Sanju Is An Entertaining Saga That Blends Emotions, Humor & Drama

Banner: Rajkumar Hirani Films & Vinod Chopra Films

Producer: Rajkumar Hirani & Vinod Chopra

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Starcast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Dia Mirza, Jim Sarbh, Anushka Sharma, Vicky Kaushal

Music: A. R. Rahman, Rohan Rohan, Vikram Montrose, Sanjay Wandrekar & Atul Raninga

Sure enough the blockbuster director Rajkumar Hirani needs no special introduction. And his latest offering Sanju promises to be different and shows the highs as well as lows & dark periods of actor Sanjay Dutt. That it’s directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who has a cent per cent track record and features popular actor Ranbir Kapoor, has added to the excitement considerably.

Biopics are quite in vogue in Bollywood and in recent times, many of them have even tasted massive commercial success. But often, these biopics are criticized as they become quite hagiographic and tend to glorify the person in question. In such a scenario, Sanju lives up to its hype and turns out to be a yet another feather in Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial cap. Actually speaking Sanju is the biopic of the most controversial actor Sanjay Dutt, in the history of Bollywood, and some of the dramatic & the most significant episodes of his life.

Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir Kapoor) is the son of the famous actor Sunil Dutt (Paresh Rawal) & yesteryear actress Nargis (Manisha Koirala). He is about to get launched in a film by his father titled Rocky. Upset with his father, he tries drugs for the 1st time ever courtesy his friend Zubin Mistry (Jim Sarbh). At this point, he finds out that Nargis is suffering from cancer and has few days to live. She is taken to New York for treatment. Sanju is unable to control his drug habit even when his mother is struggling for life. While in New York, he befriends Kamlesh Kapasi (Vicky Kaushal) and they both form a wonderful bond. Sadly due to his drug addiction, his relationship with his girlfriend Ruby (Sonam Kapoor) gets affected and ends on a dismal note. Nargis dies just 3 days before the release of Rocky. An overwhelmed Sanju agrees to go for rehab in USA. Once he overcomes this addiction, he gets into a bigger problem. He gets arrested for illegal possession of arms. He’s also accused of aiding the terrorists in carrying out the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in the year 1993. How Sanjay Dutt fights this dreadful charge forms the rest of the crux of the film.

Director Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi’s story is interesting but one can sense that they have tried to play safe. But they have balanced it out by not glorifying Sanjay Dutt and showing his bad & dark side too. Also, it’s impressive how Rajkumar & Abhijat haven’t focused on his film career and have focused on his personal life & turmoil’s. Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi’s screenplay is terrific and despite the minuses, can be used as a guide on how to write films. With so much happening in the film, the writers ensure that the narrative doesn’t go all over the place. Everything is neatly put together. For instance, when the sequence where the Dutt’s are returning back to India, Nargis’ remarks about Ruby. This is done organically & neatly links to the next sequence which is related to Ruby. Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi’s dialogues as always are entertaining, sharp & massy. Few dialogues related to sex will bring the house down in single screens and in the hinterland. A section of the audience however would also be put off by such jokes & dark humor at places.

Rajkumar Hirani’s direction as expected is highly effective. This is no easy film to make but he executes & presents the plot in a simple & crisp manner. His magic comes to the fore in several sequences and is bound to leave the viewers smiling & even teary eyed. However, the climax could have been better & more powerful.

The biggest strength of Sanju is that the film never drops. The screenplay is riveting and keeps you hooked, even if you might not agree with the goings on. And that’s a feat for a film which is 160 minutes long. The back & forth narrative works very well and keeps viewers intrigued. The 1st ever half is excellent and boasts of some fine emotional, funny & dramatic sequences. The intermission point comes as a bolt from the blue. The madness continues in the 2nd half but the plot gets a bit shaky here. The film goes on a high in the 1st half but the same doesn’t happen in the 2nd half. The film should have ended with a punch or on a rocking note, as it has happened in the previous Rajkumar Hirani films. However, the film leaves a strong emotional impact overall, which works very well.

Songs are not that great but work well in the film. “Kar Har Maidaan Fateh” is the best of the lot. “Main Badhiya Tu Bhi Badhiya” is very well picturised & imagined. “Ruby Ruby” (by A R Rahman) is relegated to the background. Sanjay Wandrekar & Atul Raninga’s background score is much better & exhilarating. S Ravivarman’s cinematography is splendid and has captured some of the locales beautifully. In fact, he impresses right from the 1st shot itself, a bird’s eye view of Bandra. Shashank Tere’s production design is appealing & rich. Eka Lakhani’s costumes are authentic. Vikram Gaikwad’s make-up design, Clover Wootton’s prosthetics & VFX by NY VFXWaala deserves the highest praise for making Ranbir look like Sanjay Dutt through the ages. Rajkumar Hirani’s editing is crisp.

Performance wise it is Ranbir Kapoor who owns the film, in fact he is the life & soul of the film and delivers a terrific & power packed performance. Nowhere does his performance seem like a caricature and he gives his best shot in ensuring that he looks & behaves like Sanjay Dutt. Watch out for him in the emotional sequences, particularly when his mother passes away and he confesses to his father that he needs to get better. Also he’ll leave viewers moist eyed in the scene where he fails to read his speech to his father and later the inevitable happens. Sanju surely ranks as one of the most or arguably the most accomplished performance by this young actor and is bound to win him accolades, admiration & awards galore! Paresh Rawal is also quite impressive and plays the important part of Sunil Dutt with perfection. Sanju, in fact, is a father-son story and he compliments Ranbir very well in taking some scenes to greater heights. Vicky Kaushal is the surprise package of the film. Right from his entry, he makes a mark and brings the house down at several places. Also, he’s rocking in the emotional sequences like when he meets Ruby or when he tells Sunil Dutt that they need to help Sanjay Dutt. Even in the 2nd half, watch out for him when he meets Sanjay Dutt in the hospital and in the pre-climax when he listens to the radio. Manisha Koirala has a supporting part but is an important pillar in the film and charms with her performance. Anushka Sharma (as Winnie Dias) delivers a splendid performance. Again, her screen time is limited. Jim Sarbh makes an impact with his role. Sonam Kapoor (as Ruby) is decent in the cameo. Boman Irani (as Homi) contributes to the fun quotient. Sayaji Shinde (as Bandu Dada) looks every inch a gangster. Dia Mirza (as Maanayata Dutt) gets overpowered. Aditi Seiya (as Priya Dutt) looks quite like Priya but doesn’t have much to do in the film. Karishma Tanna (as Pinky) is quite sizzling and makes a mark, despite being there for just a scene. Mahesh Manjrekar (himself), Piyush Mishra (D Tripathi), Ashwin Mushran (security officer), Bharat Dabholkar (lawyer) & Aanjjan Srivastav (minister) are good.

Tail Piece: On the whole, Sanju is an entertaining saga that blends emotions, humor & drama in adequate doses. It is powerful, engaging, emotional as well as compelling. The combination of Rajkumar Hirani & Ranbir Kapoor works like a dream. At the box-office turnstiles, despite not being a “typical Rajkumar Hirani family entertainer’, Sanju will score tremendously and emerge as a Monstrous Hit! Don’t miss it!

Pakistani singing sensation Ali Zafar made a promising acting debut in India with the Bollywood film “Tere Bin Laden” in 2010. He went on to show his acting skills in Indian films, including some backed by the popular banner Yash Raj Films (YRF). Now he hopes that “Teefa In Trouble” — his maiden film in Pakistani cinema — crosses boundaries and makes a mark in India.

Ali is actor, producer, singer and writer of the romantic action comedy film, which will hit the screens in about 25 countries on July 20.

Is India, with whom Pakistan shares a bitter-sweet relationship, part of the list?

“Hopefully. It is on the cards. If everything goes well, then yes,” Lahore-based Ali told IANS in a telephonic interview.

“We have made the effort, given our best. It is all about giving respect and getting respect back. It is a film, it is entertainment. I hope that it gets screened over there (in India) and makes a mark and more stuff like this should happen. My job is to try. I don’t think about the negative side at all,” he added.

Only a handful of Pakistani films like “Khuda Kay Liye” and singing superstar Atif Aslam-starrer “Bol” got to enter the Indian market. Asked if Ali would like that to change, he said: “As an artiste, I feel that our work should be heard and viewed by as many people as possible in the world. I think we want that there should be peace… peace, having a cordial relationship and love are what we all want to prevail.”

The music of the film is available in India though, thanks to Junglee Music.

He has also joined hands with YRF for the international theatrical distribution of his home production.

“We feel honoured and proud that a banner like YRF is distributing my first home production.

“I have worked with Yashji (late filmmaker Yash Chopra) and the production house. The most important language spoken there is the language of love which is why the love story in our film, the way we have have shot it…even ‘Chan ve’, which is a love song… you will find a lot of Yash Chopra and YRF vibe in them,” said Ali, who worked with the banner for films like “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” and “Kill Dil”.

Any more YRF films in pipeline? “Let’s see. Right now, it’s just ‘Teefa In Trouble’.”

The forthcoming film is a family affair with his wife Ayesha Fazli co-producing and brother Danyal Zafar co-writing with him.

“We shot the entire film like a family. Even the director, Ahsan Rahim, is a close friend and like a mentor. As a producer, it was my job to make everyone feel at home and work like a family. There is message in the film also — it’s about the journey more than the destination. The process needs to be really enjoyable,” said the “Sun re sajania” hitmaker.

“Our objective was to make a film that is first of its kind… that has its unique identity and flavour. It can be watched with family again and again.”

Actor Irrfan Khan and late veteran actress Sridevi were named the Best Actors at the 19th edition of the IIFA Awards, for their remarkable work in films “Hindi Medium” and “Mom”, respectively.

At a grand event on Sunday here at the Siam Niramit theatre, a story of an ambitious and enterprising housewife, “Tumhari Sulu” bagged the Best Picture honour, while Saket Chaudhary took back the Best Director Award.

Late Sridevi’s husband-producer Boney Kapoor took the award for her performance in “Mom”. He was emotional as he received the award from actress Kriti Sanon.

“I dedicate this award to the entire team of ‘Moma’,” said an emotional Boney.

The award function also honoured late actors Vinod Khanna, Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi.

Vinod’s award was accepted by veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. Rishi Kapoor took Shashi Kapoor’s award. While actor Anil Kapoor and Boney broke down in tears while talking about Sridevi at the gala.

“I have mixed emotions today. I miss her every minute and second of my life. I still feel she is around here….I want you all to support Janhvi like you supported her mother…” said a teary eyed Boney.

Veteran actor actor Anupam Kher was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement award by Anil.

“It is a great feeling when your own peers celebrate your achievements and as I have been saying, this is just the interval point of what I am doing and my seconds half of journey starts now. It started with my 500th film….I told myself this is the interval point with The Big Sick and after that I have done 15 films in the last one year both international and national,” Anupam told IANS.

The 2000-seater Siam Niramit theatre saw thousands of Bollywood fanatics coming to the event to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.

A string of A-listers like Ranbir Kapoor, Varun, Arjun, Kriti Sanon, Bobby Deol and Shraddha set the stage on fire with their power packed and electrifying performances.

Varun danced on numbers like “Sau Tarah Ke”, “Tama Tama,” and “High Rated Gabru”.

Bobby danced with Romanian TV presenter and singer Iulia Vantur on numbers like “Gupt Gupt, “Soldier soldier”, “Tera Rang Balle Balle” and tracks from his latest release “Race 3”.

Kriti, Arjun and Shraddha also danced to tracks from their films respectively.

The 9th edition of Jagran Film Festival to begin from June 29

Tribute to be paid to legends like Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi

The illustrious 9th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF) will pay homage to some of Bollywood’s most iconic gems who passed away recently.

The Fest will commence from 29th June till 3rd July at Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi.

Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor not only supported commercial films but also openly encouraged the production of alternative cinema. His unabashedly raw and natural talent has always been revered by many which is why there will be a special screening at the festival, displaying his artistic excellence in the movie New Delhi Times directed by Ramesh Sharma.
Bonga will be screened at the festival; both of which have been directed by a man who won the hearts of many, through his stories – Kundan Shah.

The Jagran Film Festival management has also revealed that they will give fans a chance to relive some great memories by showcasing work by the late, beloved and effervescent Sridevi. Ready to light up the festival screen, she will be lauded for her role in Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish and Yash Chopra’s Lamhe.

The Jagran Film Festival is known as the ‘largest traveling festival’, curating a stellar line up of over 200 films from over 100 countries. In its 9th edition, the festival will connect 18 cities beginning the journey in Delhi and concluding it in Mumbai.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

By: Husna Rizwan

Race 3

Race 3 Is A Pure Entertainer For Gen X & Kids

Banner: Salman Khan Films & Tips Films

Producers: Salman Khan & Ramesh Taurani

Director: Remo D’Souza

Star Cast: Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Bobby Deol, Saaqib Saleem, Freddy Daruwala, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah, Sharat Saxsena, Rajesh Sharma et al

Music: Salim – Sulaiman

Director Remo D’Souza dancer turned choreographer turned actor turned director’s 1st ever 2 outings were F.A.L.T.U. & ABCD – Any Body Can Dance. In his 3rd outing Race 3 courtesy Salman Khan, who also happens to be a producer & a distributor along with Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films, Remo D’Souza has definitely shown more sparks to ignite his directorial prowess even further. Albeit he got a chance to direct Race 3 after replacing the original director duo Abbas-Mastan of Race 1 & Race 2 franchise which had performed much better at the Box-Office turnstiles, but of course Race 3 succeeded in doing 100 crores business duo to weekend holiday signifying the end of the Holy month of Ramzan followed by Eid-ul-Fitr. Yours truly met a lot of kids who enjoyed the movie in a suburban multiplex and one kid named Amber really liked Race 3’s car dashing action sequences, performance of Salman uncle’s acting and the style & grandeur of Race 3 albeit not necessary in that particular order.

That apart when Race 1 had arrived in cinemas in the year 2008, everyone had expected it to be a decent suspense fare. But the film exceeded everyone’s expectations thanks to its stylish narrative, excellent performances, writing & most importantly, the numerous unpredictable twists & turns. While Race 2 which had arrived in the year 2013 didn’t reach the level of its predecessor, forget going beyond it.

Yet, the franchise of “Race” had a lot of steam left. The producers obviously realized it and they have now come up with Race 3. This time, the film is bigger in terms of scale & grandeur and moreover, it also features one of the country’s biggest superstars, Salman Khan. At the same time, the thrill element has been toned down a bit to make it more family-friendly.

But the lead hero of Race 1 & Race 2 namely Saif Ali Khan, is no longer a part of the “Race there”.

Race 3 is the story of a dysfunctional family amidst a high stakes heist. Shamsher (Anil Kapoor) is the head of this family & Sikander (Salman Khan) is the kind-hearted & wise member. Sanjana (Daisy Shah) & Suraj (Saquib Saleem) are the youngest in the family and have a grudge against Sikander. But Shamsher is the pacifier who always ensures that things don’t go out of control. However, trouble arises when this family is entrusted with a task of retrieving a hard disk kept in a locker. This hard disk is worth millions. Shamsher entrusts this task to Sikander and the other family members. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The biggest problem with Race 3 is that there’s hardly any storyline in the film. Whatever of Shiraz Ahmed’s story is there is too lame & too confusing and it rests on a wafer thin plot. Shiraz Ahmed & Kiran Kotrial’s dialogues are corny and one soon realizes that Daisy Shah’s “none of your business” dialogue is not the only troll-worthy one-liner of the film! Shiraz Ahmed’s screenplay is disjointed as it concentrates more on style & action than substance. Also, just like its predecessors, the makers have added a lot of twists & turns but they are unnecessary & unconvincing.

Remo Dsouza’s direction also suffers as a result of the flawed writing. The film is high on style & low on substance. The action bits are good but Remo has stretched these scenes unnecessarily. Moreover, he, the makers & the writers have tried every gimmick in the book to appeal to Salman fans. Even dialogues & scenes are something that is tailor made for the “Bhai” fans.

The 1st half of Race 3 is ok. Yet it’s only in the 2nd half that the film boasts of some worthwhile moments. There’s no doubt that the film looks rich. Each & every frame is a visual delight and it shows that the money has been spent like water. The makers have even left scope for a sequel. At 2.40 hours, the film appears too long. Some of the scenes are so corny that it would surely become the talking point of social media in the days to come.

The songs of Race 3 are good. However, “Allah Duhai Hai” & “Selfish” are quite memorable and are picturised brilliantly. “Heeriye” leaves a bit of a mark. Salim-Sulaiman’s background score is much better and it adds to the thrill & the dramatic element.

While Ayananka Bose’s cinematography is eye catching and captures the locales of UAE & Thailand very well. Rajnish Hedao’s production design is classy while Anal Arasu & Thomas Struthers’s action lifts the film to an extent. But again, it’s not as spectacular as Salman Bhai’s previous films like Tiger Zinda Hai & Kick which had arrived in the year 2014. Steven Bernard’s editing is haphazard and the film could have been smoother & shorter in length. Manish Malhotra, Ashley Rebello, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Anaita Adajania, Akshay Tyagi & Rhea Kapoor’s costumes are quite good and suit the financial status of the characters.

Talking of performances, Salman Khan does well and is in a way the saving grace of the film. He’s not in his top form like he was in his last film Tiger Zinda Hai in the year 2017. But he sails through the film with his performance. Jacqueline Fernandez is shockingly disappointing and she struggles to act. Bobby Deol as Yash is also strictly okay. There was an excitement to see him after a hiatus and he’s sure to disappoint his fans & admirers. Anil Kapoor however puts his best foot forward and is impressive. His look is also quite great. On the other hand Daisy Shah & Saqib Saleem has given a decent performance, and the same goes for Freddy Daruwala as Rana.

Tail Piece: On the whole, Race 3 is high on style & low on substance.

At the Box-Office turnstiles, the movie will take a jump start due to Salman Khan’s star power & accelerate over the weekend.

Andrew Garfield Dedicates His Tony Win To LGBTQ Community

Andrew Garfield recently dedicated his Tony win to LGBTQ community. Andrew Garfield gave a shout-out to the LGBTQ community as he lifted the Tony statue for lead actor in a play, saying the stage outing of his Angels In America was an apt representation of “purest spirit” of humanity. Andrew Garfield, who was recognized for his role as Prior Walter, a gay man with AIDS, in Tony Kushner’s 2 part epic, said the play was embedded with the spirit that says “no to shame”.

Brad Pitt And Angelina – A New Twist In Their Life

And now there is a new twist in what else but the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children’s custody case. The custody battle between the estranged couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just got heated up, with a judge ordering new restrictions for Angelina Jolie’s involvement in Brad Pitts interaction with their six children. According to court documents, Andelina Jolie could be in danger of losing her primary custody of the children if she doesn’t take steps to improve their relationship with their father.

Donald Glover Opens Up

Donald Glover recently opened up about the casting rumours. Donald Glover has of late opened up about rumours surrounding his casting in the reboot of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. The Atlanta star Donald Clover was asked about the rumours of him joining the reboot of the classic film that will be helmed by Paul King, he averred, “It kind of terrified me as a child a little bit. It was a scary movie to me. I mean, I watched it a lot but I was rather terrified by it. I mean, you know, it’s a classic,” The old classic was produced by Warner Bros in 2005 and featured Johnny Depp & Freddie Highmore before it was rebooted again.

Dr. Luke Denies The Rape Claim Charge

Dr Luke has recently denied Kesha’s claim that he had indeed raped Katy Perry. Dr, Luke is addressed the latest revelation in his on-going legal battle against Kesha. Included in the court documents is a Feb, 2016 text message exchange between Lady Gaga & Kesha. The contents of the exchange, which were previously sealed, include Kesha’s claim that Dr. Luke had raped Katy Perry. “Kesha also falsely asserted that Dr. Luke had also raped Kathryn Hudson apart from Katy Perry,” the documents continue, adding, “Following this text message conversation, and with Kesha’s encouragement, Lady Gaga had indeed spread the negative messages about Dr. Luke in the press and on social media too.

Dulquer Releases ‘Contessa’ Teaser

Newbie director Sudeep E S’ film Contessa, starring Appa Sarath, has a new teaser, which Dulquer Salmaan released it recently and teaser hints that the film will have many thrilling moments, complete with action and sharp dialogues. Contessa also has Sinil Sainudheen starring in a major role. The film’s story, script and dialogues are by Riyaz.

Vidya To Star In Dhanush’s ‘Maari 2’

Vidya Pradeep, who is basking in the success of her Iravakku Aayiram Kangal, has been roped in to play an important role in Dhanush’s next film with Balaji Mohan namely Maari 2. Produced by Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films, Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas is playing the main antagonist with Sai Pallavi playing the female lead. The makers have also roped in actors Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Krishna & Robo Shankar to play supporting roles. Music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja is in charge of music and has already composed a song crooned by maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Being directed by Balaji Mohan, who helmed the first part, Maari 2 is touted to be a sequel to the gangster film that came out in 2014.

Samuthirakani Announces ‘Appa 2’

On Father’s Day, when all the celebrities were seen wishing their fathers by sharing their pictures and recalling sweet memories, director-cum actor Samuthirakani decided to announce his sequel to Appa. He had tweeted a picture with few of the main cast of his film Appa, captioning it “Velvom”. Appa, was a sequel to his 2012 film Saattai, where he played a school teacher changing the lives of many students in a Government school. In Appa, he was seen as a father helping out his son and their friends to deal with the pressure the education system put on them. The film also had Thambi Ramaiah playing a crucial role and had music by maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Going by the picture and the day he has chosen to share the news with the audience, it looks like the sequel will also revolve around fatherhood.

Anjali’s New Horror Thriller Titled

Anjali, who is currently part of 3D horror film Lisaa, will now be part of another horror thriller, titled O. Directed by debutante Praveen Biggod, who has worked on many independent films, O will be a heroine-centric film. “It is a pure horror film that takes place predominantly inside a house. Anjali plays Punitha, a character who gets scared easily and is able to feel the existence of negative energy around her. She faces a problem and how she gets out of it forms the plot,” says the director, who adds, “We are planning this as a Tamil-Telugu bilingual. The shoot will begin once Anjali completes her current projects.”

High Court Judgment In Long Pending Trisha Case

For the year 2010-2011 actress Trisha had led income tax returns and had not disclosed a number of Rupees 3.52 Crores and paid her tax for the remaining amount. However later led revised tax returns and brought the amount in. The IT department however alleged her of purposefully concealing her income and levied a penalty of Rs. 1.11 Crores. Trisha led an appeal at the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Nungambakkam and they ruled in favor of her. The IT department then went to the High Court and the case came up for hearing recently on. The judges dismissed the case stating that “We have concluded that the assessee is not guilty of deliberate concealment of income and is not liable to be mulcted with penalty under the Income Tax Act.”

‘Pantham’ Audio Date Out And Release Date Final

Gopichand starrer Pantham, directed by debutante K. Chakravarthy, is all set to be released. The makers said, “This is the seventh film for our banner and we are glad it is a landmark film for Gopichand. We have gone all out and left no stone unturned in the production. The post-production of the film is presently going on.” The release event in Vizag will follow later. The makers have confirmed the film’s release date as 5th Jul, 2018. Music is by Gopi Sundar. Dialogues are by Ramesh Reddy. The screenplay is by K. Chakravarthy and Bobby (K. S. Ravindra). The cinematography is by Prasad Murella.

‘Geethanjali 2’ Is Now On The Cards

One of the best horror-comedy films and 2014’s all-time hit Geethanjali is all set to roll into its sequel. The film’s first look was released by choreographer, actor and director Prabhudheva on his twitter account recently. The poster showcases Anjali with the title of the movie as Geethanjali 2. This movie will be produced by Kona Venkat under Kona films Corporation in association with MVV Cinemas. Heroine Anjali will be playing the lead role, and details of the remaining cast and crew are awaited. The initial part Geethanjali was directed by Raj Kiran, featuring Srinivas Reddy and Anjali in the lead roles. Now, it remains to be seen who’ll play the male lead opposite Anjali in the sequel.

Language Is Not A Barrier For Aditi Rao Hydari

Aditi Rao Hydari who recently made her Tollywood debut with the romantic entertainer, Sammohanam shared that she doesn’t mind working in any language, if the role is good, Aditi Rao Hydari also added that she is willing to work in those projects she could personally connect to. The versatile actress who made her debut in South with Kaatru Veliyidai, said she began to receive offers from southern filmmakers after noted director, Mani Ratnam offered her Kaatru Veliyidai. But the actress revealed that she wants to work with noted directors like Gautham Menon, Mysskin, Karthik Subharaj, Sekhar Kammula, Tharun Bhascker and Mani Ratnam, besides adding that she wanted to do as many films as possible with these eminent filmmakers. The actress will be seen playing an astronaut in noted Tollywood director, Sankalp Reddy’s upcoming space-thriller.

Mehreen Questioned By Officials In US

Days after the news that a Tollywood co-producer named Kishan Modugumudi and his wife were arrested by Chicago police for running a prostitution racket involving Tollywood actress, the US Department of Homeland & Immigration seems to have gone overboard by questioning a visiting Telugu actress. The one in question is Mehreen Pirzada, who was most recently visiting US after she was done with a Pantham schedule in Canada. This is apparently to find out the purpose of her visit, etc. The Punjabi diva was questioned only because she told the officials that she was a Tollywood actress! This is proving at its worst. The Mahanubhavudu and Raja The Great actress recently stated that she was upset by the incident.

Nazriya Expresses Her Thanks To Her Fans

The moment actress Nazriya Nazim’s song from Koode and a few other glimpses of her was out, fans went gaga over how the young actress has not changed a bit over the past few years. They said she looks and behaves just like the chirpy young actress, who stole their hearts with her child-like persona. So Nazriya Nazim took to the film’s social networking page to express her gratitude towards the audience through a video. In the clip, she says that words fall short when she tries to talk about the sweet welcome fans have given her. She said she did not realize she had taken a break of four years, until she witnessed the kind of response and comments fans gave her for the song titled “Aararo” from Koode.

Katheyondu Shuruvagide Is A Simple And Breezy Story

Pleasant, refreshing and feel-good, these are among the many comments the trailer of Katheyondu Shuruvagide received since it was released a few days ago. Debutante director Senna Hegde describes his film as an easy, breezy and lighthearted film that is not preachy. “I hope that people who watch this film will enjoy the two-hour-35-minutes completely and have a smile on their face throughout. Even if they forget the movie afterwards, it’s OK; I just want them to enjoy it while they are watching it,” says Senna Hegde Shot in 30 days across multiple locales like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada, Puducherry and Munnar, the film is a simple story of a meeting of lost souls over four days.

Manoranjan Heads To Mysuru For His Next

After shooting extensive portions of his last release Brihaspati in namma Mysuru, Manoranjan Ravichandran is back in town, this time for his film Chillum, in which he plays a drug smuggler. Director J Chandrakala says, “We were supposed to shoot in Mysuru earlier this week, but owing to incessant rain we had to push the schedule by a few days. We are looking at shooting at a heritage building for sequences that trace the journey of Manoranjan’s character’s childhood days, which will also feature Ragvendra Rajkumar. A montage song that captures the heritage value of Mysuru will also be canned. Devaraj will be seen in a cop’s role in the movie.”

‘Ganu’ Coming Soon

IWS Creations Ganu is all set to be released soon. The credits of the film are produced By Chetan Nakte, written & director Pritam Abhang, camera by Farooq Khan & music by Rajesh Umale. The film stars Padmanab Gaikwad, Tejaswi Patil, Monalisa Bagal et al.

Soundarya Keen On Doing Marathi Movie
Just recently, a lot of Bollywood actors are venturing into Marathi movies. Be it the Mirzya actress Saiyami Kher who will be featuring in Ritiesh Deshmukh’s film Mauli, Suniel Shetty was seen in Aa Ba Ka or Madhuri Dixit who featured in Bucket List. Now, Soundarya Sharma, the lead actress in Ranchi Diaries is also keen to do Marathi movies. Speaking at an event held in the city recently, the actress who hails from Delhi made this revelation. Soundarya, who says she always wanted to be an actress, had played the role of a small town girl in her debut movie Ranchi Diaries with Jimmy Shergill & Anupam Kher.

Akshay All Set To Present ‘Chumbak’
In 2017, a Marathi film titled Chumbak was screened at MAMI Mumbai Film Fest which had caught Akshay Kumar’s attention. Impressed with the movie, Akshay had decided to present this movie. In a video shared by him on his social media, he averred, “ A few days ago, I saw a movie which has been etched in my mind. Since then I have been thinking about the characters & the story of this film. I do not know what made this movie stick in my mind. But I have decided to present this movie, which I am sure every one of you will like.” The movie directed by Sandeep Modi, has renowned lyricist Swanand Kirkire in a lead role. It is a story of friendship between a restaurant busboy & a village simpleton. It is all set to be released on 27th Jul, 2018.

Sagar To Enact The Role Of P L Deshpande
Not long ago, news about Mahesh Manjrekar making a biopic on one of Maharashtra’s favorite writers, Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (affectionately referred to as Pu La) surfaced & sent fans of the late humorist’s work into a tizzy. Putting rest to all speculations about the lead actor in the film, Mahesh Manjrekar announced Sagar Deshmukh as the onscreen Pu La in the film, titled Bhai and also confirmed that the film would be the first Marathi release of 2019. Sagar, who is known for his roles in films like Hunterrr & YZ, averred ahead of the announcement and shared some details about his preparation for the role, “If I have to sum up this experience in one word, I would say it’s exhilarating.” He further informs that he had no idea that his name was being considered for Pu La’s role. “I had thought that Mahesh Manjrekar would cast someone like Atul Parchure, Anand Ingale or Nikhil Ratnaparkhi in this role. Many feel Atul resembles Pu La a lot too. So, it was a pleasant surprise when I got a call from Manjrekar in late Dec last year asking if I would like to do the role.”

The Much Awaited Trailer Of Ashtavakra Is Out
Marathi industry is known for its strong storyline & content topped with great acting skills. The recent one to be entering the league is the film Ashtavakra directed by Pradeep Salunke. The movie has been gathering attention on social media not because of glitz & glamour, but content, and the trailer of the film has finally been released. The film talks about the nexus between the system & the criminals & questions whether these people are criminals by birth and who brings them to this criminal world. All these & similar aspects are going to be unfolded through the film. The film was molded after Pradeep Salunke read something about the women prisoners and their children. To make this film more realistic he met these children, whose mothers were undergoing jail sentence and was really stunned. Apart from the main crux of the story, the film will also see new artists such as Mangesh Giri, Veena Arun, Harshada Bamne & Preeti Torne-Koli along with stars Vidyadhar Joshi & Mayuri Mandlik.

‘KARWAAN’ COMES EARLY IN CINEMAS

Karwaan starring Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan & Mithila Palkar which was earlier slated to release on 10th Aug, 2018 will be coming a week earlier and now release on 3rd Aug, 2018. Producer Ronnie Screwvala decided to change the date of their movie keeping in mind the clear window at the Box-Office turnstiles. RSVP in association with Ishka Film presents Karwaan. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Directed by Akarsh Khurana starring Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan & Mithila Palkar, the film is slated to release on 3rd Aug, 2018.

AKSHAY KUMAR ANNOUNCED AS THE NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

Prince Pipes & Fittings Limited (Prince Pipes) has appointed Akshay Kumar as its brand ambassador for Prince Piping Systems, one of its 2 brands. Prince Pipes is one of the leading polymer pipes & fittings manufacturers in India in terms of production capacity, number of distributors, and number & variety of products manufactured. Prince Pipes is striving to ensure a future for our nation through zero defect product offerings. Akshay Kumar’s passion to amplify relevant social messages through his films makes him an ideal icon not just for the community of plumbers but also end users. Prince Pipes believes that Akshay’s new brand campaign will help Prince Pipes to reach deep pockets of rural India.

JUBIN NAUTIYAL COMES UP WITH A SINGLE ON UNREQUITED LOVE

T-Series artist, Jubin Nautiyal, more popularly recognized for his hit playback numbers such as “Socha Hai” from “Baadshaho” & “Boond Boond” from Hate Story IV, is out with his new romantic single “Humnava Mere”, produced by Bhushan Kumar. “Humnava Mere” is composed by Rocky-Shiv, with lyrics by Manoj Muntashir and has been shot in breathtaking locales of Venice and the video has been directed by Ashish Panda.This is Jubin’s 2nd single after “Haaye Dil” in the year 2017. Composers Rocky-Shiv matches the tempo of the lyrics with their haunting music composition and director Ashish Panda tastefully tells a story through the video. Featuring along with Jubin in the video is model Romika Sharma who plays her character of a disturbed soul perfectly.

BLOCKBUSTER ‘MAYAANADHI’ TO BE REMADE IN HINDI BY JOE RAJAN

Romance Thriller Malayalam movie Mayaanadhi is all set to be remade in Hindi by Joe Rajan. Mayaanadhiwas voted among the best Malayalam films of that year directed & co-produced by Aashiq Abu. The film earned positive reviews by critics and was in several “Top films of the year lists” compiled by various Medias & film journals.The news was announced in presence of Mohanlal. The film starred Tovino Thomas a criminal who meets an aspiring actress Aishwarya Lekshmi. The story revolves around their troubled love story and their zest of finding a way out. The remake of Mayaanadhi will be produced by Santosh Kuruvilla who has produced many films earlier amongst which Ee. Ma. Yau was a super hit. Sachin Pilgaonkar who has not kept any stone unturned from being an actor, producer, director, singer & choreographer is now producing a Bollywood film for the 1st time ever.

NAGRAJ MANJULE TO MAKE JHUND WITH BIG B

Bhushan Kumar will produce Nagraj Manjule’s Jhund which will take off soon. The producer has also roped in Amitabh Bachchan who will be seen essaying the role of a retired sports teacher who starts a slum soccer movement. According to director Nagraj, the film will also touches upon the issues of drug abuse & crime and will also showcase how sports can reform kids. Bhushan Kumar who will be working with Big B for 2nd time after Bhootnath Returns is looking forward to collaborating with the megastar once again. Jhund shows that there is a hero in all of us and it’s only a matter of life giving you an opportunity. Jhund is directed by Nagraj Manjule, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Savita Raj & Raaj Hiremath & Nagraj Manjule.

BHUSHAN KUMAR RELEASES GURU RANDHAWA’S SINGLE “MADE IN INDIA”

After giving us hits like High Rated Gabru, Patola, Lahore, Ban Ja Rani etc, Guru Randhawa is back with yet another single “Made in India” produced by T- Series. The Punjabi single is composed & written by Guru himself while the song was shot in Milan with Elnaaz Norouzi. Guru who has featured in his videos before playing himself, will for the first time be seen portraying a character of a local taxi driver. Bhushan Kumar who has successfully revived music videos and wants to release as many as 10 or so videos every year is confident about Guru’s single.

AKSHAY KUMAR IS ALL SET TO PRESENT A MARATHI FILM
Akshay Kumar and success have become synonymous. The star who has been conferred with the National Award for the film ‘Rustom’, has played a variety of roles, especially those dedicated to creating social awareness. This actor who was awarded “Padma Shri” was so impressed by Chumbak, the Marathi movie that he has now taken the responsibility of presenting the film. Chumbak presented by Akshay Kumar’ will hit the silver screens in Maharashtra on 27th July 2018. Akshay Kumar is known to be associating with content driven movies. Besides the famous musician & actor, Swanand Kirkire, Chumbak also stars Sahil Jadhav, Sangram Desai, and is directed by Sandeep Modi. Chumbak written by Saurabh Bhave & Sandeep Modi is produced by Naren Kumar. Akshay Kumar taking the responsibility of presenting the film is going to be a very positive aspect to the Marathi Movie Industry.

KATRINA HAS A SPECIAL SURPRISE FOR HER FANS!
With a kitty full of blockbuster hit songs, Katrina Kaif is also the most popular choice for live stage performances. The star has a surprise in store for her fans and is preparing for a different kind of act for US & Canadian leg of the tour. Katrina is extremely hard working and is always game for experimentation. She also picks up the steps rather quickly, because of the hours she puts in practicing & rehearsing. Be it belly dancing, Aerial aerobics or hip hop, Katrina has done it all. For the Dabangg tour in Canada & US she is planning a special live acrobatic act, which requires a lot of focus and also requires her to work on her flexibility. Apart from training hard at the gym, Katrina has also been rehearsing the choreography round the clock. Katrina’s trainer Yasmin Karachiwala has designed a special workout regimen to build her core strength and the star hits the gym for 2 hours every day.

‘RAJMA CHAWAL” TO RELEASE ON 31ST AUG 2018

Rajma Chawal, a quirky father-son & “social media” relationship, directed by Leena Yadav, and starring Rishi Kapoor, debutante Anirudh Tanwar & Amyra Dastur, presented by SaarthiE & produced by Capt Gulab Singh Tanwar, Leena Yadav and Aseem Bajaj, is slated for release on 31st Aug, 2018.

SHRADDHA KAPOOR IS THE NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

Baggit has signed up Shraddha Kapoor as its new brand ambassador for the years 2018 & even 2019. The association with Shraddha Kapoor, a popular youth icon, reflects Baggit’s drive towards staying on point with the expectations of today’s young millennials and yet retaining relevance with its existing customer base. Shraddha is known for her sense of style & her trendsetting looks, much sought-after by today’s Gen Next. Baggit’s latest collection has been put together by Nina Lekhi, MD & Chief Design Curator, Baggit and mirrors the vibrant personality and joie-de-vivre of its new brand ambassador.

VARUN DHAWAN INJURED ON THE SETS OF ‘KALANK’

Varun Dhawan who is currently shooting for Abhishek Varman’s Kalank injured his arm while shooting for an action sequence choreographed by Shyam Kaushal. The scene was an intense brawl sequence where Varun had to lift & throw a door at a co-actor. The lift was ill-timed, and he ended up injuring his arm badly. The team rushed to his aid and he was given immediate medical attention on the sets. It is learnt that Varun Dhawan won’t be taking a break as the team is planning to wrap up the schedule before the monsoon. The actor was on the sets later in the day to kick off the next song sequence for the film. Kalank has a stellar ensemble cast which also includes Madhuri Dixit, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjay Dutt & Kunal Khemu. This film directed by Abhishek Varman & produced by Fox Star Studios, Dharma Productions & Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment is slated to release on 19th Apr, 2019.

SANJAY DUTT GOES THE EXTRA MILE

Sanjay Dutt may have had a long tryst with life but the man with the golden heart has definitely turned over a new leaf and the proof lies in his earnestness! After shooting amidst harsh weather conditions in the beautiful locales of Kyrgyzstan for 30 days, the actor reported a day early in Mumbai to ensure all the preparation associated with his upcoming production, Prasthaanam are taken care of. Sanjay was supposed to arrive in Mumbai a day later. Instead, he took the 4.30 am flight from Kyrgyzstan and waited at Dubai airport in transit for 4 hours, on arrival he headed straight to his office in Mumbai. Prasthaanam will go on the floors in Jun, 2014 and in spite of being tired after a long month of shooting, he only left the office after he ensured all aspects of pre-production are looked into and completed. In Sanjay Dutt is venturing into production after a 7 year hiatus! Produced by Sanjay Dutt’s Productions, Prasthaanam based on the Telugu film of the same name was an instant hit with the audience. Bringing together the hit pair of Manisha Koirala and Sanjay Dutt after a 10 year gap, Prasthaanam is the most anticipated movie to watch out for. Extensively shot in Lucknow, the film also stars Ali Fazal & Amyra Dastur.

ZEEL’S NEW ENGLISH MOVIE CHANNEL &FLIX LAUNCHED

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) is all set to take a gigantic leap forth in the English entertainment category with the launch of a new movie channel namely &flix. It will be the ultimate destination for the latest & the most-awaited Hollywood movies offering one hit premiere every week for the entire year along with an exceptional library of films across genres. The SD & HD channel went live across all leading DTH & digital cable platforms recently with the premiere of the recent megahit Spider-Man: Homecoming. With the brand proposition of ‘Leap Forth’, ZEEL’s latest offering aims to create a whole new world of extraordinary experiences through the world of movies. Keeping in mind their ever-evolving desire to break out of the orbit of sameness and take a quantum leap, &flix has created a remarkable roster of 52 hit premieres and over 400 great movies that show not just what is, but what could be.

VINEET KUMAR SINGH SIGNED FOR ‘ADAR’

After garnering immense appreciation & standing ovation for his last release Mukkabaaz, Vineet Kumar Singh will next be seen in Adhar which will be produced by National Award winning Newton filmmaker Manish Mundra. Titled Adhar, it will be directed by another National Award winner, Bengali filmmaker Suman Ghosh, whose 2006 film Podokkhep featuring Nandita Das & Soumitra Chatterjee had won in the “Best Feature Film” in Bengali category. Confirming the news, Vineet Kumar Singh shares, “Manish sir praised my performance in Mukkabaaz and said that I reminded him of a young Naseer saab (Naseeruddin Shah) in one of my interviews. It’s a huge compliment for me and I love the films he has produced, right from Ankhon Dekhi to Newton. Taking a cue from the film’s title Adhar, there are 2 aspects to it, one: it means base and the other is the Aadhar card and we are exploring both these aspects amongst many other things that are happening in our society. We will start shooting in Dec, 2018 or Jan, 2019 at the Bengal-Bihar border and in Jharkhand. I will start prepping closer to the shooting date,”

VIKRAM BHATT’S WEBSERIES ‘MAAYA 2’ LAUNCHED
Television sensation Leena Jumani along with Priyal Gor is all set to lit fire on the digital platform with their webseries Maaya 2 which is produced by ace filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and is directed by Vikram Bhatt’s daughter Krishna Bhatt. The makers of Maaya 2 recently launched the promos of the webseries amidst media. The show will highlight the complexities of being the person belonging to the LGBT community. Leena & Priyal, who play lesbian lovers in the series, have gone extremely bold for the series. The show premiered recently on Jio Cinema & VB on the web.

SHAHID KAPOOR CALLS OFF HIS VACATION FOR WORK COMMITMENTS

Shahid Kapoor is known to manage both his professional & personal life very well. The actor had planned to go on a vacation with his wife Mira Rajput & daughter Misha Kapoor in Jun, 2018. However, since the last schedule of his upcoming film Batti Gul Meter Chalu directed by Shree Narayan Singh resumes shoot in Jun, 2018, Shahid has decided to call off the vacation. With the shoot, Shahid will also start his preparation for the Arjun Reddy remake which includes workshops with behavioral experts. Shahid had decided to spend quality time with Mira & Misha (daughter) in Jun, 2018 before he begins training for Arjun Reddy. But now that the Batti Gul Meter Chalu schedule is likely to run into Jun, 2018, he has called off the trip. He wants to ensure that his commitment to this film doesn’t spill over to that of Arjun Reddy, the shoot of which is lined up for Jul, 2018. In fact Shahid will juggle between the shoot of Batti Gul Meter Chalu and prep workshops of Arjun Reddy. Shahid will be filming Batti Gul Meter Chalu in the mornings. His evenings will be dedicated to MMA training for Sandeep Vanga’s film. He needs to beef up for the remake. Besides undergoing dietary changes, he will alter his fitness regimen to include weight training. Batti Gul Meter Chalu also stars Shraddha Kapoor & Yami Gautam.

SONAL CHAUHAN ROPED IN FOR MAHESH MANJREKAR’S NEXT UNTITLED FILM!

Sonal Chauhan, who is eagerly awaiting the release of her forthcoming war drama, Paltan, has been officially signed by director Mahesh Manjrekar for his next untitled movie. While Vidyut Jamwal & Shruti Haasan also features in the underworld gangster drama, there had been ample speculations around the other actress to be cast in the film. The makers are happy to announce Sonal as the new addition to the movie, sharing the screen space alongside Vidyut & Shruti for the 1st time ever. Sonal plays a very interesting role in the film justifying to the movie’s script. It’s something which she has not portrayed on the screen before. The movie is an underworld gangster drama with the angle of Devdas, Paro & Chandramukhi. While Shruti will be seen playing Paro, Sonal will portray the role of Chandramukhi in the movie.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA VISITS THE ROHINGYA REFUGEE CAMPS!

It was only last year that UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra visited Jordan to meet with Syrian families, whose lives have been greatly affected by the conflict in the area. The international star recently landed in Dhaka, Bangladesh after attending the royal wedding in London to visit the Rohingya Refugee camps. Since 25th Aug, 2017, extreme violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, has driven an estimated 693,000 Rohingya refugees across the border into Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The people & the Government of Bangladesh welcomed them with resounding generosity and opened borders. As part of an initiative by UNICEF , Priyanka makes a 4 day field visit to the Rohingya Refugee Camps as part of the Child Alert campaign. As part of a series highlighting the challenges faced by children in current crisis situations, this UNICEF Child Alert focuses on the situation of Rohingya refugee children and their families now suffering harsh conditions in camps in southern Bangladesh after fleeing violence in Myanmar. The global icon is living out of her suitcase as she flew to London from New York to attend her friend Meghan Markle’s wedding to British Royal Prince Harry. She immediately flew out the next day to Bangladesh to visit the Rohingya Refugee camps, where she will spend the next 4 days interacting with the families there.
VINDU DARA SINGH IS ECSTATIC ABOUT HIS COMEDY DRAMA ‘GOLMAAL – THE PLAY’

The Hindi comedy drama Golmaal – The Play has been the talk of the town since its premiere in Rang Sharda, Bandra (West), Mumbai. The 2nd show staged on 26th May, 2018 at the same venue received thunderous response. The play is being geared for numerous performances not only pan India like Surat, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Vadodara but also abroad like Dubai & America. B-town celebrities like Bhagyashree, Sonu Nigam, Johnny Lever, Archana Puran Singh and her husband Parmeet Sethi, Avtar Gill and many others turning up in large numbers to attend the fun-filled drama. Golmaal – The Play is a satire on the existing education system including its functioning & policies and the trouble the parents undertake running from pillar to post. The popular film & television actor Vindu Dara Singh dons’ the producer’s cap with the production of this play. Vindu Dara Singh features in the cast along with film actress Sheeba, Rajesh Puri, Payal Goga Kapoor, Lakhbir Lahiri, Surleen Kaur & Akashdeep. The popular Punjab famed duo Lakbhir Lahiri & Lucky Hans are the directors of this hilarious play which is of 2 hours’ duration.