will release directly on Nextflix next year.