Have you heard? Season of sequels

Ajay Devgn and Tabu

Season of sequels

2024 will be a year of sequels for Ajay Devgn. The actor, who is currently working on Singham Again and Raid 2, is set to begin De De Pyaar De 2 by June. The film sees Ajay reunite with Tabu and Rakul Preet Singh four years after the box-office success of their romantic comedy, which revolved around a 50-year-old divorced businessman introducing his 26-year-old girlfriend to his family and his ex-wife, essayed by Tabu. The second edition will be centred on Ajay's character meeting his girlfriend's parents. Interestingly, the film will be helmed by a debutant, Anshul Sharma, just as Akiv Ali was a first-time director on De De Pyaar De. Ajay is set to wrap up Rohit Shetty's Singham Again and Rajkumar Gupta's Raid 2 by May, before he begins filming Luv's new production that is said to be crazier and funnier than its predecessor.

An inspired yet desi take

Rumour has it that Suhana Khan's second film is inspired by the English language French production, Leon: The Professional (1994). Director Sujoy Ghosh is apparently adapting the revenge drama, with Shah Rukh Khan playing a role that was essayed by Jean Reno and Suhana stepping into Natalie Portman's shoes. "Though Shah Rukh's character is like a mentor to Suhana's, the interpersonal dynamics, other aspects and treatment will be altered keeping Indian sentiments in mind," said a source. Prep is underway for the film that is slated to go on floors in May.

Encore for Tahir

Tahir Raj Bhasin is excited about the announcement of the second season of his web series, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022). He says, "I get to play a hero who is also extremely grey when the need arises. He is relatable yet larger than life in what he does. The show has given me the most acclaim, along with Mardaani." Pleased with his 12-year-journey in movies so far, Tahir adds, "From being offered diverse but incredibly brilliant roles to witnessing back-to-back hits and getting love from all quarters for my work - the last couple of years have been an exhilarating ride of success."

App ke khatir

Aditya Chopra-led YRF Studios launched its casting app yesterday. The idea is to not only share casting calls, but also enable aspiring actors across the globe to reach out directly to the studio. Shanoo Sharma, head of the studio's casting department and also in charge of selecting and grooming new talent, said, "The app is a progressive step towards making aspiring actors reach out directly to YRF for its projects. We believe there are countless, brilliant actors around the world waiting to be discovered. Now, they don't have to rely on anyone else for their shot at achieving their dreams!"

Janhvi's unique initiative

As the world gears up to observe International HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Awareness Day on March 4, Janhvi Kapoor has come up with a unique way to draw attention to the disease. The Bawaal actor is set to educate the people about the causes and risks of HPV through laughter with her debut stand-up special, Leap, Laugh & Learn. "As an actor, I believe it is imperative to support initiatives like I Pledge To Prevent to bring about an actual change in society. HPV poses a major health concern that could lead to life-threatening consequences, including cervical cancer." Conceding that there is a lack of awareness about the risks associated with this illness, the actor added, "To challenge that notion, we came up with the idea of spreading HPV awareness through laughter with my debut stand-up special. With Leap, Laugh & Learn, we aim to encourage individuals to spend that one extra day of this leap year to focus on what's important for their health - like HPV awareness. With my fans' support, I pledge to prevent, because knowledge is our best protection against HPV."

Hard action

Nikki Sharma recently had to jump into a pit filled with wet cement for a sequence in the television show, Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya ShivShakti. "The forceful impact of the cement falling on my back really tested my endurance. It was a physically demanding experience," says the actor who shot the scene over two days.

Exploring villainy

Srishti Jain is set to bring about a fresh wave of intrigue and suspense in the show, Kumkum Bhagya, through her character, Monisha. The actor promises to add layers of complexity in the upcoming episodes. She says, "Portraying a negative character for the first time is a new and exciting challenge for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to explore this dimension of an actor's craft." Promising to keep the viewers hooked to the developments, Srishti adds, "My character will leave a lasting impact on the audience and I aim to win everyone's heart with my performance."