Have you heard? Bhumi Pednekar’s new royal venture

Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter

Bhumi Pednekar is all set to make her web series debut. She has reportedly been cast alongside Ishaan Khatter for Pritish Nandy Communications' next production venture, titled Royals. The actor has been keen to explore the long format of storytelling. Sources state that with Royals, she found a narrative that is not only unique but also has the necessary elements to make it commercially viable. An industry insider informed, "This subject fulfils all the criteria she was looking for to foray into the web series space. Moreover, her novel pairing with Ishaan will also add a different freshness to the project." Pre-production on the show has begun, and filming is slated to commence later this summer.

Role call

The makers of the Ramayana trilogy are sparing no effort in making a grand spectacle of the epic saga. Reports are rife that director Nitesh Tiwari is keen to rope in Vijay Sethupathi for the role of Vibhishan, the brother of Raavan (to be played by Yash). It is being said that Vijay will sign the dotted line after the financials and other logistics are locked. Meanwhile, Nitesh is looking to begin filming in March, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi essaying the role of Sita. Interestingly, Bobby Deol has reportedly declined the role of Raavan's other brother, Kumbhkarna, as his elder brother Sunny Deol is in talks for the role of Hanuman.

Double win for Ali, Richa

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's maiden production venture, Girls Will Be Girls, emerged as the breakout film at the Sundance Film Festival 2024 and won two awards. Written and directed by debutant Shuchi Talati, the movie earned lead actor Preeti Panigrahi a Special Jury Award and also bagged the Audience Award in the World Dramatic Entry category. Excited with the win, Richa said, "We embarked on this journey with courage, and the overwhelming response at Sundance has been stuff of dreams! This experience reinforces our belief in the power of storytelling and the need to champion diverse narratives that resonate globally." And equally thrilled, Ali added, "As actors, we've always craved powerful stories, but getting those opportunities wasn't always in our hands. That's why it's heartening to see our new actors receiving this global acclaim. This recognition motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and telling new stories."

No rivalry talk please!

During the audio launch of Jailer last year, Rajinikanth made an allegory speech about eagles and crows, which many later misconstrued as his dig at Thalapathy Vijay. At the audio launch of daughter Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth's Laal Salaam recently, the veteran superstar expressed disappointment with the misrepresentation of his words. Emphasising the bond he shares with the Leo actor, Rajini said, "Vijay grew up in front of my eyes. During the shoot of Dharmathin Thalaivan, SA Chandrasekar introduced him to me, saying he was interested in acting. He asked me to tell Vijay, who was just 13 then, to concentrate on his studies first." Highlighting Vijay's talent, discipline, and hard work, Rajini added, "Vijay had said that he was his competition, and I have also stated the same. It is disrespectful to say that we are each other's competition." He concluded by urging everyone to refrain from comparing the actors and instead celebrate their individual achievements.

Bobby's new antagonist avatar

Bobby Deol turned 55 yesterday. To mark the special day, his family and friends shared heartwarming wishes on social media. Suriya, who leads the cast of Kanguva, unveiled Bobby's look from the fantasy actioner, which also marks his foray into Tamil cinema. Alongside a poster of the actor's menacing avatar, Suriya wrote, "Happy birthday, Bobby Deol, brother. Thank you for the warm friendship. It was awesome to see you transform in full glory as the mighty Udhiran in our Kanguva. Guys, watch out for him!" Despite the limited screen time spent playing the antagonist in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby has become a much-sought-after actor not only in Hindi but in south cinema too.

British honour for Boman

It has been a great week for Boman Irani. The actor, who celebrated the 75th Republic Day with the Indian High Commission in London, was invited as a featured speaker at Oxford University and the London School of Economics. That's not all; he was honoured by the British Parliament for his noteworthy contributions to Indian cinema. "It's truly humbling to represent India on such esteemed global platforms and receive this recognition. Especially as my family will be present with me to witness this gratifying moment. Taking a piece of India with me, I'm truly grateful for this opportunity," said Boman. The actor is now gearing up to make his debut as a director for a script he has written, and set to feature in.