Bollywood 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 | IANSIn an industry obsessed with box-office numbers, do we talk enough about the truly good films? Do Aur Do Pyaar opened to great reviews last week, but made only R2.5 crores in its first four days. What is going through the mind of debutant director Shirsha Guha Thakurta, whose work is winning love and yet failing to make big numbers? “Critics have been incredibly kind. I must admit I am thrilled. While box-office collections matter to me, there’s nothing much I can do about it. I wanted to tell this story to the best of my abilities. I’m hoping because of the positive word of mouth, more people will discover the film,” she says optimistically. Starring Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D’Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy, Do Aur Do Pyaar is the kind of romantic comedy we don’t see often—that of a married couple rediscovering their love for each other. In fact, of late, Hindi cinema hasn’t seen too many rom-coms. Was she worried about attempting the genre when everyone’s saying romance is dead in the movies? “I don’t think any genre is dead in the movies. If we tell good stories with conviction and have characters we care about, any genre will work. After Shaitaan did well, suddenly everyone wants to make horror films. Romance has been a staple in Hindi films, but I can’t remember the last romantic film I truly cared for. They come better packaged with hit songs, but not a single character or line has stayed with me.” Shirsha Guha Thakurta Thakurta, who previously directed wonderful ads for a dating app, thrives in the genre. But she admits that the Yash Chopra era of Hindi film romance is forgotten. “One of our key hooks for the film was: What would happen to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’s Raj and Simran 20 years later? Has life squeezed all the bits of love and domesticated them?” The director adds, “In our modern lives that include social media and instant gratification, we are struggling to hold on to the Yash Chopra’s version of epic love. That’s what our film is partly about—that maybe love today is about being friends and being comfortable with each other.” One of the film’s biggest wins is that while telling a story that involves infidelity, it isn’t judgmental and doesn’t resort to the other woman/man tropes. The director says that is because they viewed it as a love story over everything else. “From the beginning, we were clear that we did not want to tell a story about adultery. It was always a love story in our heads. All the characters are genuinely in love at the moment. No one was playing the other; the heartbreak, the laughs, the tears were all real. This allowed us to look at them through a more generous, non-judgmental lens. There were no villains, only ordinary people grappling with a messy situation.”Thakurta agrees that having brilliant actors like Balan and Gandhi to essay the long-married couple, who have lost their zeal and love somewhere along the way, made things easier. “I am thankful I got to work on my first film with actors like them. Vidya is Kavya, or maybe she’s just such a good actor that she makes you feel that way. Pratik and I worked on Ani together to get the character’s awkward, earnest tone. Pratik’s range is incredible. My work was simple—just put them in a room and watch the magic.”
24 April,2024 05:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuFace-off for Ajay, Anil It is known that Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh are set to begin filming De De Pyaar De 2 in June. Debutant Anshul Sharma will helm Luv Ranjan’s production venture this time around. The first instalment revolved around Ajay’s 50-year-old businessman character taking his 26-year-old girlfriend, played by Rakul, home to meet his family and ex-wife. The sequel will showcase the family’s reaction to their unusual love story. News is that Anil Kapoor is being roped in to play Rakul’s father in the movie. Apparently, he was intrigued by the film’s idea and the humour. “Moreover, the dynamics shared by Anil’s and Ajay’s characters is one of the highlights of the narrative,” says an industry insider. He adds, “They have never had this kind of face-off on screen before, which makes this project all the more interesting.” How Ajay and Rakul’s characters win over her family forms the crux of the film. It also remains to be seen if Tabu, who played Ajay’s ex-wife in the first instalment, will reprise her role. No, sorry boss Sahil Khan has flown down from Dubai to Mumbai for questioning by the Crime Branch’s Special Investigative Team (SIT) in connection with the Rs 15,000 crore betting app scam. He has apparently been offered a few crores to participate in the third edition of Bigg Boss OTT. “Sahil declined the offer as he is not interested in the reality show at this point in time,” said a source. The actor is looking forward to his next film, scripted by Milap Zaveri and directed by Sam Khan. The masala entertainer also marks his reunion with his Style (2001) and Xcuse Me (2003) co-star Sharman Joshi. The title of the film is expected to be announced soon. Second time lucky Babil Khan is teaming up with Shoojit Sircar for his next. The yet-untitled movie is a heart-rending love story helmed by ad filmmaker, Dhiraj Banerjee. It features a new leading lady opposite Babil, but her identity is being kept under wraps. Dhiraj, who kicked off the movie in Darjeeling earlier this month, is set to wrap up the shoot by May-end. Shoojit is planning to release the movie later this year. Interestingly, this is Babil’s second collaboration with the filmmaker who made Piku (2015) with his father, the late Irrfan Khan. Their first film together is The Umesh Chronicles. Directed by Pooja Kaul, it is a slice-of-life story about growing up in small-town India. The film also features Adil Hussain, Vivek Gomber, and Zayn Marie Khan, with Amitabh Bachchan in an extended cameo. However, The Umesh Chronicles remains unreleased over two years since its completion. Bhumi’s new project for a cause Bhumi Pednekar, who uses her star power to highlight the need for environmental conservation, has been roped in for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for The Weather Kids. The idea behind the global campaign is to raise awareness about climate change and drive the world towards taking meaningful action for it. Joining her in this initiative is Oscar-winning actor, Michelle Yeoh. Bhumi, who is also UNDP India’s national advocate for sustainable development goals, said, “Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable and resilient world for future generations.” Landing another deal It appears that Amitabh Bachchan is expanding his real-estate inventory. He recently purchased a 10,000 sq ft plot in Alibaug. While the sprawling development project was launched last April, Big B’s deal was officially registered last week. Apparently, he paid R10 crore for the property. He dealt with the same developer a few months ago, when he made a considerable investment in the seven-star project being planned in Ayodhya. A don forever Shah Rukh Khan is not returning in Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3, but it looks like there is no escaping the character of don for him. The superstar is said to play a don in King, which he is also producing with Pathaan (2023) director, Siddharth Anand. Helmed by Sujoy Ghosh, the action thriller was to initially see SRK in an extended cameo as he played mentor to the protagonist, essayed by his daughter Suhana Khan. Now, he is said to have a full-fledged lead role in it. In keeping with the requirements of his character, he is sporting long hair and a stubble. Reportedly, the title is in keeping with SRK’s character, who is the underworld’s kingpin in the film. Arjan goes international Arjan Bajwa is looking forward to his maiden international film, Demon Hunters. Helmed by Mei-Juin Chen, the Indo-Taiwanese joint production stars JC Lin, Regina Lei, and Jack Kao. The first footage from the action-comedy will be exclusively showcased at the Cannes Film Market next month. “It is an exhilarating character, and I am thrilled to have been chosen to portray a computer geek seeking vengeance for his grandfather’s death,” said Arjan. Pleased with his experience of working with the international team, the actor added, “I am eagerly anticipating an exciting 2024.”
24 April,2024 05:15 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamI have been told that an individual tends to lose muscle mass after the age of 30,” says Saiyami Kher, tackling a popular notion in the world of physical wellness. Well aware that muscle mass is the currency of an athlete, the marathoner, easily among the fittest actors in Bollywood, believes her decision to take to physical fitness from an early age has perhaps mitigated some of the trouble that age could cause. “My goals keep changing, depending on what I do. Strength training is not something I enjoy, but it is a necessity for women, especially after the age of 30,” says Kher, weeks shy of her 32nd birthday. “Training with your body-weight is enough, so, exercises like push-ups, tricep dips, and functional training using the body-weight [can suffice], even though they are difficult to pull off. Having said that, I use weights, and do more strength-training sessions only when I’m six months away from a race.” Ensuring that she meets her protein intake “is always difficult”. “But because I’ve been following this eating pattern for a long time, [I’m comfortable with it]. I have four eggs in the morning, and some chicken during the day. I manage to get about 120 grams of protein daily. I don’t take artificial supplements or protein shakes. If you pay some attention to your diet, you can meet your needs [without consuming supplements].” As an athlete who has prepped for the Iron Man challenge on more occasions than one, Kher admits that she has learned from her share of mistakes. “For anyone practicing endurance training, paying attention to strength training is vital. Most injuries are caused because [athletes] don’t pay enough attention to this component of fitness. Also, since I swim, I get my [dose of] cardiovascular exercises, but, introducing yoga into my routine has helped me improve my flexibility. I do a lot more mobility work now than I did when I was younger, because it keeps me injury-free [as I age].” Even though her achievements as a fitness enthusiast may be commendable, Kher has relied on rather simple principles to retain her athleticism over the years. “What kept me going was consistency. The minute you lose that, you begin to notice your fitness levels drastically dropping. I have experienced that as well. After suffering a fall in May last year, I had to avoid physical exercise for six months. When I returned to my routine, my fitness levels had taken a hit. I could barely cover two kilometres,” says Kher, who has knocked off several 21-kilometre bouts. “Subsequently, I had to work my way up again.” Kher has previously starred in the sports drama, Ghoomer, alongside Abhishek Bachchan. She played a physically handicapped cricketer in the offering. 120Number of grams of protein Kher has daily
24 April,2024 05:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaNot too long ago, when Suchitra Pillai had Jaideep Ahlawat as a guest on her podcast, Hear It Here, she had told him that she was manifesting an opportunity to work with him. Today, she wears a wide smile as the universe has granted her wish through the second season of The Broken News. “For me, the biggest high was to be able to work with Jaideep Ahlawat. All my portions are with him. Working with him was a dream. He is an excellent actor, who helps all his co-stars on set,” she says. The ZEE5 series—also starring Sonali Bendre, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan—revolves around the rivalry between two news channels. In her two-decade-plus career, Pillai has been seen on and off in films like Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Page 3 (2005), Fashion (2008), and shows such as Hip Hip Hurray (1998). But since her OTT debut in 2017, the actor has been constantly busy, featuring in Made in Heaven, Rana Naidu (2022) and Big Girls Don’t Cry. “I am glad that I have been given so many different roles one after the other. At 53, to get these parts is wonderful, as is to work with directors who aren’t afraid to experiment. I am happy with the way the web space is utilising my talent.”
24 April,2024 05:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaBirthdays are always a cherished time, and for actress Radhika Madan, who will be celebrating her special day on May 1, this year promises to be even more memorable. Recently, at an event where she unveiled Dish TV Smart+ services, Radhika revealed her birthday plans, which surprisingly have a connection to Bollywood stalwarts Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. This intriguing revelation has sparked curiosity among fans, eager to know how she intends to incorporate elements inspired by these iconic actors into her celebration. She shared, "Today, we decided I'm going to have an 'Andaz Apna Apna' themed party in Delhi. So, I think we're going to play that movie in the background and celebrate the birthday. It's one of my favourite films. So, you're going to be seeing pictures of me in a Crime Master Gogo costume very soon." At the Dish TV event, the actress also opened up about roles that attract her, and said, “I think roles which scare the hell out of me. It should make me feel that I can't do it. It needs to give me sleepless nights and I just want to offer a different character to the audience every time I come on screen with different stories, not the same character wearing different clothes. I wouldn't want to do that. Because I don't enjoy watching that as an audience and I hope I am able to offer that versatility to people just like Dish TV.” In her recent endeavours, the actress graced the screens in 'Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo' and 'Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video'. Upcoming projects such as 'Sanaa' and 'Sarfira' are also on the horizon, with specific details still under wraps. Sudhanshu Saria’s directorial venture 'Sanaa' tells the story of a financial advisor Sanaa, who discovers she is pregnant. Even as she is determined to terminate the pregnancy, she begins to reevaluate her life. Madan remembers that the script came to her, thanks to her Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (2019) director Vasan Bala. “Vasan sir called and said, ‘Read this script.’ I had never spoken to Sudhanshu or watched his films. I read the script late into the night, and at two in the morning, I texted my team that I am doing the film. I am a driven and fiery artiste. Very few projects [give us a chance] to showcase all that we have inside us. Sanaa was that project.”
23 April,2024 11:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentZeenat Aman's Instagram updates give us insights into her life, both personal and professional. Fans appreciate her thought-provoking content and fashion sense, often engaging with her posts. Recently, the 72-year-old actress wrote a heartfelt post about her mother's sacrifices for her acting career and expressed her feelings about her elopement. Zeenat Aman remembers her mother View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zeenat Aman (@thezeenataman) She started her post by acknowledging the beautiful pictures fans send her from yesteryear, "Every Sunday, a dedicated well-wisher sends me old photographs from their archive. Zeenat Aman memorabilia if you please. This Sunday he sent me these two images of my mother, pictured respectively with my father Amanullah Khan and my German stepfather Uncle Heinz." Zeenat Aman further wrote, "There has been no more extraordinary woman in the world than my Ma. She was my safe harbour. She was a woman ahead of the curve. She was gracious, beautiful and whip smart." "After she and my father separated in the 50s, she taught herself business and became a working woman. She sent me to the best of boarding schools and never missed a visit, whence she would come laden with parcels of tuck. When I made up my mind to pursue a career in acting, she gave up her own work to be my manager. She negotiated my contracts, invested my earnings, packed my tiffins, ran my lines, inspired my style, and bolstered my confidence to the nth degree. All this while maintaining her own exciting social life within the expat community in Mumbai." She added. Zeenat Aman further wrote, "Mummy never thought any man was worthy of me ( she was onto something there), and it was the only matter that we ever locked horns on. Even then, if I were ever low, I would crawl into her bed in our apartment off Nepean Sea Road, lay by her side and hold her hand. No words would be spoken, but my turmoil would settle and I would feel secure." Talking about how her mother felt when she eloped, Zeenat penned, "It’s true that I broke her heart a little when I eloped, but it mended with the birth of my first son, who shares a birthday with her. When ma died in 1995, I felt as though a veil of protection was snatched off my shoulders. These pictures are all the more precious to me now that I can only return to her safe harbour in my memories." She concluded her post by asking her fans about their cherished memories, "That’s a little about my mother. Tell me why yours is/was extraordinary?"
23 April,2024 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSalman Khan's brother-in-law Aayush Sharma is currently occupied with promoting his upcoming film Ruslaan. In a recent interview to promote the movie, he talked about the challenges he faced during his early days in Bollywood. In a chat with Bollywood Bubble, Aayush revealed that he worked as a background dancer in the song "Dilliwali Girlfriend" from the movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Kalki Koechlin. He also reflected on a time when he didn't have enough money to buy breakfast. Salman Khan's brother-in-law Aayush Sharma was a background dancer In the interview, Aayush Sharma mentioned that his first visit to Mehboob Studios in Bandra, Mumbai was for the shooting of "Dilliwali Girlfriend". He reminisced about that day, recalling his experience, “I came to Mehboob Studios for the first time for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’s shoot and a lot of people asked me why I was working as a background dancer. I was not getting work as an assistant director. I wanted to become a casting director so that I could reach a film set that way. But then that day when I went to Mehboob, there were 300 to 400 background dancers and I was one of them. It was a beautiful moment. I saw Manish Malhotra, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin, and Ranbir Kapoor on set. We were given to do a step for Dilliwali Girlfriend. I was trying to hide in the back so that I don’t get seen in the camera, but they kept calling me ahead. That day I had a craving to go and see behind the monitor. I wanted to see how I looked in front of the camera.” Salman Khan's brother-in-law recounts days when he had only Rs 20 Aayush also remembered a time in his life when he had only Rs 20 in his pocket. Reflecting on that moment, he recounted standing outside a small eatery in Bandra, worrying about how he would afford breakfast the next day, when he suddenly got a job offer. He mentioned, “There was a day in my life when I just had 20 rupees. I had no money for breakfast in the morning, so I was having a roll that night and wondering what I would do for breakfast the next day. That time I got a call for a shoot for stock images in Navi Mumbai. I did that. And when I got that call about Antim’s satellite being sold, I was again in front of that food joint and wondered that from 20 rupees to so many crores.”
23 April,2024 08:58 PM IST | MumbaiVarun Dhawan Birthday 2024: The actor turns a year older on April 24, 2024. Son of veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, Varun marked his acting debut with the 2012 film 'Student Of The Year' directed by Karan Johar. Ever since he has starred in several films of different genres and has strived to prove his versatility as an actor. He was last seen in the film 'Bawaal' opposite Janhvi Kapoor in 2023. The film that drew parallels to World War 2 was directed by Nitesh Tiwari. It was a direct-to-digital release and is available to stream on Prime Video. Here are his upcoming projects: Citadel: Honey Bunny- This series created by Raj and DK of 'The Family Man' fame stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the lead. The show is an Indian adaptation of the international series, which was created by the Russo brothers. The global version of the series stars Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden. Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Soham Majumdar, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Kashvi Majmundar, Saquib Saleem, and Sikandar Kher are also part of the Indian Citadel world. Bhediya 2: Varun Dhawan had played a werewolf in this social drama that also stars Kriti Sanon. Directed by Amar Kaushik, the film forms part of the same universe as Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor's 'Stree'. A year ago, Varun had annouced that he will be returning for Bhediya 2. The film will be released in 2025. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) Baby John: Varun Dhawan will next be seen in the film 'Baby John'. It is being 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 the movie that will hit the theatres on May 31, 2024. The film is produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee and Jyoti Deshpande. Meanwhile, there are reports that the film may get pushed to July, however, there is no confirmation on that front. Untitled film with Janhvi Kapoor: After 'Bawaal', Janhvi and Varun will be reuniting for 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari'. The film will be directed by Shashank Khaitan who has also helmed the Dulhania franchise and 'Dhadak'. While the makers have not called it a part of the 'Dulhania' franchise, fans were not happy to see Alia Bhatt being replaced. Stree 2: Varun Dhawan will reportedly make a cameo appearance in his 'Bhediya' avatar in the Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer.
23 April,2024 06:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
