In a recent candid conversation, Mrunal Thakur talked about the journey of signing and experiencing the unexpected success and overwhelming appreciation for her film 'Sita Ramam'. The romantic film, also starring Dulquer Salmaan, released in 2022. In the conversation, when asked about her expectations during the signing of the movie - whether she had imagined the kind of success or appreciation she would receive - Mrunal confessed she wasn’t expecting it. When she signed on for the movie, Mrunal had no idea how much popularity or praise would I get. “No, I didn't. When I was signing the movie a lot of people were like, were not aware in the first place, the film only blew out when it was released in Telugu. You know before the release, the buzz, you know they say ‘buzz kya hai’," she stated. Mrunal highlighted how everyone in the film industry wants to succeed, acknowledging that everyone involved wants their movie to perform well. Mrunal was beyond happy since she had prayed so hard for "Sita Ramam" to succeed. She remembered being blown away by the enthusiastic response when she first saw the movie in a theatre with other people on opening day. She said, “I prayed so hard and when the film came out, it just, people just went crazy. I didn’t even know, I was actually watching the movie for the first time in the theatre with the audience, on the first day, first show. Kabhi na ye soch ke jab film aap sign karte ho na ki ye popular hogi nahi hogi, ye soch ke mat kariye. I only sign it because I see that like I treat all my characters as my lovers. I love them. Like you know whenever the film is done I feel it is like a breakup." In addition, Mrunal is receiving praise for her performance in 'Family Star', which features Vijay Deverakonda in the title role. The movie's cast includes Ravi Babu, Abhinaya, Vasuki, and Rohini Hattangadi.
16 April,2024 05:50 PM IST | Hyderabad | mid-day online correspondentVeteran Kannada actor, director, and producer Dwarakish, 81, has passed away due to age-related ailments. The filmmaker breathed his last in the early hours of Tuesday at his residence in Bengaluru. Dwarakish, who produced more than 50 films under his banner Dwarakish Chitra, was a well-known actor and director as well. According to sources in the film industry, the veteran actor-producer had complained of respiratory problems on Monday night and passed away in his sleep later, according to several reports. The family is yet to decide on where the body will be kept for the public to pay their last respects. Condolences poured in on social media as the news of his demise broke. Former cricketer Anil Kumble posted on X, "Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran actor Dwarakish Sir - A doyen of Kannada film industry. Grew up watching his movies. His contribution to the film world will always be remembered." Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran actor Dwarakish Sir - A doyen of Kannada film industry. Grew up watching his movies. His contribution to the film world will always be remembered. 🙏🏽 — Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) April 16, 2024 Fans have been sharing clips from his films on social media. He Dreams Cinema, he Breathes Cinema, he Lives Cinema!You will be missed, Dwarakish sir 💔 pic.twitter.com/YPolfSOqLb — 𝗗𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 🫵🏽 (@TheHighwavmen) April 16, 2024 It's indeed a loss for #Kannada cinema. #Dwarakish's legacy as a multifaceted filmmaker, excelling as an actor, director, and producer, leaves an indelible mark on the industry. His contributions will continue to inspire and entertain audiences for generations to come. Rest in… pic.twitter.com/x15XcK6LtZ — A Sharadhaa (@sharadasrinidhi) April 16, 2024 Dwarakish made his debut as a comedy actor in Kannada cinema, with his maternal uncle Hunsur Krishnamurthy’s Veera Sankalpa in 1964. He made a mark as a comedian before going on to become a prolific producer under the banner Dwarakish Chitra in the Kannada film industry. Collaborating with Dr Rajkumar, and director Siddalingaiah, his first production, Mayor Muthanna was a hit, and went on to become a classic.
16 April,2024 01:12 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentThe makers of pan India star Tammannaah Bhatia and versatile powerhouse actress Raashii Khanna’s upcoming film ‘Aranmanai 4’ recently released the promotional video song titled ‘Achacho’. The actresses are seen performing some sensual moves to the foot-tapping, upbeat number. Tammannah, who gained the moniker of ‘Indian Shakira' after her 'Kaavaalaa' song from ‘Jailer’, elevates ‘Achacho’ with her oomph factor, adding a new level of sizzle to this infectious track. On the other hand, Raashii shines in the number as she adds grace to the song. ‘Achacho’ also gives fans a sneak peek into the film, and what they can expect from this horror-comedy entertainer. A day before the song's release, Farzi star Raashii Khanna had shared some photos and behind the scenes clips from the song on Instagram. She wrote, "Here’s some BTS moments of the sweat and sparkle behind the #achacho song that has just been released. Me and Tam were only praying for our stamina to not give up.! But, the beats were fire and that kept us going so we danced till we dropped.! Thankyou to the team for making sure we stay hydrated and don’t faint.! Special thankyou to @brinda_gopal Mam for being a pillar of support and giving us some amazing dance moves.! Here’s hoping you all like it." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raashii Khanna (@raashiikhanna) The soon-to-be chartbuster ‘Achacho' is composed by Hiphop Tamizha, with vocals by the talented Kharesma Ravichandran. The song is penned by Vignesh Srikanth and choreographed by Brindha Master. Apart from Tamannaah and Raashi, ‘Aranmanai 4’ stars Sundar C, Yogi Babu, VTV Ganesh, Delhi Ganesh and Kovai Sarala in pivotal roles. On the career front, Tamannaah has Nikkhil Advani’s ‘Vedaa’ and Neeraj Pandey’s next in Hindi and Odela 2 in Telugu in the pipeline. While Raashii, who just won over the audience with her performance in ‘Yodha’, will be seen with Vikrant Massey in 'The Sabarmati Report' and ‘TME’ in Hindi respectively, while she also has the Telugu film 'Telusu Kada’ in the pipeline.
15 April,2024 03:16 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentNayanthara and Vignesh Shivan are one of the cutest couples in the industry. As the two celebrated Tamil New Year, the Jawan actress took to her Instagram and dropped a series of pictures from their intimate family celebration. Nayanthara shared sweet pictures with cute captions. While posting the pictures, the actress wrote, “Happy Vishu and Happy Tamil New Year… May God bless you all with lots of love and happiness.” In the first two pictures, Vignesh and Nayanthara posed for snaps with their two little ones. Vignesh and Nayanthara wore white ethnic outfits while her kids were seen wearing light pinkish traditional outfits, and we can't get over these cute pictures. The third photograph was our favourite, where Vignesh and Nayanthara were seen making a sweet romantic pose. View this post on Instagram A post shared by N A Y A N T H A R A (@nayanthara) Nayanthara and Vignesh’s separation rumours Earlier, the couple sparked separation rumours last month after the actress posted a cryptic message on her Instagram. Nayanthara took to her Instagram stories and shared a quote that read, 'She's gonna forever say 'I got this' even with tears in her eyes.' Soon after, the speculation surrounding their wedding caught fire, Nayanthara dismissed all the reports by posting cute pictures with her husband. According to reports in Hindustan Times, a source shared, “Contrary to the reports, the couple is not going through a tough time. Instead, they are going strong and enjoying, as well as cherishing, every moment spent with their kids—Uyir and Ulagam—who have brought them closer in so many ways.” The source further talked about Nayanthara removing Vignesh from her follower list and shared, “It’s true that Vignesh was removed from her follower list, and the reason behind it is very convoluted. Some people believe that they are planning to launch a joint product together, and the step was to create pre-buzz about it. While some believe that there was a technical glitch due to which he was removed from her follower list. She followed him back as soon as she got to know about the growing buzz and connotation around it.” Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan met while working on the 2015 film, ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan,’ which the latter had helmed. The two had reportedly been dating since and finally tied the knot on June 9, 2022. The couple also became parents to twin sons Uyir and Ulag in October last year via surrogacy. On the work front, Nayanthara was most recently seen in the megastar Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Jawan.'
15 April,2024 01:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSoundarya Jagadish, a renowned film producer from the Kannada Sandalwood industry, passed away yesterday on April 14th. He was 55 years old. Now, reports are claiming that police suspect suicide as the reason for the producer's demise. He was found dead at his residence in Bengaluru's Mahalakshmi Layout, news agency PTI reported. According to reports from PTI, Kannada film producer and businessman Soundarya Jagadish died following an alleged suicide attempt, police, and sources close to him said on Sunday. The producer allegedly attempted suicide Sunday morning in his residence at Mahalakshmi Layout here, they said. Although the final reports stating the reason behind Soundarya Jagadish's demise are yet to come, police have said that the investigation is underway. "Jagadish has died following a suicide attempt. We brought him to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Further procedures are underway to know what the reason was. There were no health issues; we are unable to tell you the reason suddenly. This happened this morning," Jagadish's friend Shreyas told reporters. There were assumptions that if it was a suicide, then it could be because of the bank notice Jagadish had recently received. To the question of Jagadish being served the bank notice recently and whether that could have been the cause, Shreyas said, "No, it has no connection with this. That issue has been there for some time now. Business issues are different." The police were informed immediately, Shreyas said, rejecting "misleading reports" that the death was due to cardiac arrest. He said, "On getting to know, he was immediately rushed to the hospital this morning...he had attempted suicide by hanging." Jagadish, who also owned a pub in the city, was also a builder and businessman along with being a film producer. According to reports, the pub was recently involved in a controversy following late-night partying by some film personalities and crew, resulting in a temporary cancellation of its license. Jagadish has produced several films including 'Snehitaru', 'Appu Pappu', 'Mast Maja Maadi', and 'Ramleela'. Soundarya Jagadish was a highly esteemed producer in the Kannada film industry. His unexpected passing came as a profound shock to his family members and friends. (With inputs from PTI)
15 April,2024 12:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBlessy directorial ‘Aadujeevitham’ hit the big screens on March 28 after being in the making for almost 16 years. Starring Prithviraj as the protagonist, the film is adapted from the book of the same name authored by Benyamin. For those unaware, the film is based on the life of Kerala man Najeeb who becomes a slave looking after goats in the middle of the vast deserts of the Middle East. He arrives in the Middle Eastern country with hopes of a better job that will take him and his family out of a life of poverty. But what ensued was a life trapped in the desert struggling for necessities and craving the taste of freedom and home. While much has been said about Prithviraj’s tremendous transformation, to portray the role of Najeeb, actor KR Gokul too underwent a drastic physical transformation to play Hakeem, who, like Najeeb, was trapped in slavery in the desert. Actor KR Gokul joined the team of Aadujeevitham as an 18-year-old newcomer. Today, he is 24. Grinning from ear to ear witnessing the success of the film, Gokul tells mid-day.com, "It's been overwhelming. I am flooded with calls and texts. Whenever I go out, people come and hug me. They were all relieved to see me after what I did in the film.” The very day after wrapping the audition for the film, Gokul got down to reading the book by Benyamin. He read it over and over to better understand his character and the hidden details and nuances of the situation and the plight of the people involved. “I've read it a lot of times and the first time I'm reading it, for me, I've read it around like in five hours or something, and I couldn't stop reading it. Yeah, I've read it in a full stretch. In the middle, my mom called me to do some household chores, but in my mind, I was thinking about Hakeem, Najeeb and Ibrahim Khadri while I was doing the chores." Becoming Hakeem: Like Prithviraj Sukumaran, KR Gokul also had to undergo extreme weight loss to look the part of Hakeem, a man who gets trapped into slavery in the desert for years. Talking about his process of getting the look right, Gokul shared, “I had to cut my calories. Four months prior to the shoot I was consuming 1500 calories, in the second month it was 1000 and then in the third month, it was 500.” Despite the calorie deficit, he had flesh on his cheek and the director and make-up artist asked him to push his limits. “I did water dieting. I consumed only water and black coffee for the last 15 days. And on the third day of the water diet, I collapsed. I fainted.” "So I had to change something because I had to be alive to do that role, right?" he said. "I changed it a little bit. I consumed Robusta shake in the morning. Hakeem must have eaten kuboos (Arabian bread) with water. So I experimented with what he must have eaten at that time. And I ate only one kuboos with water," shared Gokul. Apart from the diet, Gokul also wanted to feel like a person living in the desert with struggles of bare necessities. "I did not bathe for 15 days during the shoot to feel how he must have felt. So, that kind of emotional memories helped me a lot too."
15 April,2024 11:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Athulya NambiarIn the last 20 days, he has had two big releases, The Goat Life and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. One would think that calls for a breather. Not if you are Prithviraj Sukumaran. After promoting the two films over the past few weeks, the actor flew back to Chennai to kick off the latest schedule of his next directorial venture, L2: Empuraan. The Mohanlal-led action thriller is the second instalment in the Lucifer franchise. Lucifer (2019), which marked Sukumaran’s directorial debut, had leading man Mohanlal play the dual roles of politician Stephen Nedumpally and international gangster Abraam Khureshi. With it becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films, the stakes are naturally higher for the second part. Sukumaran kicked off the project in north India last October, and is now on his fourth schedule. “Lucifer revolved around drug trade, money laundering and the Illuminati, all set against the political backdrop of Kerala. Empuraan will go deeper into these themes, throwing light on Mohanlal’s character’s connection with the Illuminati. The fourth schedule began in Chennai from April 7 with Mohanlal and Prithviraj’s actor-brother Indrajith. A set of small-town houses has been built, where the unit shot scenes depicting the central character’s backstory. Over this three-week schedule, the director plans to can several action and emotional scenes, after which the unit will begin the next stint in Cochin in May,” says a source. While the actor-director had a cameo in Lucifer, his role will be fleshed out in the next instalment. The source reveals that Empuraan won’t be a sequel in the true sense. “It won’t pick up where Lucifer ended. Instead, Empuraan will focus on what happened before, how the primary characters crossed paths with one another and got to the point where the events of Lucifer happened. Additionally, it will show the protagonist’s journey ahead, including how Prithviraj’s mercenary character becomes significant in his life.” Sukumaran is evidently mounting his third directorial venture on a big canvas. The action thriller will be not only shot across six countries, but also released as a multi-lingual in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
15 April,2024 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRThe makers of the much-awaited 'Kanguva', starring Suriya Sivakumar and Bobby Deol, shared the new poster of the film on Sunday. The new poster hints at a conflict between tradition,or conservatism and modernity in the film. On the one side, Suriya is seen in a tribal outfit, wielding a sword in the foreground while a forest fire rages at the back. On the other is another version of the actor, clad in a spotless tuxedo and standing against the backdrop of a bustling metropolis, holding a machine gun. Taking to X, Studio Greens dropped the poster and tagged it with a message that read, "Where the past and present collide, a new future begins..#Kanguva..Releasing 2024 in cinemas worldwide. #HappyTamilNewYear" Where the past and present collide, a new future begins 🗡️#Kanguva 🦅 Releasing 2024 in cinemas worldwide. #HappyTamilNewYear✨@Suriya_offl @DishPatani @thedeol @directorsiva @ThisIsDSP #StudioGreen @GnanavelrajaKe @UV_Creations @KvnProductions @PenMovies #PenMarudhar… pic.twitter.com/4gYskNr5PI — Studio Green (@StudioGreen2) April 14, 2024 Earlier, the makers unveiled the official teaser for the movie. Taking to X, Studio Green treated fans to the teaser video on Tuesday, and captioning the post as, "Here's the phenomenon #Kanguva." In the 50-second breathtaking teaser, Suriya is seen as a mighty and ruthless warrior. The action sequences in the teaser promise to be an unforgettable cinematic experience, with Bobby Deol joining the cast as the antagonist and in a never-before-seen avatar. The teaser video also has glimpses of the tribal warriors in some highly engaging action sequences as well. Siruthai Siva has directed the film, which also stars Disha Patani, Natarajan Subramaniam, Jagapathi Babu and Yogi Babu in key roles. Bobby Deol and Suriya will be locking horns with each other in the film. The two attended Prime Video's event in Mumbai and spoke highly of each other. "Working with Suriya has always been a dream...He is awesome. He is an amazing actor," Bobby said. Suriya also shared how Bobby added more power to the film with his acting chops. "In the film, we fought but brotherhood was very much between us. He helped us make the film's climax bigger and bigger," Suriya said. The official synopsis of the Tamil film reads, "A story that travels 500 years from 1700's to 2023 about a Hero who has to fulfil a mission left unfinished. #Kanguva available post-theatrical release(sic)'' Earlier, producer Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green also thanked Bobby Deol for being part of the film and making it special with his presence. Studio Green KE Gnanavel Raja has churned out many blockbuster hits in the last 16 years, including the 'Singam' series, 'Paruthi Veeran', 'Siruthai', 'Komban', 'Naan Mahan Alla', 'Madras', 'Teddy', and the latest, 'Pathu Thala'. 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
15 April,2024 06:35 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIWhy would someone as accomplished as Jagapathi Babu, who has a 35-year career and numerous Telugu and Tamil films behind him, try his luck in Hindi movies? Why not, he laughs, when we meet him at Ruslaan’s trailer launch. “I want to work in all languages; more the experience, more the fun. Also, I would be the only one to have tried all languages. I love that artistes from all languages are blending in,” he says. Pooja Hegde and Salman Khan in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan The senior actor, 62, plays leading man Aayush Sharma’s father in the Karan L Butani-directed film. Before this, he debuted in Hindi films with Sharma’s superstar-brother-in-law Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (KKBKKJ, 2023). The underwhelming response to the action drama left him heartbroken. “When KKBKKJ didn’t work, I felt bad. It was a Salman Khan film. That success would have helped me. But Ruslaan will do the magic for me. My character has mettle. Our director had a clear vision of the story. The director-actor equation is like making love. I saw Karan’s eyes; they spoke to me. He could convey everything without talking. Working with Aayush was a joy. He is an assured actor and has a grip on everything.” Ruslaan, also starring Vidya Malavade and Sushrii Mishraa, is a quintessential action film. Many believe that the genre is reaching a saturation point, but Babu isn’t worried. “A film’s first hero is the script. I feel mindless action has lost steam, but this film has emotions and enough heightened drama to hold the story.”Up next, the actor will begin shooting for Pushpa 2: The Rule. “I play the main antagonist in Pushpa 3. I will be introduced towards the end of Pushpa 2. It’s an interesting character.”
14 April,2024 04:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuTelugu superstar Ram Charan, who will be seen in ‘RC 16’ and ‘RC 17’, received an honorary doctorate in literature from the Vels University in Chennai on Saturday. The actor was also the chief guest at the university's graduation ceremony. The university took to X, erstwhile Twitter, on Saturday and shared pictures from the event. They wrote in the caption, "Thiru. Ram Charan, Indian actor, film producer, and entrepreneur, receiving an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Vels University at their 14th Annual Convocation (sic).” Ram Charan also took to his social media handle to share the post and wrote, "Happy to receive my honorary doctorate from Vels University! Grateful to the people of Chennai and to everyone who’s been a part of my journey. Here’s to more dreams and achievements together! " Previous recipients of this recognition have been Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Director Shankar and others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ram Charan (@alwaysramcharan) Meanwhile, on the professional front, Ram Charan is currently busy with his upcoming project, 'Game Changer’. The film is directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Shankar, who is known for ‘Nayak’, ‘Anniyan’, ‘Sivaji: The Boss’, ‘Kaadhal’ and others. The film also stars Kiara Advani. Meanwhile, after the blockbuster hit 'Rangasthalam', Ram Charan is all set to team up with 'Pushpa' director Sukumar for 'RC17.' On the auspicious occasion of Holi, Ram Charan took to Instagram and treated fans with this exciting news. The film is tentatively titled 'RC17'. Sharing a photo of himself with Sukumar, where they were seen embracing each other after playing holi, the post caption read, "#RC17 the force reunites.@aryasukku @thisisdsp@mythriofficial." Scheduled to commence production later this year, the film aims for a grand release in the last quarter of 2025. The combination of Ram Charan, Sukumar, Mythri Movie Makers and DSP come together for the second time after the blockbuster hit 'Rangasthalam'. The movie is being produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ram Charan (@alwaysramcharan) A few days ago, Ram Charan posted pictures with actor Janhvi Kapoor after the pooja ceremony of their new film 'RC16'. The film is being helmed by Buchi Babu Sana, which will mark the first collaboration between Janhvi and Charan.
13 April,2024 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPVR INOX has been in the news following their decision to ban new Malayalam film releases from playing on their screens. The ban was imposed following a tiff between the theatre chain and Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) over content sharing. Now, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) has stated that Malayalam movies will not be screened on screens under PVR INOX until the multiplex compensates for losses suffered by filmmakers whose movies weren't screened. New releases like Fahad Faasil's Aavesham Vineeth Sreenivasan's directorial 'Varshangalkku Shesham' and Unni Mukundan's 'Jai Ganesh'. It had also stopped screening the previously released Malayalam films 'Premalu', 'Manjummal Boys', and 'Aadujeevitham'. FEFKA held a meeting on April 13 in Kochi where they decided to step up the protest against the company; B. Unnikrishnan, general secretary of FEFKA, told media persons that they will stage protests in front of the theatres owned by the exhibitor, if the issue is not resolved. “We have also sought the intervention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in finding a solution against the unilateral position taken by the company not to screen Malayalam films.,” he said. Hours after FEFKA's intervention, it has been reported that PVR has resolved all its issues with KFPA. The bookings for the new and old releases will be resumed soon. Meanwhile, the temporary ban by PVR causes major losses to filmmakers. 'Aadujeevitham' director Blessy said that his producer suffered major losses. The Prithviraj-starrer is also the most expensive film made in Malayalam cinema and was released in theatres on March 30. Vineeth Sreenivasan, actor and director of 'Varshangalkku Shesham' said in a press conference on Saturday that he and his producer Vishakh stood by PVR during the pandemic when their film 'Hridayam' was released. He said that they had offers from OTT platforms but still opted for theatrical release to help theatre owners. "We came to know that our films will not be screened on any PVR screens only the day before the release of the films. This issue is not confined to a single network, PVR. They even run small theatres in many parts of India. Many multiplexes are in their hands. Now none of these theaters are running our movie.For the audience, there is a thing called theater loyalty. The audience books the theatre looking for maximum convenience. Among these will be theatres of PVR as well. We are losing all such audiences. This is a great loss.At the time we were doing Hridayam, it was lockdown time. Many theatre owners had called us and told us not to release the film in OTT. Hridayam got three times the offer from OTT than it did from theatres. We stayed with them then and still they are doing this to us now. I'm not that talkative. I'm saying this with great pain," Vineeth Sreenivasan said. PVR vs KFPA matter: PVR halted the screening of new Malayalam films on the occasion of Eid when three major films were scheduled to release. The Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) has initiated a new content-providing company, urging theatres in Kerala to procure films through this newly established venture. PVR INOX objected to this new development and refused to screen movies in protest.
13 April,2024 07:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
