Have you heard? It’s a boy for Ileana!

Ileana D’Cruz with baby boy

She shared the good news over the weekend, with a monochrome picture of her bundle of joy, captioned: "Introducing Koa Pheonix Dolan. Born on August 1, 2023." Alongside, the new momma wrote, "No words could explain how happy we are to welcome our darling boy to the world. Hearts beyond full (sic)." Her social media was soon flooded with congratulatory messages from her fraternity friends. It has been said that Ileana's partner is Michael Dolan, with whom she has reportedly been in a relationship since last year. Apparently, the duo married on May 13 this year, but haven't yet officially announced their wedding.

Working from hospital

It is now learnt that there was a time during the pandemic when Akshay Kumar worked from the hospital. He had got himself admitted when he tested positive for COVID-19 to contain the spread of the virus. The actor, who had been offered the script of OMG: Oh My God 2 just days before the virus caught him, finalised it while he was recuperating. Akki finalised the screenplay of OMG 2 via video calls from his hospital room. While he played Lord Krishna in the first instalment, OMG: Oh My God (2012), he will be seen as the Messenger of God in the sequel, in keeping with the alterations recommended by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

VJS, Rashmika to join Vikram's next

After the success of Ponniyin Selvan, his two-part collaboration with Mani Ratnam, Chiyaan Vikram wrapped up his next, Thangalaan. Chatter in Chennai is that the actor is set to team up with Jude Anthany Joseph, director of 2018, which was based on the Kerala floods. Moreover, the yet-untitled project is said to be a star-studded offering with Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Sethupathi likely to come on board too. Discussions with the actors are underway, and things are yet to be finalised. The film is being banked by Lyca Productions.

Back in B-Town

Shimit Amin, director of films like Ab Tak Chhappan, Chak De! India, and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, is set to make a comeback into Bollywood after a 14-year hiatus. He had been working as a creative producer in international movies. The director is reportedly in talks with multiple producers for different subjects, including a remake of an international action thriller. Shimit is also said to be in discussions with Aditya Chopra. After all, he made his last two films with YRF.

Health hazards

Chhavi Mittal, who has battled and survived cancer before, recently opened about her diagnosis with costochondritis, a condition that affects the chest's cartilage. "Nayi wali bimari layin hoon market mein. It is called costochondritis. Fancy no? (sic)" she said in a social media post. Chhavi shared that it could probably be due to the radiation treatment or the side-effect of an injection she took for osteopenia (a condition with low BMD), or incessant cough, or a combination of various factors. Talking about the discomfort she feels, she wrote, "I'm not always positive about it, but I'm rarely negative. We all get knocked down, but do we get up again? Well, I do! For anyone who needs to hear this, I know you're suffering in some way or the other. But you're not alone! And this too shall pass."

Be positive

Vivek Oberoi's career trajectory belies the fact that he was one of the most promising actors to debut in the early 2000s. In a recent interaction in the Middle East, the actor shared how external orchestration and being sidelined within the industry came in the way of his stardom. Stating that a film's commercial failure is only one part of the picture, he said, "The feeling of being helpless when you know it is going to happen again and again, and that you are going to get manipulated out of work, and not get the opportunity to prove yourself, is frustrating." When asked if he knew about the people responsible for his downslide, he minced no words while referring to the "open secret". Asserting that one has to deal with such situations, Vivek added, "Those things taught me to be a good and helpful human being, and not to abuse the position of power."

No remakes please

Kartik Aaryan is making smarter choices after the debacle of Shehzada, which was the Hindi remake of Allu Arjun's Telugu blockbuster, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020). In a recent interview with an international network, he conceded, "The biggest perspective I got was that I will not do a remake. I didn't realise it while filming, but later, I understood that this was something that people have already seen. And I don't think they will spend money to watch the same thing in theatres again." Reiterating his decision, Kartik added, "I've decided that I would not enjoy doing something which has already been done by somebody else." Addressing his 2020 film, Love Aaj Kal, which was a sequel to director Imtiaz Ali's 2009 hit of the same name, he said that while the film did not do well at the box office, it emerged to be one of the biggest openers of that time. That brought relief.