Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee, who shared screen space with Sushant Singh Rajput in the film Sonchiriya recalled bonding with him on the sets. Given their Bihar connection, Manoj, who recently appeared on Mid-day’s podcast series The Bombay Film Journey, shared what advice he gave Sushant about the film industry and how the news of his death left him sad for 3 months. ‘Sushant Singh Rajput wasn’t a mad guy’ Sushant Singh Rajput allegedly died by suicide in June 2020. He was found dead inside his Mumbai flat. His death was first probed by Mumbai Police, which later transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is yet to file a closure report. Manoj shared, “Nobody knows what happened to him. All of us are only presuming and guessing things. I have worked with him, and I can say he wasn’t a mad guy. He was fairly well-versed in too many things. He was a voracious reader. I found him reading all the time, both on the set and off the set. He had great knowledge about quantum physics. He used to talk to me about spiritualism and compare it with quantum physics. He was a fantastic mind. I would not like to come to any conclusion because I really don’t know what happened to him. Even the CBI is yet to come to a conclusion.” SSR’s death news left Manoj sad for 3 months The film industry was in shock after learning about Sushant’s death during peak COVID-19. Manoj Bajpayee said, “I must tell you that his death news hit me so badly that I was sad for three months as if I have known him so personally and closely.” He added, “As far as the industry is concerned, we used to have chats about the industry and its politics. I always told him to keep thick skin nahi toh yeh jaan maar dengi tumhari (it will kill you). I had thick skin because I have faced so many rejections. It was a part of my life but a lot of my friends didn’t have that thick skin. They couldn’t face rejections like I did.” Sonchiriya was a slow-burning thriller, based on the life of the dacoits of the Chambal district. It had an ensemble cast of Sushant, Manoj, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ranveer Shorey, among others.
08 January,2025 11:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSeasoned actor Manoj Bajpayee, was one of the many dreamers who came to Mumbai to make it big in the entertainment industry. On the latest episode of Mid-day’s podcast series Bombay Film Story, the actor, who set an example of how an outsider can survive in the industry despite various challenges, speaks about his relationship with the city. Manoj Bajpayee on his relationship with Mumbai When asked to describe his relationship with the city, Manoj Bajpayee states, "It's very neutral. I'm like an observer who is also working here. It can't be love, it can't be hate because I came from Bihar to Delhi, then Delhi University, and theatre, then I came to Mumbai. I always felt like a refugee going from one place to another. Maybe not finding a home where you can think of going back for years. That has never made me feel sentimental.” He adds, “I stayed in my village in Bihar for eighteen and a half years, stayed in Delhi for ten years, and I've been in this city for about thirty years. I don't feel comfortable saying that I'm going home, to my apartment. For me, home was my parents, village house. My apartment, where my daughter was born, I still don't call it home. 'Main flat pe ja raha joon'.” Manoj Bajpayee on Delhi Vs Mumbai debate After spending a significant amount of time in two metros, Manoj explains, “Delhi is not truly cosmopolitan. It is still hanging between an urban mindset and a rural mindset. Also, it is surrounded by rural India. The people who have been shifting to Delhi. They're all coming from rural areas like Bihar or UP. They also brought only that culture and that behaviour pattern. They started creating their own bubble as it happens in big cities. Nobody was ready to embrace the metropolitan culture of Delhi. But Mumbai is very cosmopolitan. It is truly a place where if you don't have money you will struggle to find your next food. Nobody knows nobody. That way Delhi is still pokey.” Manoj Bajpayee, who got a major break in films with 'Satya', has now 100 movies in his filmography which clearly shows the longevity of his career. He will next be seen in the third season of the web series ‘The Family Man’.
08 January,2025 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor as long as he can remember, Sonu Sood has curtailed the hours in his day to 22. The remaining two, he says, have always been devoted to fitness—no negotiation. This implies that whether a shooting stint commences early in the morning, or runs past midnight, or his film commitments have him travel across the world, Sood’s day doesn’t conclude unless he has hit the gym. It isn’t an ordeal that he puts himself through, but rather a part of his day that he looks forward to. “People like to party, or try a new restaurant. I like to exercise. When I’m away on a vacation, if the hotel gym opens late, I get restless and wonder how I will pass my time. I’m usually alone at the gym, and that’s good, because it helps me focus on my routine,” he says, matter-of-factly. While filming the upcoming Friday release Fateh, which had him take on duties as actor, director, and producer, he recalls waking up at 3.30 am to hit the gym for about two hours before shooting commenced at 5.30. Often, he’d conduct meetings with the team while running on the treadmill, because “taking on so many duties for this film left me with limited time”. Fateh, easily among Sood’s most ambitious projects, will be “one of the most special action films” India has seen, he promises. It’s easy to see that the actor is putting his might behind his directorial debut that plays to his strengths. If he has roped in music mavericks like Hans Zimmer and Loire Cotler for the soundtrack, his action team isn’t behind, with Lee Whittaker, the man behind films like Fast and Furious, and Jurassic Park 3, taking charge of the action sequences in this offering. “I’ve been doing action for the past 20 years and have worked with all the action directors of the country. Yet, my friends and family would ask me why our action [choreography] doesn’t match that of Hollywood films. So, I wanted to make something that could set a bar. Lee is one of the world’s best action directors. I spoke to him about something I had in mind, which is a single-shot action scene, without any cuts. It would involve 70 fighters. He told me he found it ambitious because India lacked the kind of fighters who could pull it off. So, I said we could get people from Mexico and South Africa for it.” The scene in discussion was filmed following a two-month prep, given that if “the 69th person made a mistake, we’d have to shoot the whole sequence again”. “It’s one of the best action sequences I’ve ever shot in my life.” Having adhered to a structured regimen throughout his life, Sood’s fitness journal may look fairly typical. Yet, while prepping for an action film, he says he could take the liberty to limit the cardiovascular component in his regimen. “When you’re doing a lot of action, a lot of cardio is involved anyway. Filming action for eight hours a day is fairly tiring because [you’re using] guns and running around. There’s hand-to-hand combat involved, so it was physically draining. It is owing to the routine that I have been following all these years that I had the stamina to survive this,” says Sood, 51, asserting that age has dampened neither his physical prowess nor his mental ability to stay fighting fit. Ask him if there’s a fitness format he adheres to, and pat comes his reply. “Callisthenics, which involves using body weight, has helped me do what I do. Everyone should try it.” His sons do too, he shares, adding that the duo enjoys exercising. “If you need to be pushed to head to the gym, that’s [a problem]. But if you have that drive, half the job is done. You have to be motivated. My kids have grown up watching me be disciplined; they know that there has not been a single day that I’ve given up. That also keeps them on their toes.” 70Number of fighters involved in the single-shot action scene Sood’s diet Sood emphasises the importance of a healthy diet and says that while he is vegetarian, he consumes eggs. He also has salads, avocados, besan chillas, and fruits, albeit in moderation, given that “they have a lot of fructose sugar”. “Because you need to have a balanced diet, I may, at times, have a small katori of rice and dal. But usually, egg omelettes, salad, and sautéed veggies are what I survive on. I enjoy eating this.” The Cheats: Amyra Dastur What’s your cheat meal: Chilli cheese naan and dal makhani. Cheat meal Vs cheat day: More often than not, it is once in a week, and usually on Sundays. Cheat meal Vs cheat day: It is a single portion. I would feel too guilty to [indulge] all day. Do you compensate for it:I usually do not train on the day I have a cheat meal. I will only do 15 minutes of cardiovascular work before the meal. The next day, I will train a bit harder. On Mouni Roy's Gym Playlist Bleeding loveAttentionI knew you were troubleTaki taki Fitiness Tip That Works For Anusha Dandekar Your body responds to things that make you happy. Do that and you will see your body change. For me, running on a beach or playing tennis is libera-ting.
08 January,2025 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaBollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, has a dual celebration ahead, courtesy of his birthday on January 10 and his debut film 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' (2000) re-releasing on the same day. Hrithik marks 25 years in Bollywood this year. On Tuesday, the ‘Greek God’ of Bollywood took some time off his schedule and met with members of Indian media in Mumbai. During his informal meeting, he expressed his gratitude to them for supporting him throughout his journey so far. Hrithik Roshan skipped interviews after 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' release Hrithik reflected on his career in the film industry, thanking the media for making him "responsible". He said, "25 years! I remember 25 years back when 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' was releasing I was so shy and so anxious that I didn't do a single interview. I didn't step out of my house to do anything. I just skipped the entire promotional event... 25 years have passed and unfortunately, that side of me has not changed. I'm still as shy...This is really an excuse and an opportunity for me to say things to all of you that probably I have never said in 25 years.” Hrithik says the media made him feel accountable Hrithik Roshan continued, "I truly think that you have helped me, all of you, have helped me become the human and the actor that I am in these 25 years through our interactions. Through all the questions and answers you have made me feel made me feel uncomfortable I grew with that. sometimes you made me feel responsible sometimes you made me feel accountable. Guys, not good for a shy guy! Guys, not good for a shy guy.” "You know, it is you speaking to them, telling them how to see me, and how to understand me. It is your perceptions that you shared with the world that taught them how to see me. Thank you for that. Thank you for making me, contributing so much to my journey," the actor concluded. Hrithik's debut film was directed by his father Rakesh Roshan. It also starred Ameesha Patel, Anupam Kher, Farida Jalal, and Dilip Tahil among others.
08 January,2025 09:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran Bollywood actress Poonam Dhillon’s Mumbai home was robbed by a man who was a part of the painting team that had visited during the holiday season. She lives with her son Anmol in Juhu but occasionally stays at their house in Khar, which was looted. The police have arrested one person in the case. Robbery at Poonam Dhillon’s house According to a report by The Free Press Journal, the primary accused Sameer Ansari, 37, was a part of the painting team that renovated Dhillon’s house from December 28 to January 5. He noticed an open cupboard and took advantage of the situation to steal items. Police revealed that the man stole diamond earrings worth Rs 1 lakh, Rs 35,000 cash, and 500 USD stored in a bag. The robbery was discovered after Dhillon’s son Anmol returned from Dubai on January 5 and noticed the missing valuables and cash. After checking with his domestic help, Dhillon’s manager filed a police complaint. The painters were summoned and during interrogation, Ansari confessed to his crime, leading to his arrest. It was also revealed that he spent Rs 9,000 on a party for his colleagues, who were with him on the job. Poonam Dhillon’s acting journey In 1977, Poonam Dhillon participated in the Miss India beauty pageant, where she was crowned the winner. It was a turning point in her life and she gained attention after people started noticing her, following her victory at the event. Legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra then approached Poonam Dhillon in his 1978 film Trishul. The popular song Gapoochi Gapoochi Gum Gum from the film was picturised on her and co-star Sachin Pilgaonkar. She was only 16 at the time. Trishul (1978), which also starred Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rakhee, Hema Malini, and Sachin Pilgaonkar was a blockbuster and Poonam Dhillon went on to star in several successful Bollywood films over the years. Poonam Dhillon's other notable films include Yeh Vaada Raha (1982), Romance (1983), Soni Mahiwal (1984), Teri Meharbaniyan (1985), Karma (1986), Samundar (1986), Saveray Wali Gaadi (1986), Naam (1986), Maalamaal (1988) and many other films. Her last Bollywood outing was the 2022 film Plan A Plan B.
08 January,2025 09:34 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDirector Anil Sharma, whose recent release 'Vanvaas' has been getting a lot of positive response, has reacted to the Supreme Court's judgment on gift deed. The apex court highlighted the importance of protecting senior citizens, stating that gift deeds executed by parents can be invalidated under the Maintenance and Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act if their children do not provide for them. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, is designed to protect the dignity and rights of senior citizens. Talking about it, Director Anil Sharma said, "I'm filled with immense gratitude knowing that the Supreme Court has delivered such a significant ruling with the Landmark Gift Deed Decision. When I created 'Vanvaas', I was hoping to see the change in the society, now coincidentally it is happening at the right time. I'm especially happy for the elderly who will benefit from this ruling. As a filmmaker, it's truly a dream to see the issues you choose to address on-screen produce such swift and meaningful results." 'Vanvaas' paints a poignant picture of the struggles faced by India's elderly, including neglect, dementia, and other age-related challenges. The recent judgment underscores how Indian cinema not only reflects society but also catalyses meaningful change, urging audiences and policymakers to re-evaluate their responsibilities toward the most vulnerable members of the community. Produced by Anil Sharma and Zee Studios, 'Vanvaas' is now successfully running in theatres. Anil Sharma, who returned to the fold in 2023 with his blockbuster 'Gadar 2' is known to tell the stories in an old-school way but packaged in a new format. 'Gadar 2', which starred Sunny Deol and Utkarsh, collected Rs 686 crore worldwide, out of which a huge chunk of its collections came from India where it collected Rs. 525.7 crore. The film breathed new life into the career of Sunny Deol, who will be next seen in 'Lahore 1947'. 2023 proved to be a great year for the Deols with the Dharmendra-starrer 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' turning into a superhit followed by Sunny's 'Gadar 2' and Bobby Deol's 'Animal'. 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
08 January,2025 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActors and sisters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor have dropped an adorable video where they are vibing to the 'Loveyapa' song and the best part was that their father and producer Boney Kapoor made a special appearance. On Tuesday, Janhvi posted a reel on Instagram where they can be seen recreating the hook steps of the song. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ᴋʜᴜsʜɪ ᴋᴀᴘᴏᴏʀ (@khushikapoor) Boney photobombed them and can be seen lip-syncing the 'alaap' portion of the song. Along with the reel, she wrote a hilarious caption which read, "Nikla tha love karne par papa aagaya #Loveyapa." Boney's children Arjun Kapoor and Anshula Kapoor reacted to the post. Arjun Kapoor wrote, "best alaap ever !!!" while Anshula said, "Hahahahaha best @boney.kapoor." Janhvi's rumoured boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya reacted to the post and wrote, "Superstar @boney.kapoor." Varun Dhawan and Zoya Akhtar dropped laughing emojis in the comment section. Recently, the title track of Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor's film 'Loveyapa' has been unveiled. The song shows a fun chemistry shared between Junaid and Khushi in the age of social media. Nakash Aziz and Madhubanti Bagchi have lent their vocals to the track. Sharing the song, Zee Music Company on their YouTube channel wrote, "Babu Shona karte-karte ho gaya dimag ka Bhajiyapa? Well, this is the beginning of Loveyapa! #LoveyapaHogaya song out now." The upcoming rom-com will be released on February 7, 2025. Advait Chandan, who helmed 'Laal Singh Chaddha', has come on board to direct the project. The film is produced by Phantom Studios and AGS Entertainment. As per the makers, Loveyapa is a "tangled tale of love and its complications with a mix of fun and laughter, shaping up to be a cinematic treat." 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
08 January,2025 08:51 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Kangana Ranaut, who will be next seen in the upcoming movie ‘Emergency’, has reacted to the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) mandate of removing certain portions from the film. The actress spoke with IANS, and shared that as a director, she would have liked the film with the original narrative. However, she said that she accepts the decision of CBFC. Kangana told IANS, “I would have liked that the full version would have come. But with the cuts, there is no issue, because it's not like the film was made to mock someone. It's not like that. It's fine. They completely removed some episodes of history. And the fact that it doesn't impact my film, in a way, it is a testimony of that, that it doesn't matter”. She further mentioned, “The story is very much intact. The message of the film is very much intact, which is patriotism. So I don't think it has affected the larger narrative. But if they had shot it, there must have been a reason for it”. The film, set during the period of Emergency in the 1970s imposed by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film promises to offer a gripping exploration of one of the most spoken about chapters in Indian democracy. The film has been written, directed, and headlined by Kangana Ranaut, and it marks her second directorial after ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’. The film features a powerful ensemble cast, including Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, and the late Satish Kaushik. Each actor plays a pivotal role in bringing the nuanced political and personal dynamics of the era to the screen. Produced by Zee Studios, Manikarnika Films and Renu Pitti, ‘Emergency’ has its music composed by Sanchit Balhara and G.V. Prakash Kumar, with dialogues and screenplay crafted by Ritesh Shah. The film is set to release on January 17. 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
08 January,2025 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood star Alia Bhatt is back at work after a long vacation with family in Thailand. On Tuesday, Alia took to Instagram and shared a couple of pictures from her working day. The first image shows Alia flaunting her makeup. "Back to the grind," she captioned the post. In another picture, Alia could be seen posing with her team. The caption of the second image read,"With my team behind." Picture Courtesy/Alia Bhatt's Instagram account Meanwhile, on the acting front, Alia will be seen headlining spy drama 'Alpha' with Sharvari. Directed by Shiv Rawail, 'Alpha' is set to be a notable addition to Yash Raj Films' acclaimed spy universe. She is also set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film 'Love and War,' which also stars Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor. Alia Bhatt earlier collaborated with Bhansali in the 2022 drama Gangubai Kathiawadi. The film was officially announced in January 2024. The original announcement on Instagram read, "We Bring You Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga 'Love & War.' See You At The Movies Christmas 2025." It was accompanied by the signatures of the lead trio, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. 'Love and War' is expected to go on floors in the coming months. 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
08 January,2025 08:22 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIBollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee, whose journey in cinema has been quite dramatic, just like his films, opens up about the kind of roles he was offered initially after entering the entertainment industry. On the latest episode of Mid-day’s podcast series The Bombay Film Journey, Manoj speaks about his transition from being a sidekick on screen to finally playing the lead. Manoj Bajayee on his dreams of becoming a hero Manoj Bajpayee, who came to Mumbai in the 90s with dreams of becoming a great actor, recalls, “There was no chance of us becoming heroes at that time. I mean, people looking at us really didn't know what to do. I mean, so many people told me on my face, yaar tera kya karein yaar, na tu villain dikhta hai, na tu hero dikhta hai. I have come to this industry with different kind of a, you know, features. But actually they were very right. I was definitely not a hero looking and I was definitely not a dangerous-looking guy, okay. That's how they used to cast.” Manoj Bajpayee garnered fame with Satya Manoj Bajpayee made his foray into the cinema 30 years ago with the critically acclaimed Bandit Queen in which he had a small role. He then caught the attention of Ram Gopal Varma who eventually cast him as Bhiku Mhatre in the cult-classic Satya, a film that disrupted the storytelling style in Hindi cinema and bolstered the progress of independent films. But Manoj states that Satya was a fluke in his career. He explains, "There was only one mad guy called Ram Gopal Varma who was hell-bent on doing his own things. Rest filmmakers who were busy those days were only offering me villain's roles. And that was, that was the easy conventional way of thinking for them that this guy can be a villain to say one big star or another. I was not ready to.” “I realized that Satya has given me a chance, let me push it further. And I preferred to wait and say no to all the villain's roles and the money. Then to my luck, when Shool happened, people started looking at me differently as their main lead,” he adds.
08 January,2025 08:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a matter of days, Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani will step into the world of cinema with Abhishek Kapoor’s period drama, Azaad. In a bid to make an impactful debut, Thadani, we learn, is pulling out all stops, and playing to her strengths. A solo track, which puts her prowess as a dancer on full display, serves as her first appearance for fans. Uyi amma, composed by Amit Trivedi, features Thadani showcasing a choreography set by Bosco Leslie Martis, who previously designed Vicky Kaushal’s ace moves in Tauba tauba. Abhishek Kapoor and Raveena Tandon Kapoor tells mid-day that he was certain that the newcomer would do justice to the dance track. “Rasha is such a fantastic dancer that all she needs is a good song. She has been training since she was a young girl,” the director says. While Thadani had a five-day window to rehearse before filming commenced, Kapoor says she seemed ready for the final performance from the first day. “When she went in to rehearse, she could crack the choreography [immediately].”Evidently, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. At her prime, Tandon too was known for her dancing skills, having pulled off popular numbers like Tip tip barsa pani, and Kisi disco mein jaaye.
08 January,2025 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaADVERTISEMENT
