Director Kiran Rao's film 'Laapataa Ladies', India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, is no longer in the Oscars race. The film, which had garnered a lot of anticipation after being chosen as India's entry, did not make it to the Academy's official shortlist. However, actor Sonu Sood asserted that the real award for any film is the love and appreciation of the audience. While speaking to the media at a press conference in New Delhi, Sood said, "Real Oscar is the audience who shower their love on the film. What matters is to make a place in the hearts of people, awards just remain confined to the shelves.." In September, the Film Federation of India, led by Jahnu Barua, selected 'Laapataa Ladies' from a list of 29 films in several Indian languages, including Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' and the National Award-winning 'Aattam'. Actor Sonu Sood, who is making his directorial debut with 'Fateh', has collaborated with Yo Yo Honey Singh for the track 'Hitman'. While sharing his working experience with Sonu Sood, the ace singer said, "So, when Sonu paaji came to me and said we have to make a song for Fateh, it reminded me of nearly sixteen years ago when I worked in a studio in Mohali. At the time, I wasn't a thing in Bollywood, but in Punjab, I was a successful music director who made really futuristic tunes." He added how Sonu recommended his name to other producers, "I showed him my Brown Rang, Angrezi Beat and other songs, and he said, 'Brother, your time will come, and Bollywood will come to you.' I asked him, 'It really seems that way to you?' Then, he went to Mumbai and referred my name to all the big music directors, producers, film directors, and filmmakers in the industry, saying there's a guy in Mohali who's creating amazing sounds. But nobody claimed it, nobody came. However, when people finally started coming, and Bollywood started happening, I met Sonu again in Bombay and told him that his vision had come true." "Sonu is a visionary and a brother who always helps others in difficult situations. He helps his own people, and the entire world knows he does a lot for people he doesn't even know. He risks all for others. So, rather than being a filmmaker or actor, a person who has dedicated his entire life to serving others has a heart that simply wants to serve people. I've seen it; he's always on the phone, helping someone. If people like him don't succeed, then who will?," he shared. Earlier, the makers shared the teaser of the film. Sonu took to his official social media handle 'X' and dropped the teaser clip. The teaser starts with the statement, 'Never underestimate a nobody.' It then cuts to a voiceover in which Sonu Sood is heard conversing with another individual, correcting that he killed 50 people on March 19, not 40. "You'll never find those ten bodies," he said and also added, "Bhagvaan unki atma ko shanti de" Sood while sharing the teaser wrote on X, "AA RAHA HOON...Action speaks louder than words. #Fateh! Brace yourselves for the biggest action-packed thriller!" Produced by Sonali Sood for Shakti Sagar Productions' and Umesh KR Bansal for Zee Studios, 'Fateh' is slated to release on January 10, 2025. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2024 08:14 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIPriyanka Chopra recently reshared a funny and relatable video featuring adorable babies. In the video, a group of cute babies can be seen laughing and playing, with the text “Where all your money go” appearing on the screen. One baby playfully points toward its stomach, while another is seen playing with their tummy. PeeCee reshared the adorable video on her Instagram stories. Lately, the Desi Girl has been very active on the photo-sharing app. Just yesterday, she shared a sneak peek of her pre-Christmas celebrations at home with her husband Nick Jonas, daughter Malti, and their pets. However, it was the adorable photos of little Malti Marie that stole the show. In the first image, Priyanka sits next to her husband Nick, sharing a romantic moment. The couple looked charming, with the actress dressed in a stunning red outfit and Nick looking effortlessly stylish in a black suit. The Baywatch actress captioned the post simply with "Home." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra) One of the pictures showed little Malti enjoying her playtime, melting the hearts of fans. The final photo featured Nick Jonas sporting a playful snowman headband, striking a fun pose as Priyanka's muse. A few days ago, Priyanka and Nick attended the fourth edition of the prestigious Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During the event, the 42-year-old actress was honored with an honorary award for her remarkable contributions. Sharing images from the event, Chopra wrote, "Thank you for the wonderful honour, Red Sea Film Festival. Congratulations to all the winners and participants. Here’s to continually bringing the world of entertainment together." On the work front, Priyanka will next be seen in the second season of the spy series "Citadel," directed by Joe Russo. In the upcoming action thriller, she will reprise her role as the fiery Nadia Sinh. Actor Richard Madden will also return as Mason Kane/Kyle Conroy. Joining them are Stanley Tucci, Leslie Manville, Ashleigh Cummings, Roland Møller, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Moira Kelly. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAfter working together in films like 'Kaminey' and 'Haider', filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj and actor Shahid Kapoor are all set to collaborate once again. The project will star Triptii Dimri as the female lead. Vishal Bhardwaj comes on board as director. On Wednesday, Sajid Nadiadwala's production banner shared an update about the project, revealing the film will hit the theatres on December 5, 2025. The film will go on floors on January 6, 2025. "#SajidNadiadwala presents a @VishalBhardwaj film! A spectacular cinematic journey begins on 6th Jan 2025. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nadiadwala Grandson (@nadiadwalagrandson) Film releasing on 5th December2025@shahidkapoor@tripti_dimri23 @nanagpatekar @RandeepHooda @WardaNadiadwala," a post read on official X account of Nadiadwala Grandson. A while ago, Shahid took to Instagram and expressed his excitement about the film. "Every story has its time, and this one begins now. Shooting starts on 6th January 2025, and we'll see you in theatres on 5th December 2025," he wrote. Nana Patekar and Randeep Hooda are also a part of the project. Details regarding the film's plot have not been disclosed yet. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIPunjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh, who is set to perform in Mumbai on Thursday, has said that nothing or nobody can stop his shows from being held. On Wednesday, the singer-actor took to his Instagram and shared a video of himself singing and dancing inside a private jet. The video shows him enjoying a high life with friends having the time of their lives in the aircraft. He wrote in the caption, “Tomorrow Mumbai. Mahalakshmi Race Course. ‘Shut down shut down’, you just see. DIL-LUMINATI TOUR Year 24”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) Earlier, Diljit addressed the “conspiracy” that has been alleged against him over the spelling of the Indian state of Punjab. The actor-singer took to his X and spoke about the same. He penned a long note in which he also spoke about how English is a very tricky language, and can particularly cause trouble to those whose first language is not English. He wrote, “Punjabi. If I mistakenly didn’t put up India’s flag after writing ‘Panjab’ in a tweet then it becomes a conspiracy. In a tweet from Bengaluru, I forgot to mention the Indian flag after writing ‘Panjab’, it became a conspiracy”. He further mentioned, “If you write ‘Panjab’ instead of ‘Punjab’, it will remain ‘Punjab’. Panj Aab - 5 Rivers. Bravo, those who create conspiracy around the usage in a language of the Englishmen. You know what, I will write ‘Panjab’. How many times do we prove that we LOVE INDIA? Bring something new, or is creating conspiracy is what you get paid for? #Vehley”. Prior to that, the actor-singer declared that he won't organise live shows in India until the concert infrastructure in the country is sorted so that it makes it worthwhile for the attendees as well. Several clips of the actor-singer have gone viral on social media in which he could be seen talking about the need to improve the infrastructure for live shows in India. He said in one of the clips, "Here we don't have infrastructure for live shows. This is a source of big revenue, many people get work and are able to work here. I'll try next time that the stage is at the centre so that you can be around it. Till this happens, I won't do shows in India”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 December,2024 08:07 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSSalman Khan has a way of making his birthday special for his fans. Come December 27, the superstar will mark his 59th birthday by unveiling the teaser of Sikandar, easily one of the biggest releases of 2025. With less than 10 days to go, we’ve heard that director AR Murugadoss, producer Sajid Nadiadwala and the film’s team are working across two set-ups to shoot the teaser. While Khan shot his portions at the SRPF Grounds in Goregaon, another set has been erected at Filmistan where a part of the first look has yet to be canned. AR Murugadoss An insider close to the production shared, “This is one of the biggest films Salman has worked on in recent years. The team is pulling out all stops to ensure the teaser lives up to the excitement. They have a standing set in Filmistan, where stuntmen will shoot an action set-piece over the next two days. Earlier this week, Salman canned his portions for the teaser. His character is introduced in a hyper-stylised way, as he, wearing a mask, enters the frame and the camera focuses on his eyes. Five other masked men join him in the frame. The sequence is being edited, and the team will fine-tune the teaser this week.” Sikandar, also starring Rashmika Mandanna, marks Khan’s maiden collaboration with Murugadoss, and is designed as an Eid 2025 offering.
19 December,2024 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuMain bhi Aamir Aamir Khan’s 2009 film 3 Idiots—a movie that egged people to train attention to their passion when picking a profession—served as inspiration for an entire generation. One among those who was moved by the narrative was OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal, who said, “The film changed my life. The film’s message, ‘Passion ke peeche bhago, paisa aa jayega,’ truly resonates with me. I believe that if you follow your passion, success will follow. That’s exactly what happened to me. Inspired by the movie, I pursued my heart’s calling, and that’s how OYO was born. It all began with a desire to create something new and innovative. My advice to entrepreneurs is simple: Don’t focus solely on making money. Chase your passion, and the money will follow.” Part two Thirteen years after the release of Cocktail (2012), producer Dinesh Vijan is gearing up for Cocktail 2, featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. Another report suggests the film will also star Rashmika Mandanna. The sequel, penned by Luv Ranjan, will also be a love triangle, like the original was. Kapoor and Sanon first collaborated for Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, a film based on the growth of artificial intelligence and the field of robotics. This offering will be directed by Homi Adajania, who also helmed the original, starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty. Azmi upset Among the voices criticising the haste with which news relating to the death of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain was reported is Shabana Azmi. Azmi, who co-starred with Hussain in Saaz (1997), shared online, “What is this rush to put out news on social media before confirming it? I’m deeply saddened,” she wrote, calling out certain sections of the media. Date with viewers Netflix has announced the release date for their documentary series on the Roshan family. The Roshans will provide insight into the family that gave the Hindi film industry names like Rajesh Roshan, Rakesh Roshan, and Hrithik Roshan. The series will dwell into the history of the composer, director, and the actor. Netflix released the official poster and release date on their Instagram account, with the caption, “Dive into the world of The Roshans through music, movies, and a bond that defines legacy. Watch The Roshans, arriving on 17 January.” Preity makes an appeal Drawing parallels with the manner in which Italy deals with rapists, actor Preity Zinta has urged Indian authorities to provide harsher punishments to those committing the crime. Yesterday, the actor took to X to re-share a tweet from the official handle of BRICS News. The tweet read, “Italy moves toward legalising chemical castration for rap*st and pe*ophiles. Do you agree with this?” Responding to it, Zinta wrote, “What a fantastic move! Hope @mygovindia also does something similar. It’s high time there is zero tolerance for such crimes.”
19 December,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamKanu Behl’s eight-year journey with Despatch came to an end last week as the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer dropped online. The director says through the ZEE5 film, his pursuit was to paint an honest picture of the journalistic community. “During our 18-month research, my co-writer Ishani Banerjee and I tried to get a picture of what the journalism world looks like from the inside. What emerged was that we live in a foggy atmosphere, where it’s hard to say who is doing what for what reason,” recalls Behl. Kanu Behl From there was born the protagonist, Joy Bag, a reporter who sets out to uncover a scam. But instead of depicting him as a holier-than-thou character, the director rooted him in reality, showing him as a man who feels powerless in most areas of his life and is desperate to be a hero. Behl shares, “Why do people not look at journalists as human beings? We wanted to do a character piece of this Faustian guy, who is fallible and has his own needs. We [asked ourselves], ‘Why is this guy trying to be a hero?’ We stumbled on this thought that heroes are born out of lack [of opportunities and justice]. That became the film’s central mantra.” Behl also used physical intimacy to convey his characters’ conflicting emotions. Shooting intimate scenes can be tricky, but the director says his learning from his actor-parents, Lalit and Navnindra Behl, came in handy. “Both my parents were actors. So, I have a window into how actors think. When you have such a scene, the first thing they ask is, ‘Is this necessary? Why am I doing this?’ If the only answer you can give them is that it’s a sex scene, you should cut it out from the script. But the moment you can take your actors into confidence by telling them that this is the emotion you are transacting from them, the moment you can talk about it with them, it will put them at ease.”
19 December,2024 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaTuesday night brought a mixed bag of emotions for Indian film artistes as the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced its shortlists in various categories. While Kiran Rao’s feminist dramedy Laapataa Ladies, which was India’s official entry to the 2025 Oscars, wasn’t shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film, UK’s entry Santosh made it to the coveted list. When mid-day reached out to Shahana Goswami, who leads the British-India co-production, her joy knew no bounds. “From 85 films to now 15,” she exclaimed, at the start of our chat. For the leading actor, what makes this achievement particularly special is that the makers of the police procedural thriller—helmed by Sandhya Suri, and also starring Sunita Rajwar—didn’t have an aggressive Oscar campaign. “We didn’t have crazy showcasing of the film all over the world during this period. I think people chanced upon it and were curious to watch. Many people messaged me that they watched the film as a part of the Academy screeners,” said Goswami. A still from Anuja, which examines the issue of child labour in Delhi Had the team anticipated making the cut? In Goswami’s words, the team members were on different paths between “hoping, dreaming, and not thinking much about it.” But now that their labour of love has reached the first goalpost, the actor is feeling optimistic. She said, “I have a gut feeling that we will make it to the nomination. I know it’s a long shot because only five are selected from these great 15 films. It will be a tough call, and I am okay for me to be wrong.” The competition will heat up in the next 30 days, as all the shortlisted movies will be promoted aggressively by way of screenings and press events before the Academy announces its nominations on January 17. When asked about the way ahead for Santosh, Goswami said the producers are figuring it out. “None of us has a sense of the process immediately after this. I am not sure whether there will be more screenings, or the team will fly to Los Angeles. Right now, I am just celebrating this moment.” Guneet Monga Kapoor Anushka Shah, CEO and Founder, Civic Studios, which presented Santosh in the UK, said it is gratifying that a film that sheds light on the Indian police system is having its moment in the spotlight. “Santosh is a story that delves into the complexities of India’s police system, a relic of its colonial past. Sandhya Suri has struck a perfect balance between addressing these social issues and delivering a gripping cinematic experience. We’re proud to support such a significant story and ensure it reaches global audiences,” she said. India had another reason to cheer as Guneet Monga Kapoor’s Anuja found a place in the Live Action Short Film shortlist, and director Smriti Mundhra’s I Am Ready, Warden, was among those contending for the Best Documentary Short Film. Anuja, starring Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbag, tells the story of two sisters trapped in the harsh reality of child labour in New Delhi. Monga, who brought home the Oscar in 2023 for The Elephant Whisperers, hopes to recreate the magic with the Adam J Graves-directed short film. “Being shortlisted for the Oscars is a moment of profound pride and joy. At its heart, Anuja celebrates the unyielding hope and resilience of the human spirit, reminding us of the power of love, connection, and determination. As an executive producer, it has been a privilege to contribute to the campaign. Being acknowledged at this level is both humbling and encouraging, reaffirming our belief in the importance of sharing stories that matter,” she said. For Graves, the short film has already found its biggest reward. He elaborated, “The performances by Sajda and Ananya are extraordinary, and knowing that Anuja has moved the audience while spotlighting the critical issue of child labour is the most gratifying reward.”
19 December,2024 07:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka Sharma | Mohar BasuLaapataa Ladies, India's official submission for the 97th Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film category, has been eliminated from the race for Oscars 2025 consideration. The Kiran Rao directorial may have lost the race, but another Hindi-language film that did make it to the shortlist is the United Kingdom's submission, Santosh. What is this film about, who are the people behind it, and how has Shahana Goswami reacted to the shortlist? Here's all you need to know about the Oscars 2025 shortlisted feature film. Santosh’s plot-line The Sandhya Suri-directed movie is about a Hindu widow who acquires her husband’s position as a police constable through a government program. She finds herself entangled in institutional politics as she tries to work with veteran detective Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar) on a brutal murder case involving a teenage girl from the lower-caste Dalit community. Santosh’s star-cast Apart from Shahana Goswami, the film also stars Sunita Rajwar, Sanjay Bishnoi, Kushal Dubey, Nawal Shukla, and Pratibha Awasthi. It has been named one of the top 5 international films of 2024 by the National Board of Review. The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2024. Santosh has been selected as one of only 15 films to advance to the next round out of 85 total submissions by countries worldwide. It was sent by the United Kingdom as their official submission for the Academy Awards 2025. Shahana Goswami on Santosh being shortlisted for Oscars! While talking about this significant milestone, actor Shahana Goswami reflected on this "little glory," saying, "So happy for the team, especially our writer-director Sandhya Suri, for this little glory of recognition for our film Santosh! How incredible to be shortlisted from amongst 85 films. Thank you to everyone who loved it, supported it, and voted for it.” More about Oscars 2025 Though the film is eligible to compete in the category, it doesn’t guarantee that it will advance to the final nominations for the Academy Awards. Voting for Oscar nominees in all 23 categories will begin on Wednesday, January 8, and conclude on Sunday, January 12. The nominations will be announced on Friday, January 17.
18 December,2024 09:35 PM IST | MumbaiVarun Dhawan is gearing up for the release of his upcoming actioner 'Baby John'. The film, an adaptation of the Tamil blockbuster 'Theri' has been presented by Atlee who directed the original starring Thalapathy Vijay. Directed by Kalees, the film also stars Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi in the lead. In the film, Varun plays a man with dual identity. While he is a devoted father, he also has a past as a dedicated and honest cop. The film also promises an exciting cameo by superstar Salman Khan who will join Dhawan in dealing with the troublemakers of his life. This is the second time Varun will be sharing screen with Salman in a cameo appearance. The first one was in 'Judwaa 2'. Varun Dhawan on Salman Khan cameo At a press meet in Mumbai on Wednesday, when Varun was asked about his collaboration with Salman Khan, the young actor said, "Aaj kal log sirf Instagram par collab kar rahe hai, humlog actual film mai kar rahe hai, proper collaboration which feels good. He is one of a kind. He has the largest heart in the business. When you see the film, all his fans are going to be very pleased." Further, when asked if he received a compliment from the superstar, Dhawan shared, "Woh seedha compliment dete nahi. He just saw me and said, 'Baby john, bada hogaya baby'," he said imitating Salman's deep voice. Varun Dhawan on collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh With Baby John, Varun also shared screen with actor/singer Diljit Dosanjh. The Punjabi singer lent his vocals to the hit track 'Nain Matakka'. Diljit and Varun also share screen in the music video. Talking about the collaboration, Dhawan said, "Loved collaborating with Diljit. The whole world loves him. Honestly, we just had to ask him once. We sent him the song by Thaman sir. He said he would love to work with Atlee sir and would love to work with me. He was such a dream to work with and we had a lot of fun. He is in a spiritual place I think. As an artist, he is pure. It's so beautiful to see him entertain people." 'Baby John' will be released in theatres on December 25.
18 December,2024 08:41 PM IST | MumbaiActor Chhaya Kadam, who has been in the limelight this year with three acclaimed movies to her credit such as Madgaon Express, Laapataa Ladies, and All We Imagine as Light, expresses shock over the Kiran Rao directorial not being shortlisted for the Oscars. She speaks exclusively to Mid-day about having an eventful 2024, trip to the Cannes Film Festival, working with prolific women filmmakers, and more. Chhaya Kadam on Laapataa Ladies not being shortlisted for the Oscars Chhaya, who played Manju Mai in the film says, “I had a lot of expectations. I was a little shocked today. But, it's ok. We keep trying. With more strength, we move ahead.” Reflecting on her achievements this year with an incredible run at the movies, she states, “I feel very good. We have been working for so many years. As I said, this year was shocking for me but I was also getting surprises.” Chhaya Kadam on her trip to Cannes Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Chhaya, who wore her mother’s saree and nose ring on the red carpet, recalls it was a different experience for her as an artist and as a person. She explains, "The happiness was on a different level. As an artist, I was happy that our film was selected and praised by stalwarts from the film industry. It was a big thing for me. But as Chhaya Kadam, to me, it was an experience of a lifetime since I travelled overseas for the first time by myself. To go out of India, for our cinema, it was a big thing. It gives you a lot of confidence. I was getting a lot of praise from people which made me emotional. But praise also means more responsibility. There were a lot of mixed emotions this year." Chhaya Kadam on working with women directors Two out of her three films had women as directors. Chhaya asserts that she doesn’t feel any difference because as women we’ve always said that we’re not less than anyone. She elaborates, "That being said, we do get to discuss a lot of things openly. A lot of times women are taken for granted. Both the film sets had a lot of women in every department. Our work was enough to show that, ‘Hum kisi se kam nahi’. I love it when women pave the way. It gives us a lot of energy. I have always maintained that we might bear the brunt, but for those entering the field after us, we must aim to make the path smoother and more accessible.” Chhaya Kadam on sharing screen space with youngsters When asked to share a piece of advice for the youngsters, Chhaya quips that they don’t need it. “When I work with the new artists, I feel that they know so much. They act so well. They read a lot. They speak different languages. I get to learn a lot from them,” she concludes.
18 December,2024 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesADVERTISEMENT
