Singer AP Dhillon has started touring in India for his concerts. During his recent show in Chandigarh, the Punjabi artist spoke in the native language and asked singer Diljit Dosanjh to unblock him from Instagram and then speak about him in public. During his Indore concert, the 'Born To Shine' singer gave as shoutout to AP Dhillon and Karan Aujla as they begin their shows in India. What AP Dhillon said at Chandigarh concert During his show, AP Dhillon addressed how Diljit gave him a shoutout. 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 The singer took to his Instagram stories to prove that he never blocked Dhillon on the social networking site. He shared the 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 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. Lmao did Diljit really blocked him??😭 AP just posted proofs on his stories lol😭😭 https://t.co/Qe6uKcCQvc pic.twitter.com/HdkGc2l4w6 — Dhillon (@sehajdhillon_) December 21, 2024 What Diljit said about AP Dhillon and Karan Aujla During his Indore concert, Diljit talked about Karan Aujla and AP Dhillon. He had said, “Mere aur do bhaiyon ne tour shuru kiya hai Karan Aujla aur AP Dhillon nein, unke liye bhi best of luck (Two of my brothers, Karan Aujla and AP Dhillon, have started their tour; best of luck to them, too).” He also added, "Yeh independent music ka time shuru hai. Musibate toh ayengi. Jab koi revolution aata hai toh musibat aati hai. Hum apna kam karte jayenge (The time for independent music has started. Problems will arise. When there is a revolution, problems will arise. We will keep working)."
22 December,2024 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe coming-of-age drama 'Girls Will Be Girls', backed by actors Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, which recently premiered on Prime Video after screening at several international film festivals, continues to receive love from fans and celebs alike. After accolades from Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, and Dia Mirza, actor Rajkummar Rao has now praised the film, calling it "beautiful," Taking to Instagram, the 'Stree 2' actor shared a poster of the film on his stories and wrote, "This is such a beautiful, coming-of-age film produced by our very own Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. More power to you both, doston. The film stays with you for a long time. Congratulations #SuchiTalati on Girls Will Be Girls and Kani Kusruti, Preeti Panigrahi, and Kesav Binoy Kiran--such fine performances by you all." 'Girls Will Be Girls' premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, earning two awards and widespread acclaim. The film also sweeped multiple awards at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival this year. It is an Indo-French collaboration, that stars newcomers Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron alongside Kani Kusruti. It is produced by Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's Pushing Buttons Studios, in collaboration with French production houses Dolce Vita Films and Crawling Angel Films. Directed by Shuchi Talati, the film is a compelling story set in a boarding school in a small Himalayan hill town in northern India. It follows the journey of Mira, a 16-year-old girl whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother's unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. 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
22 December,2024 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIIt's been 17 years since 'Welcome' (2007) hit the big screens. However, fans still hold this comedy classic close to their hearts, while cherishing its iconic characters. To mark this special day, Anil Kapoor, who played the iconic Majnu Bhai, took to Instagram to reminisce about the "unforgettable journey" and dropped a collage of stills from the movie. Picture Courtesy/Anil Kapoor's Instagram account "17 years of Welcome, what an unforgettable journey with Anees Sahab, Feroz Sahab, Nana, Akshay, Katrina, and Mallika Sherawat. Majnu Bhai sends his adaab, salaam, and sasriyakaal to these amazing artists and fans who keep the magic alive!," wrote Anil aka Majnu Bhai. Directed by Anees Bazmee, 'Welcome' is a cult movie that brought together an ensemble cast, including Feroz Khan in his final role, alongside Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, and Mallika Sherawat. The story revolves around Uday Shetty (Nana Patekar) and Majnu Bhai (Anil Kapoor), two dons desperately trying to find a suitable groom for their sister Sanjana (Katrina Kaif). On the other hand, Dr. Ghungroo (Paresh Rawal) wants a respectable bride for his nephew Rajiv (Akshay Kumar). When Rajiv falls in love with Sanjana, it leads to a hilarious series of misunderstandings and dramatic twists. After 'Welcome' and 'Welcome Back', now the series is about to move ahead with its third instalment titled 'Welcome to the Jungle.' The film features Akshay Kumar alongside renowned names such as Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Suniel Shetty, Johnny Lever, Kiku Sharda, Krushna Abhishek, Rahul Dev among others. 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
22 December,2024 08:29 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIBollywood actor Govinda, who turned 61 on Saturday, stepped out of his residence to personally greet fans and paparazzi. The ‘Hero No. 1’ actor was seen distributing sweets to his fans. Dressed in a white kurta-pyjama, the actor greeted the fans gathered outside his house and even interacted with them. In a video that surfaced online, Govinda is seen shaking hands with fans standing near the gate of his house. He also waved at them. On his special day, the ‘Coolie No. 1’ actor received heartwarming birthday wishes from his industry friends. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who has worked with Govinda, shared a heartfelt birthday note for the actor along with a memorable picture of the two. Wishing Govinda, he wrote on Instagram, “Wishing my 1st Hero, @govinda_herono1, a very Happy Birthday! May your birthday be full of love, laughter, and endless blessings. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and great health. Love, #SajidNadiadwala.” Shilpa Shetty took to her Instagram Stories to share a delightful photo featuring Govinda. The snapshot, taken on the sets of an event they both attended, captured the duo grooving to a song and thoroughly enjoying the moment. Sharing it, Shilpa added a “Happy Birthday” sticker and penned a note, “To everyone’s forever HERO #Not @govinda_herono1 Wishing you love, happiness, and great health alwaysssss.” Meanwhile, in October, Govinda was rushed to a Mumbai hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the leg. The incident reportedly took place early in the morning, between 4:45 and 5:00 AM, while the actor was preparing to travel to Kolkata. At the time, he was alone in his residence. After being discharged, Govinda addressed the media about the mishap, explaining, “I was getting ready to leave for a show in Kolkata. It was around 4:45-5:00 AM when the revolver fell and misfired. I felt a jhatka (shock) and then noticed… there was a fountain (of blood).” On the work front, Govinda is known for his roles in films like “Shola Aur Shabnam," “Coolie No. 1," “Hero No. 1," “Saajan Chale Sasural," “Dulhe Raja," and “Haseena Maan Jaayegi.” 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
22 December,2024 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSWhen starting off as first-time producers three years ago, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal knew what they were looking for. “An investor always invests in a story,” says Chadha. This search for powerful stories has resulted in Girls Will Be Girls, which dropped on Prime Video earlier this week. Before its India release, it won two awards, including the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic category, at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. With it, the world knew what Chadha did already—that director Shuchi Talati has a way with stories. “Before this, she wrote a heart-warming children’s script. I was ready [to produce] that too. But that didn’t work out, this did,” smiles Chadha. Girls Will Be Girls, starring Kani Kusruti and Preeti Panigrahi, tells the story of a 16-year-old girl’s complex relationship with her mother. It resonated with Fazal, who was raised in a house run by women. “I was raised by a single mother, and I saw how her relationship with her mother was bittersweet,” he says. A still from Girls Will Be Girls Despite the awards and acclaim, the film didn’t release on the big screen, instead premièring on an OTT platform. Had they expected more from this industry as first-time producers? “I expect nothing. We are no one to make demands. We will make our own way,” Chadha says defiantly. The episode has shown Fazal that the industry is not encouraging of indie films. Which is why the actor-producer wants to do his bit to create an ecosystem. “Maybe we can own a theatre, where we screen the indie films we make and like. Why is everyone connected to the big chains? If the machinery was changed, it’d be wonderful. It’s an ambition for the future.” The couple is now zeroing in on their next production. The one thing they expect from their collaborators is tenacity. “I don’t want lazy people. People make it look like they should be paid to brainstorm; phir humein bhi [script] sunne ke paise milne chahiye,” Chadha laughs, before adding, “I know when people are in it for the stories or for temporary glory. But we are looking for stories that will stand the test of time.”
22 December,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuDecember appears to be full of vampires and fright for Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. The actors, who are teaming up for the first time in Thama, began shooting for the vampire comedy last week. Sources tell us that director Aditya Sarpotdar called action on the project on December 12 at Chitra Studios in Powai. Thama, which marks the next chapter in producer Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy universe, plays out against two backdrops—present-day Delhi, and the Vijayanagara Empire of the past. While the project was to roll in October, it got delayed. “Ayushmann, Rashmika and Paresh Rawal began with a night schedule on December 12. At Chitra Studio, a set depicting the Delhi home of Paresh’s character has been built by production designers Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray. The trio shot their introductory scenes against this setting. They will film at this location till December 23, after which they will take a New Year’s break,” reveals a source. The unit will regroup in Delhi in January for a start-to-finish schedule. “After a month-long leg in the capital, the unit will move to Ooty in February, when Nawazuddin Siddiqui will join them. Aditya has lined up long shoots in the forests of Ooty, as Nawazuddin’s character is shown to reside in the jungle. The actor, who plays the antagonist, has been given a distinct look by costume designer Sheetal Sharma,” adds the source.
22 December,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRAfter the Diljit Dosanjh craze, Mumbai is witnessing Karan Aujla's electrifying concert in the city today. The ace singer is performing in Mumbai as part of his It Was All A Dream India tour. The tour, which started on December 7 in Chandigarh, will conclude tomorrow with the final show of this concert series. As Aujla kick-started his concert with several celebrities coming to see him perform live, fans and the audience were in for a big surprise they didn’t know they would witness. Karan Aujla x Parineeti Chopra It was Karan Aujla x Parineeti Chopra and Karan Aujla x Vicky Kaushal on stage during his Mumbai concert today. The videos and pictures of them on stage are sure to make you go crazy. One video that made its way to the internet shows Karan Aujla giving the biggest surprise to Mumbai fans as he welcomed Parineeti Chopra on stage and asked everyone to clap for her. Aujla then started singing one of the songs from Parineeti Chopra's film Chamkila, Pehle Lalkare Naal. Later, during the performance, Parineeti joined him in singing. The duo shared a warm hug as they ended the electrifying performance. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @koi.chakar.ni For the performance, Karan chose easy, comfy, yet super stylish outfits. The ace singer was seen wearing a white T-shirt paired with beige pants and sneakers. Parineeti, on the other hand, wore a black T-shirt with a green jacket and blue pants, giving full rapper vibes on stage. Karan Aujla x Vicky Kaushal Another banger from today's concert came when Vicky joined him for a performance, and the duo performed Tauba Tauba, making the crowd go wild. In the video, Vicky can be seen looking dapper in an all-black outfit as he danced to Tauba Tauba. Meanwhile, Karan was seen in a totally different look with an all-black outfit paired with a blue jacket. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TEAM AUJLA (@karanaujlaglobal) More about Karan Aujla’s Mumbai concert Several actors attended Karan's concert today, including Varun Sharma, Rasha Thadani, and Jannat Zubair, among others. The Punjabi sensation, who is performing in Mumbai on December 21, will also have a concert tomorrow, December 22, for fans in the Bay and those who were not able to attend his performances in other cities. The concert is being held at the MMRDA R2 Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East. Aujla’s fans can expect a dynamic and electrifying performance, filled with surefire crowd-pleasers such as Admiring You, Tauba Tauba, and Softly, among others from his extensive catalog, which features a signature blend of Punjabi folk and contemporary sounds.
21 December,2024 10:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVarun Dhawan's Baby John is all set to hit the theatres on December 25, Christmas. The movie is creating quite a buzz, and fans are excited about the release of this action thriller, starring Dhawan in the role of a cop. Another thing making the audience restless is Salman Khan's cameo in the highly anticipated film. Now, just a few days before its release, the movie has faced a road bump as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has requested a few changes in Atlee's production. CBFC demand changes in Baby John As per Bollywood Hungama, the CBFC has given a U/A certificate to Varun's film, but that didn’t come easily. The board has suggested modifications to the film, including a disclaimer clarifying that Baby John has no connection to any political figure or entity. Another modification includes a voiceover and text stating that the child artists in the film have performed adhering to existing guidelines. The CBFC has also asked for a specific dialogue change, including muting the term “Phule” in a reference to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. The board also demanded replacing the mention of Lal Bahadur Shastri with another term, which is yet to be disclosed. The CBFC recommended four visual changes for the film, including one where someone was kicking a 'kalash' (sacred pot). Visuals of characters being set on fire were shortened by 50%, a shot of cigarette burns on a character’s face was toned down, and a close-up of a gunshot was re-edited. The board also asked the makers to submit an AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) certificate. About Baby John Baby John stars Varun Dhawan, National Award-winning actress Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, and Rajpal Yadav. Produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, and Jyoti Deshpande, Baby John is a big cinematic spectacle that you cannot miss! Presented by Jio Studios in association with Atlee and Cine1 Studios, Baby John is a production of A for Apple Studios and Cine1 Studios. Directed by Kalees, the film is set to hit theatres on December 25, 2024. Baby John trailer Directed by Kalees, the trailer provides a preview of the world of Baby John, which is a perfect combination of action, entertainment, humour, and foot-tapping tracks. In the film, Varun Dhawan plays a dad on cop duty. The trailer opens with a look into Baby John's world where he shares a happy life with his daughter. The 3-minute, 6-second-long clip gets intense as the dark reality unveils, exposing us to the world of traps, rapes, and murders. The clip ends with a glimpse of Bhaijaan Salman Khan, who wishes everyone ‘Merry Christmas’ at the end. The trailer gives an adrenaline rush, and apart from Salman's cameo and Varun's obvious heroic presence, what stood out was Jackie Shroff in a negative role, sending chills down our spines.
21 December,2024 09:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentArjun Kapoor was an assistant director on Salman Khan's Wanted in 2009, and that is when Bhaijaan saw potential in the actor and encouraged him to lose weight and pursue acting. Now, in a recent interview, the actor has admitted that it was Salman's influence that helped him become an actor. It was in 2012 when Arjun made his Bollywood debut with Ishaqzaade. In conversation with Raj Shammani, Kapoor heaped praises on Salman Khan and stated, “He has always looked at cinema as an audience’s medium, he has never looked at it only as an artiste. Even today, he does stage shows and Bigg Boss. These are mass mediums. He operates for the masses. He has worked for the audience and then he has built that audience. Maybe this comes to him because he grew up around Salim-Javed. He put it to use in mainstream cinema." Arjun Kapoor on Salman's tough guy image “He is not a bully. Anybody who has a tough image… When you are not always openly warm in the first few minutes, you feel they are being a certain way. There is a lot of warmth to that man. It’s just he might not give it in the first second. But you will have to allow that to happen," Arjun Kapoor stated while talking about Salman's 'tough guy' image. Further, while calling him the 'fearless man,' Arjun added, “He is the most fearless man in the world. I have never seen him shirk adversity, responsibility. He has not changed. He has always been the same person at the core. He has a very strong mind." Arjun Kapoor reveal Salman motivated him for weight lose The Singham Again actor also praised Khan for motivating him to lose weight, which led to his massive transformation. While talking about the same, Arjun added, "My weight-loss journey started because he said, give it a shot. He actually made me realise that. I wanted to become a filmmaker. I never thought of becoming an actor because I weighed 150 kgs. So when that conversation happened with him, he said, give it a shot. He saw me dancing and joking, and he saw an entertainer in me. This is what planted in me. He helped me through my physical transformation." Arjun Kapoor is said to have had a past relationship with Salman Khan’s sister, Arpita Khan, before he began dating his sister-in-law, Malaika Arora.
21 December,2024 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLulia Vantur, who is rumoured to be dating superstar actor Salman Khan, has put out a wish for his brother Sohail Khan on his 54th birthday. She shared an unseen photo of Sohail dancing and wished the actor a very happy birthday. Lulia shared a picture of Sohail in which he was seen looking dapper in casual attire. The actor, in his blue shirt paired with matching jeans, was seen dancing in style. Sohail was looking carefree in the snap that Vantur shared on her Instagram stories. Lulia Vantur’s wish for Sohail Khan While sharing the story, she also attached a heartfelt caption and wrote, “Happy birthday, lovely Sohail Khan. May you always be healthy, loved, and happy." The Romanian model, singer, and actor, who is known for her close friendship with Salman Khan, had earlier wished Khan's father and filmmaker Salim Khan through a heartfelt post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Iulia V Vantur (@vanturiulia) Lulia Vantur’s birthday wish for Salim Khan Lulia had shared a post on Salim Khan's birthday, where she was seen laying her head on Salim Khan’s shoulder. The actress had attached the picture with a heartfelt note that reads, "Happy birthday to one of my favourite persons in the world, who made me feel at home in India. Forever grateful to the legend Salim Khan. The man who created the most beautiful and powerful legacy: a loving and bonded family. May you always be blessed with good health, love, and joy. May you inspire others with your wisdom. May you create more and more great stories #respect #love." More about Salman’s rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur is rumoured to be dating Salman for some time. She is often seen at his family gatherings. Iulia has also collaborated with him on the professional front, like singing the song "Jag Ghoomeya" from his film Sultan. She has also sung "Seeti Maar" from Radhe. Recently, Iulia lent her voice to the revamped version of the song “Raat Baaqi Baat Baaqi” from the spy-thriller series Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. “Raat Baaqi Baat Baaqi” was originally picturised on Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, and late star Parveen Babi. It is from the 1982 film Namak Halaal.
21 December,2024 06:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFifteen minutes into his Mumbai concert, Punjabi pop icon Diljit Dosanjh said, “There is nothing greater for any artiste than the love of their fans.” Probably this love is driving his Dil-Luminati Tour even as he faces multitudes of advisories before each concert, starting from Hyderabad to even the Maximum City. Diljit Dosanjh Before his December 19 concert at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, the Maharashtra government issued an advisory, restricting him from performing songs that promoted alcohol, drugs and violence. Dosanjh, in his defiant style, addressed the elephant in the metaphorical room. “I’ve just returned from Kashmir. Our fauji brothers are taking such great care of everyone. It’s right when they say Kashmir is the jannat on earth. When I returned, I was wondering [about] the next advisory. You don’t worry about it; the advisory is for me. I’ll make sure you have double the fun,” he promised his cheering fans, whose enthusiasm couldn’t be dampened by the winter smog, or the long walk they had to undertake from the race course’s gate. Dosanjh, easily one of India’s most popular exports to the West today, referred to the Sagar Manthan to hit back at the negativity that has been brought upon his India concerts. He said, “The poison was taken by Shiv. But Shiv did not consume the poison; he held it in his throat. So, I have learnt that life and the world might throw poison at you, but you should never take it in you. Don’t let your work suffer.” Diljit Dosanjh Starting his gig at 8 pm, the musician performed his biggest chartbusters, Lover, Naina, and even the contentious Patiala peg by tweaking its lyrics. He cheekily said, “This is the song they have the maximum issues with. How can I not perform this one?” Clearly, he isn’t designed to toe the line. The establishment might need to get used to it, because the crowds cheered the loudest for that one. The advisory barred him from bringing children on stage. So, Dosanjh had ladders erected around the stage, and towards the end of the concert, went down to pose for selfies with the fans. The evening’s highlight was his performance of Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s Ikk kudi. The stage turned blue and bubbles filled the sky as the singer, with his rendition, transported the crowd to another realm. Amidst bhangra and beers —thankfully, the liquor license in Mumbai wasn’t cancelled, unlike in a few other cities—the concert was winsome! But the bigger win is that a desi musician has charted his way to become one of the biggest in the world today. That deserves the loudest cheer. Next time, to facilitate the cheering that left my throat parched, may we request the organisers to serve water by the bottle. To pay R50 per glass is a bit steep!
21 December,2024 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
