As scores of Bollywood celebs jetted off overseas to ring in the New Year, actor Triptii Dimri decided to fly to Finland for a snowy Christmas with rumoured boyfriend Sam Merchant. Triptii and Sam, who have been allegedly dating for a while posted separate pictures and videos on Instagram from their vacation. However, eagle-eyed netizens noticed that they were indeed together. Triptii Dimri and Sam Merchant’s romantic vacay in Finland Triptii Dimri posted a video on Instagram with the caption, “Snowflakes and Smiles…Today feels like one of the happiest chapters of my life.” She can be seen wearing a red sweatshirt with black trousers, gloves, and a cap. She even eats some of the snowflakes and rides a sledge on the streets. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Triptii Dimri (@tripti_dimri) Sam Merchant on the other hand took to his Instagram stories and documented the picturesque views from their stay in a weather of minus 8 degrees. He also posted a picture of Salmon steak with some salad and soups being kept near the fireplace. He also shared a video of being surrounded by reindeer. For those unversed, Sam, winner of the Gladrags Manhunt Contest in 2002, within a short period became a prominent entrepreneur. A few years ago, he ventured into an interesting and entertaining business of opening up exotic beach clubs and hotels in Goa. Sam himself is an avid and frequent traveller and travel blogger who tries to explore new and exciting destinations while balancing his work and personal life. Triptii Dimri’s work front Triptii Dimri, who has delivered stellar performances in ‘Bulbbul’ and ‘Qala’, rose to prominence with the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer ‘Animal’ last year. Since then, the actress has been on a roll with films like ‘Bad Newz’, ‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’ and the recent Kartik Aaryan-starrer ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’. She will feature in Siddhant Chaturvedi-starrer 'Dhadak 2' helmed by Shazia Iqbal. The film is a sequel to its 2018 film titled 'Dhadak' which marked the debut of actress Janhvi Kapoor alongside Ishan Khatter. Apart from all this, the big announcement that rolled out and took everyone's breath away was that Triptii will be joining forces with actor Shahid Kapoor for an untitled project which will be directed by 'Haider' fame director Vishal Bhardwaj, and will be bankrolled by Sajid Nadiadwala.
30 December,2024 10:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn 2024, Bollywood witnessed a series of new collaborations where actors and directors brought out the best in each other. These partnerships created magic on screen that blended vision, talent, and chemistry. Here’s a look at this year’s blockbuster actor-director collaborations and how they complimented each other: Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh – Amar Singh Chamkila Imtiaz Ali’s knack for emotionally layered narratives was perfectly complemented by Diljit Dosanjh’s soulful performance as the iconic Punjabi singer Chamkila. Ali’s direction allowed Diljit to delve deep into Chamkila’s struggles and triumphs, bringing authenticity and heart to the story. Their collaboration delivered a poignant portrayal of a musical legend and left audiences mesmerized. The film's songs and background scores complement the film. Nikkhil Advani and Sidhant Gupta – Freedom at MidnightNikkhil Advani’s expertise in storytelling met Sidhant Gupta’s transformative performance as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Freedom at Midnight. Advani’s attention to historical detail and Sidhant’s ability to embody Nehru’s dignity and complexity made the series a masterclass in historical drama. Together, they struck a perfect balance between historical accuracy and emotional depth, making the show a benchmark for Indian streaming content. Amar Kaushik and Rajkummar Rao – Stree 2: Sarkate Ka AatankAmar Kaushik’s quirky yet thrilling direction found the ideal counterpart in Rajkummar Rao’s effortless blend of humor and heroism in Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank. Kaushik’s innovative vision brought out the absurd hilarity of the supernatural premise, while Rajkummar’s entertaining performance and incredible comic timing ensured that the audience stayed hooked. Together, they created a sequel that was equal parts spooky and hilarious. Nag Ashwin and Amitabh Bachchan – Kalki 2898 ADNag Ashwin’s futuristic vision reached new heights with Kalki 2898 AD, and Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of the immortal Ashwatthama added to the epic saga. Ashwin’s innovative storytelling gave Bachchan a platform to showcase his legendary acting prowess, while Bachchan brought layers of wisdom and sorrow to Ashwatthama’s character, making him an unforgettable figure in the sci-fi film. Arjun Varain Singh and Siddhant Chaturvedi – Kho Gaye Hum Kahan Arjun Varain Singh’s fresh and relatable narrative style perfectly complemented Siddhant Chaturvedi’s honest performance in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. Singh’s direction highlighted the complexities of modern relationships, while Siddhant’s nuanced portrayal of a man grappling with love and loss brought the emotional resonance that elevated the film. Their synergy created a contemporary masterpiece that resonated deeply with audiences.
30 December,2024 06:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPopular television actor Shweta Tiwari strongly reacted to rumours of her daughter Palak Tiwari dating Saif Ali Khan’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan. Palak and Ibrahim, who have been photographed together on multiple occasions, and were even rumoured to have jetted off to the Maldives for a romantic getaway, set tongues wagging about their alleged affair. Shweta Tiwari unfazed by Palak-Ibrahim Ali Khan's relationship rumours In an interview with SCREEN, Shweta Tiwari, who was recently seen in ‘Singham Again’, was asked about her daughter Palak’s dating rumours with Ibrahim Ali Khan. She replied, “Rumors don’t bother me anymore, in all these years I have realized people’s memory only last for 4 hours. They will forget the news after that, so why bother? As per rumours, my daughter is dating every third guy, and I am getting married every year. As per the internet, I am already married thrice. These things don’t affect me now, earlier they did when social media was not there and when some journalist never liked writing good things about you. Negativity about actors sell. After dealing with that era, this doesn’t affect me.” Palak Tiwari and Ibrahim Ali Khan’s work front Palak has made a name for herself after featuring opposite Harrdy Sandhu in the 'Bijlee Bijlee' song. She debuted in Bollywood in the movie ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ alongside Salman Khan, Pooja Hegde, Venkatesh Daggubati, Shehnaaz Gill, Bhumika Chawla, Jagapathi Babu, Raghav Juyal, Siddharth Nigam, Jassie Gill, and Vijender Singh. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Ali Khan, who will soon make his screen debut, worked as an assistant director on the upcoming film 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani' which stars Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh in lead roles along with an illustrious cast of Jaya Bachchan, her 'Sholay' co-star Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi and several others. The film has been directed by Karan Johar who is known to be close to Ibrahim's father Saif Ali Khan, and is a dear friend of Kareena Kapoor Khan. Earlier this year, Karan Johar hinted at a new project with a legacy actor who will be making his debut with the film. The majority of fans speculated that the film is 'Sarzameen' starring South actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, and Ibrahim. However, an official announcement of the film is still awaited.
30 December,2024 05:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs 2024 comes to an end, Bollywood beauty Malaika Arora is spending this time reflecting on the year that was. The dancing diva and fitness enthusiast has experienced a barrage of emotions this year. First her breakup with Arjun Kapoor and then the tragic demise of her stepfather Anil Mehta, who allegedly jumped from his apartment in Bandra, this year was overwhelming for Malaika. Malaika Arora calls 2024 a difficult year Malaika Arora reposted text from an Instagram page that read, “I don’t hate you, 2024, but you were a difficult year, full of challenges, changes, and learning. You showed me that life can change in the blink of an eye and taught me to trust myself more. But, above all, you made me understand that my health, whether physical, emotional, or mental, is what really matters. There are still things I can’t understand, but I believe that, with time, I will understand the reasons and purposes of everything that happened.” Malaika Arora shares a cryptic post on how 2024 has treated her !!byu/IndianByBrain inBollyBlindsNGossip Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor’s breakup Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor started dating in 2018. The duo, however, had never opened up much about their relationship but kept posting romantic pictures from their vacations as well as wishing each other on birthdays. Recently, during the promotion of ‘Singham Again’, Arjun announced that he is single. When Malaika was asked about the same, she told ETimes, "I will never choose a public platform to talk about my personal life. So, whatever Arjun has said is entirely his prerogative.” Malaika Arora’s stepfather Anil Mehta dies Malaika Arora’s stepfather Anil Mehta died in September. As per reports, Anil jumped off the sixth floor of his Bandra residence. Malaika’s parents divorced when she was 11 years old, and she moved to Chembur with her mother and sister Amrita Arora. Her mother, Joyce Polycarp, is a Malayali Christian, and Anil Mehta was a Punjabi, who worked in the Indian Merchant Navy. On the work front, Malaika is best known for her dance numbers 'Gur Naal Ishq Mitha', 'Chaiyya Chaiyya', 'Rangilo Maro Dholna', and 'Munni Badnaam Hui' among others. She is currently one of the biggest advocates of yoga in B-town. Malaika has also appeared on several reality TV shows as a judge including ‘Zara Nachke Dikha’, ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’, and ‘India's Got Talent’.
30 December,2024 04:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran singer Asha Bhosle, who recently performed at a concert in Dubai, took fans off-guard after she crooned her rendition of the 2024 viral track Tauba Tauba. The 91-year-old also performed the hook steps of the song. The singer was seen wearing a white saree and paired it with white necklace. Singer Karan Aujla and actor Vicky Kaushal who sang and danced to the song respectively also reacted to the same. At 91, legendary singer Asha Bhosle wowed fans during a live Dubai concert by singing and dancing to the viral track "Tauba Tauba" from Bad Newz. Her adorable take on Vicky Kaushal's iconic hookstep left the audience mesmerized, proving age is just a number!#AshaBhosle… pic.twitter.com/9TIfysUwk8 — Mid Day (@mid_day) December 30, 2024 Karan Aujla and Vicky Kaushal react to Asha Bhosle’s Tauba Tauba performance Taking to his Instagram stories, Karan Aujla wrote, "@asha.bhosle ji The living Goddess of music, Just performed tauba tauba... a song written by a kid that grew up in a small village, with no music background and no knowledge of musical instruments. A melody made by someone who doesn't play any instrument. This song has received a lot of love and recognition amongst not only fans but also music artists, but this moment is truly iconic and one I will never forget. I am truly blessed and thankful. This has really inspired me to keep giving you all such melodies and create more memories together." Actor Vicky Kaushal, who originally performed the hook step in the movie Bad Newz, couldn't contain his excitement. Sharing the video on his Instagram, he wrote, "What an absolute legend... Asha ji." The impact of Karan Aujla’s ‘Tauba Tauba’ The viral song ‘Tauba Tauba’ was a turning point in Karan Aujla’s career, surpassing all his expectations. He earlier told Mid-day, “Watching fans from all over embrace it was surreal, and it highlighted music's ability to transcend cultural and geographic boundaries. It pushed me to grow as an artist and reach a wider audience.” That being said, Karan believes success doesn’t come easy. While the exterior looks all glam and glitz, there's a lot of unseen hard work. He explained, “I spent years writing for others, learning the ropes, and waiting for my moment. Moving to Canada meant starting from scratch, facing financial challenges, and sleepless nights. Getting noticed took time, and staying consistent has been even harder. It may seem like things blew up quickly, but it's been years of grinding, evolving, and hard work to get here.”
30 December,2024 03:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bachchan family recently attended the wedding of their Managing Director's son in Mumbai. In a photo that surfaced online, Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan, and their son Abhishek Bachchan were seen posing with the bride and the groom. However, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was not seen with the family. For the event, Amitabh Bachchan was dressed in a black Indo-western outfit. Jaya Bachchan was dolled up in a pink and orange saree and Abhishek was seen in an ivory-coloured sherwani. They attended the wedding of their Managing Director Rajesh Yadav's son Rikin Yadav with Surabhi. Rajesh has been associated with the Bachchan family for the past three decades. Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan graced the wedding reception of Rikin Yadav and Surabhi in Mumbai. Rikin is the son of Shree Rajesh Yadav, the Managing Director who has been associated with the Bachchan's over three decades. pic.twitter.com/PalrZmisBx — Narendra Gupta (@narendragupta19) December 30, 2024 Aishwarya Rai missing from the Bachchan family photo Soon after the picture was shared, netizens noticed the absence of Aishwarya from the family portrait. It is still unclear if she attended the wedding or not but the 'Devdas' actor's absence has fuelled the ongoing divorce rumours of the couple. This news comes when speculations of trouble in Aishwarya and Abhishek's married life are making headlines. Earlier this year, Aishwarya and Abhishek appeared separately for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's grand wedding. Moreover, Aishwarya's birthday post for daughter Aaradhya did not feature any Bachchan family members including Abhishek. Abhishek and Aishwarya have maintained their silence on the ongoing rumours. However, Amitabh Bachchan shared a post that seemed to address the ongoing speculations about the family. When Amitabh Bachchan addressed rumours Addressing rumours surrounding his family, Amitabh Bachchan had written this in his blog, “I rarely say much about family, because that is my domain and its privacy is maintained by me .. Speculations are speculations .. they are speculated untruths , without verifications .. Verifications are sought by the seekers to authenticate their business and commercials of the profession they be in .. I shall not challenge their desire to be in the profession of their choice .. and I shall appreciate their effort in serving society .. But untruths .. or selected question marked information can be a legal safeguard for them that inform .. but the seed of suspected belief is sown with this most used emblem .. the question mark ..?"
30 December,2024 02:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShalini Passi became a topic of interest after the release of 'Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives' season 3 on Netflix a couple months ago. Ever since the show, there has been an immense interest in her personal life. Recently, there were rumours that the socialite got hair transplant done. In an interview with Bombay Times, while reacting to the rumours, Passi said, “Some odd, bizarre things I read about myself include claims that I’ve had a hair transplant. And yeah, that was very funny because everybody in my family and my friends know that I’ve had long hair for the longest time. I’ve shaved my hair in four times, and it always grows back. The texture of my hair is the same as it has always been like that, it is not what people claim it to be. I’m just blessed to have good hair." Earlier, while talking to NDTV, Passi had reveled that she often donates her hair at Tirupati Balaji temple. She said that she doe snot style her hair often as she donates it. “I feel that a lot of people think it’s an invasion of privacy, but I feel that I’m getting so much love, and I have nothing to hide. If they want to know my age, how many children I have, I think it’s fair enough," said Shalini. Who is Shalini Passi and why has she become a topic of interest? There are four stages of knowing me, says Shalini Passi on episode four of the third season of Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives. She is one among the three new entrants on the show. The Delhi socialite has been accompanied by Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Kalyani Saha Chawla on the show to give a competition to the OG Bollywood wives -Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Panday, Seema Sajdeh and Neelam Kothari. So what are the four stages? "First is disbelief. Then inquisitiveness. Then there's the 'is it really true? Does she do all these things?' And then complete surrender and love". Shalini is a Delhi resident who is an artist, art collector and philanthropist. She is also the founder of MASH, an organisation which brings the world of art, architecture, craft, design, and fashion closer. She is married to Sanjay Passi, chairman of Pasco Group, a dominant name in Tata Motors-certified dealerships in North India. They have one son named Robin. The three live together in their plush 20,000 sq ft palatial home in New Delhi. See inside pics from the house here. Reportedly, Shalini got married at the early age of 20. Details of her current age is not available on the internet.
30 December,2024 12:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Kriti Sanon recently spoke about the toll that constant film promotions and hectic schedules take on ones health. She said that rigorous promotions for films with actors switching cities constantly becomes hectic and leave them burnt out. She revealed that she had breakdown on the last day of her film 'Bhediya's promotions. Kriti Sanon cried on last day of Bhediya promotions Kriti Sanon was talking to Ranveer Allahbadia when she spoke about the tiring process of film promotions. "Promotions can be very tiring. I almost had a breakdown when I was promoting Bhediya. That year, I had two or three other releases, so I had already done promotions two or three times before. While promoting Bhediya, we were traveling to different cities back-to-back. We even took a charter at night, jumping cities, sleeping at night, going to another city, doing interviews, and repeating the same things again and again. I wished I could have my answers on a tape recorder. Like, dial 1 for this question and 2 for another. By the end of it, both Varun [Dhawan] and I had memorized each other’s answers.” Elaborating on the moment she broke down and started crying, the actress said, "On the last day of promotions, I was supposed to appear on a reality show. I was getting ready in my vanity van, and during some conversation, I started crying. I said, ‘I’m very tired; I can’t do this. I’m exhausted.’ Everyone around me froze. It affects your mental health.” The actress aid that while she enjoys acting, it is the additional pressures of being a part of the film industry that gets hectic for actors. She also said that sometimes she acts rebellious as a coping mechanism. "Sometimes, I become rebellious. Like, I’ll refuse to attend an award show. Once, I told my stylist I wouldn’t go for a photoshoot, and she said I’d have to buy the outfit if I didn’t go. So, I bought it. Bad mein jaake fatka laga mujhe but… (Later, I realized it made a dent in my pocket, but…” Kriti Sanon was last seen in the film 'Do Patti' that was released on Netflix. She played a double role in the film and also turned producer with it. Written by Kanika Dhillon, the film also reunited her with senior actress Kajol with whom she last shared screen in the 2015 release Dilwale.
30 December,2024 11:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBack on screen After a string of re-releases showed promise at the box office, a Salman Khan favourite is set to make its way to the big screen again. Rajshri Productions announced that it has re-released the popular romance drama, Maine Pyar Kiya, starring Khan and Bhagyashree, to mark the film’s 35th anniversary. The movie, which was originally released on December 29, 1989, was the directorial debut of Sooraj Barjatya, and was Khan’s first film as a leading man. It also marked Bhagyashree’s acting debut. Maine Pyar Kiya explored themes of class, friendship, and love, and, to date, enjoys massive fan following owing to its memorable music and dialogues. Matters of the heart Varun Dhawan may have infrequently spoken about his wife Natasha Dalal, but that has never stopped him from discussing matters relating to the heart. The actor, who featured in the recently released film Baby John, says heartbreak is difficult for men to deal with, because “being a boy, you can’t cry”. Appearing on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel, Dhawan weighed in on the subject and said, “When a man’s heart breaks, society doesn’t think much about what happens to him. He goes through a very bad time. You can’t even show it to them. You get shattered from within. You can’t show that pain. You have to keep a face and move forward, because people expect you to be strong; you can’t cry, being a boy”. Pointing fingers Director Sanjay Gupta, who is known for films like Kaante, Shootout at Wadala, and Kaabil, has expressed his discontent over how the film industry is now at the mercy of two OTT platforms. “I’ve been in the movie business since I was a teenager. I’ve been a director for 30 years. Never had I imagined that the entire system would collapse the way it has, and be at the mercy of two OTT platforms,” he wrote on social media in a post that invited reactions from his followers. “It’s not OTT. It’s COVID that reshaped many industries, and the cinema industry is one of them. OTT encashed the opportunity that the cinema industry couldn’t provide. It’s a failure of producers and directors who couldn’t bring viewers back to cinemas,” wrote one user. Others also criticised the mediocre quality of films being churned out of late.
30 December,2024 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamWho can ever guess that the legendary singer Asha Bhosle is 91-years-old. The veteran singer recently did a live concert and also broke into dance to a viral song from this year. She was seen singing 'Tauba Tauba' from the film 'Bad Newz' that starred Vicky Kaushal in the led. The actor's smooth moves in the song had gone viral on social media leading many to imitate the move. Now, with the year ending, Bhosle has done the cutest version of the hookstep. Dressed in a saree, Asha Bhosle looked elegant as ever as she mesmerised the audience with her voice. She began signing the viral Karan Aujla song 'Tauba Tauba'. After singing few lines, she stepped away from the mic and started doing the hookstep in the most adorable manner with a smile on her face. The video was shared by Bosco Martis who choreographed the song for the film 'Bad Newz' featuring Vicky Kaushal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KadaK FM (@kadakfm) Karan Aujla reacts to Asha Bhosle's performance Karan Aujla was beyond thrilled to watch Bhosle sing a song sung and written by him. Taking to Instagram stories, the singer who is currently touring in India wrote, "@asha.bhosle ji The living Goddess of music, just performed Tauba Tauba. A song written by a kid that grew up in a small village, with no music background and no knowledge of musical instruments. A melody made by someone who doesn't play any instrument. This song has received a lot of love and recognition amongst not only fans but also music artists, but this moment is truly iconic and one I will never forget." "I am truly blessed and thankful. This has really inspired me to keep giving you all such melodies and create more memories together," he added. He also shared the video of Asha Bhosle singing the song in his Instagram stories and wrote, "I wrote it at 27. She sang it at 91 better than me". Meanwhile, Aujla is currently in India doing concerts across the country. The 8-city ‘It Was All A Dream’ India Tour is 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.
30 December,2024 10:08 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger Diljit Dosanjh dedicated his Guwahati concert on Sunday night to the late Dr Manmohan Singh who passed away on December 26. He also paid a moving tribute to former Prime Minister while admiring his contribution to the country and his resilience. He also listed life lessons that can be learned from the life of Manmohan Singh, who left for his heavenly abode on Thursday at 92 in Delhi after a prolonged illness. On Sunday evening, Diljit dropped a video from his Dil-Luminati gig on his Instagram account, saying that his Guwahati concert was dedicated to the life of the late economist. In the video, the 'Naina' hitmaker could be seen paying respect to Manmohan Singh with a picture of the former PM in the background on the stage. Talking about the simplicity of the former politician, Diljit said, " Agar main unki life ki journey ki taraf dekhu, toh unhone itna saada jeewan jia hai, agar unko kisi ne bura bhi bola, toh unhone kabhi ulta jawaab nhi diya. Halanki politics ke career me ye sabse mushkil kaam hai. (He led a very simple life. He never used to answer back or talk ill about anyone...Even though this is tough thing to do in politics.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) Diljit even urged the youth including himself to learn such etiquette from the life of Manmohan Singh. He also compared that politicians in Lok Sabha fight like nursery kids while Dr Singh has never even said anything in triggered retaliation. He also said that Singh was the first Indian Sikh to have their signature on the currency. "I bow down to such a person who dedicated their entire life to the service of the country," he said dedicating the concert to the late PM. About Dr Manmohan Singh Singh's political career spanned several decades, with notable positions including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India's economy. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernising India's economy. After his second term, Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections. (with inputs from ANI)
30 December,2024 09:34 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
