From the age of seven, Ulka Gupta has faced the camera and the pressures that came with it. Be it Saat Phere—Saloni Ka Safar or Jhansi Ki Rani, she left a lasting impression as a child actor. As an adult, she had headlined various daily soaps, and played pivotal roles in films including Simmba (2018). But the thirst to act is still unquenched. In conversation with mid-day, Gupta talks about her new show Main Hoon Saath Tere that highlights the plight of single mothers, and why acting has made her “a free bird.” Edited excerpts from the interview. From being a child actor to playing a mother, the journey has been arduous. How would you describe the highs and lows?I’ve not reached the point yet where I can have my own philosophy, but I have one. I believe no effort ever goes in vain. What you do, learn and experience, including rejections and failures, teach you something and mould you. People ask me why I am working in reverse gear, doing films, OTT and television. However, I’ve felt like a free bird from the time I became an actor. I feel that’s exactly how an actor should be—indiscriminating to any medium or platform. Do you feel TV content has become regressive or at least repetitive?I agree. That’s why I have refrained from taking up something typical. My filmography is diverse. I have never judged a show on [whether the story has been done before or not]. I believe whatever works for the society in terms of entertainment, works. Maybe that is where the audience finds their relief. We love listening to old melodies and their remixes. [Similarly, we can like watching the same story packaged differently.] In daily soaps, women are always presented as the ideal bahu/daughter/woman. Isn’t that putting too much pressure on women?The pressure of perfectionism is definitely unfair. Personally, it has been hammered into my head too. In television and movies, [women] have to be tolerant, always compromise, and still keep giving. To be giving and loving are good virtues, but tolerating everything is too much. But it also matters as to who our audiences are. Television predominantly caters to tier-II and -III cities, and they are culturally and socially at a certain stage. We have to deliver what they like. If this is the value system they hold, we can still inject some nice ideas within the same story. TV is also responsible for having influenced people’s mindsets [in a positive way]. Main Hoon Saath Tere is on that very track. How does your show positively influence the audience?Single women are not credited enough for all they do. Instead, they are only bothered, questioned and often at the receiving end of so much hatred. The show talks about her strength and the challenges she faces. Why is there a need to show the male protagonist then? Why can’t a woman’s life on screen be complete without a man? The story is not [trying to show] that a woman is incapable [without a man]. I have seen so many single mothers [brave it out]. It wasn’t distant from me when I had to do this role. Not saying that my father [was entirely absent], but my mom brought up three kids. I know of her being a single mother taking care of all of us. Main Hoon Saath Tere is a love story, centred on a single mother. Female and male energy can co-exist, and might need each other. We have to be patient to one day show the LGBTQiA+ stories [on television]. Is the audience influencing content or the other way around?I believe it works both ways. However, most of the time, content is [determined as per] the audience.
14 May,2024 06:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamComedian and host Bharti Singh recently underwent gallbladder surgery recently. The comedian has been in and out of the hospital recently and finally underwent the procedure to remove gallbladder stones. In her recent vlog, which she uploaded on Sunday, Bharti gave a glimpse of her journey before and after the surgery. She said that she was petrified before the surgery and even cried. The popular comedian expressed, “Dance Deewane ke shoot se or pain se bhi zyada zaruri mujhe mera baccha hai. (For me, my child is more important than shoot or my pain).”Bharti got emotional as she shared, “Chote bacche ko itna akele nahi chordna chahiye. Phir Haarsh bhi hai mere saath kuch papaerwork hota hai, bahut saari cheezein hoti hai. Par ghar mein bahut saare log hai. Operation ho jaaye toh chali jau bacche ke paas. (We shouldn't leave the little one alone like this. Haarsh is also with me; there's some paperwork and a lot of things to take care of. But there are many people at home. Just waiting for the operation to happen, so I can go and meet my child).” Bharti further spoke about how smoothly her surgery went through. She said she is stress-free and looks forward to going back home to her baby and resuming work on 'Dance Deewane' sets. In another video she uploaded late on Sunday, Bharti shared her emotional state of mind on day 3 at the hospital as she missed her son Golla. The video also shows glimpses of her son visiting her at the hospital and having a conversation with her. She informed that her mother, mother-in-law and father-in-law are not aware that she is getting discharged from the hospital. In the video, she jokes that she should have informed her family as they would have at least decorated the house. However, she quickly corrects herself and says, they would have not decorated as they have a kid, a pet and her son's nanny who messes up everything. Bharti reaches home and meets everyone excitedly and her family gets very happy seeing her back home. Towards the end of the video, she also shared a glimpse of the stone that removed from her gallbladder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bharti Singh (@bharti.laughterqueen)
13 May,2024 09:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTejasswi Prakash on Saturday set Instagram blazing with her new look in a black saree, flaunting her curves. The winner of 'Bigg Boss 15' took to Instagram and dropped a series of photos, where we can see her wearing a black saree with a multicolour border and intricate motifs imprinted on it. She paired it with a matching sleeveless halterneck style blouse. Tejasswi went all glam with the makeup -- glossy pink lips, black eyeliner, and contoured and highlighted face. She kept her long tresses open. For accessories, she opted for kundan earrings, a ring and green bangles. The post is captioned as: "Stepping into the spotlight draped in black". On the work front, she is known for her work in 'Naagin 6', 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 10', Karn Sangini', and 'Pehredaar Piya Ki'. 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
12 May,2024 03:44 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSMadhuri Dixit's husband Dr Shriram Madhav Nene paid a special visit with their dog Carmelo on the sets of the reality show 'Dance Deewane', surprising his better half with a handwritten letter to wish her a 'happy birthday'. Madhuri will be celebrating her 57th birthday on May 15, and the makers of the show dedicated the weekend episode to the 'Dhak Dhak' girl of Bollywood, paying tribute to her. To make the night special, Dr Nene and Madhuri enthralled the audience with a charming dance performance to the song 'Tum Se Milke'. The episode commenced with all contestants orchestrating a grand entrance for Madhuri, giving roses to her and dancing to the tune of 'Bholi Si Surat'. Actress Ankita Lokhande delivered a heartfelt tribute, and shook a leg together with Madhuri to the song 'Humko Aaj Kal Hai' from the 1990 film 'Sailaab'. Madhuri was also left emotional after watching a video message from her elder sister and her children. The episode also welcomed celeb guests from the upcoming show 'Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment'. Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi presented Madhuri her favorite dishes -- pooran poli, besan vadi, and misal pav. The ‘Dance Deewane’ family also organised a special cake-cutting ceremony for Madhuri. It airs on Colors. 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
12 May,2024 03:39 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSGauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar's son Zehaan turned one recently. The couple threw a grand birthday bash in Mumbai for their son. However, the couple faced an unpleasant visit by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) who tore down parts of the birthday decor. Gauahar and Zaid organised a jungle-themed birthday party for their son at a posh hotel in Mumbai on Thursday. At the entrance of the hotel, a giant jungle themed gate was installed to welcome the guests. However, the BMC took objection to the erection of the gate outside the party venue. They demanded that the gate needs to be removed. In a video doing the rounds on social media, officials of BMC can be seen asking the people involved with the party to take down the gate. They were later seen dismantling the party gate. Reportedly, the makeshift gate installed on the footpath outside the entrance of the hotel was found objectionable by the city authorities. They initially asked the hotel staff and event organisers to get rid of it. But when their demand fell on deaf ears, the officials took matter on their own hands and took down the structure. They dumped it in a truck that belonged to them and took it away. View this post on Instagram A post shared by yogen shah (@yogenshah_s) In the video, the officials and organisers could be seen getting into a heated argument before the structure was taken down. Zaid Darbar stepped out of the venue and let the officials take down the structure to avoid any further drama. Gauahar and Zaid tied the knot on December 25, 2020. Reportedly, the two met while grocery shopping during the lockdown, and their friendship blossomed into love. In December of last year, the couple announced the pregnancy news with an adorable animated video. In May 2023, the couple welcomed a baby boy. Gauahar shared the news of her baby's arrival via an Instagram post, announcing, "It's a Boy! As salaam u alaikum beautiful world," said our bundle of joy. He arrived on the 10th of May 2023, bringing us true happiness. Our blessed boy thanks everyone for their love and prayers. Grateful and giggling, new parents Zaid and Gauahar.
10 May,2024 12:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMeenakshi Seshadri was so impressed with Atharva’s performance on Superstar Singer 3 that she asked him to be her singing guru. Sharing that watching the young talents perform reminded her of her childhood, she said, “When I studied classical music from south India and north India, Hindustani, I didn’t pursue singing seriously because I always prioritised dance.” Conceding that balancing both is difficult, she asked Atharva, “If the tradition of guru and shishya is being followed here, could you teach me something in a way that makes me seem like a singer too?” He taught her a few lines and they sang together. “Oh my God, you poured your heart and soul into that song with so much emotion,” Meenakshi exclaimed.
10 May,2024 05:20 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamShubhangi Atre has shared that she never compromises on her daily workout routine, and indulges in an hour-long yoga session, along with pilates. Speaking about her workout regime during the summer, Shubhangi, who plays Angoori Bhabi in the sitcom 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai', said: "I never compromise on my daily workout routine. Even amid early shoots, I prioritise an hour-long yoga session to kickstart my day. Although I have a soft spot for traditional yoga, I mix in some pilates weekly and occasional bouts of Zumba to maintain flexibility." To beat the heat, she has also added swimming to her fitness routine. Talking about her diet, the actress said: "I prefer an active lifestyle over rigid meal plans -- that's what keeps me going. I prefer to eat light, especially during summer, and keep myself hydrated with a plethora of homemade healthy juices." 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai' airs at 10:30 p.m. on &TV. 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
09 May,2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAbhishek Nigam can’t wait for his new television show, Pukaar—Dil Se Dil Tak to go on air. The actor, who plays Sagar Maheshwari, heir of a renowned family and a lawyer by profession, says, “It is going to be an adventure as Sagar has multiple layers fuelled by his fears and motivations. He is a confident and intelligent young man who doesn’t believe in love. He is battling with his own emotions and past conflicts.”
08 May,2024 06:57 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamMini Mathur is an Indian television host, actress, and model, known for her work predominantly in the Indian entertainment industry. She gained popularity as the host of the reality show ‘Indian Idol’, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television. Now reminiscing all those good old days, Mini has dropped pictures from the sets of her first ever day on TV sets as a host. While dropping the pictures Mini has written a heartfelt note. While recalling her first day Mini wrote,”January 1995. My first day on a TV set as a TV host. And the story goes like this. I was a fresh off the boat MBA, working with J Walter Thompson. I used to model part time those days and Doordarshan had just moved over for Zee TV, india’s first satellite channel. One day, out of the blue.. the now legendary @sanjoykroy called me in to audition for one of india’s first game shows -TOL MOL KE BOL. The first season had made @riturajksingh (RIP) wildly popular and he was moving to films. They needed new hosts and here I was.. in my lame office salwar kameez and permed hair. I didn’t think i would get picked and I had that “fresh post graduate” wala confidence so I wasn’t nervous one bit. But from the moment he called ACTION, I felt at ease. The camera was my friend, it never intimidated me. I could chat WITH it , not talk AT it. I was home.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mini Mathur (@minimathur) One of the pictures has baby-faced R Madhavan standing with her, while talking about it, she wrote, “My co host was to be this new, cute boy from Jamshedpur @actormaddy (we all know how THAT story went) And together we travelled the length of India making people guess the right price of things to win them. The most popular round was when contestants had to guess the price of the saree wore in each episode. My look was dictated by what the sponsor gave for that week and if my mothers jewellery matched it!! And my young happy skin needed no make up :)” She concluded the note saying, “TMKB was a great learning ground… I learnt how to modulate my voice, how to handle fans and compliments, how to catch my light, signed my first autograph … to be on TV those days was a BIG DEAL!! Sanjoy & Mohit are great foodies so in every city they took us to the best local restaurants.. i learnt SO MUCH about India from both of them. So I quit advertising and moved on to be a full time TV host. And boy do I have some Mad stories! Want more??”
07 May,2024 08:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTelevision actress Arti Singh, who recently tied the knot with businessman Dipak Chauhan, on Tuesday gave a peek into her 'pehli rasoi', which is full of sweetness and love. The niece of Bollywood actor Govinda, Arti Singh took to Instagram and shared a string of pictures with her two million followers. The photos feature her wearing a bright red coloured ethnic suit, with a matching dupatta. She opted for minimal makeup, her hair tied in a bun with a gajra on it. Arti, who was the fourth runner-up in ‘Bigg Boss 13', accessorised the look with big golden earrings, and sported the sindoor and a mangalsutra. She is seen cooking a sweet dish in the kitchen and is posing for the lens. The post is captioned in Hindi: "Pehli Rasoi--mithaas aur pyaar se bharpoor #justmarried". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arti singh sharma (@artisingh5) She is currently seen in the show 'Shravani'. 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
07 May,2024 07:02 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSSinger-comic artiste Munawar Faruqui, who has announced his new song 'Dhandho', said that the song explores the themes of money and power. In collaboration with rapper Spectra, Munawar crafted the track with a lyrical structure showcasing street-style rap. Talking about the song, Munawar said: " 'Dhandho' is a Gujarati word which means business, so we have explored themes of money and power in our song. Reuniting with Spectra after four years, we have infused it with street-style rap, bold lyrics, and underground hip-hop." "Teaming up with Sez On The Beat and Spectra was an incredible experience. I’m excited to finally release this song, it’s my first since 'Bigg Boss 17', so it’s even more special. Can’t wait for everyone to experience it," he added. 'Dhandho' will hit the airwaves on May 10. 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
07 May,2024 07:02 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
