Have you heard? Parineeti Chopra chooses Imtiaz Ali over Ranbir Kapoor

Parineeti Chopra has given her nod to Chamkila, Ali’s biopic on the late Punjabi music icon, Amar Singh Chamkila

What do you do if you have to choose between Imtiaz Ali and Ranbir Kapoor? If you’re Parineeti Chopra, you opt for your dream director. The actor has given her nod to Chamkila, Ali’s biopic on the late Punjabi music icon, Amar Singh Chamkila. She will go into prep mode immediately as the filmmaker is scheduled to shoot the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer soon. With Chamkila coming into the picture, we hear there was an overlap of dates between Ranbir-starrer Animal and the new project. Considering Pari has long been keen to work with the acclaimed director, she decided to bow out of the Ranbir-starrer. 

AR in the city

Director Ahmed Khan has the perfect idea to launch the song, Dafaa kar, from his upcoming film Heropanti 2. On the evening of March 26, AR Rahman, who has composed the album of the Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria-starrer, will render the track at a suburban multiplex. The leads will showcase their dancing prowess while the Mozart of Madras croons the peppy number. Rahman, who is selective about his work, is said to have agreed to compose for this film at the behest of the director. After all, their association goes back to Rangeela (1995), which saw Ahmed choreograph some songs.

Puppy love

There’s no better ice-breaker than bonding over pets. Amaara Sangam of Rudra fame, who always carries her pet shih tzu Cuddles to meetings, didn’t realise that singer-composer Salim Merchant would instantly take a liking to her furry friend. During a meeting to discuss her music video Maira, Salim and Amaara quit their shop talk to play with Cuddles [her pet]. “How can anyone not smile looking at those puppy eyes! Besides there’s no angry way of saying Cuddles,” she beams.

Exploring the supernatural

Prabhas has moved on from the underwhelming response to Radhe Shyam. The actor, whose line-up includes Adipurush, Salaar and Project K, has also signed RRR producers’ next, Bhale Bhale Magadivoy. Sources say he will begin filming director Maruthi’s supernatural action thriller by early June. Excited about exploring the supernatural genre, the south sensation has allotted over 100 days to the project, and intends to wrap it up before the year-end.

The horse whisperer

It’s not often you make solid friends on set, but Chitrangda Singh found a buddy while filming her music video, Saiyaan. The actor, who had taken to horse riding during the lockdown, befriended a stallion on set. From riding during breaks to tending to the needs of the beautiful beast, Chitrangda did everything for her new friend. Guess that’s a bond meant to stay for life. 

Anxious yet grateful

There’s a glow on Debina Bonnerjee’s face as she enters the third trimester of her pregnancy. Despite “swollen feet, many toilet runs, constipation, and leaking bouts with sneezes and cough” the actor expressed gratitude to be able to enjoy this stage of life after several tries. Sharing a black-and-white picture of herself on Instagram, she wrote, “I am forever grateful for this blessing. The anxiety, fear cannot overshadow my gratefulness. I am ready to overcome all the hurdles and meet you, my baby.”

Training days ahead

Come July, Varun Dhawan will start filming the Indian version of Russo Brothers’ Citadel, which will be helmed by Raj-DK. Before he faces the camera for his maiden web series, we hear the actor will train in martial arts to do justice to the action set-pieces. The offering, also starring Samantha of The Family Man 2 fame, will roll in Mumbai. After an extensive schedule in the city, the cast and crew will head to Europe. The outdoor locations will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Follow no more

Over five months since Samantha and Naga Chaitanya announced their separation, she unfollowed him on social media yesterday. Soon after, she shared a cryptic post that read, “Sometimes, the strength within isn’t a big fiery flame for all to see. Sometimes, it’s just a tiny spark that whispers ever so softly ‘keep going, you got this.’” Interestingly, the actor continues to follow Naga’s brother Akhil Akkineni and other members of the family on the photo-sharing app. Last October, after announcing that they are parting ways, Samantha had deleted her pictures with Naga, including those from their wedding.

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