Bollywood Celebs Attended 4th Bright Awards & Birthday Celebration Of Yogesh Lakhani

On 25th Sept, 2018 most of the Bollywood Celebs attended 2 most prestigious event namely the 4th Bright Awards Ceremony & the birthday celebration of evergreen Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoors Media at the NSCI Dome, Worli, Mumbai.
Yes! Just last week Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoor Media had organized his very own grand birthday party couple with the 4th Bright Awards at NSCI Dome, Worli Mumbai where he had invited TV & Film stars along with his very own corporate clients.

Bollywood Celebs like Ritesh Deshmukh, Ranbir Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Ranvir Singh, Rakhi Sawant, Ragini Khanna, Astrologer Pawan Kaushik, Poonam Pandey, Vijay Darda, Aslam Shaikh, Tanisha Singh, Meet Brothers, Armaan Malik, Ganesh Acharya and others came to attend the award and wish happy birthday to Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoors Media.

Actress Monica Bedi, Ekta Jain, Shree Rajput, Sanchiti Sakat, Jash from USA, Shabab Sabri, Yash Wadali & Shibani Kashyap performed for this grand event. Well known astrologer Pawan Kaushik came specially from Delhi to attend this award function. Amruta Fadnavis officially launched the poster of Marathi film Patil.

Anushka Sharma Reveals Her Love For Chanderi In Sui Dhaaga – Made In India

Anushka Sharma plays a sincere, ambitious embroiderer from the heartland of India in Yash Raj Film’s entertainer Sui Dhaaga – Made in India releasing tomorrow.

Anushka’s character in the film Sui Dhaaga – Made In India becomes self-reliant by using her talent of embroidering & makes a name for herself in her community along with her husband, Mauji, who is a tailor.

Together from being unemployed, they become success stories by putting their skills to good use.

While prepping for her role as Mamta in the film, Anushka Sharma was deeply moved with the skills, dreams & aspirations of the weavers & the artisans from rural India.

“Anushka was shooting in Chanderi for Sui Dhaaga – Made In India and one day she requested the team to set up a meeting with the local weavers. Chanderi weavers are known the world over & their skill is admired & raved. Anushka met up with some of the weavers & heard their life stories which were truly inspirational.”

Anushka then expressed her fascination for Chanderi sarees & requested them to bring their collections. She spent a couple of hours with them looking through their designs & to their huge surprise, she bought around 35 Chanderi sarees from them! She shopped for her family, took some for gifting. She also bought a lot for herself. In her own way, Anushka would be spreading the life stories of these talented weavers with her immediate family & friends. She has also taken down all their phone numbers for future.”

Sui Dhaaga – Made In India brings together National Award winning producer-director combo of Maneesh Sharma & Sharat Katariya after their blockbuster Dum Laga Ke Haisha. The film is a special salute to the inherent entrepreneurial spirit that the youths of India & our local artisans have.

A film about finding love & respect through self-reliance, Varun Dhawan is paired opposite Anushka Sharma who plays an embroiderer in the film. Both champion actors, Varun Dhawan & Anushka Sharma have been paired for the 1st time ever and are definitely the most-awaited on-screen jodis of the year 2018.

Yash Raj Films’ entertainer Sui Dhaaga – Made in India is all set to release on 28th Sept this year, just before Gandhi Jayanti.

Varun Mitra Gets Inspiration From Real Life For His Character In ‘Jalebi’

Varun Mitra will soon be seen making his debut in Vishesh Films’ Jalebi. The actor will be seen playing the role of the tour guide in the film. What’s interesting is that the actor has hosted a couple of travel shows. This certainly helped the actor prep for his role. Talking about the same, the actor says, “For a travel show most of the time there is no script. It’s all spontaneous what happens. There is no plan as such, which according to me is what makes it fun to watch. Our film obviously had a script, but having been a travel show host, made it easier to bring that spontaneity to Dev’s character without losing the essence of the script.”

Debutante Karan Kapadia’s ‘Blank’ To Release On 11th Jan 2019!

Dimple Kapadia’s nephew & late actress-designer Simple Kapadia’s son Karan Kapadia, is all set to make his Bollywood debut early next year! The youngest member of the Kapadia family will be seen in the film titled as ‘Blank’! The action packed thriller, titled ‘Blank’ which also stars Sunny Deol in a pivotal role is all set to hit the celluloid silver screen on 11th Jan, 2019. Carnival Motion Pictures & EaseMyTrip.com present, an Echelon Production, produced by Dr. Shrikant Bhasi, Nishant Pitti, Tony D’souza & Vishal Rana, Blank starring Sunny Deol & Karan Kapadia in lead roles, directed by Behzad Khambata is all set to release on 11th Jan, 2019.

India’s 1st Ever Fashion Channel, Indian Fashion TV Launched By Vision Corporation Ltd

Vision corporation Ltd had launched the Asia’s 1st ever Fashion Television Channel, Indian Fashion TV which will showcase the culture Of Indian Fashion globally. The event was attended by Varsha Usgaanvkar, Kishori Shahane, Jaywant Wadkar, Vijay Kadam, A. K. Mishra
(Chairman), S. Ramakrishnan (CFO) Vishal Desai (director) et al. On the occasion of the channel launch the Chairman of Vision corporation Ltd A K Mishra said, “I am proud & honored to launch the country’s 1st ever & only fashion channel of Asia, Indian fashion TV, from varied metro cities to rural areas, attracting different aspects of Indian fashion & culture. Hope the viewers will love Indian fashion TV. India has a diversified culture. From north to south or east to west one can easily differentiate with the fashion style, culture, designs & trends. As India is a land of monuments & designers often get inspired by their designs also. Many international designers get inspired by India’s background. This channel will surely prove to be a great platform for the budding designers as well”.

Yrf’s ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ To Release Worldwide On 8th Nov 2018

YRF’s forthcoming Diwali extravaganza Thugs Of Hindostan will be the biggest release that Bollywood has ever seen. This mega-action film has achieved a casting coup in the history of Bollywood by bringing together 2 of the biggest icons of Hindi cinema namely Big B & Aamir Khan for the 1st time ever. YRF has now unveiled the logo of this action entertainer & announced the release date as 8th Nov, 2918 a national holiday. Thugs of Hindostan also stars Katrina Kaif & Fatima Sana Shaikh. It has been directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya & promises to deliver a never-seen-before cinematic experience on the celluloid silver screen big screen this Diwali.

Rohit Pathak Started Shooting His Next Movie ‘Bakrid’

Rohit Pathak who got fame through blockbuster movie Theeran, has a very busy schedule in Tamil Cinema, he has started shooting of his next Tollywood project Bakrid staring Vikranth under the Banner of M -10 production house. Co-Director Hariharakrishnan Ramalingam (of Theeran fame) strongly recommended Rohit Pathak for this film. says Rohit Pathak, “While I was narrated the story I really liked the subject and I instantly said yes because these days very rarely you will find such cinema. The story is very beautiful & I’m playing a very important role, a complete different character. I can’t discuss much about the subject at this point of time, but would definitely say that this film would take the Indian Cinema to a completely different level. I would like to thank my director Jegadeesan Subu & Producer M. S. Murugaraj from the bottom of my heart for casting me & making me part of such a wonderful subject”.

Varun Dhawan – Anushka Sharma Signed

Varun Dhawan & Anushka Sharma, through their film Sui Dhaaga – Made in India are saluting India’s entrepreneurs & skilled workforce, especially homegrown artisans, craftspeople & weavers who are making the country proud the world over. The Sui Dhaaga stars have been signed on to promote & endorse the Skill India Mission, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Varun Dhnawan & Anushka Sharma, the star cast of the film, have partnered Skill India & will dedicate time to promote India’s skilled talent & their fine work by engaging with them across different parts of the country. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas & Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said, “Varun Dhawan & Anushka Sharma, through this unique film Sui Dhaaga – Made in India, are bringing to focus the incredible skills & talent of our homegrown artisan & craftsmen community. I wish this endorsement by both the actors encourages & influences the youth to take up skilled training & earn a better livelihood for themselves & also help us in creating the New India envisioned by Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.” Varun Dhawan said, “Prime Minister Modi has displayed incredible vision & genuine foresight in aiming to organise, skill, training & give financial support & backing to our craftsmen, artisans & similar workmen.” Anushka Sharma added, “While making Sui Dhaaga, we came across so many stories of talented, skilled crafts people & artisans who don’t get a fair chance to showcase their talents.”

From Cooking On Set To A Takeaway Joint, Sakett Saawhney Gets Into The Culinary Circuit

Producer Sakett Saawhney is coming up with a takeaway joint. But very few know that the idea behind the venture actually came up while he was shooting a film. “I used to cook during the filming of Zanjeer. We had this tradition that in each shoot schedule, one HOD / artist would cook & get food for the crew. Apoorva, Ram Charan, Sanju Sir & I all took turns & cooked food & had it on the sets. This is where cooking struck to me as an unexpected hobby. Over the years, it grew into a passion. In times of stress, I would take up cooking and it ended up being really therapeutic. I also host “Cook Up Nights” with a few friends over & make them have new recipes from time to time. At one of these food nights, an old college friend of my wife – Ritesh Patel, who has dabbled in a few hospitality ventures inquired if I was interested in transiting this passion professionally & I jumped up at the thought and the idea of a Take Away Restaurant took shape. It’s named Big Bang Cuurry & it’s going to be an Order in / Take Away Restaurant to start with, which will operate from evenings into the wee hours. It will be serving Indian Cuisine,” he says. Celebrities who are supporting his venture on social media include Ekta Kapoor, Anita Hassanandani, Shabir Ahluwalia, Kanchi Singh, Gaurav Gera, Mona Singh, Rai Laxmi, Arjun Bijlani, Rithvik Dhanjani, Jay Bhanushali, Mahhi Vij, Kashmera Shah, Karan Patel, Pooja Gor et al.

Surekha Sikri Returns To The Celluloid Silver Screen With ‘Badhaai Ho’!

Badhaai Ho directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, is giving the industry many reasons to celebrate – Apart from catching everyone’s attention with its interesting subject & entertaining trailer that gives us a sneak peak of the fun in store, the family comedy also marks veteran actress Surekha Sikri’s return to the celluloid silver screen. Surekha Sikri essays the role of Neena Gupta’s mother-in-law in the film, and was immediately drawn to the character when she heard the script. Says the 2 time National award winner, “It’s a great time to be in films as so many good scripts are being written. It’s quite common in smaller towns, but in cities, people worry ki log kya kahenge, more so when your older son is of marriageable age, maybe even has a child of his own. This awkwardness is the fun part of the story”. Adding that, “I need good scripts. This one came out of the blue. Badhaai Ho is my comeback film in the real sense. I did a couple of movies years ago, then, got busy with TV. I hope this will open up more avenues for actors of my age”. Produced by Vineet Jain, Aleya Sen, Hemant Bhandari & Amit Ravindernath Sharma, the film releases on 19th Oct, 2018.

Shahid Kapoor To Play Boxing Hero Dingko Singh On Screen

Shahid Kapoor is all set to portray former boxing champ & Asian Games gold medallist Dingko Singh on screen. The film will be directed by Raja Krishna Menon and is expected to go on the floors sometime around Apr, 2019. Ngangom Dingko Singh, known as Dingko Singh (from Manipur) was the 1st ever & only Asian gold medalist boxer from India in the Bantamweight category. In 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri. Dingko Singh has been an inspiration to many boxers who came into the ring after him, and went on to become a coach for young boxers. Shahid says, “He is one of those superstars who we don’t know much about. If a film like Dangal (2016) wasn’t made, we wouldn’t know as much about the Phogat sisters. Dingko Singh is a cancer survivor, and he went through 13 rounds of chemotherapy. His biggest win was surviving cancer & not the gold medal he won at the age of 19 at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. In the year 2017, Gautam Gambhir became aware of his situation and sent money for his treatment. Soon, people found out who he was, and 13 doctors came forward to help him. He is a sports star who survived cancer. At some point in his past, he had almost become a Naxalite. Such amazing stories of heroes need to be told.”

Alia Bhatt To Be An Ambassador For “Daan Utsav”

Alia Bhatt is all set to be an ambassador for “Daan Utsav” this year which will take place from 2nd Oct, 2018 to 8th Oct 2018 and her fans across the world will now have the opportunity to pick up outfits from Alia Bhatt’s wardrobe & support a good cause at the same time. Proceeds from this 2nd wardrobe will support “The Corbett Foundation”, a not-for-profit that works with local communities to protect wildlife. Alia Bhat said, “Daan Utsav is all about celebrating giving & is an opportunity to contribute your time, money, materials or skills to a cause that you feel passionate about. I’ve decided to share my wardrobe once again during “Daan Utsav” to benefit the environment & support animal welfare. The wardrobe will be hosted online on SaltScout this time, giving people all over the country & the world a chance to purchase garments & shoes from my closet & support the work of “The Corbett Foundation”.

Akshay & Twinkle Celebrated The Success Of Her New Book In Jaisalmer

Akshay Kumar, who is shooting in Jaisalmer for Housefull 4 took time off & threw a party for his wife Twinkle Khanna to celebrate her new book. Twinkle Khanna who launched her 3rd book “Pyjamas Are Forgiving” recently is already ruling at #1 on Amazon & Crossword. It’s indeed a proud moment for the family. Over the weekend, Akshay organized a party at the beautiful ruins of Khaba Fort. The revellers had around 75 peacocks for company & Akshay ensured that all of Mrs Funnybones’s favorite dishes were on the menu. ”Meanwhile, ‘Pyjamas Are Forgiving’ continues to receive raving reviews.

Anushka Sharma Awarded 34th Priyadarshni Academy Global Awards, 2018 & Smita Patil Memorial Award For “Best Actor”

The 34th Priyadarshni Academy Anniversary Global Awards held in Mumbai on 19th Sept, 2018 saw the who’s who of India in attendance. A total of 8 awardees were felicitated by leading political dignitaries: Shri. Nitin Gadkari, (Minister of Shipping; Road Transport & Highways; Water Resources; River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation) & Shri.Piyush Goyal, (Minister of Railways & Coal). Also present were Shri Suresh Prabhu (Minister of commerce & Industry & civil aviation) Poonam Dhillon, Bharat Dhabolkar. Actress – producer Anushka Sharma who was honored with the Smita Patil Memorial Award while entrepreneur par excellence Ronnie Screwvala was awarded the Priyadarshni Academy Global Award for his outstanding contribution towards Innovative Entertainment & Community Development. Anushka Sharma said, “I feel humbled to have been honored by Priyadarshni Academy with the Smita Patil Memorial award this year. Smitaji is a true inspiration for every actor of my generation. Her pioneering effort in the upliftment of parallel cinema movement in India stands out as a beacon of hope for actors like myself & I in my small way will always strive to take her dream forward by being part of films that are content rich. This year also embarks me completing a decade.” “I am grateful to Priyadarshini Academy for having chosen me as the recipient of Priyadarshini Global Academy Award. The award is a reassurance of the fact that our Swades foundation’s efforts in empowering rural India to become self-sufficient in water, health, education & livelihood are steadily progressing in the right direction” said Ronnie Screwvala.

National Award Winning Filmmaker Rima Das’ Assamese Feature Village Rockstars Slated For Release On 28th Sept 2018

After vowing critics & audiences internationally, Rima Das’ National Award winning film Village Rockstars is slated for a Pan-India theatrical release on 28th Sept, 2018. The film will be released through VKAAO, a joint venture of PVR Pictures & Bookmyshow in metros cities of India & in more than 30 screens in Assam through Kamakhya Films. Most of the cast members of the film are non-actors including Rima Das’ niece Bhanita who plays Dhunu & the other kids who hail from Rima Das’ native village in Assam. The director-cinematographer-editor-producer Rima Das says, “After travelling to many film fest’s across the world & winning hearts, I am so delighted that the exciting journey of Village Rockstars has come to its final stage when we prepare with nervous anticipation & hope to present the film to the audiences in our homeland. Rima Das’ debut film as a writer-director-producer, Man with Binoculars (Antardrishti) premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Fest in the year 2016. Village Rockstars, her 2nd feature film, premiered at Toronto International Film Fest 2017 under Discovery Section. Bulbul Can Sing made its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Fest 2018 & will make its South Asia Premiere at the prestigious 23rd Busan International Film Fest 2018.

The Narrative Of ‘Sadak 2’ Is Pulled Out From Mahesh Bhatt’s Life

On the eve of his 70th birthday, Mahesh Bhatt announced his much anticipated & speculated return to direction. Mahesh Bhatt will be directing the sequel to his 1990’s landmark film Sadak. The film will see Sanjay Dutt, Pooja Bhatt, Alia Bhatt & Aditya Roy Kapur uniting on the big screen for the 1st time ever. Not just that, this is also the 1st time ever that Mahesh Bhatt will be directing his daughter Alia Bhatt. Sadak was not only a commercial blockbuster but went onto achieving cult status & etched itself in people’s hearts as one of the greatest love stories of the time that has endured until this date. With his trademark candor & brutal honesty, Mahesh Bhatt describes the feeling of being back in the driver’s seat as director for Sadak 2. “Like the spider gets its thread from his own guts. The narrative of Sadak 2 is pulled out from my lived life. It’s a film about living, loving & dealing with the anguish of the loss of a loved one.” What is interesting is that, Sadak 2 will also see the Bhatt sisters uniting with their father for the 1st time ever for a film. Mukesh Bhatt adds, “Though I have made so many films in 32 years of Vishesh Films, Sadak has a very special place in my heart because it’s one of the most iconic hits of my career. My gladiator Mahesh Bhatt is back to perform in the arena once again. With Alia Bhatt too coming on board, Pooja Bhatt being there & my daughter Sakshi Bhatt, who is the co-producer of the film, the 3 sisters will be seen performing important roles. Sadak is not just a project for me, it is very close to my heart. I know this journey will be the most fulfilling experience that I have had in so many years as a filmmaker & I am looking forward to it.” A Mukesh Bhatt Presentation of a Mahesh Bhatt Film, Sadak 2 is a Vishesh Films Production and is slated to release on 25th Mar, 2020.

Aayush Sharma & Warina Hussain’s Journey Of Love – ‘Loveyatri’

The debutante couple Aayush Sharma & Warina Hussain is leaving no stone unturned to promote their debut movie. The movie which is slated to release on 5th Oct, 2018 has a new fresh name attached to it. The Salman Khan backed movie is now named Loveyatri – A journey of Love. The name change has been a decision to showcase the story more prominently & avoid a nationwide agitation by religious bodies over the title. Loveyatri – A Journey of Love stands true to its name & brings about a fresh view on the whole perspective of love.

John Abraham’s ‘Romeo Akbar Walter’ Slated For Release

Viacom18 Motion Pictures, has now teamed with Kyta Productions for its upcoming espionage thriller, Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW). The John Abraham starrer will now release on 15th Mar, 2019. John Abraham says, “Having worked with them in the past, I know we have the right partners in Viacom18 for the film. Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW) was a challenging film, it was a 1st ever for me to have so many looks which required playing each one differently from stance to movement to speech, I really had a great time pushing myself to new boundaries, and much credit for this goes to my director Robbie Grewal. Audiences have been so kind to me this year, I’m hoping this will continue with Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW).” It is, based on true incidents & directed by debutante Robbie Grewal. The film starring John Abraham, Jackie Shroff, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Mouni Roy & Sikander Kher is produced by Dheeraj Wadhwan, Ajay Kapoor, Vanessa Walia & Gary Grewal.

Mumbai, Sep 26 Actor Ranveer Singh says he had a fan moment meeting Indian star shuttler P.V. Sindhu and added that he loves her spirit.

Ranveer met Sindhu on Tuesday at the Forbes India Tycoon Of Tomorrow event, where he was feted with the Youth Icon Award.

Sindhu shared a photograph of herself with the actor and captioned it: “Finally we meet! It was such a pleasure meeting you and an absolute fan moment.I congratulate you for all the success and I wish you all the very best for your future endeavours. I would rather call you ‘rockstar’ than Ranveer Singh.”

To which, Ranveer replied: “Yes, finally! it was a pleasure indeed! and likewise, a fan moment for me too… You make us so proud, champ! Love your spirit. May you continue to shine bright.”

On the acting front, Ranveer is currently busy shooting for filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s “Simmba”, which also features actor Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara.

(IANS)

What will happen to the RK Studios, which has just wrapped up what may be its last Ganpati celebrations? Nobody knows, but it’s worth debating whether suggestions that the government must buy it and turn it into a film school for posterity, are viable.

In August, when Rishi Kapoor revealed the family’s collective decision to sell the 70-year-old studio, which was gutted in a fire last year, the news sent several Indian cinephiles on a nostalgia trip. But then came another question — is heritage all about a building?

“For movie lovers, RK Studios was a temple of cinema and one never imagines that the temple will go away from the map. But it is happening… It is saddening. It’s a place that captured an important time of Indian cinema, documented the changing times through storytelling on celluloid… It’s a place that came from the vision of a man like Raj Kapoor, and it will not be there for the future cinema lovers. This is a big loss of heritage,” Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation, told IANS.

On the contrary, film industry veteran Amit Khanna says, “Raj Kapoor’s heritage is his cinema, his talented family, his music and creativity, and not merely a building.”

The studio, with its red logo flanking the white gates, sprawls across two acres. The headquarters of the film production company R.K. Films, was founded and named after the “Great Showman”, Raj Kapoor, in 1948.

Its inaugural banner film “Aag” that year crashed at the box office. But its production “Barsaat” (1949) was a super hit, following which the studio rolled out a string of successful black-and-white releases like “Awaara” (1951), “Boot Polish” (1954), “Shri 420” (1955) and “Jaagte Raho” (1956).

Later, several other big ticket films like “Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hain”, “Mera Naam Joker”, “Bobby”, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram”, “Prem Rog” and “Ram Teri Ganga Maili”, which was the founder-actor’s last film before his death in June 1988, were shot at RK Studios.

Popular filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who assisted Raj Kapoor on “Prem Rog”, has fond memories of spending four years of his life in and out of RK Studios.

“I am sure the sale of the property is a well-thought and painful decision for the family. But it will be great if what is known by the name of RK, continues to have the RK stamp in some way or another,” Bazmee told IANS.

For film historian S.M.M. Ausaja, however, the decision was “heartbreaking”.

“The studio has been an iconic landmark of the film industry. So many classics were shot there besides R.K. Films’ own ventures and it represented the labour of love associated with Raj Saab, inherited from his talented father Prithviraj Kapoor,” he told IANS.

The family’s legacy in the Hindi film industry can’t be ignored. Prithviraj’s sons Raj, Shammi and Shashi had flourishing careers in showbiz. Raj’s sons Randhir and Rishi became well-known actors, while his third son Rajiv couldn’t make it as big. Shashi’s daughter Sanjana contributed to the theatre scene.

Randhir’s daughters with actress Babita — Karisma and Kareena — both achieved success as actresses, and Rishi and actress Neetu Singh’s son Ranbir Kapoor is one of Bollywood’s most popular stars today.

Rishi, on behalf of the family, had in August said they initially wanted to renovate the studio with state-of-the-art technology, but the investment in rebuilding the studio would just not have yielded sufficient revenue to keep it going. Its condition worsened after the fire incident, which caused a huge loss in terms of costumes and memorabilia.

Dungarpur, who recently visited the studio, said “almost nothing was left”.

“Economically, it is really tough to rebuild it… It was not in the right condition and many historical documents of the films that the studio has given to Indian cinema, are gone,” he said, adding that it is wrong to expect the government to protect the studio as cinema heritage because it it was private property and a commercial institution.

Ausaja has a different view.

“Such monuments are vanishing because there’s no respect for cinema heritage in the eyes of the ruling regime and the corporates. They won’t bat an eyelid in erecting giant multi-million dollar statues complementing their political ideology, but even if you propose something on the dwindling cinema heritage, the file would gather dust in the corridor cupboards,” he said.

“Upkeep of such cinema heritage structures is the responsibility of the government and corporates as well to some extent. The R.K. family would be positive if any such proposal reaches them,” he said.

Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia said: “Wouldn’t it be a great idea for the government to buy R.K. Studio and convert it into a film school? After all, it was home to one of India’s best storytellers — and then imagine the young talents exploring cinema on Raj Kapoor’s playground… better than a high rise.”

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam too urged the government to acquire the studio at the prevailing market rates and convert it into a full-fledged museum.

IANS

3rd Lpnavala International Film Festival Of India (LIFFI) Held

The 3rd edition of Lonavala International Film Festival India 2018 (LIFFI) enthralled film lovers from 7th Sept, 2018 to 9th Sept, 2018 at Triose Plaza, Lonavala, providing them with a platform to explore & experience different genres of films under 1 roof. The festival kick started with Bimal Roy’s epic Sujata & Sridhar Rangayan’s Evening Shadows followed by 18 Films, 3 Master Classes & Interactive seminars were conducted to impart learning & an enriching experience for film students & enthusiasts. As a tribute to ace director Bimal Roy’s unparalleled contribution to Indian Cinema, 6 of his widely acclaimed films were showcased, besides a short documentary on him curated by his daughter Rinki Roy Bhattacharya. Bimal Roy’s classics films like Devdas, Bandini, Madhumati et al. Marathi films like Nude, Kachcha Limboo, Dr. Rakhmabai were also screened. Producer Viveck Vaswani conducted a thought provoking workshop with media students. Films like Iqbal, Kashmakash, The Genius – Ramanujan & 1st ever Ukrainian English Animation film The Stolen Princess were also screened. Madhav Todi is the Festival Director. Viveck Vaswani is the Festival curator. The Chief Patron for the festival is Sushil Kumar Agrawal, Managing Director, Ultra Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd.”

Cox & Kings Appoints Anushka Sharma As Brand Ambassador

Celebrating 260 years, Cox & Kings Ltd has roped in youth icon & avid traveller Anushka Sharma as the company’s 1st ever brand ambassador. The actress will be seen promoting the company’s unique travel offerings in a new TV campaign to be released soon. Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings averred, “Anushka Sharma is known for her versatility, experimentation & unusual personality. She perfectly represents a generation that is energetic, unapologetic & fun loving which makes her the right fit to showcase Cox & Kings’ innovative holiday offerings.” Anushka Sharma averred, “I am glad to be associated with the world’s oldest travel company Cox & Kings. I love to travel & personally think that travelling opens us up to new incredible experiences & changes the way we look at the world. Whether you are travelling solo, with your partner or friends, Cox & Kings has a holiday experience for every type of traveller.” This is the 1st ever association of Cox & Kings with a Bollywood actress. With a legacy that dates back to 1758, Cox & Kings has established itself as a premium brand in all travel related services globally and has been at the forefront of thought leadership & industry innovation.

Kansai Nerolac Paints Signs Ranveer Singh As Brand Ambassador

Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. (KNPL), one of the leading paint companies in India & pioneers of “Healthy Home Paints” has roped in Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador. Introducing Ranveer Singh as an exciting face of the brand, the company aims to develop & foster its promise to celebrate the joy of beautifying one’s home & life. Anuj Jain, Executive Director – Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. averred, “Through our product offerings, we have always strived towards bringing about a positive transformation, of our surroundings, the environment & also the lives that we touch. Nerolac finds the perfect brand ambassador in Ranveer Singh as we believe that his versatility as an actor, coupled with his bold personality & effervescent energy, resonates well with our brand. Not only is he the embodiment of positivity & joy, he has an energetic & vivid personality, a trusted actor, who is a rare combination of youthful exuberance & intelligence.” Ranveer Singh averred, “It feels good to be associated with Kansai Nerolac, a brand that strongly believes in the journey of transformation by bringing colours into our lives. I have grown up watching this brand & I feel the connect is very natural. The iconic jingle is well embedded in my mind and still brings a smile to my face.”

India’s Biggest Youtuber Bhuvan Bam & Divya Dutta Make Their Debut In A Unique Short Film – Plus Minus!

After her stupendous success with the short drama titled Chutney starring Tisca Chopra & Rasika Dugal which till date has 122 million views on YouTube, director Jyoti Kapur Das is back this time with another promising project. Titled, Plus Minus, the film is a relationship drama starring Divya Dutta & India’s biggest content creator Bhuvan Bam. After having captured the digital mediums with his incredible content, Bhuvan Bam who runs a highly successful YouTube channel titled BB Ki Vines will make his acting debut with this short film. Over the years, Bhuvan Bam has earned himself the top spot today on YouTube with almost 10 million subscribers to his name & a fan base which is extremely vast & loyal. The story of Plus Minus revolves around 2 strangers who meet each other on a train journey & 1 conversation between them changes their lives. The title Plus Minus reflects the central idea that humanity has to do plus & minus in relationships to make it work. The film is set to release on 14th of September and has been produced by Guneet Monga, Achin Jain & Rohit Raj. The film will be released on YouTube channel of BB Ki Vines & marks the 1st ever such collaboration for the channel since its inception.

New Delhi’s Own International Film Festival Diorama To Be Held In Dec 2018

Ever since the shifting of the International Film Festival of India to Goa, New Delhi had been bereft of a genuine international film festival. Now, an old hand at the International Film Festival of India, Goa, Manoj Srivastava, the former Chief of IFFI Goa for Goa Government launches the 1st ever of Diorama International Film Festival in New Delhi, this winter. Several film festivals tried to take shape in Delhi but really none of them could bring that winter magic back. The glory returns to the capital this Dec with Diorama International Film Festival, says Manoj Srivastava who headed IFFI Goa & also established Jagran Film Festival in 16 cities of the country. Supported by the Film Federation of India, Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers & Indian Film Institute, the Festival will have several international film competitions including the one for short & documentary films. The Festival, a very 1st ever of its kind is getting a huge response from Hollywood, the world & Indian film industry too. Diorama, being developed as Delhi’s answer to the world will also have a Film Market called the Diorama Film Bazaar. The noted Indian Film Director, Rahul Rawail averred,”The Diorama International Film Festival is an exemplary initiative taken by Manoj Srivastava. “Internationally renowned & several times National Award-winning film maker Shaji Karun averred, “The visual media resembling cinemas, TVs, social platforms are increasing like torrential streams and to guide the intellect of that drive, we need minds ahead of time.” The Festival opens in New Delhi on 17th Dec, 2018 & closes on 23rd Dec, 2018.

Ishaqbaaz Fame Vrushika Mehta Part Of Sajid Shahid’s Calendar Shoot

Vrushika Mehta who is known for shows like Dil Dostii Dance, Ishaqbazz will be seen in yet another exciting project. The actress had bagged a spot in Sajid Shahid’s calendar which will be launched in Dec, 201`8. When contacted Vrushika happily confirmed, “I can’t wait to get dolled up & shoot for the calendar. I am super excited for this one, the time Sajid told me about it. It’s the 1st time where all the TV celebs are going to be featured in a calendar and I am very happy to be part of it. I will soon be coming to Delhi to shoot for the same. I am really looking forward to for an amazing shoot.” For those, who have come in late, Sajid Shahid is a Delhi based celebrity photographer who will be launching the 1st ever Calendar with all your favorite TV personalities. Namkaran fame, Zain Iman is the first one who has finished shooting for the calendar. Abhishek Kapur & Abhilash Kumar are other male celebrities who will be gracing the calendar. We are sure, you can’t wait to see some drooling pictures of your favorite stars!

Arjun Aka Prabhat – The No-Nonsense IB Officer

Here comes the much awaited look of Arjun Kapoor from the most talked about India’s Most Wanted, an espionage thriller which is inspired from true events. India’s most wanted will bring alive the mission of capturing the most wanted terrorist, without firing a single bullet. Arjun Kapoor will be seen playing the role of an intelligence officer for the 1st time ever on celluloid. “Arjun Kapoor plays a no-nonsense IB officer in the film who is also an ordinary guy at heart like the rest of us. Since the film is inspired by a true-life story, we wanted to keep the look as real as possible. We discussed it for a month as the emphasis is more on the character’s state of mind rather than his physical attributes,” said Raj Kumar Gupta, adding that he has spoken to the people connected with the event to understand their physical & emotional journey as the story is more about this unsung hero’s resilience & intelligence. India’s Most Wanted is produced by Fox Star Studios and Rajkumar Gupta. The film releases in theatres on 24th May, 2019.

‘Satellite Shankar’ Starring Sooraj Pancholi Starts Shoot!

Satellite Shankar starring Sooraj Pancholi started shooting recently. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, T-Series & Cine 1 Studios, Murad Khetani & Ashwin Varde & Directed by Irfan Kamal, the movie is based on the adventures of a soldier, where he discovers India & India discovers him. The film is going to be shot across 10 states of India.

Navneet Kaur Dhillon Met Her Dream Director In Her Wish List

In a brief rendezvous with the Bollywood genius Rajkumar Hirani, actress Navneet Kaur Dhillon former Miss India expressed her desire to work with the Sanju director.”Working with Rajkumar Hirani will be like going to a gurukul” says Navneet Kaur Dhillon whose tryst with cinema began with her films like Loveshhuda, Ambarsariya opposite Diljit Dosanjh, Nee Tu Jatt Di Pasand opposite Gippy Grewal & many more, the actress has never shied away from expressing her desire to work with Rajkumar Hirani. In a recent event in the city, the 2 caught up & spoke at length about cinema & their future projects. Navneet Kaur better known as a perfectionist impressed the film maker with her vision & understanding of cinema. “I have always been a fan of his work. He is a beacon of hope in an ocean of posers. Working with him will be an absolute honor” says Navneet Kaur Dhillon. Navneet will be seen in Amavas alongside Nargis Fakhri & Sachin Joshi & a punjabi film.

Ajay & Sonakshi Recreate “Mungda” For ‘Total Dhamaal’

Sonakshi Sinha is all set to recreate Helen’s iconic track “Mungda” for Indra Kumar‘ upcoming film, Total Dhamaal. The actress will be seen shaking a leg for this special number. After the song was finalized the makers wanted a fantastic dancer who could match Helen’s moves. Indra Kumar shared, “Helenji, is a legend, but I thought Sonakshi is the right girl for it,” Sonakshi Sinha who is very excited about doing the song shares, “Indraji was sure that he wanted only me for it. When I heard it for the 1st time ever, my instant response was, “I want to do this!” It has the potential of becoming a chartbuster again. They are shooting it on a lavish scale, making everything larger than life, and I would love to be a part of that vision. We start shooting early next week, I’m super excited!” Sharing details of the shoot, Indra Kumar reveals that the film will wrap up with the song. The director further adds, “We had saved this song for the end of the shoot. We began filming on 26th Aug, 2018 and it went go on for 4 days. We have roped in a new music director duo, Gaurav-Roshan, to recreate the song which will be choreographed by Adil Shaikh. The old song was a big hit so it’s a huge responsibility on Sonakshi’s shoulders and mine too. We have picked up an iconic song now we have to deliver.” The actress has already begun rehearsals and Ajay enters midway through, so the song is a duet towards the end. The duo will start shooting for the song soon enough. Sonakshi is happy to reunite with Ajay with whom she was paired in Son of Sardaar but rues that she will miss working with Anil Kapoor & Madhuri Dixit. She says she enjoys featuring in special appearance songs as they give her an opportunity to groove to these peppy tracks which she enjoys as a performer. Total Dhamaal features Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Riteish Deshmukh, Javed Jaffery, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani, Pitobash Tripthy & Sanjay Mishra & is produced by Ajay Devgn, Fox Star Studios & Ashok Thakeria.

Sanjay Kapoor Bags An Award For Lust Stories In Norway

Sanjay Kapoor is winning hearts with his performance in Lust stories. Recently the actor flew to Oslo to attend Bollywood Festival Norway. He received an award for his Netflix Anthology Lust Stories. Sanjay Kapoor from Oslo shared his happiness saying “It has been a huge high to get my 1st ever award for Lust Stories in Oslo, and a complete honour to receive it from the mayor of Oslo Ragnhild Bergheim, a 30 minute short film on Netflix has done more for me than my films I’ve done for the past 23 years. I want to thank Dibakar Banerjee for casting me and taking the best out of me, also want to thank my producers Ashi Dua & Ronnie Screwvala & also my costar’s Manisha Koirala & Jaideep Alhawat.

Shahid Kapoor To Play Boxing Hero Dingko Singh On Screen

Shahid Kapoor who is soaring high with the success of his last film Padmaavat, is all set to portray former boxing champ & Asian Games gold medallist Dingko Singh on celluloid silver screen. The film will be directed by Raja Krishna Menon who has earlier directed Airlift & Chef. It is expected to go on the floors sometime around April 2019. Ngangom Dingko Singh, known as Dingko Singh (from Manipur) was the 1st ever & only Asian gold medalist boxer from India in Bantam weight category. In the year 2013, he was awarded Padma Shri. Dingko Singh has been an inspiration to many boxers who came into the ring after him, and he is so passionate about the sport, that he went on to become a coach for young boxers. Shahid avers, “The thing that I loved about this story is that he is one of those superstars who we don’t know much about. If a film like Dangal (2016) wasn’t made, we wouldn’t know as much about the Phogat sisters. Dingko is a cancer survivor, and he went through 13 rounds of chemotherapy. He has even gone on to say that his biggest win was surviving cancer & not the gold medal he won at the age of 19 at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. In the year 2017, Gautam Gambhir became aware of his situation & sent money for his treatment. Soon, people found out who he was & 13 doctors came forward to help him. He is a sports star who survived cancer. At some point in his past, he had almost become a Naxalite. His life story is unbelievably crazy; it is very human & extremely inspiring. Such amazing stories of heroes need to be told.”

Rajkummar Rao & Nushrat Bharucha To Star ‘Turram Khan’!

Rajkummar Rao & Nushrat Bharucha will star opposite each other in director Hansal Mehta’s next venture namely Turram Khan. A social comedy set in a small town of Uttar Pradesh, Turram Khan is being produced by Ajay Devgn, Luv Ranjan & Ankur Garg. Hansal Mehta avers, “It is a new chapter in my filmography with Raj whose success I see as a vindication of my belief in him. It is also wonderful to be working with Nushrat whose work I’ve followed & liked immensely in the past. This is my 1st ever out & out comedy and it is like making my debut all over again!” Rajkummar, who is still riding high on the success of his recent film Stree adds, “Turram Khan is a comedy that the audience will take back home. Hansal sir plays a very instrumental role in my acting career. He has created some interesting & memorable characters for me. I trust him blindly. I have known Nushrat since our days of auditioning & screen tests.” Turram Khan will be 5th collaboration between Rajkummar Rao & Hansal Mehta. Nushrat Bharucha who was last seen in this year’s super hit movie Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety will be reuniting with Rajkummar Rao after Love Sex Aur Dhoka. Nushrat Bharucha avers, “I absolutely love Hansal sir’s cinema & I’m looking forward to play this earthy character rooted in UP as the audiences will see me in a completely different light. Over the years, Rajkumarr Rao’s journey as an actor has been an inspiring one. He & Hansal sir have a formidable camaraderie and I am super excited to work with them,” concludes Nushrat Bharucha.

Aditya Mohite – Young Director On A Different Track

Nowadays many new & young directors have entered the film world, bringing with them new ideas & new styles. Amongst these new breed of directors, walking a new path, is Aditya Mohite. Working for last 3 years in Hollywood as a director & an art director, Aditya has an umbilical connection with Maharashtra. Aditya, who is an architect, was a resident of Pune. From a young age Aditya was fond of arts. He realised that he could express his stories through the medium of a camera. He went to USA & enrolled in a film making course in Los Angeles. During his stay in Hollywood, he produced many TV shows, plays, promotional & short films. In the year 2016 he directed the short film Ashes of Gold. Now he has directed Knead For Love based on the relationship of 2 brothers in French culture. Knead For Love has been honoured at varied international film festivals. It was well received at the recent Cannes Film Festival, 2018. What is unique about both the short films is that they were premiered at the renowned Warner Brothers Studios. Aditya has shown that it is possible to produce films based on family ties & common life which can be very captivating. Travelling teaches us many things. On my frequent travels I have met the characters of my films, I have also got my stories. As a director it is important to give good films. The arithmetic of profit & loss comes later. He said from a director’s point of view it is important to make good films. With the experience of art direction & production designing gained in Hollywood, Aditya wants to take the viewers on a journey in a different world. Through his art he has made a successful effort and hopes to sustain it in his forthcoming films. Having shown his talent in Hollywood, Aditya wants to direct films in Marathi in the future.

Jacqueline Wants Sonam To Be Her Tinder Swiping Buddy!

The newest celeb talk show on the block, Feet Up With The Stars presented by Voot Originals & hosted by celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania, features a host of B-Town stars getting candid about their love lives, giving us dating do’s & don’ts and sharing some (select) secrets. 2 recent episodes featured Jacqueline Fernandez & Sonam K Ahuja & their IRL strong friendship came through in their candid answers on the show. Jacqueline said she’d like Sonam to be her Tinder swiping buddy (so they can swap stories) & Sonam nominated Jacqueline as somebody who should be on Tinder! Both stars also shared dating & relationship tips! Well, almost. Sonam shared this piece of advice for all her single Veere’s: “Be yourself, be comfortable in your skin. If you want to dress up, dress up for yourself not for the other person.” As for Jacqueline, she said we’re better of not listening to her dating tips! But, if she was on Tinder, she’d swipe right on guys who had creative & effortless pictures, and that gym & portfolio shots were a no no. While we still don’t know Jacqueline’s relationship status, she did deliver a 30 second monologue on why investing in cats is more sensible than investing in relationships.

Trailer Launch Of ‘1978 – A Teen Night Out’ A Supernatural Thriller

Crescendo Music & Films has joined hands with KSM Film Productions to produce India’s 1st ever Teen Thriller. The event saw the presence of Vinash Tiwari & Tripti Dimri (Laila Majnu Lead Cast), Meet Bros, Flora Saini Of (Stree Fame), Sonyaa Pink Of (Nazar Fame), Dj Shiezwood, Prashant Virender Sharma, Shradha Arya, Mukul Dev, Krishna Abhishek, Shawar Ali, Ashmith Kunder, Ejaz Khan, Madhuri Pandey, Asif Merchant ,Asif Shaikh, Mukesh Rishi, Shibani Kasyap, Bidita Baig, Vikas Verma etc “1978” is a racy, supernatural, terrifying, suspense story that promises to keep the hearts of its viewers thumping, right from the beginning till the last scene.1978 has been directed by Aziz Zee and it features Yash Rajpara, Apurva Godbole, Gaurav Sharma, Vaishnavi Kadam, Rishabh Raj, Muskaan Tomar, Sunny Yadav, Rohit Mugallu, Maliha Malla, besides TV actress Sonyaa & singer Abuzar Akhtar. By sheer coincidence, during auditions, Suresh Thomas of Crescendo films discovered that some of the actors are brilliant singers. He then decided to create the entire music score using the voices of the actors themselves. Aziz Zee says, “With films like Stree, Pari & Ghoul being widely appreciated , we can be sure that “1978” is bound to draw crowds to theatres.”

Toronto Premiere Of Filmmaker Rima Das’ ‘Bulbul Can Sing’

National Award -winning filmmaker Rima Das’ next feature, Bulbul Can Sing
premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2018 to a packed house of audience. Rima Das’ 3rd independent feature in Assamese
language made its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2018 in the competition segment, “Contemporary World Cinema” Bulbul is an exuberant young woman, most happy when she’s hanging out in the fields with her friends Bonny & Sumu. As these 3 teenagers, 2 girls & a boy, begin to define their own identities, they find themselves increasingly clashing in with the age-old rules set down by the village. Das recounts her story in the pure language of cinema. The camera finds moments, in a music class, by a lake, or on the landscape of Bulbul’s face, that suddenly illuminate this girl’s coming to womanhood & self-awareness. A villager’s stray remark compresses centuries of tradition & offers guidance to Bulbul, but also a constraint. And as she learns to walk with both love & death in her life, countless variations of natural light give her whole world an immersive glow.” The writer–director-producer made the film independently, in the same way as her earlier film, Village Rockstars. Bulbul Can Sing is a visceral coming–of-age drama about a teenage girl, Bulbul, living in a village in Assam, fighting her way through love & loss as she figures out who she really is. Rima Das debut film as a writer–director-producer, Man with Binoculars (Antardrishti) premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2016. Village Rockstars, her 2nd
feature, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 under Discovery Section.

Siddharth Roy Kapur To Bring The Amazing Journey Of India’s ‘Ballet Boys’ To The Screen!

The incredible & inspiring journey of 2 boys from the slums of Mumbai to the world of international ballet, will be written & directed by Sooni Taraporevala. Siddharth Roy Kapur’s Roy Kapur Films (RKF) has signed on acclaimed filmmaker Sooni Taraporevala to bring to the screen the inspiring & the hopeful journey of the 2 Mumbai boys, Amiruddin Shah & Manish Chauhan, their Israeli-American mentor Yehuda Maor and their families, who triumphed over their circumstances and achieved a feat no Indian ever has before – by making their way to prestigious global ballet institutes like London’s Royal Ballet Academy & the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Sooni, known for her award -winning writing on Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala & The Namesake, has previously directed a VR documentary on the same subject titled Yeh Ballet, for Anand Gandhi’s Memesys Lab. When Siddharth read about the boys & saw this documentary, he was so moved by their story that he reached out to Sooni immediately & ask her to join him in telling it on the big screen. Siddharth said, “I have always admired Sooni’s writing, and she has outdone herself with the superb script she has written on the “Ballet Boys”. What makes this film even more special is that we will explore an unfamiliar western dance form like ballet and its impact on these boys, while staying firmly rooted in our own culture and our more familiar dance aesthetic. ”Siddharth & Sooni both share a passion for the performing arts & are excited about commencing their shoot for this unique & vibrant film that will encompass varied dance forms like free-style, desi hip-hop & ballet. With dialogues by Mayur Puri (writer of ABCD/ABCD2), music by the hit duo Sachin-Jigar, choreography by phenomenal Shiamak Davar & ballet sequences by Yehuda Maor & Cindy Jourdain, this is set to be a musical & visual treat for audiences.

Vidyut Jammwal Welcomes Director Aditya Datt To ‘Commando 3’

Aditya Datt, known for helming Table No. 21 & Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story Of Sunny Leone, will also helm Vidyut Jammwal’s upcoming film Commando 3 & Vidyut welcomed Aitya to the film team with a gift. Datt revealed that Vidyut gifted him Army-style dog tags as a gesture of welcome to the Commando 3 team. An elated Aditya shared the pic of the dog tags on Instagram and said, “Sometimes a small gesture makes things big for life… a souvenir at the start of a new journey from the man himself, appreciate it.” Aditya is currently prepping for Commando 3, which also stars Adah Sharma, Angira Dhar & Gulshan Devaiah, in London. The 2nd season of Datt’s Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story Of Sunny Leone, is slated to premiere on 18th Sept, 2018.

Rahat Kazmi’s ‘Million Dollar Nomad’ To Be Distributed By Top American Distribution Company

Critically acclaimed filmmaker Rahat Kazmi, known for craft like Mantostaan, Identity Card & Lihaaf, now brings to you, Million Dollar Nomad, an international feature film in English, being backed by one of the top – notch American Distribution & Sales Companies, House of Film, known for 9 Academy Award winning films. The story of a Kashmiri shepherd who suddenly finds himself being popular in a foreign land; Million Dollar Nomad takes you on the journey through 4 countries. With an ensemble cast, the film stars Shoib Nikash Shah as lead opposite actresses Meritxell Ortega & Canelle Hope from Spain & France respectively; supported by Tariq Khan, Jitesh Kumar & Mujeeb Ul Hassan from India, Patrick Fremiot from France, with a cameo by Australian actor Gavin. The film is all set to travel to festivals & film markets across the globe. “Our aim,” says Rahat Kazmi, “is to target a global audience. We are trying our hands at experimental cinema, the kind of films that not only entertain the audience but also bring cultures together, at the same time, throwing light on varied issues that need to addressed.” Million Dollar Nomad is produced by Rahat Kazmi Films, Tariq Khan Productions, Zeba Sajid Films, Benchmark Pictures & Indian Film Studio & co-produced by Mediamatk International Corporation Ltd.

‘Pakhi’ Will Now Release On 21st Sept 2018

Director Producer Sachin Gupta’s film Pakhi on child trafficking has been granted an “A” certificate by the Revising Committee of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Now the movie is all set to release on 21st Sep 2018. Under the banner of Chilsag pictures the social crime drama Pakhi unfolding the miseries of the web of child trafficking got stuck for censor certificate. Pakhi is written by writer – director Sachin Gupta. Sumeet Kaul, Anamika Shukla, Pihu, Shikandar Khan & Anmol Goswami are in the leads. The music is embraced by Shivang Mathur & lyrics by Shayra Apoorva. Navin Kumar is the cinematographer & Ajay Shivan is the editor & choreographer of the film. The background score is given by Nikkhil Koparde.

‘Marry Me, Stranger’ Brings Anuja Joshi As Author Novoneel Chakraborty’s Rivanah

Applause Entertainment has been in the news for premium, contemporary digital series. Amongst its premier line – up is the upcoming adaptation of The Stranger Trilogy by popular fiction writer, Novoneel Chakraborty from Penguin Random House. Helmed by renowned producer Goldie Behl, this adaptation has a talented cast of actors. Building upon the very popular novella of the Stranger Series by Novoneel Chakraborty, Anuja Joshi plays the protagonist, Rivanah. Gaurav Chopra, Mrinal Dutt & Priya Banerjee portray key characters in Marry Me, Stranger. Actor & director Faruk Kabir, who made the film Allah Ke Bandey with Naseeruddin Shah, has directed this series for the web, seamlessly adapting Chakraborty’s successful books for the screen. Marry Me, Stranger, keeping with the book’s title, features Anuja Joshi as the protagonist, Rivanah, a young girl struggling to find her footing in maximum city, Mumbai. Anuja originally from US, has studied acting & direction at NYU, and has professional theatre experience in New York with directors such as Julie Taymor & Mira Nair. She will appear in the upcoming Hollywood film My Cousin’s Sister’s Wedding. TV star Gaurav Chopra will be seen in a mysterious cameo. Well known writer & digital content creator Anand Sivakumaran has adapted this series for the web. Having produced popular films & TV for some time, Goldie Behl, Director Rose Audiovisuals brings depth & experience to this production. Anuja Joshi said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to portray Rivanah. This young character’s discovery of her self – worth, especially in a big city like Mumbai, is something I know many people will relate to”.

Prosenjit Chatterjee Bonds With Abhishek Bachchan!

Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee, recently met Abhishek Bachchan albeit over the digital space as the 2 interacted during a Facebook live chat to promote their respective films Kishore Kumar Junior & Manmarziyaan. Talking about films and their love for Kolkatta, Prosenjit not only invited the Bachchan family to his city but also requested a screening of Manmarziyaan for his friends from Bengal film industry. Well aware of Abhishek’s sweet tooth, Prosenjit also sent across Rosgollas from Kolkatta and while discussing his upcoming film Kishore Kumar Junior, Bachchan sung a few lines from his favorite Kishore Da song, “Jahan Teri Ye Nazar Hai”. This was a special interaction, as ironically, Chatterjee will soon be seen as the host of Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti, the Bengali version of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, made famous by Abhishek’s father, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.
Dia Mirza To Speak At Social Good Summit 2018 In New York

Actress, producer & champion of nature Dia Mirza, has become a global name owing to her work in the field of environment protection, has been invited to be one of the speakers at Social Good Summit 2018 at New York on 23rd Sept, 2018 this year. For those who do not know this, the Summit is held annually during the United Nations General Assembly week & brings together a lively community of global citizens & progressive thought leaders around a common theme#2030NOW. A dynamic exploration of how the world should be by 2030, the Social Good Summit focuses on how one can unlock technology’s potential to make the world a better place. UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza is one of the leading global voices on nature’s conversation; one of the most impactful influencers for UNEP’s “Beat Plastic Pollution” campaign. Apart from Dia, international entertainer & activist Lilly Singh has also been invited to speak at the Summit.

Saqib Saleem Packs A Punch With Kickboxing!

Looks like Saqib Saleem is in the mood to kick butt! Riding high on the success of his biggest release this year, Race 3, the talented actor has recently taken up kickboxing. Saqib has started training in kickboxing since a month and has been following it up rigorously. It’s learnt that the actor wants to sport a brawny & muscular look for his next & his obsession for kickboxing is a result of the same. Saqib was hugely appreciated for his amazing body transformation for his character in Race 3 and flaunting the cool 6 pack abs in the multi-starrer. Post Race 3, the actor has also been approached for several films in the action genre. And his learning kickboxing certainly hints about his prep for his next, an action film, details of which have not been revealed yet.