Cold coffee, connections, and cliques — the gang is back together and taking a huge leap! Jumping ahead three years from where Season 2 left off, Netflix teased fans today with the trailer of the highly-anticipated YA series, 'Mismatched' Season 3. From career dreams to complicated relationships, this season hits closer to home than ever before. Produced by RSVP Movies, the Netflix series will drop on December 13. Netflix's 'Mismatched' Season 3 offers unexpected twists and new friendships Opening with the iconic cold coffee that first brought Rishi (Rohit Saraf) and Dimple (Prajakta Koli) together, the trailer dives straight into their next chapter. The duo has left the Aravali Institute behind for a new campus in Hyderabad as they enter the next phase of their relationship. Love meets tech as the two tackle their ambitions and the effort it takes to stay in love while exploring what it means to live two lives — one real and one virtual. The season will also feature a new set of expertly-curated music. Synonymous with the series, the music will remain a rich storytelling tool for fans. Once bitter rivals, Rishi and Anmol (Taaruk Raina) find themselves on the same team at the virtual-reality lab Betterverse, proving this season is all about flipping the script. A new character, Rith (Lauren Robinson), aims to thrive in this virtual world as Celina (Muskkaan Jaferi) helps them fit in, while Krish (Abhinav Sharma) continues to find his place. Sid sir (Rannvijay Singha) and Zeenat (Vidya Malavade) are starting anew, adopting fresh plans — a fitting parallel to the many “worlds” the gang navigates in Mismatched: from adulting and self-discovery to friendships. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Ronnie Screwvala expresses his views about 'Mismatched Season 3' Producer Ronnie Screwvala says, “ Mismatched Season 3 is a milestone that reflects the love and effort of everyone involved. This season is incredibly close to our hearts as it takes on themes that truly resonate—growing together, embracing inclusivity, and facing life’s tough moments. It’s a reminder that even in life’s complexities, there’s beauty in connection and understanding. With our long-standing partnership with Netflix, we look forward to bringing this story to life and connecting with audiences across the world. ” With the soulful strains of “Ishq Hai” setting the tone, the trailer unfolds a mosaic of emotions. As each character grapples with their new realities, they’ll discover that sometimes, the hardest battles are fought within. While love may be complicated —as Rishi wisely says, “Pyaar me padna easy hai, pyaar ko nibhana sabse mushkil.” (“Falling in love is easy, but maintaining it is the hardest.”) — falling for Mismatched is anything but. Netflix’s holiday season must-watch, 'Mismatched' Season 3 is set to tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and remind you why this series holds a special place in your heart. Featuring Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf, Rannvijay Singha, Taaruk Raina, Vidya Malavade, Ahsaas Channa, Abhinav Sharma, Muskkaan Jaferi, and newcomers Lauren Robinson, Garima Yajnik, and Akshat Singh, this season brings dreams, dilemmas, and drama.
02 December,2024 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentApeksha Porwal believes the SonyLIV thriller, Undekhi, made people take notice of her. But now as she auditions for upcoming projects, competition isn’t the only thing she has to fight in the industry. Porwal points out that the obsession with fair skin runs deep in the industry despite casting directors aiming for a level-playing field. She says. “There’s so much resting on one release. And there are periods like this, where there's less work, there's a lot more rejection. Keeping that mental balance and mental peace in place is a tricky thing to handle. I think it's one of the most important things for any actor. For any outsider, the only route is this audition and it's your work that you put out. I also think that's a blessing. Because then that actually means that you're getting it on merit. Whatever work I've done till now is purely by auditioning for rounds for months and then getting an opportunity.” Despite casting directors aiming for a level playing field, the obsession with fair skin runs deep and that’s something Porwal has struggled with, she admits. “The industry talks about diversity, but the bias against dusky women is still very real. Even when casting directors push for us, it's a constant challenge to land roles that go beyond tokenism. I think being a girl with a dark complexion, I have always sort of worn that as my strength. I've gotten the kind of roles and opportunities despite this mental barrier people carry. I've got some really good and incredible roles. So that to me is a blessing and I am aware I've also come at a time where things have changed, where today, you know, there's an opportunity for a person of every colour and every look and every kind of face that they can represent. I am completely aware that there are certain roles where a certain type of a person will only fit. Certain characters have a certain requirement and that's just the way it is. But sometimes I have faced stigma too. 25 years ago this must have been more pronounced. But what saved me are the kind of scripts and the way OTT has opened things up, the kind of conversations now. This HUL doing away with Fair and Lovely has made things better and with so much more conversations around these things, I feel like the scene is on the path to change. I think we have evolved, but I do think there's still some way to go. I grew up in a house where skin colour wasn't even a thing of conversation. But I have heard relatives say that, oh, don't go out under the sun, you know, those things that people just say to you. So I feel like these kinds of comments and these things still do happen at a more grass root level. In mainstream media, I think things are much better. Also because the consumers are so much more vocal these days. I am glad that if there’s anything that is discriminatory, it's immediately spoken about. Let's not paint a rosy picture, it's not fully done away with, but it's definitely a much better scenario. So the sort of hiring that gets done in movies is a lot better than it was 20 years ago.” Even as things are changing for the better with the world moving towards inclusivity, Porwal says there is a long way to go when it comes to changing beauty standards. “I have lost deals sometimes. But I logically understand. If tomorrow there's a casting for a Punjabi girl or a Kashmiri girl, I completely understand that I'm going to lose out on it because I don't look Kashmiri. But did I get the part of a Bengali girl because of my skin tone and because of the way I look? I absolutely did. So there are, like I said, there are two ways of looking at it. Change - it’s slow. But hopefully soon there’ll be an opportunity for every look, every color, every sort of background. I feel there needs to be a certain level of equality in how actors are cast, how actors are treated, how sets are run.”
02 December,2024 03:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIn Delhi Crime, the capital has been not merely the setting, but an important character in itself. Be that as it may, director Tanuj Chopra has moved the production out of Delhi, and for good reason. mid-day has learnt that the shoot of the Shefali Shah-fronted series moved to Mumbai last week as the team grappled with the worsening air quality in the capital. The crew has now set up base in the sprawling Royal Palms in Goregaon, Mumbai, where they will film throughout December. Tanuj Chopra A source close to the production revealed, “The smog in Delhi was a major concern. The cast and crew’s safety is the top priority. So, the decision to shift the shoot to Mumbai was made unanimously. It’s unfortunate because the series draws so much of its essence from Delhi, but we had to be pragmatic when the AQI has been constantly between very poor and severe, even recording a reading of 491 on November 19.” For the ongoing Mumbai schedule, the team has apparently recreated parts of Delhi on set. Even as the production team is ensuring that the look of the capital remains authentic in the few exterior scenes, we’ve heard Chopra has lined up most of the interior sequences in this leg. The insider added, “We will head back to Delhi after three months, when the air quality improves. Tanuj wants to shoot crucial outdoor sequences in the capital.” The third season of the International Emmy-winning series reportedly explores the subject of human trafficking.
02 December,2024 11:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAfter nearly three years, 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' has returned with its much-awaited second season, this time with a darker and more intense storyline. Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who plays Vikrant in the series, spoke about how the new season portrays the evolution of his character and compared it to the growing trend of "anti-heroes" as seen in films including 'Salaar' and 'Animal'. Speaking to ANI, the actor shared, "It's a fantastically challenging shift and trend for me as an actor because, you know, moral complexity and when you're morally subjective is when, as an actor, you have to look at the character and then see, okay, this is what the character's objective is in the story, and these are the choices that he makes and the reasons for his choices." "Season two is about him taking action in his own hands. That is where there is a similarity to the actors and to the characters that you've mentioned (Salaar, Animal). The audience knows his heart is in the right place, but in order to take control, he has to fight fire with fire," he added. While speaking on how fans expectations pushed him to prepare deeply for the role, Tahir shared, "Those high expectations from fans are always what motivates me. For me, season two was about reconnecting with Vikrant's past and understanding his core motivations. At the bottom of his heart, what he wants is to protect his family and the love of his life." Apart from Tahir, the series stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shweta Tripathi, Anchal Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Arunoday Singh, Varun Badola, and Gurmeet Choudhary, among others. Directed by Sidharth Sengupta and produced by Edgestorm Ventures Pvt Ltd, the series revolves around the themes of obsession, survival, and moral ambiguity. The second season is currently streaming on Netflix. 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
29 November,2024 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIIt has been a whirlwind tour, from Brazil to London to Mumbai, for Indian-origin American actor Paras Patel as he promotes his hit series, The Chosen. “The show blew up during the pandemic,” says Patel of the historical drama, the fifth season of which is due next summer. In the Dallas Jenkins-created show, the actor plays Matthew, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. Does he feel the pressure of bringing alive a character that is prominently mentioned in the religious texts? “When playing Matthew, I wanted to honour not only the text but also the character and the way the show is [depicting him]. Matthew is neuro-divergent on the show, which was very important for the creator. I saw the challenge as a motivation to work harder,” shares the actor. Patel’s 10-year-plus career may be filled with international projects, but he had always set his sights on Bollywood. Watching Hindi movies shaped his idea of cinema as well as identity. He says, “I grew up watching more Hindi films than American ones; I watched a lot of Akshay Kumar and Govinda movies. I wanted to work in the Hindi film industry first. I am still open to working in Hindi films.”
29 November,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaThe highly anticipated return of the web series 'Tanaav 2' is around the corner as the trailer for Vol 2 drops. This season, the stakes are higher than ever, with the nation’s security hanging by a thread. 'Tanaav 2' intensifies its gripping narrative of bravery, deception, greed, love, and revenge. The Special Task Group (STG), led by Kabir, faces a terrifying new adversary - Al-Damishq, a vengeful young man bent on wreaking havoc in Kashmir. The trailer promises a nail-biting thriller that will keep the viewers guessing at the edge. Summary of 'Tanaav' Season 1 The first season of the series came out in November 2022 and after two years, the makers are back with another round of thrill and action. The first season starred Manav Vij, Arbaaz Khan, Danish Hussain, Ekta Kaul, M.K Raina, Rajat Kapoor, and others. A special task force was made as a deadly terrorist Umar, who was assumed to be dead, makes a return to plan something big and disastrous in Kashmir. Following this, a retired officer is called back on duty to fight this situation. Produced by Applause Entertainment, Tanaav is the official remake of Israel's Fauda, created by Avi Issacharoff & Lior Raz and distributed by Yes Studios. Directed by the award-winning Sudhir Mishra and E. Niwas, the show boasts an exceptional cast, including Manav Vij, Gaurav Arora, Satyadeep Misra, Rajat Kapoor, Shashank Arora, Kabir Bedi, Sahiba Bali, Ekta Kaul, Soni Razdan, and Sukhmani Sadana. 'Tanaav 2' Vol 2 will stream exclusively on Sony LIV from December 6th. Director Sudhir Mishra shares his thoughts on 'Tanaav' Volume 2 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sony LIV (@sonylivindia) Acclaimed director Sudhir Mishra shares his thoughts on the new season: “With Tanaav 2 Vol 2, we’ve embraced the challenge of exceeding the high expectations set by the first part. I’m proud of our team for crafting a narrative that is even more intense, action-packed, and thought-provoking. This season, we focus on the theme of the nation coming first, exploring the complexities of the human condition, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the resilience of the human spirit. 'Tanaav 2' Vol 2 is not just a continuation of the story—it’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for the greater good, and I can’t wait to see how audiences respond." The second season will feature 12 episodes same as the first season which will stream on Sony LIV.
28 November,2024 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEven after 20 years in the television industry, writer-director Sidharth Sengupta often feels like he doesn’t know enough about the craft. This feeling of humility, he says, pushes him to do better. The result? In 2021, he delivered a sleeper hit in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein. Three years on, he has returned with the second season of the Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shweta Tripathi and Aanchal Singgh-led web series. In a chat with mid-day, Sengupta discusses why it took him three years to craft the next season, and how he maintains objectivity in his writing. Edited excerpts from the interview. Why did it take you three years to return with the second season of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein?The second season was a little more difficult to write. I wrote various versions, but was not happy. I was ashamed that it took so long. There was a lot of to and fro. I was not enjoying some of the versions, or some drafts were brilliant, but were high on budget or impractical. When I started writing this, I had to think, where am I ending this? So, by the end of collaborative effort and with a lot of feedback, we finally came to this version. Sidharth Sengupta How do you know a certain draft is the right balance of romance, intrigue and twists?There is no certain way to know that. I remember sitting with Varun Badola [writer-actor] where we thought it was a great episode, but halfway through, we both got bored. So, you keep discovering as you write. The idea is that you shouldn’t get bored. I’m an impatient viewer and filmmaker; I get bored very soon. If you don’t catch my attention in the first 30 seconds, I’ll get bored. That is something I practice in my writing also. For a person who gets bored so easily, how did you survive the pace of television for 20 years?While I was working in television for 20 years, I had these stories in my mind and no outlet for them. TV is a writer’s medium. When I stepped out of the TV industry, I realised I did not know anything. This is after 20 years of winning a lot of awards. When I started writing, I realised it’s such a beautiful art that it keeps reminding you that you don’t know anything and keeps humbling you. That pushes me to explore a lot of things. How do you ensure that you don’t fall in love with your work so much that you don’t see the flaws?Firstly, I’m not in love with my work, actually I hate it sometimes. Then I have Umesh Padalkar and Saurabh Shukla, who keep reminding me that I have to be objective about the script. I push myself in writing, and then I run to them saying I screwed up somehow. They are both great writer-directors. I keep taking their help, we write together. They keep me in check ki main zyaada na phail jaau. Did you feel the pressure of making the second season after the first edition’s success?I kept the pressure away from my head. I didn’t even know that my show had become a hit. I just keep doing whatever I can. The good part is that everyone at Netflix has always been [supportive]. There were times when I wondered if it would work or not, but they were confident, so was my team. They all believed in me. I’m not a writer by profession; I started writing very late in my life. So, for me, it’s a hit and miss. That’s why it takes a little more time. The second season seems gorier than the first, especially with the body hacking scenes.The stakes have to go higher in the second season. A boy has committed a crime, so he has to face the consequences. Do you practise self-censorship when making the project?I do, but sometimes we need to go a little beyond. I had to put [the hacking] scene because you are seeing an ordinary man doing something so heinous. His ethos or ordinariness has to go out. Having said that, I’m not too fond of gore, unless it’s needed in the story. But there are no sex scenes, which has become a lot on OTT shows these days. What made you cast Gurmeet Choudhary this season?When I was looking for this character, he fit the bill. I wanted somebody who could pull off action as well as drama. [The team] had a discussion and was charged to have him on board. My cast is very passionate and I wanted somebody equally passionate. He shouldn’t be a dharti pe bhoj on the set [laughs].
26 November,2024 07:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamBarely a week after the grand announcement of his directorial debut, Aryan Khan has stepped on the campus of Whistling Woods International to shoot the final leg of his series, tentatively titled Stardom. Sources say that the first-time director has a seven-day schedule lined up in the film institute located in Goregaon, after which the unit will move to another venue for a brief period before calling it a wrap. The show is led by Mona Singh and Lakshya. A source reveals, “On Sunday, Aryan kicked off the patch schedule, in which he will largely take some location shots and can some scenes. While Mona and the leading man were not required on Sunday, they are expected to join the shoot later this week. After the Goregaon shoot, the team will head to an office in Worli where they will film some entry scenes. Stardom, which is gearing up for an early 2025 release, is being edited simultaneously.” Last week, as part of its 2025 slate, Netflix officially announced the project, describing it as “an entertaining ride through the adventures of a charming, ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood”. It has star-studded cameos by Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, and of course, Aryan’s superstar-father Shah Rukh Khan.
25 November,2024 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAmong the contributing factors behind the success of the Prime Video show Bandish Bandits was its intricately designed music, crafted by composers Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. However, for the upcoming second season that will release on December 13, a bevy of musicians take on the reins from the trio to serve as the musical backbone of the 17-song series. Two among them, however, will carry the legacy of the original trio ahead owing to their connection with Shankar Mahadevan. The ace composer’s son, Siddharth, and nephew Souumil Shringarpure have crafted two of the songs, with the latter also continuing his work as the show’s background score composer. “We [repeatedly listened] to the music of season one because it was clearly iconic when one considers the way it was received by people. The only discussion we had with dad revolved around how we could adhere to what we could bring to the table, in terms of retaining our identity, while also retaining the purity of the Indian classical touch that the show required. As we would compose, we would play the songs for dad, and, for one of the songs, we knew we needed his voice because it was for the same character for whom he had also sung in season one. Once he came on board, he took the song to another level,” says Siddharth of the track titled Sur hi Parmaatma. The track, Saawan mohe tarasaaye, reveals Souumil, was based on a concept called Jasrangi, introduced by Pandit Jasraj. “When two classical singers, one male and another female, who have different pitches, need to be brought together, [this concept] helps them sing at a pitch that’s comfortable to both, and one that helps both represent their [skills]. The same composition is sung in two ragas, each of which suits their [respective] keys. We attempted to do that. While we had to bear in mind that the song needed to fit a requirement, we also wanted the improvisations that are always part of classical music to be reflected. That was both a challenge and enjoyable.” That the duo had singers Ankita Joshi and Krishna Bongane hop aboard the song served to be beneficial. “They’ve previously performed a concept similar to Jasrangi on stage.” Other artistes who are part of the show, featuring Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry, include Digvijay Singh Pariyar, OAFF, Savera, Pratika Gopinath, Shloke Lal, Swaroop Khan, Poorvi Koutish, and Ankkit Singh, among others.
25 November,2024 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaActor Tusshar Kapoor, who can be seen in the series ‘10 June Ki Raat’, has opened up about his status as a single parent, and societal pressure. The actor landed in Chandigarh for the ongoing edition of the Chandigarh Literary Festival, and spoke with IANS. Talking about being in Chandigarh, the actor said, “It was a very good experience. Our session with Sohail Muathar, my agent, was very good. We talked about my book ‘Bachelor Dad’. I have come to Chandigarh after 12 years. I am enjoying it a lot. The ambience is beautiful. The weather is pleasant. I am going back tomorrow. It’s a trip that’s worth it”. Talking about the pressure from the society of being a single parent, he told IANS, “There have been different families in our religion for centuries. It is not that there is only one type of family. Even in our mythology. There are different aspects of society. But you should do what you feel is right. So that no one is harmed. So that no one is hurt. So that a new life is happy. There is no problem in that. I did what my inner voice told me to do”. He also spoke about his upcoming projects with IANS. He said, “Chapter 2 of ‘10 June Ki Raat’ is already on air, chapter 3 will also come. It is on Jio Cinema. After that, there is a film called ‘Kanpkapi’ which is completed. ‘Welcome 3’ shooting is half done. There is a film called ‘Dunk’ which will start in January. I am also doing ‘Masti 4’. ‘Golmaal 5’ will also be done. Everything is in line”. 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
24 November,2024 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSRJ-turned-actor Malishka Mendonsa, who essays the role of Indian political activist and poet Sarojini Naidu in the web series ‘Freedom at Midnight’, speaks exclusively to mid-day.com about embarking on a journey of prosthetics, and a mammoth amount of history lessons to ace the character of The Nightingale of India in the Nikkhil Advani directorial. Malishka Mendonsa played Sarojini Naidu as a child Malishka recalls that when she was offered this role, she went back to her notes and reminisced about playing Sarojini Naidu as a child. “I dressed up as her for a freedom fighter meet. That particular kind of hair, that bindi, the saree. I loved her anyway. I probably read a few of her poems. First of all, we haven't seen her being represented at all in any of the historicals that we've seen. And so apparently, stature-wise also, and size-wise, etc, I kind of looked like her,” she says. Malishka was told she might not get the role She went to the audition, clearly telling her casting agent that this was her, but it took the makers a long time to get back. “I was like, ‘Just let me audition’. And they were like, ‘You still may not get it because we're probably looking at someone who has a little bit of a Bengali accent’. So I was like, ‘How much time do you have? Is it a month or a week?’ I was pretty determined. I said, ‘I'll learn it’.” ‘Sarojini Naidu was not demure’ Malishka adds, “Nikkhil would keep walking me through what he thought Sarojini would be like because she's not a demure person. She was a modern feminist even back then, in the time leading up to independence, she was at the forefront of things. She was the governor of the United Provinces, and the first Indian woman to be the president of the INC. So these are large roles, and she was part of it in a largely male-dominated political scenario. So I was like, ‘I'll do this’. And then the prosthetics came into play. The excitement was important because the hard work was incredible.” When we told Malishka about not imagining her in the role of Sarojini Naidu, she explained how Nikkhil likened her to the political icon who was also a social disruptor. “I think in my past life I was her,” she concludes with a jest.
23 November,2024 07:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesADVERTISEMENT
