Have you heard? Saif Ali Khan’s too busy for family-hosted polo tournament

Though the long-standing Pataudi family legacy means a lot to him, there’s no way he can attend this year due to his shooting commitments

Saif Ali Khan is giving the Bhopal Pataudi Polo Cup a skip due to a busy date diary. The tournament is on Sunday in New Delhi. Though the long-standing Pataudi family legacy means a lot to him, there’s no way he can attend this year due to his shooting commitments. In the ’60s, father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi instituted the Cup in memory of grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, a cricketer who was also a brilliant polo player. The event hosted by the family brand, House of Pataudi, continues the tradition. Mother Sharmila Tagore and sisters, Saba and Soha, always make it a point to attend. In 2014, Kareena Kapoor Khan had accompanied Saif to the tourney at the Jaipur Polo ground in the capital.

There’s no stopping Akki

Days after he finished Aanand L Rai’s Raksha Bandhan, Akshay Kumar has dived into his next project with the filmmaker. On Friday, he announced their new production, Gorkha, based on the life of Major General Ian Cardozo, the legendary officer of the 5th Gorkha Rifles regiment of the Indian Army. Kumar plays the war hero in the film helmed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan. The superstar is also working on Ram Setu and OMG — Oh My God 2. He has wrapped up six films, which await release. The Khiladi does not believe in taking time off.

A thrilling ride ahead

South director Susi Ganeshan’s film starring Akshay Oberoi, Urvashi Rautela and Vineeth Kumar Singh is titled Dil Hai Gray. “This film is close to my heart. I am waiting to watch my film on the big screen after a long time,” said Rautela. The remake of Ganeshan’s Tamil film Thiruttu Payale 2 (2017) deals with the phone-tapping of VIPs by the police.

Time to relook

In the wake of the Aryan Khan case, Hansal Mehta wrote about the decriminalisation of marijuana consumption in India. Talking about other nations where it is legal, the filmmaker posted, “In our country, its consumption is used more for harassment than for narcotics control. A movement like the one to abolish Section 377 is necessary to end this continuing travesty.”

Festive start

The long-in-the-planning remake of the Tamil film Vikram Vedha (2017) starring Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan went on the floors on Friday. The makers were keen to take the first shot on Dussehra. Sharing pictures from the set, Roshan wrote, “Sharing my love with all, beginning a new first day... good luck.” The action-thriller is helmed by Pushkar-Gayathri, who also directed the original starring R Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi. Last seen in War (2019), Roshan is facing the camera after over two years.

Busan honour for Aparna Sen

Aparna Sen’s The Rapist bagged the Kim Jiseok Award at the 26th Busan International Film Festival 2021. The Konkona Sen Sharma, Arjun Rampal and Tanmay Dhanania-starrer premiered at the festival. It was pitted against six other films, including the Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer No Land’s Man. The award is in memory of the festival’s late programme director Kim Jiseok. “It has a special significance for me because I attended the Busan Film Festival as a jury member a couple of years ago. I had the honour of meeting Mr Kim. I was aware of his tireless and lifelong effort to promote Asian cinema throughout the world,” said the veteran filmmaker. The Rapist chronicles the journey of three individuals and how their lives get entwined because of one horrific incident. 

A journey to remember

Prakash Jha-starrer Highway Nights has been awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Best of India Short Film Festival 2021. The veteran filmmaker, who has showcased his acting skills in Jai Gangaajal (2016) and Saand Ki Aankh (2019), said, “The film has an important message and I hope it reaches a wider audience with a theatrical, digital and television broadcast.” Highway Nights is about a truck driver who gives a lift to a commercial sex worker. Shubham Singh’s directorial venture also features Mazel Vyas. The film will qualify for the 2023 Oscars.

Garba number lands in trouble

Rahul Vaidya’s latest song, Garbe ki raat, is courting controversy for hurting religious sentiments. Objections have been raised for mentioning Shri Mogal Maa, a revered deity from Gujarat. Vaidya, who features in the music video along with telly actor Nia Sharma, has been receiving threat calls asking him to remove the reference or face dire consequences. The singer’s statement read, “We are working to get it rectified.”

Back in the groove

Throughout Navratri, Shilpa Shetty Kundra provided a glimpse of her celebrations via Instagram videos. On Friday, she extended Dussehra greetings and said, “May goddess Durga keep her blessings on us and fulfill all our wishes.” The actor has been stepping out and it’s work as usual. Next week, she is slated to open a fashion store in Khar. She wants to keep husband Raj Kundra’s case where it belongs ­— in the past. Shetty is surrounding herself with people and situations that emit positivity.

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