Veteran writer-filmmaker Gulzar says cinema is not like a Bible which will teach people to be good human beings, but it is rather a mirror which reflects society.

Gulzar was interacting with the media at the launch of Bhavani Iyer’s debut novel “Anon” on Tuesday in Mumbai.

The #MeToo movement exploded in India after Tanushree Dutta renewed a decade-old complaint of harassment against Nana Patekar two weeks ago.

Commenting on the movement that has gained momentum, Gulzar said: “Cinema is reflection of the society. If we say harassment of a women or a girl is happening only in cinema, then I don’t think so. It has spread all over the society. Cinema has yet spared you where sexual harassment cases are still occurring with 4-year-old girl and a 8-year-old girl and thank God that cinema hasn’t put that mirror in front of people.

“But beware, cinema has started reflecting every part of your life.”

Gulzar has directed path-breaking films like “Koshish”, “Aandhi” and “Maachis” in his career. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2004.

He said cinema cannot teach people how to be good humans.

“It is not only dependent on good old stories. We say we love children and we respect women, but are we doing that in our real life? So cinema is still sparing you… Which you have started realising, so let the cinema come in and tell you this is what you are.

“It is not that cinema will teach us good values and morals to carry. Cinema is not meant for that. If you are thinking that cinema is like a Bible which will teach you to be a good human, then you are mistaken.”

IANS

With actress Tanushree Dutta opening the floodgates for the #MeToo movement in India, leading to several celebrated names coming out to speak about their unsavoury experiences, actress Amyra Dastur says she has been a victim of “harassment” at the hands of “men and women” herself. However, she says she doesn’t have the guts to name and shame them.

Amyra made her acting debut in Bollywood with “Issaq” in 2013 and was later seen in Hindi films like “Mr. X”, “Kaalakaandi” and “Kung Fu Yoga”, which was also dubbed in Mandarin and English.

The 25-year-old actress has also featured in Tamil and Telugu movies like “Anegan”, “Manasuku Nachindi” and “Raja Gadu”.

Asked if she had faced the casting couch or harassment in her journey, Amyra told IANS in an e-mail interaction: “To be honest, I haven’t faced casting couch in the south or Bollywood. But yes, I have faced my share of harassment in both industries. I don’t have the guts to name them because they are powerful people — men and women who made sure I felt helpless.”

She says one day she will “definitely call them out on it”.

“But until I don’t feel safe and secure, I won’t point fingers. They know exactly who they are and what they have done. What I will say for now is that they better stop their discriminating ways because there’s definitely a wave of change coming and their status won’t be enough to protect them from Karma,” she added.

Citing an incident, Amyra said: “I have had an actor squeeze himself up against me during a shot in a song and whisper in my ear that he was so glad that I was in the film with him. When I threw him off me and refused to speak to him again, he made my experience miserable.

“My director told me to suck it up and honestly couldn’t care less. I was constantly called early to set, made to wait for hours and hours for my shot. I was made to shoot 18 hours a day, I slept for 4-5 hours if I was lucky.”

The actress, who started her career at the age of 16 as a model, says ultimately she was made to apologise to the actor.

“To top it all, I was made to apologise to the actor for my difficult behaviour (as I kept ignoring him) by the producer,” she said.

Amyra says that on another film set, the director would yell and scream at her every single day of the shoot.

“Sometimes he would call me early to set, make me wait all day in my vanity van and then send an assistant director after 12-13 hours to tell me I wasn’t going to shoot. He told me I should be ‘grateful’ that he even took me for this film.”

The #MeToo movement in India started after Tanushree in September recalled an unpleasant episode with veteran actor Nana Patekar from the sets of “Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss” in 2008.

After that, a slew of controversies surrounding Vikas Bahl, Chetan Bhagat, Gursimran Khamba, Kailash Kher, Rajat Kapoor and Alok Nath have emerged.

The #MeToo movement began in Hollywood last year with The New York Times reporting multiple sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. It led to the opening of a Pandora’s box of complaints against celebrated personalities like Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey.

Earlier this year over 82 film personalities from Hollywood led a powerful women’s march on the red carpet of Cannes International Film Festival.

IANS

Shakti Kapoor Launched Trailer & Music Of ‘The Journey Of Karma’

The terror man Shakti Kapoor recently launched the trailer & the music of his upcoming film namely The Journey Of Karma at The View in Andheri, Mumbai.

Shakti Kapoor will next be seen in a different role in his upcoming flick namely The Journey Of
Karma which is being produced & directed by Jagbir Dahiya of Surya Entertainment. Music Director Omkar Minhas & Danish Alfaz along with singer Lyla Sharma & Amrita, actress Shravani Goswami who plays mother of Poonam Pandey in film & Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoor were also seen at the event at The View in Andheri, Mumbai.

Shivender Dahiya will be seen in a promotional song “Parinda” crooned by Sukhwinder Singh. Jagbir Dahiya also launched his music label Surya Entertainment Music.

Going with the tagline Karma has no deadline, The Journey Of Karma is about a girl (Poonam Pandey) who is financially very poor & stays with her mother (Shravani Goswami). She has her own dreams to follow & she wants to study abroad but because of her financial conditions she is facing lot of problems. Then comes a guy (Shakti Kapoor) who loves her but because of the age difference between the 2 he is not able to express his feelings. The whole movie is about the poor girl & the problems she faces in life to achieve her dreams & the people who wanted to take advantage of her situation as well as there is a guy who loves her but can’t say.

The film also stars Shakti Kapoor in an extremely different avatar. It is learnt that the veteran actor didn’t color his hair or trim his beard for as long as 3 months just to get the right look for this movie.

Rakesh Sabharwal is the line producer of the film. The film is all set for release on 26th Oct, 2018 all over.

The terror man Shakti Kapoor recently launched the trailer & the music of his upcoming film namely The Journey Of Karma at The View in Andheri, Mumbai.

Shakti Kapoor will next be seen in a different role in his upcoming flick namely The Journey Of
Karma which is being produced & directed by Jagbir Dahiya of Surya Entertainment. Music Director Omkar Minhas & Danish Alfaz along with singer Lyla Sharma & Amrita, actress Shravani Goswami who plays mother of Poonam Pandey in film & Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoor were also seen at the event at The View in Andheri, Mumbai.

Shivender Dahiya will be seen in a promotional song “Parinda” crooned by Sukhwinder Singh. Jagbir Dahiya also launched his music label Surya Entertainment Music.

Going with the tagline Karma has no deadline, The Journey Of Karma is about a girl (Poonam Pandey) who is financially very poor & stays with her mother (Shravani Goswami). She has her own dreams to follow & she wants to study abroad but because of her financial conditions she is facing lot of problems. Then comes a guy (Shakti Kapoor) who loves her but because of the age difference between the 2 he is not able to express his feelings. The whole movie is about the poor girl & the problems she faces in life to achieve her dreams & the people who wanted to take advantage of her situation as well as there is a guy who loves her but can’t say.

The film also stars Shakti Kapoor in an extremely different avatar. It is learnt that the veteran actor didn’t color his hair or trim his beard for as long as 3 months just to get the right look for this movie.

Rakesh Sabharwal is the line producer of the film. The film is all set for release on 26th Oct, 2018 all over.

ZEE5 Launched ‘Chitra Vichitram’

Riding on the recent success of its 1st ever Telugu original Nanna Koochi, ZEE5, launched its 2nd Telugu original, Chitra Vichitram which translates as It’s a surprise on 4th Oct, 2018. The light-hearted web-series featuring Anchor Ravi, Manoj Tanneru & Apoorva Srinivasan in the lead. Chitra Vichitram revolves around childhood buddies, Abhi & Gopi, who reunite years later for a passion project, a movie, in the process of which they experience a nostalgic ride of their college journey. The story of Chitra Vichitram is engaging & relatable. AnchorRavi said, “Shooting for Chitra Vichitram was almost like going back to college, complete nostalgia!. Manoj Tanneru said, “The thematic story of the show & its association with ZEE5 made me take it up without any second thoughts.”

Sony Hits Back At Tata Sky Over Removal Of Channels

Hitting back at direct to home (DTH) operator Tata Sky, broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has condemned the removal of its channels by the DTH operator. Tata Sky removed 27 channels of SPNI & TV Today Network from 1st Oct, 2018. Sony is the official distributor TV Today Network channels. The removal of channels was preceded by a disconnection notice issued by Tata Sky against SPNI & TV Today Network on 16th Sept, 2018. The DTH operator’s notice was in response to the one issued by SPNI & TV Today Network. Both the disconnection notices were issued due to non-renewal of agreement. Sony has alleged that Tata Sky has unilaterally dropped the channels even though the rates of the channels have remained unchanged. “It is unfortunate that Tata Sky has unilaterally chosen to drop 22 SPN channels from its subscription, even though SPN has not increased the rates of its channels,” the broadcaster said in a statement. “By unilaterally dropping the channels, Tata Sky is depriving its viewers of the opportunity to watch world-class entertainment & live sporting action. Tata Sky is not acting in consumer interest. Tata Sky has claimed that the negotiations with Sony broke down since the demand by the broadcaster would have forced it to hike the price of its pack. “Tata Sky has dropped 27 channels & services from its platform from 1st Oct. 2018. Commercial negotiations with broadcasters broke down because what they were seeking would have forced us to hike our prices. Hence, we have had to drop a few channels while keeping the popular ones on.” the DTH operator has stated.

Southside Beauty Megha Akash To Romance Sooraj Pancholi In Satellite Shankar

Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Murad Khetani & Ashwin Varde, Satellite Shankar is the 1st ever Hindi film to be shot across more than 10 states in India. Everyone has been wondering who the leading lady opposite Sooraj Pancholi would be, since the makers had kept it rather hush-hush. Now, the secret is finally out. Megha Akash is the one who will be making her Hindi debut opposite Sooraj Pancholi in Satellite Shankar. Megha is one of the most promising talents in both Tamil & Telugu cinema. Megha had been waiting for the right break in Bollywood and has a massive buzz around her in the South, as she has bagged two of the biggest films in Tamil. She is doing a film opposite Dhanush (Enai Noki Paayum Thota) and she is also a part of Rajnikant’s next, Petta. “There were a lot of offers in Hindi but Satellite Shankar is just something special,” she says. “It’s a very different film and the scale of the film is also so huge.” Director Irfan Kamal is also extremely happy to have Megha on board. “She is exactly what we were looking for,” he says. “From the time we saw her, we knew she was the one.” The film is currently being shot in North India.

‘Smoke’ To Be Premiered At Mipcom 2018 In Cannes Film Fest

Eros International has recently announced that Eros Now will premiere its original series Smoke at Mipcom 2018,being held at Cannes in France on in Oct, 2018 under Made in India Originals category. The only Indian web series to be showcased in Cannes Film Fest this year, Smoke is a crime drama that will take audiences on a thrilling & eye opening journey set in the underbelly of Goa. The teaser of the show was launched recently which stars Kalki Koechlin, Mandira Bedi, Jim Sarbh, Amit Sial, Gulshan Devaiah, Satyadeep Mishra, Neal Bhoopalam, Prakash Belawadi & late Tom Alter. All episodes of Smoke will be available for binge-viewing from 26th Oct, 2018 exclusively on Eros Now. This 11 episode binge worthy series, directed by Neel Guha is a game of smoke & mirror, shifting loyalties & brutal cover-ups all against the backdrop of Goa, a state as glamorous as it is unsuspecting of the menace that lurks underneath its surface. The sound track for the series has been composed by well-known musician Karsh Kale, who has redefined the Asian Underground genre of music.

Animation International India Signs Charlie Chaplin For Licensing & Merchandising

The iconic superstar of comedy, Charlie Chaplin will soon be available to his fans through a range of products, thanks to Animation International India signing the licensing & merchandising rights of the icon. We all have known Charlie Chaplin for his humor, bowler hat, mustache & cane but there is a lot more to it. Often outfitted in tattered baggy pants, a cutaway coat & vest, impossibly large, worn-out shoes & a battered derby hat, Charlie Chaplin is arguably one of the best actors the entertainment industry has ever seen. Animation International India, part of the 4 decade old Animation International Limited (Hong Kong) has been instrumental in launching the licensing programs for Marvel, Hello Kitty, WWE & many iconic brands in India over the last 14 years of its journey in India. At present the company successfully manages licensing of brands like Doraemon, Shin Chan, Garfield, Archie Comics, Hallmark Design Collection, Albert Einstein & now Charlie Chaplin.

Trailer Of ‘Chal Jaa Bapu’ Launched On Gandhi Jayanti

The trailer of director Dedipya Joshi’s film Chal Jaa Bapu, a comedy drama film based on the scandal of fake Notes (Fake Currency) in the country, was launched in Mumbai. Chal Jaa Bapu stars the winner of Bigg Boss Season 2 winner Ashutosh Kaushik, with Hrishita Bhatt, Zakir Hussain, Aryan Vaid, Harish Hariaudh, Himani Shivpuri, Raju Kher et al. Ashutosh Kaushik, Hrishita Bhatt, Harish Hariaudh, Producer Varun Gaur, director Dedipya Joshi et al were present on the occasion. The concept of the film is by Ashutosh Kaushik & written by Shakir Ali. The music is by Santokh Singh, Rahul Bhatt, Nishant Kumar Vyas & Shivang Upadhyay. The film is shot on different locales in Saharanpur Uttar Pradesh. The film represents the evil effects of the fake currency in a very humorous & drama style, in fact, the film concept came in the form of an incident that took place with Ashutosdh Kaoshik.

Mrunal Jain & Kunal Thakkur’s Tennis Premier League’s Talent Hunt Day!

Mrunal Jani & Kunal Thakkur are devoting their time & energy on Tennis Premiere league which has become a talking point amongst the TV fraternity. To promote Tennis as a sport is a very noble cause. The talent hunt day got an overwhelming response last Sunday. Aishwariya Sakuja & Nidhi Taylor represented 2 different teams who interacted with everyone in spite of the heat. Other actors who graced the occasion included Aanand Goradiya, Sneha Wagh, Prerna Wanwari, Arun Mandola, Himanshu Malhotra & Heital Puniwala. Kunal Thakkur & Mrunal Jain attended all the guests personally & sincerity was flowing in their attitude besides the love for the sports. Sneha Wagh & Aishwarya Sakuja added to the glamour quotient of the event. Prerna Wanwari came specifically to support her friend Kunal Thakkur. Aanand Goradiya was seen chatting animatedly with Mrunal Thakkur & Sneha Wagh. Kunal Thakkur says, “It was great to see people of all ages coming from all over India to participate in the league. There were more than 350 participants who had come to just impress the mentors & the celebrities so that they get selected to play in the league”. Mrunal Jain adds, “It was nice on the part of Sneha Wagh, Prerna Wanwari, Aanand Goradiya, Arun Mandola, Heital Puniwala & Himanshu Malhotra to come & grace the special occasion. Tennis is one sport which surely needs more & more support”

Evening Shadows Bags Top Award At Chicago South Asian Film Fest

Indian feature film Evening Shadows bagged the audience award for “Best Feature Film” at the recently concluded Chicago South Asian Film Fest in USA.“We are happy that our film Evening Shadows is being awarded & appreciated even at mainstream film fest’s, apart from LGBTQ film fest’s. This fulfills one of the objectives of the film, to reach out a mass audiences with the message of acceptance. Now we push for the 2nd objective, of releasing the film commercially, in theaters & television, in India”, said director Sridhar Rangayan, being elated at this win, which is the 4th award the film has garnered. Chicago South Asian Film Festival presented an eclectic slate of 70+ films over the course of 4 days which included amazing award winning LGBTQ films. The participating filmmakers represented a wide diverse contemporary queer word cinema representing true South Asian Diaspora. Evening Shadows emerged as a winner of Chicago South Asian Film Fest & the fest could become a platform to spotlight the lives of LGBTQ community. The producers of Evening Shadows are delighted that the film is gaining a lot of acclaim across the world with official selection at around 38 international film fests, and at many fest’s being the opening, closing or centerpiece film. Sridhar Rangayan, director of the film, will be on a 15 day Evening Shadows Grand European Tour’ from Oct 9th @018 to 24th Oct 2018 presenting 7 screenings in 5 cities across 4 countries. Recently eminent actor Shabana Azmi who saw the film at the 3rd Lonavala Film Fest one day after the 377 verdict had said, “After watching Evening Shadows I really feel that it has made me a better human being. I feel that all families, especially in our country, should see this film. I hope that a big studio or a big producer will embrace this film and presents it. I have full trust that this film will be a hit at the box office turnstiles.” The film has received a UA certificate by the censor board.

Chitrangda Singh To Judge Ultimate Cook Off –The Marriott Challenge On Axn

Marriott International Inc. & AXN have joined hands for a one-of-its kind association. Together, they are curating a unique culinary show “AXN Ultimate Cook-Off – The Marriott Challenge”, which promises a thrilling, action packed & never-seen-before gastronomic experience for viewers. AXN will exclusively Premiere this cook-off soon enough. The show will be a nail-biting, high-stakes, head-to-head faceoff between 4 celebrated chefs from varied brands within Marriott portfolio. The contestants will display their skills through different culinary challenges and will be scored on their versatility, proficiency & creativity. The winning dish will make it to the menu of more than 100 Marriott International hotels across India. Chef Toine Hoeksel, Senior Culinary Director, Asia Pacific, Marriott International Inc., who leads more than 30 brands under the Marriott family, visited India to judge the cook-off. Other judges included Chef Himanshu Taneja, Culinary Director, India, Marriott International & famed actor-cum-producer, Chitrangda Singh. Marriott International Inc. & AXN’s partnership will bring to life innovative content as well as memorable guest experiences. Viewers will also get to know 5 celebrated Marriott chefs through vignettes aired on AXN showcasing their expertise & passion for food. Additionally, Marriott International Inc. will be the presenting sponsor for the much-awaited Top Chef Season 14, scheduled to air this month on AXN – Mon-Fri, 9 pm. Says Chitrangda Singh, Actor & Judge, “I am honored to associate with Marriott International & AXN, 2 highly-respected names in the country & world over. This association gives me a chance to truly explore my passion for food, as the chefs whip up their magic & produce sensorial delights. I also look forward to making my very 1st ever tie-up with AXN a memorable one.”

Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash & Karencitta’s Musical Ode To Mahatma Gandhi

Sarod Masters Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash, sons of Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, have teamed up with international vocal sensation Karencitta for their latest collaboration, 1Love, released on 2nd Oct, 2018, i.e. on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on digital platforms. “The one man, who we owe a lot to unquestionably, is Mahatma Gandhi. A man far ahead of his time, a man with a vision, and a man spiritually uplifted. From the Satyagraha Movement to the Non-Violence Movement, we discovered who we are from his voice & vision. Whenever I am asked, within India or abroad, what Gandhi means to me, I am filled with joy & pride,’’ expresses Amaan Ali Bangash. “Gandhi’s enlightened patriotism & nationalism are what India & the world greatly need today. To recall & wholeheartedly adopt, they are to rid themselves of the evils of communal massacres & terrorism of varied brands which plague them in varied parts at present. We all need to make our respective contributions in this as Gandhi had insisted each of us must be the change we wish to see in this world”, says Ayaan Ali Bangash, “therefore, let us all work together to recreate, and be soulfully motivated by his enthralling symphony of truth, love, non-violence & peace.” “World peace has always been my main advocacy. Hence this collaboration.” adds Karencitta. Amaan & Ayaan represent the 7th generation of the Senia Bangash School. Their father, Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan shoulders the 6th generation of inheritance in this legendary lineage. Karencitta 1st rose to popularity with her hit song “Cebuana” which reached over 1 million views in 24 hours. Based in Los Angeles, Karencitta 1st joined a talent search when she was only 4 years old. She stayed in the entertainment business since then. A collaboration of the 2, therefore, is something to really look forward to.

Hollywood Star Alec Baldwin & Bollywood Actress Dia Mirza Hosts UN’s Champions Of The Earth Awards

At this year’s United Nations’ annual flagship awards, “Champions of the Earth 2018”, Indians were seen as an integral part of the ecology conversation, moving a step closer to a more environment friendly living. Hosting these awards along with actor Alec Baldwin was UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza, who is known to crusade for and lend her voice to ecological protection. This year’s laureates are recognized for a combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times. Hoisting the Indian flag higher globally, young champion Arpit Dhupar was recognized & Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Cochin Airport won the award along with Joan Carling, French President Emmanuel Macron, China’s Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme and Beyond Meat & Impossible Foods. Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, are recognized in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance & promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and PM Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022. The awards were presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York City, on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly. This is the 2nd consecutive year, since being appointed UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India, that Dia was seen hosting the awards.

Make Up Artiste Preetisheel Singh Looks Forward To Andhadhun, Raw & Thackeray

This year has been a great one for National Award-winning make-up, hair & prosthetic designer Preetisheel Singh. Starting out with the blockbuster success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, where she created the looks for Shahid Kapoor, DeepikaPadukone & Ranveer Singh as the wicked Alauddin Khilji, she also designed the endearing looks of Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor for Umesh Shukla’s runaway hit 102 Not Out. Last month, the makeover wiz had her hat trick clincher with Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk; a gripping take on Muslim patriotism in a Hindu-majority India. The film not only made an indelible mark at the box-office, but managed to effectively send out a fabulous message of equality & brotherhood. The lady is excited about the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Andha Dhun next. “I’ve got a chance to work with Sriram Raghavan for the first time. It’s a cool flick & I’m proud to be the makeup designer for it,” says Preetisheel, who has also just finished her work for Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW) with John Abraham donning multiple looks. But she quips that RAW is gonna be a “surprise package” so she can’t reveal about the looks as of now. And finally there is Thackeray, where Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the role of Shiv Sena supremo BalasahebThackeray.

Varun Dhawan’s Connect With India Vs Pakistan Cricket Match

2 things that Indians love the most is Bollywood & Cricket. Varun Dhawan who’s latest release is Sui Dhaga has one such connect with cricket. The connect is linked with the India Vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup. The last time this young star had a movie releasing on the same time as an Indo-Pak was when Main Tera Hero (MTH) opened in cinemas. That time, India defeated Pakistan and Varun’s Main Tera Hero also became a hit. This would make the actor quite optimistic as this time too India defeated Pakistan to enter the Asia Cup finals. Now, we can only hope that Sui Dhaga also is able to repeat the same fate as Main Tera Hero.

Trailer Of ‘Dassehra’ Starring Neil Nitin Mukesh & Tina Desai Out

The Trailer of Dassehra is finally out. The 1st ever glimpse of the film gives out clear indication of a stellar performance from Neil Nitin Mukesh. The fight sequences look brutal & exhilarating. Dassehra certainly seems to be an action movie of 2018, all credits to its emotional maturity, dark story & well-crafted action sequences. Neil Nitin Mukesh will be playing the role of a police officer for the 1st time ever in his 11 year career in Manish Vatsalya’s Dassehra. The film also stars Tina Desai, Govind Namdeo. The story has written by Saurabh Choudhary & produced by Aparana S. Hosing. Sporting a moustache, Niel Nitin Mukesh, wearing Khakhi Wardi ridding on Bullet absolutely look Dabangg Cop. The cop hero in Dassehra knows how to win people’s confidence & tackle goons. These movies can motivate the state police to work for the people. Despite being corrupt to an extent, the cops in these films protect the law & destroy criminals & their gangs. Dassehra is a political thriller story of crime & politics. The film evolves from the backdrop of a politically destabilized state, places which symbolizes politician mafia network, a place of heinous crimes, cunning politicians, reckless criminals, the film Dassehra is dedicated to bureaucrats of India. Dassehra is a story of a genuine cop who gets stuck in adverse circumstances.

Poonam Pandey Ditches Shakti Kapoor For The 2nd Time In Succession

For the 2nd time in succession, Poonam Pandey developed cold feet and did not turn up at the trailer cum music launch of her film The Journey Of Karma in which Shakti Kapoor will be seen in a different role. The film has been produced & directed by Jagbir Dahiya of Surya Entertainment. Music Director Omkar Minhas & Danish Alfaz along with singer Lyla Sharma & Amrita, Shravani Goswami who plays the mother of Poonam Pandey in the film & Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoor were also seen at the event in Mumbai. Shivender Dahiya will be seen in a promotional song Parinda sung by Sukhwinder Singh. Jagbir Dahiya also launched his music label Surya Entertainment Music. Going with the tagline Karma has no deadline, The Journey Of Karma is about a girl (Poonam Pandey) who is financially very poor and stays with her mother (Shravani Goswami). Then comes a guy (Shakti Kapoor) who loves her but because of age difference between the two, he is not able to express his feelings. The whole movie is about the poor girl & the problems she faces in life to achieve her dreams & the people who wanted to take advantage of her situation as well as there is a guy who loves her but can’t say. The film also stars Shakti Kapoor in an extremely different avatar. It is learnt that the veteran actor didn’t color his hair or trim his beard for as long as 3 months just to get the right look for this movie slated for release on 26th Oct, 2018 all over.

Varun Dhawan – The Hit Machine Of Bollywood

From Student Of The Year to Sui Dhaga, Varun Dhawan has given consistent hits at the box office turnstiles. It has been 6 years since he has entered Bollywood and is already one of the most successful actors of his generation. Having acted in 11 films till now, Varun has never given a flop. All his films have performed well at the box-office turnstiles and the actor has been praised by the critics & the audiences for his performance. Over the course of his career, he has played different roles. From playing a romantic hero in the “Dulhania” series to playing angry revengeful husband in Badlapur, he has played it all. Recently, he has earned critical acclaim for his role of an emotional boy Dan in Shoojit Sircar’s new age tale October. His films ABCD 2, Dilwale, Dishoom, Badrinath Ki Dulhania & Judwaa 2 went on to enter the 100 crore club. The actor continues to rule the box-office turnstiles & receive rave reviews for his lastest release Sui Dhaga. The film has already garnered Rs. 36.60 crore over the weekend and is expected to grow over the week.

Late Vinod Mehra’s Rohan Mehra Gets Candid On How He Bagged ‘Baazaar’

Baazaar, an upcoming drama on stocks, money & crime marks the debut of Rohan Mehra son of ysteryear’s actor the late Vinod Mehra & also stars Saif Ali Khan, Chitrangda Singh & Radhika Apte. Rohan Mehra who works on vying for attention, is also leading the show independently and in the eyes of his boss as the plot progresses and he has definitely got all our attention! The road to Bollywood was not easy for Rohan. Rohan Mehra recalls, “I heard about the film, in fact, I read about the film and was very intrigued by the storyline. When I learnt that Nikkhil Sir was making this film, I thought of auditioning for it. Initially the film was supposed to have only established actors and they were not even planning on taking newcomers. Eventually, they were convinced and had to audition a few rounds. Following which, I had to wait for months before I got a confirmation call. It was not something which was offered because I was a star kid, but I had to really work hard for it.” The film, Baazaar has opened & exposed the game of stock markets widely since the trailer launch and we cannot stop talking about it. Rohan Mehra has impressed one and all and judging by the response he has been receiving, the talented actor is here to stay for good.

Twinkle Khanna Joins Save The Children As Artist Ambassador

Twinkle Khanna, has joined Save the Children as the Artist Ambassador to promote adolescent health & right to menstrual hygiene. Twinkle Khanna exults, “Even today, one half of the population in our country continues to struggle for their fair share. Women & girls are often denied access to rights simply because they are born girls. And this discrimination begins right from the womb & the cycle continues. And they continue to lose out on the most basic of the rights, whether we talk of health, education and on it goes. Access to basic health & hygiene should not be a matter of chance but choice & rights. Taboos & lack of awareness around something as natural as menstruation push more than 50% of women to most unhygienic practices. We need to push boundaries, and we need to have more open, honest conversations around menstruation to begin with. I, Twinkle Khanna, am excited to join Save the Children as their artist ambassador to champion the cause of adolescent health & menstrual hygiene”. Save the Children priorities include social behavior change communication to overcome the social taboos, misconceptions & misbelieves on menstrual hygiene, empowerment of adolescent girls to take appropriate decisions on management of menstruation, improving the targeting of influencers, improving the reach & quality of low-cost pads, improving access to sanitation (toilets) at schools & in communities, inculcating hygiene & sanitation behaviors & practices for better management of menstruation in schools & communities.

ZEE5 To Globally Premiere ‘Mulk’ On Digital Platform

ZEE5 is all set to strengthen its movies catalogue with the global digital premiere of Mulk. Featuring award-winning actors Rishi Kapoor & Taapsee Pannu, Mulk will premiere exclusively for ZEE5 subscribers. Mulk is an intense drama based on a true story where a Muslim joint family from a small city in India is trapped in a dark controversy and trying to reclaim their honor. The movie focuses on some hard-hitting issues & other faces of terrorism which are often hushed about. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the movie sets out to uncover the prejudice that seeds people’s perception for the Muslim community in our country. The movie also features a well-known star cast including Prateik Babbar, Rajat Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Neena Gupta etc. Manish Aggarwal, Business Head, ZEE5 India, said, “We have been receiving a great response to our exclusive digital premieres & global premiere of Mulk will further drive engagement with the viewers. We will continue to have interesting additions to our movies catalogue with latest blockbuster releases straight after the theatre release providing unlimited entertainment options to our viewers combined with quality content.” Anubhav Sinha comments, “We are delighted to associate with ZEE5 for the global digital premiere of Mulk. While we received a fabulous response on the theatre release, I’ve been inundated with enquiries from people who missed it in the theaters for its digital release. ZEE5 with its wide global reach will help that audience watch the film. We hope for a similar feedback & support from consumers for the digital release as well.”

‘Sajjan Singh Rangroot’ To Be Dubbed In Russian Language

Alex Reece, who played the main villain in the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Sajjan Singh Rangroot this year, has predicted that the next James Bond villain could be based on Russian president Vladimir Putin. In the casting call for Bond 25, the casting execs are reported to have advertised that they are looking for a Russian male, who needs to be “charismatic, powerful, innovative, cold & vindictive” & a female character described as “intelligent, brave, fierce & charming.” “I don’t know about the female character, but the description of the male one sure sounds like a certain Russian president to me,” says Alex with a wicked smile. The British actor who has worked in Hollywood flicks, is also known for his appearance in a mega-budget James Bond commercial starring Daniel Craig. Alex points out, “Many of the initial Bond movies were made during the Cold War, but since Daniel Craig took over, that Russian element has been missing.””Now with allegations about Russian interference in American elections, Russia is back in the picture. Having a negative character with comparisons to Putin or his KGB secret service past, can work new wonders for the Bond series,” analyses the Rangroot villain. Meanwhile, Alex is himself going to have a Russian connection soon. His villainy act in Sajjan Singh Rangroot is heading to Russia, with the film’s dubbed version all set to release there in the last week of Oct, 2018.

Curtains Doen For The 9th Jagran Film Festival

The 9th edition of Jagran Film Festival on its culminating day glittered with renowned stars from the Bollywood circuit. Celebrities like Zoya Hussain, Varun Dhawan, Imtiaz Ali, Pankaj Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Tabu, Abbas Mustan, Ankit Tiwari, Amit Trivedi, Pooja Bhatt, Ira Bhaskar, Swara Bhaskar, Vineet Singh & Anurag Kashyap, graced the event, making the Award Ceremony absolutely scintillating. Legendary Actor, Pankaj Kapoor was honored with “Icon of Indian Cinema” title, while Kamlesh Pandey received the award for “Special Contribution to Cinematic Art” & Imtiaz Ali was thrilled to get the Achiever Award. Tabu was conferred with the Jagran Film Festival “Retrospective Award”. Varun Dhawan received the “Best Actor” for the film, October, whereas, Zoya Hussain won the “Best Actress” Award for her impressive performance in Mukkabaaz. Victor’s History was regarded as the “Best Foreign Feature Film” and Village Rockstars as the “Best Indian Feature Film”. Mukkabaaz again won the award for “Best Director” and “Best Writing”, which was given to Anurag Kashyap and Team Mukkabaaz respectively. The Special Jury Awards for “Best Film” in Indian Language was given to Ee. Ma. Yau and in the Short Film Category, Counterfeit Kunkoo and Lakshya were bestowed with the admiration. Jagran Film Festival, the grand content curating event in the field of Cinema & Music, has had a successful ride for its 9th edition, which commenced in Jun, 2018 in Delhi & culminated in Mumbai In between, JFF mapped & interacted with diverse film buffs across 16 more cities including Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Dehradun, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bhopal, Indore, Gorakhpur, Agra, Ludhiana, Hissar, Meerut & Raipur. Traversing nationwide, Jagran Film Festival became the biggest ever show to generate inspiring content across regions, cultures, languages, themes & subjects.

Ajaz Khan’s Philanthropic Side!

With such power & position comes a responsibility towards the society. However, this responsibility is realized only by few. Ajaz Khan well known for his humanitarian initiatives was approached by hundreds of employees of popular food delivery. Companies Zomato & Food Panda. Because of his charitable acts, the actor has earned the title of the “voice of poor”. In a recent incident Ajaz Khan, stood up for 250 Zomato & Food Panda employees. Employees of Zomanto & Food Panda face major crisis in regards to their salary. In the video (on Ajaz Khan’s Face Book) the employees share their problems with Ajaz Khan. Stating that despite their full attendance & dedication towards the company, they are not paid the amount they were promised. They also revealed the kind of disrespect & rude behavior of their senior & bosses at their workplace which is as a result devastating company morale & creating a toxic working environment. The troubled employees also disclosed that the attitude of Maharashtra Police was “ignorant” & dismissed their case by calling it a “system problem” & were scared off. Ajaz Khan, who has always believed that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, helped them resolve their issues to not just handle the genuine outrage of hundreds of Zomato & Food Panda employees but also put an end to their long standing grief’s “I request Maharashtra Govt. & Police to resolve the issue as soon as possible. I humbly request Maharashtra Govt. & Police to look into this matter”

Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi Teaser Released On Gandhi Jayanti

The teaser of Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi was released on Gandhi Jayanti, a day when we celebrate the indomitable spirit of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi; Rani Laxmi Bai has been one of the first, fiercest warrior queens, who fought for independence against the British army, the makers felt this would be the apt day to launch the teaser of the film that captures the historic life story of Rani Lakshmi Bai. Produced by Zee Studios & Kamal Jain, Manikarnika-The Queen of Jhansi, directed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, is slated to release on January 25, 2019.

Kalki Koechlin Interacts With Audience At Jagran Film Festival!

Jagran Film Festival continued to spread & woo its audiences on the 3rd day of the Mumbai Chapter. A splendid event which commenced in Delhi, touched 18 cities before coming to Mumbai, the 2nd last day of the film Carnival witnessed Kalki Koechlin interact with the audience, while sharing her unusual experiences while shooting her film Ribbon, which was released last year & screened on the second day of 9th Jagran Film Festival. Mumbai Premier of Sadho directed by Danish Iqbal, a film in Chhattisgarhi & Hindi, entertained the audiences. Post its screening, a conversation between the directors engaged everyone, who enthusiastically participated. A special screening of the documentary Aamo Akha Ek Se, directed by Prathiba Sharma, followed by a chat with the viewers, explored prospects in such themed movies. Also showcased on the 3rd day were gems like Poomaram, Sudani From Nigeria, Aedan; Garden of Desire & Aalorukkam, all in Malayalam, besides the action packed thriller Ferrous, directed by Shaurya Singh. Kalki Koechlin, spoke about her experience on motherhood post & pre – pregnancy with the film Ribbon and also shared her thoughts about how regional cinema has to struggle a lot in our nation! The conversation by Ram Subramanian on “Master Class by Cinema Of Sellers”, involved people who soaked the knowledge beams with immense interest. JFF recommended, Malayalam Film Ee. Ma. Yau., directed by Lijo Jose Pelissery, had the audience rapt & seated. International film in Japanese, Eriko Pretended, directed by Akiyo Fujimura, in 2017, had the onlookers engage in cross culture cinema with developing curiosity in Japanese Motion Pictures. Jagran Film Festival generated some great movie content while connected people from across arena The last day of Jagran Film Fest saw a swarm of celebrities coming to connect with likeminded people, as well as to witness the glittering award ceremony on the final day of the film fiesta. With hours away from closing, Mumbai chapter on Day 4 showcased the impressive Oscar Awards nominated film, Village Rockstar.

Siddharth Roy Kapur Unanimously Re-Elected As The President Of The Producers Guild Of India

Siddharth Roy Kapur has been re-elected as the President of the Producers Guild of India. He has previously served as the President since Jan, 2017. It was a unanimous decision taken at the 1st ever meeting of newly appointed Guild Council on 28th Sept, 2018. In addition, Sunjoy Waddhwa has also been elected as the Vice President . Priti Shahani & Fazila Allana have been nominated to the Guild Council of Management along with Milan Luthria & Akshaye Widhani who have been included in the Guild Council as Special Invitees. Vijay Singh, Manish Goswami & Apoorva Mehta continues to be part of the Guild Management team as Vice Presidents in addition to Ashim Samanta who will also continue as the Treasurer. As the President, Siddharth Roy Kapur has been the leading voice of the industry over the past 2 years. The Guild has recently signed key strategic alliances such as the one with United Kingdom’s Producers Alliance for Cinema & Television and has engaged with key industry & Government stakeholders successfully. Siddharth Roy Kapur founded his own film & digital media production house Roy Kapur Films after a long & successful stint at Disney & UTV.

Mumbai Actor Nana Patekar on Monday cancelled a press conference where he was due to address the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by actress Tanushree Dutta.

The media was informed about the cancellation by Nana’s son Malhar.

The text message, sent out late on Sunday, read: “Just wanted to inform that there’s no press conference tomorrow… Will let you know about the further proceedings soon.”

The press conference was to be held for Nana to address Tanushree’s accusation of his misbehaviour on the set of a 2008 film.

In an interview in September, in the context of her opinion on #MeToo Movement and sexual harassment against women in Bollywood, Tanushree spoke out her personal experience of facing it at the hands of Nana on the set of “Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss” in 2008.

Last week, Tanushree also filed a written complaint on the same at the Oshiwara police station here.

“Nana Patekar’s behaviour was inappropriate towards me, he was on the set despite (the fact) his work in the song was over. He grabbed me by the arm and pushed me towards him around on the pretext of teaching me how to dance,” read one part of the complaint.

On his part, Nana has consistently denied the accusation.

In 2008 too, he had held a conference to dismiss the allegations.

And just last week, on being confronted by the media, he said he had answered the questions about it 10 years ago.

“Jhooth toh jhooth hi hai (a lie is a lie),” Nana said.

(IANS)

A Grand Mahurat Of Hollywood Film ‘He Is Back’ Held In Dubai

Showtimes Cinema & SBM Studios in Association with Ninjoor Pictures recently rolled out their ambitious international venture titled He Is Back!

Produced by Suresh Sharma who last produced the gritty drama Halla Bol & Suresh Babu Malge who also produced many movies & directed by Cheetah Yajnesh Shetty who helmed Hum Tumpe Marte Hain.

Incidentally speaking He Is Back was launched in Dubai where the who’s who of the world were present.

The movie was inaugurated with the lamp lighting by Her Royal Excellency Of Thailand Mom Luang Rajadarasri Jayankura, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Former President of the Republic of Kalmykia in the Russian Federation & Prince Firooz Alexander Sefre, Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects Chartered Architect Riba, England.

The other eminent guests were Edmond Avakian, Thomas Fung, Fatemah Hossain Zamani & Lazar Jakovljevic.

Inspired by Bruce Lee, the movie revolves around the theme of how a poor boy changes the world! The film introduces Abb Li in the lead role who happens to be a big worshiper of Bruce Lee. It is learnt that Abb Li is such a loyal follower of Bruce Lee that he has transformed his body also to Bruce Lee style.

The movie also introduces actress Aline Ilyumzhinov in the lead role along with an ensemble cast of Hollywood biggies!

Story by Chitah Yajnesh Shetty & sound by Resul Pukutty, the film has screenplay & dialogues by David White and involves big international names in the movie making business including DOP Ross Clarkson & world renowned action director Kecha Khampakdee.

Southern filmmaker Rockline Venkatesh gave the clap & Dr. B R Shetty, Abu Dhabhi switched on the camera. AmarjIt Shetty is the co- producer of the film & William Bond is the executive producer.

Sui Dhaaga – Made In India Is A Heart Touching Story Told Beautifully

Banner: Yash Raj Films
Producer: Adiya Chopra
Director: Sharat Kataria
Star Cast: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghuveer Yadav, Yamini Das, Sawan Tank, Manukriti Patwa, Siddharth Bhardawaj, Ashish Verma, Namit Das, Bhupesh Singh, Govind Pandey, Harleen Bedi & above all Katrina Kaif
Music: Anu Malik & Andrea Guerra

Director Sharat Kataria’s 1st ever outing Dum Laga Ke Haisa was a sincere movie & now in his 2nd outing
Sui Dhaaga – Made In India once again Sharat Kataria delivers a very heart touching film.

Since more than a decade, filmmakers have been increasingly setting their stories in the heartland of India. This gives the film an authentic & realistic touch and also helps the film get a wider appeal. More number of people watch such films, provided they are told in a simple & entertaining manner, as they could relate to such stories more than the ones set in urban or foreign regions. Sui Dhaaga – Made In India, is not only based in a village, it also makes some important comments about social entrepreneurship for the social & the economic development of the rural artisans.

The scripted scenario of Sui Dhaaga – Made In India opens with a heartwarming story of pride & self-reliance of Mauji (Varun Dhawan), who stays in a village near Delhi with his wife Mamta (Anushka Sharma), father (Raghubir Yadav) & mother (Yamini Das). Mauji works at a shop that sells sewing machines, owned by Bansal (Sidharth Bhardwaj) & his son Prashant (Ashish Verma). Both have a habit of ill-treating Mauji and make him do fun antics. When Prashant gets married, Bansal invites Mauji & his entire family. Mamta feels humiliated when she sees Mauji being asked to imitate a dog by the Bansal’s. Mamta encourages him to start his own business, especially since he is a pro at sewing. However, Mauji’s grandfather was a tailor who had faced immense losses. Hence, his father vowed never to get into this business again. Mauji at first rejects Mamta’s suggestion but later leaves his job and puts a stall on the streets in Delhi. On the other hand, Mauji’s mother falls down in their house and she’s hospitalized. The tests reveal that she has multiple blockages in her heart. The family is already having a hand-to-mouth existence and Mauji’s mother’s hospitalization further add to their woes. Moreover, Mauji has left his job as well. What happens next forms the rest of the crux of the story of Sui Dhaaga – Made In India.

Sharat Katariya’s story is simple and the need of the hour. It reminds one of the films of yesteryear director Hrishikesh Mukherjee and gives a nice ode to that kind of adorable cinema. Sharat Katariya’s screenplay however is much more impressive. He does total justice to the characters & the setting and also keeps the viewers involved. However, unlike his previous outing Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) which had plenty of funny moments, Sui Dhaaga – Made In India is more dramatic. There’s not much scope for humor and a section of audiences might miss that. Sharat Katariya’s dialogues are witty and play a major part in contributing to the laughter quotient.

Sharat Katariya’s direction is brilliant and enhances the well written script. He could have made the film a bit tighter & less convenient & predictable but thankfully these are the minor flaws.
Sui Dhaaga – Made In India’s 1st ever shot is very impressive and captures a lot simply in one take. After establishing the characters & the setting, the film wastes no time in getting on point soon. The hospital sequence is lovely but in the 1st ever half, what takes the cake is the pre-interval sequence. A point to be noted is how the makers raise the tension levels!
In the 2nd half, the film drops a bit. Also the manner in which Mamta & Mauji get shortlisted for the fashion tournament seems a bit convenient. But the finale makes up for it & the film is sure to leave viewers with a smile.

Anu Malik’s music goes very well with the film, although it’s not of a chartbuster variety. The title song comes at a very crucial juncture and makes an impact. “Chaav Laaga” is melodious. “Khatar Patar” & “Tu Hi Aham” are situational songs & work. “Sab Badhiya Hai” is missing from the film. Andrea Guerra’s background score is in sync with the film’s mood & is also subtle.

Anil Mehta’s cinematography is too good & doesn’t get lost in capturing the simplicity of the village or the glitz & glamour of the city life. The lensmen captures only what’s essential. Meenal Agarwal’s production design is realistic. Darshan Jalan & Neelanchal Kumar Ghosh’s costume designers deserve brownie points as it’s one of the pillars of the film. Charu Shree Roy’s editing is simple & neat.

Performance wise Sui Dhaaga – Made In India belongs to Varun Dhawan & Anushka Sharma. Both actors deliver powerhouse performances. Varun Dhawan looks every inch a village simpleton and is sure to be loved. He plays his part with earnesty and that shows. Notice his reaction when the Bansal’s force him to act like a dog and how he beautifully hides his embarrassment. Also in the climax scene especially in the hotel lobby sequence, he’s too good. Anushka Sharma gets mentioned before Varun Dhawan in the opening credits and has a very crucial part to enact. One forgets that she is THE Anushka Sharma and gives her 100%. In a scene where she asks her mother-in-law if she’s fine and whether she liked the hospital, the actress seems so natural. Raghubir Yadav gives a very touching performance. Towards the finale especially, he’s sure to make the viewers teary-eyed. Yamini Das plays her part perfectly, especially in the hospital scenes. Puja Sarup (Harleen Bedi) leaves a huge mark. The same goes for Namit Das (Guddu). Bhupesh Singh (Naushad) is damn good. The actors playing Majnu, Majnu’s wife, Palteram and others are also very good.

On the whole, Sui Dhaaga – Made In India is a simple tale told beautifully with strong emphasis on emotions.
Tail Piece: At the box office turnstiles, the film will have to rely on a very good word of mouth publicity to attract audiences. It also had an extended 5 day weekend of sorts (with 2nd Oct, 2018 being a National Holiday). Hence, the film would surely have a healthy run at the Box – Office turnstiles cash counters and would prove more profitable or should we say “badhiya” for the producers. Recommended!