In an exciting update, two giants of the entertainment world, Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, and The Viral Fever (TVF) have come together for the first time for their upcoming project 'VVAN', which will redefine what we call the 'Cinematic Landscape.' Ektaa R. Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms Ltd and Arunabh Kumar of TVF are Pioneers of the content arena, ruling the space with their remarkable creations. They have been making waves across various entertainment platforms, delivering unique stories to the audience. The announcement was made by both production houses on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Pooja, leaving everyone excited to witness a never-before-seen cinematic experience. The makers also shared an interesting motion poster announcing the film. Sidharth Malhotra who will star in the project took to his Instagram handle to share the motion poster of 'VVAN- Force of Nature'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sidharth Malhotra (@sidmalhotra) About TVF and Balaji collaboration Balaji Telefilms and TVF have joined hands for a maiden project featuring the super talented and handsome hunk Sidharth Malhotra, titled VVAN to be directed by Deepak Mishra who has directed India’s most iconic Series Panchayat. Deepak Mishra a long standing partner at TVF is coming together with Arunabh Kumar once again after Panchayat to create a rooted story which will also be a big screen adventure with the guidance and vision of Ektaa R Kapoor. They are set to introduce the genre of Folk Mythological Thriller, something entirely new to the audience. With this collaboration, these mega creators of the entertainment world aim to deliver an experience that is incredibly different from anything seen before. The project is set for release during Chhath Pooja 2025. Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, has always been known for delivering bold, courageous, thrilling, and gripping content to the masses. On the other hand, TVF has captured hearts with relatable stories that resonate with audiences as a whole. With both coming together, VVAN promises to be a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, offering something truly unprecedented. Sidharth Malhotra's work front Sidharth was last seen in the action-packed aerial drama 'Yodha' with Raashii Khanna and Disha Patani. His next project is with Janhvi Kapoor- a romantic drama titled Param Sundari. Mid-day had earlier reported that Malhotra and leading lady Janhvi Kapoor were to originally front a thriller, but had a change of heart and decided to team up for a rom-com instead. Now, a bit of digging has revealed that Tushar Jalota’s directorial venture is a classic story of opposites attract, with Malhotra’s character hailing from north India and Kapoor’s from Kerala.Sources tell us that the leading man essays a suave and rich business tycoon from Delhi. “Janhvi plays a modern artist with strong views and value system. Her character is a south Indian woman from Kerala. The film chronicles how the two fall in love despite having such contrasting personalities,” says a source.
07 November,2024 10:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSuperstar Shah Rukh Khan turned 59 on November 2. The actor usually greets his fans outside his home Mannat in Bandra by waving to them from the gate of his bungalow. However, this year he skipped the ritual. While he did not greet fans outside Mannat, he attended an indoor fan event and even addressed their questions. Following his no-show at Mannat, some netizens criticised him for not showing up even as fans gathered outside his house. However, with the superstar receiving a death threat days after his birthday, fans have come to his defense justifying his decision to not greet fans from Mannat gate. Shah Rukh Khan fans defend his no-show on birthday Every year, thousands of fans gather outside Mannat, eager to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh on his birthday. However, this time, the actor didn’t step out due to security reasons. After reports of death threat to the actor surfaced, fans took to social media to defend his decision. "No wonder he didn't come to balcony to wave ughhh this place law order has become such a joke," wrote a fan. Another netizen noted, “Law and order is a literal joke in India, criminals are given political protection and they continue to do these type acts." Another fan wrote, "Fans that truly care about @iamsrk must understand that he could not come due to threats against him. He would be a sitting duck on that balcony if he came out." “Now it's striking to SRKians that it was probably the best decision from SRK that he didn't came out on his balcony on his birthday," mentioned another fan. About Shah Rukh Khan's death threat The Mumbai police have registered an extortion case and summoned a lawyer from Chhattisgarh in connection with a death threat to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and a demand for Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Thursday. The lawyer from Raipur has been summoned as the threat call was made from a phone number registered in his name, a senior police official from the Chhattisgarh capital said. The lawyer told the police that he lost his phone last week and had filed a police complaint, the official said. The threat to Shah Rukh Khan follows a series of threats issued to fellow actor Salman Khan, allegedly from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. "The Bandra police station received a call threatening Shah Rukh Khan and asking for Rs 50 lakh. An offence has been registered. No arrest has been made yet," a senior Mumbai police official said. A case has been registered by the Bandra police under sections 308(4) (extortion involving threats of death or serious injury) and 351(3)(4) (criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the caller who threatened Shah Rukh Khan, the official said. Police teams have been dispatched to various places for further investigation, he said.
07 November,2024 08:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAnushka Sharma took to her Instagram stories to share a picture of people celebrating Chhath puja by Juhu beach in Mumbai. Sharing the picture, she also extended her wishes on the festive occasion. The picture seems to have been clicked by Sharma who is reportedly in the city at present. About Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli Sharma along with her husband Virat Kohli and their two kids- Vamika and Akaay have moved the London, United Kingdom, and travel back to the country for work commitments or to meet family. Anushka Sharma has also been away from the limelight for quite some time. Her last full-length feature film was 'Zero' in the year 2018. Following that she made a cameo in 'Qala' and has been awaiting the release of her film 'Chakda Xpress'. The film which was shot long back has been facing problems with its release. According to reports, the streaming platform Netflix has backed out of the film leaving the film's release in question. But an official word from the team is yet awaited. On the other hand, Anushka Sharma occasionally treats her fans on social media with pictures from her life. Two days back on Virat Kohli's 36th birthday she shared a rare picture of the cricketer in dad mode. In the picture shared by Anushka, Virat can be seen playing with his two kids. While Vamika can be seen swinging in his left arm, Akaay can be seen around his chest in a baby sling. Anushka turned photographer to capture this wholesome moment of Virat with his kids. This is also the first time that Anushka has shared a picture of her son after his birth in February this year. About Chhath Puja Chhath Puja spans four days and involves strict rituals and fasting to express gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth. The festival is primarily celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, as well as by the diaspora from these regions. The Chhath Puja festival began with Nahay-Khay on the Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, focused on purification and preparation, followed by Kharna on Panchami Tithi, Chhath Puja on Sashti, and concluding with Usha Arghya on Saptami Tithi. The festivities will conclude on November 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of Chhath Puja and wished for everyone's happiness, prosperity and good fortune. "My best wishes to all of you on the holy occasion of Chhath Sandhya Arghya. May this great festival, a symbol of simplicity, restraint, determination and dedication, bring happiness, prosperity and good fortune in everyone's life," PM Modi said on X.
07 November,2024 07:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe trailer of The Sabarmati Report has truly resonated with the masses. Powerful, hard-hitting, and impactful, it showcases glimpses of one of the most devastating incidents in India's history. During the grand trailer launch, producer Ektaa R Kapoor spoke boldly and fearlessly about the film. "I have never worked out of fear" During the trailer launch, when asked about being afraid of sending the film to the censor, Ektaa responded, "Mujhe bilkul darr nahi tha because maine kabhi bhi life mein darr k kaam nahi kiya hai. I am a Hindu. But a Hindu means you are secular. I will never make a comment about any religion because I am a Hindu." Presenting a glimpse of the facts about what really happened on the Sabarmati Express on the morning of February 27, 2002, the much-awaited trailer of The Sabarmati Report took us on a journey through an incident that changed the socio-cultural factor of India. This perspective on the event has rarely been discussed, yet it has had a lasting impact on countless lives. Vikrant Massey reveals he got death threats On Wednesday, the film's trailer was launched at an event in Mumbai, and surprisingly, during the media interaction, actor Vikrant Massey opened up about him getting threats for being associated with the project that delves into the controversial and sensitive Godhra Train Burning incident. "Ji Haan aaye hai or Aa rahe hai (Yes, I have been receiving theatres). But as I said ki hum kalakar hai or Kahaniyaan bolte hai. This film is purely based on facts. It is something that I am dealing with or we as a team collectively are dealing with and I think we will deal with it the way it has to be," Vikrant shared. Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd presents, A Vikir Films Production, ‘The Sabarmati Report’ starring Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, and Ridhi Dogra, directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan, a worldwide wide release by Zee Studios. The film will be released in theatres on 15th November 2024.
07 November,2024 07:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Divya Bharti's death remains one of the most tragic incidents in Bollywood. One of the most promising actors of the early 1990s, her life was tragically cut short at just 19 when she fell from the balcony of her fifth-floor apartment in Mumbai. The incident remains one of the most intriguing ones in B-Town. Actress Guddi Maruti, in a recent interview, has revealed some previously unknown details about Bharti's death. How did Divya Bharti die? Guddi Maruti was shooting the film Shola Aur Shabnam with Divya Bharti and Govinda, when this incident happened. She revealed she was celebrating her birthday with Divya Bharti a day before the latter died. "She died on the night of April 5 and April 4 is my birthday. So, we all were partying together – Govinda, Divya, Sajid and others. She was okay at the party but I felt she was a little sad. She had to go for an outdoor shoot but she didn’t want to," Guddi told Siddharth Kannan. She found out about Divya's death when she was on a flight on April 6. "Divya bent down from her window to see if Sajid's car has come and that's when she fell down,” she said. She added that designer Neeta Lulla was there when the incident happened. "Neeta Lulla was there. They were talking when Divya turned looking for the car and Neeta saw her falling down," she said. "Divya wasn't scared of heights" Giving an insight into Divya's personality, Guddi recalled, "She was a nice girl but she was a little messed up. I don’t know her childhood but she stayed a little disturbed. She used to live life like today is the last day, bindas, she was a nice girl." She also described how Divya wasn't scared of heights. "She used to stay on the fifth floor of a building in Juhu. One night I was going inside the ice-cream store near that building and heard a voice shouting my name. I looked up and it was Divya. She was sitting on the parapet of fifth floor with her legs dangling. I told her it’s not safe and that she should get inside. She told me, ‘Kuch nahi hota (Nothing will happen).’ She wasn’t scared of heights. I got scared just looking at her," Guddi shared.
07 November,2024 06:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood power couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal welcomed their first child, a baby girl on July 16. They have named her Zuneyra Ida Fazal. According to naming websites, Zuneyra is an Arabic name that means guiding light. Meanwhile, her middle name Ida in Greek means hardworking. The couple in an interview with Vogue India spoke about parenthood and how welcoming their child has changed their respective lives and brought them closer as a family. Richa Chadha on being eco-friendly despite birth of baby Babies grow quickly and they usually outgrow their clothes and shoes in a matter of months. Richa Chadha revealed that she was against having a child until last year owing to climate change Now, even after having welcomed their child, they have been mindful of the environment. "I don’t want to be some kind of consumer robot, constantly looking to buy more things wrapped in plastic that end up in the ocean. In fact, Ali is very mindful of single-use plastics, more so for the baby. A year ago, I was firmly against having a child, and climate change was a very big reason. This is the hottest year we’ve had, and likely the coolest year you and I will experience going forward. Eco anxiety is a real thing for people like me who lie awake thinking about it," she said. "Dia Mirza, a really good friend of mine, actually lives her truth. Many of the baby items in my home are from when she was pregnant. The books are gifts from Soha Ali Khan and my prenatal yoga instructor. There’s a wonderful community of women who may not make a big fuss about it, but they’ll say, ‘I’ve kept this for you,’ and then you pass it on too," she shared. Richa Chadha on the challenges of postpartum Richa explains, “It’s tough to decipher your own thoughts in that space because none of it is psychological, it’s all biological. Your hormones are constantly fluctuating, leaving you to wonder why you feel a certain way. When I feel moody, I remind people not to take me too seriously and tell myself the same. I focus on the basics: getting some sunlight, basic nutrition, and working out.” Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal first met on the sets of 'Fukrey' in 2013 and decided to get married in 2020 during the pandemic.
07 November,2024 05:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVikrant Massey is currently gearing up for the release of his film 'The Sabarmati Report'. The film is based on the Godhra riots in 2002 that took place in Gujarat. On Wednesday, the film's trailer was launched at an event in Mumbai, and surprisingly, during the media interaction, Vikrant opened up about him getting threats for being associated with the project that delves into the controversial and sensitive Godhra Train Burning incident. Vikrant Massey who was previously seen on the big screen in the super-hit film '12th Fail' will be seen playing a Hindi-speaking journalist in 'The Sabarmati Report'. Talking about the threats he has been getting he said, “I have been getting threats. However, I’m not looking to draw attention to it. It’s something I’m handling, and as a team, we are collectively addressing it.” Addressing questions about the Gujarat riots in relation to his upcoming film, Vikrant Massey firmly stated, “We are artists, and our job is to tell stories. This film is grounded in facts. Unfortunately, you haven’t seen the film yet, so it’s important not to jump to conclusions that it focuses on just one side of the story.” About The Sabarmati Report movie The Sabarmati Report is directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan. The film also features Raashii Khanna AND Riddhi Dogra in pivotal roles.In the film, Vikrant plays a journalist who probes the truth behind the 2002 Godhra train burning incident in The Sabarmati Report. Ektaa said that the movie tries to bring out the unknown facts about the tragic incident and the genesis of it. She said, "I am telling the genesis of it. Pehla Pahlu (first aspect) - without undermining the other pehloos (aspects). Unfortunately, this Pehlu, how it all started, has not been reported enough. That's why we have decided to tell you how it started without undermining what happened later. It doesn't mean if you tell one story, you undermine the other. It's not about only one side. This is about how it started, very different" 'The Sabarmati Report' is scheduled to be released in theatres on November 15.
07 November,2024 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo actors who delivered hits with Dharma Productions are now set to be seen together on screen for a romantic drama by Karan Johar's production house. Actress Ananya Panday who shone with her performance in Call Me Bae and Lakshya Lalwani who made an impactful debut with Kill, will be seen sharing screen space together in the upcoming romantic movie 'Chand Mera Dil'. About Ananya Panday and Lakshya's Chand Mera Dil Ananya and Lakshya took to their respective Instagram handles, where they shared several posters from the upcoming movie, which hinted that the movie is all about “love”. The two captioned the post: “Pyaar mein thoda paagal hona hi padta hai… Chand Mera Dil, directed by Vivek Soni. Coming to cinemas in 2025. @lakshya @karanjohar @adarpoonawalla @apoorva1972 @somenmishra @vivek.sonni @marijkedesouza @paranjapetushar @dharmamovies.” The film, which will release in 2025, is directed by Vivek Soni, who has previously made 'Meenakshi Sundareshwar', starring Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani in 2021. Sharing the same posters, Karan Johar took to Instagram, describing the film as a “passionate love story”. He wrote, “We have two chands ready to bring an intense & passionate love story like no other!!! Pyaar mein thoda paagal hona hi padta hai… Chand Mera Dil, starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya. Directed by Vivek Soni. Coming to cinemas in 2025.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) Chand Mera Dil, if you recall is a popular line from the song 'Chand Mera Dil Chandni Ho Tum' from the 1977 film ''Hum Kisise Kum Naheen'. The song was sung by Mohammed Rafi. The film featured Rishi Kapoor, Tariq, Kaajal Kiran, Amjad Khan and Zeenat Aman in a special appearance. Ananya and Lakshya's work front Ananya Panday has had a good year at the movies with critics and audiences praising her for her performance in Call Me Bae and CTRL. In Call Me Bae, she played a rich South Delhi girl who is forced to move out of her luxurious home and shift to Mumbai and start from scratch. She was also seen in the Vikramaditya Motwane film 'CTRL', a screen-life thriller. It also has Vihaan Samat. The film was about a social media influencer couple. When the boyfriend cheats on her, she turns to an AI app to erase his digital existence on her computer and social media. Meanwhile, Lakshya rose to fame with his performance in the action-thriller 'Kill', directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The cast of the film also includes Tanya Maniktala and Raghav Juyal. 'Kill' made waves at various international film festivals before its India release.
07 November,2024 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIf you can't go to the movies, the movies will come to you—even if you're in the foothills of the Himalayas. Mobile theatre company PictureTime Digiplex has teamed up yet again with Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) for its 13th edition, which begins today with filmmaker Payal Kapadia's Cannes winner All We Imagine as Light. Which films you can watch at Dharamshala film fest More than 80 films from 28 countries will be screened at these state-of-the-art inflatable digital cinemas—set against the stunning Dhauladhar mountains—providing a unique cinematic experience at an altitude of nearly 5,000 ft. All We Imagine as Light, the coming of age friendship drama which became the first movie from India to make it to the Cannes’ main competition in 30 years, will be shown on all festival screens on the opening night. The four-day-long festival closing will be held at Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamshala, where PictureTime has set up two inflatable cinemas at mountain tops. Additionally, two existing venues have also been turned into cinema halls with audio-video logistics provided by the company, where renowned titles such as Dibakar Banerjee's Tees, Sandhya Suri’s police procedural Santosh starring Shahana Goswami, actor-couple Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal's maiden production Girls Will be Girls (directed by Shuchi Talathi), Rima Das’ Village Rockstars 2, filmmaker Onir's We Are Faheem & Karun and Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar's A Fly on the Wall among others will be showcased. About the mobile digital theatres Sushil Chaudhary, Founder, PictureTime Digiplex, says the mobile digital movie theater concept is designed to create a "portable solution" that can bring the latest films to the most remote parts of India. This year with DIFF—founded in 2012 by filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam— Chaudhary says the aim is to elevate a regular cinema viewing experience to an unforgettable spectacle in the hills. "In our early years with DIFF, we offered fewer screens and more basic projection and sound systems. But this year, we’ve significantly upgraded, bringing in two of our Mobile Digital Movie Theatres (MDMTs) and transforming the main auditorium into a world-class cinematic venue. We’re enhancing the sound system to create an immersive audio experience that rivals the best theatres worldwide. These upgrades will allow DIFF attendees to experience films as they were intended to be seen and heard, adding a new dimension to this year’s festival," reads a statement from Chaudhary. In the last few years, PictureTime has been serving as the screening partner for several festivals held in regions where it is difficult to mount movie screens. In 2022, it partnered with International Tribal Film Festival (ITFF) in Arunachal Pardesh, followed by Himalayan Film Festival in Ladakh (held at all altitude of more than 11,000 ft) and has also been affiliated with International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
07 November,2024 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent‘Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives’ star Bhavana Pandey is one of the most sorted personalities on the reality show that streams on Netflix. The third season introduced three new faces hailing from the social circles of Delhi. However, the only one to become an audience favourite is art collector Shalini Passi. Bhavana tells mid-day.com she’s known Shalini even before the show and sheds light on how her husband Sanjay Passi provided aid during a major family emergency. Bhavana Pandey knew Shalini Passi even before the show Bhavana Pandey states that she and Chunky have known Shalini and Sanjay Passi for about 20-25 years. “We don't meet too often because obviously, they live in Delhi and we live in Mumbai. When there are the bigger parties, Shalini usually flies down. They are very good friends with Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan and we meet them a lot in their house as well.” Sanjay Passi donated plasma to Bhavana Pandey’s father Bhavana recalls that about 7-8 years ago, they met the Passis at a party where her parents were also there. “Sanjay got along with my mom and dad. They connected on Vaishno Devi. He calls them every Saturday without fail. He checks on them. When COVID happened, my dad was one of the first people before the vaccines came out. And he got really bad COVID. She adds, “It was so strange that Sanjay called my sister that morning and said, I'm going to Vaishno Devi, I'll be back tonight. But I just want to tell you that in case you need it, this is my blood group.’ He just said it by chance and left. And my dad was in the hospital. The doctors needed the plasma of that blood group exactly. It was almost like divine intervention.” ‘We owe Sanjay Passi everything’ Bhavana reveals how the pandemic was an extremely tough time and people were scared to go to hospitals even to donate plasma. But Sanjay Passi did not give it a second thought and was there for her family. “Those were such hard times. People were scared to go to hospitals, but he did it. We owe him everything. Chunky said in the video diaries, that I feel like sometimes he's done more for my father-in-law than even I have done. Because we live in a different city, we are there, obviously, we're a phone call away. But he is in Delhi and he really provides support to them like a son would. So, it's not like he gave it and we became friends,” Bhavana concludes.
07 November,2024 02:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesBollywood power couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal finally have revealed their daughter’s unique name. The seasoned actors, who welcomed their baby girl on July 16 have named her Zuneyra Ida Fazal. According to naming websites, Zuneyra is an Arabic name that means guiding light. Meanwhile, her middle name Ida in Greek means hardworking. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ali fazal (@alifazal9) Zuneyra has brought Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal closer Doting dad Ali Fazal told Vogue India that having a baby fills the void you never knew existed. The actor admits to having serious anxiety when he leaves home for work. “I just want to see the baby all the time and be around Richa and her,” he states. He adds, “We’ve become superheroes because our reflexes go full throttle. This has also brought Richa and me closer. I listen more intently, and now, I’m always aware of two people and their needs.” Richa Chadha on the challenges of postpartum Richa Chadha explains, “It’s tough to decipher your own thoughts in that space because none of it is psychological, it’s all biological. Your hormones are constantly fluctuating, leaving you to wonder why you feel a certain way. When I feel moody, I remind people not to take me too seriously and tell myself the same. I focus on the basics: getting some sunlight, basic nutrition, and working out.” Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal first met on the sets of 'Fukrey' in 2013 and decided to get married in 2020 during the pandemic. Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal’s ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ nominated for Gotham Awards Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s production ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ has been nominated for Gotham Awards in the Breakthrough Director category. The Bollywood couple said that they are immensely proud of director Shuchi Talati. The film is a coming-of-age drama starring Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, and Kesav Binoy Kiron. The film is director Talati's first feature. The film is set in a boarding school and centers around the teenage protagonist Mira's romance with a charming new student. This year, the Gotham Awards are led by notable contenders such as Anora and Zendaya’s “Challengers” alongside Talati’s nomination.
07 November,2024 02:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
