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Shah Rukh Khan: I work hard to maintain the larger-than-life image

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan attended a session at the Global Freight Summit in Dubai on Tuesday. During his session, the superstar spoke about his journey in the film industry, his success and failures. During the conversation, he spoke about the success he achieved in the 90s that eventually made him the King of Bollywood.  'My success came in the 90s when there was a lot of opening up of our country, India. We were going all around the world and talking about India and the kind of cinema I did (proceeds to sing Tujhe Dekha To)".  "....So everyone liked it (Dilwale Dulhania le Jaayenge). Some of the audience got married watching this film. It was moments of happiness, love and Switzerland. It was a sign of times. I think you need to recognize that for your part," he added.  I am not larger than life: Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan is not just a name but a brand today. However, the superstar who commands global stardom does not believe he is larger-than-life. "I just work for that myth. I am not that myth. I am not larger-than-life. I need to work hard to maintain the larger-than-life image. I think that is one thing I have thought of building. I am very clear that I work for the myth that Shah Rukh Khan is. I am an employee of this myth I am not the owner of this myth," he said.  Exclusive : Shah Rukh Khan : I'm not myth , I'm not larger than life , I worked hard for maintain larger than the life. I worked for myth Shah Rukh Khan has. pic.twitter.com/AzhVAuhzjj — Aamir Khan (@AAMIRSRKs45) November 19, 2024 SRK's advice to his younger self  Khan was in his 20s when he broke into the movie scene. During the session when he was asked what advice he would give to his younger self, he gave a witty yet thought-provoking response. "To be honest, I would not advise my younger self. I have a son who is 27, a daughter who is 23 and a half, and another son who is 11. So when I speak with them I realize that many decisions I took then, when I was 25-26, I would not take them now if I saw it through the lens of my experience. And maybe if I didn’t take it then, I would not have reached where I have reached. I think there would be no advice given to my younger self." He added, “I would still want to be- sorry this is politically incorrect- brash, overconfident, arrogant and being extremely silly and stupid, but being extremely gutsy also. So I think I would not be able to give any advice to my younger self. Maybe better hairstyle? Better fitting suits. In the 90s, my suits used to suck."  Shah Rukh Khan's two cents on failure  “When you fail, you should not believe that your product or service or job went wrong. Maybe you just misunderstood the ecosystem you were working in. You have to understand how people are reacting. If I cannot elicit an emotion from the people I cater to, then my product is not going to work how wonderful it may be," SRK said. Asked if he is critical of his work, Shah Rukh Khan admitted positively and shared, “I hate feeling this and then I cry a lot in my bathroom. I do not show it to anyone. You have to believe that the world is not against you. Your film did not go wrong because of you or because the world is conspiring against you. You have to believe that you made it badly. Then you have to move on."  

19 November,2024 02:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Karan Johar

Filmmaker Karan Johar celebrates men who champion feminism

On the occasion of International Men's Day 2024, Karan Johar took to Instagram to share a note celebrating men. The filmmaker shared a song clip from his last release 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani' titled 'Dhindora Baje Re'. The song opens with Ranveer Singh performing a Kathak routine with actor Tata Roy Chowdhury. Sharing the bit, he wrote, "hunar ka koi gender nahi hota". This is a line from the film as well when Alia Bhatt's father gets mocked for performing classical dance at a wedding in Delhi.  Sharing the clip, Karan further wrote, "Today is dedicated to the real MVPs of our society - the men. But not just any (and definitely not EVERY) man…today is for the men who champion feminism." He rooted for the upliftment of men who are unafraid of not holding back and expressing their emotions. "The ones who uplift humanity by advocating equity, equality & a more compassionate society for women & for everyone who just dare to be their true self. So that can be on the stage dancing your heart to Dola Re channelling your inner Madhuri & Aishwarya or it could be on the field expressing your emotions and gratitude after hitting the ball out of the park with your bat. It could be anything. It could be everything. It could be the very step that makes our society the place that many will thrive to be the next MVPs. So do it. And don’t hold back," he wrote.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) Karan Johar's work front The filmmaker last directed the film 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani' starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. His last film as a producer 'Jigra' starring Alia Bhatt did not fare well at the box office. The film directed by Vasan Balan also starred Vedang Raina and narrated the tale of a sister-brother bond.  The filmmaker recently announced the film 'Chand Mera Dil' starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya. He will be backing the romantic drama. Both Ananya and Lakshya had hits with Dharma Productions this year in Call Me Bae and Kill respectively. 

19 November,2024 12:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Janhvi Kapoor and Nayanthara

Janhvi Kapoor hails Nayanthara's documentary as 'inspiring'

Nayanthara has been working in the film industry for two decades now. The actress who does not give much interviews and keeps her personal life low profile for the first time opened up about her journey for the Netflix documentary 'Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale'. In the days leading up to her grand wedding in 2022, Nayanthara gave access to a team of camera crew to follow her and capture her life. The documentary sees her mother talk about her early days, her first director Sathyan Anthikad talk about her early days as an actress and many other celebrities who have worked with her over the years speak about her. A large part of the documentary is surrounded around Nayanthara's love story with Vignesh Shivan and their marriage. Among the people who have been left impressed by Nayanthara's journey is actress Janhvi Kapoor. Taking to her Instagram story, the ‘Dhadak’ actress praised the recently released documentary. Sharing Netflix’s post, Janhvi wrote, “Nothing more inspiring than watching a strong woman be a strong woman.” She also added red heart emoji on the post. Janhvi supports Nayanthara amid feud with Dhanush Janhvi’s post comes amid the ongoing feud between Nayanthara and Dhanush. On November 16, Nayanthara shared an open letter shared on her official Instagram account. Addressed to her colleague, Dhanush, the letter unveiled long-standing grievances, hinting at a strained professional relationship between the two. In her letter, the ‘Jawan’ actress accused Dhanush of being envious of actors who achieve success through their own efforts rather than industry connections. She referred to him as a “tyrant” and a “small-hearted person,” alleging that he harboured a personal grudge against her and her partner, director Vignesh Shivan. Nayanthara also made pointed comments about Dhanush's character, asserting that his public image, often seen as friendly and positive, was in stark contrast to his true nature. She called on him to "remove the mask" he wore in public and cease pretending to be someone he wasn’t. An excerpt from her lengthy letter read, “What’s even more shocking is your legal notice after the release of the trailer of the Netflix Documentary. We were startled to read those lines wherein you questioned the usage of some videos (just 3 seconds) which were shot in our personal devices and that too BTS visuals that are already very much publicly present on social media and claimed a sum of Rs. 10 crores as damages for the mere 3 seconds. This is an all time low from you and speaks so much about your character. I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches in front of your innocent fans but clearly you do not practice what you preach, at least not for me and my partner.” The controversy has sparked reactions from several actresses who have worked with Dhanush. Shruti Haasan and others including Aishwarya Rajesh, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Nazriya Fahadh, Anupama Parameswaran Parvathy Thiruvothu have expressed their solidarity with Nayanthara.

19 November,2024 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Despatch and Vikkatakavi

ZEE5 Originals 'Despatch' and 'Vikkatakavi' to screen at IFFI 2024

Two of ZEE5's original content – Despatch, an original film starring Manoj Bajpayee and Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amargiri, a Telugu original series starring Megha Akash and Naresh Agastya, will be screened at the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024. While Despatch will be a special presentation on 21st November, Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri will have its world premiere on 23rd November at IFFI 2024. About Manoj Bajpayee-starrer Despatch Directed by Kanu Behl and starring Manoj Bajpayee, Shahana Goswami and Arrchita Agarwaal, 'Despatch' is a crime drama based on the complex challenges of investigative journalism. The film follows seasoned crime journalist Joy, played by Manoj Bajpayee, as he confronts the dark undercurrents of the media world while pursuing a high-stakes story. Caught in a web of power, ethics, and personal conflict, Joy’s journey reveals the high price of truth in an industry rife with corruption. Kanu Behl, Director of Despatch said, "We are absolutely thrilled to take Despatch to IFFI and screen it among film lovers. There is no better feeling than to receive first-hand, authentic feedback on the film from such passionate festival goers. It is my first time at IFFI and am looking forward to attending it”. About Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri is a thrilling detective thriller set in the enigmatic kingdom of Amaragiri, where a young investigator named Ramakrishna is drawn into a mysterious case that shakes the region. Villagers are mysteriously losing their memories after entering the Nallamalla Forest, and as Ramakrishna digs deeper, he uncovers a complex web of political conspiracies, royal secrets, and a tragic past. Set in the vibrant backdrop of 1970s Telangana, the Telugu original series blends rich cultural history with a dark, twisted mystery. Produced by Ram Talluri and directed by Pradeep Maddali, Vikkatakavi stars Naresh Agastya as the determined detective Ramakrishna and Megha Akash as the enigmatic Princess Lakshmi and is Telangana's first-ever detective series. Pradeep Maddali, Director of Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri expressed, "I’m beyond excited to have Vikkatakavi premiere at IFFI—it's truly a great honor for any director to showcase their work at such a prestigious platform. The story of Vikkatakavi, with its deep cultural roots and gripping mystery, is something I’m immensely proud of, especially as it brings Telangana’s rich local history to a global audience. This collaboration with ZEE5 has been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to visiting IFFI with this special project”. The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to bring a fresh wave of cinematic celebration to the scenic coast of Goa from November 20th to 28th, 2024. This year’s festival promises to be more than just a film showcase; it’s a convergence of global cultures, a launchpad for emerging voices, and a profound tribute to India’s cinematic legacy. Catch Despatch and Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amaragiri at IFFI on 21st and 23rd November respectively and on ZEE5 soon. 

19 November,2024 10:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Picture Courtesy/ Ranbir Kapoor's Instagram account

Ranbir Kapoor poses with daughter Raha post her swimming session

Cuteness alert! Bollywood couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's daughter Raha Kapoor is a cutie pie. Fans go crazy whenever they get to see the pictures of the little one on social media. The internet is currently abuzz with an adorable picture posted by a fan page. In the image, Ranbir can be seen holding baby Raha in his arms as he poses with one of the staff members. Raha looked super cute in a pink swimsuit and white headband.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Raha kapoor (@raha.kapoor2022) The comments under the post were all about Raha's cuteness. "OMG....Raha is so cute," a social media user commented. "Can't take my eyes off the little one," another user wrote. Recently, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shared an adorable picture of herself with little Raha, who was wearing a blue cap and a mask. Although Raha's face wasn't visible, Riddhima's happy expression showed just how precious the moment was. Riddhima captioned the photo, "With my popsicle with heart emojis and the hashtag #BuabhatijiTime, while Raha's grandmother, Neetu Kapoor, shared the post on her Instagram story, adding "Awww" with several heart emojis. Alia and Ranbir tied the knot in April 2022, after several years of dating. Their daughter, Raha was born in November 2022. On Christmas 2023, Ranbir and Alia surprised fans by making their first public appearance with their little one. 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

19 November,2024 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Picture Courtesy/Ajay Devgn's Instagram account

Ajay Devgn 'goes for a little gardening' as Drishyam 2 clocks 2 years

Bollywood star Ajay Devgn on Monday took a stroll down memory lane and recalled working in 'Drishyam 2'. Taking to Instagram, he posted a throwback picture from the film, teasing he's 'going for a little gardening' to mark the occasion. "Felt like going for a little gardening today....iykyk#2YearsofDrishyam2," he captioned the post.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) Helmed by Abhishek Pathak 'Drishyam 2', released in 2022, did a business of approximately INR 230+ crores at the box office. The film also starred Shriya Saran in the lead roles. 'Drishyam 2', headlined by Ajay, was a remake of 2021's Malayalam movie of the same name, starring Mohanlal as the lead. While 'Drishyam', released in 2015, was the remake of 2013's Malayalam movie. It was helmed by National-Award-winning director Nishikant Kamat, who died in 2020 at the age of 50. Meanwhile, Ajay is basking in the success of 'Singham Again', which is directed by Rohit Shetty. In the film, he reprised the role of police officer Bajirao Singham whom he first essayed in the first part in 2011 and then again in 2014 in the second instalment of the 'Singham' franchise. As 'Singham Again 3' is performing exceptionally well at the box office, Ajay in a candid conversation expressed gratitude to the audience and also talked about how the 'Singham' franchise changed the narrative around police portrayals in Bollywood films. "I am thankful to the audience for giving us so much love. For a long time, the police were always shown in a negative light in films. Singham as well as Gangaajal was one of the first films that showed how an ideal police officer should be. After that, it became a trend of making positive films about police," Ajay emphasized. Singham Again also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone, among others. It was released in theatres on Diwali, facing a clash with Kartik Aaryan-starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3'. 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

19 November,2024 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Picture Courtesy/Parineeti Chopra's Instagram account

Parineeti Chopra's mom gifts handmade painting to her and Raghav

Actor Parineeti Chopra and her husband, AAP leader Raghav Chadha, got an adorable gift from her mother Reena Chopra. On Monday, Parineeti took to Instagram and shared a picture of the handmade painting where the couple can be seen holding it. Another picture features the painting where the couple hold each other hands and showcase their engagement ring. Parineeti called her mother 'greatest artist'. She wrote, "The greatest artist, my MOM ladies and gentlemen! Can you believe how accurate it is? Right down to every little detail. This painting is so much more than just a piece of art, it's a reflection of your love for the both of us. this is going to have a special place of honour in our home. Thankyou mom! @reenachopra.art,."           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by @parineetichopra As soon as she treated her fans with a glimpse of the handmade painting, netizens praised her mom in the comment section. A user wrote, "@reenachopra.art I am blown away ma'am... This is so damm beautiful and what a beautiful present." Another fan commented, "OMG it's really unbelievable. She is truly a great artist." Parineeti and Raghav tied the knot on September 24, 2023 at the Leela Palace Hotel in Udaipur, Rajasthan in the presence of close friends and family members. It was attended by several well-known faces of the entertainment industry and politicians. Talking about Parineeti's work front, she was seen in 'Amar Singh Chamkila', in which she shared screen space with Diljit Dosanjh. Imtiaz Ali helmed the film. 'Amar Singh Chamkila' presents the untold true story of Punjab's original rockstar of the masses, who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the eighties due to the sheer power of his music, angering many along the way, which led to his assassination at the young age of 27. Diljit portrays 'Chamkila,' the top-selling artist of his era. Parineeti essays the role of Amar Singh Chamkila's wife, Amarjot Kaur. 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

19 November,2024 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Abhishek Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee: Actors rarely get to bring a character back from the dead

When was the last time a series became so successful that it spawned a theatrical offering? Amazon Prime Video’s smash hit Mirzapur has become the first show in the Indian OTT digital landscape to make the transition to a theatrical release. Abhishek Banerjee, who played Compounder in the crime drama’s first season that premièred in 2018, had certainly not imagined in his wildest dreams that six years on, he would reprise the role for the big screen. “This character remains close to my heart. It’s a fan favourite. For many years, people would call me Compounder. Playing the character was intense, dark, and edgy. The fact that I get to step into his shoes again, this time for the big screen, is an exhilarating challenge,” says the actor, weeks after the makers announced Mirzapur—The Movie. As Gurmmeet Singh, who has directed most episodes over its three-season run, wields the directorial baton, Pankaj Tripathi aka Kaleen bhaiyya will lead the movie alongside Ali Fazal and Divyenndu. Interestingly, even though Banerjee’s Compounder and Divyenndu’s Munna met their deaths in the first and second season respectively, the two fan-favourite characters are being reprised for the big screen. Banerjee notes, “Very rarely do actors get to play a character all over again, for a whole different audience, and bring him back from the dead to do so. Compounder’s story has so much depth and rawness, and I know fans have longed to see more of him. Bringing him back is not only thrilling for me as an actor, but it’s also a way of giving fans what they’ve been asking for.” A still from the Mirzapur series For Banerjee, Mirzapur has always held a prime place in his resume. After all, it was with this crime drama—that tells the story of power dynamics and gang wars in Uttar Pradesh—that the casting director bagged his first pivotal role in a mainstream offering. While he was originally working as a casting director on the series, he later went on to star in it. “How can I forget Mirzapur’s casting? At the time, the landscape was very different. Web shows weren’t as exciting for actors as they are now, but Mirzapur changed the game. Many actors from the series have become legit stars today—they’re doing films, more shows, and reaching new heights in their careers. The show didn’t just benefit its cast; it also impacted content creators, writers, and directors. Now, with Mirzapur becoming a film, it’s a great step forward,” says the actor, who had two releases this year with Stree 2 and Vedaa. Many would say that the Excel Entertainment-backed show, with its heightened drama and elaborate action set-pieces, is perfect for a 70mm experience. Banerjee agrees that there is a larger-than-life quality to the series. “The show’s essence is rooted in its larger-than-life conflicts—power struggles, revenge, and raw human emotions—that naturally lend themselves to the scale. Every frame is intense, every character arc is deeply layered, and the storytelling has a visceral quality. On the big screen, these elements will only be amplified. The chaotic action-packed sequences, the intricate relationships, and the atmospheric setting will have an even greater impact when viewed on a larger canvas. A film allows for heightened drama and spectacle, which aligns perfectly with the gritty, immersive world of Mirzapur.” Even as the script is being readied, the actor is confident it will lend itself beautifully to the big-screen experience. “I’m yet to read anything of the film, so I’m operating purely from the excitement of reuniting with the original tribe. There’s something magical about going back to where it all began, but this time on a much grander scale.”

19 November,2024 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Kangana Ranaut

Have you heard? Kangana Ranaut's Emergency gets a release date

We have a date, finally! Actor-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut announced that her much awaited film, Emergency, will be released in theatres on January 17. The update comes a month after the actor-filmmaker said the team had finally received the censor certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after the film missed out on its September 6 release date. Ranaut, who plays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the political drama, shared the film’s release date on her official X page. The caption of her post read: “17th January 2025—The epic saga of the nation’s most powerful woman and the moment that altered India’s destiny.” Emergency, also written, directed, and co-produced by Ranaut, was mired in controversy after Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, accused it of misrepresenting both factsand their comm-unity.  Love for thrill While his fans awaited details about his December nuptials with Sobhita Dhulipala, soon-to-be groom Naga Chaitanya was at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on Sunday to cheer for his team, the Hyderabad Blackbirds at the Indian Racing Festival (IRF). Chaitanya says the racing bug bit him early. “My passion for motorsports started fairly early when I was in school, living in Chennai, going to the Sriperumbudur race track. I started watching Formula 1 and MotoGP. Now, I’m so happy to be part of motorsports in such close proximity. Being able to own a team, and be part of the entire championship is such a thrill for me,” he told mid-day after the race in Coimbatore. The actor, 37, also said that this event ensured women’s participation in this male-dominated sport. “They have so much talent among them; they just need the opportunities to better their skills. I’m grateful to the Indian Racing League for making it compulsory for female drivers to be part of it.” Going strong Vikrant Massey-starrer The Sabarmati Report earned over R8 crore at the box office in its first weekend, the makers announced yesterday. Helmed by Dheeraj Sarna, the film revolves around the Godhra burning train incident of 2002 which triggered communal riots in Gujarat. It hit the screens on Friday. Production banner Balaji Motion Pictures shared the movie’s collection online. Diljit challenges government Diljit challenges government In another jibe at the Telangana government, which had  cautioned him against promoting the use of alcohol via his music, Diljit Dosanjh has now warned the government to not mess with him. “Mujhe mat chedo,” said the singer. At his Sunday show in Ahmedabad, the singer-actor tweaked the lyrics of his songs to eliminate references to alcohol, but also challenged the notice while interacting with fans. “If all states declare themselves dry states, I’ll stop singing songs on alcohol from the next day. Shut the thekas in the country, and I’ll stop singing the songs,” he challenged, adding that doing so wouldn’t be possible because such shops are a “big source of revenue”. The singer, 40, also had a word of caution for his naysayers: “Don’t mess with me. I sing my songs and leave. Why are you messing with me?” It’s true A day after mid-day reported that the film is apparently underway (Tiger already on the prowl, November 18) the makers of Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 4 confirmed the development. The upcoming film will be directed by A Harsha, and produced under the Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment banner. Shroff shared the news by sharing the movie’s poster on his Instagram handle yesterday. The caption of the post read, “A darker spirit, a bloodier mission. This time he is not the same!” The franchise’s first film, Baaghi (2016), was directed by Sabbir Khan. The next two films—Baaghi 2 and Baaghi 3—released in 2018 and 2020, respectively, and were helmed by Ahmed Khan. Kashmera suffers accident Comedian Krushna Abhishek’s wife Kashmera Shah met with an accident recently. The actor, who was last seen in the reality show Laughter Chefs, took to her Instagram handle to share that she narrowly escaped an accident that could have been grave. Sharing a picture of blood-soaked tissues in her car, she wrote, “Thank you, God, for saving me. Such a freak accident. Kuch bada hone wala tha, chote mein nikal gaya. Hope there won’t be any scarring.”

19 November,2024 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
The 2011 Pakistani show, Humsafar, starred (from left) Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan

Imran Zahid: ‘Transparency isn’t a formality, it’s a necessity’

On September 12, Imran Zahid, a Delhi-based theatre actor had filed a Right to Information (RTI) petition seeking clarity on whether the Indian government prevents Pakistani film and theatre artistes from working in India, and if any restrictions have been imposed on cross-border collaborations (Concerned whether our projects will face a ban, October 2). At the time, he was assured of a response by mid-November. On November 11, Zahid received a reply from the Ministry of Culture, which stated that it had “no information” or response to offer on the queries. “The system can’t be so opaque for us,” says a disappointed Zahid.   The lack of clarity impacts the theatre actor-director as he is making a stage adaptation of the popular Pakistani show, Humsafar, which starred Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, and first aired in 2011. Before beginning the casting process for the play, Zahid wanted to know whether Pakistani artistes are permitted to perform in India. “I submitted an RTI request to both the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). My intent was to uncover any official stance or guidelines that could impact Pakistani artistes’ participation in Indian films, music, and theatre. Surprisingly, the MIB [in October-end] claimed that it had no information on this issue, suggesting it wasn’t within their jurisdiction. [In my petition], I even cited former Minister of State VK Singh’s words, who had publicly addressed similar questions in Parliament. [In conjunction], the MEA responded [in mid-October]. Its response was terse, stating that it did not possess the requested information and directed me back to the MIB, and the Ministry of Culture!” Imran Zahid With the recent evasive response from the Ministry of Culture, Zahid says he is unable to make informed decisions about the Humsafar adaptation. He is shocked at how the government is not offering transparency in the matter, only throwing him into an endless loop. He asserts, “When government policies directly affect people’s professional decisions, transparency isn’t a mere formality; it’s a necessity. In the absence of clear guidance, I’ve advised my colleagues to refrain from engaging in projects involving Pakistani artistes. The lack of clarity restricts our ability to create and collaborate. A simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from the government would enable us to plan responsibly, avoid guesswork, and proceed with confidence.” Zahid now plans to approach the MIB, the Ministry of Culture, and the First Appellate Authority at the MEA again to seek a definitive response. “I am now appealing for a straightforward ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response on this matter,” he states.

19 November,2024 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Akshay Kumar, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Fardeen Khan and Nargis Fakhri

Akshay Kumar's Housefull 5 to have grand song featuring all cast

Joy, laughter and chaos make up the on-screen world of Housefull. Imagine all that packed into a song, and what you get is the upcoming schedule of Housefull 5. Word is that director Tarun Mansukhani has planned a grand number that sees the entire cast—including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueliene Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri—shake a leg together. The song will apparently be shot over three nights at Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri.       An insider reveals, “The track has been envisioned as a celebration of the franchise’s journey over the past 14 years. It will be larger-than-life, with expansive sets, elaborate costumes, and choreography that highlights the playful chemistry between the cast. It will be a night shoot going on from November 21 to 23.” Over 100 background dancers have been roped in for the number, which is being choreographed by Remo D’Souza. The cast will begin their rehearsals today. Another source from the production says, “Tarun wanted the vibe to be classic Housefull—quirky and over-the-top, with moments in the song that will leave the audience in splits.” Late last month, the entire cast had filmed another lavish dance number (End the party with a song, Oct 29). 

19 November,2024 07:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
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