Have you heard? Mrunal’s funny side

Mrunal Thakur

Mrunal Thakur says she is looking forward to featuring in more comedies after earning praise from the director of her film, Aankh Micholi. The film marks the first comedy for the actor, who has mostly starred in dramatic roles. In Umesh Shukla's light-hearted family comedy, she plays a young woman, Paro, who suffers from night-blindness. Her family tries to get her married by hiding the condition. "The festivals are on. It's the best time for the film to release because we desperately needed a comedy to watch with our family and friends. It's the first comedy film in my career. The best compliment I have got from Umesh sir is that my [comic] timing is good and I should consider more comedy films, which I am. I really want to entertain my audience and make them laugh," she said.

Big 58 for SRK!

A bevy of celebrities wished Shah Rukh Khan on his 58th birthday yesterday. Kamal Haasan wrote, "Wishing the badshah of Bollywood and my friend @iamsrk, a very happy birthday! Your charisma, talent and charm continue to cheer your fans around the world, just like your blockbuster movies. May you have a great day filled with love and laughter (sic)." Ajay Devgn took to his Instagram story and wrote, "Here's to another fantastic year of being Jawan and fabulous (sic)." Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has worked with Khan in several films over the years, also wished the actor. "Happiest Birthday, king! May you shine the brightest always @iamsrk (sic)", she wrote.

Sanjeeda on the list

Sanjeeda Shaikh, who is known for her work on television, was spotted doing rehearsals with Deepika Padukone. A source close to the production house of Fighter shared: "Sanjeeda is an exciting addition to Siddharth Anand's film. She has a pivotal role in it." The source added that her character is expected to have a significant influence on the narrative.

Mom to a baby boy

Singer Akriti Kakar and husband Chirag Arora welcomed a baby boy on November 1. The singer took to her Instagram account to share: "On 1:11:2023, our family grew by two feet and one beautiful heart. Our precious little baby boy is here! The universe has blessed us with the most beautiful miracle (sic)." She further added, "[I have] immense gratitude for you all for always loving, blessing and celebrating us."

Could Nick jiju be any more desi?

Bollywood's Nick jiju, aka Nick Jonas joined in on the ongoing Instagram trend that also caught Deepika Padukone's interest. Sharing an image of his wife, actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, he wrote on social media, ‘So beautiful, so elegant. Just looking like a wow.' The phrase reportedly traces back to a Delhi-based businesswoman who used it to describe one of the products in her retail shop.

Mahesh Bhatt encourages young talent on reality show

Producer and director Mahesh Bhatt made an appearance on a reality singing show for the first time and challenged contestants to present an emotional rendition. The best singer, he promised, would get a chance to win a vinyl of his 1984 film, Saaransh. As a token of appreciation to one singer, Bhatt gifted her R53, and revealed that when he earned the same amount during his first job, he gave the amount to his mother and subsequently began his professional journey. The contestant said she would like to give the amount to her father. The show sees Vishal Dadlani, Kumar Sanu and Shreya Ghoshal as mentors.

Ram Charan on board

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) recently announced the induction of Ram Charan into its Actors Branch. "Through their nuanced portrayal and dedication to authenticity, these actors gift us with characters that leave a lasting impression on our hearts and minds. Their mastery of their art form transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary cinematic experiences, enriching our appreciation for the depth and complexity of human emotions," the Academy's statement read.

Putting up a brave front

Tara Sutaria, who is gearing up for her upcoming film Apurva, shot for a running scene in the film with a twisted leg after an on-set injury. The incident involving the injury was revealed by director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The film depicts a dramatically raw and fierce transformation of Sutaria, who also recently took to social media to share images of bruises and injuries she got while filming. Bhat shared, "Tara is a simple girl but possesses tremendous strength, as I witnessed during the film's shooting. She faced numerous injuries on set, even once twisting her leg. I thought we might not shoot that day, but half an hour later, she returned for a running scene, showcasing what I would call sheer determination," he said of his film's leading lady.