Just a year after winning the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, filmmaker and All We Imagine As Light director, Payal Kapadia, is all set to return to the festival. This time, she has become part of the prestigious jury as one of the judges. The filmmaker will be joining the jury for the 78th Festival de Cannes, chaired by Juliette Binoche, the festival organisers shared this Monday. The Jury for Cannes 2025 Payal will be part of the jury along with several other members, including American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani, Congolese director, documentarist, and producer Dieudo Hamadi, Korean director and screenwriter Hong Sangsoo, Mexican director, screenwriter, and producer Carlos Reygadas, and American actor Jeremy Strong. About Payal Kapadia’s journey at Cannes Kapadia, a Film and Television Institute of India graduate, went to the festival to present her short film Afternoon Clouds at the Cannes La Cinéfondation in 2017, followed by her non-fiction film A Night of Knowing Nothing, which won the L’Œil d’Or award for best documentary in 2021. Her film All We Imagine As Light, an ode to female friendship, love, and longing in Mumbai, became the first film from India to be part of the Cannes Competition after a 30-year gap. About the Cannes Film Festival 2025 The panel will award its top prize, the Palme d'Or, to one of the 21 films in competition. Greta Gerwig awarded Sean Baker’s Anora the award in 2024. According to the official Cannes Film Festival website, the winners will be announced on May 24 at the closing ceremony of the gala. Binoche, one of the most renowned actors from France, is known for her illustrious career, which includes credits like Certified Copy, The English Patient, Three Colours: Blue, Chocolat, and most recently The Taste of Things. Indian actors at Cannes In the past, several Indian film personalities have been a part of the Cannes jury, including Mrinal Sen, Mira Nair, Shekhar Kapur, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nandita Das, Sharmila Tagore, Vidya Balan, and Deepika Padukone. (With inputs from PTI)
28 April,2025 11:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSameera Reddy has taken a trip down memory lane, bringing back the iconic 1990s vibe with a nostalgic rendition of Asha Bhosle’s classic track ‘Raat Shabnami.’ Taking to Instagram, the actress shared her love for the song, reliving the magic of the era and captivating fans with her tribute to the timeless hit. Sameera posted a delightful video of herself dancing to Asha Bhosle's iconic track from the album ‘Jaanam Samjha Karo.’ Dressed in a beautiful blue saree paired with a golden blouse, the 'De Dana Dan' actress showcased her graceful moves, bringing the 1990s vibe to life. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sameera Reddy (@reddysameera) Sharing the video, Sameera wrote, “Raat Shabnami 1997. What a nostalgic song @asha.bhosle.” The song 'Raat Shabnami' is from the 1997 album "Jaanam Samjha Karo." Sung by Asha Bhosle, the track features the poetic lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and the captivating music composed by Leslie Lewis. The song, featuring Milind Soman, became an instant classic, known for its melodious tune and soulful lyrics, perfectly capturing the essence of the 1990s musical era. Sameera Reddy is very active on Instagram, where she engages her followers with a variety of content. One of her favorite things to share is hilarious reels featuring her mother-in-law, giving fans a glimpse into her fun and playful side. In addition to this, Sameera has been very vocal about her weight transformation journey, openly discussing the ups and downs she’s experienced along the way. She frequently posts inspiring gym videos, showing her commitment to fitness and encouraging others to stay active and healthy. On the professional front, the 46-year-old actress was last seen on the big screen in 'Varadhanayaka', an action film released in 2013. The movie, directed by Ayyappa P. Sharma, also starred Sudeepa, Chiranjeevi Sarja, and Nikesha Patel. Sameera is known for her roles in films like ‘Maine Dil Tujhko Diya,’ ‘Race,’ and ‘Musafir.’ This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 April,2025 10:27 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Jennifer Winget, who recently wrapped up shooting for her upcoming mystery thriller series, has treated fans to pictures with the team. Winget, who will be seen sharing the screen with actress Parineeti Chopra, took to her Instagram account on Sunday to share multiple pictures with her co-star Parineeti, director Rensil D'Silva, and other crew members. In the pictures, Jennifer looked excited and grateful while posing with the team. Along with the pictures, the actress added a caption that read, "And it's a wrap!! So incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the unforgettable memories made over the last few weeks! A huge thank you to each and every one of you who made this experience so amazing! Thank you!" Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Winget (@jenniferwinget1) Earlier on Saturday, Parineeti Chopra had also posted some behind-the-scenes photos from Himachal Pradesh on her Instagram Story. Producer Siddharth P. Malhotra shared a group picture featuring Jennifer Winget, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Soni Razdan, and Anup Soni, among others. Parineeti reposted Siddharth's picture on her Instagram Story. Speaking about the show, the creators Siddharth Malhotra and Rensil D'Silva, in a press note earlier, shared, "We are thrilled to collaborate on this Noir Mystery Thriller with Netflix, a platform that celebrates storytelling in its most diverse and compelling forms. Working with Netflix has allowed us the creative freedom to push boundaries and bring a unique narrative to life. With a cast as talented as this and Parineeti choosing to foray into series with our production, we are excited for what lies ahead and cannot wait for the world to watch the mystery unfold." More details regarding the show have not been disclosed yet. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 April,2025 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIPuneet Issar, who is known for playing negative roles in several films, often makes headlines for his remarks, and he is yet again catching netizens’ eyes for his comment on films that address topics like 'gay and lesbian' relationships. A video clip of the actor is going viral in which he was seen promoting films like Animal and targeting Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor's film Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui. Puneet Issar on the criticism of violence in films - "Toh kya sirf lesbianism pe films banaye? Gays pe film banaye?"byu/rn3122 inBollyBlindsNGossip In the now-viral clip, the actor was seen saying that films work when we target the masses; otherwise, the result is like that of Ayushmann's film (Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui), which addresses a relationship with a transgender person. Puneet, in a chat with Digital Commentary, shared, "South mein they made male-dominated films. Pushpa kitni badi hit hui hai because that is catering to the grassroots level masses. Ranbir Kapoor, when he does an Animal, superhit hoti hai.” Puneet Issar targerts Ayushmann Khurrana’s film When told a set of audiences doesn't wish to watch films like Animal, he was quick to say, “Aap kya lesbianism ya gays par film banana chahte hain? Main usko nakarta nahi hoon, that is there, I respect everybody. But Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor did a film (Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui) jo 12 baje lagi aur 12.30 utar gayi, kya aisi films banay? Main janna chahta hoon logon se.” Reddit calls out Puneet Issar As soon as this clip went viral, Reddit users started calling him out as a ‘misogynistic’ man. One shared, “People did not have a problem with violence and gore in Animal (& Pushpa, KGF). It was the misogyny & treatment of female characters that people found problematic. Ideology of the director made it even worse.” “There was no reason to say all this.... Although I support violent movies and I want more makers to come up with movies like Kill and series like The Boys or Daredevil, but that can be said without any other nonsense,” another wrote. A third user commented, “Arey sahab, lesbian and gay se bhi alag bahut saare contents hain which remain unexplored. We have so many terrific folklore and urban legends which remain untouched. Movies should be content-driven with a little bit of masala and the audience will automatically come to theatres. Just mind-numbing violence without any logic has become trivial.” “This is a misogynistic old man talking with prejudices typical of his generation. Ignore. Saw him on Bigg Boss 8. He was the biggest bully in the playground,” another wrote.
28 April,2025 10:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe countrywide celebration of art and everything around it has begun, and this is the time the country pays its respects to the artists. It is the time of the Padma Awards 2025, and they have been conferred to the winners who have won them for their commendable contribution to the medium of visual arts. While Shekhar and actor Ajith Kumar Kapur have been honoured with the Padma Bhushan at the ceremony, Arijit Singh was also conferred with the Padma Shri title. The Padma Awards were announced recently and were distributed today at the ceremony graced by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. Celebs honoured with the Padma Awards 2025 The Padma Awards, the civilian honours, were conferred in the national capital on Monday. Luminaries from Hindi cinema, including filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, singer Arijit Singh, and the late Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, were honoured at the ceremony. While Shekhar Kapur was honoured with a Padma Bhushan by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Arijit received a Padma Shri. Pankaj Udhas was honoured posthumously; his wife received the honour on his behalf. Back in January this year, Shekhar had expressed his gratitude on receiving the honour. He took to his X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “What an honour! Am humbled that the Government of India has considered me to be deserving of a #Padmabhushan. Hopefully, this award will make me strive harder to serve the industry that I am part of, and the beautiful nation that I am so fortunate to belong to. Thank you also to our film audiences of India, for I am because you are. #JaiHind.” Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna and classical dancer Shobhana were also awarded the Padma Bhushan. The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, and the Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in the country. The ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. The ceremony honoured personalities across various fields, with the entertainment industry taking centre stage as several of its stalwarts were recognised for their lasting contributions. About Padma Awards 2025 The ceremony honoured personalities across various fields, with the entertainment industry taking centre stage as several of its stalwarts were recognised for their lasting contributions. These include fields like public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, social work, literature, education, sports, and civil services. This year’s Padma Award ceremony saw a strong representation from the entertainment industry. (With inputs from IANS)
28 April,2025 09:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Kareena Kapoor has found herself in hot water after a picture of her posing with Pakistani designer Faraz Manan in Dubai, days after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, went viral on social media. While the two countries are at loggerheads, the picture of Kareena posing with the Pakistani designer has invited criticism. Kareena Kapoor poses with a Pakistani designer While India is at war with Pakistan, Kareena Kapoor Khan is busy doing a photoshoot in Dubai with Pakistani designer Faraz Manan. She has collaborated with him multiple times in the past as well.Last year, Kareena voiced her support for Palestine, but now she seems unable to… pic.twitter.com/2EsoDHEpvU — STAR Boy TARUN (@Starboy2079) April 28, 2025 On Sunday, Faraz took to his Instagram handle to post pictures with Bollywood icon Kareena Kapoor and captioned it as 'with the OG.' While Kareena didn't reshare these pictures on her Instagram, it didn’t go unnoticed, and eagle-eyed netizens are calling her out for posing with Faraz. Netizens call out Kareena Kapoor One comment reads: "While India is at war with Pakistan, Kareena Kapoor Khan is busy doing a photoshoot in Dubai with Pakistani designer Faraz Manan. Last year, Kareena voiced her support for Palestine, but now she seems unable to stand with her own country. Is it only the Army that bears the responsibility of sacrificing for the nation? Do Bollywood celebrities have no duty towards their own country?" "Bollywood celebrities dance to whoever throws money at them, they have no morals, no ethics, no pride, no patriotism, no culture, no loyalty - they are just coin-operated dolls. Supporting Hamas gives them money, supporting Pakistan gives them money, but supporting the innocent…" another comment wrote. A third fan said, "Shame! Shame!" One comment reads, "All Bollywood and TV actresses are b******s, b*****s, and traitors. They should be boycotted, and all their pictures should fail at the box office... it is our duty to show them their place." Earlier, after the Pahalgam terror attack, Kareena took to her Instagram and wrote, "Beyond heartbroken for the victims and their families. Praying for the lives lost #Pahalgam." About the Pahalgam terror attack The deadly terror attack on tourists claimed at least 26 lives, including a local who fought the terrorists and tried to snatch their gun when he was shot. The terrorists segregated the tourists based on their faith and shot them after finding out their religion. The terrorist outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF), has claimed responsibility for the attack. TRF is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba and came into existence following the historic abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, which granted a special status to the Indian state, which is now a union territory.
28 April,2025 07:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Aamir Khan has fallen prey to AI yet again. A poster featuring Aamir Khan as Guru Nanak went viral, inviting a lot of social media backlash. Now, the actor's team, in an official statement, claimed that these posters are 'completely fake and AI-generated'. This is the second time the actor has fallen prey to AI. Aamir Khan’s poster as Guru Nanak is fake While dismissing the report of Aamir playing Guru Nanak, the actor's team said, "The poster showing Aamir Khan as Guru Nanak is completely fake and AI-generated. Aamir Khan has no connection to any such project. He holds the highest respect for Guru Nanak and would never be part of anything disrespectful. Please don't fall for fake news." Aamir Khan’s on endorsing a political party Last year, during the Lok Sabha elections, the audio of a 10-year-old video of Aamir was overlaid with fake AI-generated audio to give the impression that he endorsed a political party. In response, Aamir filed an FIR with the Mumbai Police against the fake video. "We want to clarify that Mr. Aamir Khan has never endorsed any political party throughout his 35-year career. He has dedicated his efforts to raising public awareness through Election Commission public awareness campaigns for many past elections. We are alarmed by the recent viral video alleging that Aamir Khan is promoting a particular political party. He would like to clarify that this is a fake video and totally untrue. He has reported the matter to various authorities related to this issue, including filing an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Mumbai Police. Mr. Khan would like to urge all Indians to come out and vote and be an active part of our electoral process," Aamir's spokesperson said in a statement that was issued last year. Aamir Khan on work front Meanwhile, on the work front, Aamir will come up with Sitaare Zameen Par this year. If reports are to be believed, Genelia D'Souza has a pivotal role in the film. During the press event conducted on his birthday, Aamir also opened up about his upcoming projects, revealing how passionate he is about adapting the epic Mahabharat into a film. (With inputs from ANI)
28 April,2025 06:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Fatima Sana Shaikh seems to be "trapped in a matrix" with her Gustaakh Ishq co-star Vijay Verma and ace designer Manish Malhotra. Taking to her Instagram on Sunday, the actress posted a fun picture in which the trio can be seen standing inside an elevator full of mirrors, creating a never-ending reflection. Fatima shared the photo with the caption, "Trapped in the matrix." Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fatima Sana Shaikh (@fatimasanashaikh) Meanwhile, Fatima and Vijay will be seen together in the upcoming film Gustaakh Ishq, which was earlier titled Ul Jalool Ishq. The announcement about the new title was recently made by Manish Malhotra on Instagram. Along with the update, Malhotra shared a new poster showing the lead pair embracing each other. So far, Manish has produced several films under his Stage 5 Productions banner, including Bun Tikki, Train from Chhapraula, and Ul Jalool Ishq. Directed by Vibhu Puri, who previously made Hawaizaada, the film also stars veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and The Family Man actor Sharib Hashmi in key roles. Earlier in March, during Lakme Fashion Week, Vijay Varma, while speaking to ANI, talked about his upcoming film and shared, "I'm very excited about the upcoming Ul Jalool Ishq... it's a very exciting, very simple, lovely, beautiful, and rich love story." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 April,2025 03:05 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Sreeleela has become a popular face after her performance in the song Kiss Me from Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2. The actress featured in the song alongside Allu Arjun. Now, she is all set to make her Bollywood debut opposite Kartik Aaryan in Anurag Basu's musical film. Amidst this, the 23-year-old has welcomed a baby girl into her home. Sreeleela welcomes home baby girl Sreeleela is known to be very fond of babies and had adopted two differently-abled children, Guru and Shobhitha, from an orphanage in 2022. Reportedly, she adopted them before the release of her film By Two Love. Now, Sreeleela has seemingly adopted another baby girl. The actress took to her social media handle on Sunday and shared adorable pictures with the baby girl, whom she referred to as a new addition to her home. In the first picture, Sreeleela can be seen giving the little bundle of joy a kiss on the cheek. In the second picture, she can be seen cuddling and posing with the baby. Sharing the pictures, Sreeleela wrote, "Addition to the house. Invasion of the hearts". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sreeleela (@sreeleela14) Sreeleela was born on June 14, 2001, and has made a mark with her performances in Kannada and Telugu cinema. She made her debut with the movie Kiss and also completed her MBBS in 2021. Additionally, she is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. About Sreeleela's Bollywood Debut Sreeleela and Kartik Aaryan will be seen sharing the screen in director Anurag Basu's next project. This yet-to-be-titled drama will be produced by Bhushan Kumar under the T-Series banner. While the name of the film has not yet been announced, it is believed that the project could be part of the popular Aashiqui franchise (Aashiqui 3). An official confirmation is still awaited. Recently, a teaser clip was shared, showing Kartik singing "Tu Meri Zindagi" on stage, sporting a heavy beard and rugged long hair. In the video, Kartik can be seen playing a singer, reminding fans of Aashiqui 3, while Sreeleela can be seen playing the actor’s love interest. The clip ends with the release date announcement of the movie. Kartik and Sreeleela's romantic musical will hit the big screen on Diwali 2025.
28 April,2025 03:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran actor Anupam Kher is currently busy with his upcoming directorial 'Tanvi-The Great'. On Monday, the actor hosted an event to introduce the leading lady of the film, a newcomer. It is after a long time that an event was held to officially announce the lead of a film, especially a newcomer. At the event which was also graced by actress Kajol, they introduced Shubangi to the press. Kher also opened up about his decision to cast Shubhangi. Why Shubhangi? At an event held in the city, actor Anupam Kher explained that he saw great potential in Shubhangi, a student of his Actor Prepares academy. Speaking about the casting choice, Kher expressed his desire to give a fresh face a chance, emphasizing that he was determined to offer an opportunity to a newcomer. “When it came to casting Tanvi, I was determined to discover a fresh face and select a talent from my institute, Actor Prepares, in order to offer a newcomer this opportunity,” he said. Kher went on to praise Shubhangi’s exceptional talent, stating, “She has given her all to portray Tanvi — a story very close to my heart. I hope audiences embrace her with the love and encouragement she truly deserves. I cannot wait for the world to witness the magic she has brought to Tanvi The Great. I am deeply grateful to Kajol for her support and for giving Shubhangi so much love on this important occasion.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) > Shubhangi on her acting debut Reflecting on her acting debut, Shubhangi shared, “I am immensely grateful to Anupam Kher Sir and Actor Prepares for giving me this opportunity to be the face of such a special film. My joy had no limits when I got to know I will be playing the role of Tanvi. Embodying the character of Tanvi has been an overwhelming yet an enriching experience. Working alongside so many legends in the film has strengthened my foundation, and I am determined to continue working even harder.” In a grand reveal, actor and director Anupam Kher introduced Shubhangi as the leading lady of his upcoming film, with actress Kajol officially unveiling the future star of Indian cinema and extending her love and best wishes. The film, which marks Anupam Kher’s return to direction, is set to make its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival as part of the Marché du Film. “Tanvi The Great” is produced by Anupam Kher Studios in association with NFDC and will be released soon. (with inputs from IANS)
28 April,2025 03:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDays after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives, filmmaker Hansal Mehta revisited films like Omerta and Faraaz and spoke how it reflected the current times. The filmmaker said that he was questioned when he made such films. He spoke about why such stories need to be told, heard and understood. Hansal Mehta reflects on his films Mehta took to his X handle (formerly Twitter) and penned a long post on the importance of such stories that is reflective of our times. "I hate having to say this.But it needs to be said — again," he wrote. "Shahid, Omertà, and Faraaz were not just films. They were urgent conversations about the times we live in. They spoke about state-sponsored terror, about radicalisation, about young minds being systematically brainwashed into violence." "The events we depicted in Omertà and Faraaz — chillingly — find echoes today in what happened in Pahalgam. Omertà gave a raw, unsparing look into the sinister powers that enable and nurture such heinous acts. Faraaz — heartbreakingly — showed how violence targets innocence in the name of belief. Shahid was a plea for reform, for reclaiming our youth before they fall prey to hate," he wrote explaining the films briefly. I hate having to say this.But it needs to be said — again.Shahid, Omertà, and Faraaz were not just films. They were urgent conversations about the times we live in.They spoke about state-sponsored terror, about radicalisation, about young minds being systematically… pic.twitter.com/99aMdk5654 — Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) April 28, 2025 Hansal was questioned for making such films The filmmaker also recalled being questioned for making the kind of films he did. "At the time, especially when Omertà and Faraaz released, I remember being targeted:“Why this story?”“Why this focus?”“Are you targeting a community?” No.These stories are about a system — a machinery of hatred and fear — that cuts across faiths and borders.A system that thrives on breeding division.A system that brainwashes the young, glorifies the bloodshed, and normalises the terror. It is easy, comfortable even, to indulge in moral grandstanding every time a difficult truth is told." He further questioned, " Is it really woke to deny the disease? To look away because confronting it is hard? I believe it is cowardice. And it is dangerous. We must stop looking away. We must look this hatred — this sickness — straight in the eye. Only then can we even begin to heal."
28 April,2025 01:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
