Rajkumar Hirani is one of the most loved directors in Bollywood, known for touching the hearts of audiences with his films. While the director has carved out a distinct place in the industry, it's now time for his son, Vir Hirani, to make his debut in the entertainment industry with 'Letters from Suresh', directed by theatre veteran Feroze Abbas Khan. Vir Hirani is all set to step into the entertainment realm with the iconic play 'Letters from Suresh', directed by theatre veteran Feroze Abbas Khan, narrates a hauntingly beautiful story of human relationships through letters. Presented for the very first time in India, Rajiv Joseph’s ‘Letters from Suresh’ is a rare dramatic gem that tells the story of four unique characters, tethered by love, loss, tenderness – and a yearning for human connection. Interestingly, Vir Hirani is a recent graduate of the prestigious RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). Vir has been making short films since his teenage years. Vir Hirani made his directorial debut with 'Return Gift', which premiered at the 18th edition of the International Children's Film Festival of India in Hyderabad.
19 April,2024 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAjay Devgn-starrer 'Maidaan' has left actor Taapsee Pannu in awe. On Thursday, Taapsee took to Instagram and shared a picture from the theatre. "#Maidaan then lets not say our big films lack soul and heart," she wrote. Taapsee also gave a shout out to her friend Abhilash Thapliyal, who plays a pivotal role in the film. "@abhilashthapliyal cheers to adding one feather at a time to the filmography hat," she added. Many other stars including Shahid Kapoor, Karan Johar and Varun Dhawan also took to their Instagram Stories to share their opinion about the film. Shahid wrote, "Really enjoyed watching Maidaan today. Such a well made well performed film. Go watch it guys. This is a genuine candid post you all. Good films deserve to be seen. All the best to the entire team." Karan Johar wrote, "Have heard the most incredible things about MAIDAAN!! I also can't wait to watch what is universally touted as @ajaydevgn's career best performance! @iamitrsharma @boney.kapoor @zeestudiosofficial." Varun Dhawan also gave a shout-out to the film while expressing his eagerness to watch it after wrapping the shoot for Baby John."Hearing such incredible stuff about this film and the performances specially the last 30 minutes booking my tickets today," the 'Bhediya' actor penned on his IG stories. Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, 'Maidaan' is a poignant portrayal of Syed Abdul Rahim's unwavering dedication to football, which brought tremendous pride to India. Ajay Devgn essays the role of Rahim in the film. The movie also stars Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, and Bengali actor Rudranil Ghosh in pivotal 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
19 April,2024 07:12 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIRandeep Hooda, who is receiving appreciation for his film 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' on Thursday, shared new behind-the-scenes from the film. Randeep took to Instagram and treated fans with stills. Sharing the stills, he wrote, "ATTENTION : DIRECTION IN PROGRESS !![?]#BTS moments from #SwatantryaVeerSavarkar." As soon as the post was uploaded, fans chimed in the comment section. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda) One of the users wrote, "Cillian Murphy of Bollywood." Another user commented, "Cillian Murphy in second Pic... The dedication level of this artist." 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' has amassed a worldwide gross of over Rs 23 crore. The film is a cinematic portrayal of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, revered as Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. It is directed by actor Randeep Hooda, who also essays the role of Savarkar. The film was released on March 22 in two languages - Hindi and Marathi. 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
19 April,2024 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIOn screen, action sequences are a marvel to watch. But executing them entails hard work and inherent risks. Karan L Butani, who has directed Aayush Sharma’s action fare Ruslaan, says that despite meticulous planning and stringent safety protocols, one of the stunt performers was injured during filming. “In the teaser, there is a shot of Aayush firing [at the baddie] and the character flying through a glass wall. This kind of glass is made for the purpose of stunts, and all safety protocols were adhered to. But still, a few glass splinters were lodged in the stunt performer’s hands. He had to be taken to the hospital. Luckily, there was nothing to worry about,” recalls the director. Butani adds that the stunt teams are often under-appreciated, despite them putting their lives in danger. Leading man Sharma echoes the director’s sentiment, asserting that their safety should be the top priority. “The safety of our team was paramount, and everyone was [mindful] of it. The accident on set served as a stark reminder of the risks involved in executing high-octane action sequences. When you go home after a day like that, you think of the bravery of the stunt performers,” he says. Ruslaan also stars Jagapathi Babu, Vidya Malavade and Sushrii Mishraa.
19 April,2024 06:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuJust in Summer ready: Sonal Chauhan; Zip it up: Vikrant Massey; no mood, No make-up: Ananya Panday Feeling hot, hot, hot Spotted outside a studio in Bandra, Aamir Khan looks at ease in his loose kurta pyjama and slicked back hair
19 April,2024 05:27 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIt is known that Shah Rukh Khan is teaming up with Siddharth Anand to produce an action thriller, which also marks the big-screen debut of his actor-daughter Suhana Khan. While the superstar was initially said to have an extended cameo in the Sujoy Ghosh directorial venture, now rumours are rife that he will play the lead in the film tentatively titled King, while Suhana will essay the parallel lead. Apparently, the screenplay has undergone quite a few changes. As a result, SRK’s character—who is a mentor to Suhana’s character and rescues her a few times in the narrative—has gained greater significance. Sujoy and Sid are now looking to begin pre-production next month and take the big-budget thriller on floors this August. In the wake of these changes, the makers are contemplating a late 2025 release. May date for geopolitical thriller? In the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, which begin today, several film releases have been rescheduled. Consequently, save for Rajkummar Rao’s Srikanth on May 10, and Manoj Bajpayee’s Bhaiyya Ji on May 24, there is no noteworthy movie arriving next month. However, talk in the trade is that John Abraham and Manushi Chhillar’s Tehran could salvage the dry summer month in cinemas. Debutant director Arun Gopalan’s geopolitical thriller was initially slated to arrive in the Republic Day 2023 window. It was deferred after the Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer Pathaan, in which John played the antagonist, was announced for the same date. Now, talk in the trade is that Tehran makers are eyeing the May 17 window to have a solo release. “The final decision will be taken in a couple of days,” said a source. Sudden change in plans On Wednesday, multiplexes announced April 19 as Cinema Lovers Day and that they would sell movie tickets at R99 on the occasion. Soon enough, the makers of today’s releases, Do Aur Do Pyaar and Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2, also came out with ads promoting the offer. However, most netizens were not too excited by the offer. Pointing out that theatres across India already celebrated Cinema Lovers Day on February 23, they questioned the intent as April 19 also marks the start of the first phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections. Wondering if the discounted price would discourage people from voting, one social media user wrote, “They could have instead combined this offer with voting; whoever shows the inked finger gets a discount.” Tagging the Election Commission of India, the netizen added, “If schools, colleges and offices are closed, why can’t movie theatres be closed for the polling day?” Eventually, the multiplexes withdrew the offer last morning, much to the shock and surprise of the two films’ producers and distributors. A b’day tribute Chiyaan Vikram turned 58 on Wednesday. To mark the special occasion, Jio Studios and Studio Green Films, which are backing his next, Thangalaan, paid him a tribute with a dekko of the much-anticipated period action thriller. The film’s director Pa Ranjith said, “Thangalaan is a vision to present a historical adventure story based on true events, backed by phenomenal effort from Vikram sir and the entire team.” Excited by the collaboration of the two studios, he expressed confidence in the movie reaching its target audience. The filmmaker added, “On the occasion of Vikram sir’s birthday, this tribute video is to showcase the efforts he has put in, which helped the film get its due attention and create huge expectations.” Fun times ahead Nora Fatehi, who is currently basking in the response to her last release, Madgaon Express, is said to be in the reckoning for two more comedies. Reportedly, the actor-dancer is being considered for a principal part in Bhoot Police 2. The first instalment of the horror comedy starred Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Yami Gautam Dhar and Jacqueliene Fernandez. The other film in question is with director Akshat Varma, who scripted Delhi Belly (2011) and helmed Saif’s Kaalakaandi. While things on these two films are yet to be finalised, Nora has Remo D’Souza’s Be Happy with Abhishek Bachchan, and Matka with Varun Tej lined up. News is also that director Sajid Khan’s new comedy, 100 percent, that will be revived with a revised script.
19 April,2024 05:18 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamImtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila has won unanimous praise. The director’s masterful storytelling and Diljit Dosanjh’s honest performance has endeared the slain Punjabi singer to the audiences. The musician’s songs though—which, in his lifetime, were wildly popular, but abhorred by a section of the society, who felt they objectified women—are a different story. But Ali believes that Chamkila wasn’t a sexist man. “In Punjab and everywhere else, I’ve seen that the sangeet songs in shaadis are always vulgar. There’s a reason for it—women are naughtier than men. Their naughtiness comes out through music,” reasons the director. He points out another aspect in the late Chamkila’s creations. “In his music, the women are smarter and equally participative. They are teasing the men. The first song that Chamkila sang on stage is about an old man who is trying to say that he is young and virile, and the woman is making fun of him. It’s not that the woman is being objectified all the time. It’s an equal relationship.” Imtiaz Ali Through the musical, Ali neither glorifies nor decries Chamkila’s songs. He doesn’t glorify the protagonist either. The director was certain he didn’t want to make a hagiography. “When you tell the story of someone’s life, you should represent all aspects of it. I don’t like biopics that endlessly glorify the [protagonist]; that becomes boring. I had to present the human side of Chamkila. He wasn’t a [flawless] person. But I was sure of his intrinsic good qualities—he didn’t come across as a star, he was always a servant of the masses. He came from the most disadvantaged background; he was humble.” Though the Netflix film delves into his partnership with his singer-wife Amarjot Kaur, played by Parineeti Chopra, it largely shows her as muted. “I relied on my research. This is how Amarjot always comes across, in the narration of people or in her videos. Plus, the film had to wrap up in a certain duration. Maybe, someone can make a film on Amarjot now,” he smiles.
19 April,2024 05:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaWhen we sit down for an interview with Pratik Gandhi for Do Aur Do Pyaar, it’s hard to not open our chat with the crackling Madgaon Express. The comedy is running in theatres weeks after its release, despite competition from recent offerings. “It’s all Kunal [Kemmu],” says Gandhi, crediting the director for giving Bollywood a smartly written comedy. “I’ve always wanted to do good comedy. Physical humour is tricky, but you have to do it with people who understand it. Kunal knows all sub-genres of comedy, and he is brilliant at them.” With Do Aur Do Pyaar, Gandhi is moving on to a different kind of comedy, rom-com. Shirsha Guha Thakurta’s directorial venture sees the actor and Vidya Balan play a couple whose marriage has long lost its spark. Gandhi says it is among the six releases he has lined up, and with each project, his attempt is to show his versatility. “Scam 1992 [The Harshad Mehta Story, 2020] changed everything for me. In the last two-and-a-half years, I have shot non-stop. With the audience’s love, I am getting more confident about my work and my choices. Do Aur Do Pyaar is poles apart [from my last film]. My character is goofy, vulnerable, and avoids confrontations. In the first narration, I was surprised by the story—the characters are cheating [on their spouse] and then, they cheat on their lovers [with their spouse].” Rom-coms are all about good chemistry. The script, he says, elevated his chemistry with Balan and Ileana D’Cruz. “We have no method to crack chemistry. We stayed true to the script and let the magic happen. We did a lot of reading, did the next day’s scenes before going home. That said, I don’t have a process. Art is not mathematics. I have to feel the emotions.” For Hindi film fans, Shah Rukh Khan was the poster boy for romance. Even as he moved to age-appropriate roles, there remained a set image of a romantic hero—someone who is swoon-worthy enough to sweep women off their feet. That mould has broken in the past few years. He shares, “The definition of a romantic hero has changed. He is not the guy with great physique and [bouncy] hair. A hero is anybody who can make you fall in love with the character and his emotions. I’m fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. People are now ready to see actors creating characters.”
19 April,2024 05:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuActor Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor is back at giving befitting replies to internet trolls, and here’s the latest one that’s brought him into the headlines. The ‘Mirzya’ actor was commenting on the football club Manchester City, when an X user out of nowhere attacked him in the comments section, resulting in a reply from Harsh. Harsh posted, “Manchester City .. like a ponzi scam .. one day the bubble will burst all the lies will be revealed .. pep will leave and they will fade.. they don’t have many real fans they don’t have a real history.. just hope when they fade were In a good place to dominate for a few years.” An X user commented on the post, “L*** kabhi ek dhang ki film karle kab tak apne baap ke paise se sneakers kharidta rahega ch****e.” (Do a great movie sometime, how long will you keep buying sneakers with your father's money, you idiot.) Harsh replied, “Where can I watch your films ? How many have you done? I’ve done Ray thar bhavesh joshi and Ak vs ak , mirzya .. who are you? An irrelevant loser who’s bitter on twitter who started supporting city once they got Rich with Arab money..” Where can I watch your films ? How many have you done ? I’ve done Ray thar bhavesh joshi and Ak vs ak , mirzya .. who are you ? An irrelevant loser who’s bitter on twitter who started supporting city once they got Rich with Arab money .. https://t.co/2VikQBa2dB — Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor (@HarshKapoor_) April 18, 2024 Earlier in a similar incident, Harsh revealed why he chooses to reply to faceless trolls on social media. He said, "The only difference is I never instigate it... I do my own thing, but if someone is logging onto Twitter, going on my page to quote tweet me and simultaneously trying to low blow me (contradictory from them, by the way), I'll say what I want to them if I'm in the mood." Notably, Harsh Varrdhan made his Bollywood debut with director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's film 'Mirzya' in 2016 which failed to impress the audience at the box office. In 2022, he shared screen space with his father Anil Kapoor in 'Thar' alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh. Helmed by Raj Singh Chaudhary, the film premiered on the OTT platform Netflix which got decent responses from the audience. Harsh Varrdhan was also seen in 'Bhavesh Joshi Superhero', which was released in 2018. In the coming months, he will be seen essaying the role of Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra in his biopic. (With inputs from Agencies)
18 April,2024 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNewly engaged couple Aditi Rao Hyadri and Siddharth were seen attending a special screening of MAMI Select, a collection of films shot on iPhone, in Mumbai on Thursday. The pictures and videos from the event show Aditi wearing a black off-shoulder top with floral work and matching trousers. Siddharth was dressed in a black T-shirt, a denim shirt, and denim trousers. Videos shared by the paparazzi show the two holding each other close on the red carpet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Other celebs who attended the special screening included Kiran Rao, Jim Sarbh, Shobhita Dhulipala, Mouni Roy, Vijay Varma, and Zoya Akhtar. Last year, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival introduced 'MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone,' allowing emerging filmmakers to redefine cinematic norms. The five emerging filmmakers were mentored by Vishal Bhardwaj, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Rohan Sippy. Meanwhile, Aditi and Siddharth got engaged secretly at a temple in Telangana last month. They began dating after working on the 2021 film 'Maha Samudram'. However, the two always kept their relationship away from the public eye. Aditi was previously married to actor Satyadeep Misra, who recently tied the knot with fashion designer Masaba. On the work front, Siddharth will be seen in 'Indian 2'. Directed by Shankar the film features Kamal Haasan, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, and S. J. Suryah among others. Aditi will be seen in 'Gandhi Talks,' a silent film co-starring Vijay Sethupathi and Siddharth Jhadav. She is also all set to star in the Indo-U.K co-production 'Lioness'. The film, inspired by the research of Peter Bance, the historian who discovered the story of Princess Sophia Duleep, is the story of two British Punjabi women living in the UK, a century apart. She also has Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'. Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, the show promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi, offering a compelling narrative that is sure to enthrall audiences worldwide. It also stars Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah Badussha, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman in pivotal roles. (With inputs from ANI)
18 April,2024 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Tanishaa Mukerji, who didn’t taste the same amount of success and stardom as her sister Kajol, recalls the time she had a horrific accident while shooting her debut film ‘Sssshhh…’. Directed by Pavan S. Kaul, the slasher film also featured Karan Nath and Dino Morea. In an interview with News 18, Tanishaa said, “I was brain damaged. I fell off a mountain and I had a massive concussion. For pretty much one year of my life, I had to go for regular EEGs because you have to check if the swelling in my brain had reduced. It took one year for it to actually come back to its normal size.” “I didn’t tell anybody this but I did have a lot of difficulty because I was shooting my first film. I used to literally shoot for 2 hours and sleep for 3 hours. I would literally shoot for 2 hours because it would be so hectic and I would pass out. I wouldn’t be able to stay awake because my brain was exhausted,” she added. Over the years, Tanishaa went on to do films like 'Neal 'n' Nikki', 'Sarkar', and 'Tango Charlie' to name a few. Tanishaa, who was away from the silver screen for a long time, returned in 2021 with a spy thriller titled 'Code Name Abdul'. Talking about her reason for being away from films Tanishaa told ANI, "I don't think that's a conscious choice. That just happened by default, when these things happen...I think there has been a break in my released films, but I haven't taken a break from acting." On the work front, Tanishaa will be seen in ‘Luv You Shankar’ alongside Shreyas Talpade. Directed by filmmaker Rajiv S Ruia, the film also stars Sanjay Mishra, Elakshi Gupta, Abhimanyu Singh, Hemant Pandey, Master Mann Gandhi, and Prateek Jain. Tanishaa told IANS, "Being a part of 'Luv You Shankar' has been a truly fulfilling experience. It's a film that celebrates the human spirit and the power of love, and I'm excited for audiences to embark on this divine journey with us." The film will be released on April 19.
18 April,2024 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
