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Subhash K Jha, in a new installment of This Day That Year, revisits the Kunal Kohli directed rom-com Mujhse Dosti Karoge , which starred Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji as it clocks 23 years.

Besides Hrithik Roshan’s grin, Kareena Kapoor’s pout and Rani Mukherjee’s sighing transparency, the pivotal character in Kunal Kohli’s debut film is Erich Segal’s immortal paean to mushy romance Love Story that has been a benchmark for celluloid’s flirtatious frolic for over 35 years now. Mint-fresh copies of the novel (to go with Sharmistha Roy’s slick-and-span and predictably colourfulsets) peep out of every nook and cranny of this fluffy romantic triangle.

In the 1973 blockbuster, Bobby, which was partly inspired by Segal’s novel, the 15-year old Dimple had created a nationwide furore when she looked Rishi Kapoor straight in the eye and said, “Mujhse dosti karoge?” . All the three main characters...

One of Bollywood’s most iconic romantic thrillers, Fanaa (2006), is remembered for the intense chemistry between Aamir Khan and Kajol. But did you know that Hrithik Roshan was originally offered the lead role—long before Aamir stepped in?

Yes, the charming and versatile Hrithik was director Kunal Kohli’s first choice to play the enigmatic terrorist, Rehan, who falls in love with a blind girl, played by Kajol. The revelation has surprised many fans, especially those who couldn’t imagine anyone else but Aamir in that layered role.

Why Did Hrithik Say No?

According to reports, Hrithik politely turned down the offer due to creative differences. At the time, he was riding high on the success of his action-packed roles and may not have been convinced about playing a romantic character with grey shades.

Director Kunal Kohli recently confirmed in an interview that although Hrithik was his top pick, things didn’t materialize.

Aamir Khan Had Three Names For Fanaa’s Actress Despite Aishwarya Rai Being The 1st Choice! (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Aamir Khan and Kajol are currently having an intense battle at the box office with their films Sitaare Zameen Par and Maa. While Szp, arrived last week, it is still giving a tough fight to Maa. However, once upon a time Kajol chose Mr Perfectionist over Shah Rukh Khan for her comeback!

When Kajol Rejected Srk!

In 2006, Kajol was offered two films – one was Aditya Chopra’s Fanaa, and the other was Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. While everyone thought that the actress would obviously go with Kank as it involved two of her closest friends, Srk and Karan, she surprised everyone by choosing Kunal Kohli’s Fanaa!

Aamir Khan’s Og Co-Star, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Interestingly, not many people know that Fanaa had an altogether different star cast,...

Aamir Khan Films ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Aamir Khan’s latest release Sitaare Zameen Par is now playing in theatres and is being admired by critics and audiences. It remains to be seen whether it becomes the hit film the perfectionist actor has been waiting for. Over the years, the celebrated star has delivered many stellar performances. But when it comes to films that have scored the highest on Rotten Tomatoes, three stand out above the rest. Many might assume they’re Lagaan, Dangal, or Taare Zameen Par. Interestingly, that’s not the case. Read on to find out which three Aamir Khan movies have a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

1. Fanaa Release Year – 2006 Rotten Tomatoes Score – 100% Director – Kunal Kohli Streaming On – Amazon Prime Video

Plot: The romantic thriller follows a blind Kashmiri girl, Zooni (played by Kajol), who travels to Delhi with her friends. There, she meets a charming and flirtatious tour guide,...

Jatin-Lalit’s songs in Kunal Kohli’s Hum Tum especially the title song, were hits.

Recalling the genesis of the music, Lalit says, “After Mohabbatein, there was nothing else we were doing for Aditya Chopra and Yash Raj Films as Adi and Yashji were very busy working on the final constructions and installations at Yrf studios. One day, Adi called us and asked to come over to meet him. Both me and Jatin went to meet him, and Adi spoke to us about this film Hum Tum with a new director, Kunal Kohli!”

Lalit vividly recalls Aditya Chopra’s instructions . “I remember very clearly him mentioning and saying that, ‘Look, this time we don’t have a Shahrukh Khan with us. We have Saif and he so far hasn’t had a single hit as a solo hero!! So a lot will depend on the music. If the music fails,...

Shining the light on Kunal Kohli’s rom-com, Hum Tum starring Rani Mukherjee and Saif Ali Khan as it clocks 21 years!

Hum Tum is a boy-meets-girl tale with no unexpected twists and turns. Its greatest Usp is its disarming lack of guile. Kohli nurtures his two protagonists’ stormy relationship through several continents and a gigantic time zone that spawns more than a decade(though neither Saif nor Rani bring a change in their look or attitude, except maybe in Saif’s hairstyle).

The ‘epic’ design doesn’t weight down the basic levity of the romantic comedy.

And what we end up looking at isn’t so much a celebration of universal love as two clumsy people grappling with the grammar of the emotion called love , who don’t get the punctuations right. But director Kohli, whose earlier film Mujhse Dosti Karoge was clogged with incongruities, gets all the pauses and punctuations right.

Subhash K Jha revisits another excellent film, Fanaa, which starred Aamir Khan and Kajol in this special installment of This Day That Year. Director Kunal Kohli also shares his thoughts on the film, its longevity, and its popularity with fans today.

Send up a silent prayer for rediscovering that old lost pleasure of a powerful plot that Fanaa retrieves so affectionately for us. Also, send up a prayer for an actor like Kajol, who fills up the screen with feelings and thoughts that go way beyond the tears, fears, and jeers of a workaday movie. Writer Shibani Bathija’s powerful drama about the tumultuous romance and tragedy between a blind Kashmiri girl, Zooni (Kajol), and her guide, mentor, and tormentor, Rehaan (Aamir Khan), is suffused in the silken sounds of a heart-feeling the first stirrings of love and hurt.

Kajol expresses the delicate fragrance of a blind girl’s romantic...

Yash Chopra Hum Tum ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Romantic films have long been the backbone of Bollywood, but not all love stories receive immediate backing, even from the biggest names in the industry. One such case was Hum Tum (2004), a film that eventually became a defining moment in Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji’s careers. However, during its making, legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra had little faith in the project.

Kunal Kohli, who directed the film, recently opened up about the challenges he faced in getting it made. Despite the confidence of Aditya Chopra, Yash Chopra was far from convinced. The veteran filmmaker even dismissed the script as “ordinary” and compared it unfavorably to Mujhse Dosti Karoge!. His doubts were so strong that he refused to invest more than ₹7.5 crores and even stated that if the film failed, he wouldn’t put his name on it.

Why Yash Chopra Initially Rejected...

To celebrate the brilliant Rani Mukherjee’s birthday, Subhash K Jha shares some special memories and outstanding performances by the actress in this fabulous feature.

Though she was already one by then, the first time I met Rani Mukherjee, I couldn’t believe she was a star. Short and pretty plain, she walked into my then-good friend Akshay Kumar’s makeup room to say hello. They were both shooting in the same studio on adjoining sets…he for Khiladi 420 and she for Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega .

Akshay and I were having lunch with some friends when the door opened. Rani walked in wearing clothes that depict a typical party sequence in our films and heels so high they looked like stilts!

Rani, being Rani, shook hands with everyone in the room with a democratic smile and saved a special smile and a hug for the hero in the room.

TV Stars who couldn’t shine bright in Bollywood ( Photo Credit – Instagram ) 1. Ankita Lokhande: Pavitra Rishta to Bollywood Dreams

Remember the angelic Archana from Pavitra Rishta? Yes, we’re talking about Ankita Lokhande, who ruled our TV screens for years. Ankita’s journey to Bollywood began with a bang – landing a role in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi alongside Kangna Ranaut. Despite her stellar performance, the magic of Archana didn’t translate into silver screen stardom. She later appeared in movies like Baaghi 3 and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, but couldn’t quite replicate her TV success. Yet, Ankita remains our reigning queen of soap operas!

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A post shared by Ankita Lokhande Jain (@lokhandeankita)

2. Barun Sobti: The Heartthrob of TV with Bollywood Missteps

The charming Arnav Singh Raizada from Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon had hearts fluttering across the nation. Barun’s Bollywood innings started with Main Aur Mr.

Before Rajkummar Rao in Srikanth, These 8 Bollywood Stars Played Blind Characters on Screen ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Rajkumar Rao has once again proven his acting prowess with a wonderful portrayal of the titular role in Srikanth. The actor has done full justice to the character of Srikanth Bolla, a blind man who becomes a successful entrepreneur.

But before Rajkumar, quite a few stars had taken on the challenging role of a visually impaired person and masterfully portrayed their struggles on screen. Here are 8 Bollywood actors who left an indelible mark on the audience’s hearts by playing blind characters.

1. Rani Mukerji in Black

In 2005, Rani Mukerji was widely lauded for starring as a deaf-and-blind woman in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. The actress represented the trials and tribulations faced by physically challenged people by playing Michelle, a girl who could neither see nor hear. But, with the guidance of her stubborn teacher,...

Actor Vardhan Puri, who is awaiting the release of his horror film ‘Aseq’, has something to tell: his spine-chilling experience when he was attacked by a six and half feet tall unclothed lady in his hotel room.

Vardhan is the grandson of the late actor Amrish Puri, and will be soon seen in ‘Aseq’ which will drop on Ott.

Walking down the memory lane, Vardhan said: “I got attacked by a six and half feet tall unclothed lady in my hotel room early in the morning one day and I had to defend myself somehow before she tried to strangle me. After the experience, I could not be sure if the lady was a human being. It was extremely traumatic to say the least and a lot of people from the unit witnessed the madness. I still suffer from Ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder).”

Sharing his experience, he said: “The...

Mumbai, May 27 (Ians) Actress Kajol, whose film ‘Fanaa’ recently completed 17 years, recalled her experience of shooting the film in blistering cold.

The actress shared that she and Aamir Khan shot for a song in minus 27 degrees Celsius in Poland, and she wore just a chiffon salwar kameez while her co-star bought himself a ‘nice thick’ jacket!

Taking to her Twitter, Kajol shared a long note as she wrote: “One of my oh so many ‘comebacks’ but Zooni will always remain special to me simply because I just had to be me without my glasses. #Nerds rock! And since you guys loved my memories, let me give you some more.”

She went on: “Poland was -27 degrees centigrade on the first day of shoot and I was wearing a thin chiffon salwar kameez on a frozen lake with the wind chill factor aside, #AamirKhan on the other hand had bought himself...

Mumbai, Feb 24 (Ians) Veteran actor Amrish Puri’s grandson, Vardhan Puri, who made his film debut in 2019 with the film ‘Yeh Saali Aashiqui’ is all set to work on an international series and will be starting the shoot for the same in June.

Although he has not made any announcements the sources suggest that Vardhan had been approached for the project in January and committed to it also.

If sources are to be believed, the project is primarily a human drama series and will be shot lavishly in the US. As per the sources: “Vardhan enjoys huge popularity, especially amongst the youth post the digital success of his critically acclaimed film ‘Yeh Saali Aashiqui’. The young actor who is also equally popular in the brand endorsement space will be collaborating with a production house based in the US and the series is expected to go on floors by June this year.

Actor Bobby Deol, who has had an eventful year with his performance in the Ott world with ‘Aashram Season 2’, has wrapped up shooting for his upcoming film ‘Shlok – The Desi Sherlock’, which he had announced earlier this year.

‘Shlok – The Desi Sherlock’ is directed by Kunal Kohli and marks the debut of Ananya Birla in Bollywood.

Bobby now has taken to his official social media account to announce the wrap-up of ‘Sholk’. The actor said: “And it’s a wrap for #Shlok. Had a wonderful time working with the A-team, some of the most amazing people I’ve worked with.”

‘Shlok – The Desi Sherlock’ is a spy thriller and Bobby will be taking the audiences by surprise as this is the first time we will see him on screen in this avatar.

Apart from ‘Shlok – The Desi Sherlock’, Bobby will be soon seen in Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Animal’, ‘Aashram’ Season...

CinemaBollywood film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ starred Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan.IANSInstagram/KaranJoharBollywood film ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan is celebrating its 19th anniversary. On this occasion, the film's producer Karan Johar, took to his Instagram to reminisce about the film as he shared throwback pictures from the film's sets. Taking to his Instagram, Karan shared the pictures as he wrote in the caption: "An entire lifetime of memories, in a heartbeat! This film gave so much more than just that - it gave me joy, unbreakable bonds, a different lens for story telling and of course - the last film set I could be on with my father. And for that, I will forever be grateful to this film! #19YearsOfKalHoNaaHo" Interestingly, Preity Zinta was not the first choice for the role of Naina. Karan in fact,...

Those who grew up in the 1990s have one more reason to get the feeling that they are growing older faster than they thought – the Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan-starrer ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ is celebrating its 19th anniversary.

On this occasion, the film’s producer Karan Johar, took to his Instagram to reminisce about the film as he shared throwback pictures from the film’s sets.

The film also marked the debut of Nikkhil Advani, who started off as KJo’s assistant on ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. Nikkhil has since then delivered movies such as ‘D-Day’ and ‘Patiala House’ as a director and produced films like ‘Airlift’ and ‘Satyameva Jayate’ and the Ott series ‘Mumbai Diaries’.

Taking to his Instagram, Karan shared the pictures as he wrote in the caption: “An entire lifetime of memories, in a heartbeat! This film gave so much more...

Streaming

Discovery racked up subscription numbers during the opening week of the ongoing Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the company has revealed. Eight times more viewers are streaming Olympic content on Discovery’s streaming services compared to the same period for Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, with total new paid subscribers already surpassing 2018 with a week of competition still to go. Three-quarters of a billion streaming minutes have been consumed on Discovery’s subscription services so far, more than 18 times higher than the same period of PyeongChang 2018. Average minutes consumed per viewer across Discovery Plus and Eurosport streaming services has more than doubled, with audiences also n average watching 29% longer on television vs PyeongChang 2018. Discovery’s free Olympic news and short video clips on Eurosport.com have also more than doubled their reach. On the linear TV front, Eurosport audiences have maintained 2018 levels.

Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO, Discovery streaming and International,...

If you’re bored with the atrocious plotting and scheming of Saas, Bahu and Sajish dramas, here is a heart-warming and cuddly, yet bold and provocative modern-day drama. Lionsgate Play’s first-ever Hindi original series starring Lara Dutta, Prateik Babbar and Shinnova and helmed by Kunal Kohli, is a tale about a recently separated single mother, who […]...

Mumbai, May 15 (Ians) Karishma Tanna is literally in the mood to speed back to happier times in the past, going by her Instagram post on Saturday.

A black and white image she put up shows Karishma loading the boot of her car. Dressed in ankle boots, shorts, a casual top and shades, the actress looks all set to go.

"Take me away to better days #travel #vibe #potd," she wrote as caption.

Karishma was last seen in "Lahore Confidential", Kunal Kohli's spy drama that dropped digitally earlier this year. Last year, her dance number "Basanti" comedy release "Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari" became quite popular.

--Ians

dc/vnc...

In today’s Global Bulletin, Acorn TV greenlights “Queens of Mystery” season two; NATPE Budapest confirms in-person event in August; Lionsgate Play unveils “U-Special” — its second original series in India; ITV commissions relationship drama “You & Me”; Dave Johns joins the cast of “I’m Still Ethan”; Mexico’s Dopamine creates a new in-house entertainment team; Spanish courts proceed with a reckless homicide case against adult film star Nacho Vidal; Front Row nabs “The Present” and deals it to Netflix; and the New Voice Awards reveals its 2021 winners.

Renewal

AMC Networks-owned streaming platform Acorn TV has renewed its Primetime Emmy-nominated British crime series “Queens of Mystery” for a second season.

Created by Julian Unthank, who co-writes with Matthew Thomas (“Marcella”), season two sees the return of Julie Graham (“The Bletchley Circle”), Sarah Woodward (“The Pale Horse”) and Siobhan Redmond (“Unforgotten”), joined by newcomer Florence Hall (“The Princess Switch: Switched Again...

Global streaming platform Starz, which launched its Lionsgate Play direct-to-consumer Ott app in India last year, is partnering with Lionsgate Television (Lgtv) on its first Indian original series, a remake of Lgtv’s critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe®-nominated hit series Casual.

Casual will kick off Lionsgate Play’s first original slate of dramas, comedies, crime and action series for the Indian and South Asian market, building on its success with acclaimed award-winning series such as Normal People (nominated for two Golden Globe), The Goes Wrong Show and the hit series Love Life. The remake of Casual will offer great drama with bold character explorations that have already become a trademark of Lionsgate Play’s content offering for Asian subscribers.

"Lionsgate Play continues to gain momentum in India, proving to be a strong driver of Starz’s international growth,” said Starz President and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch. “Partnering with Lionsgate Television to kick...

Starz’s Lionsgate Play streaming app has set its first original Indian series, a remake of Lionsgate Television’s Casual comedy.

The Indian version will be directed by Kunal Kohli, the Bollywood helmer of Hum Tum and Fanaa, and will star Lara Dutta and Prateik Babbar. Late last year, Starz launched its international streaming app in India, with the Anna Kendrick drama Love Life and comedy The Goes Wrong Show among its offerings.

The remake of director Jason Reitman’s original comedy for Hulu about a bachelor, his newly-divorced sister and her teenage daughter living under one roof will launch Lionsgate Play’s first original slate of ...

Starz’s Lionsgate Play streaming app has set its first original Indian series, a remake of Lionsgate Television’s Casual comedy.

The Indian version will be directed by Kunal Kohli, the Bollywood helmer of Hum Tum and Fanaa, and will star Lara Dutta and Prateik Babbar. Late last year, Starz launched its international streaming app in India, with the Anna Kendrick drama Love Life and comedy The Goes Wrong Show among its offerings.

The remake of director Jason Reitman’s original comedy for Hulu about a bachelor, his newly-divorced sister and her teenage daughter living under one roof will launch Lionsgate Play’s first original slate of ...

Starz is going Casual in South Asia. The global streamer’s Lionsgate Play is partnering with Lionsgate Television on its first Indian original series, a remake of Lgtv’s comedy that ran 2015-18 on Hulu.

The news comes after launched its direct-to-consumer Ott app Lionsgate Play in the country last year. Casual will kick off the service’s first original slate for the Indian and South Asian market.

The original series followed a dysfunctional family with a bachelor brother (Tommy Dewey) and his newly divorced sister (Michaela Watkins). Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while living under one roof again and raising a teenager (Tara Lynne Barr). The Indian Casual will star former Miss Universe Lara Dutta as the sister and Prateik Babbar as her brother and be directed by Bollywood filmmaker Kunal Kohli.

“Lionsgate Play...

Lahore Confidential review is here. The ZEE5 original is directed by Kunal Kohli, the romantic spy thriller stars Karishma Tanna, Richa Chadha and Arunoday Singh. Created by S Hussain Zaidi and produced by Jar Pictures, Lahore Confidential premiers today on ZEE5 – February 04, 2021.

Lahore Confidential Review

Tum pass aayein, yu muskuraye, phir humne aap ke thru blast or murder karwayein. This should have been titled as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in Lahore with the tagline – audience tum nahin samjhoge.

Why I am so harsh?.. aree the makers say that Lahore Confidential is a fresh concept of a romantic spy thriller with a classic romantic backdrop and thrilling story line.

Par uskeliye toh Tiger Zinda Hai Na ‘bhai’, phir kyu..

Jaane bhi do yaaro. Let’s gets back to this shayari vayari wali romantic spy story.

Hua yu ki ek thi Ananya (Richa Chadda), a Hindustani Raw agent but the less adventurous...

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli says his upcoming romantic spy thriller Lahore Confidential is narrated from the point of a woman, which makes it an unconventional film.

"The main thing different about Lahore Confidential is the fact that it is from the point of view of a woman and it places a woman equally at the centre of the stage," Kohli said.

"(It is) the stage of a job, stage of a spy, a stage of equal rights, a stage of everything where finally women are at par, and every step of the way," he added.

Lahore Confidential revolves around an Indian woman who, amidst her mundane routine and love for Urdu literature, finds herself on intelligence duty in Pakistan. The film is based in Pakistan and mixes a sense of patriotism and thrills with old school romance.

The film features Richa Chadha and Karishma Tanna and will premiere on Zee5 film...

Actress Karishma Tanna on Thursday shared a stunning picture in a sizzling red outfit, admitting that she is lost in her thoughts lately.

Karishma posted two pictures on Instagram. In the images, Karishma is seen dressed in a burnt red lacy brassiere as she strikes a pose for the camera.

She wrote as the caption with the first picture: "Lost in my own thoughts".

"Lost is a lovely place to find yourself," she wrote alongside the second image.

Karishma will soon be seen in "Lahore Confidential", which revolves around an Indian woman who, amidst her mundane routine and love for Urdu literature, is engaged for intelligence duty in Pakistan. The film mixes a sense of patriotism with thrills and old-school romance.

Created by crime writer S. Hussain Zaidi, it also marks the directorial digital comeback of Kunal Kohli. The film features Karishma Tanna, Arunoday Singh and Richa Chadha.

View this...

Newly wed Bollywood couple Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal returned to Mumbai from Alibaug on Tuesday.

The couple was snapped while boarding a boat from Alibaug on their way to Mumbai. While Varun wore red kurta-pajama and a pair of sunglasses, Natasha chose to keep it simple with salwar kameez and let her hair loose. Both of them wore Covid masks.

Varun tied the knot with childhood sweetheart and fashion designer Natasha at The Mansion House resort in Alibaug on Sunday. Keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic, the wedding took place only in the presence of family members and close friends. Select friends from the film industry including Karan Johar, Zoa Morani, Kunal Kohli and Shashank Khaitan and designer Manish Malhotra were invited.

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A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn)

Varun has shared photographs from his wedding, Haldi and other ceremonies on social media. In a latest Instagram post,...

Bollywood star Varun Dhawan shared the first image of his wedding with Natasha Dalal on Sunday evening, after the ceremony happened earlier in the day.

The actor, who was tightlipped about the wedding all along, posted a picture of the newly-wed couple on his official Instagram page with a short caption note.

"Life long love just became official," Varun captioned the image.

Varun and Natasha got married in Alibaug on Sunday in the presence of family and close friends.

While it was an intimate affair, select friends from the film industry including Karan Johar, Zoa Morani, Kunal Kohli and Shashank Khaitan, amongst others, were present at the do.

The newlywed also sent out laddoos for the media waiting to click them outside the venue.

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A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn)

Celebrations had started in the wedding venue, The Mansion Resort, in Alibaug on January 22 with...

Mumbai, Jan 20 (Ians) Filmmaker Kunal Kohli has opened up about his upcoming romantic spy thriller Lahore Confidential. He said that the history of Indian and Pakistan is similar because they were one country once.

"Creating Lahore in Lucknow, creating Pakistan in Lucknow -- you know the history of both the countries are similar because they were one country at one time. The history of both the countries was the same till 1947," Kohli said.

"After 1947, the history of the two countries changed path. Till then they have the same path. Geographically, too, it is similar. There is a lot of similarity out there in the streets, and the buildings and architecture of both the countries. Hence it was not that difficult (to recreate Lahore in Lucknow), and our art director has done a wonderful job. We have managed to do so because we have a common history," said Kohli.

Lahore Confidential...

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli promises an unusual mix of Urdu poetry and cutting edge suspense in his upcoming release, Lahore Confidential, a romantic spy thriller starring Arunoday Singh, Karishma Tanna and Richa Chadda.

"The film has lots of elements to it, ranging from old school romance and Urdu poetry to action and edge-of-the-seat thrills, and to bring all these elements together made it a challenging project. After 'Fanaa', this is going to be my second love story with a thriller backdrop and we have an ensemble cast," Kohli said.

The narrative revolves around a humble, divorced Indian woman who leads a routine life and loves Urdu literature. She finds herself on an intelligence mission in Pakistan. A love story of two spies will put them in a tug of war with each other.

"Poetry has always been close to my heart, which makes the film special to me. It's...

Salaam Namaste, starring Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan, released 15 years ago on this day. Director Siddharth Anand says the film was ahead of its time.

"I think 'Salaam Namaste' was dealing with an issue that was taboo or not spoken about, but very much prevalent whether in India or with Indians outside. It felt like it was ahead of its time, but the thing is that there was no deliberate attempt to do something that is scandalous or trying to do something different," Anand said about the quirky comedy, which tells the story of two young NRIs in Melbourne (played by Saif and Preity), who live together, and the girl subsequently gets pregnant. Upon release, many viewers found shades of similarity between the film and the 1995 Hollywood comedy "Nine Months".

Anand added: "When the film was releasing and we promoted it (as a story) about live-in relationships,...

Veteran filmmaker Johnny Bakshi passed away in a Juhu hospital on Saturday. He was 83.

https://twitter.com/amitkhanna/status/1302108742876454912

Producer Amit Khanna shared the news on his unverified Twitter account. "A friend of 5 decades filmmaker Johnny Bakshi passed away this morning. He will be missed by many whose life he touched. May his soul rest in peace," he wrote.

Johnny Bakshi had produced Mahesh Bhatt's debut directorial film "Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain", which released in 1974. Other films backed by him include "Meraa Dost Meraa Dushman" (1984) and "Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee" (1993). He had also directed and produced the 1984 film "Raavan". He has helmed two other films, "Daku Aur Police" (1992) and "Khudai" (1994). He has also acted in a few films.

Mourning his demise, Anupam Kher tweeted on Saturday: "Deeply saddened to know about the demise of dear #JohnnyBakshi. He was a very integral part of my early life in Mumbai. As a producer,...

DeathSaroj Khan, who died of cardiac arrest, has choreographed more than 2,000 songs, including 'Dola Re Dola' ('Devdas') and 'Ek Do Teen' ('Tezaab'). Tnm StaffRenowned Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan died early on Friday morning due to cardiac arrest. She was 71. The three-time National Award winner, who had choreographed some of the most memorable songs in Hindi cinema, was not keeping well for some time. She was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra last Saturday after she complained of breathing issues. The mandatory Covid-19 test done at the hospital showed a negative result. "She passed away due to cardiac arrest at around 2.30 am at the hospital," Khan's nephew Manish Jagwani told Pti. In a career spanning over four decades, Khan is credited with choreographing more than 2,000 songs, including "Dola Re Dola" from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, "Ek Do Teen" from Madhuri Dixit-starrer Tezaab and "Ye Ishq Haaye...

Bollywood's veteran action director Veeru Devgan, father of actor Ajay Devgn, died here on Monday, family sources said. He was 85.

Veeru Devgan breathed his last on Monday afternoon at a hospital here due to age-related issues, according to a source.

Apart from directing action sequences, he had directed the 1999 film "Hindustan Ki Kasam", starring Ajay and megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

The funeral will be held here at the Vile Parle West Crematorium on Monday evening.

"Sad to know that veteran action director Veeru Devganji is no more. He was a genius in choreographing fights on the big screen when there were no facilities available. My heartfelt condolences to Ajay Devgn and the entire family," filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted.

"Rip Veeru Devganji. A legend of Hindi cinema. Left his mark at a time when 'pure action' without VFX was the order of the day. Heartfelt condolences to Ajay Devgn and Kajol.

TollywoodThe film is too dependent on dialogue and the writing of these lines leaves much to be desired.Krishna SripadaNext Enti is directed by Kunal Kohli, the man who made Fanaa and Hum Tum, trailblazers in romantic drama genre. So, the expectations were high. What the makers didn't account for was the sensibilities of the Telugu audience. A movie based completely on dialogue, breaking the fourth wall, reasoning through relationships and trying to evolve as people - these are strange territories. Next Enti ends up looking like the guy who has no clue where he is, but won't ask for directions. With Tamannaah (Tammy) and Sundeep Kishen (Sanju) at the helm, the movie takes a look at the average couple pretending to be above average. The guy is horny, and six months into the relationship, he is disappointed he is not getting much action. They break up over this. Tammy,...

InterviewIn this interview with Tnm, Tamannaah talks about her upcoming films and how she's returned strongly every time people have written her off.Haricharan PudipeddiFacebook/TamannaahIn the last two years, Tamannaah Bhatia has had just four releases in Telugu and Tamil, with SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion being the most popular among them. If you thought she’s run out of opportunities, you’re wrong because with over half a dozen projects currently in her kitty – which include the Telugu remake of Queen, Devi 2 and Chiranjeevi’s Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy – she’s busier than ever. “This year I spent more time shooting. I’ve never shot for so many films in a year. I’m a workaholic and even though I feel exhausted, when I look back at the work I’ve done this year, I’m still high on enthusiasm, thanks to the overall experience,” she told Tnm,...

TollywoodThe movie is the Telugu remake of the Hindi flick 'Hum Tum'.Digital NativeBollywood director Kunal Kohli will be making his debut in the Telugu film industry with Next Enti. While the title of the film was announced on Diwali, it has got itself a release date. Yes, it will be out at the theatres on December 7. Putting out a tweet on this, the director wrote: Here’s announcing our release date. #nextenti #dec7 @tamannaahspeaks @sundeepkishan @pnavdeep26 @PuriAkshai @sachiinjoshi see you in the theatres! #debutfilm for me #telugucinema pic.twitter.com/WhcnKFW6pQ — kunal kohli (@kunalkohli) November 25, 2018 The film has Tammannah playing the female lead with Sundeep Kishan and Navdeep as the male leads. Next Enti is based on the Hindi flick Hum Tum. Incidentally, Hum Tum was based on the American rom-com When Harry Met Sally. The Hindi version of the film, which released in 2004, starred Saif Ali Khan...

TollywoodThe movie is a remake of the 2004 Hindi flick 'Hum Tum'.Digital NativeThe first look of the Telugu flick Next Enti is out and it looks to be a breezy romantic entertainer. Directed by Kunal Kohli, the film is bankrolled by Sachin Joshi. This film will be the Bollywood director’s maiden venture in the Telugu film industry. The first look poster was released on social media by Rana Daggubati. alongside the first look poster, the actor wrote: Happy to be launching the first look of #NextEnti ! All the best @tamannaahspeaks @sundeepkishan @pnavdeep26 @kunalkohli #NextEntiFirstLook pic.twitter.com/JAsGp7D50n — Rana Daggubati (@RanaDaggubati) November 9, 2018 Director Kunal tweeted to thank Rana and said, “Yes Rana, thank you for sharing this. Here’s the poster of #NextEnti for all of you.” The movie stars Tammannah, Sundeep Kishan and Navdeep in the lead roles. Next Enti is based on the Hindi flick Hum Tum.

CinemaKajal Aggarwal has appreciated Tamannaah for her sharp response.Tnm StaffDigital NativeRumours have been doing the rounds that actor Tamannaah is getting married soon. The groom is supposedly a Us-based doctor. However, Tamannaah has put out a statement denying that she is getting married. The actor, whose phone has apparently not stopped ringing ever since the news broke, has said that she is single and that her parents are not groom hunting. Tamannaah has been linked to other celebrities previously, including cricketer Virat Kohli. The actor now seems tired of the constantly churning gossip mills. In a strongly worded statement, Tamannaah said, “One day it’s an actor, another day it’s a cricketer, and now it’s a doctor. These rumours make it sound like I’m on a husband shopping spree. While I love the idea of being in love, I definitely don’t appreciate baseless news when...

InterviewTNM caught up with the actor between shoots for a brief chat on her upcoming films, on how she chooses her projects and on her love for dance and languages.Anjana ShekarFacebook Very few actors have been able to break through into different industries and fewer even have managed to make it big in each one of them. Tamannaah, undoubtedly, is one among the few actors who feature on this list. Born and raised in Mumbai, Tamannaah began acting at a young age of 15. Her debut in 2005 was with the Hindi film Chand Sa Roshan Chehra followed by Telugu debut in the same year with Sri. Her foray into Tamil was with Kedi in 2006. The star in her, however, was recognised only in 2007 with Shekar Kammula’s Happy Days in Telugu and Balaji Sakthivel’s Kalloori in Tamil. 13 years since her debut, Tamannaah has featured in over 45 titles and has an interesting mix of films this year. The songs from her upcoming Naa Nuvve have been well received by fans and Tamannaah is gearing up for more releases this year. Tnm caught up with the actor between shoots for a brief chat on her upcoming films, on how she chooses her projects and on her love for dance and languages. On her films Tamannaah has an exciting line-up of films this year - Naa Nuvve in Telugu, Kanne Kalaimaane alongside Udhayanidhi Stalin in Tamil, remake of the award-winning Hindi film Queen titled That is Mahalakshmi in Telugu, Kunal Kohli’s first Telugu directorial, multi-starrer Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, Anil Ravipudi’s F2 and Chakri Toleti’s Khamoshi (reprisal of Nayanthara’s Kolayuthir Kaalam) in Hindi. From playing the protagonist in Queen remake to doing a crucial part alongside big names in Sye Raa, it seems she may have carefully chosen projects that’ll help her stay away from being typecast. “I am teaming up with director Seenu Ramasamy after Dharma Durai in Kanne Kalaimaane and this has a stronger character than what I played in Dharma Durai. Now, in the time that we’re in, I also feel more number of good, female-oriented roles are being made,” says Tamannaah. Tamannaah is also not the one to shy away from doing small roles. While her role in Baahubali: The Beginning won her awards, including a nomination for the 42nd Saturn Awards, the actor had a very small part to play in Baahubali: The Conclusion. Tamannaah explains that films being made in parts follow a whole different format. “Baahubali is a big story with many characters, culminating in part 2. It is not a typical hero-heroine story. I felt very happy being a part of it and it wasn’t disappointing at all,” she adds. Her upcoming films too are a diverse mix - for instance, Khamoshi is a reprisal project with a strong female-centric lead and its Tamil version will be helmed by Nayanthara and Sye Raa is a multi-starrer with big names from the industry on board. The star shares that the important thing is to make sure her character makes an impact. “It is not about how big your part is. It is how much of your character is remembered by audiences,” she says. She goes on to add that she loves doing commercial films. “I don’t believe in films made for art. I think everyone should be able to watch a film. In that sense, I love doing commercial films that are accessible for everyone.” Item numbers and female-centric films Tamannaah has a good number of strong female roles to her credit. From playing the simple and naive Shobhana in Kalloorri, the free-spirited Anjali in Kanden Kadhalai, the feisty Avanthika in Baahubali to the strong Subhashini in Dharma Durai, she has been seen in a variety of roles that have challenged her caliber as an actor. However, she has also appeared in a good number of item songs, like Bachelor Babu in Speedunnodu, Mandara Thailam in Jaguar, etc. Do they ever clash with her ideology? “It is not female-centric roles as opposed to item numbers. I enjoy that fact that we can also do glamorous roles. To look glamorous is also playing a part. Everyone likes to look at someone who’s pretty. Looking good is important. There is nothing to feel shy about it,” she says adding, “I enjoy dancing and when I get an opportunity to do an item number I take it up with the same enthusiasm as I would for a female-centric role.” On her flair for languages In the industry and outside, Tamannaah has been appreciated for her knack in picking up new tongues. The actor has been lauded, since the very beginning, for her ability to mouth lines perfectly. Tamannaah dubbed for herself in Telugu in Oopiri and in Hindi for Baahubali. “While it is important to know the language, there are those who have survived without knowing it at all and that in itself is an art. I also believe learning a language gives you a good insight into the region's people and their culture,” she shares. Tamannaah also adds that learning a language has helped her express differently. “The accents, pauses - everything is different when you know a language,” she says. On pay parity and sexual harassment Tamannaah is known for her diplomacy and this comes through in her responses sometimes. While she agrees that the industry needs to address the disparity in payment, she also adds that such numbers are decided by the market. “We may have stronger female scripts now but when it comes to payment, it depends on the individual actor’s stand in the market. But I do hope the huge pay gap between male and female stars gets smaller in the future,” says Tamannaah. On sexual harassment in the industry, Tamannaah has maintained that not having experienced it herself, she has nothing to add. “But if someone has experienced it, they are open to talk about it. It is based on individual experiences.” While Tamannaah dabbles in Tollywood, Kollywood and Bollywood the actor shares her hopes of entering Mollywood and Sandalwood sometime in the future. “It is all about making good content. Today, theatre is not the only form of entertainment for people. It’s all about churning out interesting content,” she finishes. Also Read: Women’s Food Court in Thrissur is empowering these women, one entrepreneur at a time...

Last month, Aamir Khan hosted a Diwali party which was a star-studded affair. Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Kunal Kohli, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Kabir Khan, Nitesh Tiwari, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari were present amongst others. Although we got a glimpse of all the glitz and glamour as the celebrities arrived at the bash, what happened inRead More

The post Watch: Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are left stunned after watching this magician’s card tricks appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Karan Johar’s biography, ‘An Unsuitable Boy’ is on a revealing mode, chapter by chapter! And, this time, the chapter that got stuck in news is Karan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s fallout. Wondering, how is that possible? Especially, after watching Koffee with Karan's latest episode where Kareena adorned the Koffee couch and spread so much love and lovely words about Karan, it is hard to believe that years ago, even these two had a big fallout! These excerpts from Karan’s biography, will through light on their alleged fallout and the reasons behind. My first problem was with Kareena. She asked for too much money and we had some kind of a fallout at that time. Mujhse Dosti Karoge! had just released, directed by Kunal Kohli. She said, ‘Aditya Chopra’s assistant Kunal Kohli has made this flop, so Karan Johar’s assistant, Nikhil Advani is not to...

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor turned 64 on Sunday, and his friends and colleagues from the Hindi film industry have wished him a year full of love and happiness.

And the celebrities also had a special message for the “Bobby” star — keep on inspiring.

The actor has been part of the industry for over four decades and has given hits like “Mera Naam Joker”, “Bobby”, “Khel Khel Mein”, “Hum Kisise Kum Naheen”, “Karz” and “Prem Rog”.

The actor was last seen on screen in the “Kapoor & Sons”.

Here’s what the celebrities had to say on Rishi’s birthday:

Amitabh Bachchan: Happy Birthday Chintu ji…Love and happiness always…Chintu, we did some great films together!

Sajid Khan: Happy birthday Rishi Kapoor a friend whom I admire and respect a lot…Twitter is your domain sir…keep tweeting.

Huma Qureshi: Happy birthday Rishi Kapoor. Wish you all the joy and happiness in the world…...

Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, has started her career in Bollywood as a singer. She has already sung for two songs, one is from Kunal Kohli’s Phir Se, and Prakash Jha’s soon-to-release cop drama, Jai Gangaajal. On this Prakash Jha says, “I heard the song she had sung for Kunal Kohli and liked her voice. It’s lovely, silky and very deep, I felt it was just what our devotional song, ‘Sab dhan maati’, required so I asked my composers, Salim-Sulaiman, to try her out. They liked her too and we recorded the track last month in two sessions over a couple of hours.”

The film has 12 songs and all of them play in the background. The song crooned by Amruta is part of a sequence which features Jha himself, he informs, “I play Priyanka’s junior, Deputy Superintendent of Police,...

Looks like Ranbir Kapoor is a very loyal friend. The actor who is the next big thing in Bollywood has always returned the favour of friendship in whichever way he can. The actor has done something similar with childhood friend Binoy and the director claims that Ranbir will star in his next film.

The director said, “Ranbir loved the story but suggested that it needed a few changes. I am working on it. We should roll once all the details are finalised. Directing big actors is a tough task; the script has to match Ranbir’s rhythm. Despite planning to venture into production with some films already in the pipeline, he immediately agreed to come on board.”

The director also mentioned that actress Prachi Desai might play the female lead in the film. Currently, the director is working on his first film, Jee Bhar Me Jee Le, which stars Nidhi Dutta,...

Quietly, this week without any publicity of fanfare, here comes the film a little love story to vie for audiences' attention with the week's big love saga Hero.

Debutant director Prakash Nambiar's The Perfect Girl: Ek Simple Si Love Story introduces veejay Teeshay (he anchors Zoom's Planet Bollywood) with Tara-Alisha Berry (whom we saw as Mastram's wife in the film about the porn writer). The small and simple love story chronicles the journey of a pair who meet fall in love and then separate for a decade.

Director Nambiar hopes word-of-mouth would work for the film. "With so many upcoming releases, we would have someone or the other on the other side. So it might as well be Hero. We are confident about our film."

Nambiar is not aiming at getting a blockbuster on his bio-data. "We are not looking at 10s or 100s of crores. Whatever...

It is settled, sealed and dusted now for filmmaker Kunal Kohli and writer Jyoti Kapoor. When Kunal's acting debut for Phir Se seemed under threat, courtesy Jyoti alleging plagiarism charges against him for similarities with another story written by her, it seemed that the film had met a deadlock. Even though the promo of the film had been unveiled quite some back, everything came to a standstill when the matter reached court. Well, not anymore as Kunal is free to release the film now. In return, Jyoti would be paid an amount of Rs. 25 lakhs as settlement. This is as per the decision that has been taken at the Supreme Court. "I am happy as now we all can move on," says Kunal who took the Court's suggestion of 'mutual settlement' in his stride and agreed to the logistics, "The Court did make it clear that the film's release could...

Few weeks ago, Kunal Kohli found himself in the eye of a storm when writer Jyoti Kapoor filed a suit against the Kohli for copyright infringement stating that the story of Kunal's film Phir Se was inspired by one of her scripts. Post the filing, the court had levied an interim stay on the release of the film Phir Se featuring Kunal Kohli and Jennifer Winget. However now we hear that the Bombay High Court has vacated the interim stay on the release of the film.

In a judgment passed by the appeal bench presided over by justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla, the court vacated the interim stay granted by a single bench of the high court few months ago on the film's release after it found prima facie similarities between this film's script and another movie R.S.V.P. However, the court has also directed...