It was nearly 12 years ago that Mahesh Manjrekar had written Juna Furniture—Try Stopping This Old Man. The film’s idea came from a deeply personal space. He recalls, “When I lost my mother, many thoughts went on in my head. One is full of regrets [at such a point]. That’s where the idea came from. Today, there are 1.7 million abandoned senior citizens in India. My story is about the child, who feels he is doing the right thing for his parents, but is he?” That question forms the crux of Juna Furniture, Manjrekar’s upcoming Marathi movie. He has not only written and helmed the courtroom drama, but also played the protagonist, who questions society’s attitude towards senior citizens. He reveals that he had originally wanted to make it in Hindi. “I had written the story in Hindi, but things were not moving fast enough [as I approached production houses and figured out the casting]. So, I decided to make it in Marathi. Producer Yatin Jadhav wanted to make it immediately. Since no actor could give me dates at such a short notice, I decided to play the central character.” While he has directed himself in small roles earlier, it’s the first time he is fronting his own directorial venture. “This film is shouldered by my character. I was apprehensive that if this role falls flat, people will point fingers at me saying that I wanted to play the hero.” Even as he has to wait for a few days to get the audience’s verdict, the National Award-winning filmmaker’s work has been praised by famed screenwriter Salim Khan. “Salim saab loved the movie. I had narrated the script to Salman [for feedback] and he had loved it. I might show it to him this week.”
24 April,2024 05:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRIn describing his training as part of his association with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Telugu actor Arvind Krishna paints the most accurate picture of sport-specific training. Being on the field and competing with players significantly taller than him, he discusses the need to maintain his balance when shoved by opponents, leap high to dunk the ball while being dragged down by his competitors, and display commendable agility to navigate them on the court. If you’ve rarely been introduced to the fascinating science of how sports training is designed to make an athlete shine during the game, Krishna shares a glimpse. “I’m surrounded by guys who are 6 feet and 6 inches tall. So, for me to pull my shot, I need to jump really high and hold myself in the air for a longer period. This ‘hang time’ is dependent on your core strength. So, I have to make sure that I train my core. Ours is a physical sport involving contact. So, to gather ourselves after we are pushed by opponents, we mimic the movements in the gym to build efficiency. For instance, while training, we will have people thrust us with huge sandbags as we try to resist the push. This mimics what we endure on the court. You’ll also see us train with heavy bags on ourselves, and this is because, when we jump to [dunk the ball], we’re jumping with not only our weight but also the weight of the players around us who are attempting to resist us. To mimic that force, we train accordingly. We also train with ankle weights, because that teaches [us to balance ourselves]. When we land, we may land on a player’s foot, and this practice teaches us to deal with that imbalance,” says the athlete-actor, who has starred in Rushi, Lots of Love, and A Masterpiece, a superhero venture. Krishna, 39, is the only Indian actor who has played in the NBA. Considering that he trains for the sport across the year, we assume he refuses to take up acting projects that require him to undergo physical transformations. He, however, disagrees. “I signed a superhero film recently. While I was 92 kilos, I had to drop it to 80 to fit into the costume. And though I cut my calories down from 3,200 to 1,800, I had to do it in such a way that I could retain my strength for my games. In fact, I played a tournament in Japan while shooting for it.” Apart from travelling with a chef who understands his needs, Krishna, who is also vegan, meets his nutritional needs with supplements. His B-Tech degree, he admits, gives him a fine understanding of the supplements that can enhance his performance. “It is because of that that I can sustain energy despite not consuming too many calories. I also do not consume gluten, because both gluten and dairy have been shown to cause inflammation. As an athlete, the less inflammation you have, the better you can perform. Tackling inflammation has also made me look better on screen.” Krishna admits that in bridging his two worlds together, he also hopes to spark a love for basketball in the hearts of his fans. The Cheats: Shruti Haasan What’s your cheat meal: Rice, potatoes and South Indian dishes like sambhar. How often do you indulge:Once or twice a week. Cheat meal vs cheat day:Mostly, it’s just one big cheat meal, but if I’m on a vacation, it’s a cheat week. Do you compensate for it:When I’m training hard, I tend to be more particular with my meals. [I’ll compensate] by eating a light dinner, like soup or salad. In Mahesh Shetty’s Fridge FruitsBengali sweetsNutellaChicken
24 April,2024 05:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaMalayalam star Fahadh Faasil, acclaimed for his recent release, Aavesham, has chalked out the difference between Malayalam cinema and the rest of Indian cinema. The actor, renowned for his roles in Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Kumbalangi Nights (2019), Malik (2021), Joji (2021), and others, highlighted that Malayalam cinema still lacks substantial support from OTT platforms. In an interview, Faasil said, “The trade has grown for Malayalam cinema, but our films even now don’t have a solid back-up of an online streaming platform. We need to prove our mettle in theatres for any of these things to come in. Unlike the rest of India, where almost 80 per cent of films are sold even before the shoot is started, things are different for us.” Faasil claims that in case of Malayalam films, the potential of a movie is determined first, before OTT platforms put it out for streaming purposes. The actor said, “Our model is not that, we need to finish the film and release it to demonstrate its potential before it gains traction on OTT platforms. This approach has influenced our industry’s cinematic culture, emphasising the importance of crafting compelling stories and producing quality content.” Faasil will next be seen as the antagonist in Pushpa 2: The Rule. 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 05:06 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesMalayalam and Tamil film actress Aparna Das is all set to tie the knot with 'Manjummel Boys' actor Deepak Parambol. The pre-wedding festivities have already commenced and the actress took to her Instagram handle to share pictures from the Haldi ceremony. The couple will tie the knot on April 24 in Kerala. Aparna Das Haldi Ceremony For her Haldi ceremony, Aparna Das opted for a traditional half-saree which is red and yellow in colour. She accessorized her look with a red choker and a matching tikka. She looked happy in the pictures that showed her drenched in Haldi water. She is surrounded by her family and friends in the pictures. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wedding Photographer - Elementricx (@momentssbyelementricx) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wedding Photographer - Elementricx (@momentssbyelementricx) Aparna Das made her debut in Malayalam cinema with the film 'Njn Prakashan' opposite Fahadh Faasil. She gained popularity with her performance in 'Manoharam'. In Tamil, she played a supporting role in Thalapathy Vijay's 'Beast' and the lead role in 'Dada'. 'Kavin-starrer 'Dada' became one of the best films of 2023. The actress was last seen in the Malayalam film 'Secret Home' and will next be seen in 'Anand Sreebala'. Work-wide, Deepak Parambol entered into the Malayalam industry with Vineeth Sreenivasan's 'Malarvaadi Arts Club'. Some of his famous films include the recently released 'Manjummel Boys', 'Thattathin Marayathu', 'Thira', 'Kannur Squad', 'Christopher', 'D Company' and 'Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu', amongst others. Deepak was seen earlier this year in the blockbuster survival drama, 'Manjummel Boys', Vineeth Sreenivasan’s period film 'Varshangalkku Shesham', and Abhijit Ashokan’s 'Jananam 1947', 'Pranayam Thudarunnu'.
23 April,2024 04:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVideos of Malayalam film superstar Mohanlal dancing at an awards function is doing the rounds on social media. In the viral videos, the actor who will soon turn 6 is seen dancing energetically to Shah Rukh Khan's song 'Zinda Banda' from the film 'Jawan'. For his performance, Mohanlal is seen wearing a cheetah-printed shirt with a brown leather jacket and ants. He flaunted his energetic moves on stage. 'Zinda Banda' was one of the chartbusters from Atlee's 2023 blockbuster action film 'Jawan'. It was composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The long wait continues to see Lalettan dance to a chartbuster in a film 🥹❤️💥#VanithaFilmAwards #Mohanlal pic.twitter.com/qlaSRaaEU4 — heyopinions (@heyopinions) April 23, 2024 Mohanlal also danced to Rajinikanth's song 'Hukum' from 'Jailer' which was also composed by Anirudh. The film that was released last year also had a cameo by Mohanlal. Reacting to Mohanlal's performance, Shah Rukh Khan wrote on X, "Thank u @Mohanlal sir for making this song the most special for me now. Wish I had done it half as good as you. Love u sir and waiting for dinner at home as and when. You are the OG Zinda Banda!!!" Thank u @Mohanlal sir for making this song the most special for me now. Wish I had done it half as good as you. Love u sir and waiting for dinner at home as and when. You are the OG Zinda Banda!!! https://t.co/0NezClMavx — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 23, 2024 Mohanlal and Mammootty reunite: The two M's have been rulibg the film industry for decades and are two of the biggest stars of Malayalam cinema. At the award function, Mammootty won the Best Actor award and he received it from Mohanlal. In his acceptance speech, the 'Kannur Squad' actor said, "I've been in the industry for over 43 years. In this period, I've had a companion who has travelled with me. The person I am talking about is Mohanlal. He is a skilled actor, he is a magician. He can perform and dance. He tries to make everything perfect.” Mammootty then went on to plant a kiss on Mohanlal's cheek and the latter did the same leaving everyone in the audience to go 'aww'. Pic of the day❤@Mohanlal #Mohanlal @mammukka pic.twitter.com/H9KQxUdqF6 — EttanumPillerumMfcᵉᵖᵐᶠᶜ (@MohanlalEPMFC) April 23, 2024 Mohanlal's work front: Meanwhile, Mohanlal started shooting for his 360th film on Monday with Shobana. The film reunites the two actors for their 56th film together. Sharing the pictures from the set, Mohanlal wrote on Instagram, "On the set, joining in prayers as we commence filming the project led by director Tharun Moorthy and produced by M. Renjith under Rejaputhra Visual Media. I express my deepest gratitude and seek your blessings as I embark on my 360th film venture." The story of L360 has been written by Tharun Moorthy and KR Sunil. This marks the 14th film produced by Renjith for his own Rejaputra films. The film depicts Mohanlal portraying the role of a taxi driver, reminiscent of roles that propelled him to superstar status. Directed by Tarun Murthy, with the story penned by K.S. Sunil and cinematography by Shaji, the film features popular comedian turned character actor Jagdish in a significant role. The film is expected to hit the theatres during Puja holidays in October. Apart from L360, Mohanlal also has Prithviraj-directed L2: Empuraan in the pipeline. He also has his own directorial 'Bazooka' in the pipeline.
23 April,2024 12:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMakers of the upcoming action-thriller film Satyabhama unveiled its release date featuring Kajal Aggarwal in a never-before-seen avatar. The makers took to their official Instagram account on Monday to share a new poster of Kajal Aggarwal with a caption that read, "Gear up to celebrate 'The Queen of Masses' @MSKajalAggarwal like never before on the big screens. #Satyabhama in theaters worldwide on May 17th." Gear up to celebrate 'The Queen of Masses' @MSKajalAggarwal like never before on the big screens ❤️🔥❤️🔥#Satyabhama in theatres worldwide on May 17th 🎯▶️ https://t.co/TbBMJ0g6QY@MSKajalAggarwal @Naveenc212 @AurumArtsoffl @sumanchikkala @sashitikka @SriCharanpakala @bobytikka… pic.twitter.com/svK00yfv0y — Aurum Arts Official (@AurumArtsOffl) April 22, 2024 Apart from this, the makers released an intriguing video starring Kajal Aggarwal. In the video, Kajal is seen stepping forward, grabbing a gun, loading it, and then aiming at the calendar. Bullet shells reveal the release date, which is May 17. The video also offers a sneak peek of Kajal in her role as ACP Satyabhama. Satyabhama follows ACP Satyabhama as she investigates a missing person case, revealing dark secrets in a mysterious town. Battling her own past, she rushes to uncover the truth and seek redemption in a high-stakes investigation. Besides Kajal Aggarwal, the movie features Naveen Chandra, Prakash Raj, Nagineedu, Harshavardhan, Ravi Varma, Ankith Koyya, Sampada N, Prajwal Yadma, Neha Pathan, Anirudh Pavithran, Satya Pradeepti, Rohit Satyan, and Kodati Pavan Kalyan in pivotal roles. Produced by Bobby Tikka and Srinivasa Rao Takkalapalli under Aurum Arts, this suspense thriller is set to release in theaters on May 17, 2024. Kajal Aggarwal will also appear in Indian 2, a sequel to the 1996 action thriller Indian. The movie stars Kamal Haasan, Kajal Aggarwal, Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, SJ Suryah, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and more. It also features the last on-screen performances of late actors Nedumudi Venu and Vivek. 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
23 April,2024 06:38 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIThe title reveal for superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming film 'Thalaivar 171' was dropped by the makers today. The film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj has been titled 'Coolie'. The makers dropped a video of over 3 minutes in length to announce the title of the film featuring the superstar in a stylish avatar. The video begins with a group of gold smugglers checking on their inventory and placing them in boxes. Their inventory includes gold biscuits, watches, jewellery and other items. We hear a noise that indicates the arrival of an outsider, not belonging to the gang of smugglers. One of the smugglers steps out to inspect. The rest then hear the sounds of a person getting thrashed. Then we are revealed to the swagster Rajinikanth who has beaten up the smuggler and continues to effortlessly deal with the other smugglers. In between we get to see the number 171 in gold on the wall. Apart from the gold items, the rest of the visuals is in black and white. The superstar also mouths power-packed dialogues as he beats up the bad guys. The wait is over! #Thalaivar171 is now #Coolie💥▶️ https://t.co/xCCps1DBlu@rajinikanth @Dir_Lokesh @anirudhofficial @anbariv @Dir_Chandhru #Thalaivar171TitleTeaser #CoolieTitleTeaser — Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) April 22, 2024 After the release of the teaser of Coolie, fans began to wonder if this film will also be a part of Lokesh Cinematic Universe. Lokesh Kanagaraj has created his own shared universe of action thriller films with Kaithi (2019), Vikram (2022), and Leo (2023). This is Rajinikanth’s first film with Lokesh. The film is produced by Sun Pictures and was announced in September last year. Sivakarthikeyan is rumoured to play a key role in the film, but the rest of the cast and crew is yet to be announced. Composer Anirudh Ravichander and stunt director duo Anbariv have been roped in for the film. Before Coolie, Rajinikanth will be seen next in TJ Gnanavel-directed Vettaiyan, which is slated to release in October this year. Vettaiyan features top actors from other major film industries as well. The film will feature Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, and Rana Daggubati in pivotal roles. Coolie is expected to release sometime in 2025.
22 April,2024 08:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAllu Arjun is indeed one of the most loved superstars of the nation. The National Award winner not only rules the hearts of the masses but is also a box office king. While he created a phenomenon of success with 'Pushpa The Rise', he has been making waves these days for the arrival of 'Pushpa 2 The Rule', whose teaser has created a stir. But, amid the roaring buzz of the film across the nation, Allu Arjun takes time to show his love for Mother Nature Earth by wishing everyone H'appy Earth Day'. Apart from being an ace actor, Allu Arjun is also a true plant lover at heart. He has planted over 100 different types of plants in his house and office and is also known to gift people plants on special occasions. On the special occasion of Earth Day, Allu Arjun took to his social media and shared a very beautiful picture of the earth with all the greenery around it. He also wished the fans writing - "Happy Earth Day " Happy Earth Day 💚 pic.twitter.com/L5WGhVpo4h — Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) April 22, 2024 Allu Arjun is a global icon who has created waves all across the world with his success. He is a superstar who has taken the name of India to the global level. However, being such a big star, he never leaves a chance to present his thanks to his fans and his surroundings, and celebrating Earth Day is yet another example of the same. Senior actor Jackie Shroff, who often makes appearances at public events with plants, shared a video raising the awareness about cutting down on the usage of plastic. He urged his followers on Instagram to opt for the reusables in order to cut down on the wastage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jackie Shroff (@apnabhidu) Meanwhile, Allu Arjun’s next film, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', is set to be release in cinemas on August 15, 2024. Directed by Sukumar, the film promises to be a massive entertainer. The film also star Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil. Jackie Shroff, on the other hand, will be seen in 'Welcome To The Jungle'.
22 April,2024 07:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA couple of days back, actress Shobana announced that she is all set to reunite with Malayalam superstar Mohanlal for an upcoming film directed by Tharun Moorthy. The team began filming today and lead actor Mohanlal shared a couple of pictures from day 1 of the shoot. In the first picture shared by Mohanlal, he can be seen shaking Shobana's hand surrounded by the film's crew. In the picture, Mohanlal is seen in a plain brown t-shirt while Shobana is seen in a red and grey printed saree with a green blouse. The second picture sees a crew member holding the clapboard with the tentative title of the film -L360. This film also marks Mohanlal's 360th. The other pictures show the team holding the muhurat pooja and paying respect to the camera and other equipment that will be used to shoot the film. Sharing the pictures, Mohanlal wrote, "On the set, joining in prayers as we commence filming the project led by director Tharun Moorthy and produced by M. Renjith under Rejaputhra Visual Media. I express my deepest gratitude and seek your blessings as I embark on my 360th film venture." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohanlal (@mohanlal) Director Tharun Moorthy made his directorial debut with the critically and commercially appreciated film 'Operation Java' in 2021. The film starred Lukman, Balu Vargehes, and Binu Pappu. His second project, 'Saudi Vellakka' (2022), also featured Lukman and Binu in key roles, alongside Devi Varma and Sujith Shankar. The story of L360 has been written by Tharun Moorthy and KR Sunil. This marks the 14th film produced by Renjith for his own Rejaputra films. The film depicts Mohanlal portraying the role of a taxi driver, reminiscent of roles that propelled him to superstar status. Directed by Tarun Murthy, with the story penned by K.S. Sunil and cinematography by Shaji, the film features popular comedian turned character actor Jagdish in a significant role. The film is expected to hit the theatres during Puja holidays in October. Mohanlal and Shobana have worked together in over 50 films including 'Thenmavin Kombathu', 'Pavithram', 'Valanakalude Naadu', 'Manichithrathazhu', and others. They last shared screen in the film 'Mampazhakkalam' directed by Joshiy.
22 April,2024 05:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChinmay Mandlekar, an actor and writer from the Marathi film industry was forced to address the controversies and trolling around the name of his son, Jehangir. The actor has made major contributions to the field of Marathi cinema but was shamed and trolled extensively for naming his son, Jehangir. The trolling was not just limited to him but his family as well which made him take to social media to speak up about the same. Chinmay took to his Instagram handle to share a video of him addressing trolls over the constant shaming and trolling over his son's name Jehangir. He highlighted that his son was born in 2013 and the trolling never happened earlier but a section of people have been targeting him and his family. He said that persistent trolling has caused mental distress to his family and it is not something that he is okay with. He further said that while he can take criticism about his work and also encourages people to comment on his work on social media or in person, he said that no one has to right to comment on his personal matters. He said that the trolls have been questioning is son's name and his wife's character. Chinmay clarified that he has previously, on multiple occasions, explained the rationale behind naming his son Jehangir. He also cited the examples of the iconic Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai and businessman JRD Tata whose initial 'J' stands for Jehangir. Chinmay is known for portraying the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in as many as six films. The actor also addressed people bringing in his professional choice and personal matter. He said that while he has deep respect for Shivaji Maharaj and the role is quite close to him, he expressed his willingness to step away from the role. He feels that this unfortunate situation where his faith and devotion are misconstrued and his family becomes the target of undue scrutiny. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chinmay Deepak Mandlekar (@chinmay_d_mandlekar) Why Chinmay named his son Jehangir? Sharing the reason behind the name of his son, Chinmay had previously said that his son was born on Jamshedhi Navroz, prompting them t chose a name that resonated with the legacy of Bharat Ratan JRD Tata.
22 April,2024 05:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSouth superstar Nayanthara, who made her Bollywood debut with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer blockbuster 'Jawan', shared loved-up pictures with her filmmaker husband Vignesh Shivan on her social media. On Sunday, the actress took to Instagram and shared a set of pictures featuring her and her hubby. In the pictures, the two can be seen holding hands and hugging each other. While Nayanthara donned a Lilac coloured printed saree which she paired with a choker pearl necklace with matching earrings and her hair tied neatly in a bun, her husband opted for a simple white shirt and a mundu. The actress put up white heart emojis in the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by N A Y A N T H A R A (@nayanthara) The two clicked pictures against the backdrop of greenery and what seems to be a holiday home. The actress often shares pictures with her husband and their 2 kids on her social media. Earlier, she shared a picture of her and the kids’ reunion with Vignesh as the director returned home after completing his shooting schedule. The actress took to Instagram and shared a set of four pictures featuring her, Vignesh, and their 2 kids. The actress wrote in the caption: “Can’t explain how we three felt when we saw you after a long 20 days of schedule! We really missed you! I Love you my everything.” 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
22 April,2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
