Did Alia Bhatt try to hide empty seats at ‘Jigra’ screening? Netizens say, ‘super embarrassing’ Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has found herself surrounded by one controversy after another ever since her film ‘Jigra’ hit the big screens. While the film received mixed reviews despite Alia’s stellar performance, her idea of damage control by positing positive takes on the film has led to even more damage. Alia Bhatt ‘hides’ empty seats at ‘Jigra’ screening Alia Bhatt shared a review posted by influencer Malvika Sitlani, who wrote, "Jigra is all warm feels. It's been a while since I've watched something so different. No romance, no song n dance... it's just pure performance and sibling love. It definitely kept me in my seat! Alia Bhatt at her very best love. Pure and beautiful inside and out. Vedang Raina so versatile.” Alia wrote, “Thank you mals!” on the post. As the Instagram story went viral, Reddit users noted how the actress covered empty seats with her caption positioning. Alia Bhatt trying hard to cover the empty seats lolbyu/foolsreunite inBollyBlindsNGossip Netizens react to Alia Bhatt’s ‘damage control’ for ‘Jigra’ One user wrote on Reddit, “This is both hilarious and super embarrassing! Alia, KJo, Dharma, and her PR need to face the fact that this movie is a flop, and there’s no saving it now. Hiding empty seats or manipulating the narrative with PR won’t change the outcome.” Another added, “For a moment, even if I thought Bhusan’s wife was exaggerating, there are literally just three people here and one of them is Mals. Honestly, at this point, all the trolling against Alia and Karan would stop if they just accept Jigra is a failure, learn from their mistakes, and move on. The constant PR cover-up to make it seem like the movie is doing well is what’s making people hate/troll them more.” Controversies surrounding ‘Jigra’ Earlier, actor-filmmaker Divya Khossla called out Bhatt and the film’s team for giving fake box office numbers despite empty theatres. This led to cryptic social media posts by Karan Johar who produced the film and Divya, who also hit back. Not just this, Bijou Thaangjam, an actor from Manipur, slammed the makers for discrimination after stalling him for months in the hopes of a role and then going MIA. ‘Jigra’ directed by Vasan Bala was released in theatres on October 11.
16 October,2024 10:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNCP leader Baba Siddique's assassination sent shockwaves across political and Bollywood communities. Reacting to the same, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s brother and producer Arbaaz Khan spoke about his family’s safety and expressed that they’re all worried. Siddique was killed after being shot at outside his office in Nirmal Nagar. He sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest before being brought to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment, where he succumbed to death on Saturday night. Arbaaz Khan says everyone is worried In an interview with Zoom, Arbaaz Khan said that a lot is happening at the moment in the family and everyone is worried. When asked about Salman Khan’s safety since the actor has been a constant target, Arbaaz said, “I wouldn’t say we are all okay right now but we are trying to do what we can do the best. We are ensuring that everybody, along with the government and the police, is making sure that things go the way they should, and, he’s (Salman) protected. Everyone is doing their best. We want to stay this way right now.” Baba Siddique was a very close family friend While speaking ANI, Arbaaz said, "Baba Siddique sir was a very, very close family friend and very loved person and unke saath aap dekho eid ke time poori industry jama hoti thi toh unke jaane ka bohot afsoos ho raha hai." (You could see how everyone from the industry used to gather during his Eid bash and his demise is quite saddening.) We have prayers for the family and we all are affected by this incident. It's very unfortunate, but I guess we are all kind of trying to recover from this thing, so just prayers, that's it." About Baba Siddique’s assassination The last rites of Baba Siddique were performed with full state honours in Mumbai at Bada Qabrastan on Sunday. Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested 4 accused so far and three accused are still absconding, search for whom is on. According to the police, the plan to kill Baba Siddiqui had started 3 months ago, the accused had gone to Baba Siddiqui's house several times without weapons. The police said that the entire planning of Baba Siddiqui's murder was done in Pune. Mumbai Crime Branch has so far recorded the statements of more than 15 people in connection with the case.
16 October,2024 09:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Mohit Malik, known for his versatile performances in shows like 'Doli Armaano Ki', 'Kulfi Kumar Baajewala', 'Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si', and the web series 'Chamak', might be taking a significant step into Bollywood. The buzz suggests that he is set to star opposite Diana Penty in the upcoming film 'Sardi Ki Phusphusaahat', directed by the acclaimed Abhishek Kapoor. While there hasn't been any official confirmation, fans are excited about the possibility of seeing Mohit on the big screen, sharing screen space with Diana. Mohit to collaborate with Abhishek Kapoor for his big debut? Interestingly, if this rumour turns out to be true, it would mark Mohit’s second collaboration with Abhishek Kapoor. Earlier, there were speculations about Mohit making his Bollywood debut in a film also directed by Abhishek, alongside Ajay Devgn's nephew, Aaman Devgn, and Raveena Tandon's daughter, Rasha Thadani. However, no further information has surfaced about that project, leading to curiosity about whether 'Sardi Ki Phusphusaahat' might be the one bringing this talented actor to the silver screen. Mohit to make debut with ‘Sardi Ki Phusphusaahat’ Although the details about the plot and Mohit’s role in 'Sardi Ki Phusphusaahat' remain under wraps, the film hints at the promise of an intriguing storyline and captivating performances. Abhishek Kapoor, known for films like 'Kai Po Che!' and 'Rock On!!', is often credited for his knack for extracting remarkable performances from his actors, making this potential collaboration even more promising. As fans eagerly await further announcements, the possibility of Mohit Malik and Diana Penty sharing the screen has already stirred anticipation. For now, the rumoured association remains speculation, but if confirmed, it would be a significant step in Mohit’s evolving career, bridging his successful television journey to the world of films. Mohit on making his Bollywood debut Last year, when 'Mid-Day' contacted Malik regarding his Bollywood debut, the actor confirmed, "It’s happening next year." However, he didn’t reveal further details. Talking about being picky with his projects, Mohit said, "I have always been choosy. I’m secure in that way, and I have a backup too. I feel every actor should have a backup and be in the space to choose the right kind of content."
16 October,2024 07:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Raveena Tandon, took to her Instagram and shared a poster of her iconic movie ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ to celebrate the 26 years of this movie. She added the text to the story and captioned it as “26 years to this mad caper! Fun and masti throughout! #memories”. ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ movie was released in 1998 and directed by David Dhawan. This action comedy-drama is one of the first films that was shot in Ramoji film city. Actors Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda played dual roles alongside Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal, Ramya Krishnan, Satish Kaushik, and Sharat Saxena. The storyline of this movie revolves around two police inspectors (Arjun and Pyare) who work together in Mumbai and have a rivalry. The film is famous not only for its humourous one-liners but also for its hit numbers like "Kisi Disco Mein Jayen", and "Tere Pyar Ka Ras nahi Chankna". Through this movie, Govinda won the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role. On the work front, Raveena made her acting debut in the 1991 action film 'Patthar Ke Phool', for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She gained popularity with her leading roles in films such as Mohra (1994), Dilwale (1994), Khiladiyo ka Khiladi (1996), and Ziddi (1997). She has received various accolades in Hindi cinema, including two Filmfare awards, a national film award, and a Filmfare OTT award. The Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, was recently awarded to her in 2023. Raveena married Anil Thadani in 2004. She has four children: two with her husband and two adopted children. She adopted Pooja and Chaya in 1995. Her daughter Rasha is soon going to make her Bollywood debut.
16 October,2024 07:09 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Priyanka Chopra, who is currently busy with the shoot of the second season of her global streaming series ‘Citadel’, landed in Mumbai on Wednesday. The actress was seen wearing an all white attire, in the form of a white cargo, white t-shirt and a grey baseball cap. The actress waved to the paparazzi stationed at the Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai. A source told IANS that the actress is in Mumbai for a brand engagement. It was also learnt that the actress will not be attending the MAMI Film Festival despite being the chairperson for the festival in the city this month. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Earlier, the actress had shared a leaf from her routine as she took to her Instagram, and shared an array of pictures as she juggled her professional and personal duties. The pictures showed her busy with the shoot of ‘Citadel’, her daughter visiting her on the sets of the show, the actress taking a walk with her daughter and engaging in playtime. Detailing her routine lately, she wrote in the caption, “Lately 1 & 2: Nadia is a little different this season #citadel 3: On the tube. 4: Early wrap takes us to the park 5: When she comes to see mama at work 6: And then we go to the park again. 7: Walks, songs and chats 8: Visiting friends @natasha.poonawalla 9: She turned 80! Happy birthday Fran. @mamadjonas 10: When the sun wakes you up in bed 11: Traffic selfie 12,13,14: When the glam is so good @harryjoshhair @yumi_mori 15: Back on a plane. As usual, racing home”. Prior to this, PC had shared a throwback collage of her childhood picture and a picture from the initial phase of her career while discussing evolution.
16 October,2024 06:32 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood superstar and National Award-winner Alia Bhatt, whose latest film ‘Jigra’ courted controversy has reportedly charged a whopping amount to star in it. Alia, who has proven her acting mettle with films like ‘Highway’, ‘Darlings’, and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ among others, received mixed reactions for her latest release. That being said, she did make money on her part as an actor even though the film didn’t do well at the box office. How much did Alia Bhatt charge for ‘Jigra’? According to reports, Alia Bhatt charged Rs 10-15 crore for the film. This is three times more than what the film made on its opening day at the box office. The film, which is helmed by Vasan Bala, raked in Rs 4.55 crore on the opening day in India. Despite Alia’s star power, her film did not manage to garner huge footfall on the release day. Controversies surrounding ‘Jigra’ Actor-filmmaker Divya Khossla called out Bhatt and the film’s team for giving fake box office numbers despite empty theatres. This led to cryptic social media posts by Karan Johar who produced the film and Divya, who also hit back. Not just this, Bijou Thaangjam, an actor from Manipur, slammed the makers for discrimination after stalling him for months in the hopes of a role and then going MIA. Earlier, Vasan Bala made headlines after he said in a lighter note that he wrote a very premature email (about the creative process) to KJo about the idea of 'Jigra'. The latter forwarded the email to Alia, which Vasan said in jest, that he didn’t like because the email had hygiene issues and grammatical errors. Vasan’s seemingly humorous statement was blown out of proportion by the people on the Internet, and in no time KJo started receiving brickbats for simply forwarding an email. Karan cleared the air and said, “So, I was flooded with Vasan Bala’s interview which he answered with pure innocence and so much love, the gore misinterpretation of his comment about me sending the script to Alia without his grammar checks made me laugh initially at the ludicrousness of it all but now is truly annoying me.” “Vasan continues to be one of my most talented and wonderful collaborators and if you see his interview and hear his tone you will totally get it! BUT NO … much ado about nothing is all over the place…I fold my hands and tell everyone please hear and read entire interviews before making clickbait assumptions. Loads of Love to all of you”, he added. ‘Jigra’ was released on October 11 in theatres.
16 October,2024 06:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Kajol took to her social media handles to celebrate the 26th anniversary of her blockbuster film ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.’ The film also featured Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles with a memorable extended cameo by Salman Khan. Kajol, who played the vibrant and lovable Anjali in the film, is ‘still feeling the same.’ Taking to her Instagram handle, the ‘Dilwale’ actress shared a couple of photos featuring her, SRK and Rani Mukerji. Alongside the clicks, she wrote, “Still feeling the same .. even tho I seem to have grown up 26 years later ! #kkhh #rahulisacheater #friendship #anjali #26years.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol) Karan Johar also posted a montage video highlighting both iconic scenes and behind-the-scenes moments from the film's set. In his caption, he reminisced about the film, saying, “Of cool neck chains, neon shirts, pink head bands, summer camp with only dancing involved, wishing on toota taaras, cheating in basketball, dosti that turns into pyaar and characters that live through time and beyond!!.” He continued, expressing gratitude for the experience, saying, “To my first film as a director. To the best cast & crew on set. To taking that feeling of day one and keeping it alive....26 years later!.” The post was met with an outpouring of love from fans and fellow celebrities. In an old interview, Kajol had revealed her preference for Salman’s character over Shah Rukh Khan's in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.’ When asked who she would choose between Rahul (played by Shah Rukh Khan) and Aman (played by Salman Khan), she responded, “On script level, maybe I would have gone with Salman's character, but in the film, if you watch the film, there is no choice about the ending; it has to be the way it is.” ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ was a massive success, winning several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. The film was released on 16 October 1998.
16 October,2024 06:17 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSFilmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been openly discussing the Salman Khan and Lawrence Bishnoi drama on the internet. After the Baba Siddique murder case, RGV has been sharing his opinions on the Salman and Bishnoi rivalry. His recent post about the matter was quite shocking, as the filmmaker opined that Salman Khan should issue a threat to the gangster; otherwise, it would look like "COWARDICE of the TIGER STAR." Ram Gopal Varma on Salman Khan and Lawrence Bishnoi Story RGV took to his X account and shared a tweet that reads, "I wish @BeingSalmanKhan will give a SUPER COUNTER THREAT to B or otherwise, it will look like a COWARDICE of the TIGER STAR. S K owes it to his fans to rise up as the BIGGER SUPER HERO in comparison to B." I wish @BeingSalmanKhan will give a SUPER COUNTER THREAT to B or otherwise , it will look like a COWARDICE of the TIGER STAR ..S K owes it to his fans to rise up as the BIGGER SUPER HERO in comparison to B — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 15, 2024 He further reacted to his earlier tweet summarizing the flow of events after gangster Bishnoi claimed responsibility for Siddique's murder and wrote, "I have 6.2 MILLION FOLLOWERS and this tweet got 6.2 MILLION VIEWS... This is a TESTIMONY of LAWRENCE BISHNOI’s CURRENT POPULARITY." I have 6.2 MILLION FOLLOWERS and this tweet got 6.2 MILLION VIEWS..This is a TESTIMONY of LAWRENCE BISHNOI’s CURRENT POPULARITY pic.twitter.com/0A671DsxwO — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 16, 2024 Ram Gopal Varma calls Bishnoi good looking In one of his tweets about Bishnoi, Ram Gopal Varma shared a picture of the gangster and wrote, "If a film is based on the BIGGEST GANGSTER, no filmmaker will cast a guy who looks like DAWOOD IBRAHIM or CHOTA RAJAN... But here, I don’t know a single FILM STAR who is more GOOD LOOKING than B." If a film is based on the BIGGEST GANGSTER , no film maker will cast a guy who looks like DAWOOD IBRAHIM or CHOTA RAJAN ..But here , I don’t know a single FILM STAR who is more GOOD LOOKING than B pic.twitter.com/jbZubaTtzY — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 15, 2024 The Salman Khan connection with Baba Siddique's Murder For those unaware, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddique, which was shot dead by three men on Saturday, October 12. A viral post claims that the gangster orchestrated the act because the politician was helping Salman Khan. The superstar and the late politician had been family friends for decades. His murder came as a shock to Khan, who was seen in tears at Siddique's residence on Sunday. Bishnoi and Khan's feud goes back to the early 2000s when the superstar was involved in a blackbuck shooting case in Rajasthan. While Salman Khan spent a week in jail for the crime, the Bishnoi community, who consider blackbucks sacred, have been targeting the actor ever since, issuing death threats.
16 October,2024 06:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVineet Kumar Singh, who recently received a standing ovation for his film Superboys of Malegaon at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere, has now signed a political thriller film 'Match Fixing', which is based on Kanwar Khatana's book 'The Game Behind Saffron Terror'. The film, directed by Kedaar Gaekwad, is set to release in theatres on November 15 and will see Vineet share the screen space with Anuja Sathe and Manoj Joshi among others. Along with the film's announcement, the makers also shared the first look of Singh in the film, which is striking and instantly pulls the audiences in the mode of the story. The tale, which promises to be gripping, is expected to bring Singh's acting prowess under the limelight, yet again highlighting his versatility. Sharing the poster on his social media handles, Singh wrote, "It’s not about cricket, it's about the Nation - Based on a book. The hidden truth behind #MatchFixing." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vineet Kumar Singh (@vineet_ksofficial) Vineet Kumar Singh, who was previously seen in ‘Ghuspaithiya’, is awaiting the release of ‘Superboys of Malegaon’. He will be seen in the multilingual pan-India film ‘SDGM’, which will see him sharing the screen space with Sunny Deol. The film, produced by Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory, will mark Vineet's first project with Sunny Deol. As per reports, the big-budgeted film is being touted as the "biggest action film of the country" and is being directed by Gopichand Malineni. Other details of the film are under wrap for now. The film, which went on the floors in June this year, is highly anticipated due to the impressive track record of Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory, which has been behind several successful ventures. The actioner has already generated immense curiosity as fans are eagerly waiting to witness what Sunny Deol and the ‘Rangbaaz’ actor will bring on the table. The sources close to the production have hinted at a gripping narrative that will showcase both the actors in challenging and engaging roles. Vineet also has ‘Aadhaar’ and ‘Rangeen’ in the pipeline.
16 October,2024 05:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIbrahim Ali Khan recently dropped a brand ad on his Instagram account, and the ad has reminded fans of Saif Ali Khan from 'Dil Chahta Hai'. Since the release of the ad, fans have been reacting to it in the comment section and showing their love for the upcoming Bollywood star. While some got nostalgic, others had only good things to say about Ibrahim Ali Khan. Fans reacted to Ibrahim Ali Khan’s new ad A fan who was reminded of Saif from the 'Dil Chahta Hai' era wrote, "Looks like Saif from his 'Dil Chahta Hai' days." Another user humorously commented, "Bollywood casting the same actor as father and son seemed funny—until we saw Saif and Ibrahim! Bollywood was just preparing us." A third fan said, "Close enough, welcome back, young Saif." Another shared, "My Delulu Prince shines in his first major ad campaign." One user commented, "MORE SAIF THAN SAIF HIMSELF." Ibrahim Ali Khan’s work front For those unversed, Ibrahim worked as an assistant director for Karan Johar’s romantic drama 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani', which featured Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi. Earlier, Karan Johar hinted at a new project with a legacy actor who will be making his debut in the film. Many fans speculated that the film is 'Sarzameen', starring South actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, and Ibrahim. However, an official announcement of the film is still awaited. Recently, in an interview with ANI, Ibrahim’s sister Sara Ali Khan opened up about how talented he is and wished him good luck and success in the industry. When asked if she would like to set an example for her sibling with her work, Sara replied, "No, I don’t feel like setting an example for him. My brother is quite smart... it is his life, his luck, and his talent. We both have been brought up in the same manner, so I know he won’t drift from his chosen path. And no matter how far you run, you will come back to yourself. That’s what our mom (Amrita Singh) taught us." Wishing him luck for his Bollywood debut, Ibrahim’s sister Sara said, "I hope he maintains balance in his life and work. He should stick to his values. He is a grounded child." On the personal front, Ibrahim is rumoured to be dating Shweta Tiwari’s daughter, actress Palak Tiwari. (With inputs from Agencies)
16 October,2024 05:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe unforgettable title track of Bhool Bhulaiyaa has been remade for a third time, with this iconic 'Hare Krishna Hare Ram' still giving us goosebumps. What makes Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3's title track extra special is the collaboration between international rapper Pitbull and our very own global star Diljit Dosanjh. However, nothing can replace Neeraj Sridhar's voice as he is back to add his signature touch. Despite the hype around the international collaboration on the recreation of this iconic track, the main attraction of the song remains Kartik Aaryan. The track is a visual spectacle, with Kartik Aaryan setting the screen on fire with his sleek 'Spooky Slide’ dance moves. He keeps us glued to the screen, gliding smoothly on shiny floors in snazzy attire. The choreographers deserve credit on the YouTube channel. Pitbull masterfully blends his rap with the iconic ‘Hare Ram Hare Krishna’ chant, while Punjabi powerhouse Diljit Dosanjh brings his unique flair and Neeraj Shridhar holds down the Hindi vocals. Together, they manage to retain the essence of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, while pushing the boundaries with a modern, international twist. With music maestros Pritam and Tanishk Bagchi at the helm, this track is a melting pot of cultures, blending global beats with desi flair. Fans of Kartik and the horror comedy franchise have been eagerly waiting for the song, and it surely hasn't disappointed them. It is amazing how the appeal of this song, originally picturised on Akshay Kumar, has endured over the years. Some of the comments on the song are: "That "Hare Ram Hare Ram Hare Krishna Hare Ram" still giving us goosebumps!!" "That meme guy of "hey hari raam" will be so proud of... And Pitbull singing Hare Raam is top class" "Kartik Aryan has challenged the , Michael Jackson, with his mesmerizing dance moves ..... Amazing performance" "Diljit n pitbull are okay,but nobody's gonna beat Neeraj Sridhar's part "hare Ram,hare ram" One user rightly pointed out, "It breaks my heart to see Sir Neeraj Shridhar not getting the love and fame he deserves. He produced all the best songs of our childhood that we dance to - Bhool bhulaiya, character dheela, bhagam bhag, aahun aahun, chor bazari, ale, love mera hit hit, papa toh band bajaye, tum hi ho bandhu and so on. Let's show our love for him please."
16 October,2024 04:12 PM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
