Have you heard? Love and hate?

All We Imagine as Light

In an unexpected turn of events, actor-politician Gajendra Chauhan congratulated Cannes winner Payal Kapadia, who studied at the Film and Television Institute of India when he served as its chairman. Last week, Kapadia became the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award, the second highest honour at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, for her Malayalam-Hindi feature film All We Imagine As Light. What makes Chauhan's well-wishes atypical, however, is that back in 2015, Kapadia was one of the students who went on strike to oppose Chauhan's appointment as the chairperson of the Pune-based institute. "Congratulations to her. I feel proud that I was the chairman at the time when she was doing the course there," Chauhan said. Asked about Kapadia's displeasure over his appointment, he said, "She has never said anything about me. What can I say then?" According to protesting students, Chauhan did not match the vision and stature of past chairmen of the FTII governing council, and his appointment appeared "politically coloured". Chauhan said that neither was he sacked from the job nor did he resign. "I completed my tenure," he said.

Back on screen

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal is set to star in The Taj Story. Rawal shared the announcement on his social media account. "Announcing my upcoming film, The Taj Story. Shooting commences on July 20, 2024," he wrote. It is set to be written and directed by Tushar Amrish Goel. The actor shared a poster image of the Taj Mahal alongside his post. The film is expected to delve into the history and significance of the iconic monument.

Let's talk business

Testing her business acumen, Sonakshi Sinha decided to launch her line of press-on nails, but the move hasn't been an easy one for the actor. "Acting is second nature to me, and though I learned everything on the go, I never felt uncomfortable doing anything. Right now, entrepreneurship is new to me. I am again learning the ropes. It is a bit more daunting than acting because it doesn't come naturally to me. Business is something I have to learn, and I think I am doing pretty well at it," said the actor, who was recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.

Honouring her family's legacy

Actor Sagarika Ghatge and her husband, former cricketer Zaheer Khan were recently spotted at an artistic event for an apparel brand inspired by the Kolhapuri royal tradition. Ghatke, who backed the creation, says, "This has been an incredible journey that was deeply personal and inspiring. It feels like a heartfelt tribute to our heritage; a way to honour the elegance and artistry of our family. Seeing the hand-painted designs come to life and resonate with modern women is immensely rewarding. This showcase was special, allowing us to share our passion for craftsmanship and storytelling with a discerning audience."

They keep coming

Rani Mukerji has been awarded the Movified Best Actor Award in the female category for her work in the critically acclaimed film, Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway. In the film, which is inspired by true events, Mukerji essayed the role of a mother who fights the legal system of Norway over the custody of her child. "I am grateful for this recognition and would like to thank my director, Ashima Chibber, my fans around the world who supported the film, and everyone who took out time to cast their vote for me. I share this award with all of you," she said.

In solidarity with Palestine

Prominent Indian celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, have shown solidarity with Palestine after an Israeli air strike on a camp in Rafah killed 45 people. Bhatt posted a story on Instagram with an image that read, "All children deserve love, safety, peace, and [a good] life. And all mothers deserve to be able to give their children these things." Kapoor, who was announced as the national ambassador of UNICEF India earlier this month, reposted an image shared by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. It read, "Images of burned children and families emerging from bombed tents in Rafah shock us all. The reported killing of children sheltering in makeshift tents is unconscionable. For over seven months, we've witnessed this tragedy unfold, resulting in thousands of children being killed or injured." The post further called for an "immediate ceasefire" and the "unconditional release of all hostages". Several other actors also reacted to the development.