Have you heard? Rashmika, Kiara in contention for Sandeep's next?

Rashmika Mandanna and Kiara Advani

Rashmika Mandanna, who began shooting for Animal with Ranbir Kapoor last month, seems to have impressed director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. So much so that he is said to have shortlisted her for his next film, Spirit. However, it's not going to be a cakewalk for the Pushpa actor as she will face tough competition from Kiara Advani. Since Kiara and Sandeep had collaborated in Kabir Singh (2019), she is also in the running for the role. Only time will tell who Sandeep chooses for his project - Kiara or Rashmika?

Making a priority list

After recovering from his surgery in March, Prabhas is now scheduling his projects one after the other. Before he wraps up Prashanth Neel's Salaar, the actor will focus on the Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani-starrer, Project K. Given that shooting for these two crucial projects has already begun, the actor has apparently deferred director Maruthi's Deluxe Raja. Sources say that the Baahubali actor will begin work on the supernatural thriller, also starring Malavika Mohanan, after he completes Project K and Salaar.

The first birthday

Dia Mirza and husband Vaibhav Rekhi's son Avyaan Azaad turned one on Saturday. The actor marked her son's first birthday with a heart-warming picture of them together. Recalling the time when the little one had to undergo two life-saving surgeries after being born three months premature, she wrote, "Your grace, your strength, your determination to fight the odds is so inspiring. Our son, you are now catching up on all your milestones, are happy, playful and loving. You fill our heart with joy and gratitude every single day." Grateful to the doctors and the nurses for taking good care of him, she concluded her post, adding, "Avyaan Azaad, you have inherited a world that will count on your love, grace, empathy and kindness. Make your own way, darling. Just as you do every day."

Walking for Cannes

This year's Cannes Film Festival, which begins on May 17, marks a special debut for television actor Helly Shah. Besides walking for a beauty brand, that previously had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone as brand ambassadors, the actor is also gearing up to launch the poster of her maiden Bollywood film, Kaya Palat, a dark thriller, on May 21.

Learning on the job

Aishwarya Raj Bhakuni, who plays Sanyogita's (Manushi Chhillar) sister Ragini in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Prithviraj, considers director Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi as her mentor. She says, "Working with Doctor saab made me so much wiser. He guided us throughout the shoot." Expressing her gratitude for honing her acting skills, she adds, "He has helped me improve as an actor and also as a person. Besides helping me with [my] acting, he also gave several life lessons by sharing his experiences [with me], to learn from."