Ahead of their film ‘Mr & Mrs Mahi’ release, Bollywood actors Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor attended the auspicious Ganga Aarti at the Dashaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi, on Monday evening. Janhvi wore a blue saree while Rajkummar donned a white shirt with ivory trousers. Dharma Productions’ Instagram handle shared the pictures of the two and wrote, “Our #MrAndMrsMahi were showered with love & blessings in the euphoric city of #Varanasi.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dharma Productions (@dharmamovies) The film seems to be high on cricket, drama, and love. The trailer shows in flashback scenes that Rajkummar Rao's dream of getting selected for the national team is shattered and he is grappling to come to terms with it. When Mr. Mahi (Rajkummar Rao) discovers Mrs Mahi (Janhvi) can play cricket, he decides to coach her. Despite being occupied with the promotional activities of their upcoming film, Rajkummar and Janhvi did not forget their duties as responsible citizens. The duo turned up at their respective polling stations in Mumbai to cast their vote for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. After casting his vote at his designated polling booth in Mumbai, Rajkummar talked about the role of a responsible citizen while speaking to the media. "It is a big responsibility towards our country, we should vote. Through us, if people can get influenced then of course that's the biggest thing that we can do to make people aware of the importance of voting. So I'm very happy that the Election Commission chose me to be the national icon and I appeal to all to please come out and cast your vote... We all want our nation to grow, to shine. It's already shining. I'm sure it's going to shine even more," he said. 'Mr & Mrs Mahi' is directed by Sharan Sharma, who is known for his directorial debut Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. Mr & Mrs Mahi marks the second collaboration between Janhvi and Sharan. It also marks the second collaboration between Janhvi and RajKummar. The duo was earlier seen in 'Roohi'. The film is backed by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. It will hit the theatres on May 31. (With inputs from ANI)
20 May,2024 10:16 PM IST | MumbaiLok Sabha Elections 2024 Mumbai: As the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections took place today, Mumbai saw an influx of celebrity voters showcasing their inked fingers as a mark of their civic participation. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, a wave of enthusiasm swept through as renowned figures from the Indian film industry stepped out to exercise their franchise during the first half of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections. Here are 7 highlights from today’s voting scenes. Aamir Khan with ex-wife Kiran Rao Actor Aamir Khan arrived with his ex-wife Kiran Rao to fulfill their voting duties and reached their designated polling booth to cast their vote. They displayed their inked fingers after casting their votes during the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Mumbai today. His first wife Reena Dutta and their children Junaid and Ira happily posed for shutterbugs after casting their votes. The actor's mother Zeenat Hussain was also spotted at a polling booth, defying age. Deepika Padukone’s baby bump Parents-to-be Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh stepped out to cast their votes in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The Bollywood power couple, twinning in white, radiated joy as they arrived at the polling booth in Mumbai. Deepika, beaming with her pregnancy glow, donned an oversized white shirt and light blue denim, her baby bump subtly visible, while Ranveer complemented her in a matching white ensemble. The duo's appearance was met with cheers and camera flashes as shutterbugs clicked them while embodying the spirit of civic responsibility. Dharmendra gets angry Veteran filmstar Dharmendra, known for his iconic roles and timeless charm, exemplified civic responsibility by exercising his franchise in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Clad in his signature style with his black bowler hat on, the 88-year-old actor was all smiles as shutterbugs clicked him at a polling booth in Juhu's Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai. Amidst the flurry of celebrities exercising their electoral rights, Dharmendra's presence added a touch of elegance and gravitas to the polling process. However, while interacting with the paparazzi he lost his cool and said, “Acche shehri bano, desh bhakt bano, maa baap see pyaar karo… aap ko malum hai jo mujhse kehelwana chahte hai (Be a good citizen, love your parents, you already know this… still trying to put words in my mouth).” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla) Paresh Rawal’s ultimatum Veteran Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal exercised his democratic duty by casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai. After casting his vote, Rawal interacted with the media, emphasizing the importance of participating in elections. "Then you will say, government doesn't do this, doesn't do that... If you will not vote today, then you will be responsible, not the government," Rawal stated, urging citizens to take responsibility for their civic duties. Rawal also suggested implementing penalties for those who abstain from voting. "There should be some provisions for those who don't vote, like an increase in tax or some other punishment," he added. Sanya Malhotra nearly gets hurt Sanya Malhotra, who reached the polling booth almost got hit by a camera. She was heard saying, “Arrey, aaram se (Please be careful). Wahan chalke aaram se le lo. (Let’s go to the side and then you can click the pictures).” Sanya Malhotra nearly gets hit by a camera as she leaves from polling booth, requests paparazzi to be careful#SanyaMalhotra #Bollywood #LokSabhaElections2024 #EntertainmentNews pic.twitter.com/Xc7kYnUJSh — Mid Day (@mid_day) May 20, 2024 Gauahar Khan’s ordeal Gauahar Khan shared her ordeal on Instagram stating that her name on the electoral roll was missing. She wrote. “Make the effort, go find your booths, and vote!! Vote now! I had a very confusing and frustrating time to know that my and my family’s names were missing from the address that I have lived at for 9 years. Only one person from the family had received the voting slip, and the people who have left the building for years, their names were all present. Some of the people who were in charge were extremely rude, because there were almost 100 people who were complaining of the same, and requesting to let them vote with Aadhar cards at the same time. But I did not give up. I went looking from booth to booth in my area, and finally found mine at my 15-year-old address along with my senior citizen mom." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gauahar Khan (@gauaharkhan) Amit Trivedi not allowed to vote Singing sensation Amit Trivedi shared a video on X revealing that he was made to wait for over 30 minutes before being told that he would be unable to vote. “Voting is our constitutional right. Today I was denied that right and I feel helpless. Did this happen to anyone else? How.. and why??” “I have seen your replies here. Just to make it clear, all the online due diligence and checking was done in advance. Another family member and I were in the correct booth, one got to vote and the other didn’t,” he wrote in a subsequent post. Voting is our constitutional right. Today I was denied that right and I feel helpless Did this happen to anyone else? How.. and why?? #elections pic.twitter.com/1K8z0XdIFD — Amit Trivedi (@ItsAmitTrivedi) May 20, 2024 Vision in white A quick browse through the celebs who voted today in Mumbai had one thing in common. They all wore white! Was it a unified dress code or just to beat the heat, the outfit choice seemed outrageous. (With inputs from ANI)
20 May,2024 07:39 PM IST | MumbaiIn a landscape where lineage often dictates career trajectories, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s grandson Aaishvary Thackeray stands out for his unique choices. While his cousin has embraced their family’s legacy, Aaishvary has carved his path, avoiding the traditional routes to pursue a career in the creative field. Rather than immersing himself in the turbulent world of his family’s legacy, Aaishvary’s interest lies in the realm of creativity. Grounded and maintaining a low profile, he has chosen to follow his passion in the world of arts. His ambitions are centered on captivating an audience with his creative outputs. Aaishvary has spent five years striving to establish himself in his chosen field. His journey began as an assistant on a significant project, where he refined his skills and gained valuable experience, laying the groundwork for future endeavors. Despite his family’s noteworthy background, Aaishvary has steered clear of the spotlight that comes with his surname, preferring to let his work speak for itself. A source close to Thackeray says: "Aaishvary has spent 5 years striving to establish himself on the sets of films being assistant learning detailed work about the films. He also has an immense interest towards Art and Music. Films, music, and Arts will become his core career path." The source further adds, "Don't be surprised if we see some big announcements carrying Aishvary in the next one year." Those who have seen his work up close have praised him as an undiscovered gem with the talent and potential to leave a lasting impact in his chosen industry. Meanwhile, all eyes are on the ‘Other Thackeray,’ who is poised to make a splash in his chosen field.
20 May,2024 07:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFrom Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Kareena Kapoor to Kiara Advani, several celebrities reached their designated polling booths to cast their votes as the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections commenced. Gauahar Khan also went to her nearby booth, but her experience was not something anyone wants. Gauahar, while sharing the bitter experience, said that she couldn’t find her name on the list where she has lived for 9 years. The actress said, “Make the effort, go find your booths, and vote!! Vote now! I had a very confusing and frustrating time to know that my and my family’s names were missing from the address that I have lived at for 9 years. Only one person from the family had received the voting slip, and the people who have left the building for years, their names were all present.” “Some of the people who were in charge were extremely rude, because there were almost 100 people who were complaining of the same, and requesting to let them vote with Aadhar cards at the same time. But I did not give up. I went looking from booth to booth in my area, and finally found mine at my 15-year-old address along with my senior citizen mom. She is the one who has taught me to be patriotic since childhood. My dad was the son of a freedom fighter. Alhamdulillah,” she further added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gauahar Khan (@gauaharkhan) The actress further wrote, “I didn’t want my vote to be wasted. As a citizen of the country, it’s my duty to vote and my right in a democracy. I love my country and I feel responsible for it. Guys, please go and vote. Find your names and vote. Don’t miss it. Many thanks to @mumbaipolice; your officers are really helpful and kind in this whole process. The volunteers are doing their best. A bad encounter with one frustrated volunteer should not deter you from voting. GO VOTE! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳” About the Fifth Phase of Lok Sabha Elections Voting for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Monday morning across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), polling for 35 assembly constituencies of the Odisha legislative assembly will also take place simultaneously on Monday. As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting.
20 May,2024 04:46 PM IST | MumbaiThe fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections has commenced. The city of Mumbai has also gone into polling today. Many celebrities were seen arriving early in the morning to cast their votes. Actor Sanya Malhotra was also among the first at her designated polling booth to cast her vote. As the actress reached the polling booth, an incident shook her. The actress almost got hit by a camera. What Happened As the voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections commenced, celebrities started reaching their designated polling booths. Sanya also decided to fulfill her duties, and as she reached the polling booth, paparazzi surrounded her to take pictures. Amid the chaos, Sanya was about to get hit by a camera but saved herself with a quick response. This incident shocked her, and in a state of shock, she said, “Arrey, aaram se (Please be careful). Wahan chalke aaram se le lo. (Let’s go to the side and then you can click the pictures).” Sanya Malhotra nearly gets hit by a camera as she leaves from polling booth, requests paparazzi to be careful#SanyaMalhotra #Bollywood #LokSabhaElections2024 #EntertainmentNews pic.twitter.com/Xc7kYnUJSh — Mid Day (@mid_day) May 20, 2024 About the Fifth Phase of Lok Sabha Elections Voting for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Monday morning across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), polling for 35 assembly constituencies of the Odisha legislative assembly will also take place simultaneously on Monday. As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting. The fifth phase will witness key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success.
20 May,2024 04:06 PM IST | MumbaiActor Manoj Bajpayee and his wife Shabana Raza on Monday stepped out together to fulfil their voting duties amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.A while ago, the duo arrived at a polling station in Mumbai and cast their vote. They even appealed to the public to participate in the elections and exercise their right to vote."This is the biggest festival and everyone should vote as you will get this opportunity after 5 years. If you haven't voted then you have no right to complain...," Manoj said.After casting his vote, Manoj also took to Instagram and shared pictures in which he and Shabana can be seen flaunting their inked fingers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manoj Bajpayee (@bajpayee.manoj) "#BhaiyyaJi aur Bhabhi Ji ne vote de diya. Aap sabhi se nivedhan hai ki matdaan karein aur apne loktantrik adhikar ka upyog karein (We have voted. I request you all to vote and use your democratic right)," he wrote in Hindi.The voting for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls son Monday started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote. As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting.The fifth phase witnesses key contests in various constituencies.Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success.Eight states/UTs going for polls in phase 5 are Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.In a bid to create a peaceful atmosphere for the electors, a total of 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock across the 94,732 polling stations. 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
20 May,2024 03:34 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIDeepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are making headlines for several reasons. First, the couple announced their pregnancy, and later Ranveer Singh deleting their wedding pictures stirred a lot of controversy. Today, as the entire Bollywood turned up to fulfill their national duty by casting votes in the Lok Sabha elections, Ranveer and Deepika also came to cast their votes, and what we saw made all of us smile. Deepika Padukone flaunted her baby bump as she went to cast her vote with her hubby Ranveer Singh. Today, Ranveer and Deepika wore coordinated outfits as they went to cast their votes for the Lok Sabha elections. In the videos that came out, Ranveer was seen walking while holding Deepika’s hand as he protected his lady love amidst the crowd. As soon as the video went viral, fans started dropping sweet comments. A fan wrote, “The man who respects her definitely earns her.” “OMG my baby mama is there,” texted another. A third fan commented, “Oh my godddddd (crying emoji).” While another user said, “Kitna pyar hai dono me aur bol rahe the divorce hone wala hai.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Deepika and Ranveer’s Work Front Amidst her bliss, Deepika continues to grace the silver screen with her luminous presence. Following her recent appearance in 'Fighter' alongside Hrithik Roshan, she gears up for an exciting lineup of projects, including the highly anticipated 'Kalki 2989 AD' with Prabhas and the Hindi remake of 'The Intern' alongside veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan. Moreover, she is also a part of Rohit Shetty’s cop-verse titled 'Singham Again.' Helmed by Rohit Shetty, ‘Singham Again’ also stars Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Ranveer Singh. ‘Singham Again’ is the third instalment of the hit franchise, and the film is all set to be released in theatres on the occasion of Independence Day 2024. Ranveer Singh, on the other hand, will headline Farhan Akhtar’s 'Don 3', which will arrive in 2025. In 1978, the character was embodied by Amitabh Bachchan. In 2006, Don was reimagined and brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan. The third installment also stars Kiara Advani. As per reports, the actors have already begun their physical prep starting with agility training. Experts in martial arts from Thailand have been roped in to train them. It is also heard that the filmmaker is keen to up the ante when it comes to stunts. (With inputs from ANI)
20 May,2024 01:20 PM IST | MumbaiThe city of Mumbai has gone into polling during the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections. Prominent personalities from the city have been seen since morning arriving to cast their vote. Veteran Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal exercised his democratic duty by casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai on Monday morning. Rawal was among the early voters for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. After casting his vote, Rawal interacted with the media, emphasizing the importance of participating in elections. "Then you will say, government doesn't do this, doesn't do that... If you will not vote today, then you will be responsible, not the government," Rawal stated, urging citizens to take responsibility for their civic duties. The senior actor also said that there must be some kind of punishment imposed on people who skip voting. "There should be some provisions for those who don't vote, like an increase in tax or some other punishment," he added. #WATCH | Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal says, "...There should be some provisions for those who don't vote, like an increase in tax or some other punishment." pic.twitter.com/sueN0F2vMD — ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024 Earlier in the day, several Bollywood celebrities, including Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Kunal Kemmu, Neha Dhupia, Rajkummar Rao, and Janhvi Kapoor, were also seen at their respective polling booths in Mumbai, demonstrating their commitment to the democratic process. The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections is a critical part of the seven-phase electoral process, with extensive arrangements made to ensure a smooth and secure voting experience for all citizens. Elections in six Lok Sabha seats of Mumbai are underway for Phase 5 of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024. The constituencies voting today include Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central. Additionally, other constituencies in Maharashtra participating in this phase include Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi, and Thane. Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest state in terms of parliamentary constituencies after Uttar Pradesh. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes and the declaration of results are scheduled for June 4. Voting commenced at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with voters in line by the closing time still allowed to cast their ballots. (with inputs from ANI)
20 May,2024 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections has commenced. The city of Mumbai has also gone into polling today. Many celebrities were seen arriving early in the morning to cast their vote. Actor Akshay Kumar was also among the first at his designated polling booth to cast his vote. This is his first vote after getting the Indian citizenship last year. Akshay Kumar was granted his citizenship last year on Indian independence. The actor who previously held a Canadian citizenship applied for the Indian citizenship amid criticism for not having one. on the occasion of Independence Day 2023, the superstar shared a picture of the document on Instagram, that was proof that he is officially an Indian citizen now. Sharing the picture on Instagram, Akshay wrote, "Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani. Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳" In an interview with AajTak, he opened up about the decision to renounce his Canadian citizenship. “India is everything to me... Whatever I have earned, whatever I have gained is from here. And I'm fortunate that I get a chance to give back. You feel bad when people say things without knowing anything...,” he shared. Today after casting his vote, speaking to the media he said, "I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right...I think voter turnout will be good..." #WATCH | Actor Akshay Kumar shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.He says, "...I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right...I think voter… pic.twitter.com/mN9C9dlvRD — ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024 Actor Farhan Akhtar and sister Zoya Akhtar also arrived to cast their votes at Mount Mary Convent High School in Bandra. Janhvi Kapoor also arrived in the morning to vote. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Actor Farhan Akhtar and Director Zoya Akhtar show their inked fingers after casting their votes at a polling station in Mumbai.#LokSabhaElections pic.twitter.com/ESpxvZNuGN — ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024 Voting for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Monday morning across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), polling for 35 assembly constituencies of the Odisha legislative assembly will also take place simultaneously on Monday. As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting. The fifth phase will witness key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success. Eight states/UTs going for polls in phase 5 are: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.Cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Lucknow are going to the polls in this phase, which has in the past suffered from urban apathy in voting. The commission especially calls upon these city dwellers to erase the stigma by turning out in higher numbers.Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In a bid to create a peaceful atmosphere for the electors, a total of 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock across the 94,732 polling stations. A total of 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts are keeping a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept on sea and air routes, the ECI said. The ECI said that the polling stations are ready to welcome the voters with ample shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets, and other basic facilities to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment. The concerned CEOs, DEOs, and state machinery have been advised to take adequate measures to manage hot weather conditions in areas where it is forecast, it added.The Commission has called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride. Until now, the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 have seen a voter turnout at polling stations of about 66.95 per cent. Around 451 million people have already voted during the first four phases of the ongoing general elections, the ECI added. ECI has partnered with a host of prominent figures to appeal to and motivate voters to cast their vote during the ongoing elections.The remaining phases of the polls will continue until June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. Polling for 23 states (UTs) and 379 PCs was completed in a smooth and peaceful manner in the first four phases of the general elections.With the conclusion of four phases, polling for general elections has crossed the halfway mark, with polling completed in 23 states/UTs and 379 parliamentary constituencies. Polling is also completed in general elections for the state legislative assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh and the 28 assembly seats of the Odisha State Assembly. The results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will be announced on June 4. (with inputs from ANI)
20 May,2024 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAcademy Award-winning composer AR Rahman has unveiled the first look and teaser of his latest venture, a feature documentary titled 'Headhunting to Beatboxing'. The unveiling took place at the Bharat Pavilion at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. 'Headhunting to Beatboxing', directed by Rohit Gupta and produced by AR Rahman, delves into the intriguing journey of rhythm and sound, charting music's growth throughout countries, tribes, and generations. While talking about the feature documentary, Rahman said, "Music has this transformative power to change society and to connect and bring relevance to existence. 'Headhunting to Beatboxing' is a celebration of this universal rhythm that unites humanity in its diverse expressions. We look forward to the start of its film festival journey and what better than Cannes which celebrates cinema to make the first announcement on the film" said AR Rahman, expressing his enthusiasm. From the ancient traditions of headhunting tribes to the musical renaissance in the state, the documentary promises to take audiences on an immersive and enlightening musical anthropological odyssey. Present at the launch at the Bharat Pavilion in Cannes were Academy Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient AR Rahman, director Rohit Gupta, Executive Producer Abu Metha (Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Nagaland) and Executive Producer Theja Meru (Chairman TaFMA, Government of Nagaland) in addition to the other guests and dignitaries present. Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Nagaland, shared, "The germ of the idea came up when AR Rahman visited Nagaland to be part of the legendary Hornbill Festival. We knew we had to be part of it. The film is a collaboration of many creative minds, especially the TaFMA and masterfully captured by director Rohit Gupta. The real heroes are the musicians of Nagaland, who tell stories that go back to times immemorial and their music exemplifies the ambition of our youth." "5 years in the making, the journey of this film has been a sort of metamorphosis for me. The rich and vibrant music today, transcending the scars of the past is something that truly blew me away during the making. I am excited to see audiences witness our hard work and the magic that exists in the music of Nagaland" added director Rohit Gupta. The film marks Rahman's second major foray into the realm of filmmaking as a producer, with his earlier production being 99 Songs. Its executive producers include Abu Metha, Adam J. Greig, Theja Meru, Rohit Gupta, Sheila Houlahan and Rohhit Daas. 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
20 May,2024 07:50 AM IST | Cannes | ANILast October, news first emerged that Sidharth Malhotra was teaming up with producer Dinesh Vijan for a thriller. However, the project, also starring Janhvi Kapoor as the leading lady, was aborted much before it could go on floors this summer. Now, talk in tinsel town is that Sid and Dinesh are collaborating for another movie. This time around, it will be a romantic comedy to be helmed by Tushar Jalota. Interestingly, the Mimi, Bhediya and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya producer’s favourite heroine, Kriti Sanon is being roped in as the leading lady. After films like Shershaah, Mission Majnu, Yodha and a web series like Indian Police Force, Sid is looking to explore the romcom space and has liked Tushar’s subject. Kriti, too, is excited by the idea, which has been conceptualised keeping the family audiences in mind. However, things will be confirmed only after the actors hear the final narration, after the director locks the screenplay. For now, Kriti has Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull 5, while Sid is said to start an action flick with director Balwinder Singh Janjua. This friendship is unique Over four years since Salman Khan opted out of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah at the nth hour, the two remain good friends. During a recent interaction for his web series debut, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, the filmmaker shared that even though he has worked with the biggest stars, the only one he remains friends with is his Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) actor. “The only person that I’m still friendly with is Salman Khan. Even if Inshallah didn’t happen, he stands by me,” Sanjay reportedly said. He added that his Saawariya (2007) actor often checks on him and cares for him. Talking about the superstar’s gesture after their fall-out, the filmmaker revealed, “On work, we may have sparred, we may have not had our moment correct, and it didn’t fall into place. But after one month, he called me and I called him and we talked. So that is a friend.” Betting big on real estate Like many of her industry colleagues, Malaika Arora, too, has made sound investments in real estate. The actor, who lives in a plush sea-facing apartment in Bandra, has reportedly rented out her Pali Hill house to designer Kashish Hans. It is being said that Kashish has paid a deposit of R4.5 lakh for the three-year lease, with a monthly rent of R1.5 lakh for the first 11 months. The rent will be hiked by about five per cent for the subsequent tenure. About two years ago, Malaika leased out another flat in Casablanca Apartments in Bandra to a studio for four years, and the rent for the first year was R1.2 lakh per month with an increase for the following years. At the crossroads Heralded as the next action hero at one time, Tiger Shroff hasn’t had a good run in cinemas in the aftermath of the pandemic. After a hat-trick of flops, the actor’s actioner, Rambo, was shelved. We hear, the studio deemed it an unviable project to invest in. Rumour has it that Tiger was recently advised by an influential producer to slash his remuneration. An industry insider tells us, “Tiger was told, in no uncertain terms, to quote no more than a third of his last asking price, which was Rs 30 crore. While he is part of Rohit Shetty’s multi-starrer, Singham Again, any investment in him is being seen as a risky proposition.” A collab after eight years It is known that Priyadarshan is planning a thriller with Saif Ali Khan playing a visually-challenged protagonist. Moreover, Bobby Deol is being roped in to essay the antagonist. Now, we hear that the yet-untitled movie is the filmmaker’s Hindi adaptation of his 2016 Malayalam offering, Oppam, starring Mohanlal in the lead. Apparently, Saif and Priyan had discussed the remake soon after the Malayalam original released, but things didn’t pan out. In the interim, the filmmaker even contemplated making the film with Ajay Devgn. But their plans didn’t materialise. After about eight years since their first discussion, things finally seem to be falling into place for Priyan and Saif. Train-ing days Gurpreet Singh, who plays the role of Rafique Baig in the television show, Vanshaj, often opts for Mumbai local trains to travel to Naigaon for the shoot. “Interacting with fellow commuters from diverse backgrounds and hearing their stories makes the journeys memorable,” he says. Moreover, it also helps him professionally. He explains, “It has made me more aware of the city’s hustle and bustle, which I can channel into my performance.” Return to a fuller house It is known that for Housefull 5 (HF5), producer Sajid Nadiadwala is keen to reunite the cast of the previous instalments. Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh, who have been constants since the first Housefull (2010), will lead the fifth outing as well. The latest addition to the cast is Arjun Rampal, who played Deepika Padukone’s brother in the first instalment. He returns to the franchise after nearly 14 years. While details of the principal characters are being kept under wraps, we hear Sajid is sparing no effort in taking HF5 several notches above its predecessors, in terms of content and scale. Recently, Abhishek Bachchan, who starred in Housefull 3 (2016) was brought on board. Director Tarun Mansukhani is set to begin prep for the film that goes on floors in August in the UK.
20 May,2024 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamADVERTISEMENT
