Vikrant Massey says he believes in equality, and we agree with every word. Yesterday, Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur celebrated Karwa Chauth, and the pictures from their celebration have us believing that we've spotted the biggest 'green flag.' While sharing the carousel of pics, Vikrant wrote, "Ghar." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vikrant Massey (@vikrantmassey) Vikrant Massey & Sheetal Thakur’s Karwa Chauth celebration The first picture in the series shows Sheetal looking at Vikrant through a sieve. The next picture has Sheetal touching Vikrant's feet, but the third snap made us admire Vikrant's sincerity. In that picture, Vikrant is seen touching Sheetal's feet. In the snaps, Sheetal was wearing a beautiful pink saree paired with a shiny blouse and an intricate border, while Massey was dressed in an all-white kurta-pajama paired with a brown jacket. Fans react to Vikrant Massey & Sheetal Thakur’s Karwa Chauth celebration pics Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur's Karwa Chauth celebration left fans in awe. One wrote, "I was ready with my feminist rant but saw the third photo – beautiful!" "Tisare photo mein jo aapne kiya hai, wahi baat hamare Sanatan dharm mein kahi gayi hai, ke stri hi devi swaroop hai, uska hamesha aadar karo," another wrote. A third fan commented, "3rd picture – best!" About Vikrant Massey & Sheetal Thakur Vikrant and Sheetal, who met on the sets of the ALT Balaji show "Broken But Beautiful," where Vikrant was one of the main leads, started dating and got engaged in an intimate roka ceremony in November 2019. On February 7, Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur announced the arrival of their newborn. Vikrant, who was recently seen in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s "12th Fail," shared the happy news on his Instagram. The actor posted a beautiful picture with text, "07.02.2024…FOR WE HAVE BECOME ONE…WE ARE BURSTING WITH JOY & LOVE TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF OUR SON LOVE. SHEETAL & VIKRANT." About Karwa Chauth: Karwa Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated by married women in North India. It involves a day of fasting from sunrise to moonrise for their husbands' well-being. The day begins with a pre-dawn meal called 'Sargi', prepared by the mother-in-law. In the evening, women perform a puja to honour Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, listen to the Karwa Chauth story, and offer prayers. The fast concludes with the sighting of the moon, after which women look at their husbands through a sieve and offer water to break their fast.
21 October,2024 05:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's youngest son AbRam Khan was spotted by the paparazzi in the city on Sunday evening. AbRam was followed by the paps until he got into his car. The little one was seen smiling at the paps as he greeted them back before leaving. AbRam who is all of 11 was seen getting clicked by the paparazzi as he sat in his car. When the paparazzi said bye to him, he nodded and returned the gesture with a wave and smile. Further, when a photographer said, “Shah Rukh sir ko salaam bolna (pass my greetings to Shah Rukh sir)!” Abram nodded with a smile, implying that he will. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) AbRam's well-mannered nature and his way of dealing with the paparazzi won the hearts of netizens. A user wrote, "Pathaan ka baccha dil ka Saccha" "Yaar tang mat karo bache ko 😍 kitna inocent face kar raha hai wo uncomfortable feel kar Raha hai," wrote another user. Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan welcomed their youngest son, AbRam via surrogacy in 2013. The number plate of AbRam's ride was also pretty interesting. Numbered 2705, it is AbRam's birth date. He was born on May 27, 2013. It seems like papa Shah Rukh Khan got this luxury ride for his younger son's travel needs in the city. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) AbRam Khan to make his debut as voice actor Yes!! Two months back it was revealed that little AbRam will be joining his father SRK and elder brother Aryan Khan as voice actor for Mufasa: The Lion King. The film will be released in December and the Hindi dubbing will see the Khan trio voice prominent characters. The young cub has now joined Papa Khan and Aryan in The Lion King franchise as the three will join forces to voice several characters in the film. While Shah Rukh Khan continues to voice Mufasa, Aryan will be back to voice Simba. So who is AbRam voicing? Well, that is an interesting twist in the tale. According to the latest announcement, AbRam will be voicing the young Mufasa and joining Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan in their franchise. This is indeed a great twist, as he is technically playing the young version of his father. The movie is all set to take us back in time, giving the makers room to have AbRam enter the franchise as a pivotal character to voice.
21 October,2024 05:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Parineeti Chopra celebrates her birthday on October 22. She made her Bollywood debut in the romantic comedy 'Ladies vs Ricky Bahl', in a supporting role with Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma. However, she found fame with 'Ishaqzaade' in which she played a leading role opposite Arjun Kapoor. The film which was a critical and commercial hit at the box office even earned a National Film Award for her role as a boisterous and feisty tomboy Zoya, a Muslim girl who marries a Hindu boy and gives birth to new rivalry in both families. Parineeti went on to do films like ‘Saina’, ‘Golmaal Again’, ‘Kesari’, ‘The Girl on the Train’, and the recent ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’. That being said, not many are aware that she was Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s first choice as the female lead for ‘Animal’. Here’s why she refused to sign up for the role. Why Parineeti Chopra refused to do ‘Animal’ Parineeti Chopra, who picked Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ instead, told India Today, “These things happen, it is a part and parcel of life. We must make such choices every day. You make the choice that is right for you.” The role eventually went to Rashmika Mandanna, who was heavily trolled for her acting stint in the multi-starrer. Not just that, the film entirely was panned for its derogatory portrayal of women. Sandeep Reddy Vanga asked Parineeti Chopra to forgive him Speaking to Komal Nahta, Sandeep Reddy Vanga said, “Galti mera he hai (It is my fault). I told her ho sake toh maaf karo mujhe (if possible, please forgive me).” He stated, “Some characters don’t feel set in some people. I don’t believe in auditions, I go with instincts only. From day one I like her acting. I always wanted to cast her as Preeti also in Kabir Singh but even that could not happen. It’s long due, I always want to work with her, I told her and she knew that. I said, ‘Sorry, nothing is bigger than the film. So I am going ahead with someone else. She felt bad, but she understood why I am saying that.” About Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Animal’ 'Animal' was one of the biggest blockbusters of 2023. It revolves around a troubled father-son relationship and has Ranbir in the role of Ranvijay Singh, who goes on to exact revenge after there's an assassination attempt on his father. The film raked in over Rs 800 crore at the box office. The film left many fans excited as it had a post-credits scene, teasing a sequel titled 'Animal Park', in which Ranbir would potentially have a double role. Ranbir Kapoor also registered a big win at the 69th edition of the Filmfare Awards. He bagged the Best Actor Award (Male) for his performance in the film. The film also starred Anil Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Bobby Deol, Shakti Kapoor, and Prem Chopra.
21 October,2024 04:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Parineeti Chopra was last seen in the film 'Amar Singh Chamkila' directed by Imtiaz Ali and co-starring Diljit Dosanjh. While the actress has been taking it slow post her wedding with AAP leader Raghav Chadha, she has also been quite active on social media. On her birthday, we take a look at the times the actress has been vocal about her journey in the film industry. From facing financial challenges in the initial phase of her career, challenges with staying in shape to losing roles and existence of camps in the industry, the actress has been vocal of several things about Bollywood. Parineeti was asked to pay Rs 4 lakh per month on fitness On a podcast with Raj Shamani, Parineeti said that she was asked by her advisors to hire a fitness expert and a nutritionist and pay them Rs 4 lakh a month to lose weight. This was something that she could not afford especially when she was paid Rs 5 lakh for her first film. Parineeti said that she doesn't come from a very rich background. She said, "I'm actually a very simple, middle-class girl. I genuinely don't understand Bollywood. I genuinely don't know how people in Mumbai operate. I don't have these high-flying friends. I don't have a trainer, stylist, everything already ready for me. And people who were already from here and already knew this world judged me a lot." The actress then shared how she went up to a co-actor who "grew up in Mumbai" and in the world of films. When she told him about financial challenges owing to high expenditure for a fitness expert and the nutritionist, her co-actor told her if she can't afford them, she is not in the right profession. She said, "I was like, 'I don't have Rs 4 lakh a month to pay. I don't make that money.' This is my third film,' And I remember going up to a co-actor of mine who has definitely grown up in Bombay, in this world, and of course, comes from a place of privilege.' He's like, 'Why aren't you hiring these people?' And I said, 'Listen, but I really can't afford it.' I was paid Rs 5 lakh for my first film. He was like, 'If you can't afford it, then you shouldn't be in this profession.'" On losing roles for not attending parties Talking to Bollywood Hungama, Parineeti said that she lost out on projects because of lack of socializing. "I don’t go to dinners and lunches or attend parties where work opportunities are created in Bollywood or those roles are discussed. I want directors and producers to call me for my work because I am willing to work hard. I won a National Award for Ishaqzaade 10 years ago. I am still the same actor." Parineeti Chopra who is the cousin of actress Priyanka Chopra admits, "My PR game sucks". "Getting work in Bollywood doesn’t only depend on merit or acting, you have to be in cliques and camps to get roles. I am not present at the right place at the right time. I am not getting papped every day," she said. Parineeti on the system of lobbying Parineeti highlighted the system of lobbying in the film industry. “I want to be the voice for actors who aren’t parts of cliques and camps. I hope we break this system of lobbying in Bollywood because I want equal opportunities and work. I may have done the wrong films, but I am the same actor who started 10 years ago and is in search of the right platform,” she said. Before 'Chamkila', Parineeti Chopra was praised for her performance in the film 'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar'. The latter was directed by Dibakar Banerjee while Chamkila was directed by Imtiaz Ali. “Dibakar Banerjee and Imtiaz sir are similar. They’re not seen everywhere, every day. They cast me for my work and saw the actor in me. Meri pichli do filmein flop thi (My last two films flopped) but they didn’t look at my market value,” said Parineeti.
21 October,2024 03:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBusinessman Adar Poonawalla-led Serene Productions today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to invest Rs 1,000 crore into Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment (collectively, “Dharma”), India’s leading production house. Through this investment, Serene Productions will hold a 50 per cent stake in Dharma, with Karan Johar retaining the remaining 50% ownership. Karan Johar as the Executive Chairman will spearhead the company's creative vision, while Apoorva Mehta, in his role as the Chief Executive Officer, will work with Karan in steering the strategic direction and overseeing the operational excellence of the organization. India's entertainment industry has experienced significant expansion, driven by surging digital penetration and a diverse audience seeking high-quality content across multiple platforms, with growing global relevance. This strategic partnership between Serene Productions and Dharma is designed to capitalize on these opportunities by combining Dharma's rich legacy in storytelling with Adar Poonawalla's strategic acumen and resources. The collaboration aims to further transform content creation, distribution, and audience engagement by integrating advanced technologies and pioneering production methods. By leveraging this synergy, Serene Productions and Dharma seek to meet the evolving demands of today's digitally savvy consumers while pushing the boundaries of creative storytelling. Together, they aspire to shape the future of entertainment for digital-first generations, embracing new platforms and formats to deliver compelling narratives that entertain, inspire, and engage audiences worldwide. This alliance signifies a transformative step toward elevating the Indian entertainment industry on the global stage, in an era where the relationship between audiences and entertainment platforms is more dynamic and interactive than ever before. Talking about the partnership, Adar Poonawalla, said, "I am delighted to have the opportunity to partner with one of the most iconic production houses in our nation, along with my friend Karan Johar. We hope to build and grow Dharma and scale even greater heights in the years to come." Commenting on the partnership, Karan Johar, Executive Chairman of Dharma, stated, "From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I've dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we're poised to elevate Dharma's legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies. It's about honoring our roots while embracing the future of global entertainment. Dharma's journey has been remarkable, and this collaboration opens up a world of possibilities for creating content that will resonate across borders and generations." Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma, said, "Over the years, I've witnessed Dharma's transformation into a multi-faceted content powerhouse. This partnership with Adar realizes our vision and marks a new era where cinema, streaming, and global content converge. It enables us to explore new avenues in content creation and distribution, elevating the Indian entertainment ecosystem. More importantly, this investment allows us to take bigger creative steps."
21 October,2024 03:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe film 'Singham' has been re-released in theatres On Friday, director Rohit Shetty and actor Ajay Devgn attended a special fan screening of the film and also spoke in depth about the film recalling their memories of making the iconic cop drama. During the conversation, the director-actor duo spoke about the iconic dialogue 'Aata Majhi Satakli' and the popular pose of 'Singham'. When the host asked Rohit and Ajay about who wrote the line 'Aata Majhi Satakli' that went on to become iconic, they said that it was casually written in the script. They never thought it would get so popular. Talking about the same, Shetty said, " We had just written the line because both the characters the villain Jaikant Shikre and hero Bajirao Singham are Maharashtrians and it became an iconic line. He (Ajay) says that line just once in the film Otherwise it is said by the villain throughout the film. For us, it was just a line. Ajay too said that he never expected it to become iconic. "At that moment it was just a line," he said recalling shooting for the film. "You deliver a lot of lines and you don't know what the audience will lap up. While doing it, it was just a line and then it became a cult line". Talking about the Singham pose, Shetty credited choreographer Ganesh Acharya for it. "Nothing was planned. We were just making a normal mass film because we had made three Golmaals by then and 'All The Best'. We were doing 'Bol Bachchan' also then. So it was all comedies. In between all this, we thought of making a hardcore mass action film," he shared. Rohit Shetty about the climax of Singham Again Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn are currently awaiting the release of their upcoming action movie ‘Singham Again'. During the talk, he also revealed that the climax of the film was shot by the same team that works with him on the stunt-based reality show ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi’ hosted. Talking about how the climax was put together, Rohit said, “We had a team of around 1000 people shooting the climax. If you see the climax there are few shots, the team from South Africa was there, which shot ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi’ for us, the team from Bangkok was there and my team was there, so we all came together for climax. I think the kids will have a terrific experience now when they watch ‘Singham Again’ climax. I am very proud of how it has turned out”. About Singham Again The trailer of ‘Singham Again’ was released recently, and draws inferences from the Hindu epic of ‘Ramayana’. It stars some of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema including Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. The film marks the fifth instalment of Shetty's Cop Universe, and is a sequel to ‘Singham Returns’. The film integrates Rohit Shetty’s fabled cop universe as Bajirao Singham, played by Ajay Devgn, sets out to bring back his wife, Avni Kamat (inspired by Sita) played by Kareena Kapoor Khan from the clutches of Arjun's character. It also marks the second big budget adaptation of Ramayana after the box-office debacle of Prabhas and Kriti Sanon-starrer ‘Adipurush’. To ensure good returns on a film, Rohit has placed the safest bet that will appeal to a large section of audience: The Ramayana. The film is set to release on Diwali.
21 October,2024 02:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRohit Shetty is currently gearing up for the release of his film 'Singham Again'. The film which has a multi-starrer cast will see actors play characters inspired by the Ramayana. Recently, at the screening of the re-release of Singham, Shetty spoke about the concept behind the upcoming film and drawing parallels with Ramayana. Talking about the inspiration behind drawing parallels with Ramayana for the cop-drama, Shetty shared, "When we were working on ideas to take this forward, Kshitij Patwardhan came to me with his idea. He wrote the screenplay the film. It was his story, not mine. What's interesting when you see the film is that it is Ramayan but we travelled all the way from Maharashtra to Sri Lanka. The locations are all places where the incidents have happened. Many of us know the story but not the actual location where it happened. So that is the unique point in this film." Rohit Shetty about the climax of Singham Again Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn are currently awaiting the release of their upcoming action movie ‘Singham Again'. During the talk, he also revealed that the climax of the film was shot by the same team that works with him on the stunt-based reality show ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi’ hosted. Talking about how the climax was put together, Rohit said, “We had a team of around 1000 people shooting the climax. If you see the climax there are few shots, the team from South Africa was there, which shot ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi’ for us, the team from Bangkok was there and my team was there, so we all came together for climax. I think the kids will have a terrific experience now when they watch ‘Singham Again’ climax. I am very proud of how it has turned out”. About Singham Again The trailer of ‘Singham Again’ was released recently, and draws inferences from the Hindu epic of ‘Ramayana’. It stars some of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema including Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. The film marks the fifth instalment of Shetty's Cop Universe, and is a sequel to ‘Singham Returns’. The film integrates Rohit Shetty’s fabled cop universe as Bajirao Singham, played by Ajay Devgn, sets out to bring back his wife, Avni Kamat (inspired by Sita) played by Kareena Kapoor Khan from the clutches of Arjun's character. The film is set to release on Diwali and will clash with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 at the box office.
21 October,2024 12:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran actor Anupam Kher, who has played the quintessential onscreen father in popular films like ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, and ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’, recently opened up about not having a child of his own. Anupam married Kirron Kher in 1985. She was previously married to Gautam Berry and had a son, Sikandar Kher, in 1981. Sikandar, who is also an actor took on Anupam’s surname after his mother remarried. Anupam Kher on not having a child of his own In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Anupam Kher opened up about missing out on the experience of having a child of his own. He shared, “I didn’t feel it that much before, but now sometimes I do feel like it. I think in the last seven-eight years. It's not like, I am not happy with Sikander, but I think it's a joy to see a child growing up. It's a joy to see bonding; this is an honest answer. I could have avoided answering this, but I don’t want to do that. But, it’s okay. It’s not a tragedy in my life. But, I sometimes feel it would have been a nice thing.” Anupam Kher felt the void in his 50s The versatile actor added, “All this while I was extremely busy working, but after I hit 50-55, I started to feel the void. It was mostly because Kirron became busy, and so did Sikander. I work with kids in my organisation: The Anupam Kher Foundation. We do a lot of work with children, and sometimes when I see my friends’ children and things like that… (I miss having children) but, it’s not a sense of loss.” Anupam Kher’s work front Anupam Kher was last seen in 'The Signature', where he plays an elderly husband Arvind whose wife Ambika (Neena Kulkarni) is put on life support shortly after she falls sick. Directed by the acclaimed director Gajendra Ahire, 'The Signature' explores the emotional trials of a devoted husband, essayed by Anupam Kher as he grapples with a life-altering crisis. Produced by KC Bokadia and Anupam Kher Studio, the film features an impressive cast of Mahima Chaudhry, Neena Kulkarni, Annu Kapoor, and Ranvir Shorey. The film was released on ZEE5 on October 4, offering viewers a heartfelt narrative of love, sacrifice, and resilience.
21 October,2024 12:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumtaz and Shammi Kapoor's love saga is one of the most talked about stories from their era. While their bond ended in heartbreak, Mumtaz and the late actor were quite vocal about their brief relationship. Today on Shammi Kapoor's birth anniversary, here's looking at what made this love story didn't have a happy ending. Why Mumtaz denied the marriage proposal In an interview with Zoom TV, Mumtaz revealed that Shammi Kapoor did express his interest in marrying her but she refused despite being in love with him. The two actors shared screen in the film 'Brahmachari'. “His wife Geeta Bali had passed away. During the shooting of the song ‘Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche’, we came closer and fell in love. We were together for two-three years. He professed his love to me and asked me to marry him. I loved him deeply but he told me that I couldn’t work after marriage as women marrying into the Kapoor clan didn’t work,” recalled Mumtaz. When Shammi Kapoor proposed marriage to Mumtaz she was just 17. Shammi, on the other hand, was double her age. Mumtaz's love for Shammi had blossomed long before this proposal. She had wished to marry him the first time she saw him on a film set. Explaining her decision to not marry and focus on her career in the movies, Mumtaz said, "I told him I couldn’t marry him because I wanted to work and fulfill my dreams. I didn’t want to be a homemaker, taking care of his children and managing the household,” revealed Mumtaz, adding that the ‘no’ left the Teesri Manzil actor angry. She continued, “He was angry and told me, ‘If you would have truly loved me, you would’ve accepted my proposal and left working in films. You only pretend to love me because you wanted to score big films opposite me.’ This left me completely heartbroken.” Shammi Kapoor on dating Mumtaz Shammi Kapoor, on the other hand, termed the rejection a nightmare as he had hoped for a future together with Mumtaz. In an old interview with Lehren Retro, the late actor had said, "At that time, I was a widower, and Mumtaz happened to be a very pretty little girl, and for a little short while, we both had dreams and then it turned into a nightmare. I’m happy as I am today.” He went on to marry Ugandan millionaire Mayur Madhwani in 1974 and moved to London, quitting Bollywood.
21 October,2024 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFrom a prominent family of actors, Shammi Kapoor initially considered a career in science before following his father and elder brother into the film industry but faced a tough time with his first 18 films tanking. It was then he reinvented himself to portray a new brand of hero, inspired by both James Dean and Elvis Presley. In the process, Shammi Kapoor not only laid the way for a host of dancing male leads, from Joy Mukherjee and Jeetendra in his heyday, and then, down the decades, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda, Shah Rukh Khan, and his own great-nephew Ranbir Kapoor, but also transformed the very paradigm of the Hindi film hero, and in a way, Hindi films. Shammi Kapoor Birth Anniversary 2024: How he reinvented himself Gone was the silent, soft-spoken, upright hero - the meek one like his own elder brother Raj Kapoor, or the brooding one like Dilip Kumar - to be supplanted by a flamboyant, swaggering figure, with a casual approach to life, and not hesitant or apologetic in enjoying its pleasures - even ahead of the jaunty Dev Anand, who could never match that level of exuberance. And for this type of hero, the light musical film - intended as pure entertainment without any messages - came into its own, and became the norm, rather than the exception. Shammi Kapoor, who was born this day (October 21) in 1931, himself said that he found the heroes of his own epoch (the 1950s) too "laid-back and defeatist, forever wallowing in self-pity" and decided to "implant a spine", and "add some machismo" to them. And succeed well he did, as films like 'Junglee' (1961), 'Dil Tera Deewana', 'Professor', 'China Town' (all 1962), 'Bluff Master' (1963), 'Rajkumar' (1964), 'Kashmir Ki Kali' (1964), 'Janwar' (1965), 'Teesri Manzil' (1966), 'Budtameez' (1966), 'An Evening in Paris', 'Laat Saheb' (both 1967), 'Brahmachari' (1968), 'Tumse Achha Kaun Hai', 'Prince' (both 1969), and their evergreen and melodious songs prove. Shammi Kapoor made his debut with 'Jeewan Jyoti' (1953) with Chand Usmani, but the movie flopped. So did the subsequent 17 films spanning a variety of genres, from tragic and historical romances ('Laila-Majnu', 1953, with Nutan, 'Mirza Sahiban', 1957 with Shyama) to frothy comedies ('Mem Sahib', 1956 with Meena Kumari), thrillers ('Miss Coca Cola', 1955 with Geeta Bali, or 'Ham Sab Chor Hain', 1956, with Nalini Jaywant, offbeat films like 'Rail Ka Dibba', 1953, with Madhubala, and costumed dramas like 'Shama Parwana' with Suraiya). A distraught Shammi Kapoor, who had got married to Geeta Bali in 1955, was contemplating quitting the industry and taking up a job at an Assam tea plantation. However, two things kept him in films - then scriptwriter Nasir Hussain's desire to change into an actor with a film with a new type of hero, and Dev Anand refusing the hero's role as "not his type". Shammi Kapoor convinced an initially reluctant Hussain to give him the role - and 'Tumsa Nahin Dekha' (1957) gave birth to the Shammi Kapoor we know. After a decade or so's reign as the dancing, leaping, whooping, teasing, romantic hero - with all his dancing choreographed by him after relentless practice - Shammi Kapoor twigged the winds were changing as a new generation of stars emerged. About Shammi Kapoor's later roles Shammi Kapoor later switched to more mature character roles. Be it the tavern-owner Dhoop Chaaon in 'Manoranjan' (1974) - the remake of Shirley MacLaine's 'Irma La Douce' he directed himself, the horse-breeder in 'Zameer' (1975), Amitabh Bachchan's foster-father in 'Parvarish' (1977), the fake holy man, Dr Dubari in 'Shalimar' (1978), the Sisodia Maharaja in "Meera" (1979), the dance judge in Sanjay Dutt's debut 'Rocky' (1981), engine driver - and Dilip Kumar's colleague Gurbaksh in 'Vidhaata' (1982) - which fetched him his second Filmfare Award (but for Best Supporting Actor), and many more, down to the music ustad in his grand-nephew Ranbir Kapoor's "Rockstar" (2011) - released a couple of months after his demise that year, he left his mark.
21 October,2024 11:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKashika Kapoor has recently made her big Bollywood debut with 'Aayushmati Geeta Matric Pass'. Being an outsider and still managing to get a good script for your debut is not an easy task. One has to wait for years and face rejections before finally achieving what they've been waiting for. As Kashika made her debut and her film garnered a good response from both the audience and critics alike, the new talent sat down for a conversation with us on mid-day.com. In a candid chat, Kashika talked about getting the film, facing rejection because of being an outsider, and revealed why she said no to Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s starrer, 'Sunny Sanskari ki Tulsi Kumari'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) The struggle of being an outsider When asked if being an outsider affected the opportunities she could get, Kashika stated, "Honestly, it did. I have a journey of my own, and I think the rejections make it beautiful because today, where I am, I really value it. I really value getting this film. So yes, I did get a lot of calls saying, 'Yaar, someone else is getting this film, so you can't do it,' and I think it's fine." Rejecting Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan's film During the interaction, Kashika recalled meeting Shashank Khaitan, where he narrated the story of Janhvi Kapoor & Varun Dhawan starter 'Sunny Sanskari ki Tulsi Kumari'. She shared that Khaitan offered her the role of Janhvi Kapoor's sister, but she turned it down. Kashika explained that she didn’t want to do any supporting roles. She shared, "See, I think you need to have a vision, which I have had. That's why I never did supporting roles. I always knew that I wanted to go for the main lead." On her debut film 'Aayushmati Geeta Matric Pass' Calling her first film "the best debut she could get," Kashika shared that, in her opinion, what's missing in the industry nowadays is "content," and the audience has become very smart. She further explained that making an impact on society with her debut film is something she feels proud of. The film, which touches on themes of girls' education and societal challenges, is based on true events surrounding scams in educational boards, making it a powerful narrative that resonates with the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' initiative.
21 October,2024 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Shachi ChaturvediADVERTISEMENT
