Alia Bhatt took to her Instagram stories to address netizens who claimed she had undergone a botched Botox procedure. In a long note, Alia also called out the internet for making exaggerated claims, including that she was “paralyzed on one side.” With her no-nonsense attitude, Alia gave trolls a piece of her mind through her story. Alia Bhatt on claims of 'Botox gone wrong' The actress began her note by stating that she has “absolutely NO JUDGMENT towards anyone who chooses cosmetic corrections or surgery—it’s your body.” However, she expressed amazement at how random videos make big claims about what she supposedly did to her face and label it as “Botox gone wrong.” Alia Bhatt calls claims 'beyond ridiculous' Calling these claims “beyond ridiculous,” Alia wrote, “To the random video floating around literally claiming I've had Botox gone wrong (and to the numerous clickbait articles) - I have a 'crooked smile' and a 'weird way of speaking,' according to YOU. This is your hypercritical, microscopic judgment of a human face. And now you're confidently tossing around 'scientific' explanations, claiming I'm paralyzed on one side? Are you kidding me?” She continued, “These are SERIOUS claims being casually thrown out there with zero proof, no confirmation, and absolutely nothing to back it up. What's worse, you're influencing young, impressionable minds who might actually believe this garbage. Why are you saying this? For clickbait? Attention? Because none of it makes sense.” Alia Bhatt hits back at trolls for body shaming Calling out the culture of body shaming, the Jigra actress wrote, “Let's take a minute to address the absurd lens through which women are judged and objectified on the internet—our faces, bodies, personal lives, even our bumps (!!!) are up for critique. We should be celebrating individuality, not tearing it apart under a microscope. These types of judgments perpetuate unrealistic standards, making people feel like they're never enough. It's damaging, and it's exhausting.” Alia also expressed her sadness about many of the trolls being women tearing down other women. She concluded her note by writing, “And the saddest part? A lot of this judgment comes from other women. Whatever happened to ‘live and let live’? To ‘everyone has the right to their own choices’? Instead, we've become so accustomed to picking each other apart that it's almost normalized. Meanwhile, just another day of even more entertainment with scripts made up by the internet."
25 October,2024 12:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWe all know about Padmini Kolhapure and her family's rich musical legacy. The actress, who herself dabbles in music occasionally, is now bringing another legendary artist's life to the stage. Ammi Akhtari is a play on the life of ghazal legend Begum Akhtar. Directed by Saif Hyder Hasan, the play has Padmini playing Begum Akhtar, while her sister Tejaswini Kolhapure plays her shagird. Ghazal maestro Talat Aziz will be singing Akhtar's ghazals live on stage. The play will be staged on October 25 and 27 in Mumbai. Padmini on challenges of playing Begum Akhtar Talking about the challenges of playing the legendary artist on stage, Padmini said, “Our director and producer Saif ji approached me with the script and said I have this beautiful script, I want you to play Begum Akhtar. I almost ran away. But he said, read the script, I really want you to be part of this. I was even more nervous after reading the script, especially because the dialogues are in Urdu.” This is the first time Padmini and sister Tejaswini are collaborating on a project. “I have worked with Saif before in a film called Yes Papa, so that’s when we approached me for this play. Padmini needed a little more prodding and coaxing because she wasn’t sure and she is also busy with other things,” Tejaswini said. Capturing the gravitas of Begum Akhtar's singing It was Tejaswini’s idea to get Talat Aziz on board to sing Begum Akhtar’s ghazals live on stage instead of approaching a female singer. “When it comes to ghazals, it doesn’t matter whether the singer is male or female. There is a depth to it, gravitas. You need that maturity to sing and express. Begum Akhtar’s style of singing is unique, no one can replicate that. But you can try and absorb her temperament of singing. I have sung her songs as part of my concerts all over the world. The challenge here was to sing these as part of a play at crucial moments which were being enacted by these two actors,” Talat explained. Padmini added, “This is something unique and out of the box – bringing the play and ghazals both together. I think something like this is being done for the first time.”
25 October,2024 11:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Bohni BandyopadhyayGoogle Doodle honoured the musical maestro Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK. His debut song, 'Chhod Aaye Hum,' from the critically acclaimed film Maachis, was released 28 years ago today, in 1996. Known for his soulful voice, KK successfully captivated listeners' hearts for decades and continues to do so. He released his debut album, Pal, in 1999, with popular tracks 'Yaaron' and 'Pal'. The album was a massive hit and brought him into the spotlight. The same year, he sang the chartbuster 'Tadap Tadap' from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer for the first time. He went on to become the voice of the 2000s, with his tracks featured in nearly every successful film, and he was known as 'The Mesmerizer' for his romantic songs. KK's Life before entering the Music Industry He was born on August 23, 1968, in Delhi to Malayali parents. He studied at Mount St. Mary’s School and Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and initially worked as a marketing executive before committing to music full-time. In his early days, he struggled to establish himself and even sang in hotels to make ends meet. In 1994, he moved to Mumbai and sent a demo tape to prominent Indian artists, which led to his first performances in commercial jingles. Over four years, KK sang more than 3,500 jingles in 11 languages. With his versatile and captivating voice, he became a sought-after artist in Indian cinema. In his remarkable, three-decade-long career, he sang over 500 songs in Hindi and more than 200 songs in Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam. Many Indian singers have expressed admiration for his discipline, work ethic, and ability to make recording seem effortless. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KK (@kk_live_now) The legend passed away at the age of 53 on May 31, 2022, due to cardiac arrest. He had just performed at a college festival at Nazrul Mancha in South Kolkata and was returning to his hotel when he began feeling unwell. His untimely death came as a shock to his fans. Such a legacy is hard to forget and it is no wonder that Google Doodle is celebrating the legend.
25 October,2024 11:12 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKrishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, breathed his last on May 31, 2022, due to a sudden cardiac arrest. The veteran singer was in Kolkata at the time of his death. He felt discomfort during a performance and was rushed to a hospital. It was reported that KK passed away due to an 80-percent blockage in the artery. KK had an illustrious career in the Indian music industry. He made his debut in 1996 with A. R. Rahman soundtrack. His popular single includes Pal in 1999. Throughout his career, KK worked with several music composers. His most memorable songs came from his collaboration with Pritam. The singer-composer shared a close bond. From Gangster's evergreen song Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai to Bajrangi Bhaijaan's gut-wrenching Tu Jo Mila, they delivered chartbusters. On KK's debut anniversary, here's looking back at 5 best songs delivered by him and Pritam: O Meri Jaan O Meri Jaan was KK's song from Anurag Basu's film Life In A Metro. The melodious song was composed by Pritam and was picturised on Dharmendra, Nafisa Ali, Shilpa Shetty, Shiney Ahuja, Kay Kay Menon, Kangna Ranaut, Sharman Joshi, Konkona Sen Sharma and Irrfan. Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai featured in the film Gangster. The lyrics of the romantic song were written by Sayeed Quadri, Nilesh Mishra and Mayur. Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai was picturised on Kangana Ranaut and Emraan Hashmi. Dil Ibaadat Dil Ibaadat from Tum Mile is an evergreen song. Sung by KK, the song was written by Sayeed Quadri. The romantic track was picturised on Soha Ali Khan and Emraan Hashmi. Hai Junoon Hai Junoon was a powerful song on friendship and passion. Picturised on Katrina Kaif, John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh, the song was from Kabir Khan's film New York. The lyrics were penned by Sandeep Shrivastava. Tu Jo Mila Tu Jo Mila from Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a classic. Composed by Pritam and written by Kausar Munir, the song moved the audience to tears. It is picturised on Salman and Harshaali Malhotra.
25 October,2024 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn 2022, when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had rejected the script of one of his feature films in the We Are anthology, a disappointed but resolute Onir had told mid-day, “If you tell an artiste no, he will still make the film” (May not have the resources to fight long legal battle, Jan 24, 2022). Two years on, the result is for all to see. The director is ready with We Are Faheem & Karun, a queer love story set against the turbulent backdrop of Kashmir. As the feature film, the first instalment in Onir’s We Are series, gears up for its première at the Dharamshala International Film Festival, Fire (1996) filmmaker Deepa Mehta has come on board as the presenter. Mehta says she was deeply moved by the film’s exploration of emotions and societal themes. “We Are Faheem & Karun’s themes of love, friendship, and duty are profound and universal. It is essential to highlight the heartbreak and humanity in geopolitical conflicts. Stories like this are so important right now,” she says, batting for the movie that stars actors Tawseef Mir and Akash Menon. Deepa Mehta and Onir The film was inspired by the life of a former major, who came out as gay and had to leave the Indian Army as LGBTQIA+ individuals cannot officially serve in the military. However, the MoD rejected the script over the “illegal” depiction of a queer soldier and refused to grant it a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The film was then reimagined as a same-sex love story of Karun, a security guard from Kerala stationed at a construction site in Kashmir, and Faheem, a local Kashmiri college student. Using his voice to push for queer identity in mainstream movies, Onir says that despite the setback, he has ensured that We Are Faheem & Karun stayed true to the story he intended to tell. Reflecting on its themes, he shares, “Like I Am [2010], this speaks about identities. This is special for me as it’s set after the 2018 Supreme Court judgment on IPC 377. The film portrays that in spite of the judgment, we, as a society, are so fragmented that acceptance in many spaces is still difficult, and young queer individuals still struggle to be proud about who they are. This film seeks empathy and kindness, and speaks of the loss and pain that is inflicted on individuals. Why would the acceptance of something that doesn’t affect your personal life be so difficult?”
25 October,2024 10:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuPankaj Tripathi and his wife Mridula have been married for nearly 19 years, but they've still faced challenges as a couple. In a recent interview, Mridula opened up about how she wasn’t accepted by her mother-in-law because they had a love marriage, which wasn't common at the time. Pankaj Tripathi's wife is still not 'accepted' by mother-in-law During her conversation on the Conversations with Atul YouTube channel, Mridula shared that despite resistance from both their families, she and Pankaj Tripathi got married. She recalled meeting him for the first time at her brother's wedding, where Pankaj's sister was marrying her brother. Although their bond grew stronger, they worried their relationship wouldn't be accepted due to her higher social status. She stated, "It's still not acceptable. We aren't blood relatives, but in our culture, it is unacceptable for a woman to be married into a family of a lower stature, if another woman has already been married into a family of a higher stature. And because my sister-in-law had been married above her station into my family, I couldn't be married into their family, which was considered of a lower stature." Mridula admitted that their differences have continued till today. She said, "There was a tehelka, a bawaal (a ruckus). Bhaabhi wasn't happy, mom wasn't happy. She was concerned about how he'd take care of me. But slowly, they came around to accepting us." Pankaj Tripathi in Stree 2 Meanwhile, Pankaj Tripathi was last seen in Stree 2. The movie earned a remarkable Rs 453.60 crore net in its second week alone. Despite facing competition from new releases like Akshay Kumar's 'Khel Khel Mein' and John Abraham's 'Vedaa', the film quickly established itself as the audience's favourite. Directed by Amar Kaushik, 'Stree 2' has captivated audiences not only with its engaging storyline but also with star-studded cameos from Varun Dhawan and Akshay Kumar, both of whom have been praised for their contributions to the film. Originally released in 2018, the first instalment, 'Stree', was already a massive hit, setting high expectations for the sequel. However, 'Stree 2' has managed to exceed those expectations, capturing the hearts of fans across the country. As the film gears up to potentially cross the Rs 600 crore milestone, the excitement surrounding 'Stree 2' continues to build.
25 October,2024 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAnanya Panday started her career following in the footsteps of Alia Bhatt. Alia debuted with the Karan Johar production Student of the Year, Ananya starred in the sequel of the same film. The latter confesses she is a big fan of Alia, who inspired her to step into films. 'Biggest fan of Alia Bhatt' “I am the biggest fan of Alia Bhatt. We were at some screening of Student of the Year and there were no seats, we were sitting on the floor. I remember she came on screen and Shanaya (Kapoor) and I was like… I want to be her. I just wanted to be her,” Ananya shares. Other than Alia, Ananya is also a fan of Karisma Kapoor. “I used to love Lolo, I have a picture of her in my vanity van. I have picture of her, Salman and ‘Main apni favourite hoon’ written on my vanity,” she reveals. 'I talk rubbish' On the latest episode of Sit With Hitlist, the conversation ranged from Ananya’s changed voice to her debut in society as well as films. Was she trained how to speak to the media before stepping into the spotlight? “You think I was trained? Have you seen the kind of things I have said in interviews? I talk rubbish. Once I start talking I don’t stop,” she confesses. What happens at Le Bal? Ananya was a debutante at the prestigious Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris in 2017. What happens at this ball? Ananya and her family couldn’t believe it that they were invited for it. “When we got the email invitation, my mother thought someone was playing a prank on her,” she reveals. The actress, often accused of being privileged because of her filmi background, says she finds the insiders-outsiders divide unnecessary. “We are all part of one industry,” she says. Ananya's Bollywood BFFs Ananya also talks about her Bollywood BFFs – Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Nanda. “Navya is the oldest, then me, then Suhana and then Shanaya. We are all a year apart.” She shares a WhatsApp group with Suhana and Shanaya which is called Charlie’s Angels. “The one with Navya, Shanaya and Suhana is called ‘Ananya’s fans’ – I named it obviously.” Ananya is friends with Sara Ali Khan now, who was her senior in school. “I used to hide from Sara in school because I used to be terrified of her,” she says. If you want to know why, you will have to watch the full episode, out on October 26.
25 October,2024 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNora Fatehi, Vijay Varma and Mouni Roy Tiger Shroff, Aditi Rao Hydari and Fardeen Khan. Pics/Yogen Shah Pulling out all stops Ananya Panday stole the limelight at an event where Vedang Raina was also present A bit of all Can we all agree that nobody knows the appropriate dress code for a film festival? It is perhaps the only event where bling can be followed by bland on the red carpet. Despite their distinct sartorial choices, Atul Kasbekar and Jim Sarbh looked dapper in their ensembles Just in Boman Irani, Armaan Malik, Aashna Shroff and Sanjay Mishra
25 October,2024 10:15 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamTwice as nice In June 2023, reports first emerged that Mohanlal and Ajay Devgn would simultaneously work on the Malayalam and Hindi versions of Drishyam 3. A couple of months ago, Jeethu Joseph, director of the Malayalam original, revealed that while he has an idea to end the third edition of the thriller franchise, he is yet to crack the screenplay. Now, it looks like Aamir Khan and Tamil superstar Suriya might make Ghajini 2 sooner. Reportedly, Madhu Mantena, the producer of the 2008 Hindi film, pitched an idea to Aamir, who liked it and asked him to develop the script. On the other hand, Allu Aravind, who backed the 2005 Tamil original, approached Suriya, who was excited by the idea of taking the narrative forward. With major star films releasing pan-India, both Madhu and Aravind are now keen to make the Hindi and Tamil versions simultaneously. “The Tamil film releasing earlier would take away the novelty from the Hindi version. Moreover, the team of the Hindi film is looking to avoid the remake tag. Taking these factors into account, the producers felt it would be best to make the two movies around the same time,” said a source. He also added that both Suriya and Aamir have been kept in loop regarding the plan. Aamir’s Ghajini was the first Hindi film to cross the Rs 100-crore mark at the domestic box-office. Double exit Shruti Haasan, who will next be seen in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, recently opted out of two movies—Dacoit: A Love Story, and Chennai Story. She had begun filming with Adivi Sesh for Dacoit and posted pictures from the shoot on her social media handle. However, sources claim that Shruti exited the Shaneil Deo-directed action drama owing to creative differences with Adivi. On the other hand, there are no reasons given for Shruti’s walk-out from Chennai Story. She was to play a detective in the Indo-UK production being helmed by Philip John. Samantha was the first choice for the film, which is an adaptation of Timeri N Murari’s novel, Arrangements of Love. What cameo? Recently, rumours have been rife that Shah Rukh Khan will have a cameo in Ayan Mukerji’s War 2. It is being said that just like Hrithik Roshan had a special appearance in Tiger 3, SRK’s Pathaan will be seen in the action thriller that also stars Jr NTR, and marks the next offering from YRF Spy Universe. While there is no official word on it, some industry insiders claim that Duggu’s cameo in Tiger 3 was an indication that his character Kabir Dhaliwal was returning in the next espionage thriller from Aditya Chopra’s production house. “After War 2, YRF’s next spy film is Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. So, Pathaan making a special appearance in the Hrithik-Taarak thriller could be misleading,” said the source. Balancing reel and races A few weeks ago, there was a strong buzz that Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar is quitting acting as he is returning to racing. However, we now hear that the Valimai actor is not hanging up his boots. While he is getting ready for a comeback to racing after 15 years, he is planning to maintain a balance by doing only one film a year. Ajith will return to the racing circuit as he will participate in 24H Dubai 2025 and the European 24H Series Championship in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup class. The actor has Vidaamuyarchi and Good Bad Ugly releasing next year. And the award goes to... The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 concluded yesterday with the award presentation ceremony. The six-day fest saw 110 movies from over 45 countries in over 50 languages. Veteran actor Shabana Azmi was honoured with the Excellence in Cinema Award for her outstanding contribution to the movies. Amit Dutta’s Rhythm of a Flower (Phoolon ka Chand) bagged the Golden Gateway gong while the Silver Gateaway went to Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan’s Nocturnes. The Special Jury Prize was presented to director Raam Reddy’s The Fable, starring Manoj Bajpayee, while Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha’s production venture, Girls Will Be Girls earned the Special Mention. Shuchi Talati’s directorial venture also bagged the NETPAC Award, and Min Bahadur Bham’s Shambala, and Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó’s Agent of Happiness got the NETPAC Special Mention. Girls Will Be Girls also won the Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award for challenging traditional gender stereotypes and advancing nuanced narratives. The Dimensions Mumbai jury presented the Gold Award to Shreela Agarwal’s BMCLD, and the Silver Award to Sameeha Sabnis’ A Tale of Two Cities and Bhagyesh Rajeshirke’s I Was Painted Red. Realty gains for the Bachchans Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan are building on their immovable assets. According to registration documents reviewed by real estate portal Square Yards, the duo has acquired 10 apartments, collectively worth about Rs 24.95 crore in Mulund West, Mumbai. Their new acquisitions comprise three-and four-bedroom luxurious homes in an upscale residential project. While eight apartments are spread across 1,049 sq ft each, two measure 912 sq ft each. Of these, Big B has bought four, while Bachchan Junior has bought six, costing Rs 14.77 crore. Earlier this year, Abhishek bought six apartments in the same developer’s premium project in Borivali East, collectively said to be worth Rs 15.5 crore.
25 October,2024 09:40 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamThings are moving at a brisk pace on Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s vampire film, the next chapter in producer Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy universe. Only last month, it was heard that Aditya Sarpotdar’s directorial venture, earlier titled Vampires of Vijay Nagar, was rechristened Thamba. Now, there is an addition to the cast. mid-day has exclusively learnt that Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been roped in as the antagonist. Playing a baddie is not new to Siddiqui, whose roles have ranged from grey in Badlapur (2015) and Munna Michael (2017) to all-black in Kick (2014) and Petta (2019). But essaying one in a horror comedy comes with its quirks. A source revealed, “Thamba is set in two periods—in a north Indian city in the present day, and in the Vijaynagara Empire of the ancient past. Nawazuddin’s antagonist has been imagined as an eccentric yet violent character who lived centuries ago. He travels to the present to seek revenge and control the destinies of the two lead characters. The actor is looking forward to joining the horror comedy universe and bringing his own interpretation to the part. Aditya plans to do the look test with Nawazuddin after Diwali.” Meanwhile, the leads have begun soft prep on Thamba. While leading lady Mandanna’s look test was conducted last month, Khurrana’s is slated today. If things go as planned, Sarpotdar will call action on the film in November-end or early December. The source added, “The first two-week schedule will kick off with a night shift in Mumbai. A massive set of Vijayanagara is being built by production designers Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty for this leg. This will be followed by a Delhi schedule in January, and the final one in south India.”
25 October,2024 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamBollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who is gearing up for the release of his much-awaited film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, recently shared his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan. He recalled that before he became famous, he visited Mumbai’s Bandstand and stood outside Shah Rukh’s home, Mannat, among a huge crowd, hoping to get a glimpse of the superstar. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 actor Kartik Aaryan remembers waiting outside Mannat Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, he said, “I have been a big fan of Shah Rukh. When I came to Mumbai for the first time, I went to Bandstand and stood in front of Mannat on a Sunday to get a glimpse of Shah Rukh.” Kartik shared that, at this point in his life, he hadn’t seen any celebrities except Shah Rukh outside Mannat. “At that time, I had only seen Shah Rukh in his car because he would come out of his house on a Sunday, and that’s when I saw him for the first time.” Kartik Aaryan is known for being down-to-earth and friendly, often interacting with his fans. Videos of him happily shaking hands and posing for photos with them often pop up online. Speaking about his fans and why he relates to them, Kartik said, “I’ve been on the other side, where I was a fan of people, and I tried to get a glimpse of them or just get a photograph with them. So I can understand when fans have that reaction. I try to make as many people happy as possible.” Kartik Aaryan reprises his role of Rooh Baba for ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ With Kartik Aaryan reprising the role of Rooh Baba from the 2022 blockbuster ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, he will be seen alongside Tripti Dimri, the OG Manjulika, Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit! Directed by Anees Bazmee and initiated by Bhushan Kumar, this much-anticipated release is set to carry forward the legacy of Bollywood’s favourite horror-comedy franchise. Get ready for a Diwali filled with spooky fun and laughter! Stay tuned for more thrilling updates! ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ gears up for a grand release this Diwali on November 1, 2024. 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' faces a significant box office challenge from Rohit Shetty's 'Singham Again'. With both films generating considerable buzz, the clash promises to be a thrilling showdown in theatres.
25 October,2024 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
