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Subhash K Jha turns the spotlight on Rituparno Ghosh’s KhelaAntar Mahal. Or he could be a filmmaker, like Prosenjit in Khela. Bearded, brooding, intense and idealistic Prosenjit wants to make a film about little Buddha.

And he wants only little Akashneel for the role.

Akashneel, a delightfully shrewd calculating and clever observer of adult quirks, suggests the director ‘keednap’ him when his parents refuse permission to shoot.

There begins a charming endearing journey into a world of creativity and manipulation.

The little boy’s tantrums brought to a close with never-ending bars of chocolate by the ever-patient dress designer (Raima Sen) will ring a bell in all those filmmakers who have shot with kids from Raj Kapoor in Boot Polish to Shekhar Kapoor in Masoom to Aamir Khan and Amole Gupte in Taare Zameen Par.

Beautifully capturing inner and outer landscapes cinematographer Aveek Mukherjee fuses his characters’ lives with...

Sanjay Suri talks with Subhash K Jha about his film the hard-hitting drama Daman, which starred Raveena Tandon, which released 24 years ago.

How did you land a role in Kalpana Lajmi’s Daman?

I still remember it was very early in my career after Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi and Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya that I got a call from Kalpana Lajmi. I was very excited to hear from her. I had loved Rudali and wanted to work with her and Bhupenda (Hazarika).

How did your meeting with Kalpana go?

On one call, I visited her office in Lokhandwala office, where she met me and said he really liked me in Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi and had a role to offer in her next film called Daman. I was super excited.

Daman was not a mainstream film, and still you wanted to be part of it so early in your career?...

Subhash K Jha, in this installment of Thus day that Year, revisits Aparna Sen’s The Japanese Wife as it touches 15 years since release.

This story of a long-distance ‘marriage’ between a Bengali bhadra-lok from rural Bengal, Snehamoy (Rahul Bose), and his Japanese pen-pal Miyage (Chigusa Takaku), suffers from an incurable disease known as Inherent Silliness. Based on a true story by Kunal Basu, this is the ultimate non-romance between two people who thoroughly deserve each other.

They’re both so annoying and outdated in their naivete, you see! The couple married to each other for over 15 years never meets and barely speaks to each other on the phone a few times. When Miyage falls ill in Japan, Snehamoy goes to the doctor in Kolkata with her medical reports. The doctor’s expression when he hears why the patient can’t come personally to be examined is exactly the way...

Suchitra Sen Once Refused To Work With Raj Kapoor! ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Suchitra Sen is a name that is synonymous with Indira Gandhi. The actress played a version of the powerful leader in a fictional film by Gulzar called Aandhi. However, fans love her for being the feminine yet strong Paro she played to a charming yet tragic Dilip Kumar in the 1955 film Devdas!

Devdas, directed by Bimal Roy, was Sen’s debut in the Hindi Cinema. The actress, turned into one of the most sought after actresses in Hindi Cinema and of course, showman Raj Kapoor became too eager to work with her!

However, to everyone’s surprise, they never worked together, and the reason was Raj Kapoor himself. Suchitra Sen, in one of her very early interviews, revealed she did not like Raj Kapoor as a person and refused to work with him in any Hindi film!

Trending...

In a special This Day That Year, Subhash K Jha shares memories of his dear friend Rituparno Ghosh and his movie career including Memories In March.

By the time Rituparno Ghosh showed up as a man grieving for his dead partner in Sanjay Nag’s Memories In March, released on April 1, 2011, he had turned cinema into a weapon of anguished anger about his sexuality.

Bereavement and memories are a great high for celluloid drama. Some of the most poignant and memorable films of our times have tapped into the wounds of grief for creative juices and emerged trumps at the box office. Think of Meena Kumari mourning for her impotent marriage in Guru Dutt’s Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam or Supriya Choudhury’s smothered screams of protest for her wasted life in Ritwick Ghatak’s Meghe Dhaka Tara, or more recently, Nicole Kidman blaming the world around her for remaining...

Subhash K Jha revisits the Amitabh Bachchan-Ben Kingsley brilliant drama Teen Patti in this special look back feature at the film that released in 2010.

Teen Patti is a surprisingly skilful and audaciously complex piece of drama. It is a tautly scripted and brilliantly executed film on the deep-rooted link between financial ambitions and moral compromises.

Writer-director Leena Yadav gives the theme of monetary indulgence a dizzying but pinned-down spin. She speeds confidently across out-of-control lives on a college campus with the confident vision of a raconteur who spins a seemingly indecipherable web of deceit, intrigue, and crime.

Miraculously, Yadav’s yarn preserves its pencil-sharp edge of intrigue and wit right to the end. The story of the eccentric math magician’s adventures takes the narrative from underground addas to high-class casinos, where Professor Venkat Subramaniam, his junior colleague Madhavan, and four students convert the professor’s newly discovered mathematical theory...

Shabana Azmi reminisces with Subhash K Jha in this interview about the experience of making Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. (2007), which also featured the brilliant cast of Boman Irani, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Karan Khanna, Sandhya Mridul, Vikram Chatwal, Ameesha Patel, and Dia Mirza.

This was your first film for your son Farhan Akhtar’s production house?

I had a ball doing Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. My kids (Farhan and Zoya Akhtar) are involved with it. I’ve a very small part.

You had never been paired with Boman Irani before?

Boman plays this Christian Goanese guy. I play this Muslim woman. He plays a brash man. My character is more genteel. I love my look in this film. I kept telling the clothes designer Arjun Bhasin that after this film, he won’t be getting any more assignments. All of us are so atrociously dressed by design.

Subhash K Jha revisits 2007 and the zany film Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, which starred the brilliant cast of Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Karan Khanna, Sandhya Mridul, Vikram Chatwal, Ameesha Patel, and Dia Mirza.

Reema Kagti’s debut film Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd has enough chutzpah to keep you purring at the blend of parody and pathos. Once you get into the narrative groove of these imperfectly matched couples riding into a hectic, hilarious honeymoon in Goa, you’re in for a minor treat. The six couples are joined at the hip and the lip by some commanding inflexions that bind the people in a tongue that’s easy to identify… provided you’ve ever been married. Even if you haven’t been on a honeymoon, get a load of these feisty honeymooners, feasting on the first flush of love, romance, sex,...

Vidhu

Vinod Choora’s period drama Eklavya was released 18 years ago, and Subhash K Jha revisits the film that featured an all-star cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Raima Sen, Jackie Shroff, Jimmy Sheirgill and Boman Irani.

How do we define the plot of Eklavya? It partly borrows the dark, undefinable pathos of Shakespeare’s tragedy and partly reverts to the palatial pathos of the Mughal Empire, where patricide frequently collided with complex Oedipal equations. Eklavya takes us into a territory totally unexplored and designed to create an ethos of infinite resonances.

Eklavya is a film of many virtues. Screenwriters Abhijat Joshi and Chopra aim for a sense of heightened tragedy that underlines the cinema of Kurosawa and the music of Mozart. The quality of the sound design (Biswajit Chatterjee), background score (Shantanu Moitra), and cinematography (N. Natarajan Subramaniam) elevates the bizarre tale...

Producer TGVishwaPrasad of People Media Factory, Hyderabad’s esteemed production house, has launched the teaser for ‘Maa Kaali.’ This upcoming film, directed by Vijay Yelakanti, promises a multi-lingual cinematic experience in Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu.

Maa Kaali: Plot and Setting

‘Maa Kaali‘ is set against the backdrop of pre-partition Bengal, delving into the rich cultural tapestry and historical narratives of the region. The film stars Raima Sen and Abhishek Singh in pivotal roles, portraying characters immersed in the socio-political complexities of that era.

Co-Production by Vivek Kuchibotla

Vivek Kuchibotla joins as co-producer, contributing to the project’s creative vision and execution. The collaboration underscores the film’s ambition to resonate across diverse linguistic and cultural landscapes.

Anticipation and Reception

With its teaser release, the film has sparked anticipation among audiences eager to witness its narrative depth and visual spectacle. The film’s exploration of historical themes and its talented cast...

Producer Tg Vishwa Prasad, a renowned figure in the Telugu film industry through his banner People Media Factory, has unveiled the new poster for his upcoming multilingual film “Maa Kaali“.

The film, which spans Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu languages, promises to captivate audiences with its compelling narrative set against the backdrop of pre-partition Bengal.

Pan-india Film ‘Maa Kaali’ New Poster Arrives… Teaser On 4 July… Producer #TGVishwaPrasad [of People Media Factory] – a well-known name in #Telugu film industry – unveils #NewPoster of his forthcoming #Hindi – #Bengali – #Telugu film #MaaKaali… Set against the backdrop of… pic.twitter.com/HJjrUfrChz

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) July 2, 2024

Directed by Vijay Yelakanti, “Maa Kaali” stars the talented Raima Sen and Abhishek Singh in pivotal roles, marking a significant collaboration across languages and cultures.

Co-produced by Vivek Kuchi Botla, the film is set to release a teaser on 4th July, heightening anticipation among cinema enthusiasts eagerly awaiting its theatrical journey.

Bastar: The Naxal Story Ott Release. (Photo Credit – Youtube)

Whenever a theatrical release drops on a streaming platform, there’s always excitement amongst the audience. Some are looking forward to watching a movie for the first time, while some are excited for a rewatch. Recently, Shaitaan was released on Netflix, and Ajay Devgn fans couldn’t stop praising it. In a few days, ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’ will also make its way on a streaming platform.

Bastar: The Naxal Story was released in theatres on March 15, 2024. It has been almost two months since its theatrical release, and many movie-goers have wondered when it will drop online. Well, you don’t have to wait any longer. This article mentions the movie’s release date on Ott, streaming platform, cast and other such information.

Bastar: The Naxal Story Cast

The movie stars Adah Sharma, Indira Tiwari, Vijay Krishna, Shilpa Shukla, Yashpal Sharma,...

Indian-American actress Avantika Vandanapu, who is known for her role in ‘Mean Girls’, said she would love to be part of Indian cinema as she has grown up watching films such as Shah Rukh Khan-starrers ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (Ddlj) and ‘Veer Zaara’.

Avantika, who will be seen in the Hindi series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, shared: “It’s truly surreal to come full circle and return to India, from my roots as a child actor to now leading a Hindi series like ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’. This homecoming feels like a dream come true.”

“Since my childhood I have been watching Yash Chopra films like ‘Chandni’, ‘Veer Zaara’, ‘Ddlj’, ‘Darr’, among many others… and fell in love with Indian cinema and developed that desire to work in Bollywood films. I love the colour, emotions and cheerful Indian movies and cannot wait to be a part of them.”

Avantika,...

Bastar: The Naxal Story Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Adah Sharma, Indira Tiwari, Vijay Krishna, Anangsha Biswas, Abhikalp Gagdekar, Raima Sen, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Subrata Dutta, Naman Nitin Jain, Nidhi Mayuri, Kishor Kadam, Shilpa Shukla, Gandhali Jain

Director: Sudipto Sen

Bastar: The Naxal Story Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

What’s Good: Unapologetically forthright saga of what is happening in Bastar

What’s Bad: The brutality shown may unsettle some people

Loo Break: No chance!

Watch or Not?: Yes, if you want to know another harsh socio-political reality of our times

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical release

Runtime: 124 Minutes

User Rating:

The story is set in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, where Naxalism still flourishes in the lush forests, affecting tribal and economically-backward villagers who are deprived of basic human rights like schools, roads and hospitals due to a well-entrenched subversive system. The Maoists, now centred there in the country,...

The anticipation for the upcoming Hindi-Bengali bilingual film, “Maa Kaali,” has been mounting, and now, fans have been treated to the first look poster. Produced by TGVishwaPrasad, a prominent figure in the Telugu film industry under People Media Factory, this venture marks an exciting new chapter.

Set against the evocative backdrop of pre-partition Bengal, the film promises to immerse audiences in a rich tapestry of culture and history. Directed by Vijay Yelakanti, known for his adept storytelling, “Maa Kaali” stars the talented duo Raima Sen and Abhishek Singh in pivotal roles.

Hindi – Bengali Bilingual ‘Maa Kaali’ First Look Poster Arrives… Producer #TGVishwaPrasad [of People Media Factory] – a well known name in #Telugu film industry – unveils #FirstLook poster of his forthcoming #Hindi – #Bengali bilingual #MaaKaali… Set against the backdrop of… pic.twitter.com/mm358A7Pgi

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) March 14, 2024

The unveiling of the first look poster has sparked widespread interest, offering a glimpse...

Big Girls Don’t Cry Review Out: A Tale Of Adulting Done Right ( Photo Credit – Prime Video India / YouTube )

Big Girls Don’t Cry Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Pooja Bhatt, Zoya Hussain, Lovleen Misra, Mukul Chadda, Raima Sen, Dalai, Tenzin Lhakyila, Avantika Vandanapu, Aneet Padda, Akshita Sood, Afrah Sayed, Vidushi

Creator: Nitya Mehra

Director: Nitya Mehra, Karan Kapadia, Kopal Naithani, Sudhanshu Saria

Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video

Language: Hinglish with Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada dubbings; Subtitles in 15 languages

Runtime: 7 episodes of 45 – 50 minutes each

Big Girls Don’t Cry Review Out ( Photo Credit – Prime Video India / YouTube ) Big Girls Don’t Cry Review: What’s It About:

There have been unnecessary stories about women identifying with freedom and independence in whatever they want. There have been tales about locker room boys talk. There also have been tales about adulting. But what happens when a bunch of teenage girls with all the confused thoughts about s*x,...

Advance bookings are now open for the highly anticipated film, “Bastar: The Naxal Story,” set to hit cinemas this Friday, March 15, 2024. Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film boasts a stellar cast including Adah Sharma, Indira Tiwari, Vijay Krishna, Shilpa Shukla, Yashpal Sharma, Subrat Dutta, and Raima Sen.

Announced in June 2023, the film is based on the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, promising to delve deep into this socio-political issue. With its intriguing premise and talented ensemble, “Bastar” is poised to offer audiences a compelling cinematic experience.

‘Bastar’ Advance Bookings Open Now… 15 March Release… From the makers of #TheKeralaStory… #Bastar: #TheNaxalStory arrives in *cinemas* This Friday [15 March 2024].

Book your tickets : https://t.co/7vFrOcIycH#VipulAmrutlalShah #SudiptoSen #AdahSharma #AashinAShah… pic.twitter.com/qsvMLQJmQL

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) March 13, 2024

As advance bookings open, anticipation is building among moviegoers eager to witness this gripping...

Mumbai, March 8 (Ians) Actress Adah Sharma has left no stone unturned to ace her look in the upcoming film ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’, which required her to put on weight.

Adah gained 10 kgs of weight for her role but also had to be fit. She gorged on 15 bananas a day and had flax seed ladoos for the film, which is based on Maoist insurgency in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

“I had to put on 10 kgs for ‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’. But I had to also be very very fit, being able to climb mountains and do action with rifles. I ate around 15 bananas everyday and flax seed laddoos,” said Adah.

The actress added that she would eat four laddoos a day.

“We were shooting in the jungles so my mother gave me a whole box of laddoos. I used to eat four a day.”

‘Bastar: The Naxal Story’ is...

The upcoming week on Ott will be a treat for the audiences, with titles like Emraan Hashmi-starrer ‘Showtime’, young adult series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, and action adventure film ‘Captain Miller’, all set to air on streaming platforms.

Here is a list of five titles that have caught the attention of Ians:

Showtime

Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, and Naseeruddin Shah-starrer ‘Showtime’ will delve into the unseen world that lies behind the camera.

It also features Rajeev Khandelwal, Shriya Saran, Vishal Vashishtha, Neeraj Madhav, and Vijay Raaz in pivotal roles.

Directed by Mihir Desai and Archit Kumar, the show is produced by Dharma Productions and will be released on March 8 on Disney+ Hotstar.

Captain Miller

The Tamil action adventure film, starring Dhanush as Analeesan aka Captain Miller, is directed by Arun Matheswaran. The film, which is the first part of a trilogy, is set in the 1930s,...

Mumbai, March 6 (Ians) The trailer of the upcoming streaming series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, which was unveiled on Wednesday, presents a coming-of-age narrative set in an all girls’ school.

It shows how the girls in the school traverse the paths of their lives as they tread through the alleys of changing interpersonal dynamics, love, academics and the legacy of their institution.

The trailer gives a glimpse into the boarding life at the Vandana Valley school, where a group of seven girls gears up for their final year in school. With seven women leading the series, the trailer shows an outsider, Kavya Yadav, walks onto the campus, hoping to make friends. Noor has her eyes set on the school captaincy, while Ludo is chasing the sports captaincy position. As Roohi and Jc push for their beauty-business to succeed, Pluggy has grand plans of her own, and the rebel-poet Dia prepares to...

Director Nitya Mehra, who is known for ‘Made in Heaven’ and ‘Unpaused’, feels that the school life of girls is quite underrepresented in the sphere of storytelling.

She shared that her upcoming series ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ will change this for the better as it brings to the fore the story of girls growing up in a boarding school with an insight into the lives, ideas, and feelings of young girls.

The upcoming series has been created by Nitya. The makers on Tuesday, shared a promotional video featuring Bollywood actress Ananya Panday. The video introduced the series and its lead cast including Avantika Vandanapu, Aneet Padda, Dalai, Vidushi, Lhakyila, Afrah Sayed, and Akshita Sood.

Talking about the series, Nitya Mehra said: “I think school life in India, especially that of girls, is so underrepresented in storytelling, be it in Indian literature or cinema. Coming-of-age told through the eyes of an...

Prime Video, today announced the premiere of its upcoming Original Series, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, a captivating coming-of-age school drama set against the backdrop of a fictionalized all-girls boarding school. Ananya Panday introduced the series and its lead cast including Avantika Vandanapu (Ludo), Aneet Padda (Roohi), Dalai (Pluggy), Vidushi (Kavya), Lhakyila (Jc), Afrah Sayed (Noor), and Akshita Sood (Dia) through a spirited and quirky video specially created for the announcement of the series.

Created by Nitya Mehra, Big Girls Don’t Cry is co-directed by Nitya Mehra, Sudhanshu Saria, Karan Kapadia, and Kopal Naithani, and boasts of a predominantly women-led ensemble cast which also features Pooja Bhatt, Raima Sen, and Zoya Hussain in pivotal roles, along with Mukul Chadda.

The series takes audiences into the fascinating world of the prestigious Vandana Valley where a group of young girls navigate life’s myriad exhilarating adventures of independence, rebellion, friendship, love, heartbreaks, and dreams,...

The Vaccine War

Directed by Vivek Agnihotri

Apart from Raima Sen’s over-the-top villain’s act as a journalist who has sold out to the American cause, the characters in The Vaccine War are tenable and almost uniformly restrained and believable.

Unlike the last time when many of Vivek Agnihtori’s critics felt he went overboard in demonizing Kashmir’s anti-Pandit drive, this time Agnihotri makes the arching endeavour to show the birth of India’s first Covid vaccine as a celebration of women’s empowerment.

Admittedly the women , excluding Raima Sen in her vamping avatar, are gracefully portrayed. Pallavi Joshi and Girija Oak are reasonably effective as scientists toiling at the Indian Council of Medical Research to bring out an Indian vaccine in a run against time that became headlined in a section of the press as a battle between over-ambition and efficacy.

Portions of the storytelling are admirably constructed,...

Some filmmakers do get carried away with adulation from a section of movie-watchers who are out and out rabid supporters of an ideology. For obvious reasons, their captive audience is charged up and won’t listen to any contrarian opinion from another group of followers. Vivek Agnihotri, who is hellbent upon proving his loyalty to the present ruling dispensation, has been making movies with a single-point agenda: to flag as biased an opinion that is contrary to the one he professes and rewrite history to suit his extreme right-wing beliefs.

Two of his earlier films, ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Tashkent Files’, tried to create the myth that he believes is nothing but the truth. Really?

I am all for political affiliation, but when it comes to the arts, such loyalties should not interfere with the body of your work to the extent that it degenerates into propaganda.

For obvious reasons,...

Some filmmakers do get carried away with adulation from a section of movie-watchers who are out and out rabid supporters of an ideology. For obvious reasons, their captive audience is charged up and won’t listen to any contrarian opinion from another group of followers. Vivek Agnihotri, who is hellbent upon proving his loyalty to the present ruling dispensation, has been making movies with a single-point agenda: to flag as biased an opinion that is contrary to the one he professes and rewrite history to suit his extreme right-wing beliefs.

Two of his earlier films, ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Tashkent Files’, tried to create the myth that he believes is nothing but the truth. Really?

I am all for political affiliation, but when it comes to the arts, such loyalties should not interfere with the body of your work to the extent that it degenerates into propaganda.

For obvious reasons,...

Actor Anupam Kher is gearing up for the release of the new Vivek Agnihotri directorial ‘The Vaccine War’, where he will be essaying the role of a cabinet secretary in a special appearance, overlooking the production of Covaxin by Icmr during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. Taking to his X, the actor wrote: “The Vaccine War: “Bharat’s self belief is Sanatan Dharma.”

Describing his own role, he continued: “When @vivekagnihotri was making #TheVaccineWar there wasn’t any substantial role for me in it. It is primarily a women scientists film with the only male lead being played by the great #NanaPatekar !”

“I wanted to be associated with this most important film of our times where #IndiaCanDoIt is the theme. Vivek offered me the role of the #CabinetSecretary as a special appearance! Proud to be part of this gem of a film. Releasing on 28th Sept worldwide!

Actor Anupam Kher is gearing up for the release of the new Vivek Agnihotri directorial ‘The Vaccine War’, where he will be essaying the role of a cabinet secretary in a special appearance, overlooking the production of Covaxin by Icmr during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. Taking to his X, the actor wrote: “The Vaccine War: “Bharat’s self belief is Sanatan Dharma.”

Describing his own role, he continued: “When @vivekagnihotri was making #TheVaccineWar there wasn’t any substantial role for me in it. It is primarily a women scientists film with the only male lead being played by the great #NanaPatekar !”

“I wanted to be associated with this most important film of our times where #IndiaCanDoIt is the theme. Vivek offered me the role of the #CabinetSecretary as a special appearance! Proud to be part of this gem of a film. Releasing on 28th Sept worldwide!

Veteran star Nana Patekar, who will be seen in the upcoming film ‘The Vaccine War’, says the biggest advantage of being an actor is that they have a way of taking out our frustration with the help of a camera. In a conversation with media personnels in the capital, Nana was seen talking about advantages of being an actor.

He said: “The biggest advantage of being an actor is that we have a way of taking out our frustration with the help of a camera. If I didn’t have this medium, I would have gone mad. Anyway, I am called mad. This is such a big medium for us.”

Nana was then asked about working in south films, as they are currently creating waves.

“Kaala. I had done that in Hindi then dubbed it in Tamil. They wanted 2-3 lines and I said like let me just dub more...

Veteran star Nana Patekar, who will be seen in the upcoming film ‘The Vaccine War’, says the biggest advantage of being an actor is that they have a way of taking out our frustration with the help of a camera. In a conversation with media personnels in the capital, Nana was seen talking about advantages of being an actor.

He said: “The biggest advantage of being an actor is that we have a way of taking out our frustration with the help of a camera. If I didn’t have this medium, I would have gone mad. Anyway, I am called mad. This is such a big medium for us.”

Nana was then asked about working in south films, as they are currently creating waves.

“Kaala. I had done that in Hindi then dubbed it in Tamil. They wanted 2-3 lines and I said like let me just dub more...

Nana Patekar who is busy promoting Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Vaccine War’ revealed that he was not happy with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie song ‘Malhari’ and he just picked up the phone and told him that.

Nana Patekar is coming back to films after a gap of almost 4-5 years with the film ‘The Vaccine War’ and will be seen playing the role of Doctor Bhargava , the creator of Covid vaccine, in the film. The trailer of the film was released on Tuesday and undoubtedly Nana stole the show in it. Everyone is talking about his comeback.

In an exclusive chat, Nana spoke about how if a film is based on a true story, there should be no discrepancy with the facts and figures. He said: “When you say it is a true story, it is based on real incidents, then we can ask certain questions from the...

Nana Patekar who is busy promoting Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Vaccine War’ revealed that he was not happy with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie song ‘Malhari’ and he just picked up the phone and told him that.

Nana Patekar is coming back to films after a gap of almost 4-5 years with the film ‘The Vaccine War’ and will be seen playing the role of Doctor Bhargava , the creator of Covid vaccine, in the film. The trailer of the film was released on Tuesday and undoubtedly Nana stole the show in it. Everyone is talking about his comeback.

In an exclusive chat, Nana spoke about how if a film is based on a true story, there should be no discrepancy with the facts and figures. He said: “When you say it is a true story, it is based on real incidents, then we can ask certain questions from the...

Pallavi Joshi who is three times National Award winner and will next be seen in ‘The Vaccine War’ portraying the role of a scientist, said that while the team was shooting for this film, everyone had a sense of pride in their minds.

Actress Pallavi Joshi is known to give depth to any character she plays on screen. The actress will now be seen in ‘The Vaccine War’, for which she is the producer as well. The trailer of the film was launched in Mumbai on Tuesday and here she spoke about her experience working on this film and also working with her husband Vivek Agnihotri who is the director of the film.

Pallavi said: “Vivek is always a good director. It was a wonderful experience as always working with him. It was our third film together and he is always fun to work with.”

“This film is a very special film.

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, who is known to bring out the truth with his movies, said that he does not work with “mediocre” actors in his films, and that he casts National Award winning actors who are great at their craft.

Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri who directed the controversial yet a very successful film ‘The Kashmir Files’ is known to wear his heart on his sleeves. His next movie ‘The Vaccine War’ is ready for its release and on Tuesday the trailer of the film was launched in Mumbai. The trailer of the film has created quite a stir in the country and everyone is looking forward to watching this film.

The film features his wife Pallavi Joshi, who is also the producer of the film and plays a scientist. When asked, what made him cast his wife in the film and how was it working with her, he said: “I don’t cast mediocre actors.

Mumbai, Sep 6 (Ians) Veteran actor Anupam Kher has commenced shooting for his 540th film titled ‘Calorie’.

The actor revealed on social media that the film is directed by Canadian director Eisha Marjara and is being shot in Amritsar and Montreal.

Kher took to Instagram, where he shared his turbaned look from the film. He also shared a picture with the director and the producer.

“Announcement: Happy to share that I have started the shoot of mv 540th proiect! #Calorie is an Canadian film directed b criticall acclaimed Canadian director #EishaMarjara and produced by #JoeBalass. The film is shot in Amritsar and Montreal! The script of this human tragedy tugged at my heart deeply. Some stories need to be told! #Caloriefilm #MagicOfCinema,” he captioned the images.

Meanwhile, the actor will be next seen in ‘The Vaccine War’, a medical thriller directed by Vivek Agnihotri.

It tells the true story of the...

Mumbai, July 6 (Ians) Filmmaker Vivek Agnihtori, who is currently busy with his upcoming film ‘The Vaccine War’, has talked about how glamourising extreme violence in films and promoting “nonsense” cinema is considered a bigger talent now.

Vivek took to Twitter and in a thread message wrote: “People aren’t born violent. Your children’s minds are conditioned by glamourising violence in popular literature, cinema and politics by industry leaders who should be actually inspiring young minds for peace. In such a violent world only solution is Creative Consciousness.”

He then talked about “glamourising extreme violence”.

“Now glamourising extreme violence in cinema is also considered talent. Promoting nonsense cinema is considered a bigger talent. Promoting a non-actor as biggest star is considered biggest talent. And assuming audience is super-dumb is mother of all talent,” he added.

‘The Vaccine War’, starring Nana Patekar, Anupam Kher and Raima Sen and produced by Pallavi Joshi,...

Film and TV actor Samir Soni recalled working with Bhagyashree and how hesitant she was while shooting a romantic scene with him. He said: “Let me tell you about my first shoot experience with Bhagyashree. Back then, Bhagyashree and I were working on a film, and in the film, I had a big scar on my face, and she was blind, and we fell in love with each other. We were shooting a honeymoon night scene when we were asked to bring some romance to the scene. I was getting closer to her, but she was running away.”

Samir is known for working in TV shows like ‘Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin’, ‘Kumkum’, ‘Parichay’, ‘Darr Sabko Lagta Hai’, ‘Khauff Begins’, and many more. He also acted in films such as ‘China Gate’, ‘Lajja’, ‘Baghban’, ‘Dil Kya Chahta Hai’, ‘Vivah’, ‘Fashion’, ‘I Hate Luv Storys’, ‘Student Of The Year 2’, among others.

By Troy Ribeiro Series: ‘Mai’ (Streaming on Netflix) Duration: Average 48 minutes per episode (Total 6 episodes) Directors: Atul Mongia, Anshai Lal Cast: Sakshi Tanwar, Vivek Mushran, Raima Sen, Prashant Narayanan, Seema Pahwa, Anant Vidhaat, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Omkar Jaiprakash Ians Rating: *** This six-episode series has a familiar premise. It is a whodunit where […]...

Actress Raima Sen is all set to be seen as antagonist Neelam in the upcoming series ‘Mai’. The actress for the first time is doing a character with grey shades and also performing a lot of action-packed sequences. Sharing more about her experience, Raima shares: “Initially, I found it difficult because the gun was heavy […]...

Popular actress Sakshi Tanwar, who is playing the lead Sheel in web series ‘Mai’ talks about her recent visit to the capital along with the entire cast. The series features Vivek Mushran, Prashant Narayanan, Wamiqa Gabbi and Raima Sen, among others. Talking about the show and her visit to Delhi, Sakshi shares: “I was very […]...

Raima Sen, who mostly stuck to a girl-next-door image in her over two-decade Bollywood career, made heads turn recently posting a few steamy photographs on social media. She says she wasn't thinking about image makeover or the risks that come with it.

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"I am not worried about my image just because I shot some photos for Instagram. I think I still get the roles that I deserve and I have already carved a niche. I don't think I will be typecast," Raima said.

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She added, "It's not that I will just be getting bold roles after this. That was not the idea of doing this shoot. The shoot was just -- there is a lockdown and nothing to do, so I thought that let me reinvent my image.

Shamita Shetty made her debut in the multistarrer Mohabbatein in 2000 among over half a dozen actors. Two decades later, she is currently seen in the web series Black Widows, also a multi-star cast affair. Shamita looks back at her two decades in the entertainment industry saying she did start off with the best.

"Honestly, although it has been two decades it is not like I have done that much work as I would have wanted to do. But, yes, it has been a journey of some ups and downs. I started off with the best," she told Ians.

Shamita, sister of actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra, has also made small screen appearances in the reality shows "Bigg Boss 3", "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 8" and "Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 9".

She recently was seen in the thriller web show "Black Widows" that also features Raima Sen, Mona Singh, and Swastika Mukherji in central roles.

Exclusive: As the world’s fastest growing streaming market, India has become a key battleground for the major online players as they try to carve out loyal subscriber bases.

The U.S. giants compete with local broadcasters and VOD upstarts in a territory that has a way to go before it reaches saturation – a Pwc report published in October claimed the overall market value would grow from $708M in 2019 to $2.7Bn in 2024.

Disney+ Hotstar is an established local leader with 400m+ downloads for its app across its varying tiers, as well as 26 million+ paying subscribers. Fellow America-based giant Netflix has north of four million subs, while Amazon doesn’t reveal sub numbers but analysts have pegged it at between 10 and 15 million for the wider Prime offering, which grants access to the video service.

“India is one of the most exciting streaming markets in the world right now and there are many kinds of models,...

ZEE5 Global recently announced the power-packed female and male lead cast for its 8th International adaptation of the popular Finnish show Black Widows. Now, the platform exclusively released the trailer of the web-series giving the audience a glimpse into the devious world of three Black Widows.

Set in a picturesque backdrop, Black Widows puts forth strong female leads at the centre stage of the narrative. But their not so perfect life swiftly implodes when they decide to put an end to their abusive and unloving husbands. As three women fake mourn the death of their husbands, they not only share a common secret, but they decide to take over the world as their life gets a new meaning to freedom. But, amidst their new life, a cop will tail their past bearings, and a husband returns from the dead to unveil the ultimate truth. Will the truth end the new...

Raima Sen will remember Soumitra Chattopadhyay as the first actor she worked with in the new normal. She shared screen space with the iconic actor in "The Bong Connection", "Nishijapon", "Maach Mishti & More" and "Chhaya Manush".

By Raima Sen

I just got the news (of his death). We had shot together recently, in August. We were shooting for a documentary. I had a guest appearance in the film and I remember he was fine at that time.

Because of the current situation, there was social distancing the last time we worked together. That's my last memory of him. I will always remember how, after lockdown, he was the first person I shot with.

It is sad to know that he had Covid and was hospitalised. There were other complications, too.

It is a huge loss to the Bengali film industry because he was working very actively. He was 85 and it...

KollywoodThe actor shared a video of himself working out and wrote that he was preparing for the film's climax. Digital NativeArya is all set to resume work on Pa Ranjith’s upcoming project Salpetta. The film, which marks the first time collaboration between Ranjith and Arya, will see the latter play a boxer. The actor has undergone drastic physical transformation in preparation for his character. Arya recently took to Twitter to share a video in which he’s seen squatting 150 kg. He wrote that he’s getting ready for the final showdown with actor Kalai for his next project with Ranjith. The final schedule of the project, which has been shot over the last 12 months, is expected to resume soon since the government has granted permission to start filming with limited crew. Arya recently shared a glimpse of his unbelievably chiseled body. In the pictures, Arya appears to have knocked...

MollywoodThe photo was taken in 2000 on the sets of ‘Chakram’, which was shelved for unknown reasons after the first schedule.Digital NativeDigital NativeNot many may be aware that Vidya Balan, before her Bollywood debut with Parineeta, was signed on to play the female lead in the Mohanlal starrer Chakram. Posting a picture with Mohanlal taken in 2000, Vidya wrote on her Instagram Stories, “Tbt 2000... The pic was taken on the set of my first Malayalam film #Chakram with @mohanlal!!! The film got shelved after the first schedule... Not looking as bad as I imagined I did!!!” The actor said in a recent media interaction that Chakram was shelved after the first schedule for unknown reasons. Parineeta, which shot her to fame, was released five years later. Vidya pointed out that soon after Chakram was shelved, she was labelled a jinxed actor and all offers, including a Tamil biggie, eluded her.

Actor Aditya Seal recently got a chance to work with director Priyadarshan, and says that it was his wish to work with the veteran filmmaker for a long time.

Aditya features in the story titled "Anamika" in the film "Forbidden Love", which is directed by Priyadarshan.

"He has been one director who has been on my checklist forever and finally I had a chance to work with him. Let me tell you it was beyond what I had expected my experience to be," Aditya, who has featured in films like "Student Of The Year 2" and "Tum Bin 2", told Ians.

"Forbidden Love" comprises four stories -- "Diagnosis Of Love", "Rules Of The Game", "Anamika" and "Arranged Marriage".

Ali Fazal, Aahana Kumra, Patralekhaa, Omkar Kapoor, Anindita Bose, Pooja Kumar, Harsh Chhaya, Raima Sen, Mahesh Manjrekar, Rannvijaya Singh, and Vaibhav Tatwawadi, also feature in the cast, across the four films. --Ians...

Bollywood outsider Aditya Seal does not agree with the allegation that nepotism reigns in the film industry and, without taking names, says some brainless person has glamourised the word.

The word nepotism caught momentum after actress Kangana Ranaut used it for the first time on "Koffee With Karan", accusing show host and filmmaker Karan Johar of being the flag-bearer of nepotism in Bollywood. The debate over the subject was revived by Kangana recently after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, an outsider who had gone on to become a star in Bollywood.

Aditya was recently seen in the 2019 teenybopper flick, Student Of The Year 2, produced by Johar.

"I did 'Ek Chotisi Love Story' and 'Purani Jeans', where I was launched. There was another film, 'Tum Bin II' where I was re-launched and then I did 'Student Of The Year 2'. So, for me I don't understand the...

KollywoodThe film is touted to be on the life of a boxer.Filmmaker Pa Ranjith, whose last release was the superstar Rajinikanth starrer Kaala has joined hands with Arya for a boxing-based film. This will mark Arya's maiden collaboration with the acclaimed director. The makers have now roped in model and actress Dushara Vijayan, who made her film debut with the Tamil movie Bodhai Yeri Budhi Maari. The film will be set against the backdrop of North Madras and will be produced by K9 Studiozz. The film also stars Kalaiyarasan, John Kokken and Santosh Prathap. Arya, Kalaiyarasan and Santosh Prathap are said to be playing the role of boxers and have been developing their physique for the same. The film’s music has been composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Writer Prabha, who had penned the script for the Rajinikanth starrer Petta, will be working with Pa Ranjith in the film. Sources...

KollywoodThe film is touted to be on the life of a boxer.Filmmaker Pa Ranjith, whose last release was the superstar Rajinikanth starrer Kaala has joined hands with Arya for a boxing-based film. This will mark Arya's maiden collaboration with the acclaimed director. The makers have now roped in model and actress Dushara Vijayan, who made her film debut with the Tamil movie Bodhai Yeri Budhi Maari. The film will be set against the backdrop of North Madras and will be produced by K9 Studiozz. The film also stars Kalaiyarasan, John Kokken and Santosh Prathap. Arya, Kalaiyarasan and Santosh Prathap are said to be playing the role of boxers and have been developing their physique for the same. The film’s music has been composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Writer Prabha, who had penned the script for the Rajinikanth starrer Petta, will be working with Pa Ranjith in the film. Sources...