Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala will tie the knot on December 4. Touted as a simple and intimate wedding, the grand ceremony will be held at the family-owned Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. Recently, Nagarjuna, who is excited for his son’s wedding shared details ahead of the big day. The tight-knit affair will reportedly have 300-400 family members, closest friends, and colleagues as guests. Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala don't want a big wedding Nagarjuna told Times of India that his son Naga Chaitanya didn’t want a big wedding and Sobhita also preferred it to be just among family and friends. He shared, “They told me to leave the arrangements to them. They wanted to do it their way, and honestly, it was a huge relief! I said, ‘Please do’. Sobhita’s parents were clear about wanting to include all the rituals, and I was completely on board. I find the chants and ceremonies so soothing — they bring a sense of peace. It’s going to be a lovely wedding, simple and heartfelt, just like the couple.” Sobhita Dhulipala to wear a Kanjivaram silk saree For her big day, Sobhita made a stunning choice for her wedding attire, handpicking the Kanjivaram silk saree while shopping with her mother. In keeping with tradition, she is also acquiring a simple white khadi saree woven in Ponduru, along with a matching set for Chaitanya. Naga and Sobhita’s wedding invite A photo of their wedding invitation has gone viral on social media. The invite features the names of their family members and the date of the special occasion. It also appears that the couple has gifted a goodies basket along with the wedding invitation as a gesture of love and respect for their guests. The basket includes a piece of cloth, a wooden scroll, food packets, and various confectionery items. The invitation features images of temples, bells, banana trees, and a cow, adding a personal and cultural touch to the occasion. Naga Chaitanya was earlier married to Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The two tied the knot in 2017 after dating each other for a couple of years. In 2021, Samantha and Naga Chaitanya announced their separation in a joint statement only days before their 4th wedding anniversary.
22 November,2024 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent‘Lady Superstar’ Nayanthara surprised all by launching a public attack on Dhanush for sending her a legal notice of Rs 10 crore for using 3 seconds of footage from their film 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan'. Nayanthara was the lead actress of the film while Dhanush was the producer and Vignesh Shivan served as the director. She accused Dhanush of not giving her a NOC despite repeated requests. Amid this public feud, the two were spotted under the same roof as they attended a producer's wedding. Nayanthara and Dhanush come under one roof Nayanthara and Dhanush attended the wedding of film producer Aaaksah Baskaran recently. Nayanthara was accompanied by her husband Vignesh Shivan. The two actors were seated in the front row on two different sofas at extreme ends. The viral clips on social media show how the two actors completely ignored each others presence and only interacted with the other guests. There were other celebrities from the film industry who also attended the wedding including Sivakarthikeyan and Anirudh Ravichander among others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SATHIYA_S-SQUAD💥 (@sathiya_squad_offical) Aakash Baskaran is a Tamil film producer who launched his own production house named Dawn Pictures in September this year. His first film under the banner will be 'Idly Kadai'. The film is being directed and headlined by Dhanush. Also starring Nithya Menen and Shalini Pandey, the upcoming movie will release in cinemas on April 10, 2025, and will clash at the box office with Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab. Nayanthara calls Dhanush ‘vile’ in an open letter Last week, Nayanthara stunned everyone with her open letter dedicated to Dhanush, calling out the latter for not letting her use film footage from 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' for her Netflix wedding documentary. In the letter, she also accused Dhanush of harbouring a personal grudge against her and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan. She mentioned that it was a 'low' move to demand Rs 10 crore from them to use a three-second snippet of songs from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Describing Dhanush as a "vile" person, she wrote, "It's almost been 10 years since the release of the film, and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world. I have not forgotten all the horrible things that you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that is loved by all even today. Dhanush has not reacted to Nayanthara's letter yet. For the unversed, ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’ featured Nayanthara opposite Vijay Sethupathi. It was directed by her now husband Vignesh Shivan. Dhanush backed the film under the Wunderbar Films banner in 2015.
21 November,2024 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Malavika Mohanan who is carving her name in the pan-India cinema with her remarkable performances so far is set to mark her Telugu debut in the upcoming film, 'The Raja Saab'. The actress will be seen romancing pan-India superstar and box office king, Prabhas. Fans are eagerly anticipating to witness the sizzling on-screen chemistry between Malavika and Prabhas and their pairing has already sparked immense curiosity and excitement among audiences. According to a source, the duo will soon be shooting for a romantic song. “Malavika and Prabhas will be shooting a hot romantic song for The Raja Saab. The song’s shooting will take place in Europe around January and February,” revealed the source close to the production house. 'The Raja Saab' is touted to be a horror-comedy and is poised to be one of the most talked-about films of the year. The film sees the actor as a common man, who visits his family’s ancestral property that includes a dilapidated theatre and unwittingly sets off a chain of events. On paper, Maruthi’s directorial venture may be a regular horror comedy fare. But sources tell us that 'The Raja Saab' is mounted on an ambitious budget of Rs 350 crore. The Telugu project, which also stars Sanjay Dutt in a crucial role, has been envisioned as a pan-India offering and will be dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. The film is written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Maruthii. It will also star Niddhi Agerwal as another female lead. About Malavika Mohanan Speaking about “The Raja Saab”, Malavika said: "It's my Telugu debut, and I waited long for it. I wanted the right film to come my way to foray into the industry. I think nothing gets better than Prabhas sir. It's in the rom-com space, a very fun, easy film.” She added: “It's light-hearted and will cater to a universal audience. We are still shooting for it, and the film should be released in April next year. I am really looking forward to it." Malavika began her career with notable performances across different regional film industries- from her debut in Pattam Pole (2013) to her impactful roles in films like Christy (2023) and Thangalaan (2024). The actress recently debuted in Bollywood, playing the lead in Yudhra alongside Siddhanth Chaturvedi. Apart from The Raja Saab, Malavika also stars alongside Karthi in the spy thriller, Sardar 2. The film is a follow-up sequel to “Sardar”, which released in 2022. Karthi reprises his dual roles alongside S. J. Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Ashika Ranganath and Rajisha Vijayan.
21 November,2024 10:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNaga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala is all set to tie the knot in December. Ever since they made their relationship official after the engagement in August this year, Sobhita has been attending functions with the Akkineni family. She joined the Akkineni family at IFFI 2024 for the screening of Devadasu, a film starring the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Sobhita and Chaitanya’s attendance at this event not only celebrates the timeless legacy of Akkineni Nageswara Rao but also highlights the deep-rooted cinematic heritage that Chaitanya proudly carries forward. The Akkineni family including Nagarjuna, Amala, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil were present at the red carpet of the Devadasu screening. Sobhita joined the family. In a sweet gesture, Nagarjuna asked Sobhita and Naga Chaitanya to stand in the center as they posed for pictures as a family. Yuva Samrat #NagaChaitanya & #SobhitaDhulipala grace the red carpet ahead of the special screening of ANR's timeless masterpiece ♥️✨@chay_akkineni@sobhitaD#IFFI2024#ANR100 #SoChay pic.twitter.com/w6UWaCAx0o — Suresh PRO (@SureshPRO_) November 21, 2024 Nagarjuna praises IFFI 2024 Nagarjuna said, "A lot of young filmmakers are coming now and a platform like this where they can show their films. It's fantastic. The Government of India and the Ministry of Information are doing this." IFFI 2024 will present over 180 international films from 81 countries, including 16 world premieres, 3 international premieres, 43 Asian premieres and 109 Indian premiers. With the selection of celebrated titles and award-winning films from the global circuit, this year's festival is set to leave a lasting impact on audiences.He added that this time the participation is very big and a number of international films are part of the festival "This shows the power of Indian cinema and I am very happy they are all coming here to India to showcase the cinema," said Nagarjuna. Notably, the organisers have planned to come up with an extensive tribute program to honour the 100th birth anniversaries of four Indian Cinema Legends: Actor-Filmmaker Raj Kapoor, Director Tapan Sinha, Telugu Cinema star Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), and Singer Mohammed Rafi, as per Variety. The ace star said that he is at IFFI 2024 to pay tribute to his father Akkineni Nageswara Rao, "I am overwhelmed and one of the main reasons I am here to pay tribute to my father. This is his 100th birthday and he has been an inspiration for us and the new people." Nagarjuna's wife Amala Akkineni, who arrived to attend the mega event, said, "It's wonderful to be here at the International Film Festival of India in Goa. So, I'm looking forward to giving honour to my father-in-law Akkineni Nageswara Rao and to a screening of our film. So I'm really looking forward to it and meeting all the delegates."
21 November,2024 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFamous Malayalam actor Meghanathan passed away at the age of 60 due to complications from a lung-related illness. The actor was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode, where he breathed his last. The actor's funeral is scheduled to take place at his residence in Shoranur on Thursday. Minister for General Education, of Kerala, V Sivankutty took to his social media account on Facebook to share his condolences. "The acting talent who gave a new look to the villain characters. Tributes to actor Meghanathan," read the post along with a picture of the late actor. Meghanathan, a prominent figure in the Malayalam film industry, was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, as the third child of iconic actor Balan K Nair and Sarada Nair. He is survived by his wife, Susmitha, and daughter, Parvathi. The actor made his acting debut in the 1983 Malayalam film 'Asthram', marking the beginning of a prolific career that spanned over three decades. With more than 50 films to his credit, Meghanathan carved a niche for himself by portraying diverse roles, predominantly as an antagonist, much like his legendary father. Some of his most memorable performances include roles in Panchagni, Chamayam, Rajadhani, Bhoomigeetham, Chenkol, Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji, Prayikkara Pappan, Udyanapaalakam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, and Vaasthavam. In addition to his successful film career, Meghanathan was a familiar face on television, having acted in popular serials such as Sthreetvam, Meghasandesham, Kathayariyathe, Snehanjali, and Chitta. His most recent film appearance was in Samadhana Pusthakam, released earlier this year. (ANI) 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
21 November,2024 02:54 PM IST | Mumbai | ANI‘Lady Superstar’ Nayanthara, who made headlines for her scathing social media attack on Dhanush over a Rs 10 crore legal notice barring her from using clips from ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’ for her Netflix documentary 'Nayanthara Beyond the Fairy Tale', has now shared a list of producers who granted NOCs without hesitation. Nayanthara shares list of producers who granted NOCs Nayanthara shared a post on Instagram with pictures of documents that list down producers across film industries who granted her NOCs without hesitation to use in the Netflix documentary. She wrote in the caption, “The most precious thing I’ve earned in these 20 years of my career is the friendships, love, and respect I’ve got from the ones I've worked with. I really thank all the producers who have supported me in this endeavour for their goodwill and magnanimity always. Thank you.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by N A Y A N T H A R A (@nayanthara) The list includes bigwigs like Shah Rukh Khan, Udhayanidhi Stalin, A Subaskaran, AR Murugadoss, Chiranjeevi, and Ram Charan, to name a few. Nayanthara calls Dhanush ‘vile’ in an open letter Last week, Nayanthara stunned everyone with her open letter dedicated to Dhanush, calling out the latter for not letting her use film footage from 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' for her Netflix wedding documentary. In the letter, she also accused Dhanush of harbouring a personal grudge against her and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan. She mentioned that it was a 'low' move to demand Rs 10 crore from them to use a three-second snippet of songs from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. Describing Dhanush as a "vile" person, she wrote, "It's almost been 10 years since the release of the film, and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world. I have not forgotten all the horrible things that you said about the film that was one of your biggest hits as a producer and a film that is loved by all even today. Dhanush has not reacted to Nayanthara's letter yet. For the unversed, ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’ featured Nayanthara opposite Vijay Sethupathi. It was directed by her now husband Vignesh Shivan. Dhanush backed the film under the Wunderbar Films banner in 2015.
21 November,2024 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently shared an inspiring poem titled "If" by author Rudyard Kipling. The inspiring poem, known for its timeless message, emphasizes maintaining composure and resilience in challenging circumstances. Sharing this poem on her Instagram handle, Samantha wrote in the caption, “This poem has always been a guiding light for me and I wanted to share it with you today.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha (@samantharuthprabhuoffl) An excerpt from the poem read, “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools.” It further read, “If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’” Samantha’s post comes amid Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala’s wedding preparations. The couple will reportedly tie the knot on December 4 in an intimate yet culturally rich ceremony, attended by close friends and family. For her big day, Dhulipala has chosen a traditional Kanjivaram silk saree, beautifully adorned with real gold zari. In 2021, Samantha and Naga announced their divorce after four years of marriage. They issued a joint statement, revealing that their separation was mutual and amicable. 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
21 November,2024 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActors Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's wedding is highly awaited by fans and is one of the biggest in the film circuit. Recently, the wedding invite also went viral which featured names of the couple's ancestors and family members and the date of the occasion. Sobhita’s wedding invite is not just a piece of paper but a carefully curated collection of memories and traditions that reflect her growing up years. Sobhita Dhulipala's handmade wedding invite Besides the invite, Sobhita curated a handwoven basket with things she loved growing up. She packed over 100 invites herself. She likes to take on the wedding tasks personally. Recently, she went wedding shopping with her mother instead of a stylist. A source who received the beautiful wedding invite revealed, "Sobhita is so happy to do this. She packed her wedding invites herself for around 100 guests. She found so much joy in doing this. She curated a handwoven basket with some of the little things she grew up loving—handmade Kondapalli dancing dolls, old-school bath basics, a filter coffee kit, Nalla-Kaaram Podi, Sunnundalu, and fresh mogra gajras." Through these thoughtful inclusions, Sobhita’s wedding invite goes beyond a mere announcement; it is a celebration of heritage, home, and the small, meaningful things that have shaped her life. It is a collection of all her memories, and she wants to cherish them as she begins a new chapter of her life with her husband, Naga Chaitanya. Her fans and well-wishers are now eagerly awaiting the wedding, inspired by the actress’ grounded and heartfelt approach to this milestone. Fans are eagerly waiting for #SoChay’s wedding pictures. Sobhita and Naga Chaitanya's wedding festivities The wedding is supposed to take place in Annapurna Studios on 4th December. The couple chose the studio as their wedding place because it is named after Naga Chaitanya's grandmother Annapurna Akkineni and the place holds a special significance in their lives. The couple got engaged on August 8, 2024, and on October 21, Sobhita dropped pictures from her Pasupu danchadam ritual, marking the beginning of the wedding festivities. It is a ritual that is followed in the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which marks the beginning of wedding festivities. It is held after the engagement ceremony and before the haldi. The ritual involves women pounding turmeric in a pestle, and the turmeric is then stored for use in other wedding functions. The ceremony also involves decorating the house and inviting guests to participate.
20 November,2024 07:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSouth actor Ram Charan recently found himself at the center of online criticism after he visited a dargah. However, his wife, Upasana Konidela, stepped in to defend him, emphasizing the importance of respecting all religions while following one’s own. Taking to her X handle, the star wife posted a photo of Ram visiting a dargah, where he was captured bowing his head with his hands placed on his chest. He wore a traditional black outfit, complemented by a large garland around his neck. The picture also featured several other people, including singer Mohit Chauhan, standing nearby. Alongside the image, she wrote, “Upasana wrote, "Faith unites, never divides. As Indians, we honour all paths to the divine (folded hands emoji) our strength lies in unity. (National Flag emoji). #OneNationOneSpirit #jaihind. @AlwaysRamCharan respecting other religions while following his own (saluting face emoji).” Faith unites, never dividesAs Indians, we honor all paths to the divine 🙏 our strength lies in unity. 🇮🇳 #OneNationOneSpirit #jaihind @AlwaysRamCharan respecting other religions while following his own 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BdW58IEEF9 — Upasana Konidela (@upasanakonidela) November 19, 2024 Reacting to Upasana’s post, one netizen said, “Ma'am respecting other religions doesn't mean you go to their dargah in ayyappa Mala. We can respect their religion by not insulting their faith and respect what they do without interfering in our religion!” In her reply, she shared a news article with the headline, “Embracing Harmony: Sabarimala's Unique Tradition of Praying at the Mosque of Vavar.” Meanwhile, Ram Charan visited the Kadapa dargah in Andhra Pradesh to serve as the chief guest at the 80th National Mushaira Ghazal event. The actor had earlier committed to music legend AR Rahman that he would attend this year's event in that capacity. Reports suggest that Rahman had assured the dargah authorities in 2023 that Charan would be brought in as a guest. True to his word, the 'RRR' actor attended the event while observing the Ayyappa Deeksha, as a devoted follower of the dargah. On the work front, Ram is set to star in the upcoming film “Game Changer” directed by Shankar. The political drama will see the actor playing the role of an IAS officer, with the possibility of him portraying a dual role. The movie is slated to release on January 10, 2025. 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
20 November,2024 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSWhile the whole world is waiting for details on his impending 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). The Indian Racing Festival is a meticulously curated motorsport event designed to captivate the growing motorsport fan base in India. The finals were held in Coimbatore on Sunday, which was attended by celebrity owners Arjun Kapoor and John Abraham as well. Naga Chaitanya's love for motorsports Chay 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, MotoGP. I think the bug bit me very early. Now, I’m so happy to be a part of motorsports, in such close proximity, being able to own a team, be a part of the entire championship is such a thrill for me," he told Mid-day after the race in Coimbatore. South African teenager Aqil Alibhai from Naga Chaitanya's team Hyderabad Blackbirds clinched the F4 Indian Championship title on Sunday. Encouraging women drivers The 37-year-old actor also said that this event ensured women participation in this male-dominated sport. "I think they have so much talent among them, they just need the exposure and opportunities like this to get some driving time to better their skills. I’m grateful to the Indian Racing League for making it compulsory for female drivers to be a part of it," he said. Film on motorsports? Chay also said he’d be open to a film made on motorsports. “Why not? I think it is getting more exposure in the country. When the IRL happened in Chennai, it was a street circuit, it took the race much closer to the people, being in the heart of the city. Such kind of opportunities give the sport so much exposure. Year on year it has been growing and there’s going to be so many fans of motorsports soon." The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) hosted its inaugural night street race at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit from August 30 to September 1, 2024, marking a historic moment in Indian motorsports.
19 November,2024 05:39 PM IST | Coimbatore | Bohni BandyopadhyayRam Gopal Varma is a celebrity who is unabashed on the internet and has never held back when it comes to expressing himself on social media. The filmmaker, over the years, has made many controversial statements that have become the talk of the town, but it turns out now the repercussions are going to be wilder. For the uninitiated, recently the filmmaker posted something about Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu and deputy CM Pawan Kalyan that has created an uproar. The Andhra Pradesh police summoned the filmmaker after a case was filed against him, and it turns out he has asked for more time to appear for the same. Ram Gopal Varma in a post allegedly shared morphed images of N. Chandrababu Naidu If you have been away from the news, Ram Gopal Varma, in a post, allegedly shared morphed images of N. Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and their families in an indecent way. This did not go well with many, and a certain Ramalingam (45) from Maddipadu filed an FIR against him under various sections. The case was filed against RGV at the Maddipadu police station in Prakasam district on November 11 for allegedly posting morphed photographs of the CM, deputy CM, and others on social media. Ram Gopal Varma received notice As per a Hindustan Times report, a police team from Prakasam district went to Ram Gopal Varma’s Jubilee Hills residence in Hyderabad and gave him a notice that ordered him to present himself for investigation on November 19, which is today. Prakasam district Superintendent of Police A. R. Damodar has now confirmed that he has not turned up for the probe and has sent a letter through his lawyer. Ram Gopal Varma requests more time "Ram Gopal Varma sent a written representation through his lawyer requesting more time, about four to five days, to appear for the investigation as he is engaged with pre-scheduled movie shooting," the SP told PTI. The filmmaker, however, is ready to cooperate with the system and has even sent his lawyer to the local circle inspector. The police are now verifying if the request made by RGV is true or false and will take a call. In these cases, if found eligible for an extension, people are given a day to a couple of days to appear. But the SP has also confirmed that if the probe finds that Ram Gopal Varma has pushed the investigation only to buy time, a police team will be sent after him. Stay tuned to Mid-Day for more updates on this.
19 November,2024 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
