Predominantly writes on desi mass/pop-culture. Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @mayankw14
Went over to watch the BTS/making of 12th Fail, wondering aloud, “What am I doing in a frickin’ theatre?” ... [Read More]
18 December,2024 01:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharSpoke to writers with the toughest job in Colombia, or Latin America, even the world—adapting Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred of Solitude for the screen. Imagine!... [Read More]
11 December,2024 12:54 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharAs a God-like sandalwood smuggler, perhaps modelled on Veerappan, Pushpa plays his cards well, inevitably outsmarting his OG nemesis, i.e. Shekhawat, while taking the pants off politicians... [Read More]
05 December,2024 10:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharHung out with blokes working in entertainment to figure what they believe is ailing with a relatively new industry that was once pegged as the harbinger of change... [Read More]
04 December,2024 07:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharWhat can one say about Payal Kapadia’s Cannes-winning debut feature, except that you probably haven’t seen it yet, because top awards often alienate regular audiences?... [Read More]
27 November,2024 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharPrime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jaipur to attend the `Ek Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh` programme, marking one year of BJP governance in Rajasthan. PM Modi was welcomed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, with the crowd chanting "Modi! Modi!" (Pics/PTI) ... [Read More]
17 December,2024 02:21 PM ISTPolice have arrested 46 individuals in connection with the violent clashes that erupted during a Ganesh idol procession in Nagamangala town, Mandya. Pics/ PTI... [Read More]
12 September,2024 02:51 PM ISTA nationwide strike, known as `Bharat Bandh`, has erupted in response to the Supreme Court`s recent ruling on SC/ST reservations. Organised by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the bandh has led to widespread protests across the country. Pics/ PTI... [Read More]
21 August,2024 05:46 PM ISTLatest OTT releases to watch this week: It`s that time of the week again when we bring you the freshest updates from the world of over-the-top (OTT) entertainment. The next seven days are packed with a delightful mix of movies and TV shows that promise to satisfy all your binge-watching cravings. So, grab your popcorn, and let`s dive into the exciting lineup.... [Read More]
14 August,2024 04:39 PM ISTThe Maharashtra MLAs were on Tuesday seen reaching the assembly on Tuesday as the government tabled supplementary demands of Rs 94,889.46 crore in the state legislative assembly. Pics/Sameer Abedi... [Read More]
09 July,2024 08:34 PM ISTActor Shekhar Suman and former Congress leader Radhika Khera joined the BJP in Delhi on Tuesday amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024. Pics/PTI and X... [Read More]
07 May,2024 05:16 PM ISTAs Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ gears up for its release on Netflix, here’s a look at all its characters and their relationships. ... [Read More]
30 April,2024 04:08 PM ISTSanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ has made a wide and massive buzz across the country and the world as the show is all set to stream on Netflix next month. This series will see the comeback of many actors, including Fardeen Khan. It was just yesterday when the magnificent trailer of Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ was launched during a grand event in the city and the entire cast came in traditional outfits to attend the event... [Read More]
10 April,2024 10:13 AM ISTA decades-old temple has been reopened in tense Sambhal, found during anti-encroachment drive. The district administration on Saturday morning carried out an anti-encroachment drive in the Shahi Jama Masjid area. The district administration team visited Sambhal to check on the noise pollution through loudspeakers, the Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) said, adding that they found that there was electricity (power) theft in the area.... [Read More]
14 December,2024 11:06 PM ISTOn the centenary of Raj Kapoor`s birth anniversary, let`s revisit a clip from Mid-day`s Sit With Hitlist, where his grandson and superstar Ranbir Kapoor shared how Yash Chopra once expressed interest in making a biopic on the legendary filmmaker. Ranbir revealed that the Kapoor family would not allow anyone to make a biopic on Raj Kapoor, explaining that such a project would require access to many confidential files. Watch the video for more... [Read More]
13 December,2024 08:03 PM ISTThe nine-day celebration of India’s cultural and cinematic heritage—the International Film Festival of India (IFFI)—has kickstarted in Goa. Many prominent celebrities like Nagarjuna, Sunny Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Bhumi Pednekar, Shekhar Kapur, Prasoon Joshi, & many others graced the event. Goa`s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, addressed the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 20, highlighting the festival`s growing success each year. He emphasised the strong connection between IFFI and Goa, calling it a key calendar event for both national and international guests. Sawant also mentioned ongoing efforts to upgrade the festival`s infrastructure. The event, which began on November 20, will run until November 28 in Goa.... [Read More]
21 November,2024 04:28 PM ISTAnanya Panday, in a recent chat with Mid-day on `Sit With Hitlist,` opened up about her media training. She revealed that while Karan Johar, who launched her career with `The Student Of The Year 2,` didn’t provide much formal training, his only advice was to "be herself." She noted that today’s new generation of actors is much more media-savvy and better trained to handle public attention. On her relationship with `Gehraiyaan` co-star Siddhant Chaturvedi, when the latter took a jibe at her with his nepotism comment in an interview panel back in 2019, Ananya joked that he “probably wrote his comeback in a book and came prepared,” but stressed there’s no bad blood between them, highlighting their friendly rapport despite what the media portrayed of the fiasco.... [Read More]
19 November,2024 03:24 PM ISTAs Sushmita Sen celebrates her 49th birthday, we revisit her Sit With Hitlist episode, where she shared insightful and emotional memories of her journey. The former Miss Universe opened up about the challenges she faced. She revealed how her decision to enter the Miss Universe pageant initially disappointed her father. The `Aarya` actress also spoke about her initial reluctance to pursue acting. She admitted that it was Mahesh Bhatt who played a pivotal role in launching her Bollywood career. Bhatt, who was adamant about casting her in his film, wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. Eventually, she gave in, and the rest, as she says, is history. A true trailblazer, Sushmita Sen continues to inspire with her grace, talent, and unapologetic individuality. ... [Read More]
18 November,2024 06:08 PM ISTIn a recent exclusive interview on `Sit with Hitlist,` Ananya Panday opened up about the impact of social media influencers, especially her cousin, Alanna Panday, being one of the most well-known personalities in the online space. Alanna, who runs a popular couple`s YouTube channel with her American husband, Ivor, has made their lives a public affair for millions of followers. Ananya shared that she drew inspiration from Alanna`s channel for her role in the film `CTRL,` which revolves around the lives of an influencer couple. Ananya expressed her concerns, admitting that the life of an influencer can be "scary" and is, in many ways, a full-time job. ... [Read More]
11 November,2024 12:16 PM ISTAnanya Panday recently opened up on Mid-day`s exclusive talk show `Sit With Hitlist` with Mayank Shekhar, offering us a glimpse into her family dynamics. Reflecting on her father, Chunky Panday`s career, she shared he was a huge star in Bangladesh. She also clarified that her father doesn`t assist her much with movie decisions. However, she acknowledged that her mother, Bhavana Pandey, has a sharp understanding of scripts. Ananya also shared some amusing stories about her dad and Uncle Chikki’s names. Watch the video for more.... [Read More]
09 November,2024 02:19 PM ISTDirector duo Raj and DK took up Citadel: Honey Bunny at a time when they were already working on three shows. The Family Man season 1 had not released, season 2 was in development, they had already pitched Farzi to Amazon when Jennifer Salke from Amazon Studios made them an offer they could not refuse. Samantha Ruth Prabhu reveals she has made martial arts training part of her daily life because you never know what the creators might throw her way. Directors Raj and DK, writer Sita Menon and Samantha discuss Citadel: Honey Bunny, Varun Dhawan and Govinda with Mayank Shekhar in London... [Read More]
09 November,2024 12:01 AM ISTDid you know that a "broke" Guneet Monga Kapoor had e-mailed Richard Branson and Ratan Tata, requesting them to sponsor her maiden trip to Oscars in 2010? Or that she had sold her Delhi house to finance Monsoon Shootout? Plug into our latest episode as she breaks down the hustle, heartbreak and jugaad it takes to go from indie producer to two-time Oscar winner.... [Read More]
26 September,2024 07:36 PM IST | MumbaiDid you know that Hansal Mehta was to direct Gangs of Wasseypur before Anurag Kashyap? Or that he left Mumbai after a spate of flops and resurrected his flagging career with Shahid from the outskirts of Lonavala? Plug in as Lootere creator Hansal, with his filmmaker-son Jai, charts his journey from helming TV’s most popular cookery show to delivering one of Indian OTT’s biggest series in Scam 1992.... [Read More]
18 June,2024 08:24 PM IST | MumbaiHow did a home in a rough Mumbai neighbourhood propel Sonali Bendre’s acting career? How did she land Humma humma, the mother of all item songs? Plug into our latest episode as the actor takes us back to the ’90s when a star’s X-factor was as important as talent, and actresses sometimes needed to “dumb themselves down” as a survival tactic.... [Read More]
14 June,2024 06:57 PM IST | MumbaiWhich director was the first to call Prosenjit Chatterjee after watching Jubilee? Which Hindi film did he turn down, only for it to be picked up by Salman Khan? Plug in to our Durga Puja special episode where we have an “adda” with Bengal’s biggest star, as he takes us from Kolkata’s Park Street to Chembur’s RK Studios and Juhu’s Sun-n-Sand... [Read More]
22 October,2023 01:15 PM IST | MumbaiHow did filmmaker Jag Mundhra’s daughter reveal Yash Chopra’s son, Yashraj scion, Aditya, actually exists? What was it like to be the last to interview Rishi Kapoor, for the Netflix series, The Romantics? How did Oscar nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra find ‘Sima Aunty’ for Indian Matchmaking? Plug in for more!... [Read More]
02 March,2023 06:00 PM IST | MumbaiThere are movies, and then there are `B` movies. What`s the difference between the two? Vasan Bala, film-buffs` ultimate filmmaker, and director of docu-series, Cinema Marte Dam Tak, walks us through secret bylanes, the stars, and the auteurs of Bollywood`s C-grade cinema, that peaked in the late 1990s!... [Read More]
08 February,2023 06:33 PM IST | MumbaiOne of the very few Indian actors to become an international star, Kabir Bedi engages in a candid conversation about his journey in Bollywood, stardom in Italy, his friendship with the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and more!... [Read More]
14 August,2021 07:44 AM IST | MumbaiIndian film and television actor Ranjeet indulges in nostalgic stories from the 70s and the 80s and opens up about becoming the most popular villain of Bollywood.... [Read More]
16 July,2021 04:37 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
