Actor Divyenndu says his creative partnership with Pratik Gandhi, his co-star from "Madgaon Express" and the upcoming movie "Agni", is one rooted in mutual respect and ease. The duo first starred together in actor Kunal Kemmu's directorial debut "Madgaon Express", which was released to universal praise in March this year. Their upcoming movie is "Agni", a Prime Video film on firefighters. "He is a great friend of mine. We both really like each other as actors and on screen there is a certain kind of ease we have, there is a certain kind of mutual admiration we have for each other and working with him is always a joy," Divyenndu told PTI in an interview. Directed by Rahul Dholakia of ¿Raees¿ fame, "Agni" is a never-before-told story about firefighters and pays homage to their fearless spirit, honour, and sacrifices. It is backed by Akhtar and Riteish Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment in association with Prime Video. Divyenndu, also known for starring in critically-acclaimed series "Mirzapur" and "The Railway Men", said "Agni" was special because it is the first film that talks about the lives of firefighters. "When we think of our heroes, we think of army, navy, military, cricketers or say actors, we tend to glorify them a lot. But I think the job that people from the fire department do is such a thankless job. Nobody talks about them. "Imagine a situation where a building is on fire, your reaction would be to run from there and there are these bunch of people who think that we have to go in now. It's amazing. So, we have tried to portray that. With that it's again a thriller so there is a suspense in the film like who's doing it, what doing it. So, that's 'Agni' for you," he added. Playing different characters tends to have an impact on one's psyche, he added. "It's bound to happen. You are a human being, you go and behave in a certain manner everyday and after a cut it cannot just end. There will always be some of its residue left inside you. But I am happy about it. I'm not complaining, like I said, I always wanted to do this. "I always had one aim, to do as different kinds of films as possible, as different characters as possible. I am not someone who really is happy that this one thing has worked, so let's consolidate this and make this your own. No, I want to do as different work as possible." Divyenndu was speaking on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to attend the premiere of his film "Saali Mohabbat", directed by Tisca Chopra. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Manish Malhotra, the movie also features Radhika Apte, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sauraseni Maitra, Sharat Saxena and Anurag Kashyap. It focuses on an unpretentious housewife who tells a story of infidelity, deceit and murder. While her listeners are riveted, one of them gets the message she intended. "It's very hard to explain this film, it's just a human story, I would say," Divyenndu said. The actor also said he is happy to return as Munna Bhaiya in "Mirzapur: The Film". Created by Puneet Krishna and directed by Gurmmeet Singh, the movie will be released in 2026 and also feature Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal are set to return as Kaleen Bhaiya and Guddu Pandit. "The 'Mirzapur' film is happening and he is going to be back. Even, I don't know anything more than this," Divyenndy said. Besides, the actor has a string of projects lined up for release. "I have done a show called 'Tatkaal', based on the scam of Tatkal tickets, which is an incredible thing. I have done one more film 'Pehchaan' for Jio Studios, which is a suspense psychological thriller. "I am working on my next project about which I can't tell you right now, you will get to know about it in a few days. So, yeah, its all happening. I'm not complaining." 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
25 November,2024 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIActor-politician Ravi Kishan on Sunday said he faced immense struggles in establishing his identity in cinema but always held on to the belief that his "sunrise" would eventually come. As an actor, Kishan is one of the most popular stars of Bhojpuri cinema with hit films such as "Panditji Batai Na Biyah Kab Hoyi" and "Banke Bihari MLA". He has also made a mark in Hindi movies like "Hera Pheri", "Tere Naam", "Raavan", "Mukkabaaz", "Batla House" and "Laapataa Ladies". "I had to struggle a lot to create my identity. I acted in Hindi, Telugu, and films in almost every language. People watched me on television as well. I knew I had the craft of acting and wanted to create a fusion of naturalism and swag, but I didn't get many opportunities to showcase that," the actor said. "People often say they have walked the path to success; I have crawled my way up. There is a lot of tapasya and struggle behind this Ravi Kishan. I have covered the streets of Mumbai on foot, lived in a house made of mud, and survived on vada pav," he added. He was speaking at a session during the Sahitya Aaj Tak at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. To aspiring actors, Kishan had a piece of advice -- never get disheartened. "India is a big country with a population of 140 crore people. I had no godfather, but I always believed that the sun would rise in my life too. I just had to wait," he added. As a son of a priest, Kishan said he inherited nothing, except for "spirituality and honesty" from his father. "As a child, I did theatre and played Sitaji in Ram Leela. I've even been thrashed by my father, who would say, 'Nachaniya banbe' (you'll become a dancer) because, as a Brahmin in the 80s and 90s, he couldn't understand my aspirations," he said. Kishan has done hundreds of movies in his long career but has a special place for Kiran Rao's "Laapataa Ladies", which was recently announced as India's official entry for 2025 Academy Awards. "It was made on a budget of just Rs 5 crore and broke records in India and several countries, including Japan. Now, it's going to the Oscars. It's an original film that talks about women's empowerment and organic farming. I just pray that it wins," he said. Starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta and Sparsh Shrivastav in the lead roles,¿Laapataa Ladies¿ is a heartwarming and empowering take on two brides in rural India in 2001 who accidently get swapped during a train journey. The film is produced by Rao's Kindling Productions and Aamir Khan Productions. In the movie, Kishan plays the role of police officer Shyam Manohar, who investigates the case of missing brides. "People often ask me, 'How do you stay so organic and fresh on screen?' I have a habit of observing people wherever I am and storing them in my mind as characters for reference. "For the role of police officer Shyam Manohar, I based the character on a real-life cop I met in Bihar. He was just like Manohar, speaking with a paan in his mouth. I found his personality unique and kept him in mind," he said. The actor also said that it is his dream to bring respect to Bhojpuri cinema. "I am the man who heralded the third phase of Bhojpuri cinema, and today it employs over 1 lakh people. By the time actors junior to me moved to Bombay, I had already set the stage for them. "Unfortunately, I feel a bit unhappy with my juniors. They have spoiled Bhojpuri cinema's reputation. Bhojpuri is a language spoken by 25 crore people, and I am very proud of it. I have even presented a bill to give it greater importance," he said. 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
25 November,2024 08:04 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIAata konachi satakli? On Sunday, the internet was divided into the haves and have-nots—the ones who have seen comedian Sumit Sourav’s recent stand-up set, which included a roast of Ajay Devgn, and those who have not. If you’re one of the latter, search all you want, but the video has mysteriously disappeared from YouTube. As netizens wondered why the video was abruptly pulled down, the comedian posted a note on his Instagram, stating, “I have taken down the video.” It immediately sparked speculation that Ajay’s team may have prompted the video’s removal. Has been? Nope, always will be Manisha Koirala, who was recently seen in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, expressed that the term ‘has-been actor’ is hurtful to artistes. Noting that the term is used more frequently for female artistes, she said, “The term, has-been actor, is painful, and it comes out quite often for female actors, but OTT has changed that. Today, there are actresses like Neena Gupta, who have been doling out some of the finest performances on OTT.”
25 November,2024 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamFor Usha Uthup, the opportunity to be part of NH7 Weekender was special owing to the diverse lineup that she was set to join. “The variety that will be seen and the passion with which it has been created motivated me to be part of it. This is the opportunity to get music lovers from across the country to listen to good music, and not everyone would like the same kind of music,” says the veteran, who will join musicians like Amit Trivedi, King, Raftaar, and Dhvani Bhanushali, among others, at the December festival. Uthup’s name inarguably appears to be a seamless fit among a lineup of younger composers owing to her ability to strike a chord with listeners across generations. She credits the knowledge she receives from her grandchildren on the music tastes of the young generation, as well as her own ability to speak their language, for her popularity among them. “When they see me sing Skyfall in a sari, or sing songs like Ramba ho and Shaan [Doston se pyaar kiya], they wonder how I handle it. Because I’ve been a nightclub singer, it comes to me naturally. Then, I also render [English] songs like Miley Cyrus’s Flowers, which my daughter insists I should sing. So, my family keeps me grounded. Today, [singers] should be grounded to listen to what children are saying because the kids will teach you what you ought to know. The younger generation considers me as their elder sister, mother, aunt, or grandmother. It doesn’t matter, because after a point, once they hear the music, they forget everything. I talk their language. I don’t look down upon them or speak to them [without respect]. I treat them like I do my contemporaries. And that’s important when you want to be part of their lives.” Uthup may not be an avid consumer of English music, but she adheres to the suggestions of her grandchildren when it comes to selecting songs for her shows. “I also listen to music on YouTube and pick songs that I think our band could perform well. [Music by] Daft Punk is like that. [Their music has] also won the Grammy Award. These things matter when it comes to song selection.”
25 November,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaWhen she watched The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), Sanya Malhotra could see Jeo Baby’s film doing what good cinema does—asking questions that haven’t been raised before. So, when the actor was offered its Hindi adaptation, Mrs, she took no time to say yes to it. “My yes to the film was both as an actor and a woman,” she tells us, at the movie’s Asia première at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Mrs features (left) Sanya Malhotra and (right) Kanwaljit Singh Nimisha Sajayan was widely praised for her performance in the Malayalam original, which told the story of a young dancer whose life becomes restricted to the kitchen after marriage. Did Malhotra feel the pressure of stepping into her shoes? “I never compare myself with anyone. If I put myself in this mindset, I will be leading with fear, which I don’t want to do,” she explains, adding that director Arati Kadav and writer Anu Singh Choudhary made Mrs personal and novel. “We have made this personal and palatable to the north Indian audience. Arati and Anu have brought their own lived-in experiences to the script. All I thought about was I have to do it in a way that it travels far and wide, and people take away something from it.” If the acclaim and love from various festivals is any indication, Malhotra’s efforts have already paid off. As she awaits the film’s release in January, she says Mrs has already brought a change in her. “The process of interviewing women for the character opened up a lot of things in me, and I’m constantly questioning and correcting myself,” she says, sharing a personal anecdote about how her view on gender roles has changed. “Whenever I used to go back home, my mother felt pressured to cook for me. Having worked in the kitchen all these years, she has an aversion to it now. [At the same time] she’d be apologetic about it, saying, ‘I didn’t cook anything good for you.’ To date, I tell her that cooking is not a way of proving her love to me. Everyone around us says maa ke haath ka khana is ultimate love. That’s there. But no one should feel pressured to do it.”
25 November,2024 07:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaRanbir Kapoor's last release, Animal (2023), is one of the most successful yet polarising films of recent times. While Kapoor's perfomance as a son, who turns revengeful in his obsession for his father, was appreciated, the film was criticised representation of violence and misogyny. Even as 2024 comes to an end, the discourse around the Sandeep Reddy Vanga-directorial continues. So, when Kapoor graced the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to speak at a session dedicated to celebrate the life and work of his grandfather-filmmaker-actor late Raj Kapoor, an audience member stated how contemporary Hindi films, including Animal, show excessive violence that can leave a negative impact on the society. He went on to ask the Bollywood star his opinion on the social responsibility of film artistes. To which, the actor replied, "I completely agree with your opinion. As actors, this is our responsibility to bring movies that makes a positive impact to the society. But having said that, as an actor, it’s important for me to dabble in different genres and characters, and play varied roles. But what you are saying is absolutely true. We have to be more responsible towards the kind of films we make." While making his point, the audience member also referred to the times when Kapoor's late grandfather Raj Kapoor made movies, saying that the bygones era didn't have movies showing violence. Kapoor was speaking at the ongoing 55th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), where he attended a session to discuss the works and life of his grandfather. The actor revealed that a Raj Kapoor film festival would be held next month, which would including a re-release of his classics. "With NFDC (National Film Development Corporation of India), NFAI (National Film Archive of India), my uncle Kunal Kapoor and Film Heritage Foundation, we have started restoring his films.We have done 10 films so far and we have much more to do. So we are going to have a film festival from 13th to 15th December. All over India, we are going to release his movies. So, I am really hopeful, you guys will check out his work because there are so many people who haven't seen his work," he said.
24 November,2024 10:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaRanbir Kapoor addressed a conference at IFFI 2024, where he announced that there is going to be a Raj Kapoor Film Festival, where 10 films of the legendary actor will be restored. While addressing the conference, he revealed something that has left a lot of people shocked. The actor revealed that the first time he met his now-wife Alia Bhatt, she asked him, "Who is Kishore Kumar?" "I remember the first time I met Alia, she asked me, 'Who's Kishore Kumar?' It's just a circle of life, people are forgotten. It's important we remember our roots," he added. Netizens react to Ranbir Kapoor’s revelation Ranbir’s revelation left netizens divided. While one section trolled Alia for her lack of knowledge, another backed her, saying that when she first met the actor, she was just 9 years old. One user wrote, "He took revenge for 'wipe it off.'" While another shared, "He is giving it back to Alia for making him the bad guy on Insta." A third one wrote, "Lol. He is her personal troll right there." "He just dissed Alia," one comment reads. While another said, “Why do these both seem like they settle scores with each other via these so called 'candid' tidbits or they just know what will make noise and say things to keep the discussion and outrage going.” While a few came out in support of the actress, one said, “Alia was only 9 years old when she met him, so you losers, do you expect her to know who Kishore Kumar is?” Another user wrote, “Alia was just 9 years old when she asked the question. You don’t expect a 9-year-old to know everything.” “Not everyone knows everything. Glad Alia asks questions and is eager to learn,” another comment reads. About Raj Kapoor Film Festival While announcing the Raj Kapoor Film Festival, the actor shared, "We are going to organize the Raj Kapoor Film Festival from December 13–December 15 all over India. We will show the restored version of 10 of Raj Kapoor's films," Ranbir said to a jam-packed auditorium at the Kala Academy here. Ranbir Kapoor talks about Raj Kapoor’s biopic Further, he talked about discussing Raj Kapoor's biopic with his "godfather" and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and shared, "I talk to a lot of people, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, about how to make a biopic on Mr. Raj Kapoor. A biopic is not just something that highlights the success in a person’s life; you truly have to portray someone’s life honestly—the lows, struggles, relationship dynamics."
24 November,2024 10:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmong several highlights of the much-anticipated Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directorial, Love and War, is his reunion with actor Ranbir Kapoor after 17 years. Since Bhansali announced the film earlier this year, his lead star remained tight-lipped about featuring in the love story, until today when Kapoor opened up about his excitement to go back to sets with the filmmaker, who launched in him in the movies. Speaking during a session at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Kapoor, who began shooting for Love and War earlier this month, mentioned how he continues to remain in awe of Bhansali. "I am extremely excited to go back to sets with him. He is my godfather. Everything I know about films, everything I know about acting, it is something I learnt from him. So, for me, I am working with him again after 17 years, it still feels the same. I am still in awe of him. I respect him so much," the actor said. Kapoor further shared that Bhansali is as obsessed about the movies, his characters and stories as he was when they shot Sawariya. "He hasn't changed at all. He is extremely hard working, all he thinks about is his movies, he just wants to speak about the character, he wants you to create, do something different. So I am extremely excited," the actor smiled as the crowd cheered on. Besides Kapoor, Love and War also stars actor-wife Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. Though the film's announcement left fans excited for the multiple reunions the romantic drama ensures, they were surprised with the collaboration between Kapoor and Bhansali, courtesy the conflicting history they have shared. While the actor has always maintained that the filmmaker was his guidebook to acting, on several occasions, Kapoor has also spoken candidly about his difficult experience working with Bhansali, saying that he used to yell and scold him on Sawariya sets.
24 November,2024 09:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaRanbir Kapoor, who likes to keep his personal life private, opened up about his admiration for his grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor, at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024. During the chat with the media, the actor not only talked about the legendary Raj Kapoor but also shared Raj Kapoor's first song, which he introduced to his daughter, Raha. The actor revealed that there is one all-time favourite of Raj Kapoor that he has made his daughter listen to. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Raha's first Raj Kapoor song During a media interaction, a journalist delighted Ranbir by singing the iconic track “Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisar” from the 1959 film Anari. As the actor was left mesmerised by the moment, he revealed that this song is his all-time favourite and it holds a very special place in his heart. Kapoor also disclosed that “Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisar” is Raj Kapoor's first song to which he made his baby daughter, Raha, listen. He further announced that a film festival featuring restored movies of his grandfather, veteran filmmaker Raj Kapoor, will be held across the country to celebrate his birth centenary in December. Raj Kapoor Film Festival "We are going to organize the Raj Kapoor Film Festival from December 13 to December 15 all over India. We will show the restored versions of 10 of Raj Kapoor's films," Ranbir said to a jam-packed auditorium at the Kala Academy. Further, he talked about discussing Raj Kapoor's biopic with his "godfather" and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and shared, "I talk to a lot of people, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, about how to make a biopic on Mr Raj Kapoor. A biopic is not just something which highlights the success in a person's life; you truly have to portray someone's life honestly—the lows, struggles, relationship dynamics." He further continued and shared, "It's a very tough biopic to make. I don't know if my family would also agree to most of the things, to show this side of Raj Kapoor. But I think it would really make a great movie." Ranbir is also excited to reunite with Bhansali in Love & War. The director gave him his first break as an actor in 2007's Saawariya. (With inputs from PTI)
24 November,2024 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIt was just a few days back when Vijay Deverakonda confirmed that he is not single anymore, and just when fans were speculating that he is in a relationship with Rashmika Mandanna, a picture of the duo surfaced on social media. A picture of Vijay and Rashmika having lunch has circulated online. In one picture, Vijay was seen enjoying his lunch while a girl was seen seated across the table wearing a blue top. While the first picture couldn't clarify who the lady seated with Vijay was, the next picture proved that it is none other than Rashmika. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) Vijay Deverakonda & Rashmika Mandanna enjoy lunch date In the next picture going viral, we could see Rashmika dressed in the same blue top as she enjoys her meal. These two pictures have convinced netizens that they are definitely more than 'just friends.' While reacting to these pictures, one fan wrote, "This is one of the most openly secretive relationships currently. They know that we know. We know that they know. Yet they still wanna play Hide and Seek." Another fan gushed over Rashmika and shared, "Damn bro, someone please feature Rashmika in a female-centric action movie, she looks jacked af. She’s definitely not skipping back day." “They just don’t want to talk about it and ruin a good thing. They don’t care that we know, but they will not publicly come out either," a fan shared. Vijay Deverakonda confirms being in a relationship Earlier in an interview with Curly Tales, Vijay went candid about his love life and shared, “I know what it is to be loved, and I know what it is to love. I don’t know if it’s unconditional because my love comes with expectations. I don’t know of any love that comes…maybe there is, maybe it’s my ignorance of it. At the end of the day, it’s a good thing to be loved. Everything else is over-romanticised. I think it’s okay to be conditional in love.” Further, while admitting that he is not single anymore, he stated, “I have (dated a co-star before). I'm 35; you think I would be single? We all have to (get married) at some point unless it's a choice not to.” More about Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda’s dating rumours Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda have been rumoured to be in a relationship ever since they shared the screen in the 2018 hit Geetha Govindam and the 2019 film Dear Comrade. The couple, who have been tight-lipped about their relationship, have never declined these rumours.
24 November,2024 05:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSaira Banu recently announced her separation from music maestro AR Rahman, which led to him being subjected to severe social media trolling. Now, Saira has come out in support of Rahman and shared the reason behind why she wants to call this wedding quits. She also backed Rahman by calling him “a gem of a person, the best man in the world.” Saira shared a voice note requesting people not to tarnish the music maestro's name. Saira Banu reveals reason behind divorce Saira, in an official voice note, shared, "This is Saira Rahman here. I'm currently in Bombay. I've been physically unwell for the last couple of months. So that's the reason I just wanted to take a break from AR, but I would request the entire YouTube YouTubers, the Tamil Media, please please do not say anything bad against him. He's a gem of a person, the best man in the world." "Yes, it's it's just because of, my health issues I had to leave Chennai because I knew if I'm not in Chennai, you people will wonder where Sarah is. And I've come here to Bombay. I'm going ahead with my treatment, and this wouldn't have been possible with AR's busy schedule in Chennai, and I didn't want to disturb anybody, neither my children nor him," she further added. Saira Banu praise AR Rahman While showering AR Rahman with praise and clarifying that he isn't linked to anyone and said, "But he's an amazing human being. And all I would request is please just let him be the way he is. He is not linked with, I trust him with my life. That's how much I love him, and that's how much he does. So I kindly request you to stop all the false allegations against him, and God bless. And my sincere prayers that we are left alone and given space at this moment, not announced officially anything yet" She further concluded her note saying, "I'll be coming back to Chennai soon, but I have to complete my treatment and then come. Okay? So, I request you to kindly stop tarnishing his name, which is absolutely rubbish. And, like I said, he's a gem of a person. Thank you" AR Rahman and Saira Banu’s separation The news of AR Rahman and Saira Banu's separation was initially shared through a joint statement issued by Saira’s lawyer, Vandana Shah. The couple stated that their decision was due to "significant emotional strain" in their relationship. The Mozart of Madras, who married Saira in 1995, shares three children: Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen. After Vandana, Rahman also put out an official statement and wrote, "We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for your kindness and for respecting our privacy as we walk through this fragile chapter.”
24 November,2024 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
