Have you heard? Priyanka Chopra Jonas replaces Deepika Padukone as MAMI chief

Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Pics/Bipin Kokate

Four months after Deepika Padukone stepped down as chairperson of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) festival citing a busy schedule due to which she would not be able to give "undivided attention" to it, Priyanka Chopra Jonas was appointed the new head. On Tuesday, she was unanimously nominated by the MAMI's board of trustees including Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani and festival director Anupama Chopra. "I've hit the road running with ideas, thoughts and plans on reimagining the festival to find its rightful place in a world that has changed so much in such a short time," said PeeCee. "We are all consuming entertainment differently now and in the process, we've expanded the footprint of the cinema that we watch. I have always been a huge supporter and believer in films from across India and together, we hope to create a strong platform to showcase Indian cinema to the world," she added. Last year, the 22nd edition of MAMI was postponed due to the pandemic. Now, instead of a week-long festival, it will pan out from October 2021 to March 2022, which will include digital screenings, masterclasses and a hybrid festival from March 11 to 15.

Abhi toh party shuru hui hai

Anil Kapoor showed why he is called Mr Jhakaas. He burnt the dance floor at the after-wedding party of daughter Rhea. In a video posted by Farah Khan, Papaji (as the choreographer-filmmaker calls him) is seen making his characteristic moves with the bride trying to match him. "The best father and daughter dance," wrote Khan. An overjoyed Anil posted, "I feel like my magnum opus is complete with our two super daughters and three super sons, we have the biggest blockbuster ever. Our hearts are full and our family is blessed." Rhea tied the knot with director Karan Boolani in a low-key ceremony on Saturday.

Better late than never

Aryan Khan resurfaced on Instagram after a hiatus to share the news that he has finished college. "Forgot about the mandatory graduation post. Better late than never, I guess," Shah Rukh Khan's son posted. In May, the star kid graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in a socially- distanced convocation. Unlike sister Suhana, who harbours acting aspirations, Aryan, 23, is keen on being behind the camera to avoid comparisons with his superstar dad.

B-Town debut

South actor Pallak Lalwani steps into Bollywood with Hansal Mehta's action thriller, Faraaz. She made her acting debut in the Telugu film Abbayitho Ammayi (2016) alongside Naga Shourya, and was also seen in Baba Baskar's Tamil film Kuppathu Raja (2019). Pallak is the daughter of television actor, Jiten Lalwani, who is best remembered as Samarjeet in Naagin 3 and Kiran Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

Seeing Ratlam in London

Though Akshay Kumar is in London, he's missing "Ratlam ki galiyaan" as the greenery and the joy of cycling undisturbed is reminding him of the Madhya Pradesh town. The Khiladi posted that as soon as he stepped out to get "some fresh air" after completing the quarantine, he was transported to his childhood summer vacations in Ratlam "where anywhere I'd see, I could only see green."

Thrill in the hills

Prachi Desai is the new addition to the cast of Vishal Furia's Forensic. The investigative thriller, starring Radhika Apte and Vikrant Massey, went on the floors in Mussoorie on Monday. Desai, who was last seen in the digital thriller, Silence... Can You Hear It?, alongside Manoj Bajpayee and Arjun Mathur, plays a character
that she "has never quite attempted before." As she admires Apte and Massey's choice of films, she is elated to be teaming up with them. "Feeding off each other's energies while adhering to the vibe of the film is what makes a project great. I can't wait to start shooting with them," says Desai.

Memories of another day

Hema Malini expressed concern over the ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan while recounting her experience of shooting for Feroz Khan's Dharmatma (1975) in the country. "What is happening is truly sad. My memories of Afghanistan date back to Dharmatma in which I played a gypsy. My portions were shot entirely there. I had a great time as my parents were with me and Feroz Khan took good care of us." Dharmatma was the first Bollywood film to be shot in Afghanistan.

Second act

On Tuesday, the shooting of the second season of Akarsh Khurana's Mismatched got underway. Based on Sandhya Menon's 2017 novel, When Dimple Met Rishi, the Netflix show is headlined by YouTuber Prajakta Koli, better known as Mostly Sane, and Rohit Saraf. While the lead actors were posing for photographs and uploading them on Instagram, Khurana told them, "Aye... Ready hoke set pe aao."

Leaving the nest

On Monday night, Malaika Arora dropped son Arhaan at the airport as he took off for higher studies abroad. Minutes later, Malla got emotional and posted that she was "already missing him" as he embarked on "a new journey filled with nervousness, fear, excitement, distance and new experiences." Over the weekend, the Aroras got together for a farewell lunch for Arhaan, which was attended by Arbaaz Khan.

Gone in a month

Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi - Nayi Kahani is being pulled off the air barely a month after its launch. Though it has leading small screen names, Erica Fernandes, Shaheer Sheikh and Supriya Pilgaonkar, the new season has been fetching dismal TRPs. The show, which was shot in Siliguri, highlights the growing distance between a couple. Producer Yash Patnaik prefers to keep mum about the channel's sudden decision to replace it with Bade Acche Lagte Hain 2 starring Nakuul Mehta and Disha Parmar.