Mumbai Television actor Karanvir Bohra’s wife Teejay Sidhu has issued a letter to the “Bigg Boss” team asking them not to shame and mock Karanvir on “Weekend ka War” episodes.

Karanvir is locked away in the “Bigg Boss 12″ house and according to Teejay, he is one of the most targeted contestants by makers and host Salman Khan (though she didn’t directly mention Salman’s name)

” ..It seems you (Bigg Boss team) are upset with Karanvir (aka KV in the house) about something, but we don’t know what. Every weekend, KV is ridiculed and it is hard to see him being demoralized like this,” her letter read.

She also mentioned that the makers have double standards when it comes to taking action against a particular contestant.

Citing example, she said: “When people made fun of Rohit’s (co-contestant) purple shorts, they were questioned about it… Whatever KV wears, he is always ridiculed, whether it’s his hair, his clothes, his look. It is wrong to shame someone for the way they look, or how they dress.”

In more to Karanvir’s defence, Teejay praised him saying, he has always given his best in tasks and he has never abused anyone.

She urged the “Bigg Boss” team not to pull Karanvir’s leg to extreme level and reminded them that such behavior towards him is not acceptable as he was a father of two little daughters.

“His entertainment fraternity is also deeply upset about all this. Please understand I am writing to you out of concern, and with utmost respect. I would be very grateful to get some clarity on this. I have many people to answer to,” Teejay added.

(IANS)

Veteran actor-filmmaker Sanjay Khan, popular for acting in and producing the television series “The Sword of Tipu Sultan”, says he is planning to make movies, but he also has some extraordinary stories that can be told on the small screen.

It was back in 1989 that a major fire accident took place on the set of “The Sword of Tipu Sultan”, based on the 18th century Mysore ruler.

After surviving near fatal burns, years later Sanjay produced shows like “The Great Maratha” and “Jai Hanuman”.

“The last time I faced the camera was for ‘…Tipu Sultan’. I have been busy doing other things like building a five-star hotel in Bengaluru. We are planning several motion pictures now. Three or four pictures in the coming months,” Sanjay told IANS in a telephonic interview.

What about TV shows?

“TV is making much more money than films these days. TV has a greater reach. I have some extraordinary stories for that. There is one on the British Raj. It’s called the ‘Beginning of an Empire’.

“I would like to make it as a long series of three or four seasons capturing the long duration of the British Raj in India,” said the “Haqeeqat” actor.

He has historical stories on mind for the big screen as well.

“There is one on a Brigadier, who died fighting for his country and I have another one on the 1965 war. I have always made stories that have a national appeal and are meaningful,” said the “Chandi Sona” actress.

Sharing an example, he said: “When I made ‘Jai Hanuman’, I got great satisfaction. Hindu ladies said ‘We are grateful to you Sir for showing us the childhood of Hanuman’. Even Muslim people loved it. I felt great that I had communicated something.”

But what about going beyond mythology and historical genres?

“In the larger packaging of my work, there would be stories of romance, etc.,” he said.

He doesn’t want to focus just on a love story.

“The value of love between a man and a woman is eroding. All kinds of things are happenning. The mood of the world is different so, the best bet is catching historical and social-economic problems, which are perennial. Those are the problems that we can address,” said Sanjay.

Talking about the content of films made by young Indian filmmakers, he shared: “I like some of them. Indian cinema is coming-of-age though the music is suffering. The lustre of music is gone.

“The technical quality has come up. Some very good films like ‘Dangal’ have come out.”

He is also interested in the digital medium.

“If there is an offer, subject or big companies come to me then I can talk to them,” he said.

At the moment, he is focussing on promoting his new autobiography, “The Best Mistakes of My Life”, which takes the readers to his world of films, family, his near-death accident and more.

“I am happy that it has come out the way it has. I worked really hard on it. I had gone into my past and relived all those glorious times,” said the actor in his 70s.

IANS

Manoj Bajpayee’s Bhonsle was greeted with a packed house at the India Premiere of the film at 20th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival With Star.

The film which has been directed by Devashish Makhija had been selected for the India Story section at the festival.
Audiences flocked to the venue of PVR Icon in Andheri where the premiere of the film was held.
The premiere of the film was attended by Manoj Bajpayee, Devashish Makhija, producers Abhayanand Singh (of Indie Muviz), Sandiip Kapur (of Promodome Motion Pictures) & writer Mirat Trivedi (who has co-written the film with Devashish Makhija & Sharanya Rajgopal)
In the film, Manoj Bajpayee plays the titular role of Bhonsle – a terminally ill lone wolf Maharashtrian cop who has retired against his will, in a politically tumultuous Mumbai. Bhonsle finds himself forging an unlikely companionship with a 23 year old North-Indian girl & her little brother, while the raging conflict destroying the world around them reaches his doorstep, giving him one last battle worth fighting for, but it might just be too late.

The film reunites director Devashish Makhija, producer Indie Muviz & Manoj Bajpayee, the trio behind the highly acclaimed short film Taandav. Manoj Bajpayee had bagged the “Best Actor” award for the short film at the Filmfare Awards 2016.

The film also features a stellar cast which includes Marathi star Santosh Juvekar, theatre thespian Ipshita Chakraborty Singh & debutante child artist Virat Vaibhav.

The film is produced by Manoj Bajpayee Productions, Golden Ratio Films, Promodome Motion Pictures & Indie Muviz
The premiere of the film was followed by Q&A with director Devashish Makhija & Manoj Bajpayee which was moderated by writer & filmmaker Vasan Bala whose film Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota opened this year’s edition of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival With Star.
Vasan Bala pointed out that the character of the cop in Bhonsle doesn’t speak a lot unlike the cops shown usually in popular Hindi films such as Zanjeer & Bajpayee’s own Shool & lets his silences speak.
Manoj Bajpayee said that the character of Bhonsle represents the sentiments of today’s people & the times we live in. “Bhonsle’s silence conveys the depression & the hopelessness experienced by today’s generation. These are the people who have lost hopes from life completely and somewhere they feel they have failed themselves.”
The actor said that he & Devashish had been working on the film for over 4 years and it got made due to the efforts of Sandiip Kapur, Abhayanand Singh & Piiyush Singh who chose to go to with his & Devashish’s vision & backed the film.
“I can’t think of any other actor who would have fought the way Manoj did to get Bhonsle made.” said Devashish Makhija

Manoj Bajpayee who was glad to have Bhonsle’s India Premiere at 20th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival With Star said, “It’s always a great feeling to show your film to movie lovers in your own country & get their responses. The India premiere at MAMI is an important milestone in the festival journey of the film. I am glad to return to MAMI with Bhonsle after Aligarh & Gali Guleiyan.”
Director Devashish Makhija who was equally excited about the premiere says, “MAMI has been a burst of energy with insanely long lines & high on passion viewers. The demand & response for Bhonsle has been manic & overwhelming. This kind of response makes the effort of making such a film worth it.”
Piiyush Singh, the producer of Bhonsle & founder of Indie Muviz says, “We are very excited with the response received by Bhonsle at MAMI. It’s a premium fest in India & such feedback encourages us as a production house to continue making such films which speak a global language.”
Sandiip Kapur, the founder of Promodome Motion Pictures & producer of Bhonsle says, “It’s a huge privilege that Bhonsle has been selected in MAMI. There are a few things bigger than this for an independent filmmaker like me. I am feeling great & extremely proud of my entire team which includes Manoj Bajpayee, Devashish Makhija, the technicians and many others who have worked on the film. I would like to thank everyone & above all MAMI.”

A biopic on southern film industry’s adult film star Shakeela will see her play a cameo.

Director Indrajit Lankesh is helming the movie, which stars Richa Chadha in the role of Shakeela, who was popular in southern showbiz in the 1990s and continues to work even today.

Before commencing the film’s shooting, Richa had a rendezvous with Shakeela in Bengaluru to understand the nuances. Seeing the camaraderie between both the actors and also to honour Shakeela’s popularity, Lankesh roped in the real Shakeela for a cameo in the film.

Lankesh said in a statement: “I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela. I was immensely impressed with her on-screen and off screen personality.

“I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela.”

He said Shakeela has been an integral part of the making of the movie as she gave the team detailed insights into her life.

“Even Richa got to spend time with her, understand her style of talking, her body language and such nuances. In fact, when she came on set, she gave us very interesting insights like about our art direction and how her house was and is in real life,” Lankesh added.

He said it was nice to shoot Shakeela for the biopic, though this is not the first time he has worked with her.

“I have shot with her in the past for another film of mine in 2003. That sparked an interest in me to make a film on her and in 2015 after conceiving the idea of making a film on her, I met her and realised my dream.

“I feel every woman and girl who wants to be an actress should see her story, to know what she went through to become an actress and how it was such a compelling rags to riches to rags story of her life.”

IANS

Danish Alfaaz – Another UP Talent Makes His Entry In Bollywood

Danish Alfaaz, hailing from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, the land that’s given Hindi cinema its countless superstars & multi-talented personalities, is all set to make his debut & take over the Hindi film industry with Poonam Pandey & Shakti Kapoor starrer The Journey Of Karma.
Danish Alfaaz, the musical maestro will be making his debut as a singer, composer & lyricist.

Starting off as a singer, Danish Alfaaz has honed his musical side quite rapidly & moved on from just a singer to a lyrist & as a composer as well in no time.

Having 3 hit albums to his name, Danish Alfaaz is basking in the glory of his 1st ever Bollywood project.

Danish Alfaaz avers, “It was after my 3rd shingle that I got approached for this film. That apart I was given a free hand to not just lend my voice by producing the numbers from a scratch but also croon them to perfection and I think that freedom is extremely necessary in this field.”

Talking about the music in The Journey Of Karma, Danish Alfaaz avers, “I have 3 tracks in the film and all completely different from each other. While 1 is a sad number, the other one is a cozy romance track and the last one being a dance number,”

Danish Alfaaz further adds, “I’ve given my all to these 3 tracks and I want my debut to be loved by all. Just hoping all my 3 numbers goes down well with the audiences.”

Well, given Danish Alfaaz’s popularity with just 3 tracks & the growth he has had in the film industry, we really hope Danish Alfaaz has a long stay in Bollywood.

Allah Rakha Rahman Directs Shah Rukh Khan

Music maestro, Allah Rakha Rahman directed Shah Rukh Khan for the 1st time as they created magic to bring alive the official Hockey World Cup Video: Jai Hind Hind, Jai India. The Hockey World Cup song titled Jai Hind Hind, Jai India, in itself has pulsating rhythm composed by Allah Rakha Rahman & magical lyrics penned by Gulzar. The music video will showcase the new India & have visual elements from the contemporary & urbane to the grass root India even, as it’s the core of hockey & Team India. The electric video together with the HWC Song are sure to inspire every Indian to get behind Hockey, as the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 kick starts in a month’s time. The song & the video are slated to release at the end of the month when Team India returns from the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat. SRK last week took to twitter extending his support & pledging his heartbeat for Indian Hockey saying, “Mera dil hockey ke liye bahot tez dhadakta hai.” Cheering the Men in Blue to get the cup back home, SRK in his tweet also termed hockey, “the pride of India” and urged everyone to get behind the Team India & support to the game. With SRK & Allah Rakha Rahman combining forces to inspire one & all, it is certain that the sport will attract a larger fan base, as India takes on rest of the world at Bhubaneswar come Nov, 2018. For Allah Rakha Rahman Jai Hind Hind, Jai India marks a return to directing a music video after the legendary Vande Matram that he directed back in 1997 and his internal brief to the team that comprised lighting genius & celebrated cinematographer, Ravi Varman is for the video to showcase the India that he loves & the India that is, today. Having composed the tune, it is Allah Rakha Rahman who offered his services to direct the music video as his tribute to his motherland: India. The Opening Ceremony of the HWC 2018 is slated for 27th Nov, 2018 and will showcase both the maestros of cinema & music, Shah Rukh Khan & Allah Rakha Rahman, respectively live. World Cup is scheduled to set stage from 28th Nov, 2018 to 16th Dec, 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. A total of 16 nations will be participating in the tournament wherein each team will play 3 matches during the league stage over the span of 12 days before 4 cross-over matches take place on 10th Dec, 2018 & 11th Dec, 2018.

Sanjay Khan – Actor, Producer, Director Sanjay Khan Now Turns A Writer!

Sanjay Khan, who is known for his brilliant work in Hindi cinema & television, began his journey in the industry with Satyan Bose & Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat way back in the year 1964. This was followed by the blockbuster hit, Dosti which won the National Film Award for “Best Feature Film” in Hindi that year. Best remembered for hit films like Ek Phool Do Mali, Intaqam, Mela, Abdulla amongst the rest, Sanjay Khan later turned producer & director with Chandi Sona (1977), Abdullah (1980) & Kala dhandha Gore Log (1986). Sanjay has bagged accolades like The Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award (1993), National Citizens Awards twice, American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, The Gem of India Award for Excellence (1993), Honor of Lifetime Achiever Award (1996), The Millennium Achievers (2000), The Lifetime Achievement Award by Screen Star (2009). In 1990, he also starred in & directed the historical television series, The Sword of Tipu Sultan based on Bhagwan S Gidwani’s best-selling novella. Sanjay Khan was grievously injured when a fire broke out on the sets of the TV series in the year 1989 and was hospitalized for over a year where he underwent 73 surgeries. An actor, producer & director, Sanjay Khan is now all set to be an author with the launch of his debut autobiography on 28th Oct, 2018, titled, “The Best Mistakes Of My Life”, the book chronicles Sanjay Khan’s life on & off the celluloid silver screen. Sanjay Khan said, “The Best Mistakes of My Life published by Penguin India, is a journey through my mistakes in other words learning experiences that helped me become the person that I am today. No person is perfect and it is our mistakes that make us stronger. I hope the audience too takes to my journey, the same way I have.”

Karan Johar Celebrates 20 Years Of The Release Of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ With A Big Bang

Not only the film, but also the iconic music of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has been a landmark in the film industry. It set precedence in film marketing & sales & broke all records Lalit Pandit & Jatin Pandit have created history along with lyricist Sameer Anjaan. It gave a revered place & recognition to the film in that era. Today after 20 years the music is still benchmark for good music space. The estranged music director duo who are brothers in real life were spotted together at the 20 years of celebration of film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, with which Karan Johar had actually made his debut as a director. Along with Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Rani Mukerjee, Kajol, Twinkle Khanna, Farida Jalal, Sanjay Kapoor and of course Karan Johar and his mother Hiroo Johar. Karan wistfully recollected how every top heroine of the day had refused to be part of the film with Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol and how ultimately he decided to cast the 17 year old Rani Mukerjee who had just 1 one release, Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat & 1 film, Gulaam on the floors when he had signed her. Twinkle Khanna who made a surprise entry at the function declared that if only she had agreed to work in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with Shah Rukh Khan, it could have emerged as a big flop

Big B & Aamir Khan Dance For The 1st Ever Time

Yash Raj Films mega action adventure Thugs of Hindostan has stunned audiences worldwide with its larger than life, extravagant trailer that has made it the biggest film to come out of Bollywood in years. This visual spectacle about an epic war & adventure on the high seas, is releasing this Diwali. The film has managed an incredible casting coup of this generation by bringing together 2 of the biggest icons of Hindi cinema Big B & Aamir Khan for the 1st time ever on celluloid silver screen and to make this even more interesting, looks like the 2 have also danced together in the film! Prabhudheva, whose choreography sets benchmarks each time, has directed this song titled Vashmalle (Dance your heart out & make merry). Prabhudheva always leaves his mark with high energy dance numbers that boast of unique dance moves. “Vashmalle” too will stand out because Amitabh Bachchan & Aamir Khan are seen dancing their heart out in the film. Sukhwinder Singh & Vishal Dadlani have sung this anticipated number while celebrated lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya has penned its supremely catchy lyrics. Ace music composers Ajay-Atul have created this track. Thugs of Hindostan co-stars Katrina Kaif & Fatima Sana Shaikh. The film is all set to treat audiences across India with the biggest jaw-dropping action sequences seen by audiences on screen to date. With its edge-of-the-seat thrills & a visually immersive experience, YRF’s out & out entertainer, Thugs of Hindostan, is all set to release on 8th Nov, 2018, a national holiday, in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu.

Veteran Actor Asrani In A Play Titled “Welcome Zindegi”!

The veteran actor Asrani is all set to act in the play “Welcome Zindegi”, produced by Sanjay Jha. “Welcome Zindagi” centers around the lead character Ashutosh a retiring Government servant & his family including Indu his wife, Setu his daughter & Aayush his son. Being a miser & old fashioned Ashutosh never paid any attention to his family’s needs proclaiming it to do it once he gets retirement. The Comical play will take you to the journey of fun, laughter & emotions. The play will premiere on 28th Oct, 2018 in Mumbai.

‘Mukti Bhawan’ All Set For Release In Japan

Mukti Bhawan/Hotel Salvation distributed by C International Sales (CIS) has been sold in over 50 International territories including UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Germany, Middle East, Japan, Taiwan, France, Spain, South Africa, Portugal, South Korea and Italy amongst others and invited to over 70 International Film Fest’s around the globe. The film has been released in over 25 countries and is now scheduled for a theatrical release in Japan titled Ganges Ni Kaeru on 27th Oct, 2018. Written & directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani, Hotel Salvation follows a son faced with his father’s untimely demand to go and die in the holy city of Varanasi and attain salvation. The film starring Adil Hussain, Lalit Behl, Geetanjali Kulkarni & Palomi Ghosh and has won over 30 International awards, including the Grand Prix Enrico Fulchignoni, the UNESCO Gandhi Medal during its premiere at Venice & 2 National Awards in the year 2017.

Jasmin Bhasin On Casting Couch Syndrome

The #MeToo movement has been gaining a lot of momentum and women from all walks of life have been talking about their stories of harassment at work. Jasmin Bhasin, too, talks about how once a filmmaker asked her to strip down, to judge if she had a “bikini body”. The incident took place 5 years back, when Jasmin was a model and was scheduled to meet a casting director, who was known for his Gujarati & Hindi films, as he was auditioning for his next film. Since the meeting was set, I went to meet him. I sensed that something was wrong by the way he spoke. In fact, the 1st ever question was enough to make me feel awkward. He asked me, ‘What will you do to become an actress and to what extent can you go?’ Being naïve at that time, I replied “What more I can do, I left my city & home and I am living here & struggling.’ I realized that I did not at all “understand” what he was trying to say,” Jasmin says. It was then that the director demanded that the actor take off her clothes so that he could see how she looked in a bikini. “In cases like these, you know you can’t fight, so I told him I was not in the best possible shape to flaunt a 2 piece and the brief given to me was that the girl’s character is not supposed to wear a bikini. I immediately left saying that my agency will get back to him.” she says. Strength is what helps in these situations, says Jasmin. “That sexual harassment exists can’t be denied, but one needs to be strong. Girls should know how to work in their own conditions & not trust anyone, unknown, so easily. It is important to be courageous and this is the right time to take a stand and I am happy that at last this is happening,” she says.

Uma Da Cunha Rebrands Her Film India Worldwide Into “On Global Screens”

The veteran film historian & curator Uma Da Cunha is privileged to have been part of India’s independent cinema movement over the last 5 decades through its innumerable highs & lows. The year 2018 marks 2 decades since she 1st ever started editing & publishing the magazine Film India Worldwide. Then, as now, the aim has been to champion Indian independent films on the global stage. With this in mind, Uma Da Cunha has decided to re-branded her magazine under the rebranded title On Global Screens, which is planned to coincide with the opening of 20th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Fest with Star (25th Oct, 2018 to 1st Nov, 2018). The OGS magazine will continue the legacy of Film India Worldwide, as a news journal, arguably India’s only publication focused on its independent & regional cinema movement. It will cover India’s vibrant filmmaking spectrum: art house, independent, debutante & regional language work, short films & documentaries, books on cinema, views & reviews. It will feature regularly, in advance, upcoming work from both debutante & master filmmakers, just as it celebrates India’s cinematic achievements the world over. It is designed to be of special interest to film professionals, fest organizers & programmers, as well as to academics, journalists, researchers & libraries, nationally & internationally. The On Global Screens (OGS) banner endeavors to occupy an exclusive space, spotlighting the lost and often forgotten independent film & filmmaker. It is an embodiment of our longstanding efforts to link India’s many cinemas to international opportunities, sparking dialogue, business & recognition. OGS will support quality cinema and provide services including subtitling in English, casting & film fest programming & consultancy. Stay tuned to www.bollyy.com for more information on On Global Screens.

Teaser Of Vidyut Jammwal Starrer ‘Junglee’ Released!

After producing one of the most-awaited family Comedy of the year Badhaai Ho, Junglee Pictures is all set to present the teaser of their next big family adventure Junglee. Starring one of the biggest action heroes Vidyut Jammwal, the film is directed & voiceover introduces us to the story of this jungle. By revealing just a glimpse of the plot, the by now Hollywood film Chuck Russell (maker of The Mask & The Scorpion King. The teaser takes one through the breath-taking visuals of the forest as a teaser has managed to create quite an impact leaving the audiences excited for more. The family action adventure film revolves around the incredible friendship between a man & elephant. Vidyut, Jammwal sometime back, had also posted an adorable picture online introducing the elephant and his very dear friend “Bhola”, giving us a peek into his unique bond they share. Talking about the teaser, actor Vidyut Jammwal said, “Junglee has been a truly unique experience. Becoming one with nature and being welcomed into the world of the animals was just incredible. It taught me so much about the wonderful relationship that can exist between man & animal and it definitely brought me closer to my own craft as an artist & my abilities as a human being. I can’t wait for everyone to join us in our adventure starting with the teaser we’ve just launched.” Directed by Hollywood Filmmaker Chuck Russell & produced by Junglee Pictures, the film is all set to release on 5th Apr, 2019.

Pyarelal Ji Finds His Guru In Maniesh Paul On The Sets Of “Indian Idol 10”

For the 1st time ever in this season, the upcoming episode of Sony Entertainment Television’s singing reality show Indian Idol 10 featured a 40 piece orchestra which created a magical musical experience along with the presence of legendary composer Pyarelal ji. The top 8 contestants from Indian Idol 10 took the viewers on a musical extravaganza this weekend with melodious songs from Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s life. In the show, Maniesh Paul always jokes around as being the Guruji of the contestants but the tables turned this time when Pyarelal ji declared that he has finally found his Guruji and he is none other than Maniesh Paul. Pyarelal ji loves Maniesh Paul & his ability to make people laugh. The whacky anchor brings his own flavor of humor & zany energy to the iconic show and leaves everyone in splits, right from the judges to the contestants & audiences too. Filled with full zest & joy, the anchor always keeps the show lively & full of fun.

Comedy Circus Artiste Paritosh Tripathi Enjoys Navratri With His Fans

Paritosh Tripathi who is well known for his different avatars, hosting & anchoring skills was seen enjoying this auspicious festival of Navratri with his fans at Kora Kendra grounds, Borivali. TRP mama, Paritosh shook a leg & played garba too. The host is making his long awaited Bollywood debut with the upcoming release Kashi starring Sharman Joshi slated for release on 26th Oct, 2018. He plays the role of “Rangeela” in the film, who stands strong with his friend through thick & thin times. With 1000’s of fans waiting to hear him take this stage, everyone enjoyed interacting with him and needless to mention, Paritosh Tripathi loved this meet & greet with his fans.

ZEE5 To Premiere Horror Comedy ‘Nanu Ki Jaanu’

ZEE5 is now all set to digitally premiere the horror comedy Nanu Ki Jaanu on 18th Oct, 2018 to enthrall audiences. Written & directed by Faraz Haider, Nanu Ki Jaanu is a bizarre horror comedy. Couched in robust humor with Abhay Deol & Patralekhaa, it is a quirky film that has its moments of brilliance. The story is about a Delhi land mafia agent, Nanu (Abhay Deol) who faces problems in his personal & work life as an unwanted person occupies a new flat that he wants to usurp. From Padman, Veere Di Wedding, Mulk, Parmanu et al in Hindi to Faster Fene, Gulabjaam, Mercury et al in Marathi & Tamil respectively, ZEE5 continues to digitally premiere week after week blockbuster movies across languages.

Bappi Lahiri Performed At Navi Mumbai Bengali Association (Nmba) Durgotsav 2018’s Grand Finale

Bappi Lahiri performed on Navami (18th Oct, 2018) at Durga Puja celebration by Navi Mumbai Bengali Association (NMBA) (Vashi Kalibari) while diva singer Jaspinder Narula performed on Ashtami (17th Oct, 2018) at CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Hall No. 1, Sector 30, Vashi, Opposite Centre One Mall (next to Assam Bhavan). NMBA, being the foremost social organization for Bengalis in Navi Mumbai, has taken a major pledge towards positive contribution to the community & society at-large. In its 39th year, NMBA Durgotsav 2018 was bigger than ever before, in its scale, grandeur & epitome. It is the biggest Durgotsav Mohatsav in entire Mumbai & Navi Mumbai. This year, the Puja was being held from 15th Oct, 2018 till 19th Oct, 2018 at a brand new locale of CIDCO Exhibition Centre. It’s fully Air-conditioned Hall of around 45000 sq.ft. Around 5 lakhs of people took take part in this 5 day long mega-festival. The biggest attraction of NMBA Durgotsav 2018 was its theme “The Great Bengal Pavilion” the grand display of Bengal Art & Culture. Durga Idol was around 20 ft height, made up of natural artifacts of Bengal. Substantial portion of the revenue generated from this event, through individual donations & corporate sponsorship, was for the construction of an ambitious “Senior Citizen Living Project” especially one which will provide housing for senior citizens, who live in this city all by themselves. The facility will have provision to coach economically challenged children by the residents. It will have a fully equipped multipurpose hall for coaching & workshops. In fact, a Kala Bhavan for classes on Art & Culture is part of the design. There will be separate rooms for guests/relatives of the residents to come and visit a separate hall for meditation & prayer and a Bengali restaurant/pantry for the residents. This will be made available to the residents at a very reasonable price. NMBA also runs a “Home For Cancer Patients”, a unique social initiative by NMBA, where subsidised accommodation & varied other free facilities are provided to the patients coming to Mumbai for cancer treatments irrespective of their cast, creed, religion, faith et al. NMBA also render service for varied social initiative.

ZEE Maharashtra Kusti Dangal Kickstarted

Wrestling gets a shot in the arm, with Zee Talkies innovative franchise based format of this traditional sport, “Zee Maharashtra Kusti Dangal”. The tournament was held from 2nd Nov, 2018 to 18th Nov, 2018 at The Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium known as Balewadi Stadium, Pune with 6 teams across the state participating in it. People who love the sport have been excited about this show, and finally, the Big Reveal happened on 19th Oct, 2018. The 6 teams representing different cities across Maharashtra had 12 players each, and the team members & the team owners was introduced at this event. Over 100+ State, National & International Champs were a part of “Zee Maharashtra Kusti Dangal”.

Taapsee’s Character Rumi In Manmarziyaan Inspires Young Indian Women

For an actor, one of the ultimate rewards is when the audience personally relates to the roles played by them. Taapsee Pannu’s character, Rumi, from her last film Manmarziyaan has done exactly the same for her. Her character has resonated with a lot of young Indian women, so much so, that Taapsee is receiving plenty of letters from young girls & women. Taapsee’s role has inspired many women and those from other countries have been sending letters to her as well. They have shared their own stories on how the role helped them connect with themselves. A lot of them asked her for advice on varied aspects in their lives. Taapsee shares, “Overwhelming is the word. The kind of personal notes I have gotten from so many women is heartening”. Girls have felt attached & close to Rumi because everyone feels there is a part of their own self depicted on screen through her. One thing common amongst all the messages is the line, “Rumi is all heart”. Rumi reminds them of a girl within them, which a lot of us fail to acknowledge or are shy to flaunt. “Rumi is one of those characters, which is closest to my real self. The success of such a character instills faith in me that I am right about how a modern Indian woman feels & thinks. It does give me confidence to keep moving ahead with such choices in terms of characters & roles. Rumi will definitely be one of the most cherished characters in my career.”

Ultra Opens Global Sales Of Its In House Production ‘Chippa’

Chippa is a story about the aspirations of a child who lives on the streets, told through a journey he takes into an enchanting world that he creates for himself on 1 wintry night in Kolkata. The film is an endearing & a universal homage to the spirit and the timeless stories of children growing up globally. Sunny Pawar’s debut film Lion won him a lot of international accolades & he was also nominated for The “Best Actor” by AACTA Awards, He also won a “Special Mention Grand Jury Prize” at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, was a prime nominee for “Young Artist Award”. The film in total has also garnered 6 nominations at the Oscar Awards. Along with the above, Ultra also will also offer an array of Bollywood & International blockbusters, animated Films, TV Shows & 85 well known films from the “Children Films Society of India (CFSI)” at the market. From the regional stable, it will offer a range of films in Marathi, Bhojpuri & Bengali languages. They will also present internationally acclaimed films like Ramanujan, Doctor Rakhmabhai & Evening Shadows at the market. They will also be showcasing their existing, exhaustive slate of more than 1500 titles comprising of Indian & International films, television & animation content at the market.

Radhika Apte Unveils Diwali Collection

Daniel Wellington, the Swedish watch brand known for its sleek, stylish & minimalist designs celebrated the onset of the festive season in Mumbai with an exclusive Diwali celebration at the seafront restaurant, Estella. The event was a true celebration to the impeccable craftsmanship behind all of Daniel Wellington’s timeless designs. Radhika Apte along with Sander Van Der Stroom, General Manager, Daniel Wellington India, graced the occasion. The event was launched with a grand campaign featuring Radhika Apte, showcasing how classic beauty goes beyond the boundaries of time & space. Radhika Apte averred, “This is an exciting time to be partnering with Daniel Wellington and I’m so happy to be the face of the new campaign. Daniel Wellington truly personifies what I believe are the important aspects of great style. It’s minimalist, gorgeous while being classic & luxurious which syncs with my personal style too.” Born out of a love for elegance, refined materials & quality, the new Classic Bracelet is an exquisite affirmation of the core values of Daniel Wellington, which has grown exponentially since its launch in India with 13 stores across Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Mumbai & Pune and presence across multi brand outlets, watch retailers & leading e-commerce websites.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Unveils Their New Poster

The makers of Bohemian Rhapsody have launched a new poster of the film & the classiness of the color scheme will surely grab your attention. Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music & their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. The movie will release in cinemas worldwide on 16th Nov, 2018. Freddie Mercury defied stereotypes & even shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs & revolutionary sound. They reached unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie Mercury manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie Merecury leads the band in 1 of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers & music lovers to this day. Produced by Bryan Singer, Graham King, Jim Beach & Robert De Niro, the film has been directed by Bryan Singer.

Ashok – Vikram – Padmini Star In ‘Pravas’

Pravas or journey is an indivisible part of our lives. Pravas or the journey which begins from the time we are born, teaches us something new at every turn of our lives, thus enriching our lives with the cumulative experiences. Presenting a different perspective of this journey, the movie Pravas very recently had its grand muhurat. Veteran actor Ashok Saraf & actress Padmini Kolhapure, from the Hindi film industry, will be acting together for the 1st time ever in Pravas. Vikram Gokhale, Rajat Kapoor, Shashank Udapurkar and others are also acting in the film. Ashok Saraf expressed his happiness in being able to portray a different role in his 5 decades of career. He hoped that Pravas would give the audience a totally different experience. Padmini Kolhapure was happy that after a long time she was going to act in a Marathi film Pravas. Director Shashank Udapurkar said that the movie Pravas which says that “what remains is special”, it is a very special movie for him. He said that working with the veterans would give him valuable lessons. Producer Om Chhangani said that his wish to enter the art world was fulfilled by Pravas. He thanked all the artistes. The shooting of the film will commence soon. The film Pravas, produced by Om Chhangani Films, is written & directed by Shashank Udapurkar. Cinematography is by Suresh Deshmane. Well known music directors Salim-Suleman from the Hindi film world start their journey in the Marathi film industry with Pravas. The lyrics are written by Guru Thakur. The background music is by Amar Mohile.

Juggy D Teams Up With Ikka & Rishi Rich

Punjabi Rockstar JUGGY D teams up with rapper Ikka & urban producer Rishi Rich to create the season’s hottest party jam “Get Down” – the next single dropping on VYRL Originals today! “Get Down” an urban club banger is laced with Juggy D’s punjabi flow matched with slick production that only Rishi Rich could execute with his fusion of Western & Asian beats. Ace rapper Ikka then elevates the track with his fiery rhymes to a level of pure explosion. Excited to release the song Juggy D shares “I really cannot wait for this track “Get Down” to drop now. It’s been an amazing vibe from vocaling the track to shooting the video & having Ikka on it is great, it mixes our UK flavor with the Indian rap scene. Very happy that it’s releasing on VYRL Originals platform” Rishi Rich adds “When I made the beat, I had a vision in mind which is now ready to be shared with everyone. Working with Juggy D once again on this track alongside Ikka has been great. I am looking forward for it to release on the VRYL originals platform“. Ikka shares “When I first heard the track Rishi Rich & Juggy D had created, I knew I had to be a part of the collaboration. It was an amazing experience working with the 2 people that inspired me when growing up. I am glad VYRL Originals gave us this opportunity.” The music video represents the song down to a T. It has been perfectly shot in tandem with the soundtrack & adds the grungy & raw sounds of the production, vocals & the rap, accentuating the musical brotherhood between all 3 artists.

Director Partho Ghosh All Set To Make His Comeback

Parto Ghosh, who directed the film, like Ghulam – E – Mustafa & Agni Sakshi, has directed the film Mausam Ikrar ke Do Pal Pyar ke. The film has been produced by Manju Bharti, with her husband Mukesh Bharti & Maddalsa Sharma in the lead roles, along with Avinash Wadhawan, Arun Bakshi, Manju Bharti, Deepu Shrivastav & Neelu Kohli. Music director-singer, Bappi Lahiri who is the king of romantic & disco songs, is once again bringing a new flavor of music with Mausam Ikrar ke Do Pal Pyar ke. The music of the film was launched in Mumbai. Present were Bappi Lahiri, Mukesh Bharti, actress & producer Manju Bharti, Avinash Wadhawan, Aroon Bakshi, Deepa Narayan Jha, singer Brajesh Shandilya, former ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi et al. Madalsa the leading lady was conspicuous by her absence as according to Mukesh Bharti, she did not want to face the media after her marriage to Mithun Chakraborty’s son Mimoh Chakravarty. After a long interval, Bappi Lahiri has composed all the songs of the film, and the lyrics have been written by Deepak Sneh. Armaan Malik, Palak Mucchlal, Shaan, Brajesh Shandilya, Amruta Fadnavis & Babul Supriyo have sung in the film along with Bappi Lahiri. The songs have been choreographed by Ganesh Acharya. Bappi Lahiri said that the film Mausam Ikrar ke Do Pal Pyar ke, has romantic as well as party songs, which will be liked by today’s youth.” Producer Manju Bharti said that “We have shot the film on very beautiful places according to the story, Amar and Anjali’s love story will take many twists & turns in the story which will be very much liked by the audience. Mausam Ikrar ke Do Pal Pyar Ke will be released on 2nd Nov, 2018.

Hirani was interacting with the media at the announcement of the 2nd edition of Cinestaan Script Contest along with Anjum Rajabali and Juhi Chatuvedi on Monday in Mumbai.

“I strongly believe stories come from the small towns. People have more exposure to life there. In big cities, especially like Mumbai, all the time goes in travelling,” he said.

“I grew up in a small town and we could just walk into a neighbor’s house. Here, in Mumbai, we don’t have the time to even meet our friends. Stories are out there. It’s just that we have to find them and I feel writing needs to be taught in a way that they can become proper screenplays. I think it’s an extremely good initiative where the start has been made.”

Talking about circumstances of writers while writing a film script, the maker of ‘PK’ said, “I think writers need to be respected a little more financially. They are foundation of every film and unless you pay the writer probably the maximum amount of money in your film, you won’t find good writers because it’s a big struggle for writers.”

I have seen, in Mumbai, people are trying to write four scripts at the same time because they are not sure which one will start and which one will work. A small token money is given to them for experimenting by saying that “you work on this script and if it turns out to be good, then we will make a film out of it”.

So, the writer doesn’t have idea whether the film will be made of his story or not. “At the same time, he is getting paid less, so he starts writing for another script. But you cannot write four scripts at the same time.”

About Cinestaan Script Contenst, Hirani said, “First, I want to thank Rohit Khattar and Anjum Raajabali for having this initiative. For years, we as filmmakers have been trying to tell this to corporates and this is something that we are not equipped to do at an individual level and we really don’t know how to do it as filmmakers to go out and hunt for stories.”

Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Juhi Chaturvedi and Anjum Rajabali, who were on the jury for the first edition, will continue in the same capacity for the second edition as well.

IANS

Bollywood actor Ajaz Khan has been arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Navi Mumbai Police for alleged possession of banned drugs here.

He was arrested late Monday night, officials said here on Tuesday.

The controversial actor was arrested from a hotel room in Belapur with eight tablets of the prohibited ‘ecstasy’ tablets, which are popular in rave parties.

Ajaz, a former “Bigg Boss” contestant, will be produced before a court on Tuesday, said an official.

This is not Ajaz’s first brush with the law.

Two years ago, he was arrested and released on bail on charges of sending obscene pictures and lewd messages to a beautician who had offered him a business project proposal.

IANS

Rakhi Sawant had told the media that Tanushree Dutta ‘not harassed’ but was ‘getting doped’ on the sets of ‘Horn Ok Pleassss.’

Actor Tanushree Dutta has filed a defamation complaint worth Rs 10 crore against Rakhi Sawant, for the latter’s allegation that Tanushree was “getting doped” on the sets of Horn Ok Pleassss in 2008. Tanushree Dutta has accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her on the sets of the 2008 movie.

Rakhi Sawant was called to replace Tanushree in the song which she walked out of after Nana Patekar allegedly tried to touch her inappropriately during the shoot. In an interview, Tanushree had expressed her displeasure that someone like Rakhi had been called in to replace her for the song, and she found it insulting.

On September 29, in response, Rakhi made several statements, calling her a liar and alleged that she was a drug user and that she was making the allegations for attention and publicity.

Tanushree’s advocate Nitin Satpute told India Today that they had filed a criminal and civil defamation complaint against Tanushree for maligning Rakhi’s character and images. He added that if Rakhi did not reply, she will be punished for two years.

“Tanushree Dutta yedi hai, pagal hai, ek number ki jhoothi hai” (Tanushree is mad and she’s a liar of the first order),” Rakhi had said at the press meet. Narrating the incident, Rakhi said that Tanushree was in her vanity van on the set for 3-4 hours and refused to come out despite several people on the set trying. While Tanushree had said she was in the van after Nana sexually harassed her, Rakhi alleged that Tanushree was “getting doped” inside and was unconscious for several hours.

She also accused Tanushree of continuing drug use in the US where she has been living for a while. “She was staying in [my friend] Bindu’s house. She took drugs every day there. She was not working there,” Rakhi told the media.

When asked by a reporter about how she knew that Tanushree was lying unconscious in her vanity van, considering the door was closed, Rakhi said, “You get her blood checked now! See how many drugs you find.”

She added that Tanushree had no proof of what she has been alleging. “If she has any proof, Rakhi Sawant will leave India,” Rakhi said. She also challenged Tanushree to come face to face with her, and that she would slap her if she did.

Apart from these, Rakhi also uploaded a series of videos on her Instagram, telling a similar version of events.

Nana Patekar has dismissed Tanushree’s allegations of sexual harassment and filed a defamation case against her. He has also stepped out of upcoming film Housefull 4 as a result of the accusations.

TNM