Her daughter is sacrificed in the name of greater good, and Naina Nair is out for revenge. It’s a powerful role for any actor, accepts Anupriya Goenka, who plays a cyber specialist and wife to Barun Sobti’s character in the mythological thriller, Asur. The first instalment concluded on a cliffhanger, and it has taken the makers close to three years to follow it up with another edition. The actor shares that her “character has become an integral part of the narrative in the second season”. “The team, including the makers, actors, and crew, have worked hard to take the series [several] notches higher. The writing is more intense and rich. There is a lot that happens in the course of the narrative,” says Goenka of the Oni Sen-directed series. A still from Asur. Pics/Instagram The second edition of the thriller, which streamed on JioCinema recently, has given Goenka’s character more scope to grow. “Naina has more layers. Her conscience is [clear about] right and wrong. She is willing to let go of things for the greater good,” shares the actor, adding that while there were many ways to portray the role, she didn’t want to make Naina mawkish. “In a thriller, things have to be [quick]. I didn’t want Naina to be a crybaby or distraught. Being an important part of the investigation, [it was important] that she feel her daughter’s loss without verbally expressing [her grief]. Creating a backstory gives more to work from.” The Arshad Warsi, Sobti, Amey Wagh, and Ridhi Dogra-starrer marks Goenka’s 10th year in the industry. Up next, she has Milan Luthria’s Sultan of Delhi, Gubbar, Atul Sabharwal’s Berlin, and the action film, Khilone.
04 June,2023 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Hiren KotwaniPatience is an important trait for actors to have. No one is well-aware of this than Isha Talwar, who has spent over a decade in the industry. While she has dabbled in multi-lingual projects, it was her breakout role as Madhuri Yadav in the second instalment of Mirzapur that got her acclaim. The year 2023 has begun on a great note for the actor after garnering rave reviews for her performance in the Disney+ Hotstar series, Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo. Now, Talwar is eagerly waiting for the third season of Amazon Prime Video’s popular show, Mirzapur. While the shoot wrapped up in November 2022, the series is set to go on air this year. The actor reveals that the anticipated third edition will captivate the audience with an abundance of mind-boggling plot twists. “It is a spicy recipe for a family revenge drama. I am excited about the third season [because] Madhuri Yadav had almost snatched power from Kaleen bhaiya, essayed by the wonderful Pankaj Tripathi, towards the end of the second edition,” says Talwar, who will be seen as Munna’s (Divvyendu Sharma) widow, taking on Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal) and Golu Gupta (Shweta Tripathi) to avenge her husband’s death. “When you take on such an important character in the show, expect nothing but great drama riding on the emotional quotient,” she says.
04 June,2023 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuHalfway into the year, Dimple Kapadia has already given us three projects. She kicked off 2023 with Pathaan, in which she played mentor to Shah Rukh Khan’s character, following it up with Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, and the crime drama, Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo. At 65, Kapadia is busier than ever before. How does she view her career at this stage, having come from a generation where female actors had short shelf lives? “I’ve been blessed. I have no reason to be where I am today. It has given me so much happiness that people have appreciated my work. I was always told that I’m beautiful, but I asked myself, can I act? That question often played on my mind. So, when I started my second innings [in the early ’80s], I wanted to do Sadma [1983], and not Sagar [1985]. But destiny had other things in store for me. Probably God knew that I was not ready to do a Sadma.” In her latest Disney+ Hotstar series, Kapadia—as a matriarch who runs a drug cartel—strikes a balance between warmth and villainy. “There is a certain vulnerability to her that came through despite her craziness,” she reflects. It saw her reunite with director Homi Adajania, who believes that he can’t do any piece of work without her. Is she the Queen Bee on his set? “Whoever said that I’m a star on Homi’s set is talking rubbish,” she laughs. “I am supposed to check what he wants to eat and get him his khana. I do all that because I love being with him and working with him. I love his madness, that’s what we bond over.” In her five-decade career, Kapadia has given us memorable roles in Rudaali (1993), Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet (2020). The chase was always to do different kinds of cinema, she says. “When I did Kaash [1987], I was told, ‘How can you play a mother of a seven-year-old? You should do glamorous roles. People will start typecasting you.’ But I never feared that I would be typecast. What mattered to me was that I tried to do my best in a given role.”
04 June,2023 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuA week before its global release on Netflix, the cast of the popular show 'Never Have I Ever' reunited for the premiere of season 4 of the series. The new season will drop on the streaming platform from June 8. On Friday night, dressed at their finest, the team of 'Never Have I Ever' enjoyed the screening of the new season and also had an after-party. A video from the premiere party is now going viral and has Indian fans excited. Why you ask? The cast of the show is seen dancing to the hit Bollywood track 'Sheila Ki Jawani'. In the videos doing the rounds on the internet, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Richa Moorjani, and Darren Barret are enthusiastically dancing to the peppy dance number which originally featured Katrina Kaif. The song is from the film 'Tees Maar Khan' directed by Farah Khan. Watch: View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) Talking about 'Never Have I Ever', the show explores Devi's journey of self-discovery, identity, friendship, family dynamics, and cultural clashes as she navigates the complexities of being a teenager. It delves into themes such as grief, loss, mental health, cultural assimilation, and the search for personal happiness and acceptance.'Never Have I Ever' is a popular American coming-of-age comedy-drama television series created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher. The show follows the life of Devi Vishwakumar, a first-generation Indian-American teenager living in Sherman Oaks, California. The premise of the show revolves around Devi, who is determined to improve her social status and achieve popularity in high school after a difficult freshman year. Devi is a smart and ambitious teenager, but she also struggles with her temper and impulsive behavior, which often leads to amusing and chaotic situations. Meanwhile, in conversation with IANS, Poorna Jagannathan, who plays the role of Nalini Vishwakumar in the popular coming of age teenage comedy series, spoke about the ever burgeoning fandom of the show, which revolves around the life of a teenager named Devi Vishwakumar played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. Poorna said: "I think it is really funny. The writing is really funny. It brings out all of the emotions. It is so universal right? Everyone has been a teenager, fighting with their parents. Everyone can relate to the character of Devi." She added: "They see themselves at that awkward stage. It also depicts family in a way it is so universal. The fierce bond of family invites everyone into the story."
03 June,2023 02:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is perhaps a classic example of how a talented actor can shine, regardless of his screen time. Even in his latest offering Scoop, the spotlight may not be on him, but the actor will make you sit up and take notice. He plays the editor-in-chief of a newspaper in the Karishma Tanna-fronted Netflix series, which is helmed by Hansal Mehta and based on Jigna Vora’s book, Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison. While he was happy to reunite with Mehta after Shahid (2013) and Chhalaang (2020), Ayyub admits that he was initially jittery about the role. Hansal Mehta “I made a panic call to Hansal two days before the shoot, [asking him] how to shape the character of Imran. He calmed me down and explained how Imran would behave and talk. On set, he ragged me a lot, but he also took care of me,” grins Ayyub. Grasping the role, he says, was tough since he hadn’t read the source material nor did he have a direct reference for the character. “[As actors], we usually interact with entertainment journalists, [and our conversations] are always fun. But when playing an editor-in-chief, you have to showcase the calmness, the responsible nature, and the ability to work without hurting the sentiments of any party.” Since making his debut with No One Killed Jessica (2011), the actor has played myriad roles. “I’ve consciously tried to [avoid being] stereotyped. It is natural to get similar roles. The benefit of working with Hansal is that he can imagine you in different parts. I had to go beyond my [range] as a performer for this role.”
03 June,2023 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamWeb series: SCOOPPlatform: NetflixCast: Karishma Tanna, Mohd Zeeshan AyyubCreators: Hansal Mehta, Mrunmayee LagooRating: 4/ 5 Really, there’s a thin line between a super scoop, and something that subsequently makes everyone cringe, “Oops!” This depends wholly on how cross-checked/researched the facts are in a journalistic story — without rushing into hearsay, half-truths, in order to mix sufficient masala, or simply meet a deadline! The same can be said for fiction, based on a true story. Facts elevate it. Credibility equally counts for everything. The series, 'Scoop', by Hansal Mehta — jointly sharing creator-credit, or by-line, as it were, with Mrunmayee Lagoo — is about the murder of Mumbai’s seasoned journalist, J Dey (1955-2011). He was shot dead by contract killers in the posh Hiranandani Gardens in Powai, around a square, that is now named after Dey himself (a first, perhaps, for a city scribe). This assassination scene is quietly, yet dramatically, shot in Scoop. When he passed on, Dey used to be the crime & investigations editor at Mid-day. Which is the publication you’re reading this in. Goes without saying, this series means a lot to my colleagues. Many other characters are inspired by people I’ve worked/interacted with. If you sense any bias, therefore, it must merely be excused as expected. Still, Dey — fictionalised as Jaideb Sen (Prosenjit Chatterjee; Bengal’s stalwart, and OTT’s latest find) — appears for barely a few minutes over a six-part series. There is a sensitive, long-shot, wholly under a soft background score — of doctors announcing his death, at the end of first episode. The show is entirely centred on Jigna Vora — named Jagruti Pathak (Karishma Tanna, in phenomenal form) — who used to be Dey’s competitor in the crime beat, at Asian Age (called Eastern Age here). Vora was charged with abetting Dey’s murder — by allegedly passing on his personal details to the underworld don, Chhota Rajan; who, in turn, ordered the hit. She was lodged for several months in prison. The evidence against her, according to this series, was screamingly circumstantial, hence speculative. What had really happened? That’s Scoop for you — from a particular angle/POV/peg, if you will. The detailing that follows, never descending to obvious melodrama, is a far cry from, say, the picture, Page 3 (2005), that similarly surveyed Mumbai tabloid journalism, also with the mid-day newsroom for an obvious nod. If anything, this is a fine follow-up to Hansal Mehta’s own, Scam 1992 (Sony LIV) — that, likewise, lenses print reporters on the field (working in tag-teams of two), and looks at the Gujarati middle class (sizeable portion of Mumbai), through their homes. Scam (2020), of course, was essentially a biopic of stock-broker Harshad Mehta. The first thing you noticed about that stellar series — which is progressively getting common on the OTT scene — are relatively lesser-known, multiple actors, matching the best roles, creating an unusual chemistry, that audiences had been deprived of, with ‘saas-bahus’ on network television, and hero-centric mainstream cinema, forever. It’s the same with Scoop. Take Harman Baweja, for example. Around the time this series is set, Baweja was being foisted as a replacement for Hrithik Roshan for a Bollywood superstar. He altogether disappeared from the screen thereafter. With him as a cop heading the Mumbai Police crime branch, modelled on Himanshu Roy — you can tell how we may have lost a great actor instead! You similarly observe handpicked performers, even for walk-on parts, down to the rando reading the news on TV — that’s the YouTube sensation, Danish Sait, no less. Together, this tight ensemble — Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub (as the newspaper editor) onwards — brilliantly brings out a world believably alive. At its heart, 'Scoop' is about the nexus of politics, crime, business, and news media — particularly in a way that they converge in a city like Mumbai. The lowly-paid journalist, in the middle of all this, sometimes looks like Icarus, before the powerful sun. Because that’s the job, isn’t it? And yet, if they’re not distant/careful enough, it could finish them off completely. There is no such thing as a free tip-off. The fine balance between lone-wolf and mouthpiece is hard to maintain. The protagonist, Jagruti Pathak, is a star crime-reporter. Which, chiefly entails, access to top cops; and surely the relevant criminals, too. Being in an English language newspaper (over regional/Hindi press in Mumbai), substantially helps. This is strangely true, whether you cover politics or pop-culture. Being a woman doesn’t help — if you have to constantly fight off sexual rumours to explain professional success. Her rise depends on stringing sources, leads, landing exclusives. Page One is the daily, holy grail. What if the tables turn? She finds herself getting eaten by the same headline-hunters she would once compete against! The humiliation is complete. She was, after all, booked for organised crime. In the same way that so many journalists have been tried for terrorism, for reporting news. It is relevant analogies and insights like these that lift Scoop from simply a story of Dey’s death. Also Read: 'The Boogeyman' movie review: Generic and old-fashioned ‘not-so-scary’ movie A lot like the subjects he covered, Dey himself was a mysterious kinda figure. By 2010 or so, I’d read his crime columns, wondering if the Bombay underworld (seemingly long-dead), was only in his head. This is, of course, before his tragic, frightening demise. Scoop offers an alternate theory to his murder. It’s based on Vora’s book, Behind Bars in Byculla — on the price of her time in jail. It’s more a deep-dive into the crime (reporting) scene, than Orange is the new Black! Can’t wait for my colleagues to watch this first-rate series, so we can animatedly discuss it at the Press Club — now, that’s the bar we can afford. It’s not as posh as in this show. Neither are the suited scribes!
02 June,2023 10:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharOn Mani Ratnam's birthday, June 2, Amazon Prime Video has released the sequel to his magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan digitally. A visual spectacle, PS-II picks up from the edge-of-the-seat climax of the first film, which is also currently available on the OTT platform. Season 2 of the psychological mystery thriller Asur has also released on JioCinema today, while Disney+ Hotstar has come up with a new show, called School of Lies. Here are more details on what's streaming now on OTT: Ponniyin Selvan: II (Amazon Prime Video) Directed by legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam and produced under his banner of Madras Talkies, along with Subaskaran Allirajah's LycaProductions, the epic historical fantasy adventure-drama is based on the exceptional novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy. A sequel to the 2022 blockbuster Ponniyin Selvan: I, the film features a distinguished and acclaimed ensemble cast including Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, R. Sarathkumar, Jayaram, Prabhu, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vikram Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Rahman, and R. Parthiban in pivotal roles. Prime members in more than 240 countries and territories around the world will be able to stream the film in Tamil, with dubs available in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Asur Season 2 (JioCinema) The psychological mystery thriller, Asur Season 2, that released on June 1, became an immediate sensation, leaving viewers intrigued with its gripping storyline. Following the success of the opening three episodes, fans of the captivating thriller series from across the country pleaded with the platform to release the balance episodes at one go. The series has been trending continuously on social media for the past 3 days. Such has been the fervour, that JioCinema has now decided to go ‘fan-first’ in its approach and give in to the crazy fandom. The platform is releasing the balance 5 episodes also today. Asur Season 2 which was earlier slated for ‘one episode a day’, is available Free on JioCinema. School of Lies (Disney+ Hotstar) School of Lies is a drama thriller set in the fictional Dalton Town, surrounded by hills where a young 12-year-old boy goes missing from a private boarding school RISE, and the subsequent domino effect it causes as the truth is only as complex, as simple. A tale of shame, anger and grief, the narrative explores various stakeholders as the mystery unfolds- young boys on the cusp of adulthood, an ageing teacher with a terrible secret, a distant counsellor with a moral conflict and a panicking mother in denial. School of Lies is also the story of two young explorers as they discover life and magic. It all collides over 8 episodes to reveal a stunning secret. Scoop (Netflix) When drive, determination, and the never-ending chase to break the Scoop - breaks the journalist, a harrowing sequence of events follows. Netflix dropped the trailer for Hansal Mehta's upcoming crime drama - Scoop today. The gripping trailer for Scoop showcases society’s rush to judgment as Jagruti, a headline-writing journalist is caught between the nexus of the police, the underworld, and the media. One single phone call sets off a chain of events. Inspired by real events and Jigna Vora’s memoir, Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison - the series is produced by Matchbox Shots and created by Hansal Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul. The genre-defining drama series premiered on Netflix on June 2. Manifest Season 4 Part 2 (Netflix) The final episodes for Manifest have landed on Netflix. Following the events of Season 4 Part 1, the second part will see Ben and the others try to stop Angelina for good as the Death Date draws nearer. Netflix shared the first nine minutes of Part 2. The American supernatural drama series is created by Jeff Rake. It centers on the passengers and crew of a commercial airliner who suddenly reappear after being presumed dead for five and a half years. It stars Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Athena Karkanis, J. R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Jack Messina, Parveen Kaur, Matt Long, Holly Taylor, Daryl Edwards, and Ty Doran.
02 June,2023 05:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Bohni BandyopadhyayPrime Video announced the global premiere of romance drama, Amazon Original series 'Jee Karda', starting 15 June. The series revolves around seven childhood friends who discover that life at 30 is definitely not what they had imagined while growing up. Featuring Tamannaah Bhatia, Aashim Gulati, Suhail Nayyar, Anya Singh, Hussain Dalal, Sayan Banerjee, and Samvedna Suwalka as the buddies, the heartwarming-yet-edgy series also features Simone Singh and Malhar Thakar in pivotal roles. Written and directed by Arunima Sharma, co-written by Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal, and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, the eight-episode series will exclusively premiere in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide. 7 childhood besties, 7 unbreakable bonds, 1 incredible journey!watch #JeeKardaOnPrime, June 15@tamannaahspeaks #AashimGulati @suhailnayyar #AnyaSingh #ArunimaSharma #HomiAdajania #DineshVijan @SachinJigarLive @MaddockFilms @TSeries pic.twitter.com/obQeOR18dE — prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) June 2, 2023 'Jee Karda' is an immersive story of seven childhood friends, who thought that by the time they were 30 that their lives will be sorted. However, upon turning 30, they eventually find out that it’s a grand hot mess instead. They live, love, laugh, make mistakes together, get their hearts broken, and grow up a little, but through it all, discover that the best of friendships and relationships are imperfect and life is a luminous shade of gray. “Jee Karda is a heartwarming story about love, heartbreak, dating, family dynamics, and above all, the unbreakable bond of friendship that often carries us through the vicissitudes of daily life,” said Aparna Purohit, head of India Originals, Prime Video. “At Prime Video, it remains our constant endeavour to help bring to life stories that are authentic, engaging, and entertaining, and Jee Karda is yet another step in that direction. It has truly been an incredibly rewarding collaboration with Maddock Films.” Dinesh Vijan, Maddock Films shared, “Jee Karda marks our first association with Prime Video, and there could be no better way to kick start our creative journey. This story takes a heartfelt and relatable look at relationships. The plot and characters are crafted to have a wide appeal across all kinds of viewers. I am looking forward to unveiling our show to audiences on 15 June”.
02 June,2023 12:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentStreaming platform Netflix on Thursday announced it will treat fans with exclusive first looks from returning and upcoming titles through global event 'Tudum', which will be attended by Indian star Alia Bhatt and the cast of "The Archies", directed by Zoya Akhtar. After two years as a virtual event, the 2023 'Tudum' livestream will be broadcast live around the world on June 17. The three-day convention event will be held from June 16 to 18 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bhatt will participate as one of the cast members of the Netflix film "Heart of Stone", which marks her Hollywood debut. Her co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan are also part of the talent line-up. The cast of "The Archies" -- Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Yuvraj Menda, Agastya Nanda and Vedang Raina -- will also attend the showcase. 'Tudum', a two-hour event, will feature Netflix stars and creators from across the globe and present feature never-before-seen footage, trailers, and first looks of the upcoming series, films and games, a press release issued by the streamer read. Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth and director Sam Hargrave will talk about their movie "Extraction 2" at the extravaganza, which will also see stars of "The Witcher" season three Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Joey Batey, as well as Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, and Sofia Boutella for "Rebel Moon", and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" cast in attendance. There will be special appearances by the "Stranger Things" team; Jenna Ortega, Hunter Doohan, Emma Myers and Joy Sunday for the series "Wednesday"; Ralph Macchio and William Zabka for "Cobra Kai"; and John Boyega and Teyonah Parris for "They Cloned Tyrone". For fans based in or travelling to Sao Paulo, the global live stream event is ticketed separate from the activities inside the Bienal and will be available for free starting June 2 on a first-come, first-serve basis through Tudum.com/event. 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
02 June,2023 10:40 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIWhat does Reema Kagti seek from her projects? Not necessarily the audience’s validation. All she hopes is that people understand the intent behind her creations. With Dahaad, the creator-director has experienced the satisfaction of people acknowledging the truths she wanted to highlight. The trailer may have made one believe that the Sonakshi Sinha and Vijay Varma-starrer revolves around the cat-and-mouse chase between a fierce woman cop and a serial killer. But what makes it a winner is how effectively it delves into themes of gender violence, patriarchy and casteism. Reema Kagti “Whether it’s the case or the caste politics, we took most of it from newspapers. We wanted to tell a bigger story that examines the socio-cultural situations,” says Kagti, who shared the directorial responsibilities with Ruchika Oberoi. Through the Amazon Prime Video series’ protagonist and the multiple murders, Kagti put the social ill of casteism front and centre. She was certain about making her stand clear on issues that people may be reluctant to address. “Many in this country are in denial of what is happening. Those who believe the caste system doesn’t exist, are privileged. It should be addressed because cinema has the power to make us think,” she asserts. But wasn’t she apprehensive about tackling the subject of inter-faith marriage in the current political climate? “If your intent is good, you are okay. I have shown one inter-faith marriage, where the woman wants to do it. I’m not making a statement about anything else. I’m not saying the reverse doesn’t exist. In inter-faith marriages, the narrative that’s coming up is that you are taking [away the] agency of a woman. I couldn’t do Dahaad without getting into it.”
02 June,2023 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaActor Kim Cattrall is all set to reprise her iconic role as Samantha Jones from 'Sex and the City' for the season 2 finale of 'And Just Like That'. The show, Max’s revival of HBO’s 'Sex and the City'. However, the 'Sex and the City' universe will be united just for one night, reports Variety. Reportedly, Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones will appear only in one scene. The report stated that Cattrall shot her dialogue on March 22 in New York City without seeing or speaking with the stars of the series, including Sarah Jessica Parker, or with 'And Just Like That' showrunner Michael Patrick King. In the first season of 'And Just Like That', Carrie engaged with an estranged Samantha over text and in the finale the two make a plan to see each other and reconcile. In the upcoming season finale, Samantha will be seen having a conversation on call with Parker's Carrie Bradshaw. In the show, Samantha is shown to have moved to London. As per reports, 'Sex and the City' costume designer Patricia Field dressed Samantha for the scene even though she has not been working in 'And Just Like That'. The return of Samantha has certainly got fans of the show excited. Samantha played an empowered publicist who put the “sex” in the groundbreaking series that ran on HBO for six seasons from 1998 to 2004, and led to two movies. It was in 2016, that Cattrall announced that she was done playing Samantha. She said she did not feel like the script warranted a third film of the franchise. “I would have preferred for all of us to have some kind of event to warrant a third film,” Cattrall told Variety in 2022. “That didn’t happen.” The public announcement by Cattrall led to a public fallout with Parker. When the show got a reboot in 2021, King and Parker did not approach Cattrall and instead introduced new characters in the lives of Carrie, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristen Davis) to fill her place. The second season of 'And Just Like That' premieres on June 22. However, Cattrall’s scene as Samantha won’t air until August.
01 June,2023 10:53 AM IST | Los Angeles | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
