Have you heard? Something new

Disha Patani

With her new music video Kyun karu fikar, Disha Patani takes on a new role in the industry. The actor makes her directorial debut with the song that has been rendered by Nikhita Gandhi. Patani took to her social media handle yesterday to make the announcement. Releasing the poster for the upcoming video, she shared, "If you let go of the things you can't control, it will probably set you free. Sharing a sneak peek of our special project on August 16."

Celebrating I-day'

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi hoisted the Indian flag at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023. As the tricolour fluttered against the Melbourne skyline, the shared emotions of patriotism and unity resonated strongly with attendees. Commenting on the ceremony, Azmi said: "To be having this honour to hoist the Indian flag, the flag that I'm so proud of, the flag all of us present today are proud of in Melbourne is an honour I never believed I could have. I would like to reiterate that we are here to celebrate Indian cinema in Melbourne, and I truly believe that art knows no boundaries and cinema can be an instrument for social change." The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 continues to be a significant platform for showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of Indian cinema on the global stage. The festival started on August 11, and will conclude on August 20. The IFFM 2023 also feted many Indian personalities for their contributions.

Violence goes off screen

The screening of Sunny Deol's Gadar 2 came to a standstill at a Noida theatre after the screen projector stopped working several times during the screening, leaving fans upset. Cops had to arrive to control the crowds due to the ensuing commotion. PVR reportedly confirmed that they would refund the amount to those who were affected. Meanwhile, as per reports, the film crossed the R100-crore mark and contributed significantly to the Bollywood box-office collections which have also seen an uptick owing to the release of OMG 2, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

This unusual duo

Lara Dutta and Patralekhaa have teamed up for the revenge thriller drama, Suryast. Filming for Avishek Ghosh's directorial venture was held in the UK in a start-to-finish schedule, and was recently concluded, the makers said in a statement. Set in a majestic mansion with sprawling lawns, this revenge drama presents the tale of two women whose paths inadvertently cross. The movie marks a reunion between Dutta and Ghosh after they worked together on the romantic drama, Ishq-E-Nadaan, earlier this year. "It has been an incredible experience on one of the most organised sets. I have never been part of such a physically and emotionally intense shoot, and I will not forget this character for a long time to come. I am glad that I was given this opportunity to explore a character like this one. It has been one of the most fulfilling experiences," Dutta said. Patralekhaa added, "My character has amazing shades. I enjoyed playing her on screen."

Superstar Rajinikanth visited the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand to celebrate the success of his latest film, Jailer, which crossed the R200-crore mark at the box office. A video shared on social media showed the Tamil superstar greeting devotees, fans, policemen, and pandits at the venue. He also participated in the Vishnu Sahastranam ritual. Rajinikanth is frequently spotted at spiritual places like Somnath, Badrinath and Brihadesvara.

Fresh pairing

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has been roped in to star alongside Dhanush in National Award-winning filmmaker Sekhar Kammula's next directorial venture. The film, which marks Dhanush's 51st project, was officially announced last month on the actor's birthday. "Rashmika Mandanna comes on board to play the female lead in the movie. This will be Rashmika's first association with Dhanush," the makers said in a press note.