India is making waves at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, with a short film titled "Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know" created by a group of students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. The film has been selected to compete in the La Cinef category at the festival in France, and it's gaining momentum. FTII hit up their social media to spill the beans, mentioning that the flick was part of their year-end TV-wing project. Here's the scoop on 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know' Mr. Chidanand Naik helmed the rural drama as director, with Suraj Thakur behind the camera, Manoj V on editing duty, Abhishek Kadam handling sound, and Pranav Khot taking care of production design. The film is going head-to-head with 17 other shorts for a shot at one of three La Cinef awards, set to be handed out at the Bunuel Theatre on May 23. Among the contenders are films from Lebanon, China, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Palestine, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Australia, Israel, the US, the UK, and France. The judges on duty include Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Paolo Moretti, Claudine Nougaret, Vladimir Perisic, and Belgian actress Lubna Azabal. Recent update about Cannes 2024 The Cannes Directors' Fortnight, known for its cutting-edge and provocative cinema, has announced its lineup for the upcoming 2024 festival.Organized by the French Directors' Guild, this independent section runs parallel to the main Cannes festival. This year's Directors' Fortnight will kick off with 'This Life of Mine,' the final work of the late French director Sophie Fillieres, a poignant drama starring Agnes Jaoui, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The feature section includes four US titles, including 'Christmas Eve in Miller's Point' directed by Tyler Taormina, starring a stellar cast led by Michael Cera and Elsie Fisher.'Good One,' directed by India Donaldson, explores the journey of a young queer woman during a camping trip, while 'Eephus' marks Carson Lund's feature debut, depicting the final game of a small-town baseball team. Among the veteran directors featured is Patricia Mazuy with 'Visiting Hours,' starring Isabelle Huppert and Hafsia Herzi, as per The Hollywood Reporter.The Directors' Fortnight was initiated in 1969 by the French Directors' Guild, emerging from the aftermath of the disruptions that led to the closure of the Cannes Film Festival in 1968. Since then, it has been a platform for innovative and daring filmmaking.
24 April,2024 03:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood heartthrob Varun Dhawan celebrates his birthday on April 24. The actor, who is known for having a ripped physique and versatile acting skills, ringed in his special day at home with a quiet celebration with family. Sharing pictures from his intimate celebration, Varun wrote on Instagram, “Growing, learning, and yet trying to stay the same thank u for all the wonderful wishes and love. P.s - I ate very lil bit of that cake since I start a new movie very soon so very excited about that!!!!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) Varun cut his cake and enjoyed a hearty meal with some biryani. Varun Dhawan tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Natasha Dalal on January 24, 2021. The wedding was a close-knit affair with very few guests in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year, in February, Varun and Natasha shared the news about their pregnancy. The couple posted a beautiful image in which Varun was seen planting a kiss on Natasha's baby bump. Sharing the picture, he wrote, "We are pregnant, Need all your blessings and love #myfamilymystrenght." Meanwhile, on the work front, Varun Dhawan will be seen in the upcoming action thriller film 'Baby John'.'Baby John' is directed by A. Kaleeswaran. Atlee is presenting the film in association with Jio Studios and Cine1 Studios. Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, and Rajpal Yadav are also a part of 'Baby John', which will hit the theatres on May 31, 2024. The film is produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, and Jyoti Deshpande. He will be seen in the Indian adaptation of the Hollywood series 'Citadel' opposite actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu. It is an Indian adaptation of the Russo Brothers' series of the same name. Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden headlined the international version. The release date of the Indian version of Citadel is awaited. Raj and DK have created the Indian version. Varun also has the highly anticipated rom-com 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' Jahnvi Kapoor, who previously worked with him in 'Bawaal'. Written and directed by Shashank Khaitan, the film is produced by Karan Johar. (With inputs from ANI)
24 April,2024 03:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVicky Kaushal will soon be seen in the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a film called Chhava, directed by Laxman Utekar. Filming for the project began in October 2023 and it is expected to release in December this year. Much ahead of the film's release, Vicky Kaushal's photos from the sets of Chhava have been leaked. The photos show Vicky in the look of his character, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Vicky Kaushal's Chhava look leaked A couple of pictures of Vicky Kaushal from the second schedule of Chhava have leaked on social media. Vicky can be seen sporting a long beard, with his long locks tied into a top bun. He wears a beige sleeveless jacket, a light brown dhoti, and a bunch of traditional accessories. Vicky had been growing his beard for months in prep for this character. Fans of the Raazi actor have been sharing the photos on social media, expressing their excitement for the film. #Masaan#RamanRaghav#Sanju#Uri#SardarUdham#SamBahadur #Dunki Now, #Chhava I don't know how this guy manages it almost every time whenever there is a scope, but he is, by far, becoming my favorite ACTOR of his generation. #VickyKaushal 🙏 🙌 pic.twitter.com/sVHKOrCPwf — $@M (@SAMTHEBESTEST_) April 24, 2024 Can’t wait for this one! 🔥#Chhava starring #VickyKaushal pic.twitter.com/o3wE2cX89S — My Cinema Story (@MyCinemaStory) April 23, 2024 What is Chhava about? Chhava is a historical drama based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This film is the first time Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna will be seen together on the screen. While Vicky plays the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Rashmika takes on the role of his wife, Yesubai Bhonsale, in the film. Rashmika, who recently finished shooting for her part in the film, took to Instagram and gave a shoutout to the team. Rashmika wrote, "@laxman.utekar sir... I just wonder how can a man handle such a big set with at least 1500 working people with such calm and poise." "Sir you have seen me as Yesubai when no one in the world could've even thought about this and I truly wonder how, and not just me. The whole country will wonder how.. but watching those visuals make me tear up.. you've gotten a performance out of me that I am excited for the world to watch," she wrote.
24 April,2024 02:52 PM IST | MumbaiTouted as this year’s most anticipated cinematic spectacle, filmmaker Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is set to entertain audiences with a unique tale of mythology and science fiction. After megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of Ashwatthama in the epic was revealed, audiences have been intrigued to learn more about the mysterious Mahabharata character. The son of Dronacharya and Kripi, Ashwatthama is said to be the fifth avatar of Lord Shiva. According to the Mahabharata, Ashwatthama’s name means “the sacred voice, similar to that of a horse.” He is named so because he cried like a horse at birth. Ashwatthama rose as one of the Mahabharata’s greatest warriors, fighting alongside the Kauravas against the Pandavas during the Kurukshetra War. Born with a divine gem on his forehead that gave him power over creatures below humans, Ashwatthama had to give up the gem when cursed by Lord Krishna. During the period, Lord Krishna cursed Ashwatthama with immortality as punishment for trying to kill Uttara’s unborn child. Being cursed, many believe that Ashwatthama still walks the grounds of Narmada Ghat and when you perform Narmada Parikrama, one will find the immortal Ashwatthama. Hence, Amitabh Bachchan’s character from ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ was revealed as Ashwatthama at Nemawar, emphasising the significance of the location in the narrative. Moving forward, exploring Ashwatthama’s character in the epic ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ promises to be an enriching experience for fans worldwide, eagerly anticipating Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of this iconic figure in the film. In the brief clip, one can also see a young kid asking Big B, 'Kya tum bhagwan ho, kya tum marr nahi sakte? Tum Bhagwan ho? Kaun ho Tum? To which his character replied, "Dwapar yug se Dash avatar ki pratiksha kar raha hoon main, Dronacharya ka putra Ashwatthama." (Since the Dwapar Yug, I have waited for the Dasavatar.) Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani are also a part of the 'Kalki' world. 'Kalki 2898 AD' made waves after its groundbreaking debut at San Diego Comic-Con last year, earning massive global acclaim. The release date of the film is still awaited. (With inputs from ANI)
24 April,2024 01:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent90s icons Madhuri Dixit Nene and Karisma Kapoor set the stage on fire as they recreated the magic of the 'Dance Of Envy' from the 1997 film 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai'. As per a promo shared by Colors TV for the reality show 'Dance Deewane', Karisma will be seen as a guest. She will be joining Suniel Shetty, with whom she worked in 'Rakshak' and her 'Dil To Pagal Hai' co-star Madhuri Dixit Nene. The promo shows the two actresses recreating the iconic face-off dance, which is called the ‘Dance Of Envy’. The two nailed it to the T as they took over the stage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) Suniel gave them a standing ovation and praised the two by saying: “Tab bhi aap logo ke liye dil paagal tha aur aaj bhi dil paagal hai. The greatest dancing stars of our industry and country.” ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ is a musical romance film directed by Yash Chopra. The film follows the love lives of the members of a musical troupe, in which two dancers played by Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor get entangled in a love triangle with their choreographer played by Shah Rukh Khan, with Akshay Kumar as the childhood friend of Dixit's character. Meanwhile, on the work front, Madhuri was last seen in the Marathi film 'Panchak'. Addinath Kothare, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Bharti Achrekar, and others star in 'Panchak'. The film's core subject is Addinath's character's quest to seek a common platform amidst turmoil, challenging old ideas, and offering a novel viewpoint to the plot. She was also seen in 'Maja Ma'. Helmed by Anand Tiwari and written by Sumit Batheja, the film was a family entertainer, set against the celebratory backdrop of a traditional festival and a quintessential, colourful Indian wedding. Karisma on the other hand was seen in director Homi Adajania's 'Murder Mubarak'. The movie featured Vijay Varma, Sanjay Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Pankaj Tripathi in significant roles. She will next be seen in an upcoming series 'Brown'. Helmed by Abhinay Deo of 'Delhi Belly' fame, 'Brown' is based on Rita Brown, a suicidal alcoholic, and Arjun Sinha, a widower with survivor's guilt. The protagonists need to deal with an unstoppable serial killer on the loose. (With inputs from Agencies)
24 April,2024 11:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Shekhar Suman, who is all set to make the biggest comeback on screen with the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-helmed web series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ recently got emotional as he recalled the death of his 10-year-old son Aayush. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Shekhar said, “Jab I lost my son, Aayush. Das saal ki umar main maine jab usse kho diya tha toh main zindagi se poori tarah tabah aur barbaad ho gaya tha. Mujhe jeena hi nahi tha. I lost a part of my heart who was dearest to me. Aur main zameen par sar patak ke roya tha. Phir uske baad mujhe jeene ki iccha bhi nahi thi.” Shekhar couldn’t hold back his tears and said that he lost interest in chasing success and money after his son’s demise. “Main bejaan ho gaya tha. Ek dikhaave ki duniya this jahan main hass muskura deta tha ya for economic necessity kyuki mujhe ghar chalana tha. Par mujhe jeene ki ichcha nahi thi,” said the actor. Shekhar’s son Aayush died due to a heart ailment in 1995. Over the years, Shekhar has worked on projects like 'Bhoomi', 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge', and 'Poll Khol' among others. In ‘Heeramandi’ Shekhar plays the role of Zulfikar. Interestingly his younger son Adhyayan Suman is also a part of it. Describing his character, Shekhar Suman said in an earlier statement, "A towering figure of power and authority, he commands attention effortlessly. I'm eager for the audiences to witness the tale of Heeramandi that's close to all our hearts. It was an exhilarating and enriching experience working with a maestro and an auteur like Mr.Bhansali." The upcoming series is set amid multiple power struggles in Heeramandi, Lahore (now part of Pakistan), and more generally in undivided, pre-independence India, where anti-colonial freedom movements were emerging. The series, which marks Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut in the web world, also stars Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Fardeen Khan, and Taha Shah Badussha in pivotal roles. 'Heeramandi' is set to premiere on Netflix on May 1. (With inputs from ANI)
24 April,2024 09:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Aparshakti Khurana, who featured in the spy thriller ‘Berlin’ that premiered at the Red Lorry Film Festival curated by BookMyShow, says that after exploring the comedy genre predominantly in the initial stages of his career, he ventured into a serious form of showbiz with roles in ‘Jubilee’ and ‘Dhokha: Round D Corner’. He exclusively tells mid-day.com, “Suddenly there was a certain kind of intensity which the casting directors and the makers could see in my eyes and people have also accepted me in this space. But the next one which I'm going to shoot is a comedy. So I'm happy that I'm getting to do a mix of all the worlds.” Very few know that Aparshakti made his acting debut with 'Saat Uchakkey', released months before 'Dangal'. However, it was the Aamir Khan-starrer that got him into the spotlight. Aparshakti’s brother Ayushmann Khurrana was already a successful actor by the time he entered showbiz. However, the actor maintains that the ‘Andhadhun’ wasn’t his shortcut to the entertainment industry. He asserts, “Whatever little I've achieved is a journey of my own. I didn't take any star brother launch. I don't think there's even one producer or director in the entire city who can say that Ayush bhaiya called or messaged for me. That has never happened. You normally get bothered with such things when your brother is really helping you out. That's not happening in my case. I'm extremely comfortable in my space.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aparshakti Khurana (@aparshakti_khurana) The two brothers have shared screen space in the 2019 film ‘Bala’. Having said that, Aparshakti is one of the few siblings of a superstar who has found success in the film industry. Not many have had the chance to taste anything close to what the ‘Bhediya’ actor has. When asked if he fears getting overshadowed by the works of Ayushmann, the actor avers, “I don't remember the last time, you know, a sibling got so much love from the fraternity and the audience. He (Ayushmann) in his space, me in my space, get all the love and respect from people around. And that's also because of the kind of roles I have chosen. He is known for his choices of scripts. I don't really get bothered with the fact that I'll get overshadowed or something because I don't take his help. We don't interfere in each other's work.” Aparshakti Khurana will next be seen in ‘Stree 2’.
24 April,2024 09:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesActress Pooja Hegde, who will soon be seen in the upcoming movie 'Deva' alongside Shahid Kapoor, has become the new neighbour to blockbuster director Atlee, known for directing the Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara-starrer 'Jawan' last year. The pan-India actress recently moved into a swanky sea-facing abode spanning 4,000 square feet, worth Rs 45 crore, a few days ago. Situated in the prime location of Bandra, Mumbai, the property offers panoramic sea views. A source revealed, "Pooja Hegde has moved to her new abode, which is in the same building as director Atlee's residence, where he resides with his family. The actor's house has been done up in a luxurious way." Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress has a slew of highly anticipated films in the pipeline. Apart from ‘Deva’, she is set to appear in ‘Sanki’ and has three major South Indian projects on her plate. 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 April,2024 07:06 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Kiara Advani on Tuesday dropped a stunning picture of herself, garnering the attention of netizens including her 'Kabir Singh' co-star Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput, Varun Dhawan and more. Kiara Advani's latest picture grabs eyeballs Taking to her Instagram handle, Kiara Advani shared a photo where she is seen sipping coffee in a stunning white outfit. In no time, fans chimed in the comment section to praise her look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani) However, Shahid Kapoor's comment was not about Kiara's look. It was a sofa in the picture that caught Shahid's attention. Shahid commented saying, "That sofa is very familiar." Varun Dhawan also commented. He wrote, "Nice glasses". However, what caught the netizens' eye was that Kiara appeared to look eerily like none other than Deepika Padukone. One user said, "for a second I thought it’s Deepika! haha love you tho kiara❤️ post more of you please!" Another fan wrote, "I thought it’s Deepika" About Kiara Advani recently Kiara and Sidharth got married in Rajasthan in February 2023. They first met during the wrap of ‘Lust Stories’. They began dating on the sets of the 2021 film ‘Shershaah’, their first film together. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sidharth is basking in the success of his recent release 'Yodha'.The film has been produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan. Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna are also part of the action movie. On the other hand, Kiara will be seen sharing screen space with Ram Charan in 'Game Changer'. The film has already built excitement as Ram Charan plays the role of an IAS Officer who rises to become Chief Minister. Kiara will also be seen in 'Don 3' opposite Ranveer Singh. Directed by Farhan Akhtar, the 'Don' series has always been associated with compelling stories, exhilarating action, and unforgettable moments. 'Don' starred Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Boman Irani in prominent roles. The film was released in 2006 and won Best Asian Film at the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival. Later, its sequel was released in 2011 and was declared a hit. Actor Hrithik Roshan was seen in a special appearance role in 'Don 2'. Farhan's directorial was a remake of 1978's 'Don', featuring Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. A new era of Don will begin in 2025.
24 April,2024 06:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Hrithik Roshan recently reacted to actor-girlfriend Saba Azad's recent Instagram post. The actor was impressed by Saba's stunning look in her latest pictures. Saba looked gorgeous in a chic black blazer, paired with a skirt and high heels. Saba captioned the picture on her Instagram account, saying, "Singit dusty!! 'In the cool of the evening when everything is getting kinda groovy' (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saba Azad (@sabazad) Hrithik quickly took to the comment section and wrote, "Woah." Earlier this month, Hrithik also commented on Saba's gym picture where the actress flaunted her abs in a crop top and also talked about her diet, mentioning her preference for rotis with ghee. "I like my rotis in multiples of 2 and with ghee thanks. Now I don't usually post from the gym but this week the light has been very nice, also hey just cause it ain't on the gram doesn't mean it don't exist...," read her caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saba Azad (@sabazad) Just a couple of months back, Hrithik lauded her acting in her upcoming project, 'Songs of Paradise.' Taking to Instagram he wrote, "Every actor needs to see your performance in this one. Heart-wrenching. One of the best I have ever seenaEURae EVER! (sic)." Hrithik confirmed his relationship with Saba at Karan Johar's 50th birthday celebration, entering the party hand-in-hand with her. Earlier, the actor was married to Sussanne Khan, and they have two sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan. They divorced in 2014. Meanwhile, on the work front, Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr are teaming up for the upcoming flick 'War 2'. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, 'War 2' is scheduled to hit theatres on Independence Day 2025. The film is a sequel to the 2019 action thriller film ' War' which starred Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Vani Kapoor in the lead roles. 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 April,2024 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Bobby Deol imparted "Men in Black" vibes with his latest pictures on Instagram. Taking to social media, Bobby on Tuesday dropped a string of images of him donning an all-black suit. He elevated his look with black shades. "In a world of colour, black anchors my style," he captioned the post. In no time, fans chimed in the comment section and showered praise on Bobby over his look. "Lord Bobby on fire," a social media user commented. "Bobby is super stylish," another user wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bobby Deol (@iambobbydeol) Meanwhile, on the work front, Bobby has been on a roll ever since he was featured as an antagonist in Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Animal'. In the coming months, he will be seen in several projects including Alia Bhatt's spy film. As per the sources, he will be seen playing a villain in the upcoming untitled film starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. "Bobby Deol's inclusion to the YRF Spy Universe is an incredible casting coup by Aditya Chopra! Bobby will become a cold-blooded, menacing villain set to destroy Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in this action spectacle that will blow the minds of audiences," informed a trade source. Alia portrays a female agent in the film, which is helmed by YRF's indigenous director Shiv Rawail. This film also stars Sharvari, who is teamed with Alia as a super agent on a mission. He will also be seen locking horns with Suriya in 'Kanguva'.Recently, the two attended Prime Video's event in Mumbai and spoke highly of each other. Bobby said, "Working with Suriya has always been a dream...He is awesome. He is an amazing actor."Suriya also shared how Bobby added more power to the film with his acting chops. "In the film, we fought but brotherhood was very much between us. He helped us make the film's climax bigger and bigger," Suriya said. The official synopsis of the Tamil film read, "A story that travels 500 years from the 1700s to 2023 is about a hero who has to fulfill a mission left unfinished."Siruthai Siva has directed the film. Disha Patani, Natarajan Subramaniam, Jagapathi Babu and Yogi Babu are also part of 'Kanguva'. 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 April,2024 06:51 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIADVERTISEMENT
