9 years of Piku: As Deepika Padukone's iconic film 'Piku' celebrates its ninth anniversary today, Bollywood’s Numero Uno took to Instagram to celebrate the milestone with an adorable never-seen-before photo from the behind-the-scenes during the set shoot days. In 'Piku,' Deepika portrayed the titular character with remarkable depth and authenticity, shedding the glamour often associated with actors. Her portrayal of a modern, independent woman dealing with the nuances of caring for her ageing father struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. Deepika Padukone shares unseen BTS picture View this post on Instagram A post shared by दीपिका पादुकोण (@deepikapadukone) The behind-the-scenes image shared by Deepika evoke nostalgia for the film's memorable moments, including her on-screen chemistry with the late Irrfan Khan and her extremely sweet father-daughter duo relationship with Amitabh Bachchan. In the image, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika and Irrfan are seen sitting with food being offered to Big B, and his finger pointing at our Deepika, is just too sweet to miss! Earlier on, Amitabh had given a quote where he spoke about Deepika’s eating habits and said, “Yeh haar 3 minute mein khaana khati hai” (She eats food every 3 minutes) Taking fans back to their fun camaraderie, Deepika captioned her post, “He loves telling everyone how much I eat!@amitabhbachchan#Piku#Bashkor#Rana#ShoojitSirkar@irrfan Oh how much we miss you...❤️❤️❤️” Fondly remembering her late co-star, Deepika & Irrfan’s chemistry was lauded for its sincerity, innocence and emotional depth, capturing the essence of their characters' bond during a road trip to Kolkata. Director Shoojit Sircar's vision for 'Piku' was brought to life by Deepika's nuanced performance, which he fondly refers to as one of his favorites. Through her portrayal of Piku, Deepika encapsulated the complexities of a daughter's relationship with her father, navigating the fine line between love, frustration, and responsibility. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𖹭 (@herefor.favs) As fans reminisce about the impact of 'Piku' on Indian cinema, Deepika's Instagram tribute serves as a touching reminder of the film's enduring legacy and her remarkable contribution to it. Beyond its critical acclaim, 'Piku' holds a special place in Deepika Padukone's illustrious career, showcasing her ability to bring depth and authenticity to every role she undertakes.
08 May,2024 11:31 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAlia Bhatt most recently graced the prestigious Met Gala, known for being the 'biggest night' for fashion. Ever since, the actress has been going viral for her ensemble. Eagle-eyed fans spot Alia Bhatt's kaala teeka in viral MET Gala 2024 pic This year's Met Gala theme, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, matched with the dress code 'The Garden of Time,' provided an ideal backdrop for Alia to stand out. She effortlessly stole the spotlight in a stunning Sabyasachi mint green saree. A photo of her wearing a protective black dot behind her ear has become a viral sensation online. In the picture, she's seen with a kaala teeka behind her ear, a traditional practice believed to protect against the evil eye. This ancient custom involves marking a black spot, known as kaala teeka, on the forehead or behind the ear to ward off negative energy. Alia Bhatt's kaala teeka in viral Met Gala 2024 pic: Did anybody noticed the nazar ka kaala teeka behind Alia's ear at the Met Gala 2024 🧿byu/badbeechy inBollyBlindsNGossip About Alia Bhatt at MET Gala 2024 To make Alia Bhatt's outfit, Sabyasachi wanted to embrace nature and steer clear of what he saw as too much focus on technology. He aimed to highlight the beauty of handmade craftsmanship, which he believes preserves culture over time. The saree was made by a team of 163 artisans in India, who spent around 1965 hours working on it over several months. Besides the detailed design of the saree, Sabyasachi also designed a fancy bralette for Bhatt, adorned with precious gems like emeralds, pearls, tourmalines, and sapphires, reflecting India's rich jewelry tradition. Bhatt teamed up with her longtime stylist and red carpet partner Anaita Shroff Adajania to interpret the theme of this year's Met exhibition, titled 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.' As per Vogue, Alia Bhatt explained that the design of the saree, with its translucent, glass-like appearance, pays homage to the otherworldly beauty of the garden in Ballard's story and celebrates the intricate craftsmanship of saree-making. Inspired by the whimsical elements of the story, such as ruffles, tassels, sequins, and gemstones, Bhatt's outfit draws from the fantastical life of Count Axel and his wife. The saree with floral patterns perfectly fits the garden theme of the event. The 3D flowers popping out against the light fabric create a beautiful contrast, bringing the garden concept to reality. The green saree itself is stunning, but the long pallu with a train adds an extra wow factor. And to top it off, the butterfly blouse with ruffled sleeves adds a nice touch to the ensemble.
08 May,2024 11:01 AM IST | MumbaiActor Preity Zinta, who is one of the co-owners of IPL team Punjab Kings, heaped praise on star batter Virat Kohli while interacting with fans on social media. During #Q&A session on X, a fan asked her about Virat Kohli, “Say something about Virat Kohli, sir, #pzchat” I love his on field aggression and his will to win ! I also love the way he loves family & his dance moves. I used to see a lot of his dance moves when he first came to the IPl. https://t.co/ZMh6sD63EP — Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) May 6, 2024 While answering the question, she responded, “I love his on field aggression and his will to win ! I also love the way he loves family & his dance moves. I used to see a lot of his dance moves when he first came to the IPL.” Virat is currently playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. His team is currently at seventh place with four wins, seven losses and eight points. He is the leading run-scorer in the league with 542 runs in 11 matches at an average of 67.75 and a strike rate of over 148, with a century and four fifties. His best score is 113*. Virat is also part of the Indian team which will play the ICC T20 World Cup this year in West Indies/USA from June 1 onwards. The actress also spoke about the cricketer Rohit Sharma when a fan asked, “One word about Hitman Rohit Sharma.” She replied, “A powerhouse of talent.” She also called herself a “fan” of MS Dhoni, when a fan asked her, “Mam We Want Ms Dhoni in Punjab Kings”, she replied, “Everyone wants him and everyone is his fan including me. Yesterday was bittersweet…..” While expressing her admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, she added, “Srk is a powerhouse of talent, and one of the most generous & fun actors to work with. He always keeps his co-star on their toes & is very entertaining & competitive. I learned a lot from him in Dil Se.” As the ‘Veer-Zaara’ actor has started working on her next project, one of the fans asked her if she will be doing a Telugu film, “Now that you are back to do doing movies can we expect you to see in a Telugu movie soon.” To this, she replied, “Never say never who knows if I hear an amazing script I cannot say no to…” On speaking about Salman Khan, she shared, “Salman has a heart of gold & is the most loyal & amazing friend besides being an incredibly talented and effortless actor. His sense of music is excellent & he is extremely down to earth n simple when u get to know him.” Meanwhile, on the work front, Preity Zinta is gearing up for her upcoming film ‘Lahore 1947’ alongside veteran actor Sunny Deol. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, this project marks a significant milestone for Preity as she returns to the silver screen after a hiatus. ‘Lahore 1947’, produced under Aamir Khan’s banner, marks a significant collaboration between Sunny Deol and Aamir Khan’s Productions. The film was officially announced last October, garnering attention for its star-studded cast and promising storyline. Adding to the anticipation, veteran actor Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal has also joined the cast of ‘Lahore 1947’ in a pivotal role. The movie will also feature Sunny Deol sharing screen space with his elder son Karan Deol. 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
08 May,2024 10:09 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Nargis Fakhri desires to live in the woods, as she says there is nothing better than spending days in nature. Nargis took to her Instagram stories and shared a video of her trekking through the woods. Without sharing details about her whereabouts, Nargis wrote: "I want to live in the woods, there is nothing better than waking up to this and spending your days in nature. I feel so grateful and blessed, nature heals us." Talking about her work, Nargis, who made her Bollywood debut in 2011 with the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Rockstar', was last seen in the Hindi comedy film 'Shiv Shastri Balboa' starring Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. The actress will next be seen in the Telugu period action adventure film 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 1 - Sword vs Spirit' starring Pawan Kalyan and Bobby Deol. The film is reportedly set in the Mughal Era. 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
08 May,2024 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAlia Bhatt caused a stir online yesterday with her appearance at the 2024 Met Gala, but she wasn't the sole Indian actor in attendance. Nitanshi Goel, the 17-year-old who debuted as Phool in Kiran Rao's "Laapataa Ladies," also marked her Met Gala debut. This phool was truly blooming on the MET steps! Phool makes it to Met Gala 2024</p Our Phool blossoming in the garden of time 🌼 Watch #LaapataaLadies on @NetflixIndia now.@nitanshi_goel @PratibhaRanta #SparshShrivastava @ravikishann #AamirKhan @raodyness #JyotiDeshpande @AKPPL_Official @KindlingIndia @jiostudios @TSeries @bookmyshow @PicturesPVR… pic.twitter.com/4JFWU19Szs — Aamir Khan Productions (@AKPPL_Official) May 7, 2024 Met Gala 2024 🌸 https://t.co/g0xhF8lrZ3 — Nitanshi Goel (@nitanshi_goel) May 7, 2024 On Monday evening, Aamir Khan Productions' social media accounts for 'Laapataa Ladies,' posted Nitanshi's Met Gala red carpet look. The actress was dressed as per her character 'Phool', donning a plain red sari with a maroon shawl and a matching bindi on her forehead. With a modest smile, she held her sari and shawl gracefully. The post's caption said, "Our Phool blooming in the garden of time 🌸 Watch #LaapataaLadies on @NetflixIndia now." Nitanshi reposted it on her social media with the caption, "Met Gala 2024 🌸." Her Met Gala debut received praise from internet users. Hamari Phool Surajmukhi se Seedha Met Gala Pahunch Gayi pic.twitter.com/Iejg289APC — Mudit 🇮🇳 (@MuditHastir) May 7, 2024 About Nitanshi Goel Born in Uttar Pradesh, 16-year-old Nitanshi has won over the audience with her innocent performance as Phool Kumari in Laapataa Ladies. She began her journey in the world of showbiz at a very young age when she started participating in fashion shows. She gradually appeared in ad films. She made her acting debut at the age of 9 on TV. She acted in TV shows like Naagarjuna: Ek Yoddha, Karmaphal Daata Shani, Ishqbaaz, Daayan, Peshwa Bajirao and many more. Apart from TV shows, Nitanshi was also seen in films like M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Indu Sarkar, Hurdang. About Laapata Ladies 'Laapataa Ladies', helmed by Kiran Rao, backed by Aamir Khan Productions, and featuringt Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan in lead roles, tells the story of two brides who lose themselves during a train ride. The screenplay and dialogues of 'Laapataa Ladies' are written by Sneha Desai with Divyanidhi Sharma.
08 May,2024 08:41 AM IST | MumbaiJanhvi Kapoor isn't interested in gossip about her personal life, especially regarding her relationship with Shikhar Pahariya. Despite media speculation, she keeps mum about it. Janhvi Kapoor to tie the knot with Shikhar Pahariya? Recently, when an Instagram paparazzi page claimed Janhvi Kapoor would marry Shikhar at Tirupati Temple in a gold saree, Janhvi shut down the rumors with a witty comeback In response to the paparazzi post on Instagram, Janhvi simply commented, "Kuch bhi (What even)" Many fans responded with laughing emojis under her comment. About Janhvi and Shikhar recently While this couple are not tying the not right now, things are certainly heating up. Janhvi Kapoor and Shikhar Pahariya have been making headlines for their rumoured relationship. Although the two have never confirmed their relationship officially, several sightings have made it clear that there is something more than just friendship between them. Now, it looks like Janhvi Kapoor has just confirmed her relationship with Shikhar. It was yesterday when Janhvi Kapoor attended the celebrity screening of Boney Kapoor’s production ‘Maidaan’. During the event, the actress wore a stunning white suit with matching pants. She posed on the red carpet as she attended the event, and it was Janhvi’s neckpiece that caught our attention. Janhvi wore a neckpiece with "Shiku" written on it. With this sweet gesture, it seems the actress has confirmed her relationship with her lover, Shikhar. What Janhvi Kapoor said about Shikhar on Koffee with Karan During the 8th season of ‘Koffee with Karan’, Janhvi Kapoor made an appearance on the show with her younger sister, Khushi Kapoor. During the episode, Karan threw a googly at Janhvi and asked her if she was dating Shikhar. To this, Janhvi sarcastically said, "Have you heard that song, 'Nadaan Parindey Ghar Aaja'? Shikhar used to sing that to me a lot." The actress further praised him and mentioned that he had been there for her family from the start. She also said that he has always been very selfless. Later, during the rapid-fire round, Karan asked Janhvi to name three people on her speed dial. To this, Janhvi said, "Papa, Khushu, and Shiku" and immediately realized she had revealed too much. To note, Shikhar is the grandson of former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. He is an entrepreneur, polo player, and philanthropist.
08 May,2024 08:12 AM IST | MumbaiIt appears that Aamir Khan is revamping his production house. The actor-filmmaker currently has his next, Sitaare Zameen Par and director Rajkumar Santoshi’s Lahore: 1947 with Sunny Deol, in various stages of production. Rumour has it that he is in advanced talks with Aparna Purohit, Head of India and SEA (South-East Asia) Originals at Amazon Prime Video, to join him in expanding his banner. Insiders claim that the actor-filmmaker has grand plans for his production house and wants to onboard someone he can rely on while he is busy with acting commitments. Reportedly, Aparna has put in her papers at the OTT platform. It will be known in the coming days if she will move from a global OTT player to one of B-Town’s most successful production houses. Spilling the beans on SLB The team of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar recently got together to answer some burning questions and also spilled the beans on filmmaker and creator Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Asked to share a lesser-known aspect of the director, Aditi Rao Hydari said, “His greatest loves are his four-legged babies.” While Taha Shah Badussha shared the director’s favourite dog’s name, Jaanu, Fardeen Khan revealed, “Whenever he used to get into a fluster about something, the assistant directors would send these 25 dogs that Mr Bhansali had at the location. The minute they sauntered into the set, he used to be calm.” Revealing another aspect of the filmmaker, Sanjeeda Shaikh said, “He changes his kurta three-to-four times a day. After every change, there would be a new thought in his mind.” Birthday for a cause Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr is set to turn a year wiser on May 20. However, his fan clubs decided to celebrate his 40th birthday in advance with a cause. They organised a special blood donation drive in Hyderabad, supporting the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society Vuppala Venkaiah Memorial Blood Bank. Over 300 individuals turned up to show their love for the RRR actor in a meaningful way. The organisers were initially sceptical about the response due to the scorching heat. “We anticipated about 100 to 150 units. But we had a very good footfall and collected over 300 units,” said Mohammed Jali from the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society. Stating that all the blood collected will be donated to the society, he added, “This camp will help 300 Thalassemia patients.” On his part, NTR Jr is currently working on War 2 with Hrithik Roshan, while his next, Devara: Part 1 is being readied for release on October 10. Nature beckons It appears that Nargis Fakhri is taking a break to soak in the sights of nature. Sharing a video from her trek in the wilderness, she wrote, “I want to live in the woods, there is nothing better than waking up to this and spending your days in nature. I feel so grateful and blessed, nature heals us.” Nargis, who last featured in Shiv Shastri Balboa (2023), will next be seen in Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 1: Sword vs Spirit. Helmed by Krish Jagarlamudi, the period action drama stars Pawan Kalyan as Veera Mallu, who is tasked with stealing the Kohinoor from the Mughals. Nargis plays the role of Roshanara, while Bobby Deol essays the antagonist, Aurangzeb. Back in the house About eight years since Housefull 3 (2016), Abhishek Bachchan has returned to the comedy franchise. It appears that the actor has sorted his date diary to join the team of Housefull 5. Expressing his delight, producer Sajid Nadiadwala said, “Abhishek’s dedication, comic timing and sincerity will only elevate our film.” Calling it one of his favourite franchises, Abhishek shared that coming back to the franchise felt like returning home. He added, “It has always been a great pleasure to work with Sajid Nadiadwala. I am looking forward to having mad fun on the sets with my fellow actors Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh. I’m also excited to collaborate again with my dear friend Tarun Mansukhani. I’m really looking forward to working with him again after Dostana [2008]. This is going to be a lot of fun.” Adieu to music Singer-songwriter Ananya Birla forayed into Bollywood playback singing with Do Aur Do Pyaar, which stars Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi. But now, she has decided to quit her musical journey. She wrote, “I’ve reached a stage where balancing both the businesses I run and am building, plus music is becoming near impossible and it’s taking a toll on me in ways that I can’t express. Thank you again. It is time I focus all my energies in the business world.”
08 May,2024 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamSagarika Ghatge instantly talks about adhering to an alkaline diet when discussing the nutritional principles that have kept her in good stead. “As soon as I wake up, I have ash guard juice. It has changed the way my gut functions because it maintains an alkaline [environment] in the body. Although I eat everything, I consume some foods that are [part of the] alkaline diet,” says the Chak De! India actor of the diet that assumes that different food groups affect the body’s PH differently. “I try to avoid sugar, but indulge in a treat once in a way. At home, we eat non-vegetarian food, and entertain many guests. So, to strike a balance in my eating habits, I consume ash guard juice, and switch my second cup of coffee in the evening with tulsi tea.” Former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan’s wife has spent most of her childhood indulging in athletic activities, “I grew up in a family where playing sports was encouraged. It inherently made me an active person, and taught me skills that I could use for the rest of my life. I participated in riding camps, and played hockey at the state level, and was even selected for the nationals. So, I’ve grown up with knowledge. Today, although running outdoors is not always feasible, it is something I enjoy doing, and I also head for a swim once a week. On four days a week, I execute weight training and functional training. I enjoy fast-paced movements that spike my heart rate,” she says, adding that of late, she has also included yoga in her practice. Ask her what her athlete-husband taught her about fitness, and she says, “He taught me the importance of understanding your own body. You need to know yourself well enough to understand when your body needs training, and when it needs rest. When it tells you that you shouldn’t do something, you must listen. You can’t be an enthusiastic person who keeps on training without giving your body adequate rest. Having trained professionally for as long as he has, he is self-aware. He also gives a lot of importance to stretching, and foam rolling, something that many trainers avoid. They are as important as lifting weights.”
08 May,2024 06:51 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
Recently, mid-day reported that Shyam Benegal’s celebrated movie Manthan (1976) will be screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival after film archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur restored it over one-and-a-half years (Move over couture, classic goes to Cannes, May 4). Now, Dungarpur is restoring another gem, director Pradip Krishen’s In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989). What makes the television film noteworthy, besides its sharp script, is that it is Shah Rukh Khan’s first cinematic appearance, and marks the debut of Manoj Bajpayee. Manoj Bajpayee In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones not only starred the Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy, but was also written by her. It was partly autobiographical, reflecting on her years in the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi. Dungarpur says, “Restoration is a rare skill, and of the many issues we have with it, figuring copyright has been one. This is a film we are currently working on.” The film was aired on Doordarshan. Set a year before the Emergency, the college drama sees Khan play a student named Senior, and Bajpayee in a supporting part. It subsequently won two National Awards, including Best Screenplay for Roy. After the restoration of the underrated gem is complete, Dungarpur plans to release it for cinephiles in limited theatres.
08 May,2024 06:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIt looks like Sonu Sood has enjoyed his time behind the camera as much as in front of it. Even before his maiden directorial venture Fateh has hit the screens, he has begun writing his next. “People who saw Fateh have loved it, and I’ve got many offers [to direct films]. That has given me the encouragement to start working on my next script, which I will act in, produce and direct too. It will be an action movie, but it will have romance too,” he shares. Writing, directing and leading a movie can be a handful. The actor-filmmaker says he has turned to writing because of his late mother Saroj Sood. “She always felt I write good stories, and would tell me to keep in touch with my writing.” With two projects on his plate, Sood has roughly chalked out the timeline—complete Fateh’s post-production, line it up for release by the year-end, and then take the yet-untitled next on floors by early 2025. Right now, his attention is trained on the cyber crime thriller that also stars Jacqueliene Fernandez. “Next week, I’ll head to the US for the movie’s background music. Action director Lee Whittaker considers it one of his best projects. If I am ready with my next script after Fateh’s release, I can begin filming it. I plan to shoot a lot of the action sequences in the US.” He also hopes to squeeze in a Telugu movie in which he plays the leading man. “I have asked the makers to rewrite a few portions. I’ll shoot it after Fateh’s post-production is complete. After the pandemic, I’ve got only protagonist roles. Not one negative role has been offered to me, which is a good sign.”
08 May,2024 05:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRWe’ve got some good news about Bad Newz. Only recently, mid-day reported that the Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk-led comedy revolves around the medical condition, heteropaternal superfecundation wherein a woman gets pregnant with twins from different men (Yours, mine and ours, April 27). Now, we’ve heard that Ananya Panday makes a special appearance in Anand Tiwari’s directorial venture. Anand Tiwari helms the film The actor was spotted with leading lady Dimri at Karan Johar’s office mid-April, sparking rumours of a collaboration. It’s easy to connect the dots now as sources tell us that Panday shot her cameo on April 19. So, what does she play in the comedy? A movie star, as it turns out. “Ananya, who plays a popular film star, has a fun character. Her track is related to Triptii, who essays the role of a chef. The shoot took place last month at a Juhu five-star, where the sequence saw Ananya’s character arriving at the hotel and being immediately thronged by the paparazzi and fans. Later, she shot another scene with Triptii,” reveals a source. The actor has a portion remaining that will be filmed on May 13. This is not the first time Panday, who was launched by Johar in Student of the Year 2 (2019), is making a special appearance in his production. Last year, she was seen in the opening song, Heartthrob, in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Her collaboration with her mentor will continue this year as she makes her web series debut with Call Me Bae, which will see her as a rich fashionista whose life goes down the dumps. She also has Shankara alongside Akshay Kumar, which is her first project based on real-life events. The source adds, “The legal drama is inspired by C Sankaran Nair’s exposé of General Michael O’Dwyer’s involvement in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. While Akshay portrays the lawyer, Ananya plays his mentee.”
08 May,2024 05:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaADVERTISEMENT
