Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love and War is one of the highly anticipated films in the news, but a new update will surely take the excitement to a new level, as a report has suggested that social media sensation Orry, aka Orhan Awatramani, has joined the cast of SLB's upcoming drama. It has been learned that Orry will join the cast along with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. This is not all—Bhansali has roped in his favourite, Deepika Padukone. Padukone will be seen in a cameo appearance in Bhansali's retro drama. Orry and Deepika Padukone joined Love & War As per a report in India Today, Orry, who has joined the cast of Love and War, will be seen portraying a homosexual character who is Alia’s closest friend. Meanwhile, reportedly, Alia Bhatt will be seen acing the role of a cabaret dancer, whereas the male leads of the film, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, will play officers in the Indian Armed Forces. While there is clarity about Orry’s character, there has been no such update about Deepika Padukone's role in SLB's retro drama. About Deepika & SLB’s collaborations If the report of Deepika joining Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love and War for a cameo role is true, then this will be the director-actor's fourth collaboration together. The duo has earlier worked together on films including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat. The epic saga, set to be a grand cinematic spectacle, is scheduled to hit theatres on March 20, 2026 About Ranbir Kapoor & SLB’s collaboration Among several highlights of the much-anticipated Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial Love and War is his reunion with actor Ranbir Kapoor after 17 years. Since Bhansali announced the film earlier this year, his lead star remained tight-lipped about featuring in the love story—until recently, when Kapoor opened up about his excitement to return to the sets with the filmmaker who launched him in the movies. Speaking during a session at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Kapoor, who began shooting for Love and War earlier this month, mentioned how he continues to remain in awe of Bhansali. "I am extremely excited to go back to sets with him. He is my godfather. Everything I know about films, everything I know about acting, is something I learned from him. So, for me, working with him again after 17 years still feels the same. I am still in awe of him. I respect him so much," the actor said.
23 December,2024 05:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWell known film choreographer Mudassar Khan has welcomed his first baby with wife Riya Kishanchandan. The couple who tied the knot in November 2023 took to social media handle to announce the happy news. Mudassar and Riya welcome baby girl The Dabangg and Dabangg 2 choreographer took to his Instagram handle to announce the arrival of their baby girl and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Alhumdulillah." He thanked both his and Riya's families and friends for their prayers and blessings. Sharing the good news, the choreographer wrote, “Alhumdulillah. I thank both our families and friends for all the duas and blessings. A big thank you to the noble team of Dr. Anjum @hfhbandra #HolyFamilyHospital #BismillahiMashaAllahuLaQuwataIllahbillaah.” The text on the announcement video read: “With the blessings of Almighty and the prayers of family and friends, we, Mr. & Mrs. Khan, are proud to announce that we are blessed with a baby girl. Alhumdulillah.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mudassar Khan (@beingmudassarkhan) Celebs congratulate the new parents Many of Mudassar’s friends from the industry took to the comments section to shower love and blessings on the couple. Television actress Drashti Dhami commented, “Congratulations.” Akanksha Puri wrote, “Omgggggggggg, this is such happy news! Congratulations, God bless you all.” Azma Fallah wrote, “MashAllah tabarak Allah rehman. Biggest congratulations on the arrival of your little angel.” About Mudassar and Riya's wedding In November this year, Mudassar took to Instagram to share pictures from his wedding to Riya to mark their anniversary. The couple, who got married on November 30, 2023, looked regal as they coordinated in traditional white outfits. Mudassar looked dashing in a white sherwani, while Riya wore a white sharara adorned with intricate golden embroidery. Sharing the photos, Mudassar wrote an emotional post that read, “When we first met i never thought that Our name has been written together 50 thousand years ago, even before the sky was introduced to the sea #alhumdullilah Happy 1 Year Mrs. Khan." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mudassar Khan (@beingmudassarkhan) Salman Khan attended the wedding reception of Mudassar, who had choreographed the popular song 'Humka Peeni Hai' from 'Dabangg' and also worked with him on films like 'Ready' and 'Bodyguard'. Mudassar is widely recognized for choreographing popular songs like 'Dhinka Chika' from 'Ready', 'Chalao Na Naino Se' from 'Bol Bachchan', and 'Party All Night from Boss'. He also earned acclaim as one of the top mentors and judges on the hit reality show “Dance India Dance Season 4.” (with inputs from IANS)
23 December,2024 02:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFour years after their wedding, music composers Sachet and Parampara Tandon have welcomed their first child. The couple have become parents to a baby boy. They took to social media to share the news of the birth of their baby with a sweet video. The couple posted a reel video featuring a video montage on a collaborative post on Instagram to make the announcement. The video montage showed their baby’s tiny hands and feet. The clip ended with “The heart of Sachet-Parampara has arrived! It’s a Boy!” For the background, the couple used their song “Maiyya” from “Do Patti” starring Kriti Sanon and Kajol. The couple captioned the post: “With The Blessings Of Mahadev We are overjoyed to announce the arrival of our precious baby boy . We Seek your blessings and Good Wishes In this Beautiful Time Namah: Parvati Pataye har har mahadev. Jai Mata Di.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by सचेत टंडन (@sachettandonofficial) Celebs congratulate the new parents "Congratulations! Godbless and lots of love and Aashirwaad," commented Raveena Tandon Vishal Dadlani wrote, "Congrats @paramparatandonofficial & @sachettandonofficial . The best of everything to all three of you!" "Jai ho !!!! God bless you guys and the little baby for the best most blissful journey ahead," Akriti Kakkar wrote. About musical duo Sachet-Parampara They are known for their work in Hindi films including Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Bhoomi, Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Kabir Singh, Tanhaji and Jersey. They started their journey together in singing with "Subah Ki Train" picturised on Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar from the 2017 film “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha,” a comedy drama directed by Shree Narayan Singh. The film campaigns to improve sanitation conditions in India, with an emphasis on the eradication of open defecation, which, before the Swachh Bharat mission, was still a problem, especially in rural areas. The two Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur were born in Darbhanga, Bihar and Delhi respectively in 1989 and 1992 respectively. After becoming finalist of India's first season of reality show The Voice India in 2015, the duo was formed the following year. They got married in November 2020. The two also gained the spotlight for their music video 'Chhor Denge' which was viewed in YouTube as of August 2024 more than 486 million times.
23 December,2024 01:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDays after attending daughter Aaradhya's school annual function with Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai has jetted out of the city with her daughter. The couple's marital status has been making headlines for over a year now. While it was rumoured that the couple has been separated, the couple sometime make appearance together which briefly put the rumours to rest. Last week, the couple attended the school's annual day function of Aaradhya together. On Monday morning, Aishwarya and her daughter Aaradhya were papped at the Mumbai airport as they exited from the city. "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," the actress wished the paparazzi before leaving from the premises. The photographers asked the mother-daughter duo to pose for pictures but they did not oblige. For the travel, Aishwarya and Aaradhya wore black hoodies, pants and shoes. Both of them wore sneakers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) About Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s divorce rumours Reports of possible tension in Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan's marriage have been circulating for some time. The couple, who tied the knot in a high-profile wedding in 2007, has been making headlines due to divorce speculations. They share a daughter named Aaradhya. Abhishek's alleged closeness to his ‘Dasvi’ co-star, Nimrat Kaur, along with complex family dynamics involving Shweta and Jaya Bachchan, are said to be contributing factors to the rumoured troubles. Amid this, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, along with Amitabh Bachchan, attended the annual function of their daughter Aaradhya at the Dhirubhai Ambani school last week. The couple was seen cheering for their daughter as she performed on stage. The couple was seated together in the front row. In the video, Aishwarya can be seen wearing an all-black suit and pairing it with a dupatta that featured floral embroidery. The actress was accompanied by her hubby Abhishek, who looked dashing in a black hoodie, while Mr. Bachchan wore a green blazer. In the video, the actress was seen holding Abhishek's hand and was also seen talking to both Abhishek and Big B. The actress was also seen asking Sr. Bachchan to 'come,' and then she guided him toward the venue.
23 December,2024 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Aamir Khan recently revealed that he had the opportunity to listen to the "Vanvaas" story, narrated by Anil Sharma. The ‘PK’ star opened up about his admiration for the story and character of the upcoming film. The actor shared that he was captivated by the film’s narrative and character development during a meeting with Sharma a few months ago. Nana Patekar recorded a special podcast with Aamir. Zee Studios took to Instagram to share the video from the podcast and wrote in the caption, “#NanaPatekar in a candid conversation with #AamirKhan discusses the love, the tears, the sacrifice, the joy that Vanvaas captures beautifully! #Vanvaas in cinemas near you!.” In the video, Khan shared that Anil had also narrated the story of the film to him when they met a few months ago. He really liked the story. The way the character is portrayed and the way it’s expressed is really, really good. The duo was spotted together in Juhu, Mumbai, on December 21, 2024, as they filmed for the podcast. This special episode delved into the themes of "Vanvaas," including family, honour, and self-acceptance, offering a modern take on these timeless concepts. Talking about the film, the veteran actor had earlier said that “Vanvaas is not just a story—it’s a reflection of emotions we often bury deep within ourselves. Playing this character was like peeling back layers of my own understanding of family, honor, and belonging. It’s a film that speaks to the soul, and I believe audiences will find a part of their own journey in it.” Director Anil Sharma shared with IANS, “It is a story in which we have tried to show that a father is above all. It is a film that will get into everyone, and every father will watch the film and then tell their sons to go watch it. Vanvaas” is also an emotional journey, “where I say, ‘apne hi dete hai apno ko vanvaas’. I am trying to tell the biggest truth in the world because it is very relevant in today’s time.” The film also stars Utkarsh Sharma and Simrat Kaur. "Vanvaas,” produced, directed, and written by Anil Sharma, was released on December 20. 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
23 December,2024 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBringing festive cheer Triptii Dimri brought festive cheer to the web world with her social media posts from picturesque England. Dimri, who is currently vacationing in The Cotswolds, is reportedly in the company of her rumoured boyfriend, Sam Merchant. Taking to her Instagram Stories section, she shared pictures from her holiday. One among them features her enjoying hot chocolate. “Because chocolate fixes everything,” she wrote alongside the picture. Other pictures showcased her braving the cold temperatures of the region. Dimri had previously celebrated Christmas in Mumbai, and shared images of a beautifully lit Christmas tree, and the bustling streets of Bandra. Merchant also shared similar moments on his Stories section, a development that has been considered by Dimri’s fans as an indication that the duo were celebrating together. A story you’ve not heard On a singing reality show, Subhash Ghai revealed that the song Om shanti om from his 1980 classic, Karz, was initially recorded by late composer Laxmikant. “We were unable to get Kishore [Kumar] da’s date for this song, so Laxmikant ji himself sang the song. He sang it beautifully. Everyone told him that his version should be released, but I wanted Kishore da [to] sing it. When we shot this song, it was initially recorded in Laxmikant ji’s voice. However, the next day, I visited Kishore ji’s house and requested him to give me a date for the recording. Kishore ji asked me to check if Laxmi ji was okay with him singing the song. When I conveyed this to Laxmikant ji, he graciously said that since I wanted Kishore ji to sing it, we would release his version. To this day, whenever I listen to the song, I am reminded of Laxmikant ji,” he shared. In memory Days after Zakir Hussain was laid to rest at a San Francisco cemetery, the family of the tabla maestro shared a moving post on his official Instagram account. It marks the first post on the social media page of Hussain since his death at a San Francisco hospital early last week due to complications arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. He was 73. The undated black-and-white picture shows the hands of Hussain, his wife Antonia Minnecola, and daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi held tightly together. “Always together in love,” read the caption of the post, tagging the four members of Hussain’s kin. Wise words Easily the woman of the moment, Kani Kusruti, who stars in two of this year’s most acclaimed movies, All We Imagine as Light, and Girls Will Be Girls, says she has had a more professional work experience in the north industry than in her native state, Kerala. She was named the Best Actress at the Kerala State Film Awards for the 2020 film, Biriyaani. “When I won the Kerala state award in 2020, that had an impact. [The] Kerala [industry] is still struggling with having proper contracts and a working culture of professionalism. We lack a lot in these areas. Winning awards has given me a certain kind of respect, but that should be given otherwise too to any artiste. You don’t have to win an award to get your basic human right or basic right as an artiste,” she added.
23 December,2024 07:26 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamAfter delivering tracks like Guli mata and Zaalima, Indian music producer Anshul Garg shares that he is set to release a song in collaboration with American singer Selena Gomez next year. Garg, who had, until now, not confirmed his association with the singer, tells mid-day that they are set to shoot next year. In this interview, he shares why his keen interest in artistes from the west is beneficial for Indian music, and its musicians. Edited excerpts from the interview. How did your association with Selena come about?I did my first international collaboration for a song called Guli Mata. When I made that song, and made my team hear it, they opined that half of the song was incomprehensible. But, we know that when south music became popular in the north, many people from that area also did not understand the lyrics, but grooved to the music nonetheless. Also, while traveling abroad, I heard a lot of French and Afro music, and enjoyed them. So, I was keen to be part of international collaborations. Eventually, the song did pretty well on the global charts. In fact, we received an award for it in the UAE recently. I subsequently collaborated with other international artistes and kept building relationships with them and their management teams. Now, apart from Selena, we are in talks with to three to four big artistes. In 2025 or 2026, I should be able to bring them to India. What can you share about the song that you’ve done with her?Selena is an icon, and everyone I meet knows who she is. Even in India, she is a celebrated name. She has never come here, though. We’ve locked the song, and have decided which Indian singer should render it, but that’s a detail I am not permitted to reveal just yet. It’s a Hindi and English number, and we’ll have clarity around when it can be released after we shoot it next year, probably in March. What sparked your interest in creating fusions with artistes from the west?A lot of people told me to train my attention on the Indian market, and [criticised me] for changing the positioning of Indian music. They’d tell me that this development would lead people to forget our own music. But, I believe, the things I am doing will help take Indian music to the global stage. When I’m in Los Angeles, I don’t hear any Indian songs there. While I am at a restaurant, I’d like to listen to at least two to three Indian numbers. Hopefully, in the next five years, we will see that happening. Punjabi numbers are becoming so popular in the west. It will boom in the next three years. So, I feel, Indian music will be the next big thing in the world. You will see international artistes becoming inclined towards Indian music, and international actors putting Indian songs on their social media reels. That’s going to happen really soon. What makes you so confident about this statement?I’ve been in this industry for eight years, and have seen the conversation around Indian music change in the last two years. I’ve been talking to many artistes abroad, and they are [all] keen to come to India and collaborate with the musicians here. Martin Garrix is collaborating with Arijit Singh now. Have there been instances when you collaborated with an international artiste but had to shelve the song because it didn’t feel right?Many times. [Recently] I collaborated with a female Russian artiste. We were [in discussion] for months, and suddenly, I felt [it wasn’t right]. If I get bored of the song too soon, then I will [shelve it]. We aim to be at the Grammys. Hopefully, we should be nominated in 2026 or 2027. For that, we need to be very sure about what we do. Working on an international number takes time because there’s a whole lot of paperwork involved. We also want to ensure that the Indian and international parts are [appropriately included]. It’s a process that takes eight months. So, we make five to six songs with all the artistes that we work with, and shelve most of them. We retain only one or two. Is there any artiste you’re keen to join hands with?Drake and The Weeknd. Those will be very exciting. Getting them to India and having them sing a line or two in our language will also be very exciting.
23 December,2024 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaHaving collaborated with a host of female actors over the years, Aditya Seal confesses his projects have shaped him. Seal, who has featured alongside artistes like Taapsee Pannu, Manisha Koirala, and Kajol, appreciated them for their “no-nonsense attitude”. The actor says, “Taapsee, Manisha ma’am, and Kajol ma’am are incredible examples of what it means to stay true to your beliefs and never settle for less than you deserve. They embody strength and resilience. I’ve always believed that women must stand up for their rights, and, as men, it’s our responsibility to support and uplift them, whether in our families, workplaces, or society. Empowered women build a stronger world, and I am proud to stand by them.” Seal credits Pannu—his Khel Khel Mein co-star—for turning up on set with an “incredible energy”. “She is sharp, and witty, and knows exactly how to elevate a scene. Watching her commitment taught me a lot about precision in performances. Every actress I’ve worked with has brought something unique to the table. They’ve shaped me into a more versatile actor, pushing me to dig deeper into my craft.” Kajol, who he features with in the upcoming action thriller Maharagni: Queen of Queens, has “an aura of brilliance”. “She brings so much depth to her characters that sharing the screen with her feels like attending a masterclass in acting.” Maharagni, which also stars Prabhudeva, was a film that “demanded a lot from me, emotionally”. “Kajol ma’am’s support and insights were invaluable. She’s a dream co-star—always encouraging and yet challenging you to be your best.”
23 December,2024 07:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAdvance bookings for the much-anticipated Varun Dhawan-starrer Baby John have opened, and trade analysts believe the film looks promising. The actioner, they claim, is expected to rake in Rs 16 crore on its opening day, with collections over the first weekend likely to cross Rs 50 crore. That the film—directed by Kalees and produced by Atlee—aims to cater to the masses implies that it is a strong contender at the box-office. However, trade experts exercise restraint when pitting it against other offerings of the year. Girish Wankhede tells mid-day, “It’s too early to know the exact [figures] because the bookings are picking up as we speak. Since it is set to release soon after the release of Pushpa 2—The Rule, they couldn’t open booking earlier. That has compromised the [collections]. It cannot match [the collections] of Stree 2 or Pushpa 2. But, it has great music, Atlee’s name, and Varun’s star power. There is a good chance that the film will pick up from Monday.” A remake of Atlee’s 2016 Tamil film Theri, Baby John also features Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Jackie Shroff.
23 December,2024 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAfter a tauba tauba night with Vicky Kaushal and Parineeti Chopra at Karan Aujla's concert yesterday, it was time for a Brown Munde craze. The ace singer performed in Mumbai today as part of the final show of his It Was All A Dream India tour. The tour, which started on December 7 in Chandigarh, concluded today. Today was surely one of the biggest surprises awaiting fans at Karan Aujla's Mumbai concert as two of the biggest Indian rappers, AP Dhillon and Divine, joined him on stage and gave an electrifying performance. AP Dhillon & Karan Aujla perform Brown Munde It was AP Dhillon x Karan Aujla x Divine on stage during his final show today in Mumbai. These two videos will surely give you FOMO if you were not present at Aujla's concert in the Bay today. The first video shows AP Dhillon joining Karan Aujla on stage as they performed Brown Munde together. In the video, Karan was seen looking incredibly handsome in an all-black outfit, while AP Dhillon, in his signature style, wore black jeans paired with a white T-shirt and a stylish shirt. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Divine & Karan Aujla perform Ye Hote Pareshan If you thought Dhillon was the only surprise waiting for you at the "Surprise King" Karan Aujla's concert, then you were highly mistaken. Another banger came when Karan invited Divine to join him on stage. The ace artists were seen setting the stage on fire as they grooved to Ye Hote Pareshan. What added to the heat was Divine's smart look. He was seen wearing a white T-shirt over white track pants and a jacket. Both of them sang, danced, and jumped as they added to the excitement. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TEAM AUJLA (@karanaujlaglobal) The 8-city It Was All A Dream India Tour was a celebration of Karan Aujla's journey from being a small-town artist to now, an international superstar. The title, inspired by his rise to fame, reflects the dreams he’s had and how he’s turned them into reality. This tour marks a significant step in his global mission to bring modern Punjabi music to a wider audience, having already broken ticket sales records in Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. Last night, too, Karan performed in the city at Bandra, and he was joined by Parineeti Chopra and Vicky Kaushal, who sang, danced, and enjoyed with him on the stage.
22 December,2024 11:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe clash between AP Dhillon and Diljit Dosanjh is currently the talk of the town. Dhillon, in his recent concert, claimed that Dosanjh had blocked him. This came just a few days after Diljit gave a shout-out to AP Dhillon and Karan Aujla during his concert. After AP's claims, Dosanjh clarified that he never blocked Dhillon. The dispute didn't end there, as AP Dhillon hit back at Diljit, saying he unblocked him after blocking him on Instagram. Now, in the midst of all this controversy, singer and rapper Badshah has shared a cryptic message delivering the sentiment, "united we stand." After the controversy between Diljit and AP Dhillon, Badshah's post looked like a taunt to the Chamkila star. Badshah's post reads, "Please don’t make the mistakes that we made. The world is ours for the taking. Like they say, ‘If you wanna go fast, go alone, but if you wanna go far, go together.’ United we stand." What happened? AP Dhillon addressed the audience, mentioning Diljit's shout-out. Speaking in Punjabi, he said, "I just want to say one small thing, brother. First unblock me on Instagram and then talk to me. I don't want to talk about what marketing is happening, but first unblock me. I've been working for three years. Have you ever seen me in any controversy?" Diljit responds to AP Dhillon Diljit took to his Instagram Stories to prove that he never blocked Dhillon on the social networking site. He shared a screenshot of Dhillon's profile, indicating that his posts are visible to him, which would not have been the case if he was blocked. He wrote, "I never blocked you. Mere pange sarkaaran naal ho sakde aa...kalaakaran naal ni (My issues could be with the government…not with the artists)." Later, Dhillon took to his Instagram Stories to pen a cryptic note, saying that he never wanted to say anything ill about anyone. “I wasn’t planning on saying shit knowing everyone will hate on me anyways, but at least we know what’s real and what’s not," Dhillon shared on his Instagram Stories. Today, Dhillon was seen landing in Mumbai. He later joined Karan Aujla on stage for a performance of Brown Munde at his Mumbai concert. This was Karan Aujla's final show of this concert series.
22 December,2024 10:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
