DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:36:30 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kylie-jenner-always-meant-to-be-a-mom-161205.html Los Angeles Sep 29 Reality TV personality and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner who is expecting her second child with rapper Travis Scott feels that she was always meant to be a mother and seeing her daughter Stormi grow has been the best part of her last few years She said Motherhood really feels like something I was always meant to do Watching Stormi experience everything for the first time has been the best part of these last few years Kylie takes parenthood one day at a time and urges other mothers to be kind to themselves reports femalefirstcouk She said Be gentle with yourself Motherhood is such a balancing act and I just try to take one day at a time Kylie is launching her own baby care collection Kylie Baby which includes shampoos conditioners bubble baths towels and travel cases She said that her new venture is a dream come true She told Ellecom It was a dream of mine to create safe and effective products as a gift to my kids As a new mom I was curious and conscious about the products that would work best for my daughters hair and skin Thats how I came up with the idea to launch a baby line with clean formulas that were gentle enough and would work for all skin and hair types without compromising quality IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kylie-jenner-always-meant-to-be-a-mom-161205.html Wed, 29 Sep 2021 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/helen-mirren-to-host-harry-potter-game-show-158112.html Los Angeles Sep 17 Oscarwinning actress Helen Mirren says she is thrilled to be hosting a new quiz show Harry Potter Hogwarts Tournament of Houses which will air as part of the 20thanniversary celebrations of the film series I knew someday Id get a Harry Potter role and Im so pleased to take part in the 20year film celebration said Mirren reports femalefirstcouk The show is set to air later this year on networks TBS and Cartoon Networks ACME before airing on HBO Max In a statement Mirren said The films inspired such enchantment and wonder for so many of us and it will be such a treat to reignite that magic for the countless fans who continue to revel in this spellbinding world Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will see fans of Harry Potter battle it out in a trivia contest for bragging rights and the honor of being named House Cup champion In a statement Warner Bros Global Kids Young Adults and Classics president Tom Ascheim said WarnerMedia is creating an arena for the leagues of Harry Potter film fans to flex their knowledge of the wizarding world The statement further read Theres no one better than Dame Helen Mirren to add some British grandeur to this event that will debut across our WarnerMedia brands and platforms The first film in the eightpart series Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone was released in November 2001 and launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe Rupert Grint and Emma Watson who played the main magical student trio of Harry Ron and Hermione respectively The films are based on the bestselling book series by author JK Rowling which spans seven novels set at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and has sold an estimated 500 million copies IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/helen-mirren-to-host-harry-potter-game-show-158112.html Sat, 18 Sep 2021 02:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nicki-minaj-not-invited-to-white-house-official-158137.html Los Angeles Sep 17 Rapper Nicki Minaj has repeatedly voiced her scepticism about the Covid19 vaccine and claimed to have been invited to discuss her concerns with the US government However White House officials have refuted her claims on the invite Instead they said Minaj was offered a phone call to discuss her concerns with a doctor as has been an option for others who have been feeling doubtful about the jab reports femalefirstcouk Minaj suggested that the vaccine could lead to impotency A White House official said As we have with others we offered a call with Nicki Minaj and one of our doctors to answer questions she has about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine Minaj had made the claim on Twitter that shed been invited to the White House reports femalefirstcouk She wrote The White House has invited me I think its a step in the right direction Yes Im going Ill be dressed in all pink like Legally Blonde so they know I mean business Ill ask questions on behalf of the ppl who have been made fun of for simply being human BallGate day 3 She subsequently asked her followers to send their questions and concerns to her so she could put them before the officials in the White House In response to a post from a fan she said Im doing it babe If you guys have questions youd like me to ask leave in the comments Youll see it in real time with full transparency The Anaconda hitmaker first shared her concerns about the vaccine when she explained one of the reasons why she wouldnt be at the Met Gala on Monday was the vaccine mandate for attendees Minaj even claimed that her cousins friend became impotent and that his testicles became swollen after having the jab IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nicki-minaj-not-invited-to-white-house-official-158137.html Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/on-kbc13-neeraj-chopra-opens-up-about-his-choice-as-javelin-thrower-158141.html Mumbai Sep 17 Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra who will be on the hot seat in Kaun Banega Crorepati 13 for the Shaandaar Shukravaar episode on Friday will be seen sharing his story as to why and how he took up Javelin throw as a sport He says Honestly I was overweight when I was 1314 years old My chachaji paternal uncle insisted that I take up sports He even asked me to choose between sports and studies and thinking he will be proud of me I told him my choice studies To which he said he knows how much I study and asked me to take up sports So when he sent me to a stadium I wasnt even sure I would take up any sport I simply went there to lose weight The stadium was 1516 kilometre away from my village and I used to travel by bus This bus used to stop 2km ahead of the stadium and I had to walk the rest of the way After a month or two my fitness improved There were a lot of sports at the stadium but I saw my seniors throwing javelin and I liked seeing it go very far and get stuck in the ground and I felt like I wanted to do the same I tried it and enjoyed it very much adds Neeraj who holds the second spot on the World Athletics Ranking in 2021 He said My senior Jai he felt that my throw was good and he asked me to join him And I dont know what happened or what I liked about it but I felt this is a sport that I want to take up I never thought of representing India at the Olympics when I took up the sport I just put in all my energy and hard work and Im lucky that I got great support and guidance from my family and seniors and today Ive won Gold for my country Olympians PR Sreejesh and Neeraj Chopra will be special guests for the Shaandaar Shukravaar episode of KBC 13 which will air on September 17 on Sony Entertainment Television IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/on-kbc13-neeraj-chopra-opens-up-about-his-choice-as-javelin-thrower-158141.html Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/dino-morea-i-love-acting-but-producing-is-also-great-156503.html New Delhi Sep 11 Dino Morea has got a great response for his performance as Shaibani Khan in the latest series The Empire and his production venture Helmet He says he loves to act but he also finds creating content as a producer greatly satisfying Talking to IANS about which one is more daunting producing or acting Dino shared When I constantly started saying no to all the terrible offers coming my way I wanted to stay connected to the film industry I wanted to produce and create content that I would like watching My first film was Jism 2 The 45yearold actor took almost nine years for his next production venture Helmet starring Aparshakti Khurana He revealed why I took some time after that because I was really confused about whether to produce or act I decided to let me do both and it is possible I am capable I can make great content and the content I am confident about Fortunately The Empire came his way After all the hard work and saying no for so long I think the red light has turned to green The patience and persistence is paying off I am happy about I still love acting but producing is also great I want to create more content we are pitching for three more movies he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/dino-morea-i-love-acting-but-producing-is-also-great-156503.html Sun, 12 Sep 2021 02:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vaani-kapoor-eager-for-all-her-films-to-come-out-156418.html New Delhi Sep 11 Vaani Kapoor has two films lined up for release now Shamshera and Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui and the actress says she is looking forward eagerly for her films to come out I am just eager for all my films to come out and theatres to open and have 100 per cent occupancy because I personally also feel I have good films in hand and I love my movies and I am just hoping people can watch them Vaani whose latest release is Bell Bottom shared while speaking to IANS The 33yearold actress is hopeful that people will like Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui which also stars Ayushmann Khurrana and the Ranbir Kapoor starrer Shamshera I am trying not to take any pressure and hope that these films work Thats all said the actress IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vaani-kapoor-eager-for-all-her-films-to-come-out-156418.html Sat, 11 Sep 2021 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bhoot-police-director-calls-saif-arjun-formidable-pair-156335.html Mumbai Sep 11 Bhoot Police director Pavan Kirpalani has heaped praises on the actors of his film Saif Ali Khan and Arjun Kapoor He says that the two were a perfect cast to portray Vibhooti and Chiraunji and that its almost like a dream come true to get these brilliant actors to play the characters Kirpalani said Saif Ali Khan and Arjun Kapoor are the perfect cast to portray Vibhooti and Chiraunji its almost like a dream come true to get these two brilliant actors to play these characters Vibhooti is tailormade for Saif everything about Vibhooti fits Saif like a glove hes owned and took the character to the next level He shared In my books Vibhooti is Saifs one of best performances he owns the character Kirpalani added that Arjun brought such gravitas and heart to Chiraunji and has elevated the character beyond what was written He added Together both SaifArjun are a formidable pair they literally have made each others performance a lot better because of their interplay their friction and the love that they have for each other it played out really well Its really amazing to have these two talented actors in the film they brought life to the reel brothers Bhoot Police also stars Jacqueline Fernandez Yami Gautam Jaaved Jaafri and Jamie Lever in pivotal roles The movie released on September 10 on Disney Hotstar IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bhoot-police-director-calls-saif-arjun-formidable-pair-156335.html Sat, 11 Sep 2021 10:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/khatron-ke-khiladi-11-contestants-reveal-their-hidden-talents-156341.html Mumbai Sep 11 In this weekends episodes of Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 the title prize contenders show the world that they have something more to them than just their penchant for flirting for danger Vishal Aditya Singh who is known for his competitive streak has a thing for poetry Hell be seen reciting a selfcomposed shayari for none other than actress Sana Makbul Looks like love is in the air in Cape Town The cheer from his fellow contestants will boost Vishals enthusiasm inspiring him to read out his heartfelt shayari penned for Sana in the most romantic style Listening to her beloveds poetry Sana just cant stop blushing and giggling Varun Sood reveals his talent for playing the guitar The critically acclaimed singer Rahul Vaidya will join forces with him and sing to his tunes Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya who has been surprising the viewers and her fans with her actionpacked moves on the show shall flamboyantly display her skills in rifleshooting As Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 inches towards the finale in spite of all the fun and laughter things are about to get serious as backtoback elimination rounds hover upon all the contestants This weekend the show will witness a double elimination Which two of contestants will be out and leave the rest to fight for another day Only time will tell Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 airs every Saturday and Sunday on COLORS IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/khatron-ke-khiladi-11-contestants-reveal-their-hidden-talents-156341.html Sat, 11 Sep 2021 11:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kangana-promoting-regional-cinema-a-step-towards-atmanirbhar-bharat-156356.html New Delhi Sep 11 Drawing a parallel with how the global footprint of Hollywood had impacted the French German and Italian film industries Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut said at a recent media conference here that it must not be allowed to grow in India at the expense of regional cinema Kangana was in the national capital to promote the movie Thalaivii which was released this Friday in Hindi Tamil and Telugu The movie is about the life of the late J Jayalalithaa who served as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for more than 14 years Kangana urged film exhibitors not to be impacted by Hollywood to such an extent that they start moving away from regional cinema She said Like Hollywood has destroyed other industries it is trying to overtake us We must encourage regional cinema and promote dubbed versions of films in Malayalam or Tamil or Punjabi or other languages than just showing the dubbed versions of Jungle Book or Lion King This will be our contribution to the making of Atmanirbhar Bharat When asked about that one quality of the late leader she would like to imbibe Kangana said Her foremost trait was her strong determination which enabled her to accept challenges and became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kangana-promoting-regional-cinema-a-step-towards-atmanirbhar-bharat-156356.html Sat, 11 Sep 2021 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/iggy-wants-to-live-in-complete-darkness-247-155763.html Los Angeles Sep 9 Rapper Iggy Azalea has said that she wants to live in total darkness Shes been renovating her mansion in California and shes taken to Twitter to share her homeimprovement plans said that shed love to fill her bedroom with plants and live in complete darkness reports femalefirstcouk Azalea wrote on the microblogging platform I want a bedroom full of plants but I also want complete darkness 247 smiling and frowning emojis sic The Work hitmaker who was born in Australia but relocated to the US during her teenage previously shared that shes excited to have some of her sons artwork dotted throughout their house Iggy who has a 16monthold son called Onyx with her formerboyfriend Playboi Carti said I cant wait until my son can draw me pictures so I can frame them and put them all over my crib sic The rapper also revealed that shes enjoying her life as a single woman She wrote 1 year later and 100 times happier I love that for me IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/iggy-wants-to-live-in-complete-darkness-247-155763.html Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/billie-eilish-failure-like-success-only-in-your-head-155772.html Los Angeles Sep 9 Singer Billie Eilish is one of the worlds bestselling musicians but admits she struggles with the intense scrutiny of social media She said Ive felt like a failure a lot in my life And its really easy to feel like a failure when so many people are looking at you and telling you you are one It can be hard not to believe them I grew up with the internet I use social media for the same reasons everyone else does and you come across these videos saying youre ugly and you suck and youre terrible and that makes me feel like a failure She added There are other things too more concrete things like when I disappoint myself when I dont feel how I said I was going to feel or do the things I said to myself I was going to do but failure is an interesting thing because like success its really only in your head The Bad Guy hitmaker actually feels that success and failure is all about perspective reports femalefirstcouk Speaking to iD magazine Eilish said You can literally physically fail at something but it can still be a success and vice versa Success and failure are all only about your perspective Eilish also thinks that expectations of her as a musician and as a role model ought to remain realistic She said It should be realistic The problem is when people have unattainable role models or dream of an unattainable life or an unattainable face and an unattainable body and thats not healthy for kids especially Were all real people Eilish said that when people see celebrities on the internet or social media they dont see them as human beings She added And I catch myself doing this too they see them as characters When really were all just random people in our cars trying to keep it together IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/billie-eilish-failure-like-success-only-in-your-head-155772.html Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tiffany-haddish-wants-an-eight-plex-not-engagement-ring-155779.html Los Angeles Sep 9 Actress Tiffany Haddish is happy in her twoyear relationship with rapper Common and isnt looking for anything extra but if her beau does want to propose she would prefer to be given an apartment than an engagement ring Haddish told Extra Im happy where I am right now Im enjoying it Im not going to put nothing extra on it If he wants to marry me he can get me an apartment building She jokingly added Give me a duplex an eightplex or something Homegirl will be What I thought you were engaged where are your carats Carats Girl please I got unitsThis is going to be appreciated over time The ring might lose its value but land now that right there I want a deed thats hot The 41yearold actress also said that she doesnt consider Common to be her soul mate reports femalefirstcouk Asked if they are soul mates Haddish said I wouldnt say all that I dont even know if thats a real thing Ive been married and divorced The actress who split from William Stewart in 2011 after three years of marriage added I believe people are there at the right time they are there for you Maybe theres multiple soul mates IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tiffany-haddish-wants-an-eight-plex-not-engagement-ring-155779.html Thu, 09 Sep 2021 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bhumi-pednekar-im-a-little-shy-about-calling-myself-a-star-155875.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi Sep 9 On her debut in 2015 Bhumi Pednekar took critics by surprise and won awards by playing an overweight bride who speaks up for her rights in the romantic comedy Dum Laga Ke Haisha Since then Bhumi Pednekar has given a string of hits with meaningful cinema She has been seen in Toilet Ek Prem Katha Shubh Mangal Savdhaan Saand Ki Aankh Bala Pati Patni Aur Woh and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare and many more such critically acclaimed films But is Bhumi comfortable with the star tag In an interview with IANS the actress who started out as an assistant to Shanoo Sharma the casting director of Yash Raj Films made the confession I am a little shy to call myself a star She insists she is an actor who has received a lot of love Bhumi said I think the definition of stardom has changed across different generations But yes I am grateful that my films are appreciated and people love me and I am going to continue doing whatever I do on and off screen Hindi cinema is known for its biggerthanlife films but Bhumi has stood her ground on featuring only in messagedriven films and calls herself fortunate I have always been keen that my films should have a positive message along with entertainment as thats what cinema is primarily meant to do Bhumi said She added I feel thats how films in the future would also be If someone is spending two hours watching a film or my piece of content it must lead to some kind of a positive change in their mindset As a public figure Bhumi is doing her bit for the world too In 2019 she launched the Climate Warrior campaignto raise awareness on environmental protection and global warming So is it time for Hindi cinema to raise issues related to climate change and sustainable lifestyles pat came the reply from Bhumi Yes I feel its high time that Hindi cinema starts showing a sustainable way of living in their films She added As a fraternity we are woke and I personally would like to believe that we are more conscious than other industries but I still feel we arent doing enough Bhumi incidentally has named as Indias first MAC global cosmetics brand ambassador because of her efforts towards climate conservation and sustainability and also her body of work In fact she makes sure that the sets she works on do not use plastic bottles and singleuse plastics as much as possible Bhumi concluded I know its difficult but I try to make my ecosystem as sustainable as possible I do feel that we need narratives in filmsmovies that send out the message because they are the most powerful medium to get the message across to the masses Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bhumi-pednekar-im-a-little-shy-about-calling-myself-a-star-155875.html Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kanganas-parents-predict-5th-national-award-after-watching-thalaivii-155884.html Mumbai Sep 9 Actress Kangana Ranaut shared her parents reaction after they watched her forthcoming film Thalaivii Sharing a picture of her parents on Instagram Story the actress posted how they reacted as the couple was seen doing the iconic V finger gesture as they posed for the shutterbugs The actress wrote Mummy papa after watching the film Thalaivii said congratulations for 5th National Award medal emoji Kangana on Thursday morning shared a still from the film a biopic based on the life of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former actress J Jayalalithaa which will be released in Hindi Tamil and Telugu Alongside the picture she wrote Two years ago I embarked on a journey to play one of Indias most iconic women on screen There were many obstacles and challenges in our way but what kept me and my team going was the passion for Jaya Amma and Cinema This Friday our film will finally reach its audience do give it a chance in a theatre near you I am already overwhelmed by the glorious reviews for the film and simply cant wait for the public to see the film The film showcases the varied aspects of Jayalalithaas life tracing her journey as an actress at a young age to becoming the face of Tamil cinema as well as the rise of the revolutionary leader who changed the course of the states politics It is set to release in cinemas on September 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kanganas-parents-predict-5th-national-award-after-watching-thalaivii-155884.html Thu, 09 Sep 2021 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/halle-berry-was-terrified-about-directing-debut-bruised-155472.html Los Angeles Sep 8 Bruised filmmaker and actress Halle Berry was scared as she stepped behind the camera for the first time as director The 55yearold actress is at the helm of the upcoming Netflix movie in which she also stars as mixed martial arts MMA fighter Jackie Jackie Justice who is chasing one last comeback reports femalefirstcouk Berry told the Daily Express newspaper As an actor I always show up and do my part and I can only do what I can do Being the director I have a part in the totality of every department I get to have a voice That was different and I really loved that I was scared sless Any director will tell you that theyre scared going in Fear and worry are healthy it means you want to do your best The actress who suffered two broken ribs during the filming wasnt actually initially set to either act in or direct the movie Actress Blake Lively originally got offered the role but dropped out six months later and Berry told producers I cant let it go Ive been thinking of how I can reimagine it for someone like me a black woman in middle age not starting life whos looking for a last chance Studio officials agreed but there was another big decision to be made as she helped them in a fruitless search for directors with none sharing her vision She told producers This is going to sound really crazy because its crazy for me to even think it but I think I should direct this They agreed and while she wants to direct again Berry is glad shes finally seeing roles available for older actresses Berry added It used to be when you were 40 your career was done Or you had to wait until you were old enough to play a grandma I couldnt think that Id be playing an MMA fighter at 55 yet I did so its got to be changing Im proof of that IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/halle-berry-was-terrified-about-directing-debut-bruised-155472.html Wed, 08 Sep 2021 09:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kangana-appeals-to-maha-govt-to-open-theatres-155252.html Mumbai Sep 7 Ahead of the release of her forthcoming film Thalaivii actress Kangana Ranaut has urged the Maharashtra government to allow theatres to open up and save the film industry from dying Kangana took to her Instagram Story to make the appeal She said Cases in Maharashtra have declined requesting Maharashtra Government to openupcinemas in Maharashtra and save the dying film industry and theatres business On Tuesday morning she penned another note on her Instagram Story In Maharashtra restaurants hotels offices local trains everything is open but movie theatres are shut because of Covid according to Maharashtra government Covid only and only exclusively spreads in the movie theatres Thalaivii a biopic based on the life of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former actress J Jayalalithaa will be released in Hindi Tamil and Telugu It showcases the varied aspects of Jayalalithaas life tracing her journey as an actress at a young age to becoming the face of Tamil cinema as well as the rise of the revolutionary leader who changed the course of the states politics It is set to release in cinemas on September 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kangana-appeals-to-maha-govt-to-open-theatres-155252.html Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/madhuri-dixit-planet-marathi-ott-will-make-marathi-language-content-global-155372.html Mumbai Sep 7 The queen of Hindi cinema Madhuri Dixit has said that digital platforms have opened up the world for her personally and also for Marathilanguage content In a conversation with filmmaker and Planet Marathi CMD Akshay Bardapurkar at the launch of the OTT platform Madhuri said Where offline content reaches a couple of hundred people in a single action digital platforms open up the world for you I believe Planet Marathi OTT is the instrument that can make the Marathi language global A Vistas Media Capital Company Planet Marathi OTT unveiled the firstever exclusively Marathi OTT platform on August 31 Madhuri tapped a button and the platform came to life making 1000plus hours of bingeworthy content accessible worldwide At the launch event Madhuri said she was proud of the achievements of Marathi cinema and appreciated Bardapurkars vision to create an OTT platform for Marathi content Sharing her personal experience the actress said her Dance With Madhuri platform and her personal body of work had all undergone a transformation after the digital wave During the conversation Bardapurkar revealed that all his work including Planet Marathi OTT has been a product of adversities He said Whenever life throws a challenge at me I give my best to find a solution to those challenges and find opportunities in them Solving a problem for myself has often led me to creating scalable solutions for the masses Bardapurkar started with creating impactful Marathi films that were on a par with the best of global cinema He then moved on to create a mindset shift in filmmaking And this journey led him to starting Planet Marathi OTT It will always strive to bring promising content and meaningful entertainment to every segment of the Marathi audience Bardapurkar said With the launch of this app our offerings will now reach across the world to every user who loves watching Marathi content The entertainment experience is also going to be exciting A number of Marathi stalwarts attended the inaugural event They included Amruta Khanvilkar Sonalee Kulkarni Prasad Oak Siddharth Jadhav Sanjay Jadhav Tejaswwini Pandit Prajakta Mali Sayali Sanjeev Gayatri Datar Sachit Patil Bhargavi Chirmuley Surabhi Hande Nikhil Chavan Bhagyashree Milind Sonali Khare Deepti Devi Sushant Shelar Abhijeet Panse and Resham Shrivardhankar Coinciding with its launch the Planet Marathi OTT App unveiled five exciting original shows The shows are Sopa Nasata Kaahi a romantic comedy Hing Pustak Talwar a light comedy about a group of friends Bap Beep Bap an emotional family drama about fatherson relationship Jobless a crime thriller about a man accused of fraud struggling to prove his innocence and the fantasy thriller Parees whose story revolves around superstitions and supernatural elements The Planet Marathi OTT App lineup includes films web shows plays music karaoke and so much more The IOS and Android versions of the app will be available across the world The best feature of it is that the content is refreshingly original entertaining and curated in a manner that the audience instantly likes it To top it all Planet Marathi has bundled all of these offerings in a subscription package costing just a rupee a day IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/madhuri-dixit-planet-marathi-ott-will-make-marathi-language-content-global-155372.html Tue, 07 Sep 2021 21:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kriti-sanon-not-satisfied-with-where-i-am-theres-a-lot-more-to-discover-153159.html New Delhi Aug 29 Kriti Sanon has found her feet in Hindi cinema in just seven years She has worked on hits such as Heropanti Bareilly Ki Barfi and Lukka Chuppi among others The actress does not want to stop as she says she is not satisfied with where she is and is sure that there is still a lot more inside of her to discover Kriti made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with Heropanti where she was paired opposite actor Tiger Shroff Looking forward the actress whose latest release is Mimi has her diary full as her lineup includes Hum Do Humare Do Bachchan Pandey Bhediya and Adipurush In a chat with IANS Kriti spoke about how she sees her journey in Bollywood Kriti said I think my journey has been very fruitful and I believe that your journey should have an upward curve and a graph it shouldnt go stagnant at any point There should be something that you are constantly learning and growing and I am not from a film background and I didnt think of becoming an actor for the longest time The 31yearold actress who secured a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering added I am an engineer who happened to find her luck in acting and found what she is meant to do With Dimpy her character in Heropanti I was still finding my way and mark I have always been a thinker so I tend to think and question a lot I want to learn Kriti is also a quick learner and says she wants to grow The actress said I want to become better than what I am already doing and that has always been a driving force for me I am just happy to see that I have growna I have learned a lot more about my craft I know a lot more emotions and acting as a process of a craft of mine I am not satisfied with where I am I am sure that there is still a lot more inside me to discover So that is what is exciting IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kriti-sanon-not-satisfied-with-where-i-am-theres-a-lot-more-to-discover-153159.html Sun, 29 Aug 2021 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kim-kardashian-on-kris-jenner-my-mom-knows-me-better-than-anybody-150348.html Mumbai Aug 17 Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner share a powerful bond not only as a family but as a team Even before the famous show Keeping Up with the Kardashians Kris Jenner managed her daughters Kim Kourtney Khloe Kendall and Kylies career and their businesses Kim was introduced to Freddy DeMann the man who managed Michael Jackson Madonna and Shakira Kim said My mom introduced me to Freddy DeMann who also managed Madonna and these other huge people Talking about her initial journey Kim mentions that after an introduction with Freddy DeMann who was her parents good friend she felt like everybody was comanaging her Nobody can do it better than my mom my mom knows me better than anybody and we just wanted a small team said Kim Talking about their fair share of arguments during the nascent stage of business Kim shared insights into the crazy fights theyve had and the bad experiences theyve faced together which have set them up for real learning and understanding Everything is my fault just everything said Kris on her arguments with her daughter Kim She also spoke about the tough times Kris had to go through as the only point of contact in the business Kris said Working with my kids and helping them in their journey is one of the most satisfying things Ive ever done in my life Kim mentioned that no one except her mom believed in the business Elaborating on this Kris expressed that she wants her kids to find joy within their passion and figure out what their career choice is accordingly It gives her immense satisfaction knowing the kind of work Kim is doing As guests on Idris and Sabrina Elbas audio show Coupledom available on Audible Kim and Kris spoke about their experiences in life business family and their television show Keeping up with the Kardashians IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kim-kardashian-on-kris-jenner-my-mom-knows-me-better-than-anybody-150348.html Wed, 18 Aug 2021 01:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ankit-bathla-on-thapki-pyar-ki-2-comebacks-are-always-great-150332.html Mumbai Aug 17 Television actor Ankit Bathla of Thapki Pyar Ki fame who is all busy playing Wasim in the web series Crimes and Confessions is excited by the conjectures being made about his return to the Season 2 of the popular daily soap Ankit who played Dhruv Pandey in Thapki Pyar Ki is also buzzed about whether he will be a part of the shows upcoming second season Well if Im doing Thapki Pyar Ki or not I really cant comment at the moment I cant reveal if Im part of it However I can say that comebacks are always great It is like a medal It is like you were a part of the season and it was so successful that it is coming back He seems to be satisfied with his web show Crimes and Confessions Ankit quipped I am now excited that Im a part of this web show and I am looking forward to doing more such content on the web The kind of love Ive received for Crimes and Confessions is insane Im glad that the show is doing so well Crimes and Confessions is streaming on ALTBalaji IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ankit-bathla-on-thapki-pyar-ki-2-comebacks-are-always-great-150332.html Tue, 17 Aug 2021 22:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adivi-sesh-will-take-ott-project-if-story-is-truly-brilliant-150246.html By Yashika Mathur Hyderabad Aug 17 With the Indian OTT streaming platforms attracting diverse content from all parts of the country it is understood to be favoured choice for releases these days Telugu actor Adivi Sesh who is yet to make his digital debut says that he would want to be part of an OTT story only if its something really good In an interview with IANS Sesh who is also an acclaimed writer talks about his take on the OTT world and plans of release of his much awaited film Major I dont have anything planned but when you hear something beautiful you want to do it So at the end of the day we are all storytellers sitting around the fire If people sitting around me like the story then its beautiful As an actor if I get something that is truly brilliant and beautiful then why not At the end of the day it really has to be good Sesh tells IANS Sesh feels that the whole perception around what should release on a digital platforms and what shouldnt has changed over the years When OTT came 34 years back people thought it is for smaller budget films and theatres are for bigger budget films I think that has changed when you look at something line a Crown or other beautiful series on OTT platforms I think what it all comes down to is the sensibility of the story There is a way to narrate a story for the big screen and there is a way to narrate story for a streaming service he says The 36yearold Goodachari star recently started the last shoot schedule of his muchawaited biographical drama Major The film based on life of 2611 martyr Sandeep Unnikrishnan was scheduled for a July release but got delayed due to the second Covid19 wave Also the writer of the film Sesh feels that this film directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka is written and made for a theatrical experience Major is inherently made for the theatrical box office and if I wanted to design it for a streaming service I would have written it very differently May be written in an episodic structure instead of writing it as a two or two and half hour film So the intention of the writer and director matters a lot he says Besides this Sesh will also be seen in Hit 2 and Goodachari 2 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adivi-sesh-will-take-ott-project-if-story-is-truly-brilliant-150246.html Tue, 17 Aug 2021 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anurag-basu-there-is-romance-in-visualising-a-story-for-big-screen-150267.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Aug 17 Be it a complicated intertwined story of urban life in a film like Life in a Metro taking us through nooks and corners of Singapore in Gangster or even taking the audience through the beautiful hillstation of Darjeeling in one of his most successful films Barfi Anurag Basu is one of those filmmakers who always tries to treat his story like a painting unfolding on bigscreen As the conversation around screen size and cinema changed in the postpandemic era the filmmaker says even though the process of learning and unlearning continues in his mind to stay relevant with time he finds it romantic to visualise a story to be watched on the 70mm screen His film Ludo has been selected to be screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne IFFM keeping the pandemic in mind from August 15 till August 30 all films will be screened virtually as well It was the first time the film Ludo screened on a big screen Now in coming days it will be shown again virtually but I was so so exciting just realising my film is selected and will be shown on the bigscreen I made Ludo keeping a theatrical release But that did not happen due to the pandemic Look I am all for every screen size I started my journey with television But there is a romance in visualising a story for bigscreenthat 70mm screen Watching narrow lanes a train passing by the paddy fields or even small silent moments in a story cinema for me is bigscreen Anurag told IANS Having said that I think one should not compromise on any creative aspect in storytelling One should not think that you can take few things lightly because it is for smallscreen The best thing that happened due to the pandemic is the mass audience became cinema literate that earlier was limited to a section So till a few years back before turning a story into the film all I had to think of was a hero packing a few masala elements to cater to all the audience You see our Indian audience is so diverse that the Delhi crowd is different from the Mumbai audience people of Kolkata will not like what the audience of Chandigarh would like to watch Now I do not have that pressure Now we have an audience for everything thanks to OTT and that people in the last one year watched enough films to change their taste of cinema explained Anurag The film Ludo features Abhishek Bachchan Aditya Roy Kapur Rajkummar Rao Sanya Malhotra Pearle Maaney Pankaj Tripathi Fatima Sana Shaikh among others The film released on Netflix on November 12 last year So is he excited to make a web series now that many filmmakers are exploring the web space Well yes if only the story requires that format I see no reason for making a story into a web series only because I want to explore a long storytelling format Every story creates an impact when told within a certain duration At times that could be as small as that of 10 minutes at times we feel to take the duration of 5 hours that we cannot tell in 2 hours Once I find a story worth telling in the format of a web series I will be exploring that happily Anurag keeps his option open Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anurag-basu-there-is-romance-in-visualising-a-story-for-big-screen-150267.html Tue, 17 Aug 2021 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shyam-benegal-is-an-encyclopedia-of-films-shreyas-talpade-148768.html By Ekatmata Sharma New Delhi Aug 11 Actor Shreyas Talpade proved his mettle right from his early days in Bollywood One of his initial films Welcome to Sajjanpur was wellappreciated by the audience Directed by ace filmmaker Shyam Benegal in 2008 the satirical comedy marked his return to the genre after filming Charandas Chor in 1975 Recalling the memories of working in the film Shreyas told IANS Welcome to Sajjanpur is one of my personal favourite I had a great time shooting for the film We were in Hyderabad shooting for 30 days Shreyas played the role of a professional letter writer for the uneducated people of his village as he wanted to become a novel writer Shyam Benegal beautifully weaved his art of storytelling in the plot of the film Talking about working with the legendary director Shreyas said Shyam Benegal is like an encyclopedia of films I learnt from him that one doesnt stop learning ever He was so inquisitive asking questions and curious about things He would share different stories with us He would read a lot and share that knowledge with others That is something I really admired about him and learned from him Shreyas reflected on the method of Shyam Benegals direction and his equation with his actors He trusts his actors a lot He gave us a lot of freedom to improvise or act on something new He would make us comfortable He would tell his actors you do whatever you feel like Staying in the character and the scenario we added certain things And if at the edit table he felt the scene is not required he chopped it off But he said dont stop yourself from creating something new At the end of the day we are creating dreams We need to make it nice for our audience Shreyas recalled the candid moments shared after the shoot with the crew and the director Even post shoots it was so much fun Every day it used to be a very relaxed fun shoot through the day and in the evenings all of us would work out in the gym At 8 pm we would meet in the restaurant If somebody wanted to have some wine we would order that and relax He shared how Benegal was particular about his food after the films shooting Shyam Babu would order food for all of us and every day he would already tell the chef what he wanted for dinner Be it a chicken or a mutton dish He was very specific about the way his food was supposed to be cooked And we all would sit and talk at the dining table There were so many stories he shared with us It was a wonderful experience With Shyam Benegal it was working in a different kind of cinema for Shreyas Though the actor misses those days yet he believes in moving with the times While doing films sometimes we miss those days and those people that we have worked with It is better for all of us to keep moving Else you get stuck in a certain time zone I dont think an actor should ever do that You should do a film and forget about it and move on Each story has its own charm and is told in a different manner Things keep changing Its better that you keep adapting yourself to change The biggest example of that is Mr Bachchan He has worked from the 70s with people like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and today he has worked with the youngest directors as well He has adapted himself so well That is great learning for any actor signed off Shreyas Shreyas shared he will be soon seen in his upcoming film Manu Aur Munni Ki Shaadi directed by Deepak Sisodia based on the similar genre as Welcome to Sajjanpur IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shyam-benegal-is-an-encyclopedia-of-films-shreyas-talpade-148768.html Thu, 12 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/its-time-we-raise-strong-voice-against-brutality-on-dalit-women-rinku-rajguru-148800.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Aug 11 Sairat fame actress Rinku Rajguru who is playing a pivotal role in the upcoming film 200 Halla Ho says that unless the new generation starts creating awareness and protests against the ageold brutality on the Dalit community especially on women change will not come She feels cinema and constant conversation could be the agent of change in the matter Rinku told IANS I think the first time when Sarthak sir director of the film narrated the story I was moved but the intensity of the reality on how Dalit women are brutalised every day and no one even raises a voice against the crime thinking ye log to hai hi Dalit neech jaat iske saath to galat kaam chalta hai As a youngster my blood just boiled How Like how could it happen Dalit girls get raped in daylight and no one even bothers to talk about it Rape is a crime but here it is projected as if being Dalit is a crime so society will treat you like this and you have to deal with it I say why The 20yearold actress took a pause and expressed her anger Then she went on adding I hope once the film releases and everyone watches this the real victims instead of feeling victimised should protest and ask for justice Unless we create awareness this ageold brutality based on gender and caste will never be stopped In the film she is playing the character of a young Dalit girl named Asha who gathers people from the community and protests against the rape and murder of a Dalit girl and how from police to court everyone refuses to consider the case and punish the criminal Asked about how she prepared herself for the character Rinku said Since it was a wellwritten script I was just following that and whatever Sarthak sir was telling me Very consciously I did not watch films in which that community has been represented because I do not want to caricaturise the portrayal of a Dalit girl in Asha I know people tend to approach it like dalit ladki hai to aise hi honge waise hi bolenge etc I wanted Asha to be a hope and that fire that can bring a change in the brutal practice of our society The film 200 Halla Ho also featuring Amol Palekar Barun Sobti Sahil Khattar Saloni Batra Indraneil Sengupta and Upendra Limaye releases on ZEE5 on August 20 Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/its-time-we-raise-strong-voice-against-brutality-on-dalit-women-rinku-rajguru-148800.html Thu, 12 Aug 2021 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/did-beyonce-struggle-with-insomnia-148620.html Los Angeles Aug 11 American pop star Beyonce Knowles has described how touring has taken a toll on her body leaving with muscle aches pains and a stressed hair and skin I think like many women I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didnt realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical wellbeing I have not always made myself a priority Beyonce told Harpers Bazaars Icons issue reports femalefirstcouk The 39yearold added Ive personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life Years of wear and tear on my muscles from dancing in heels The stress on my hair and skin from sprays and dyes to the heat of a curling iron and wearing heavy makeup while sweating on stage The Black Is King hitmaker is aware she needs to take care of herself and listen to her body to be at her best she said that she used to struggle with body image and was fixated on her physique In the past I spent too much time on diets with the misconception that selfcare meant exercising and being overly conscious of my body said Beyonce who has four children Blue Ivy Nine and Rumi and Sir with husband JayZ The Single Ladies hitmaker is trying to change her habits and focus on her mental health and to register the subtle signs that her body needs a break My health the way I feel when I wake up in the morning my peace of mind the number of times I smile what Im feeding my mind and my body those are the things that Ive been focusing on Mental health is selfcare too Beyonce revealed that she is learning to break the cycle of poor health and neglect focusing my energy on my body and taking note of the subtle signs that it gives me Your body tells you everything you need to know but Ive had to learn to listen She added Its a process to change habits and look past the bag of chips and the chaos everywhere IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/did-beyonce-struggle-with-insomnia-148620.html Wed, 11 Aug 2021 23:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bhuj-the-pride-of-india-director-abhishek-dhudhaiya-gives-an-insight-into-films-research-145382.html By Yashika Mathur Mumbai July 30 Director Abhishek Dhudhaiya whose next film Bhuj The Pride of India is based on the 1971 IndoPakistan war is also the cowriter of the project The film tells the story of how 300 women from a village worked hard to build the Bhuj runway contributing majorly to Indias win Abhishek who earlier directed many television shows brings forth the story of IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnic played by Ajay Devgn and the women from the village of Madhapar My grandmother had also contributed in the making of this runway So I had this is mind that the first time when I make a film it will he on this subject says Abhishek as he recalls how the conception of the story happened He goes on to further elaborate with a hint of nostalgia in his voice In 2017 when I took a break from television the first thing I did was meet Vijay Karnic So my nanis maternal grandmother friends who are still alive were part of that 300 womens group So I went and met them and understood the events which had taken place The sentiment of patriotism is crucial for the film So when Abhishek took the project forward he knew his heart had to be in the right place To begin with I am an Indian and I am proud of that For me my country is first and even for my nani the country is before anything else So when I wrote the dialogue I conveyed what I think and what I wanted others to act That energy reflects in people around you he says For instance when Vijay Karnic was reading the story the only face in my mind was that of Ajay Devgn When I finished my story and I asked him who does he feel is best for this role he also said Ajay Devgn So when you want to bring that connect you have to feel strongly The next big step in the making of the film was casting of 300 women Instead of taking the regular approach of hiring junior artists Abhishek knew that this would be an important factor in establishing the strength of the film We had to cast 300 women Now if you hire junior artists they are free to leave in two three days for some other project but that breaks the flow So we cast 300 women and for the first 15 days taught them how to play the dhol We got their costumes made because at that time dressing style was difference and clothes affect body language a lot So we customised costumes for these women and made them wear it so that they get comfortable in it he says Currently in the village of Madhapar there are 60 people who were part of the iconic movement All aged between 7080 The government of India has also paid tribute to them by making their statues at the entrance of the village A landmark movement the women when making the runway decided to break their homes to get the bricks and stones for runaway once they ran out of the material When they needed bricks and stones to make the runway and material could not reach them these people decided that they will break their houses to use that material My nani had told me this but when these people also told me I had tears in my eyes recalls Abhishek For a woman her house is her dream and there what happens is the men leave for work to other states and countries So mostly women children and old people live there So for the women their the houses and farming is everything They sacrificed their homes for the country This incident and the challenge of Vijay Karnic to make the runway for the county was the most important driving force for me The director whose film will release on DisneyHotstar on August 13 feels that this kind of inspiration is rare This is a kind of inspiration that you dont find easily The defence personals who are protect us are trained but these villagers were not trained people Being prompt in such a situation didnt come naturally to them They still did it and its their biggest achievement he signs off IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bhuj-the-pride-of-india-director-abhishek-dhudhaiya-gives-an-insight-into-films-research-145382.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 05:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pooja-hegde-with-every-industry-reason-of-nervousness-changes-144416.html By Yashika Mathur Hyderabad July 27 Actress Pooja Hegde currently has projects announced and rolling in the Tamil Telugu and Hindi film industries The actress says that being part of big budget films and high expectations from fans make her nervous However her reasons to feel jittery change with every industry In Bollywood Pooja will be seen alongside superstar Salman Khan in Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali and with Ranveer Singh in Cirkus In Tollywood she has Radhe Shyam alongside Prabhas and in Tamil the actress will be seen with Vijay in Beast Talking to IANS about how she deals with these expectations which come with taking big leaps with her choice of films the actress says Does it make me nervous Yes I think with every industry my reason of nervousness changes With Telugu now with Radhe Shyam my role is fantastic There is a lot of scope for me So with Telugu I want to know how the audience thinks I perform So my nervousness is that I give my heart and soul into my performance for this film The actress who made her film debut with Tamil film Mugamoodi 2012 eventually went on to give many blockbusters in Telugu films too She made her Hindi debut with director Ashutosh Gowarikers Mohenjo Daro Further elaborating on what kind of nervousness she feels with Hindi and Tamil industry Pooja says With Cirkus and Kabhie Eid Kabhi Diwali I feel that I have so much to show to the Hindi audience of who I am and that is something which is making me nervous With Tamil the nervousness if very different because its a new market for me and now I am going back after many years So the nervousness is different She also feels that coming from a nonfilmy background affects how she looks at every film When you come from a nonfilmy background the whole thing is whatever film you have becomes like a golden treasure Its like you have found treasure and you need to make the most of the role you have been given in the film and hope that it helps you in capturing peoples attention Unfortunately I am a classic example of an over thinker but I think nervous energy is good shares the actress From Allu Arjun Mahesh Babu Akshay Kumar to now Salman Khan and Vijay Pooja has worked with the most bankable actor in the film industries across India Does having popular costars affect her craft I think it would affect my craft because a lot of acting is reacting So when they bring in their years of experience it kind of helps me understand my craft more it helps me may be perform better she says Its also about learning other things which are not directly related to acting like tips about the way they lead their lives For me its always about learning something new besides acting also So its always been a mix of everything and it has made me a better actor for sure IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pooja-hegde-with-every-industry-reason-of-nervousness-changes-144416.html Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anupam-kher-there-are-no-shortcuts-in-acting-143008.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai July 21 Veteran actor Anupam Kher says there are no shortcuts to becoming a good actor and one has to work hard and keep practicing Offering a piece of advice for budding actors Kher shared Acting has no syllabus thats why people come up with best performances even at the age of 80 or later My advice to budding actors is that they have to practice their art constantly It is something the more you practice the better you will become You have to work hard It is every days job for them to keep understanding and to do the same thing again and again Also they have to develop a keen interest in people because people various people are the bank of actors The more they will know people the more they will know emotion the more they will know various aspects of anger nine Rasas So I think that is what is important and not to carry the burden of who you become There are no shortcuts in acting he added On the work front Kher features as an anchor in the recently released documentary film Bhuj The Day India Shook Sharing his experience of being a part of the project the actor said In a project like this not acting is the most important thing You have to first understand the essence of it You are like a sutradhar a narrator who has a soul who empathises with them who does not indulge in selfpity It is like when you do meditation in a state of meditation you have to say things that people relate to You cant fake it It is something that comes with experience as a person not necessarily as an actor It comes from a word called empathy Thats how I approached it with a total sense of purity In my mind it was a tribute to all the people that suffered losses he further said Quizzed what intrigued him to take part in the documentary film Kher replied It was easy to say that I want to do this Discovery project Its historically and geographically a very important incident not only in India but anywhere in the world speaks about how we are at the brink of any disaster happening how life can be totally changed Bhuj The Day India Shook streams on the OTT platform Discovery IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anupam-kher-there-are-no-shortcuts-in-acting-143008.html Thu, 22 Jul 2021 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tony-kakkar-reveals-in-what-way-sister-neha-kakkar-inspires-him-143034.html By Durga Chakravarty Mumbai July 21 Tony Kakkar has gained popularity by belting out foottapping numbers such as Dheeme dheeme Coca Cola Kurta pajama and Shona Shona among others He says the endeavour is to make every track better and bigger than the last one and also reveals how his sister star singer Neha Kakkar inspires him Tony brother of singers Neha Kakkar and Sonu Kakkar is once again topping the charts with his new track Number likh with Bigg Boss star Nikki Tamboli The song dropped last month and currently has over 46370460 views and 951K likes on YouTube On whether expectations add to pressure to come out with tracks that can outdo his previous hits Tony told IANS It always pushes me to do better The endeavour is to make every song better and bigger than the last one Its all about being true to your art driving your uniqueness that sets you apart As long as youre honest about who you are inside out the expectations only empower you more The 37yearold singer hails from Rishikesh His family later shifted to Delhi in the1990s where he along with his sisters Sonu and Neha sang at jagratas It was in 2012 that he made his debut in Bollywood as a music director with the film Mr Bhatti On Chutti In less than a decade life has changed courtesy hits such as Car mein music bajaa Das ki karaan Bijli ki taar Goa beach Booty shake Chocolate and Tera suit among many more Looking back at his journey Tony who has often faced flak on social media over his repetitive lyrics tags it as a satisfying one It has been a satisfying one Thats for sure But its also about working hard and being open to growth whatever shape it may take Thats something that is inspired by Neha She has a hit in almost every genre he said Tony currently enjoys a fan following of eight million on Instagram and 408K on Twitter Does he feel he is ruling the music industry now He said with a laugh There are many ways to think about success But whats more valuable to us is to measure how we have grown Everyone in the industry is kind and warm Its important to be humble and its important to be unique Tony recently performed on the app MX Takatak he says We hope to return again soon for a surprise with some of our musician friends The opportunity for the fans to go live with their favourite musicians interact with them and also perform with them thats new and Ive never heard of anyone doing this Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tony-kakkar-reveals-in-what-way-sister-neha-kakkar-inspires-him-143034.html Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nidhhi-agerwal-i-would-love-to-see-a-hindi-remake-of-ismart-shankar-142433.html By Yashika Mathur Hyderabad July 19 Actress Nidhhi Agerwals performance in the Telugu blockbuster iSmart Shankar cemented her place in commercial cinema of that film industry She cant help but wonder if she would want to play the lead role in case the film is adapted in Hindi In the Telugu hit actor Ram Pothineni played the titular role of iSmart Shankar The film had all the ingredients of being a commercial hit In times when boundaries between Indian film industries are blurring Nidhhi feels that its Hindi remake would be equally successful I would love to see this film being remade in Hindi I think it will be a very entertaining film if its made in Hindi and it would again do the numbersNidhhi tells IANS When asked who should play Ram Pothinenis character in the Hindi remake Nidhhi replies with a childlike giggle I think Ram himself should play the role or me what do you say Should I be iSmart Shankar and kick some a The film was directed by Puri Jagannath and also starred actress Nabha Natesh and Satyadev It set the cash registers ringing at box office and introduced Nidhhi to neverbefore mass popularity I feel very proud that I am part of the film because it was such a big hit and I think it was the first time that I was exposed to the mass crowd The crowd that I absolutely love It was the first time I was exposed to that kind of love and attention and I absolutely loved it I do feel very emotionally connected and close with iSmart Shankar because of the people involved in the film I am very fond of everyone involved in the film she says The vivacious actress made her acting debut with 2017 Bollywood film Munna Michael She then moved to Telugu films with the Naga Chaitanyastarrer Savyasachi She strongly feels that every film adds something to her life I think every film adds so much and teaches you so much as an artiste and its a whole other experience and world So you end up learning so much and end up being a part of one world she says In context of iSmart Shankar which released two years ago on July 18 she adds The film changed a lot of things for me It taught me a lot of things So many more people knew me I just saw the difference in the kind of way I was perceived and in the kind of way people saw me and it got people so much closer to me On a parting note Nidhhi takes good time to praise her director Puri Jagannath My memory of the film is all amazing because of the all amazing Puri sir who is my absolute favourite I love him so much as a director and as a person I have so much respect for him So just working with him every day on the set was so easy It was the easiest shoot of my life till date So I have such fond memories shooting for iSmart Shankar says the actress who will be seen alongside Pawan Kalyan in her next film IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nidhhi-agerwal-i-would-love-to-see-a-hindi-remake-of-ismart-shankar-142433.html Tue, 20 Jul 2021 02:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/paresh-rawal-if-you-dont-verify-before-sharing-fake-news-you-contribute-to-its-spread-142511.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai July 19 Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal confesses to a paap sin hes committed virtually One thing I want to say is I have committed a paap sin on social media But sometimes mistakes happen If you dont verify before sharing fake news you contribute to its spread I have committed that sin Also I would urge all not to post negative tweets Rawal said If you have any complaint against me you can DM me instead of posting publicly This medium is so strong powerful and essential in todays time we should make good use of it he suggested Opening up during a conversation with IANS the Padma Shri recipient actor also spoke about the social media tendency to draw conclusions without understanding an issue He cites the example of the reaction that was seen among many when the Prime Minister requested citizens to beat plates and clap hands during the onset of the Covid19 pandemic last year Some people made fun wondering if beating plates or clapping hands would scare the coronavirus away They did not understand this was done to acknowledge the hard work of our health workers cleaning workers and our police force I am not saying this on behalf of any party but turning this into a joke doesnt look good This should be understood They are working hard so that you all can stay safe in your homes said the actorpolitician and former Lok Sabha MP Ive seen so many deaths among friends and in my family even young people dying I know life is short but didnt know it was so short So I feel one shouldnt leave anything for tomorrow do it today The other thing is compassion The way our labourers left this city it was painful We are Indians If we let go of compassion then what are we left with On the work front Rawal returns in the upcoming Priyadarshanhelmed comedy Hungama 2 He sounds excited at the mention of the film I am excited firstly because Hungama 2 is coming 18 years after Hungama and also Im working with Priyan ji after ages The storyline characters backdrop coactors everything is different But one thing is common that it is a clean family entertainer like Hungama and a very breezy comedy that people will enjoy Hungama 2 releases digitally Would he miss the big screen Honestly the big screen film also comes to the television within a few weeks and even pirated version comes on the mobile phone on the same day Yes there is an infatuation with the big screen but you have to look at the reality based on the present time and embrace it When big screens are functional again then films will again release there No producer wants a loss for their film Rather than putting the film in uncertainty it is better to secure it the actor replied Rawal is known for his comic timing His performances in comic roles have always stood out inspired others What is the trick Only one thing that you have to do justice to the character Dont think that you are doing a comic or a serious or tragic role dont ever think like that The moment you start thinking that you will deviate Just stick to your character Whether it is comedy or serious the content and dialogues of that scene and your director will decide that you dont have to decide that You just fulfill the demand of the character he replied Following his fathers footsteps Paresh Rawals son Aditya has also forayed into acting What suggestion did he give to Aditya I think he is doing well He is honest wellbehaved sincere and hardworking I dont need to teach him all that I only tell him dil laga ke kaam karo put your heart in what you do and just like your father comes home after finishing his work for the day you also do that Dont mess with anyone dont get into controversy Just focus on your work In this matter I consider Danny Denzongpa my ideal Rawal concluded with a smile IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/paresh-rawal-if-you-dont-verify-before-sharing-fake-news-you-contribute-to-its-spread-142511.html Tue, 20 Jul 2021 10:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adivi-sesh-greatest-love-story-is-amitabh-and-jaya-bachchans-in-sholay-141936.html By Yashika Mathur Hyderabad July 17 Telugu actor Adivi Sesh has resumed shooting for the upcoming biographical drama Major following which he will focus on the action thriller Hit 2 and eventually move to Goodachari 2 If there is one genre missing from his thrilling roster its outandout romance Despite fans constantly asking him we dont see him signing any A fan of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchans romantic track in Sholay Sesh is waiting for the right love story to come his way The actor did romance Eesha Rebba in the 2017 film Ami Thumi but he doesnt call it an out and out romantic film I dont think I have done a romantic film ever because even Ami Thumi is like an Andaaz Apna Apna a slapstick comedy and it was fun As an audience I really enjoy watching deeplayered love stories I was never a fan of the candyfloss kind of love stories For me the greatest love story of all time is Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan jis love story in Sholay more than the Hema MaliniDharmedra jis love story I am just waiting for that beautiful love story to come and entice my heart he tells IANS The 35yearold actor is often flooded with questions about a sequel to his 2018 spy film Goodachari Sesh says the wait is partly his fault I think in some way it is my fault because originally I was going to do Goodachari 2 immediately after Goodachari and I changed my mind because I needed a little time away from that universe to get a fresh perspective the actor says He continues When I got the dream project Major that combined with the pandemic created a bigger delay on Goodachari 2 but that was not intended We have our core story finished The moment I finish the shoot of Major I will be dedicated towards putting together a good script and screenplay for Goodachari 2 So if all things go well we will start shooting at the end of the year The actor has resumed his shoot for Major where he essays Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan after two months of halt owing to the pandemic The story of the film chronicles the life of 2611 martyr Unnikrishnans life and what made him the braveheart who showed exemplary bravery during the Mumbai November 26 terrorist attacks Did the twomonth gap break his connection with the character I think what happened was that the last time right before the second lockdown we kind of knew it was starting to get bad a month before they actually announced lockdown Because there are so many different timelines in the film what I did was that I made sure to finish up every timeline There was no concept of leaving a timeline halfway Now for this schedule everything we will be doing is one age one era The actor adds So its almost like playing different characters in a way What a person is at the age of 21 he is not going to be the same at 31 The age range I am playing for the current schedule is something that I didnt play before so its like a fresh prep for a fresh character IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adivi-sesh-greatest-love-story-is-amitabh-and-jaya-bachchans-in-sholay-141936.html Sun, 18 Jul 2021 08:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vidya-balan-is-there-fear-of-loss-of-stardom-not-at-the-moment-141622.html Mumbai July 16 Vidya Balan says she does not have the fear of losing the stardom she has gained over the years with her powerpacked performances She admits though that it hurts when a film of hers does not do perform well because she is always intensely involved in anything that she does When you are going through a low it is very tough especially because it is all very public When your films dont work for example It affects me badly because I am so intensely involved in my films I give so much of myself to my films Vidya said while speaking to IANS The actress says the most painful part of the experience is that she feels rejected or unloved when such a thing happens It is heartbreaking there is no doubt about it and then you feel unloved and rejected I think that is what is painful You cant make sense of it Only later are you able to look at the situation objectively and say oh that is why this film did not resonate with people When it is fresh I think it is always very tough she said However loss of stardom is a notion that has never bothered her Vidya added Is there fear of loss of stardom Not at the moment no said the actress flashing the trademark smile Vidya was recently seen in Amit Masurkars film Sherni where she played an upright forest officer on the lookout for a maneating tigress The film also features Sharat Saxena Mukul Chadda Vijay Raaz Ila Arun and Brijendra Kala and garnered a positive response upon release The film released on Amazon Prime Video IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vidya-balan-is-there-fear-of-loss-of-stardom-not-at-the-moment-141622.html Sat, 17 Jul 2021 01:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shruti-haasan-i-have-been-in-therapy-when-i-was-younger-141320.html By Yashika Mathur Chennai July 15 Actress Shruti Haasan has often spoken about the need to look after mental health especially in the time of the pandemic Stressing on the need for professional guidance in such cases the actress says she has been in therapy when she was younger and yet being a part of an industry that can frequently be high on the stress factor she still feels inadequate on many days Shruti feels it is important to be aware if someone needs help over mental health and not brush the issue under the carpet with an I am fine attitude Mental health is really simple and really complex at the same time I always use this example that if you have a stomach ache you will have ajwain or yogurt and avoid spicy stuff on the first day On the second day you will say ok let me take medicine but on the third day when you are still in pain you will go to the doctor and seek help At that point no one in your family says hum hai tum doctor ke paas kyun ja rahe ho we are here why would you need a doctor she says while speaking to IANS I see that as the whole problem because of how the fam jam scene is in India Its like you have your cousins your friends why cant you talk to me I understand the sentiment but when it comes to mental health the worst attitude you can have is chin up or I am fine she adds The actress also highlights that many people are not even aware of the help they need The cracks start happening and usually I see people have what I call mild breakdowns Usually people dont even realise what they are going through she says The feeling of inadequacy can be so overwhelming and mind you I was a psychology student and dropped out but continued studying psychology I have friends who have therapists I have been in therapy when I was younger and still when it comes to managing my emotions and sensitivity in an industry that is very heightened in every sense be it stress or creativity I felt inadequate on many days the actress points out It took me a while to say I just need a bit of metime Its not an easy thing but me having this opportunity to speak about and somebody reading this that is how the change spreads she says Shruti has been spending lockdown working on her music and by the look of her social media posts doing whatever makes her happy The actress says that her life changed when she acknowledged the need to seek help I must say that I have always spoken about mental health This is something that when I acknowledged my life changed Acknowledging things about myself and getting the help I needed without feeling imperfect inadequate or judged Mostly there is societys judgement and stigma around But when the pandemic hit everyone started talking about it because it had to be discussed People were feeling a sense of loss loss of financial security love and control she says The actress sees a positive change all around now I believe people world over are a lot more aware and especially in India people are a lot more speaking about it I genuinely believe that mental health awareness has come to the forefront There are so many avenues for people to understand that you can get help online because of the distance People know how to use technology be it through zoom calls or skype calls I was always doing therapy long distance because my therapist was based out of London So I always knew that it is possible once you have made that initial connection says the actress IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shruti-haasan-i-have-been-in-therapy-when-i-was-younger-141320.html Thu, 15 Jul 2021 23:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rohit-shetty-slight-fear-when-you-do-stunts-is-genuinely-needed-141240.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi July 15 Think Rohit Shetty and youre thinking all things that snub fear on the Bollywood masala screen from gravitydefying car stunts to highoctane action sequences The filmmaker however feels to pull off a good stunt fear is genuinely needed I dont fear anything but yes there is slight fear when you do stunts and that fear is genuinely needed It pushes you to take precautions and not be irresponsible If we are brave then we often tend to become reckless and not take appropriate care that is needed Rohit told IANS his signature smile in place The filmmaker whose calling card on the small screen is hosting the adventure reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi says he is not much of a lover of Khatra danger though he admits action will always be his first love Its not that I am in love with khatra but I am in love with action he said about what drives him to be a part of the show now all set to air its 11th season Rohit returns as host and guiding the celebrity contestants facing their fears on the show This season is actually special We have taken the show to a new level which you will come to know when you watch it We have made it bigger this time I have been doing this show for seven years now and the challenge this time was to make it even more engaging he said Given that it is an action show the team in Cape Town where the new season was shot was equally overwhelmed and excited he pointed out adding I am happy and confident because the energy of the shoot was right and apt I am waiting for the audience to watch it Generally one is scared before the release but this time I am confident and looking forward to it sums up Rohit a name synonymous to action in Bollywood films On the Bollywood front Rohit Shetty awaits the release of his new film the cop action drama Sooryavanshi starring Akshay Kumar with Katrina Kaif IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rohit-shetty-slight-fear-when-you-do-stunts-is-genuinely-needed-141240.html Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amala-paul-working-on-separating-private-life-from-work-life-140860.html Tijuana Lizeth Morales left of Honduras and her son Alex Cortillo right get a hug from Erika Valladares Ponce center as they wait to cross into the United States to begin the asylum process Monday July 5 2021 in Tijuana Mexico Dozens of people are allowed into the US twice a day at a San Diego border crossing part of a system that the Biden administration cobbled together to start opening back up the asylum system in the US Immigration advocates have been tasked with choosing which migrants can apply for a limited number of slots to claim humanitarian protection PTI By Yashika Mathur Kochi July 14 Actress Amala Paul started her acting career at 17 Ever since she has proved her mettle in Tamil and Malayalam films Nearly 12 years into the profession as she gears up for the release of her Telugu web series Kudi Yedamaithe she reflects back on her journey and feels it is about time she separated her personal and professional lives I am what I am I came into the industry when I was 17 and whatever I have gone through personally reflected in my work and vice versa I cannot take one out of the other or maybe I didnt know the art of separating the two I can say that about myself until 2019 she tells IANS Amala continues But 2020 has been a very enlightening year for me When I was going through my fathers death in a very conscious way it was a very introspective phase for me I had this realisation that I felt very naked I felt like an open book I had this realisation that I dont have anything as my own as my private life and everything was out there I felt like my life has been misinterpreted beyond anything I could have done Having spent over a decade in the film industry Amala who was earlier married to director AL Vijay has learnt how to deal with the constant interest people have in her personal life When I look back I do feel bad about it but I also have the wisdom to understand that I dont have any control over these things and when I dont have control over these things I can just gracefully move ahead in life I also understand that this is part and parcel of this job and there is a social responsibility that I have Its not just me that is how some things are the way it is she says I realised I have a choice I didnt know about earlier Now I am working on separating my private life from my work life That is the art that I am practicing and I really want to Before I never felt it and I was quite open about what was happening in my life Now I realise that may be the spirit in which I was sharing that or my intention was not received as it was she adds Everyone is in different stages of their lives and I was hoping that they can understand how I am perceiving it I have reached that point in my life where I am comfortable not sharing so much says the actress who has also shot for a Hindi web series but is awaiting its release Amala will be seen in the Telugu series Kudi Yedamaithe in which she plays the role of a cop named Durga The actress says she has played the character effortlessly as opposed to being very harsh on herself like in earlier times An interesting thing about this project for me is that usually I have a tendency to overprepare I experiment too much with my roles and that has been draining me So with this character I have been thinking how I can make this character effortless she says During last years lockdown a lot of introspection happened I just wanted to intuitively follow the artiste in me I knew Durga and there were many script reading sessions I knew her job her economical condition I knew I was going to meet her I just wanted to organically meet the character without creating it in my head and it turned out to be beautiful says the actress about her role in the Aha original series IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amala-paul-working-on-separating-private-life-from-work-life-140860.html Wed, 14 Jul 2021 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/badshah-focussed-on-putting-indian-music-on-global-map-140541.html New Delhi July 12 India and Indianness have been the focus of our pop culture over the past few years and rapper Badshah seems quite in sync with the notion right now I am majorly going to be focussing on bringing Indian music on the global map over the coming years and lets see where it takes all of us Badshah told IANS In fact he has been doing it already in recent hits such as last years controversial Genda phool and the recent Paani paani The rapper is mostly known for his foottapping westernised hits with a strong bhangra flavour such as Mercy Paagal DJ waley babu Abhi toh party shuru hui hai Kar gayi chullShe move it like Wakhra swag and Garmi Beyond singing he tried acting in 2019 with the Sonakshi Sinhastarrer Khandaani Shafakhana Talking about whats next he said Lots Stay Tuned You wont be disappointed I promise IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/badshah-focussed-on-putting-indian-music-on-global-map-140541.html Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/priyadarshans-new-film-with-akshay-kumar-is-happening-next-year-140196.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai July 11 When Priyadarshan confirms a new film with Akshay Kumar its news indeed The veteran filmmaker boxoffice wizard and National Award winner has after all delivered ribtickling comedies like Hera Pheri Bhool Bhulaiyaa Garam Masala and Bhagam Bhag with the Bollywood superstar Confirming his upcoming collaboration with Akshay Priyadarshini told IANS Yes that is happening next year It was supposed to happen this year but got pushed We start shooting next year Quizzed if their new film is a comedy the filmmaker replied It will be a comedy film I dont want to take any more risks Let me entertain my audience So far the films in which we both worked have been very successful Those were almost 70 per cent humorous films with a nice emotional ending Before his film with Akshay Priyan as he is widely known to friends and colleagues is busy readying his new film Hungama 2 for release The comedy features Paresh Rawal Shilpa Shetty Kundra Meezaan Jaffrey and Pranitha Subhash The filmmaker clarifies the film is not an extension of his 2004 hit Hungama It is not a continuation of Hungama It is a different story treated in the same way as Hungama There are confusions situations comedy of errors and slapstick but the plot is completely different It will be a laugh riot I believe he said Priyadarshans name is synonymous with entertaining comedy films What are his secret ingredients It is very difficult to make people laugh It is the most difficult thing to create situations and confusions Because the moment it becomes buffoonery the film will be in bad taste It should look believable and genuine Maintaining that balance is important he replied Just like many other films Hungama 2 is also releasing on an OTT platform instead of a theatrical release amid the ongoing pandemic Would he miss the big screen experience I wish I could release it in the theatres sit with the audience and enjoy it I belong to the old school I have corrected myself by sitting with the crowd and watching my films by observing what they like and what they dont like I am going to miss that learning process the filmmaker expressed adding But even on OTT everybody from the grandfather to the grandson can sit together and laugh There is no vulgarity or double meaning in this film It will be absolutely enjoyable Comedy films are meant for mass viewing because laughter is contagious With the pandemic affecting our lives in every possible way is comedy the need of the hour for our emotional wellbeing We know how the economy is affected how people have lost their money lost their jobs How they are struggling not to go out and staying locked in their homes What is there to smile about In these times I feel a comedy film can be a very good medicine the director said Priyadarshan however does not feel OTT platforms will replace cinema halls entirely Definitely OTT is popular but films like Titanic Baahubali or Avatar which are meant for the big screen you cant watch these on your phone You cant enjoy the visuals Another reason is in our country the cheapest entertainment for a common man especially the middle class is taking out the family to the cinema Also the pleasure of going to the theatre with your friends and family you cannot get that pleasure by sitting at home and watching the film on your phone So theatres will survive all over the world despite the great impact of OTT platforms he opined Priyadarshans new directorial Hungama 2 is slated to release on Disney Hotstar on July 23 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/priyadarshans-new-film-with-akshay-kumar-is-happening-next-year-140196.html Sun, 11 Jul 2021 15:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/it-is-very-difficult-to-make-people-laugh-priyadarshan-140255.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai July 11 Filmmaker Priyadarshan has given a series of comedy hits with Akshay Kumar so when the boxoffice wizard and National Award winner confirms a new film with the Bollywood superstar fans would naturally be excited Yes it is happening next year The film was supposed to happen this year but it had to be pushed We start shooting next year the filmmaker told IANS about his film with Akshay The duo has delivered ribtickling comedies like Hera Pheri Garam Masala Bhagam Bhag and Bhool Bhulaiyaa and elaborating on the new project Priyadarshan said It will be a comedy film I dont want to take any more risks Let me entertain my audience So far the films in which we both worked have been very successful Before his film with Akshay Priyan as he is widely known to friends and colleagues is busy readying his new film Hungama 2 for release The comedy features Paresh Rawal Shilpa Shetty Kundra Meezaan Jaffrey and Pranitha Subhash The filmmaker clarifies the film is not an extension of his 2004 hit Hungama It is not a continuation of Hungama It is a different story treated in the same way as Hungama There are confusions situations comedy of errors and slapstick but the plot is completely different It will be a laugh riot I believe he said Priyadarshans name is synonymous with entertaining comedy films What are his secret ingredients It is very difficult to make people laugh It is the most difficult thing to create situations and confusions Because the moment it becomes buffoonery the film will be in bad taste It should look believable and genuine Maintaining that balance is important he replied Just like many other films Hungama 2 is also releasing on an OTT platform instead of a theatrical release amid the ongoing pandemic Would he miss the big screen experience I wish I could release it in the theatres sit with the audience and enjoy it I belong to the old school I have corrected myself by sitting with the crowd and watching my films by observing what they like and what they dont like I am going to miss that learning process the filmmaker expressed adding But even on OTT everybody from the grandfather to the grandson can sit together and laugh There is no vulgarity or double meaning in this film It will be absolutely enjoyable Comedy films are meant for mass viewing because laughter is contagious With the pandemic affecting our lives in every possible way is comedy the need of the hour for our emotional wellbeing We know how the economy is affected how people have lost their money lost their jobs How they are struggling not to go out and staying locked in their homes What is there to smile about In these times I feel a comedy film can be a very good medicine the director said Pryadarshan however does not feel OTT platforms will replace cinema halls entirely Definitely OTT is popular but films like Titanic Baahubali or Avatar which are meant for the big screen you cant watch these on your phone You cant enjoy the visuals Another reason is in our country the cheapest entertainment for a common man especially the middle class is taking the family to the cinema Also the pleasure of going to the theatre with your friends and family you cannot get that pleasure by sitting at home and watching the film on your phone So theatres will survive all over the world despite the great impact of OTT platforms he opined Priyadarshans new directorial Hungama 2 is slated to release on Disney Hotstar on July 23 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/it-is-very-difficult-to-make-people-laugh-priyadarshan-140255.html Sun, 11 Jul 2021 19:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/mona-singh-tv-serials-that-go-on-for-years-dont-make-sense-to-me-anymore-140033.html By Yashika Mathur Mumbai July 10 Actress Mona Singh is perhaps best remembered as the bespectacled assistant in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi but she has come a long way since those days and so has the format of storytelling The actress admits that in times of short web series and OTT boom she too has evolved as a viewer like others We are losing out on patience we want something that excites us entertains us and is shortlived TV serials that go on for years and years dont make any sense to me anymore because as an audience I dont watch them anymore I am more hooked to OTT shows from start to finish Mona tells IANS She also feels that shorter stories keep creativity alive You start with a new season you add new faces and work on the script Its not about the quantity of 500 to 2000 episodes you actually sit down and write something new have workshops and do it accordingly says the actress who has also been part of television shows such as Kya Huaa Tera Vaada and Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Aur Kar Dikhayengi However television is still presenting shows that have been on for years with some even marking 1000 episodes However the actress feels for television to adapt short format shows it may take some time For these things to take place on television it will take time because it is all about ratings and branding and the longer a show runs the more money it will make But I am hoping times will change for television too she says Will the demand of the television audience encourage show producers to take risk in future It is always about starting something believing in your product and creating it but I also feel that audience needs some time to build a habit to watch something like that TV has become very unpredictable There are many shows that have gone off air within few months she says Mona will soon be seen in a role of an anchor of a crime show MaukaEVardaat The show is an anthology and will focus on the method behind heinous crimes This is a concept of how it is done and not about who did it I have hosted a lot of reality shows but never been part of a crime show I guess I will have to be more straightforward and sensitive she summed up describing the show which will air on TV IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/mona-singh-tv-serials-that-go-on-for-years-dont-make-sense-to-me-anymore-140033.html Sat, 10 Jul 2021 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shankar-ehsaan-loy-toofaan-songs-are-like-emotional-roller-coaster-139925.html By Ekatmata Sharma New Delhi July 8 Ace Bollywood composers ShankarEhsaanLoy are back with Toofaan and the trio that has been together since 1997 recently saw the release of the title song of the Farhan Akhtarstarrer boxing drama The title song Toofaan has really picked up For us its been a musical release after one year Our fans were looking forward to it Ehsaan Noorani told IANS The film is produced by Farhan Akhtars production house Excel Entertainments and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Farhan plays the lead role in the film opposite Mrunal Thakur After Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Toofaan happens is the second sports film of Farhan and Rakeysh with the trio The trio has composed six tracks in the film Toofaan title track Star hai tu Purvaiya Ananya Dekh toofaan aaya hai and Ganpati Vandana The lyrics of the songs are by Javed Akhtar Toofaan is a sports film and the boxing element is the background but its also an emotional and beautiful love story We tried to capture the human essence in the song called Toofaan written by Javed saab People who are hearing it seem to like it very much They are all getting inspired Its really affecting them emotionally which is a good feeling said Shankar who has sung the song Purvaiya while Arijit Singh has sung Ananya He added The songs of Toofaan are almost like an emotional roller coaster Purvaiya is a very pure rock qawwali that talks about different aspects of life Ananya is a beautiful romantic song with an acoustic guitar Farhan sings this song for Mrunal Thakurs character Ananya in the film Star hai tu is about a small celebration happening in the bylanes of Dongri Dekh toofaan aaya is a funky culmination rap song The whole album ends with the Ganpati Vandana The trio is known to introduce new singers The new singers in Toofaan are Himani Kapoor Meenal Jain and Divya Kumar told Loy Mendonsa The trio has had a long relationship with director Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra They have been working with the director since his advertisement days They then went on to compose music for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Rakeysh is pure love Its a delight to just be with him in the studio He is a man of total ease and no stress He gives freedom to create whatever you want He has tremendous respect from the director to the music composer He understands that we all are musicians who have got depth and aesthetics and he respects that concluded Shankar IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shankar-ehsaan-loy-toofaan-songs-are-like-emotional-roller-coaster-139925.html Sat, 10 Jul 2021 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aastha-gill-no-ones-dependent-on-film-songs-anymore-140028.html By Durga Chakravarty Mumbai July 10 Singer Aastha Gill has come a long way in a short time since the days she was largely recognised as the promising female voice in Badshah hits such as Dhup chik Abhi toh party shuru hui hai or DJ wale babu Lately whether she has sung with Badshah Pani paani or Akasa Naagin she has owned the song as much as the other singer Aastha who started out with Bollywood hits in films as Fugly singing Dhup chik and Khoobsurat Abhi toh party would attribute her rise to the advent of nonfilm indie music because as she points out no one in the music industry depends on a playback career anymore Earlier things were different We could not be choosy about stuff Right now things are changing I think the independent scene has grown so much so fast in India that people are selfsufficient now We are doing our own bit of work So no ones dependent on film songs anymore she tells IANS For Aastha the rise of independent music has come as a relief to artistes like her because Bollywood in recent years has been known to not pay its singers For the uninitiated Neha Kakkar in 2020 had first opened the pandoras box speaking to IANS about singers hardly getting paid in the film industry After Neha Aditya Narayan too has reiterated the notion saying singers dont get a single penny in Bollywood and that there is a pandemic in the music industry Aastha belongs to a new generation of singers who have learnt to craft a career and make money without banking on Bollywood But now that newage voices like her dont depend on film soundtracks for an income or career will the film industry learn to pay singers their dues in order to avail their services Everyone who is working is paid for their art and talent So obviously singers giving their voices to songs must be paid too I dont know if it will bring a change in the industry but definitely we singers need to put our foot down she replies Referring to the booming nonfilm music scene she adds I hope because of this change things get better in the industry and people start paying singers for what they do Right now she is excited about two things in life Paani paani her new song with Badshah has garnered 242635946 views on YouTube maintaining the duos record run of hits Secondly she says she had an unprecedented experience with a change of image participating in the adventure reality TV show Khatron Ke Khiladi season 11 I was very nervous because this was my first reality TV show and I did not know anyone from the team I just went for it I had no idea how people would treat me because I have never gone out of my bubble she confesses adding Then there were the stunts I have a major creepy crawlies phobia so it was scary Participating in the show seems to have made her a big fan of host and filmmaker Rohit Shetty He is the biggest support when you are in the stunt because sometimes when you hear carefully what he says actually helps you perform better I released that after doing my first stunt If he wasnt around it would have been difficult for me He is the biggest support when one is performing a stunt she said about her experience of participating in the Colors show Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aastha-gill-no-ones-dependent-on-film-songs-anymore-140028.html Sat, 10 Jul 2021 20:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/jimmy-sheirgill-im-offered-a-lot-of-cop-roles-i-pick-the-ones-i-really-like-139535.html By Ekatmata Sharma New Delhi July 8 Actor Jimmy Sheirgill has had quite a journey in Bollywood since his first film Maachis in 1996 A thread that binds together most of his popular films is his avatar as a cop Right from his powerful demeanour as inspector Arif Khan in A Wednesday to his remarkable roles in Special 26 and Fugly the actor has delivered notable cop roles in around 10 films I am offered a lot of cop roles I pick and choose the ones I really like I pick the character that has the scope of being portrayed in a different light Jimmy told IANS The actor is back with a cop role in his latest film Collar Bomb He plays the character of a highranking Inspector Manoj Hesi Directed by the awardwinning filmmaker Dnyanesh Zoting the film is about a hilltown school where the kids are held hostage by a human bomb The key to solving the mystery to save the kids lies in Manoj Hesis unpleasant past Jimmy was approached for the film before the pandemic and the actor took his time to sign the project Quite a few months before Covid19 came I was given a script that I really liked But there were certain inputs that I wanted to give which I felt were important as it was a thriller and they wanted it to be a race against time Jimmy said He added In the middle of the pandemic I was sent the revised script I was very happy to read it as now it was a nice crisp thriller I felt they did a good job We started shooting the film post opening of the first lockdown In midOctober we went up in the mountains to shoot he said Collar Bomb features Jimmy with Asha Negi Rajshri Deshpande and Sparsh Shrivastav in key roles The actor has a fondness for thriller stories and that can be witnessed in his selection of films such as Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster He said I am fond of thrillers If its a wellwritten thriller I take the project Jimmys filmography also consists of lighthearted franchise films like Tanu Weds Manu and Happy Bhaag Jayegi where his roles have been equally applauded I have tried to do lighthearted roles in a slapstick way but I believe people like the serious kind of thing more he said For Jimmy script is the hero of the film Its always about a good script If its a good story it will find its audience In a good film you will come across a lot of good characters and that is what makes a good story All these characters end up becoming lovable The audience starts enjoying them said Jimmy The actor strongly believes in cohesive teamwork that makes a film successful A films success is all about teamwork I dont think singlehandedly I portray the roles that I do There is a lot of homework that goes into all these characters by the writer director and the team he concluded Jimmys new starrer Collar Bomb is slated to release on July 9 on Disney Hotstar IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/jimmy-sheirgill-im-offered-a-lot-of-cop-roles-i-pick-the-ones-i-really-like-139535.html Fri, 09 Jul 2021 03:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/milind-gaba-nikki-tamboli-is-savage-i-had-an-amazing-experience-working-with-her-138155.html By Ekatmata Sharma New Delhi July 2 Singer Milind Gabas gamechanger track Yaar mod do which he created in collaboration with Guru Randhawa is still a favourite among youth after years The essence of the song Yaar mod do is based on true friendship Hence people relate to it deeply Till the time there is friendship in this world the song will always play Guru Randhawa has a huge following among the youth and my collaboration with him helped in diversifying the audience Gaba told IANS His new song Shanti has Gaba multitasking as a musician singer and lyricist He stars in the music video too with Big Boss 14 fame Nikki Tamboli who was also recently seen on Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 Gaba informed Nikki Tamboli was always the first choice for his video She was the first one to come to my mind to be featured on this track We approached her and she loved the vibe of the track said the singer who has lent his voice to various Punjabi and Hindi songs The song track has received over 19 million hits at the last count since it was dropped on June 21 Talking about Nikki Tamboli he added She is savage I had an amazing experience working with her She is full of enthusiasm and positive energy He met Nikki for the first time for the shooting of the song that went on for almost three days On the first day we both were awkward with each other as we met for the first time However while we began our dance practice sessions we started bonding well and had good chemistry which reflects in the video he recalled Gabas popular songs include Saddi Dilli Welcome back Malamaal Nazar lag jayegi Zindagi di paudi and She dont know Talking about his upcoming tracks he informed There are a few good collaborations and a Bollywood number in the pipeline There will hopefully be a surprise video from my last album Blessed IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/milind-gaba-nikki-tamboli-is-savage-i-had-an-amazing-experience-working-with-her-138155.html Fri, 02 Jul 2021 17:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tanya-maniktala-due-to-self-doubt-i-once-thought-of-giving-up-acting-138205.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai July 2 She grabbed eyeballs with her acting and beauty in Mira Nairs web series The Suitable Boy and there has been no looking back From being selected as one of the participants of BAFTA Breakthrough India to bagging roles in Santosh Sivans Mumbaikar the upcoming OTT anthology Feels Like Ishq and the web series Chutzpah Tanya Maniktala has a lot on her platter The actress however surprises you saying that she almost decided to give up acting at one point after her debut show Flames It feels surreal to me because I never anticipated anything to happen really So at this stage of my career BAFTA Breakthrough India is happening and I am getting selected as one of the 10 participants where I will get a chance to interact with and be mentored by international experts it is kind of too much for me to sync with I feel fortunate and I think I believe in miracles more she told IANS Tanya made her acting debut with the web series Flames when she was still in college and after the release of the show she thought everyone would flood her with offers and she would become a Bollywood star I am from Delhi with no understanding of how the business of entertainment works So I thought doing one show would give me series of work films etc I was really naive I went on giving audition and started facing rejection she recalled That is when I started doubting myself and thought of giving up acting I think for any budding actor or artiste selfdoubt could be a huge issue that could break all confidence and conviction You feel like your dream is broken People could be harsh on your face when they reject you in an audition and I am not complaining but I am saying I was young naive still in college and not ready for it shared the actress For some time she focused on studying took a job as a copywriter in an ad agency and gave up on her dream to make it big in acting I will be thankful to my friend who pushed me to go for the audition of The Suitable Boy and initially after the audition I did not expect to get a selection call Rather I geared up to go to Melbourne for higher studies Fifteen days before I was to leave for Melbourne I was told that Mira Nair di wants to take a final audition and she was coming to Delhi said Tanya Eventually I got the part and Mira di helped me build the confidence I lost due to all the rejection I faced before She made me believe if I have faith in myself if I have a dream and work on it there is no way I would not achieve it The only thing was I would have to trust the process The problem is we tend to give up in the process You see I almost gave up and took up a job and went off for higher study But then Mira di happened a miracle happened she signed off Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tanya-maniktala-due-to-self-doubt-i-once-thought-of-giving-up-acting-138205.html Fri, 02 Jul 2021 20:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/maybe-ray-would-have-liked-us-for-at-least-attempting-ray-ali-fazal-136995.html By Durga Chakravarty Mumbai June 28 Ali Fazal was recently seen in the segment Forget Me Not of the anthology series Ray The episode is based on Satyajit Rays short story Bipin Chowdhuryr Smritibhrom Bipin Chowdhurys memory loss Ali plays an ambitious man named Ipsit who boasts of a razorsharp memory and has a mental breakdown after being challenged over some dates I find myself very lucky it was Satyajit Rays short story that eventually evolved into something like Ipsit in Forget Me Not in the anthology It is a modern retelling of his work his short story through the eyes of director Srijit Mukerji and a lot of technicians because it was technical and very sound and it feels good Ali told IANS He added It was sweet to be just attached to that name and persona if its even for a fleeting few seconds I am just grateful Jab tak humare paas kaam hai tab tak we are all grateful till the time we have work we are grateful Was it tough to take to viewers who are wholly not aware of Satyajit Rays work Yes it was or maybe it is in some sections In Bengal they still celebrate him in a big manner but I think a large part of the new younger generations are still not aware of his work and so we had to he claimed adding We tried our level best to keep the essence of Ray alive in the work and in my acting There have been some stellar performances in his cinematic work he said Ali did not find it a challenge to immerse himself into the story written by Ray He says he treated the project as a very new project I have seen that a lot of people are trying to make comparisons but cant possibly because his cinema was very different from his writing This is a written piece In fact in the original there were no female characters So we included female characters in our short We tried of course it takes a darker path he said Ali added He was a great man and he led by example He was a very progressive man Maybe he would have liked us for at least attempting Ray If we were making a remake of his film then the comparisons would have made sense It is our little version and tribute We have tried to push the boundaries Ray released on Netflix on June 25 Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/maybe-ray-would-have-liked-us-for-at-least-attempting-ray-ali-fazal-136995.html Mon, 28 Jun 2021 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aasif-sheikh-people-address-me-as-my-screen-character-vibhuti-mishra-it-feels-nice-136905.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai June 28 Fans often address him as Vibhuti Mishra the character he plays in the popular sitcom Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai and actor Aasif Sheikh enjoys it I receive tremendous love and appreciation from fans across the country and even overseas every day Many people address me by my onscreen character Vibhuti Mishra instead of my real name and it feels nice One can see how that character has resonated well with the audience In a hilarious episode at home my wife kept calling out to me one day and when I didnt respond she yelled out Vibhuti Narayan Mishra and I immediately responded Aasif told IANS Vibhutis character is fun has quirks and quips along with great comic timing making it entertaining and relatable It is undoubtedly one of my most favourite roles the actor said Both the female leads of the show have been replaced first Shilpa Shinde and recently Saumya Tandon Two lead actresses quitting a show one by one does it affect the mindset of the actors who are still associated with the show Aasif replied Whatever be the reasons we as professionals must respect the person and their decision It is natural to feel sad when people leave the show We share a bond given the amount of time we spend with our coactors onscreen and offscreen With new entries the team adapts to them as well The mindset is always optimistic friendly and happy whenever we have a new member in the team It brings a certain freshness to the storyline as well Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai shoot recently resumed in Surat and Aasif informed that he is thrilled to be back on the sets While the shoot was on hold amid the second wave of the pandemic the actor revealed what kept him busy at home I have always followed a healthy and balanced diet with physical exercise which I maintained In addition to it I involved myself in daily household chores sharing the load to complete everyday domestic tasks I also cooked played indoor board games and even got time to focus on my writing and reading I cooked delicious yakhni pulao an Eid special during the festivity and everyone relished it he informed with a smile What has the pandemic taught him These challenging times have made us realise the importance of having a family and valuing their presence in our lives at every step cherishing beautiful moments and building stronger bonds Ive been spending quality time with family and engaging in fun and recreational activities having long conversations over tea time which I could not do earlier owing to my tight shoot schedules the actor said Has life changed after the massive success of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai I have had a streak of great hit shows even before Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hai But yes as the shows popularity soared so did the role of Vibhuti Narayan Mishra I have been a part of the entertainment industry for close to 37 years From plays to Bollywood and then television it has been a rollercoaster ride for me I have had my share of ups and downs More than cinema television has given me immense love recognition and affection making me a household name I owe it to various producers and especially to all my viewers and fans who have consistently supported and appreciated me at every step Aasif concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aasif-sheikh-people-address-me-as-my-screen-character-vibhuti-mishra-it-feels-nice-136905.html Mon, 28 Jun 2021 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ayesha-sulthana-mulls-film-on-her-recent-run-in-with-law-136931.html Kochi June 28 Lakshadweep film personality Ayesha Sulthana who has been in news ever since her controversial remark on a local TV channel and the subsequent legal travails plans to put it all up on celluloid This was disclosed by Sulthana here after returning from the island after she was questioned by the Kavaratti police for three days I do not think that there was anything wrong I did and I had the full faith in the judiciary Now that I have undergone this I think all this can become part of a film that I am planning said the actress soon after her return It all began when a complaint was registered by Lakshadweeps BJP unit president Abdul Khader against Sulthana as she had in a TV channel debate here on June 7 said that the Centre used biological weapons for the spread of Covid in Lakshadweep which according to the complainant was antinational She had immediately apologised for her statement while taking part in the TV debate but the island police decided to go forward with the complaint The Kavaratti police registered a case against her with non bailable charges sedition and had asked to appear before the police on June 20 The notice that was served on Sulthana by Sub Inspector Ameer Bin Mohammed contained charges under 124 A and 153 B of the CrPC both of which were nonbailable offences Kerala High Court had granted her interim bail and directed the police in case she was needed to be arrested she should be given bail immediately She reached the island and presented her before the police and was questioned for three days The High Court also accepted her anticipatory bail plea during this time Incidentally following the move by Khader several BJP leaders and workers in the island resigned from the party Sulthana hails from Chelath Island in Lakshadweep and is based here Besides being a model she has worked in numerous films in Malayalam IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ayesha-sulthana-mulls-film-on-her-recent-run-in-with-law-136931.html Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/swwapnil-joshi-marathi-content-among-finest-in-india-just-needs-wider-audience-136687.html By Yashika Mathur Mumbai June 27 Actor Swwapnil Joshi who soon reprise his role of Kumar Mahajan in the Marathi web series Samantar 2 says the particular streaming platform on which a project gets released plays a huge role in the shows success He adds that the Marathi industry has lately been producing some of the finest content in cinema as well as OTT and just needs a wider audience It is the platform that gives you the audience the first cue on how they feel about the show If a platform is hesitant in backing a show then as a viewer you are going to be hesitant in watching it If the platform is aggressive in marketing it and you see they are putting all their power in pushing it ahead you know they are confident about the show and you would consume it faster The platform right marketing and mounting play key roles going forward the actor tells IANS Swwapnil who has been part of various Marathi films and shows in the past is of the opinion that the industry has churned out great content over the past couple of years I think Marathi cinema has grown manyfolds in the last couple of years Marathi cinema has really come of age We have reached the Oscars we have broken the Rs 100crore barrier and continue to do that every passing day shares the actor Swwapnil is still remembered for his role as a child artiste when he appeared as Lord Krishna in Ramanand Sagars show Krishna Growing up he made a name for himself in Hindi and Marathi shows The actor feels that Marathi content should strengthen its reach I think Marathi content be it cinema or OTT needs to be accessible to people At the cost of sounding immodest as far as content is concerned I really feel that we are making some of the finest content in India Now the job is to reach bigger and wider audience he says Samantar 2 which also stars Nitish Bharadwaj is the second part of hit Marathi series of the same name and will stream on MX Player Swaapnil plays Kumar Mahajan a man who falls into unending series of events in order to satiate his curiosity about his future Is the actor curious about his future in personal life too I am definitely curious about my future but I am not paranoid about it If someone says that they can read my palm I would be interested But I will not get addicted to it says the actor who will soon be seen in the Marathi horror film Bali IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/swwapnil-joshi-marathi-content-among-finest-in-india-just-needs-wider-audience-136687.html Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kay-kay-menon-reveals-his-escapist-way-of-dealing-with-tough-roles-136440.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi June 26 Kay Kay Menon is solid as ever essaying a complex role in the segment Bahrupiya of the anthology series Ray The episode is based on late legend Satyajit Rays short story in Bangla titled Bahurupi or the impressionist and comes laden with an element of fantasy The actor decodes how he faced the challenge of essaying a brutally realistic role that treads into the domain of makebelief I have an easy way that can also be called the escapist way I look at a story as a story I removed the baggage I look at it as director Srijit Mukherjis interpretation of the story and thats the newspaper headline for me Kay Kay tells IANS The story casts the actor as a timid makeup artist named Indrashish Saha who inherits a strange book on prosthetic expertise when his grandmother passes away along with a substantial amount of money Reality and fantasy fuse in the storyline and Indrashish is sucked into a vortex of doom as he begins to imagine he is invincible and starts abusing his newfound power to become anybody he wishes The 54yearold actor addresses the element of makebelief about the story saying Even in a newspaper you often see headlines that are unimaginable right You believe it because it is in the newspaper Similarly for me the story becomes factual at that point of time I try to remove all other baggage attached to it He says he knew he was immersing himself into the work of the legendary Satyajit Ray but at the time of filming he was focussed more on being directed by Srijit Mukherji I kind of pin that out and concentrate on just performing for that story and playing that person so I keep my concentration there I get saved by the little fear and paranoia of touching somebodys work I know that it has come from Ray sahab and everybody knows how great he was but at that point its Srijit directing and Kay Kay Menon acting and playing a person that is it he says Asked how one takes Rays work to todays viewers many of whom are not aware of the auteurs cinema Kay Kay says Rays creativity always stays contemporary and can never be dated Thats the beauty of Ray sahab He is contemporary and will be contemporary throughout So all his topics whatever he touched upon will never be dated The style might be different the interpretation might be different but at a conceptual level he has nailed it for generations to come Kay Kay says One of my favourites is Nayak he says referring to Rays 1966 classic starring Uttam Kumar and Sharmila Tagore and adds because the film concerns the film industry actors dilemmas and trauma including the acting style For me everything he has done till now will always remain contemporary Kay Kay concluded Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kay-kay-menon-reveals-his-escapist-way-of-dealing-with-tough-roles-136440.html Sat, 26 Jun 2021 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nitish-bharadwaj-ott-should-offer-good-money-to-regional-content-too-136107.html By Yashika Mathur Mumbai June 25 Actor Nitish Bharadwaj is all set to reprise his role of Sudarshan Chakrapani in Marathi thriller web series Samantar 2 The first season of the series costarring Swwapnil Joshi was received positively The senior actor says OTT platforms should start investing in good regional content too and not offer big moolah only to Hindi films packed with star power The actor who is best known for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in BR Chopras Mahabharat has over the years been part of Bollywood and Marathi cinema television theatre and now OTT The seasoned actor accepts that lockdown has done well for OTT platforms and Hindi films that got stuck in the process and released digitally He adds it is important encourage regional cinema on OTT platforms as well I dont know about Marathi cinema but most of the Hindi films that were ready have found a window on OTT platform and various platforms could establish themselves by grabbing eyeballs during the pandemic As far as Marathi is concerned OTT has been a good window for subjects like Samantar he says The actor adds I am not too sure about Marathi cinema because it all depends on commerce In a feature film you know that if you have a good subject and a theatrical release you can do a business of Rs 50 crore and Rs100 crore even in Marathi But I dont know if OTT platforms would offer that kind of money to Marathi films So I dont know if OTT is a boon for Marathi cinema but for Marathi web series yes it is Emphasising on investing in good Marathi films Nitish feels that it will only help the digital platform raise the quality of content I would rather say looking at a very huge Hindi film that flopped at an OTT platform in recent times and looking at a Marathi web series like Samantar that has become so huge on OTT that OTT platforms should start looking at regional cinema as potential good quality content for their films as well They should not offer a good amount of money only to big star cast Hindi films and acquire them for release They should also start looking at regional cinema and offer them good money so that your quality of content goes up on OTT and is not restricted only to web series There can be original films on OTT in regional languages too he says Nitishs character in Samantar 2 will be seen keeping close tabs of Kumar Mahajan played by Swwapnil Joshi as the latter tries to find out what his future is going to be like Commenting on whats in store for the audience Nitish says Its an experience in season 2 for the audience to see that even if something is written in particular in your future it need not happen the same way because different human beings will react in different ways Is Kumar going to fall prey to that future Is the same thing really going to happen Before signing off the actor comments on the genre of thriller doing well on OTT platform and decodes the reason behind it OTT platforms are personal So everybody watching OTT is not watching it with 500 people in a theatre People have always loved thrillers because everyones life eventually gets into some pattern What does a thriller do It breaks that pattern It gives you an opportunity to go into someone elses life and take you on a roller coaster Thrillers are always loved the treatment may be different Especially when the story is like that of Samantar which is so close to peoples lives it is bound to become a hit he says of the show that streams on MX Player IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nitish-bharadwaj-ott-should-offer-good-money-to-regional-content-too-136107.html Fri, 25 Jun 2021 12:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/prithviraj-were-missing-a-happy-film-in-malayalam-cinema-lately-135701.html By Yashika Mathur Kochi June 23 Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran acknowledges the industry has been missing happy films and the reason is the contained environment under which everyone has been living over the last one and a half year I think the primary reason for that is all the filmmakers actors and producers all of us were forced to start thinking about contained films Films that could pull off under these circumstances shares the actor as he opens up in a conversation with IANS More often than not when you start thinking on these lines the genre that you start deviating towards is either a thriller a dark satire happening in real space like Joji As is the usual practice when you start thinking about happy films films that have a lot of actors laughter joy comedy and music you start thinking that this is big and the film has many locations people and places So you dont usually think on those lines when you think what kind of a film you can pull off under the given circumstances of the pandemic and lockdown he says The actor made his directorial debut in 2019 with the film Lucifer and is now all set to wield the megaphone again in the recently announced Bro Daddy Besides him the film will also be headlined by superstar Mohanlal Prothviraj calls it a happy film that has badly been missing in Malayalam cinema lately I was supposed to come with my next directorial long back which was supposed to be a sequel to Lucifer It was a much bigger film If things would have been as we wished then it would have been shot this year but due to obvious reasons we couldnt start To me it seems we are badly missing a happy film in Malayalam cinema over the past one and half year All of the content we see in Kerala is dark Its either a murder mystery or a dark satire or an investigative thriller he says I thought we were all badly missing a happy film which is when these two writers came and narrated the script to me I found it to be interesting hilarious and more than anything I found it to be a really enjoyable light watch I casually narrated the idea to Mr Mohanlal over a zoom call and he said that we are doing this and the project took off recalls the actorfilmmaker Prithviraj made his Bollywood debut with 2012 film Aiyaa alongside Rani Mukerji and was later seen in films such as Aurangzeb 2013 and Naam Shabana 2017 However his presence in Bollywood has been rare ever since I have heard a few scripts in between but the fact of the matter is that Malayalam cinema is going through such a high and all of us find such great content here in Malayalam it would require something really good to come and invest that kind of a time in a Hindi film though I look forward to it I hope something good enough finds its way to me he says Right now Prithviraj is gearing up for his next film the dark mystery thriller The Cold Case He shares that shooting for the Malayalam film was a new experience for him This is going to be one or the first films I shot with postpandemic regulations We were not used to social distancing on the set being masked all the time This film was shot strictly keeping all precautions in mind Most of us would remember shooting The Cold Case because all of us were coming together for the first time post the pandemic he says of shooting the film which will soon stream on Amazon Prime Video IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/prithviraj-were-missing-a-happy-film-in-malayalam-cinema-lately-135701.html Wed, 23 Jun 2021 22:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/raashii-khanna-we-have-a-bank-of-great-actresses-in-the-south-134804.html By Yashika Mathur Hyderabad June 20 Actress Raashii Khanna who works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu films feels roles for actresses in the South are no longer just about being pretty Raashii made her mark with Telugu films such as Tholi Prema Venky Mama and World Famous Lover after making her acting debut with Shoojit Sircars 2013 Hindi film Madras Cafe Its still a maledominated industry but I think women are making their way ahead considering the new kind of films that are coming Raashii tells IANS When I started my career I was very lucky to start my career with Oohalu Gusagusalade which was a Telugu film and it established me as an actor but post that everything that I got was very commercial Tholi Prema was a film that changed things for me because people then said that she can act also she claims If you want to stay for long in the Telugu film industry you have to be a good actor like Anushka Shetty or Samantha Akkineni These are the women who are changing the way people are looking at actresses down South which wasnt there earlier Earlier you had to just look pretty and do great in songs Now you have to be a good actor and I think we have a bank of great actresses in the South as well It is starting now and I still feel we have a long way to go says Raashii The actress who will soon be seen in Thank You alongside Naga Chaitanya adds Everything is changing everyone is going panIndia and everyone is going into different languages IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/raashii-khanna-we-have-a-bank-of-great-actresses-in-the-south-134804.html Sun, 20 Jun 2021 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-on-choice-of-medium-creative-people-shouldnt-have-favourites-134221.html By Yashika Mathur Mumbai June 18 Actor Manoj Bajpayee who has worked in films as well as OTT says he would never pick a favourite medium when it comes to showcasing his work Creative people should not have favourites because you are supposed to work on whatever medium that you are working for You have to just look for good work that excites and challenges you the actor tells IANS He cites examples of recent projects he has worked in that dropped digitally So many films that have come on OTT have done well Bhonsle or Silence were meant for theatre release OTT came as a blessing and we can put these films on OTT for people to see Theatres will open again The more the avenues better the chances for all of us More talent will be consumed and benefit from it he added The criticallyacclaimed and muchfeted actor says his criteria for picking scripts has always been the same A good script good character and good director an honest intent and a character I feel I can play differently somewhere I can challenge it and do it differently These are things I still look for after 26 years of my career he sums up IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-on-choice-of-medium-creative-people-shouldnt-have-favourites-134221.html Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pankaj-tripathi-those-of-us-who-have-power-and-potential-must-look-out-for-others-134282.html Mumbai June 18 Actress Pankaj Tripathi feels those who have power and potential must take up the duty of looking out for others more than ever today He addressed the subject through an audio clip on social media Its time for us to be selfless and help anyone who looks like theyre in need of it Trust me doing this will feel good Care is always welcome especially in times of crisis A book I read recently describes how even in the presence of a powerful king in the jungle which is the lion all the inhabitants of the forest have to look out for themselves said Pankaj In human society its not the same Those of us who have power and potential must take up the duty of looking out for others who need us more than ever today he added Meanwhile as life slowly trickles back to normalcy Pankaj looks forward to his upcoming films His next release is probably the muchhyped 83 which is ready for release The film narrates the story of Indias first cricket World Cup victory in 1983 Tripathi plays the teams manager Man Singh in the film that stars Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev captain of the Indian team He will also be seen alongside Akshay Kumar in the film Bachchan Pandey which is currently on the floors in Jaisalmer Rajasthan The Farhad Samji directorial film also stars Arshad Warsi Jacqueline Fernandez Kriti Sanon and Prateik Babbar Among his other projects is Mimi starring Kriti Sanon a film about surrogacy IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pankaj-tripathi-those-of-us-who-have-power-and-potential-must-look-out-for-others-134282.html Fri, 18 Jun 2021 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/priyadarshi-pulikonda-wants-to-get-out-of-so-called-image-as-comedian-133381.html By Yashika Mathur Hyderabad June 14 Actor Priyadarshi Pulikonda who primarily works in Telugu films says he wants to come out of his socalled image as a comedian and be known as an actor who can do whatever he is offered As an actor you want to come out of that comfort zone I want to discover the endless possibilities through these characters entering into worlds that are more challenging and scarier The socalled image I have of a comedian I also wanted to get out of that The image is for the people to give me but I would rather not have any image associated with me and become an actor who can do whatever he is offered he tells IANS Priyadarshi is known for his roles in Telugu films such as Pelli Choopulu Arjun Reddy Mallesham and more recently Jathi Ratnalu He will soon be seen in a crime thriller series titled In The Name Of God where he portrays a complex and dark character To discover these dark areas as a human being my character Adi was the anchor that helped me to go into myself and discover those grey areas That was a good exercise for me as an actor and something new to work for I havent done anything of this sort so far This has been the most excruciating and rewarding journey for me shares the actor He has high aspiration and little of everything of greed love lust and puts himself in an inconvenient position Somehow he tries to seek redemption from all of this the actor adds about his characterThe series is scheduled to drop on Aha streaming platform from June 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/priyadarshi-pulikonda-wants-to-get-out-of-so-called-image-as-comedian-133381.html Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/romantic-mumbai-rains-make-kangana-earn-for-someone-special-132317.html Mumbai June 9 The Mumbai rains on Wednesday left Kangana Ranaut in a romantic mood The Bollywood actress earned for the person meant for her to show up Kangana took to her Instagram Story to share a beautiful photograph of herself lost in thoughts Nothings more romantic than Mumbai rains but single people can just daydream Who is meant for me please show up na she captioned her photo along with a couple of red heart emojis Kangana recently took to social media to welcome the month of June saying it has ushered happy feelings sparkling thoughts and new ideas in her mind Taking to Instagram Story the actress wrote Who all can feel a sudden gush of happy feelings sparkling thoughts and new ideas with the beginning of June There is a massive shift in how agitated and tired I felt through all of April and May I am hopeful that this fizzy sparkling feeling will sustain IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/romantic-mumbai-rains-make-kangana-earn-for-someone-special-132317.html Thu, 10 Jun 2021 04:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tom-hiddleston-have-always-felt-an-affection-for-loki-132263.html Mumbai June 9 Actor Tom Hiddleston has opened up about what makes his character Loki the God of Mischief the most fun character to portray Hiddleston also shared that he always felt an affection for Loki and for his vulnerability Having played Loki for such a long time and having had the privilege of inhabiting him at the outset Ive always felt an affection for him and for his vulnerability Hiddleston said But Ive been aware through the course of my experience in the Marvel Studios movies in the first ten years that Loki has a role to play and that as Loki I had to play the villain Then I had to play the antihero he added The actor says this is the first chance that he had to see if the mold can be broken and change Loki And this time around is the first chance perhaps for a while that Ive had to see if we can really break the mold and change him and retain all the best aspects of him But as Ive said try to get underneath all of his defenses the defense of his charisma the defense of his keeping people at arms length And I think that that is a really interesting kernel of an idea inside the story Hiddleston said He added Can Loki ever change Is Loki capable of change If he does change will other people allow him to change Can Loki get out of his own way Can Loki make different choices And if he does make those choices where does he go next Hiddleston shared that it has been really exciting to find a way of striking the balance between respecting whats come before and inventing something new The actor is joined by Owen Wilson Gugu MbathaRaw Sophia Di Martino Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E Grant Directed by Kate Herron and written by Michael Waldron the series titled Loki will air on Disney Hotstar Premium IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tom-hiddleston-have-always-felt-an-affection-for-loki-132263.html Wed, 09 Jun 2021 20:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/working-with-vijay-sethupathi-nawazuddin-siddiqui-is-like-master-class-kabir-duhan-singh-131631.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai June 7 Actor Kabir Duhan Singh has essayed negative roles in many South Indian films and he recently played Raavan in the Hindi web series Ramyug He says he does not fear getting typecast I have no background in the business of cinema so for me there is no second thought on whether I should start with a South Indian film or wait for a Bollywood film to happen whether my debut should be as a hero a heros friend or an antagonist For me it was only work will get me more work Perhaps that is why I have equal respect for all kinds of film regional Bollywood or crossover Kabir told IANS He is happy to have worked with several celebrated stars in the South including the Tamil actor Vijay Sethupati as well as shooting with Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the upcoming film Bole Chudiyaana I think at the beginning of my career working with two iconic actors as Vijay sir and Nawaz sir itself is a blessing and almost like attending acting class Of course with every film we grow and learn from every senior actor But when you observe someone whom you have grown admiring to become an actor it works better said Kabir who has also shared screen space with South stars such as Kichcha Sudeep Gopichand and Ajith Kumar among others He isnt worried about starting off as an antagonist in the South We have so many examples of actors who started their career in the South like Sonu Sood bhaiya and Vidyut Jammwal and portrayed negative characters before entering Bollywood and made it big there I think slowly but surely that attitude towards actors as he only plays villain is changing These days thanks to OTT crossregion casting is also happening So the fear of getting tagged is not there anymore said Kabir Having said that if anything needs to change I think the media tags us as South Indian film ka villain should be changed If we dont say North Indian film we should also stop saying South Indian film with a negative attitude said Kabir who was born and brought up in Faridabad Haryana Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/working-with-vijay-sethupathi-nawazuddin-siddiqui-is-like-master-class-kabir-duhan-singh-131631.html Mon, 07 Jun 2021 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/dj-aqeel-remixes-today-fail-to-create-a-connection-with-audience-131531.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai June 7 Known for his foottapping remixes of Bollywood hits DJ Aqeel feels remixes today fail to make a connection with the audience Remixes today fail to create a connection with the audience They lack the essence of creating a connection to your soul Thats what I keep experimenting in my album Nostalgia where I remix old songs with todays modern essence which people like about my music Aqeel told IANS Aqeel shot to fame with remixes like Keh du tumhe Tu tu hai wahi and Shake it daddy mix in the early 2000s How does he look at his journey so far Its been a roller coaster ride for me With all the highs and lows I have always tried to keep my spirits high because I know I want to keep creating for my lovely fans and audience Thats what usually keeps me high The right music makes all the difference Yes I have faced a lot of challenges throughout my journey in this industry But these challenges have always motivated me to try something innovative keeping the essence of music alive in me he replied How has music evolved in all these years right from the time he started off in 20002001 Aqeel replied Music has evolved a lot since the time I started my journey in this industry Earlier there were just a few deejays but now its like a hub out there I have worked hard to reach where I am today It is also exciting to see fresh talent coming in with unique styles It has changed dynamically Theres always something new to learn What kind of music according to him does the youth of today prefer Most people love Bollywood music but now are transitioning towards other genres like electronic and hiphop With the evolution that I have seen over the years he informed adding I also keep experimenting with something new every time just like my recent show at Taj Mahal Many more are coming up Sharing his experience of shooting in Taj Mahal Aqeel revealed Shooting in one of the seven wonders of the world was one of the best experiences of my life I had never thought I would come up with something so huge Fortunately things worked in our favour I was overwhelmed when I got permission and approval from our government The musician is also elated at the response he received for his cinematic EDM at Taj Mahal from fans Cinematic live at Taj Mahal on my birthday eve was a huge success which made it a special one I was elated to see the response I got from my audience People from different parts of the world joined the premiere It was the best gift an artiste could ask for Love and support from my audience is what keeps me going he ended with a tone of gratitude IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/dj-aqeel-remixes-today-fail-to-create-a-connection-with-audience-131531.html Mon, 07 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vidya-balan-in-sherni-i-play-a-woman-of-few-words-but-many-dimensions-130435.html Mumbai June 2 The trailer of the Vidya Balanstarrer Sherni was unveiled on Wednesday The actress says the film which is slated to release on June 18 deals with a sensitive topic that touches upon respect mutual understanding and coexistence not just between mananimal but between humans as well Ever since I first heard the story of Sherni I  found the world fascinating and so far removed from my own Also the character I play Vidya is a woman of few words but many dimensions Vidya said The film will see Vidya as an upright forest officer who battles social barrier set by the patriarchal society and lackadaisical attitudes within her department The film deals with a sensitive topic that touches upon respect mutual understanding and coexistence not just between mananimal but between humans as well the actress said Sherni is directed by Amit Masurkar who earlier helmed Newton and Sulemani Keeda Speaking about working on this unconventional entertainer Masurkar said Sherni is an intricatelylayered story exploring the complex issues of conflict between humankind and animals Vidya Balan plays a midlevel forest officer who despite obstacles and pressures works with her team and local allies to preserve a balance in the environment The film also features Neeraj Kabi Vijay Raaz Sharat Saxena Mukul Chadda Brijendra Kala and Ila Arun in supporting roles  The film is scheduled for a digital release on Amazon Prime Video IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vidya-balan-in-sherni-i-play-a-woman-of-few-words-but-many-dimensions-130435.html Thu, 03 Jun 2021 05:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/asees-kaur-learnt-how-to-record-my-music-during-lockdown-129757.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai May 31 Working amidst lockdown has been a blessing in disguise for singer Asees Kaur in one way at least She learnt how to record her music by herself at home During lockdown situation Im really blessed to have my home setup I learnt how to record myself during lockdown and I have been working from my home setup Its been a good time learning a new skill and developing it Asees told IANS The 32yearold is your regular binge addict when she is not recording music Beyond music I hardly get any time but yeah whenever I am free I usually sit and binge on a lot of series on Netflix Thats how I spend time when I have no work she replied Asees latest release is a soft romantic single titled Pyaar diyan rahan Opening up on the song She said Pyaar diyan rahan is a very beautiful romantic song and I fell in love with the composition when I heard it for the first time Its very beautifully composed by Mrinmoy Sarmah and Sagnika Saha and my reason for saying yes to the song was the very relatable lyrics written by Goldie Sohel She welcomes the rising trend of independent music as it promotes talent The Independent music scene in India is nice and open and welcoming right now because I think the listeners are welcoming new songs They are looking forward to new talents and accepting nonfilm music It feels great and its easier for all singers to come up with their own music the singer said Asees known for her hits like Ikk kudi Ve maahi Bolna and Jaan nisaar among others in Bollywood has a growing fan base and feels the fact that she got a chance to experiment let her become popular I think Ive been pretty blessed that I got to experiment with the selection of songs and I am singing different kinds of songs right now I would love to express my gratitude to all my fans who have always been by my side and always supported me whether I sing a romantic song or a sad song or a dance number they have always been there Song selection really matters and I am grateful to all music directors who want to try my voice for different kinds of genres of songs she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/asees-kaur-learnt-how-to-record-my-music-during-lockdown-129757.html Mon, 31 May 2021 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sanjay-kapoor-before-ott-getting-meaty-roles-was-tough-for-middle-aged-male-actors-129488.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai May 30 Sanjay Kapoor was launched in Bollywood by elder brother Boney Kapoor in the muchhyped 1995 reincarnation drama Prem and then worked with some of the biggest actresses of the era including Madhuri Dixit Juhi Chawla and Mamta Kulkarni in early films produced by top banners Boney and Anil Kapoors youngest brother however could not maintain the impetus despite a regular flow of releases and had to wait for the recent rise of the OTT culture to get a platform to reinvent his career I have been in the business for quite some time so there are different phases that my career has gone through We always talk about playing character roles after a certain age but till a few years ago getting a meaty role w sough even for a middleaged man except for a few male actors I am at this age where I cannot play the hero in a film and not too old to play a grandfather And a fathers role usually came with limited opportunity Sanjay told IANS In mainstream cinema stories of middleaged people never found a space the way it does here on OTT We actors of my age are actually getting a chance to showcase our talent he added Sanjay draws the example of the hit dance number Dilbar dilbar made memorable by Sushmita Sen in their 1999 release Sirf Tum to underline how he needs a different kind of roles now that films may not have for him See I cannot dance on Dilbar dilbar now but I can play the character that I did in Lust Stories or in The Last Hour These platforms are investing in talent they have faith in talent he said So far Sanjay has done adequately in the OTT domain Besides the anthology film Lust Stories and the recent supernatural series The Last Hour he featured in the lockdown thriller series The Gone Game last year which is said to be readying for a second season He will be seen in the upcoming series Finding Anamika that stars Madhuri Dixit His latest The Last Hour flaunts Oscarwinning filmmaker Asif Kapadia as an executive producer and has Amit Kumar as a creator I can see how Amit and Asif were more interested in backing talent than stardom You know there is pressure to please everybody when it comes to cinema you have to have interval songs and dances item numbers Even though in web series too we use music and dance if required it is more like we are trying to reach out to a global audience and saying with conviction this is our story watch it I like this approach this conviction It is this conviction of the makers that are helping us to showcase our talent he said The Last Hour casts Sanjay as an investigating police officer who goes from Mumbai to Sikkim to unveil the truth behind a mysterious murder The show also features Shahana Goswami Raima Sen and Karma Takapa and streams on Amazon Prime Video Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sanjay-kapoor-before-ott-getting-meaty-roles-was-tough-for-middle-aged-male-actors-129488.html Sun, 30 May 2021 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/allu-arjun-pens-bday-note-to-brother-for-biggest-moral-support-129533.html Hyderabad May 30 Telugu star Allu Arjun has penned a heartwarming birthday note on Sunday for his actor brother Allu Sirish whom he called his biggest moral support Arjun posted a picture on Instagram The photograph features the two brothers twinning in ivory coloured sherwanis as they posed for the camera Many many happy returns of the day to my sweetest brother who is my biggest moral support Wish you a wonderful day and a lovely year to come allusirish Arjun wrote as the caption Sirish who turned 34 on Sunday went on to thank his brother for the note He wrote aceThank you Bunny Love you Talking about Arjuns upcoming slate of work he will be seen in Pushpa Based on true events Pushpa revolves around the red sanders heist in the hills of Andhra Pradesh With this film the audience will see Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna sharing screen space for the first time The film is directed by Sukumar with sound by Oscarwinner Resul Pookutty It is slated to release on August 13 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/allu-arjun-pens-bday-note-to-brother-for-biggest-moral-support-129533.html Sun, 30 May 2021 19:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tamannaah-bhatia-idea-of-a-star-is-changing-rapidly-128520.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi May 26 Actress Tamannaah Bhatia feels the star culture is changing rapidly after the boom in the digital space Tamannaah has been one of the biggest names in the Tamil and Telugu industries for well over a decade and has also acted in Bollywood and Kannada films After tasting success on the big screen she has now forayed the digital space This year she was seen in the web series The 11th Hour and more recently November Story She doesnt feel the need to choose between the two mediums of course There is nothing to choose from because at least in my case I get to have both I just feel that the fan following one could have amassed say 10 years ago will be tricky for the generation today because with the situation we are in owing to the pandemic emotions around films are different The way cinema is viewed is going to be different Tamannaah told IANS So the whole idea of a star itself is changing very rapidly and people are watching content and liking content for the content and not just for an individual actor or individual talent she added Tamannaah feels fortunate that she amassed a loyal fanbase through cinema I think the idea of stardom I saw 10 years ago was probably the most organic way of developing a loyal fan following which I have been fortunate to experience she said Talking about her new show the crime thriller November Story the actress says its not every day when one gets a character that has a detailed emotion graph I have never been a part of a crime thriller before So the genre for me is new and it got me to explore primarily a fatherdaughter relationship There were many angles to this as to why it became unique and new for me and it was literally like keeping the tension going through the show in every scene It was challenging and I had never done that in my career she said about the sevenepisode whodunit that also features Pasupathy GM Kumar Aruldass and Vivek Prasanna and airs on Disney Hotstar VIP IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/tamannaah-bhatia-idea-of-a-star-is-changing-rapidly-128520.html Thu, 27 May 2021 01:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/abhishek-banerjee-was-bored-of-getting-only-quirky-roles-ott-changed-that-127843.html By Anjuri Nayar Singh Mumbai May 24 Actor Abhishek Banerjee says he owes it to OTT as a platform for helping him change his image in showbiz He was only being offered comic roles and OTT shows helped change that There is a nice word that people use its quirky I was only getting aquirkya roles I was getting worried that why am I getting only quirky roles I was bored of it Thankfully Paatal Lok changed that It taught people that I can do a lot more than comedy he told IANS The actor says that he was able to prove her versatility because of OTT What OTT did was it gave me the audiences eyes It gave me stature But what I feel is that OTT gave me that position of a wellrounded actor Before that I was doing only comic roles and I was tired of the kind of roles that I was offered all the time I was like I am not here to do only comedy I can do a lot of other characters and I am prepared All my training is to prove my versatility to filmmakers and the audience he says Abhishek says that while he was sure that Paatal Lok will do well but he had not anticipated it becoming this popular I knew that I was part of something special while I was shooting for it I just knew it I used to always say that also I knew that this was not like what I had done before My film Stree was different as that was my first film and I was scared about what to do In Paatal Lok I had an understanding of what I was doing right or wrong I was confident that it would do good but I didnt know it would do so well I didnt understand the word viral before it released he says He adds Before the trailer launched I was in a bad shape I had finished my shoot and so many things were lined up but suddenly everything stopped because of the lockdown I realised that God had got me to the same position all over again I used to complain a lot to the universe that why have you chosen me to be the victim The minute the trailer hit the OTT channels everything changed and I realised that it was a gift from the universe and I was totally in gratitude It completely changed my life Talking about his future plans he says I want to pick up projects with moral values and responsibilities I think its important for actors to do that You need to have a voice that is important I want to do projects which have something in the story IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/abhishek-banerjee-was-bored-of-getting-only-quirky-roles-ott-changed-that-127843.html Mon, 24 May 2021 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shahana-goswami-when-something-is-well-written-portrayal-of-characters-is-balanced-127730.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai May 23 Actress Shahana Goswami feels web shows have ushered better quality of writing which in turn creates scope for actors like her to prove their versatility In her latest show The Last Hour Shahana plays a police officer who along with another male counterpart sets out to unravel a murder mystery Did she feel she was a strong female character in the otherwise maledominated world of the story I think when something is well written theres a natural balance about the portrayal of each character in it When I am saying balance it means we do not need to highlight a character only because he is a male or a female character but giving substantial space for each of them When it comes to my character in The Last Hour where I play an investigating police officer it was about the contribution of the character in the narrative So no I did not feel like I am one of the strong females in the mens world Shahana told IANS Starting her film career in 2006 Shahana has mostly made her mark in indie films like Firaaq Mirch Midnights Children Tu Hai Mera Sunday and Gali Guliyan and has also featured in mainstream Bollywood entertainers such as Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd Rock On and Break Ke Baad The actress has also featured in web series such as A Suitable Boy and Bombay Begums where the stories revolved around women She emphasises on how the web series as a format has opened the door for actors of all ages that was not the scene in films Since writing has taken centrestage in web shows every actor is coming by virtue of merit Since the number of shows and web films has increased its not just a few known faces that you see in these shows I think it is quite a fair ground to play for actors I do not think it is competitive Rather the web space is actually celebrating talent All that is possible because of good writing that focuses on storytelling instead of the pressure that a film has as in within two hours we have to give everything to our audience she said Here people will watch it araam se at leisure A show can be watched after 15 days or a month of release and feedback of our work can start pouring based on word of mouth not within the first weekend I think that is why for us this is the newfound space to explore and celebrate talent explained Shahana The Last Hour also featuring Sanjay Kapoor streams on Amazon Prime Video Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shahana-goswami-when-something-is-well-written-portrayal-of-characters-is-balanced-127730.html Sun, 23 May 2021 23:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/elli-avram-im-glad-seeing-other-foreigners-doing-well-in-indian-films-127459.html By Anjuri Nayar Singh Mumbai May 22 Actress Elli AvRam who is originally from Stockholm Sweden says with time more foreigners are being accepted in Bollywood and getting better roles The actress who has been seen in films such as Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon Mickey Virus and Malang says many people around the world die to be part of Bollywood Im so glad seeing other foreigners doing so well and getting so much of love and appreciation in the Indian film industry Bollywood is something so many people around the world love and die for literally Im one of them she told IANS The actress says she always wanted to be part of Bollywood I just fell in love with its cinema since my childhood and I always looked for that one foreigner actress who could inspire me and give me hope since I dreamt so hard of working in Bollywood despite not being Indian And Ill never forget when I watched Love Aaj Kal and there was a Brazilian girl who played an Indian character refers to Giselli Monteiro in the 2009 release As I walked out of the cinema in Stockholm I just said to myself if she can do it then so can I she says The actress says the film industry has changed a lot since she became part of it From the day I entered Bollywood till now things have opened up and changed quite a bit Ive got many offers where I sometimes have had to choose which one to do due to dates clashing When that happens I feel a lot of gratitude because it tells me your hard work and talent pay off in the end she says Ive got something new Im excited about workwise Apart from that Im currently questioning a lot of things and working on my personal growth as a human being Im not scared about surviving in this industry Id say Im more scared about how to survive as a free human being in this world she says IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/elli-avram-im-glad-seeing-other-foreigners-doing-well-in-indian-films-127459.html Sat, 22 May 2021 20:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/zareen-khan-was-told-in-our-industry-its-a-perception-that-pretty-girls-cant-act-127461.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi May 22 Zareen Khan recalls being rejected from a film for looking the way she does The Bollywood actress says she was bluntly told about the industry perception that pretty girls cannot act Its not just me who has been typecast I feel every person in this industry gets typecast When I came out with Veer I was typecast as pretty girl a girl next door just comparisons and everything So I did not get enough chances Actually Did not get a chance at all after that I was called Fat and this and that Zareen told IANS She says her dance number Character dheela in the Salman Khanstarrer Ready somewhat helped in changing perceptions People were like she can look like that also She has lost weight nice Then came Hate Story and people said she is so hot she recalled Still Zareen was rejected when she tried looking for roles that would give her something meaningful to portray After that when I tried meeting people for not so hot roles or roles that would need me to play something meaningful or serious I was rejected and I was out and out told in our industry its a perception that pretty girls cant act she said What the hell does that even mean If you find me pretty and you are not going to give me a chance that is so unfair she added The 34yearold took a break from all things related to being glamorous I really want to make a conscious effort for people to see me as more than a glamorous face I want them to see my potential credit give me due for my potential and give me a chance More than anything else to give me an opportunity to show that I am more than just about looking hot and being pretty she stressed That is the reason I took a bit of break I was reading a lot of scripts and I wanted to do something that would portray me away from the glamorous image So that people can change that image about me she concluded In her new release Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele Zareen portrays a character she has never done in her career of over a decade She plays a lesbian in the film which released digitally a while back Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/zareen-khan-was-told-in-our-industry-its-a-perception-that-pretty-girls-cant-act-127461.html Sat, 22 May 2021 21:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/abhishek-banerjee-my-dream-role-is-al-pacinos-tony-montana-in-scarface-126692.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai May 19 Casting directorturnedactor Abhishek Banerjee would love to reprise Al Pacinos iconic character Tony Montana in Brian De Palmas 1983 classic Scarface Ive been fascinated with Al Pacino all my life Something like Tony Montana in Scarface thats the kind of dream role I have for me If I ever get to play something like that Im sure Im going to kill it The energy the gruesomeness of such a character is always very exciting It is very liberating and helps you vent your inner anger Abhishek told IANS After working in theatre in Delhi Abhishek arrived in Mumbai around 12 years ago with the dream of being an actor He took up casting direction in order to support himself in the expensive city Althouygh he has been around for a while life changed after he garnered critical appreciation for his performance in the 2018 horror comedy Stree Before Stree I used to doubt myself as an actor Filmmakers didnt know about me No matter how talented you are till the time people trusts you I dont think you can showcase your talent Stree gave me that opportunity that recognition and trust Whatever I am today is because of that film Huge thanks to director Amar Kaushik and producers Maddock Films for that The 36yearold actor is not interested in confining himself to Hindi cinema Rather he wants panIndia recognition Abhishek said As an actor I want to work in languages like Tamil Telugu Malayalam and Bengali among others I have stayed in several parts of India because of my dads Armed Forces background He used to get transferred every four to five years I want to become a panIndia actor With films mostly releasing on OTT in the current pandemic situation does he feel it makes a difference to him as an actor I dont know maybe it makes a difference As an actor watching myself on the big screen is more exciting than watching myself on the small screen Of course I cant complain OTT is also a medium where everybody can watch your work he replied On the work front Abhishek features in the latest Netflix anthology Ajeeb Daastaans The actor has his kitty full with upcoming projects like Dostana 2 Akarsh Khuranas Rashmi Rocket Amar Kaushiks Bhediya Umesh Shuklas Aankh Micholi and Satram Ramanis Helmet IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/abhishek-banerjee-my-dream-role-is-al-pacinos-tony-montana-in-scarface-126692.html Thu, 20 May 2021 02:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kumar-sanu-have-memory-associated-with-every-song-i-sang-for-nadeem-shravan-126032.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai May 17 Playback veteran Kumar Sanu is not against the current trend of remixing old songs smd he says he likes a remixed number even better if the original voice is retained He also opened up with nostalgia on his association with composers NadeemShravan I was never against remixes There are some songs that the new generation does not even know who had composed the music or who had sung them They get to learn about it through its remix which is a plus point Secondly remix is not bad if the lyrics and composition are kept intact and only the arrangement is changed Also if a superhit song is remixed and the remix also becomes popular it is certainly a plus point for todays music directors and producers It is good for everyone Sanu told IANS Quizzed if he is personally fond of remixes the singer replied Personally I like remixes when the remix of a song also features its original singer Sanu became popular in the nineties particularly singing romantic numbers that reigned that charts back then and among his biggest hits were songs he recorded for NadeemShravan starting Aashiqui in 1990 Shravan Kumar Rathod of the NadeemShravan duo passed away last month Walking down memory lane Sanu recalled how he has a special memory with literally every song he sang for them Music composer duos like NadeemShravan are rare and Shravan jis demise is a great loss for our industry I have so many memories with them Shravan ji was a soft spoken and jovial person and loved me a lot They used to call me Tiger I have a separate memory associated with every song I sang for them the shows we did together the tasty food I had at their place the tips they shared to help me during song recording I remember how at times they would try to make a song a little tougher with a classical touch while I would try to make it easier and how we celebrated after every recording was completed These are the things which keep flashing in my mind now Sanu recalled Any NadeemShravan number close to his heart Every song I have sung for them is special to me Their songs used to have melody and good lyrics for which people remember me One song Zindagi ki talash mein hum maut ke kitne paas aa gaye from the film Saathi its a meaningful song and really close to my heart revealed the singer Times are difficult especially when the second wave of the Covid19 pandemic is wreaking havoc in India and the veteran singer suggests everyone to get vaccinated at the earliest I have completed my second dose of the vaccine It has been 12 days since I took my second dose and I havent experienced any side effects which people are talking about like pain or fever Everybody should get vaccinated It is good for you Sanu suggested What is it that he is missing the most being stuck at home during lockdown I miss live concerts and recordings I enjoy doing live performances a lot and am definitely missing it informed the singer IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kumar-sanu-have-memory-associated-with-every-song-i-sang-for-nadeem-shravan-126032.html Mon, 17 May 2021 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/neena-gupta-actors-now-have-chance-to-pick-up-stuff-thats-hatke-126071.html Mumbai May 17 Veteran actress Neena Gupta had no inhibition about portraying a nonagenarian in the upcoming film Sardar Ka Grandson She says nowadays just like filmmakers actors too have a chance to pick stuff that is hatke unconventional Neena play Sardar a fiery old grandmother with a heart pf gold who has a wish to see her home in Lahore The 61yearold brought tries bringing alive a 90yearold with the aid of prosthetics for the perfect look Talking about actors now pushing the envelope and not shying away from portraying older characters Neena told IANS It is because times have changed and the way people are writing scripts various kinds of scripts The way actors are getting a variety of roles and the most important thing is that the audience is accepting it have also helped It is a very encouraging thing She hopes that the audience likes her role in the film If people like me in this film it will be such a great thing for me and I think there will be a lot of other actors who would also have the courage to do something like this The first thing I said was I dont want to play such an old woman but when I read the script I said I have to do it she said The actress added Nowadays we actors have a chance to pick up stuff that is a little hatke different and not the usual stuff Actors are very happy to experiment like the producers directors and writers are experimenting It is a great time Sardar Ka Grandson is all set to release on Netflix on May 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/neena-gupta-actors-now-have-chance-to-pick-up-stuff-thats-hatke-126071.html Mon, 17 May 2021 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pratik-gandhi-biopic-is-one-format-ive-love-the-most-125837.html Mumbai May 16 Actor Pratik Gandhi who became an overnight sensation playing Harshad Mehta in the popular series Scam 1992 The Harshad Mehta Story says he loves the biopic format the most because he has done a lot of work in the biography genre since the time he acted on the stage Pratik adds that his choice of roles is not necessarily based on big names or production houses I am open to all kinds of experiments That is what I had been doing in Gujarati films so I dont think I am a person to shy away from experiments The biopic is one format Ive love the most because there are a lot of biopics I have been performing on stage for a long time I also want to explore the genres of comedy and action he told IANS He continued I like performing complex human emotions I love playing complex characters I am not looking at the setup whether it is a big name or production house The story should work for me Pratik has predominantly worked in Gujarati cinema before Hansal Mehtas Scam 1992 made him famous all over India He made his Bollywood debut with as the heros buddy in the 2018 film Loveyatri and is currently busy shooting for a starring role in the upcoming horror comedy Atithi Bhooto Bhava Does he believe he has cracked the key to success after the Sony LIV show Scam 1992 Pratik replies What I have understood is that if I can create an honest emotion things will fall in place and that is what I have observed all these years in theatre in Gujarati films and also in Scam 1992 If I can create those emotions on screen or on stage the rest falls in place he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pratik-gandhi-biopic-is-one-format-ive-love-the-most-125837.html Sun, 16 May 2021 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/michael-b-jordan-its-a-lively-time-to-be-an-actor-right-now-125252.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi May 13 Over the past decade Michael B Jordan has gained a massive fanbase with his performances in films like Fruitvale Station Creed and the comicbook supervillain Erik Killmonger in Black Panther With inclusivity and diversity taking centrestage in Hollywood the international heartthrob feels it is a lively time to be an actor right now I think it is always the right time to be an actor Artistes use their platforms to express themselves For me I use my platform in a multitude of ways I think it is a lively time to be an actor right now I think it is pretty lively at the moment Jordan who was voted Sexiest Man Alive last year by People told IANS in an exclusive chat Over the decades several Indians have forayed the West especially Hollywood including Om Puri Naseeruddin Shah Amrish Puri Shashi Kapoor Aishwarya RaiBachchan Irrfan Khan Kabir Bedi and Persis Khambatta In recent times too the likes of Priyanka Chopra Jonas Deepika Padukone Anil Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan among many others have featured in Hollywood projects In reverse Hollywood films dubbed in regional Indian languages have been consistently doing good business in this country Tell Jordan language and culture are no longer barriers and he agrees Cinema is a universal language It is one of those things that everybody can come and participate and share and experience from all walks of life and from all over the world Through the use of streaming internet and social media everybody is connected to everything that is going on Everybody has access to the stories you want to tell Jordan said He added So Somebody from one side of the globe who never thought that somebody from the other side of the world would ever see their project or get a chance to hear their story its very possible to happen Jordans latest release is Without Remorse which takes him into the world of bestselling author Tom Clancys espionage and militaryops Directed by Stefano Sollima the film revolves around Clancy s 1993 novel of the same name and casts him as John Clark The film also stars Guy Pearce Jamie Bell Jodie TurnerSmith Luke Mitchell Brett Gelman Colman Domingo Lauren London and Jacob Scipio in pivotal roles It was released on Amazon Prime Video in April Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/michael-b-jordan-its-a-lively-time-to-be-an-actor-right-now-125252.html Fri, 14 May 2021 02:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/salman-khan-i-am-still-the-same-salman-but-expect-something-new-in-radhe-124864.html By Anjuri Nayar Singh Mumbai May 10 Salman Khan promises fans he will not repeat what he has done before in his new film Radhe Your Most Wanted Bhai The action thriller is the superstars Eid bonanza for 2021 and scheduled for a digital payperview release in India on May 13 Salman who is also a producer of the film is candid enough to say he will lose money on Radhe and with apology to theatre owners adds that he plans to rerelease the film on big screen once normalcy returns You can expect something new You can expect something different from Tiger Dabangg Bodyguard Wanted It is a new film We will not repeat what we have done before See and tell me whats new apart from me I am the same old Salman that you have been seeing since Maine Pyar Kiya he told IANS With the Covid pandemic paralysing cinema business in India the film will primarily reach out to fans in the country through payperview release The actor is candid in confessing that he has no hope in terms of the film making big money postrelease We will get the lowest numbers out of Radhe We may not even cross Rs 1015 crore Whoever wants to be happy with the lowest number can be Some people will be happy with my highest numbers and some with my lowest We will lose money on Radhe and box office collections are going to be almost zero but we are still going ahead with releasing Radhe he says He feels that this is the right time to release the film Once the situation is better and the theatres open Salman plans to rerelease the film in theatres I apologise to all the theatre owners that we are doing this film now but it is the right thing to do The intention was to release as soon as the pandemic is over but it doesnt seem to get over If you remember a few months ago on social media they were requesting that film comes on Eid in theatres Which we agreed to because they said 1000 single screens have shut down We agreed as they thought that getting Radhe on screens would get the crowds back and theatres would be functional but that did not happen Now the film is releasing on OTT abroad and in 2025 theatres that are open here Once the theatres open even after doing this OTT release if they audience like the film they will want to go and see the film in theatres Also there is a particular audience that does not watch stuff on OTT We will do a release in the theatres as well he says The conversation moves to how he comes on board with a script Salman says When I hear a script if I do not want to leave the other films that I have signed and want to do that film as soon as possible I dont do it I have to like the script in the first narration and then things can be added If I think its like okay or may be I would never touch it he says The actor says he wants to work across genres including comedy but is not getting the right script I am not getting anything that is better than what I have done like Partner Ready or Bodyguard which was in action genre but there was a plot I dont want to do a frivolous comedy If I do a comedy it will be like when Ready released people said it was Anees Bazmees Hum Aapke Hain Koun he says On working in the comedy genre he adds The films I have done include Andaz Apna Apna No Entry and Hello Brother If I do something it should be something better than what I have done earlier Eid this year is going to be different and Salman urges fans not to gather outside his house or any other actors house It will be very different Everyone will be in their own rooms I live downstairs and mum and dad live upstairs Family like my brothers and sisters will come I hope there is no crowd outside my house or any stars house Nobody should be there he says IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/salman-khan-i-am-still-the-same-salman-but-expect-something-new-in-radhe-124864.html Wed, 12 May 2021 10:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amit-sial-intense-roles-playing-with-my-head-want-lighter-ones-124431.html By Anjuri Nayar Singh Mumbai May 10 Actor Amit Sial who is known for his roles in shows such as Mirzapur Hostages and Kathmandu Connection wants a break from serious characters The actor adds he doesnt want to play a cop and would like to do a comedy role next I dont want to take up any cop role for sure I really want to cut down on playing intense roles as its started to play with my head I want to do lighter roles common man roles even a dark comedy would do he told IANS The actor says that its important to take up varied roles Actors get stereotyped in everything Most of the calls that I get for work are cop roles and I just say I cant do it Its your responsibility in how to get out of it 99 per cent of people want to play safe You need to think about yourself no one else will he says Amit says that he feels lucky to be part of OTT wave as it is the only platform which is working right now Going by the times I see theatres opening up as a distant dream I can only count my blessings and the industry is also doing the same At least we have a platform in the form of OTT so that work can carry on Its a big industry and a lot of people are depending on it Work has a platform to get produced on OTT is a blessing for our industry he says IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amit-sial-intense-roles-playing-with-my-head-want-lighter-ones-124431.html Mon, 10 May 2021 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anshuman-jha-had-to-be-extra-careful-playing-gay-character-in-new-film-124037.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai May 8 Actor Anshuman Jha plays a homosexual boy in the upcoming film Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele and he says he was careful to avoid stereotypes and caricatures that often accompany the portrayal of gay characters in films I did feel responsible as an actor when I took this character because being a heterosexual man who was playing a homosexual character I had to be extra careful and sensitive towards the portrayal I do not want to play Veer his role in a caricaturish manner on in those stereotyped ways Anshuman told IANS Honestly playing a gay man with sensitivity was a genuine challenge and I did a certain amount of research work and interacted with people I have friends in the LGBTQ community too so I have a certain amount of insight I hope the audience sees it in my performance he added The film directed by Harish Vyas is about a homosexual boy and a lesbian girl on a road trip that lets them discover the essence of love in friendship While Anshuman plays the gay boy Zareen Khan essays the lesbian girl I think acceptance of different voices is important and that was the most important part of the story I remember Harish sir shared the story of the film in a few lines to me in a cab as we rode from the New York airport to our destination He told me it is a story of a boy and a girl and a road trip I said ok what else He said they are soulmates The boy is gay and the girl is a lesbian During the journey they discover pure love and friendship that they share for each other I was just hooked there It was a fascinating story for me and the dimension between the boy and the girl from the LGBTQ community also shows their side of the story and how they struggle in our society for acceptance said Anshuman The film has been screened at various international film festivals and has also won a few awards Anshuman bagged Best Actor jury at the Rajasthan International Film Festival and the film received the Best Film Audience Choice Award at the HBO South Asian Film Festival Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele releases on Disney Hotstar VIP and Disney Hotstar Premium on May 9 Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anshuman-jha-had-to-be-extra-careful-playing-gay-character-in-new-film-124037.html Sun, 09 May 2021 06:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gul-panag-each-woman-who-is-part-of-our-ecosystem-is-a-role-model-121601.html New Delhi May 1 Gul Panag dons many hats from being an actor to an avid rider a certified pilot a mother and a wife She has had a stint in politics too and is a serial halfmarathon runner Although she is famous she underplays the tag of being a role model It is important to take your role as a role model seriously When I say role model it is not just me because I am a public figure I would say each one of us is a role model because given the inequity in India with regards to access to opportunity for women just the ability to choose what you do in your day is something women dont have access to Gul told IANS She labels each woman a role model Each woman who is part of our ecosystem they are all role models for women who dont even have the opportunity to decide what they would want to do in the next minute So we all carry on our shoulders the incredible responsibility added Gul who has voiced National Geographics specials titled Tiger Queen Of Taru and On The Brink She continued Sometimes walking a difficult path is an option we must exercise because in walking that path we make it easier for somebody else to go through it I think the responsibility of being a role model and walking the path less trodden stay on ones shoulders to make it easier for someone else to follow Its not easy to be a pioneer at something she stressed Being a pioneer is a big responsibility and one must take the plunge if they have the opportunity Gul concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gul-panag-each-woman-who-is-part-of-our-ecosystem-is-a-role-model-121601.html Sat, 01 May 2021 10:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adil-hussain-didnt-want-to-act-in-films-most-films-didnt-inspire-me-121650.html By Anjuri Nayar Singh Mumbai May 1 Actor Adil Hussain says before he was offered the 2010 hit Ishqiya he never harboured a desire to enter Bollywood He admits not caring much about the films being made at the time My first film in Hindi language was Ishqiya I never went to Bombay to look for work in films I didnt want to act in films most of the films didnt inspire me I did not watch them or like them apart from a very few he told IANS The actor recalls Ishqyia director Abhishek Chaubey had to convince him to come on board When Ishqiya came to me Abhishek Chaubey flew from Bombay to Delhi to convince me to act in his film He asked me why I was not in Bombay and I said that I dont like the films and so why should I be in them So he said that this was a very different kind of film He told me the story and I loved the story he says Hussain says that for him the story of a film makes all the difference I dont have a criterion but a basic standard I grew up with great stories in Assam stories by great writers I went to NSD and have done plays across the globe of the greatest playwrights If I read the script and it sounds mundane or unidimensional then it doesnt inspire me to act even if they pay a lot of money I make sure that a film has some meaning and is close to my heart I believe in it it is written well woven well and the director is able to put across the story which he wants to make he says Hussain has been seen in films such as English Vinglish Life Of Pi and Lootera His latest release was The Illegal which dropped on OTT recently IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adil-hussain-didnt-want-to-act-in-films-most-films-didnt-inspire-me-121650.html Sat, 01 May 2021 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amit-sial-i-wont-do-anything-that-sidelines-me-anymore-119775.html Mumbai April 24 Actor Amit Sial has carved his space in digital domain with projects such as Hostages Inside Edge and Mirzapur as well as the recent Kathmandu Connection Sial says today he can afford to avoid projects that would leave him sidelined I keep getting film options but I wont do anything that sidelines me anymore I am getting my due on OTT he told IANS The actor adds that content on OTT is good and gives visibility to all actors The good thing about working on OTT is all stories do great justice to the characters Every character has a backstory and a track I have had film offers I have refused some of them and accepted a couple One of them is almost ready to be released he says There are a couple of other films in the pipeline some of them on the floors But given the times it will not happen anytime soon probably next year he signs off IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amit-sial-i-wont-do-anything-that-sidelines-me-anymore-119775.html Sat, 24 Apr 2021 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ridhi-dogra-the-country-feels-uncomfortable-about-a-lot-of-things-107771.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi March 9 Ridhi Dogra features in the new web series The Married Woman which revolves around the topic of samesex love or lesbianism a topic considered taboo by many The actress agrees that a lot of things are forbidden in India and that there are a lot of things the country feels uncomfortable about Over the years Hindi film industry has seen several films and show that have focussed on samesex love such as My Brother Nikhil Dostana Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Made In Heaven and Four More Shots Please In The Married Woman Ridhi and Monica Dogra play a lesbian couple A lot of things are taboo in our country There are a lot of things that have happened but they are taboo I think that is just the climate that is how we are as people We dont talk about a lot of things I am on the other side of the fence I believe in individuality So I would not be able to answer this on behalf of the people who have issues with such things It will be an opinion from the outside Ridhi told IANS Among many other things the topic of homosexuaity makes people uneasy says Ridhi I do know that there are a lot of things that the country feels uncomfortable about this being one of them and the point of making these stories is just that she said Ridhi says the stories shown on screen are inspired from the realities of life We would want to create content and make stories to entertain people and everyone who is telling a story is coming from reality So there are some things that cater to some platforms and we all want to tell stories in the creative mediums she said The Married Woman is based on author Manju Kapurs bestseller novel of the same name and also features Imaad Shah Divya Seth Shah Nadira Babbar and Suhas Ahuja The series has been directed by Sahir Raza and will air on ALTBalaji and ZEE5 Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ridhi-dogra-the-country-feels-uncomfortable-about-a-lot-of-things-107771.html Wed, 10 Mar 2021 08:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pooja-bhatt-for-me-gender-problem-began-when-i-became-a-star-107380.html By Anjuri Nayar Singh Mumbai March 8 Actressfilmmaker Pooja Bhatt who is the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt says things were always equal in the house when it came to gender However when she entered the film industry she realised that life was not so simple here Opening up on the occasion of Womens Day on Monday Pooja told IANS I was very privileged to be born to parents where there were no different rules for my mother or father and I was never given the feeling that just because I am a female child I should not have those opinions or shouldnt lead my life like that For me the problem only began when I became a part of the industry and became a star She says that people in the industry expected her to be a certain way which she was never okay with There was a certain Hindi film heroine pattern I was meant to follow I was like why should I do that While that did become a point of friction between me and certain sections of the media overall most of them were good with me There was appreciation when I did good work but there was a lot of trying to hone me and curtail me to behave in the way I was meant to behave But I refused to be curtailed she says When she started producing films it was frowned upon When I wanted to become a producer that wasnt looked upon kindly They were like you still have so much youth on your side milk it Let us men make the movies and at this stage of your life dont give up being in front of the camera But tell me not to do something and that is what I want to do it she says However when Pooja became a producer she made sure to not discriminate between her male and female actors I have made 10 films and all my female actors have been paid more than my male actors And they have complained a lot about it This has happened in films where the female characters were in pivotal roles The role decides You know what you need to spend where The person who has to give more time to the film and things are riding on them they take the fatter paycheque she says Pooja will soon be seen in the femalecentric web series Bombay Begums a story of five ambitious women their desires and disappointments in modernday Mumbai IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pooja-bhatt-for-me-gender-problem-began-when-i-became-a-star-107380.html Mon, 08 Mar 2021 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rapper-krsna-i-am-not-a-fan-of-virtual-concerts-105982.html By Samarth Goyal New Delhi March 2 Delhibased rapper Krsnas Still Here is his first fulllength album in over seven years He says a majority of the songs on the album were written during lockdown last year The last album I put out was in 2014 so I thought it was about time I put another project out since my listeners were constantly asking for more music says the 31yearold rapper A lot of the songs in the album were songs I wrote during lockdown So some of them are very introspective and were written at a time when we really didnt know what was going on in the world and there was uncertainty about when we would be able to go out again says Krsna Krsna insists that the album doesnt have a common concept that binds all the tracks together It is as diverse as my thought process has been over the past few months Sonically it might follow a pattern but my idea of an album is to capture the state of mind I am in during that period My album is a reflection of all of those emotions that Ive been feeling over the past few months says Krsna The album Krsna informs has been sprinkled with a few radio friendly melodies to get to a wider audience and also sees him collaborate with five artistes including rappers Raftaar and Badshah Collaborations are important for albums because they help bring other artistic flavours to the project All five have brought their Agame to the project Collaborations really help you understand how other artistes work and learn from them too he says Just like every artiste Krsna too had to adapt to the new world order due to the ongoing pandemic However he is not a big fan of virtual concerts and is optimistic about live shows returning soon I think once Covid numbers start dropping everyone will be back to normal I dont think there will be any lasting impact apart from people wearing masks in crowded places much like most Asian countries have been doing for years I am not a fan of virtual concerts To me a virtual concert is as good as watching a music video The experience of being at the venue to watch the performance is and will always be unmatched he signs off IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rapper-krsna-i-am-not-a-fan-of-virtual-concerts-105982.html Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/janhvi-kapoor-competition-is-extremely-healthy-105406.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi Feb 27 Ever since she made her debut in 2018 Janhvi Kapoor has been pitted against her contemporaries by the audience ans also been compared to her mother the late superstar Sridevi The actress insists competition is healthy and says that there is enough work for everyone I believe in healthy competition I find my contemporaries inspiring and motivational They keep me on my toes and they are doing such great work There is something to learn from all of them We are all finding our space and trying to pave our own way Janhvi told IANS She added I really believe you can coexist in the industry There might be times when two or more people are eyeing the same film but that is a part of life Ultimately what best for the film happens and what is meant for the film will happen but I think competition is extremely healthy So far she has been seen in the OTTreleased films Ghost Stories and Gunjan Saxena The Kargil Girl after her 2018 big screen release Dhadak The actress also has a following of 95 million followers on Instagram I still feel these are my first baby steps into what I want to do So I have not even come close I see actors like Alia Bhatt and I saw her Gangubai Kathiawadi teaser I realised if I thought I knew a little bit of acting then after watching this trailer I felt that with the level of acting she has brought to this country and industry she has raised the bar said Janhvi The 23yearold actress currently awaits the release of her next film Roohi a horror comedy The film costars Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma Roohi follows the 2018 hit Stree and last years Laxmii and there is a slew of horror comedies lined up namely Bhoot Police Phone Bhoot and Bhool Bhulaiya 2 Asked if she fears competition between films of the same genre Janhvi is diplomatic A good film will get its due and I hope we have made a good enough film I am a movie buff so if there are other good films I will be happy to see those I want my film to do well but that does not mean I want others not to do well In Roohi Janhvi plays a supernatural character of a chudail witch or banshee which the actress says was gruelling We shot it a year and half ago It was physically grueling We tried to get that voice of the banshee the screaming screeching and a lot of harness work It was quite taxing I had a lot of back problems because of it she said The film is slated to hit the big screens on March 11 Please go watch the film carry a mask and sanitizer but please go to the theatres and watch my film My life depends on it The theatre culture depends on it she winds up with an appeal Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/janhvi-kapoor-competition-is-extremely-healthy-105406.html Sat, 27 Feb 2021 22:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/mika-singh-to-perform-with-salman-khan-after-four-years-105045.html Mumbai Feb 25 Singer Mika Singh will be seen performing with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan after four years in the upcoming show Indian Pro Music League IMPL  Mika said The IPML is a one of a kind show in a never before seen format in the music genre Salman bhai is the biggest star in the country and it would be so much fun and such an honor to perform with him after quite some time  The singer added We have such a camaraderie and there is a little unexpected tinge to it when we are performing together That really adds to the performance I am super excited about this and I literally cant wait The show comprises six teams supported by Bollywood personalities Shraddha Kapoor Rajkumar Rao Bobby Deol Suresh Raina Govinda Genelia and Ritesh Deshmukh The show will have one star singer and one rising star Salman Khan is the brand ambassador of the show  The show will be hosted by Karan Wahi and Waluscha DSouza  IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/mika-singh-to-perform-with-salman-khan-after-four-years-105045.html Fri, 26 Feb 2021 06:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aditi-rao-hydari-lockdown-made-us-understand-how-important-ott-platforms-are-104870.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi Feb 25 She made her digital debut with the Malayalam romantic drama Sufiyum Sujatayum last year and was later seen in the web space in the Nanistarrer Telugu action flick V Actress Aditi Rao Hydari is now gearing up for her third film on OTT the Bollywood release The Girl On The Train starring Parineeti Chopra Aditi insists it is not the platform of release that counts though being a fullon romantic she loves the experience of going to theatres My OTT experience has actually been in 2020 when two films of mine released on OTT platforms It started off with me in tears and then I realised it was incredible and how with that one click in one second everyone is watching your film Aditi told IANS People really needed stories and content I am a full romantic I love the theatre We have all grown up going to the theatre We Look forward to going to the theatre and it is that whole thing that someone is making out time to go to the theatre There is another thrill of watching a film larger than life she added She credits lockdown for OTT platforms becoming important I think lockdown has really made us understand how important these OTT platforms are They have been out best friends during lockdown Today I can confidently say it is really not about the platform on which your film releases she said Its not the platform but other things that are important for a film It is more about the story The time you spend making that film The content the team the director just the whole journey you grow through is so much more important Every film has its own destiny Some films are made for the theatre and some for OTT platforms Both are valid and will always be very important to us she said Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aditi-rao-hydari-lockdown-made-us-understand-how-important-ott-platforms-are-104870.html Thu, 25 Feb 2021 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anurag-basu-thin-line-between-using-freedom-of-creativity-and-misusing-it-104037.html By Yashika Mathur New Delhi Feb 22 Filmmaker Anurag Basu says filmmakers have always explored bold subjects irrespective of the medium it is presented on However the line that differentiates freedom of creativity and misusing that freedom needs to be kept in mind by filmmakers at all times Its a very thin line between using the freedom of creativity and misusing it I believe in OTT as well Filmmakers should look at using freedom of speech in the best possible way to tell unique stories Basu told IANS His new film Ludo an anthology drama dropped on OTT platform a few months back and will make its television premiere soon A lot of filmmakers have explored bigger and bolder subjects on the big screen as well My film Ludo dealt with many bold subjects and was initially planned for the big screen he added Basu who made films such as Barfi 2012 Life In A Metro 2007 and Gangster 2006 is confident now that theatres have reopened after lockdown the audience will pour in like the good old days Cinema is a community watching experience I am certain that audiences will come back to theatres when they will be back in action completely We just need one film that will create enough buzz for the audience to rush back to theatres This has already started in the South with the release of the Vijaystarrer Master and soon will be seen in Bollywood too One big release and things will change he said The filmmaker came back to direction with Ludo after a break of three years but he doesnt sense a gap As a filmmaker I didnt miss filmmaking and directing for the big screen Thankfully the TV reality show Super Dancer and the film Ludo happened at the same time I had finished shooting for Ludo when we were shooting for Super Dancer So I never felt I was away from the bigscreen he said So what does he prefer Directing films or judging shows on television Cooking he replied on a lighter note and went on to add I absolutely love cooking Thats what my family and my wife say They believe I am a great chef and then a great filmmaker I love cooking almost every day for my family Ludo will have its television premiere on Sony Max on February 28 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anurag-basu-thin-line-between-using-freedom-of-creativity-and-misusing-it-104037.html Mon, 22 Feb 2021 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/mahesh-manjrekar-shares-his-take-on-ott-censorship-103888.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai Feb 21 Filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar does not support the idea of censoring OTT content At the same time he feels filmmakers should be responsible and not take advantage of lack of censorship in the digital space Manjrekars upcoming web series 1962 The War In The Hills is a 10episode war drama that offers a glimpse into the lives of soldiers who stood rock solid against Chinese troops dedicating their lives for the security of the nation I feel we should be very particular and careful about what we want to show I have no worries because my series is one which the entire family can sit and watch together without feeling uncomfortable But I feel we should be a little more responsible about what we are showing Yes I would not like to see censorship on OTT content but there are some people who really take advantage of this Mahesh Manjrekar told IANS The filmmaker also feels that OTT platforms should not be a reason of insecurity for cinema theatres because the two can easily coexist This has been an argument for years now These can easily exist together Nothing can replace cinema halls This debate also happened in the past when television had started gaining popularity I dont see cinema suffering because of OTT We should not lose our sleep thinking OTT will finish the future of cinema halls it wont he said Opening up about his series Manjrekar shared The series is a fictional take on the war of 1962 However more than the war we have concentrated on the human side of the soldiers Sometimes we might feel that a soldiers duty is to protect us and he doesnt have any emotions but he has He is vulnerable and close to his family just like us But what makes him different from us is the fact that he has the will to die so that we are safe Ive tried to look into the emotional aspect of all those soldiers who fought that war The series has been shot in Ladakh in extreme weather conditions Recalling his experience of the shoot Manjrekar said Yes it was difficult shooting in the terrain There was a lot of physical activity involved so we had to somehow acclimatise ourselves to that condition and then start shooting But it was fun because everybody was so charged up to bring this chapter of history in front of the audience The web series has an ensemble cast including Abhay Deol Akash Thosar Sumeet Vyas Rohan Gandotra Annup Soni Meiyang Chang Mahie Gill Rochelle Rao and Hemal Ingle in key roles It will stream on Disney Hotstar VIP and Disney Hotstar Premium from February 26 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/mahesh-manjrekar-shares-his-take-on-ott-censorship-103888.html Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shraddha-kapoor-during-lockdown-i-understood-the-value-of-shunya-103267.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Feb 18 Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor describes the lockdown phase of last year as one of her crucial phases for selfrealisation It was a period when she could learn to unlearn and redefine the value of zero the spiritual meaning of shunya she says I think every time we start a film we start from zero from shunya Lockdown was a time for me to understand the value of several things including selflove the family and my emotional and spiritual health I also think that it made me more independent and things like the power of yoga to develop a focussed mind so that I can choose to be a part of any project film or entrepreneurial venture more fearlessly Shraddha told IANS As an actress being a part of show business we have to look in a certain way and that changes also with every film that we do every character I play Recently I invested in a beverage project in which I really do not have to count my calories while having my favourite drinks In a way during lockdown I have understood and redefined the value of shunya and now I know the brand of product or even brand of cinema I would like to associate myself with It is a learning that has happened through last year she added Shraddha has been around in Bollywood for around a decade and she has faced success failure praise and criticism Her debut film Teen Patti fared below expectation her third film Aashiqui 2 was a musical superhit followed by Ek Villain She has tried dance and action in various films including ABCD 2 Baaghi Street Dancer 3D and Saaho What has her decade in Bollywood taught her Firstly whenever I get a new film I recive it with a lot of gratitude because a producer is investing money to make the film and making me part of that journey As an actress I always put my 100 per cent but result is certainly not in our hand It is in the hands of the audience Interestingly the result plays a part on my next opportunity because it is the nature of the business of cinema I have learnt to look at things from a broder perspective she summed up The actress finished a portion of the shoot for director Luv Ranjans untitled film costarring Ranbir Kapoor in Delhi last month and is gearing up for her next schadule IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shraddha-kapoor-during-lockdown-i-understood-the-value-of-shunya-103267.html Fri, 19 Feb 2021 08:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/actors-have-a-moral-duty-towards-movie-theatres-film-chamber-102804.html Kochi Feb 16 With just a few days left for the OTT release of Drishyam2 one of the most awaited film of superstar Mohanlal the Kerala Film Chamber has expressed their ire over the move as this could well prove disastrous for the film theatre owners Chamber President Vijayakumar told the media that there is a moral responsibility for actors towards theatres Its the movie theatres which elevated all of them to their present level and hence its not just Mohanlal alone all the stars have a moral responsibility as all of them gained everything from movie theatres said Vijayakumar Drishyam2 is the sequel to the crime thriller Drishyam which was released in 2013 and turned out to be one of the all time grosser in the industry Mohanlal has himself in his twitter handle has said it would be released on February 19 on Amazon Prime Vijayakumar added that they are not against any one particular actor but speaking for the movie theatres as that in itself an industry which is losing ground due to various reasons and all those attached to these movie theatres is facing tough times This film was registered as a theatre release reminded Vijayakumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/actors-have-a-moral-duty-towards-movie-theatres-film-chamber-102804.html Wed, 17 Feb 2021 19:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/marilyn-manson-denies-abuse-charges-loses-music-and-tv-deals-100345.html Los Angeles Feb 2 Singer Marilyn Manson has rubbished abuse allegations made by his former fiancee actor Evan Rachel Wood even as his music label cancelled contract and he lost out on a horror series deal On Monday the actress had claimed on Instagram that Manson horrifically abused her for years when they were in a relationship  The name of my abuser is Brian Warner also known to the world as Marilyn Manson He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission Wood wrote She added I am done living in fear of retaliation slander or blackmail I am here to expose this dangerous man and call out the many industries that have enabled him before he ruins any more lives I stand with the many victims who will no longer be silent Wood and Manson came out in public about their relationship in 2007 when she was 19 and he was 38 They got engaged in 2010 but broke up later that year Soon after the allegations the heavy metalrock singer denied the claims Obviously my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality Manson wrote in a statement on Instagram My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with likeminded partners Regardless of how and why others are now choosing to misrepresent the past that is the truth Manson added In a Vanity Fair story three other women also accused Manson of abuse in a show of solidarity reports varietycom After the news surfaced Loma Vista Concord Music which released Mansons most recent album dropped him from the label In light of todays disturbing allegations by Evan Rachel Wood and other women naming Marilyn Manson as their abuser Loma Vista will cease to further promote his current album effective immediately  Due to these concerning developments we have also decided not to work with Marilyn Manson on any future projects the statement read Similarly a spokesperson for AMC Networks shared that Mansons appearance on an upcoming episode of the anthology horror show Creepshow has been pulled from its upcoming season and will not air In addition Manson has been removed from the remaining episode of American Gods that he was set to appear in Due to the allegations made against Marilyn Manson we have decided to remove his performance from the remaining episode he is in scheduled to air later this season said a spokesperson associated with the series   IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/marilyn-manson-denies-abuse-charges-loses-music-and-tv-deals-100345.html Wed, 03 Feb 2021 04:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/the-white-tiger-director-ramin-bahrani-continue-to-draw-upon-satyajit-rays-work-99587.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Jan 31 AmericanIranian director Ramin Bahrani was struck by the realism and humanism in the works of Satyajit Ray and says he continues to reflect upon the Maestros cinematic craft and imbibe some of the hues on his canvas The director also appreciates the current wave of Independent cinema in India and feels it reflects something that was missing from cinema in our country for a long time I have a vivid memory In college in the 1990s author Aravind Adiga I and one of our friends we would walk to the Lincoln Plaza Cinema Because that summer Martin Scorsese had restored and was releasing nine of Satyajit Rays films So every two weeks we would walk all the way and see the film and then we would walk all the way back talking about it Bahrani told IANS while opening up about the influence of Ray on his work I was just struck by the humanism in his films the focus on simple stories characterbased stories It was a kind of a fresh revelation to see them at that time I continue to draw upon his work And now I am really digging the new Hindi cinema in Indie space It is pretty awesome he added As a filmmaker he likes to tell stories from an outsiders perspective and that is something he spotted in Indian cinema You can have an outsider perspective within your own country Ive tried to do that with my films in the United States where I have tried to pick subjects that arent typically noticed and I see that happening in new independent cinema in India which I find amazing Bahrani said He continued The burgeoning new indie cinema here is awesome I had not seen anything like that in Indian cinema for a long time So I think theres really talented work being done that is fresh and made from a new perspective because those Indian directors are trying to find a new way to see their own country After Man Push Cart Chop Shop Plastic Bag At Any Price and Fahrenheit 451 he turned his camera to capture a slice of life rooted in India with The White Tiger an adaptation of a book by his friend Adiga He had read the early drafts of the book even before it was published and was glad to be the one adapting it onscreen I had read the rough drafts of the book before it was published and then I read the book so many times I remember the first time he showed me some rough chapters I thought how can this not be published Its so funny insightful and engaging And so many years later I got lucky and connected to The White Tiger producer Mukul Deora We clicked creatively he shared while looking back at the start of the journey of the film The White Tiger stars Adarsh Gourav with Priyanka Chopra Jonas Rajkummar Rao Mahesh Manjrekar and Vijay Maurya in pivotal roles It deals with class divide and the dark realities of Indian society and is currently streaming on Netflix Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/the-white-tiger-director-ramin-bahrani-continue-to-draw-upon-satyajit-rays-work-99587.html Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sonali-phogat-rubina-is-a-smart-player-deserves-to-win-bigg-boss-14-98713.html Mumbai Jan 28 Actress and politician Sonali Phogat who was evicted from Bigg Boss 14 earlier this week feels television actress Rubina Dilaik is very good at manipulating people around her and will end up as winner of the popular television reality show Before making my entry in the show I watched a few episodes and I thought Rubina Dilaik and Rahul Vaidya were very strong contestants I thought that Eijaz Khan is a very weird and rude person because he used to fight a lot When I entered the house I experienced the complete opposite side of him They contestants are there for 24 hours in the house but the audience only sees a oneandhalf hour episode of those 24 hours so you kind of end up making preconceived notions about certain people Sonali told IANS I have lived in that house with principles and morality but I dont think that has been aired on the show I feel my one or two mistakes have been highlighted she added On Rubina Sonali said I think she has been made for shows like these She is a very smart player and she has been playing her game really well She has the knack to manipulate people around her so I think she is the one who can win that trophy People like me are not made for shows like these where you have to constantly change your stance and strategy to be in the show observed Sonali who had entered the Bigg Boss 14 house in the last week of December Sonali Phogat was  National Vice President of BJPs Mahila Morcha In 2016 she made her acting debut with the TV show Amma Ek Maa Jo Laakhon Ke Liye Bani Amma She was last seen in the web series The Story Of Badmashgarh in 2019 Asked if she is seriously pursuing a career in the entertainment industry after walking out of Bigg Boss house she replied I have always given equal priority to politics and acting but now I feel that I should concentrate more on acting Salman Khan always praised my dance performances when I used to perform during Weekend Ka Vaar so I think that was a big compliment for me Currently Rubina Dilaik Abhinav Shukla Aly Goni Arshi Khan Devoleena Bhattacharjee Nikki Tamboli Rahul Vaidya Rakhi Sawant and Vikas Gupta are competing for the title of Bigg Boss 14 During her stay in the Bigg Boss house Sonali made headlines creating ruckus as she fought with Rubina and Arshi Khan over paranthas The fight was over throwing a paratha in the dustbin Housemates had complained against Sonali for allegedly threatening them on national television IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sonali-phogat-rubina-is-a-smart-player-deserves-to-win-bigg-boss-14-98713.html Fri, 29 Jan 2021 02:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/divyanka-tripathi-recalls-when-she-chose-dignity-over-a-tv-show-95772.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Jan 18 Telly star Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya says years ago she quit a TV show to avoid a traumatic experience Today Divyanka is a star in the television space thanks to her work in fiction as well as reality shows such as Banoo Main Teri Dulhann Ye Hai Mohabbatein Nach Baliye and The Voice But there was a time when she was desperately looking for work and even though she got an opportunity she didnt take it up Commenting on harassment at work Divyanka told IANS Many men think it is a mans world but it is not Women are ruling in all the ways possible They are at par with men But some men feel they can get a free pass They think they can tease someone or pass lewd remarks and get away with it It used to happen it also happens now Its just that I always knew where to set a boundary Since the time I started working I knew what I didnt want I knew that I wanted to do good work but not at the cost of my dignity In fact I left a show I wont name the person producer or the channel I had signed a show and the maker made a pass at me He was very indecent I left the show because of that I knew that it would be a traumatic experience for me because any daily soap continues for a certain number of months or years and I couldnt see myself in that kind of a situation she shared Even though she didnt have any other work offer at that time and was desperately looking for work she refused to continue working on that show I was not so desperate to still continue so I left the show Saying no at the right time is extremely important You deserve respect Your position doesnt matter If youll respect yourself then others will respect you said Divyanka who made her acting debut in the 2006 show Viraasat with a small role This happened a year or two before I got Yeh Hai Mohabbatein At that time I was in need of work I bagged the show but I backed off I was told by the makers and channel that Ill have to do the show but I told them that I have enough proof on my phone so dont push me I was allowed to walk away The channel didnt go against me after this incident after seeing the stupid conversation They didnt say anything because they knew I was right One should never shy away from taking a stand she added After her debut she played the lead role in Banoo Main Teri Dulhann which ran from 2006 to 2009 Later she appeared as a guest or contestant in several shows including Comedy Circus Then Divyanka took up the lead role of Dr Ishita Bhalla in the longrunning show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein which aired from 2013 to 2019 She also starred in the 2019 web show Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala She recently hosted a special series Crime Patrol Satark Women Against Crime In the year ahead she looks forward to lots of work I want to do different kinds of roles Doing Crime Patrol for instance was so refreshing I always wanted to spread awareness about women and give a message to the entire society not just women I would like to do films and web series too said Divyanka IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/divyanka-tripathi-recalls-when-she-chose-dignity-over-a-tv-show-95772.html Mon, 18 Jan 2021 19:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kajol-understood-my-mother-after-i-had-my-daughter-95244.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Jan 16 Bollywood star Kajol cherishes her special bond with her mother veteran actress Tanuja and says she truly understood her only after she had a daughter The actress says she realised her mothers sacrifices after having her duaghter Nysa I only understood my mother after I had my daughter I always loved my mother always admired her and thought she was amazing But after I had my daughter I remember calling up my mother and having this whole crying conversation with her and telling her that I know how much you love me today Kajol told IANS Recalling the conversation Kajol continued At that time I understood how much she loved me I told her Today I understand what all you gave up for me how you felt about everything in life just because you had me in it and how everything changed for you And also how much effort she put into being my mom I got it only after I had my own daughter I realised what it took to bring up a child My respect for my mother went up 100 notches after that Her entire life played out in front of me and her entire life took on a completely different meaning after that added the actress who gave birth to Nysa in 2003 Kajol who also has a sister Tanisha says her mother was always real and clear with them My mom was very real with us When she couldnt do something she just couldnt do it She was not apologetic about it she noted The actress continued She was like Baby I am working I will not be able to manage this I remember her refusing films because we were going to be on a holiday She said Im sorry I will not be able to work in the month of April and May because my children are on holiday and I promised them that I will be with them I remember how valuable we were to herï½ Just the fact that we mattered the most to her She made us believe it with our whole hearts I think that is what mothering is about added Kajol who also has a son Yug with husband Ajay Devgn Kajol is back on the screen this time on OTT The actress has made her digital debut with the film Tribhanga Tedhi Medhi Crazy It is a family drama about three distinct women and their unconventional life choices Written and directed by Renuka Shahane the film also features Tanvi Azmi Mithila Palkar Kunaal Roy Kapur Kanwaljeet Singh Manav Gohil and Vaibhav Tatwawaadi It was released on Netflix on January 15 We had a great time shooting the film Renuka has written the film very nicely Its a motherdaughter story she said while talking about the film Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kajol-understood-my-mother-after-i-had-my-daughter-95244.html Sat, 16 Jan 2021 19:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/renee-sen-sushmita-sen-is-my-mother-and-i-am-aware-of-the-privileges-92495.html By Yashika Mathur New Delhi Jan 6 Renee Sen could be just another 21yearold artiste who has made her debut with a 15minute short film but her wisdom and confidence make you do a double take She sounds supremely upbeat about taking on the world with her craft You arent surprised with those traits when you know guiding Renee is her mother Sushmita Sen Miss Universe 1994 and Bollywood star Renees rendezvous with the camera starts with Suttebaazi a strong and relatable story helmed by new director Kabeer Khurana Suttabaazi is a relatable story for every household shares Renee adding The simplicity with which an important message is being conveyed of not seeking validation from the outside world is what truly attracted me I hope everyone relates to this because it is so close to my heart Being the daughter of a personality like Sushmita wouldnt it be easier to be launched for the camera the Johars or the Chopras Everything I am doing is based out of the fact that I want to be independent because my mother has always encouraged that If that means setting an example then I couldnt be happier But I am not consciously trying to do things differently I am just lucky and blessed that everything is falling into place with however independently I am doing it I am doing it step by step It is not a conscious decision to set an example Suttabazi is a beautiful film and I am lucky to be a part of it shares Renee Will an association with the big banners happen soon I truly believe that a big launch will happen yes but with time when I am more prepared for a big launch Right now I am taking it step by step and slowly Right now the only conscious decision is to be more independent With star kids being in the limelight from a young age it isnt surprising to hear about them losing focus When questioned Renee reveals she always has her eyes on the prize I can only stay focused if I am grounded My mother reminds me to stay grounded to keep my head on my shoulders and work hard That is the only advice and simplest advice which I feel will help me build and sustain my career as an individual So I dont want to lose my sense of self I will stay grounded and work hard The rest is upto God shares the young artiste To me Sushmita Sen is my mother and I am aware of the privileges I am very blessed that I am her daughter but at the end of the day she is my maa I along with my sister am being raised to be strong and to have an identity of my own She is teaching us the values she wants us to have and I feel like I am learning from the best but most importantly she is my maa and I love her the most she says Renee reveals that she wanted to be an actor ever since she went on the sets of her mothers films like Maine Pyaar Kyun Kia and Main Hoon Na However she only took the passion seriously during lockdown I started serious preparation during lockdown That is when I actually got time to sit with myself assess what I do take the necessary steps to achieve my goals and my dreams During lockdown I started it she says Renees mother became the first Indian to wear the Miss Universe crown in 1994 Ever since she has become an iconic figure in the world of fashion Did being part of the fashion world ever entice Renee Walking the ramp does excite me I do love getting ready I love beautiful outfits So yes if I am asked I would not say no I am open to that opportunity as well she says Ending the interview on a positive note Renee emphasises on how it feels to be the daughter of a woman who inspires millions around the world My mother being a role model to so many women is something I take pride in I am very proud of my maa It will only and always have a positive effect on me because I have got so much love I really hope I earn the love and respect that she has with the work I do and during my journey and the person I become through all of this I try to learn from her I am so lucky that I am her daughter I would not have it any other way Renee claims IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/renee-sen-sushmita-sen-is-my-mother-and-i-am-aware-of-the-privileges-92495.html Wed, 06 Jan 2021 22:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/divyanka-tripathi-refreshing-to-host-crime-patrol-91724.html New Delhi Jan 3 Telly star Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya has been part of daily soaps and reality shows for over a decade She has now given hosting a crime show a shot and says the experience should be refreshing Divyanka currently hosts Crime Patrol Satark Women Against Crime a special series that presents a comprehensive and dramatised account of crimes such as rape molestation murder and child abuse in an effort to act as an eyeopener I was looking for a show like this But then Covid and lockdown happened I was in a happy space during that time because I wanted that much needed break After that I wanted to do something very different from the daily soap zone Divyanka told IANS In fact I have been putting up a lot of posts on social media about women awareness and empowerment I always wanted to work in this kind of a space Maybe God has his own way of listening to people Then came the offer of Crime Patrol It really excited me a lot Its refreshing Through this show I am aiming to create awareness among women on how they can be cautious and be aware of crimes and possibly evade them added Divyanka who became popular in the fiction space with roles in shows such as Ye Hai Mohabbatein and Banoo Main Teri Dulhann Her fans loved her equally for competing in the dancebased show Nach Baliye and hosting The Voice She feels that there are some women who lead a certain lifestyle and people around them have a fixated mindset about women behaving in a certain manner Sometimes women are unable to share their stories of molestation or torture for a long time Then the problem aggravates If one woman doesnt speak 10 others dont speak up If one speaks up others get the courage to follow suit This is the cause I am working for through Crime Patrol said Divyanka Asked if there should be more Indian shows focusing on womens issues rather than kitchen politics she said Its about demand and supply There have been shows showcasing something different But they dont get enough eyeballs or TRPs After all its a business When people say that makers should create something different then viewers should watch that different kind of content But they dont Thats very unfortunate Due to this there are early shut down of shows In fact she feels that channels want to play safe They dont want to take risks If they show an evolved daughterinlaw or motherinlaw or a family with no conflict there is no masala Maybe people from smaller towns wont watch it then So viewers need to give the confidence to makers that we will watch a good show because if viewers wont watch it it wont be made said the actress who has also made a mark on the web show Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/divyanka-tripathi-refreshing-to-host-crime-patrol-91724.html Sun, 03 Jan 2021 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anil-kapoor-im-competitive-but-not-delusional-91557.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Jan 2 After spending four decades in Bollywood Anil Kapoor is still competitive but he is not delusional I am competitive and I think everybody should be competitive but in a very positive way Im competitive but not delusional about myself You have to be realistic and be competitive So I am realistically competitive Anil told IANS Anil walked into the industry with a small role in the 1979 Umesh Mehra directorial Hamare Tumhare and went on to carve his niche balancing his stature as a bankable actor and a saleable star with performances including Woh 7 Din 1942 A Love Story Mr India Tezaab Ram Lakhan Lamhe Beta Taal Nayak The Real Hero and Pukar He has managed to stay relevant by experimenting with his craft and subjects as trends changed in Bollywood over the past 40 years He has proved his versatility through his outandout Bollywood outings as No Entry Welcome Race Dil Dhadakne Do Mubarakan Fanney Khan Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and Total Dhamaal There have been international forays too including Danny Boyles Oscarwinning global blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire and also worked in 24 Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol and Family Guy Looking back at the year gone by Anil shared Somewhere 2020 was a year everybody wanted to end as soon as possible so that we look at 2021 in a positive and optimistic way The vaccine is around the corner so everybody is looking forward to that It has been a tough year for everybody My heart goes out to all the people who have suffered Im proud of all the people who really selflessly worked the doctors the frontline workers and the kind of work they put in he added Anils latest role is the quirkiest he has done yet The Vikramaditya Motwanedirected AK Vs AK casts the actor as filmstar Anil Kapoor whose daughter actress Sonam Kapoor played by Sonam Kapooor is kidnapped by a director named Anurag Kashyap essayed by Anurag Kashyap Anil has to hunt his daughter within a night without informing the cops if he wants her safe and the deal is Anurag will be filming the entire process to create his new film Talking about the film Anil said I loved the script when I read it It has been one of the best experiences of my career AK Vs AK also has cameos by Anil Kapoors son Harshvardhan Kapoor and brother Boney Kapoor as themselves The film released on Netflix on December 24 Next up is Jug Jugg Jeeyo Helmed by Raj Mehta the film also stars Neetu Kapoor Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani and YouTuber Prajakta Koli He will also be seen in crime drama Animal alongside Ranbir Kapoor Parineeti Chopra and Bobby Deol For Anil Kapoor life is a cruise at 64 Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anil-kapoor-im-competitive-but-not-delusional-91557.html Sat, 02 Jan 2021 23:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/milind-soman-sex-symbol-tag-doesnt-bother-me-91090.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Dec 31 He courted limelight and controversy posing in the nude with then girlfriend Madhu Sapre wrapped by a python for a shoe commercial in the nineties and did much the same again nearly three decades later when he ran in his birthday suit on a Goa beach to celebrate his 55th birthday last month Milind Soman model and fitness freak always lives up to his sex symbol tag with aplomb and says the definition doesnt bother him The tag of sex symbol doesnt bother me I will tell you why because for a man to be regarded as a sex symbol is great Men are very happy to be regarded as sex symbols because that is something extra for them Milind told IANS However he acknowledges the gender disparity in this context When a woman is regarded as a sex symbol it might be everything that she is seen for which is not a good thing he observed The actor explained That is part of the whole discrimination on the part of the way we see women Women have been objectified to that extent Men have not been objectified to that extent that it being a sex symbol is all that they stand for The actor feels things are changing for the better I think it is going away I see it becoming a little bit more equal The whole thing cant change at once but different aspects especially gender equality will change quicker than other aspects he added Recently Milind caused a stir when he posted a nude picture of himself running on the beach on his 55th birthday While the actor was lauded by many for the viral image he was booked by South Goa district police for obscenity Asked if the reactions and response to his birthday suit picture surprised him Milind laughed and said Nothing surprises me Okay on social media nothing surprises me Ive been here for more than 30 years Peoples opinions are important But what they tell you is how our society is growing how our values are changing and how our culture is evolving It doesnt mean that something is good or bad or thats not what it tells me I can decide what is good or bad but what it the reactions tells me is about society Now more people are getting more exposed and more people are able to express their ideas That is interesting what ideas they come up with and how they change over time he added Tell him he looks good in the birthday picture and his response is A lot of people who saw it have told me the same thing At the moment Milind is seen in the role of a eunuch in new web series Paurashpur The series traces the story of a medieval city that is fraught with crime corruption abuse of power misogyny rape and love It is set against the backdrop of 18th century India Paurashpur also features Shilpa Shinde Kashish Rai Annu Kapoor Shaheer Sheikh Flora Saini Anant Joshi Asmita Bakshi Harshita Kasyap and Sahil Salathia The show is directed by Sachindra Vats and has premiered on ALTBalaji and Zee5 Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/milind-soman-sex-symbol-tag-doesnt-bother-me-91090.html Thu, 31 Dec 2020 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shekhar-kapur-explains-difference-between-good-and-great-story-90735.html Mumbai Dec 29 Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has explained the difference between a good story and a great story on social media Lessons of Life Whats a good story One where you want to know what happens next Whats a really good story Where you see your own life in the characters in the story Whats a great story One that achieves all the above but raises far more questions that it resolves the veteran filmmaker tweeted Netizens responded to his tweet offering their views A good story to me is something that makes me think about my own life Where characters resemble someone either I love like or dislike commented a user A legendary story is one where the story keeps on giving over the years staying as relevant as it is when it came out Forever young Forever contemporary and classic at the same time expressed another user When an unsung story of an individual reflects on the screen in an appropriate mannerthats where the feel good factor provided we dig till unsung comes live shared another user The filmmaker keeps sharing life lessons with his followers on social media from time to time On the work front Kapur is all set to direct the crosscultural romcom featuring Hollywood star Emma Thompson Titled Whats Love Got To Do With It the film deals with love and marriage and is set in London and South Asia IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shekhar-kapur-explains-difference-between-good-and-great-story-90735.html Wed, 30 Dec 2020 02:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ananya-panday-is-banned-from-house-work-because-she-is-not-very-good-at-it-90825.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Dec 30 Bollywood actress Ananya Panday has shared some good memories from her lockdown experience Unlike most people she did not engage in multiple household chores One a lighter note she says she has been banned from all such activity by her family During lockdown many celebrities took to social media to post their photos and videos sweeping mopping or doing the dishes but Ananyas posts had nothing to do with such activities I think I am banned from doing house work I dont think anyone in my family would appreciate it if I did any house work because I am not very good at it the actress told IANS I tried a little bit of everything like I helped my sister in cooking She didnt allow me to do it but I cleaned my closet I kept my room really neat and clean I guess that counts I decorated my Christmas tree with my sister she quipped Spending time with family of course makes it to her good memories list I got to spend a lot of time with my family I got to watch a lot of movies and do a lot of stuff she said The time off made her bingewatch shows on OTT I finished watching Mirzapur both the seasons in three days I was obsessed with it I think its such a cool show Its so well shot and all the performances are amazing said the actress I also watched Scam 1992 The Harshad Mehta Story which I thought was really interesting Pratik Gandhi and Shreya Dhanwantharys performances were amazing she added Another show that she simply loved was Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives which revolves around the daytoday lives of Bollywood wives including her mom Bhavana Pandey who is actor Chunky Pandays wife I was in the show and I thought that when it would come I wouldnt watch it but I couldnt stop watching it I bingewatched it in one night It was really fun she said Ananyas upcoming films include an untitled Deepika Padukone costarrer directed by Shakun Batra and Puri Jagannadhs directorial with Vijay Deverakonda She wouldnt mind doing a web series I watched a lot of content online There is so much freedom to tell different stories so I would love to do something like a web show I am just waiting for the right one said the actress With cinema halls shut during lockdown her film Khaali Peeli got a digital release When we shot the film when it was narrated to us we had a feeling that it would be a big screen film Its a fullon masala entertainer It would have been so much fun to watch it on the big screen because it has a bit of everything action drama romance and comedy so it was a perfect theatre film she said The initial reaction waswe were definitely disappointed because we wanted to watch it on the big screen and wanted others to watch it in theatres as well But we understood the situation too As long as people are getting to watch it even if its at home its fine for us We just want people to watch the film she added Many films were digitally released in the last few months owing to the pandemic You get to see so many amazing performances and different kinds of stories on OTT so I feel that it has its own space she said But I dont think anything can ever replace the feeling of walking into a dark theatre eating popcorn and sharing that collective experience like when theres something funny everyone laughs together when theres something sad everyone cries together I dont think that feeling can ever be replaced I really miss that I want to go back to theatres once its safe she shared The young actress feels there is room for both OTT and films to coexist Both make me equally excited she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ananya-panday-is-banned-from-house-work-because-she-is-not-very-good-at-it-90825.html Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/halsey-sorry-for-insensitive-eating-disorder-photo-90709.html Los Angeles Dec 29 American singersongwriter Halsey has apologised to fans for sharing a photograph depicting her struggle with an eating disorder Recently the 26yearold singer joined Instagram post a photo of trend and asked fans what they wanted to see  One fan asked her to share a photo of you at your lowest point She responded to the request by sharing a nearly nude mirror selfie in which she is looking alarmingly thin and wrote TW ED ask for help The image was later taken down Now the 26yearold has apologised on Twitter for the insensitive post reports eonlinecom She tweeted TW disordered eating I am very sorry for posting a photo of myself depicting my struggle with ED without a sufficient trigger warning I was very nervous to post it and didnt think properly I had positive intentions I would never want to harm someone who shares my struggle the musician continued In another post she said that she is going to take time off social media to process everything  With that being said im gonna log off now because this has turned into something I am not emotionally equipped to handle for the time being I hope thats okay Halsey wrote  She has been vocal about her physical and mental health issues In the past she said that she is not ashamed of her struggles with an eating disorder and has sought help for it since becoming famous  Its still happening in my body I just know when to get in front of it she told Rolling Stone last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/halsey-sorry-for-insensitive-eating-disorder-photo-90709.html Tue, 29 Dec 2020 22:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/radhika-apte-dont-want-to-do-things-out-of-pressure-anymore-89236.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Dec 23 Actress Radhika Apte has realised she was doing a lot of work just because of the fear of missing out and says she is now determined not to take up work under pressure The realisation dawne don her when the world was under lockdown due to the Covid19 crisis I realised that Im grateful to get a lot of work and I have chosen work only when I wanted to do it But there were a lot of other things I was doing with work which are part of work and are a part of my job I was doing these just out of FOMO Radhika told IANS via zoom call I did so just because I didnt want to miss out or just because others were doing it In this time when no one was doing anything I was really chilled I didnt want to do it either she added The actress continued I realised Oh I wanted to do it because others were doing it If others dont do it I dont want to do it So just to distinguish between what you really want to do and what youre doing out of pressure thats what Ive learned in these few months and I dont want to do things out of pressure anymore Lets see how long that lasts Radhika entered the industry with a small role in the 2005 release Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi and went on to do films like Shor In The City Kabali Phobia Badlapur and the short film Ahalya The actress is credited for breaking the stereotypical image of the Bollywood heroine with her roles in Phobia Badlapur Manjhi The Mountain Man Lust Stories Sacred Games Pad Man and Ghoul Radhika is currently seen in A Call To Spy the international production capturing the story of three female spies during World War II In the film Radhika plays British spy Noor Inayat Khan also known as Nora Baker who served in the Special Operations Executive during the war Looking back at the challenges of playing the role Radhika shared The biggest challenge is when you are trying to portray a real life person It is so difficult because you have a huge responsibility you cant just come up with things So it was difficult because there are no clips or anything that you can watch Its just literature and photographs She is a very unique personality not just because of a geographical diversity but because of a spiritual inclination and her philosophy and her reasons behind participating in the war The spy drama is directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher written and produced by Sarah Megan Thomas who also stars in the film along with Stana Katic The film released in India on Amazon Prime Video Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/radhika-apte-dont-want-to-do-things-out-of-pressure-anymore-89236.html Thu, 24 Dec 2020 02:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/payal-ghosh-on-metoo-case-against-anurag-kashyap-4-months-no-action-88635.html Mumbai Dec 21 Upcoming Bollywood actress Payal Ghosh says it has been four months since she alleged sexual harassment against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap but Mumbai Police is yet to do their job  Its been 4 months and no action has been taken against AnuragKashyap inspite of me providing evidence Do I have to die to get the proccedings going Payal tweeted on Monday Its been a while and mumbaipolice hasnt done its best An earnest request Its a matter of women and we should be aware of what examples we are setting the actress wrote in a separate tweet  In September this year Payal Ghosh had opened up on social media alleging that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had sexually harassed her in 2013 However in his statement given to Mumbai Police Kashyap denied the allegation saying at that time he was in Sri Lanka for a shoot and termed the allegations as an absolute lie IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/payal-ghosh-on-metoo-case-against-anurag-kashyap-4-months-no-action-88635.html Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/priyanka-shares-what-shooting-a-movie-looks-like-in-2020-88664.html Mumbai Dec 21 Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas has shared an Instagram post on how shooting in 2020 looks like In the image the actress can be seen following Covid safety guidelines and wearing a face shield   What shooting a movie looks like in 2020 Daily testing face shields and masks on hand This was taken after hair and makeup where we wait right before we shoot in a secure distanced zone And masks onin between all shots she wrote Priyanka added that staying safe is part of getting the job done  Protect yourself and everyone around you Stay positive test negative she stated Priyanka is currently shooting for the Hollywood romantic drama tentatively titled Text For You Written and directed by Jim Strouse the film is an English remake of the Germanlanguage film SMS Fur Dich based on Sofie Cramers novel Priyankas costar in the film is Sam Heughan IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/priyanka-shares-what-shooting-a-movie-looks-like-in-2020-88664.html Mon, 21 Dec 2020 23:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/2020-wrap-mega-newsmakers-from-the-world-of-music-88524.html New Delhi Dec 21 From plagiarism controversy to Grammy snubs to glorious wins and big records and from weddings to publicity stunts the Indian as well international music industries saw several incidents that grabbed eyeballs in 2020 IANS does a bit of rewind of all that made good and bad noise over the last 12 months in the world of music BTS On the international stage the year has surely belonged to the South Korean super band In August the boy band became the first musicians from their country to top the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with Dynamite Later they also got a Best Pop DuoGroup Performance Grammy nod for their discotheme track Were very thankful for the love and support that we have received with Dynamite It also reached No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart so it is very meaningful for us but we dont necessarily think this was because it was an English track band member Jung Kook had told IANS Our goal with Dynamite was to give a burst of energy to the listeners and were just glad to have achieved that goal We are eager to continue to give hope and joy to our listeners through our music he had added Neha Kakkar She seems to have ushered a new age of publicity in the world of Indian pop music which has been unprecedented by tying up events in real life with her musical career Neha without doubt the most popular female voice in India at the moment released a new song Nehu da viah just before her wedding on October 24 with singer Rohanpreet Singh Then in December she posted a picture on Instagram along with the news that she was pregnant A few days later on December 19 she took to Instagram again to announce that the pregnancy photo was merely a promotional campaign for her upcoming album Khayal Rakhya Kar Thats some labour of love for quick publicity One World Together At Home The concert organised by the Global Citizen movement and the World Health Organization in April brought together big names like Lady Gaga Paul McCartney Billie Eilish John Legend Sam Smith Taylor Swift Celine Dion and more Owing to the pandemic they all performed songs from their living rooms Certainly the biggest gig of a year that has been fraught with pandemic Armaan Malik He bagged his first MTV Europe Music Award for his debut English single Control The 25yearold won the Best India Act award in November I want to thank all my Armaanians across the world who voted for me without whom this would not have been possible They just shower me with so much love and I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet Last but not least this win is dedicated to all those young Indian kids who dare to dream and work hard to make them come true this is for you Dream on he had said after the victory Billie Eilish At 18 she became the youngest artiste to win in major Grammy categories best New Artiste Record Of The Year Album Of The Year And Song Of The Year She took home the honour for her album When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go and song Bad guy She also won the Best Pop Vocal Album at this years Grammys held in January Badshah The rapper faced plagiarism accusations over his single Genda phool soon after it released in March Once the song was dropped netizens pointed out portions of the song had been taken from Ratan Kahars Bengali folk song Boroloker biti lo In return Badshah deposited Rs 5 lakh to the veteran folk artistes bank account In August Badshah courted controversy again This time he got named in connection with the fake social media followers scam While the Mumbai Police looked into it the rapper denied any involvement in the scam Sonu Nigam After actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death in June many celebrities opened up about nepotism and power play in Bollywood Sonu Nigam was one of them The singer didnt take any name but called himself a victim of power play by a top Bollywood actor He also alleged that the music industry is run like the mafia Although he did mention TSeries chairman and MD Bhushan Kumar in a video and warned him dont mess with me On July 30 Sonu unveiled his own music label Aditya Narayan This year Aditya made more news getting married than he has ever done by starring in Bollywood films as child artiste as well as grownup star hosting reality shows or pursuing a career as singer Right from his marriage announcement to updates on the wedding and ongoing honeymoon Aditya has kept netizens busy following all the blissful things happening in his life In a year marked by misery Aditya found a great way to share some joy if not with music then with happy tidings in real life Kanye West In October the rapper released a campaign video for 2020 presidential run It turned out to be a failed attempt but in November he tweeted KANYE 2024 It seemed to suggest a future presidential run Taylor Swift Her project Folklore became the first millionselling album of 2020 in the US it was announced in October The following month saw her slamming celebrity manager Scooter Braun who sold the rights to her master recordings to a private company In a note she had shared that Braun wanted to silence her in exchange for the opportunity to bid on her own work The Weeknd The Grammy nominations list came out in November While the ones who made it on the list cheered singer The Weeknd called the awards corrupt The artiste criticised the Recording Academy after he was snubbed despite having the successful album After Hours He had also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the songs Blinding lights and Heartless Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys Over the years they have been releasing their own songs and albums In December they surprised their fans when they teamed up for the new song Matches The catchy song is part of the deluxe edition of Spears 2016 album Glory IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/2020-wrap-mega-newsmakers-from-the-world-of-music-88524.html Mon, 21 Dec 2020 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/big-b-reveals-biggest-torture-he-faced-during-a-shoot-88221.html Mumbai Dec 19 Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday revealed the biggest torture he has faced while shooting  For the veteran actor who abstains from eating sweets the biggest torture was to pose with a rasgulla and gulab jamun in hand for a commercial and pretend as if he is delighted after eating them Big B took to his verified Twitter account to express his plight He wrote in Hindi I have quit eating sweets and after that I have to pose with a rasgulla and gulab jamun in my hand during the shoot and was asked to give an expression which reveals how tasty it feels after eating them There cant be a bigger torture than this The veteran actor also shared a couple of photographs from the shoot where he can be seen happily posing with a rasgulla and gulab jamun while smiling at the camera  Fans expressed their views in the comments section of his tweet  Yes Sir I fully agree it is very hard to resist the temptation of having these delicacies commented a fan Really torture to hold a rasgulla not have it Now in Kolkata we get different varieties of Rosogulla in winter we get these varieties with the advent of khejur Gur Now a days there are even fusion Rosogullas eg chocolate But the older the conventional ones the best shared a fan from Kolkata Awwwwyou are Bengali jamaibabu for us all Amitji you have to eat Rasgulla once in a while Bengali trademark sweet Loveee your tweet Sirjeee expressed another fan IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/big-b-reveals-biggest-torture-he-faced-during-a-shoot-88221.html Sun, 20 Dec 2020 06:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vijay-deverakonda-food-makes-me-happy-87074.html Hyderabad Dec 15 Telugu superstar Vijay Deverakonda has confessed that food makes him a happy man  Vijay posted a picture on Instagram where he is seen sitting in a restaurant and holding a dish in his hand In the photo he wears a powder navy blue Tshirt and has left his hair open  Food makes me happy French Gastronomy is a must try he wrote as the caption for the image which currently has 15 million likes on Instagram  Vijays next is tentatively titled Fighter He will also be seen alongside actress Ananya Panday in a multilingual film that will mark his Bollywood debut The film is directed by Puri Jagannadh IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vijay-deverakonda-food-makes-me-happy-87074.html Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/swara-bhaskar-a-great-actor-isnt-necessarily-a-great-human-being-87034.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Dec 15 Swara Bhasker points out that an actor who plays a heroic character or is great with the craft and is talented is not necessarily a great human beings in real life too Swaras Tanu Wedns Manu costar Kangana Ranaut has faced a lot of social media ire lately for her nasty statements while talking about colleagues She is also involved in frequent spast with people the latest being one with Punjabi actorsinger Diljit Dosanjh A while back Kangana snubbed Urmila Matondkar calling her a soft porn star She has also described Swara as well as Taapsee Pannu as B Grade actress Kangana has not spared a veteran like Jaya Bachchan too Does Kangana contradict the statement a great artist is a great human being I think it has nothing to do with Kangana in specific Yes in past we had our share of arguments but I think we really need to rethink that statement that one has to be a great human being to be a great artiste We often make this mistake that just because a person is playing a character on screen that is enduring and heroic and because they are great with their craft and are talented they are the same in real life No that does not necessarily mean that they are great human beings in real life That does not mean that all the heroic quality of an onscreen character is there in the actor who is performing it Swara told IANS There is nothing further from the truth Acting is a profession like any other A doctor an engineer or a teacher could be great at their jobs but that does not mean they are great human beings too I for instance was a fan of a particular author because of his writing When I met him in person I think he is one of the most obnoxious person I have come across But he is a great writer So your craft is not who you are as an individual Whether you are a dancer singer actor writer or photographer you have to have talent training and skill and you have to know your craft That may not be the reflection of your personality she added However no one can deny that Bollywood stars are more influential than most people from other walks of life Why are they not always responsible with their words Because as an artiste we have more flaws more insecurity more vulnerability and it is easy to lose ourselves in the wildness of our world We all work hard but the insane popularity money and admiration across the globe of thousands can make us think that we are omnipotent Swara reasoned That is why a celebrity a filmstar or a rockstar lives a life in which at times they feel that they are the best thing that has happened to the world and that they are not accountable to anyone It is often noticed that the character traits of an artiste are way different from the art they create explained Swara who has recently appeared in the Netflix original web series Bhaag Beanie Bhaag Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/swara-bhaskar-a-great-actor-isnt-necessarily-a-great-human-being-87034.html Tue, 15 Dec 2020 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/armaan-malik-rapper-divine-and-i-have-thought-of-collaborating-85276.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Dec 7 Singer Armaan Malik might have beaten rapper Divine in the Best India Act category at the recent MTV Europe Music Awards but there is no bad blood between the two In fact Armaan is waiting to collaborate with Divine Divine was one of the early birds to wish Armaan on his victory on Instagram I really love Divine He is one of the most phenomenal artistes in India He is creating a hiphop scene here so I am really looking forward to doing a song with him We have talked a bit in the recent past and have thought of collaborating Its just about the right song now so I am waiting for collaborating with him on an amazing song Armaan told IANS The young singer sees the win as a step forward in the journey that I am going on He had bagged the award for his first English song Control Now his latest English track titled How many has garnered over six million views on YouTube This is one of the first songs that I had written for my English music project but Control released first Then my second English single next 2 me happened I organically felt that during lockdown so I put that out he said The story behind How many is simple but it hits the heart It narrates the tension in a relationship The couple can be anyone in the world This couple has been trying to work things out for long time They have been fighting making up then fighting again Its kind of a toxic relationship where the cycle of problems never ends and no matter how much they try to solve the problems it just doesnt happen It is about how many times we are going to try to mend this relationship he explained Along with English songs he has been churning out nonfilm Hindi tracks such as Main rahoon ya na rahoon and Ghar se nikalte hi Talking about nonfilm music getting the spotlight along with Bollywood music he shared Its an amazing change of events in our country Until now film music was the mainstay Independent music was there but not that big I think from 2019 onwards independent music started flying And 2020 is the time when you can easily distinguish between film music and independent music There are so many amazing artistes across genres and so many amazing platforms have entered India like Spotify Its just amazing whats happening in India right now I feel India is at the epicenter of change in the music scene globally A lot of people are looking at India as the next big market he added Armaan popular for singing romantic ballads like Main hoon hero tera and Jab tak in Bollywood said When it comes to the freedom that artistes have today to do their own music bring forth their artistry I think thats something that we have always wanted for a long time and finally we have it I am getting to express so much in my music Be it my English music or Hindi I am getting to do things that I really wanted to do I think this is the best time to be a musician in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/armaan-malik-rapper-divine-and-i-have-thought-of-collaborating-85276.html Tue, 08 Dec 2020 02:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/arpita-khan-smashes-plates-in-dubai-restaurant-video-goes-viral-85312.html Mumbai Dec 7 A video of Arpita Khan Sharma sister of superstar Salman Khan breaking plates in a Dubai restaurant has gone viral However Arpita is not smashing the plates in anger but to ward off evil She smashed the plates to honour an ancient Greek custom In one of the videos Arpita is seen happily throwing the plates and excitedly goes on to pick a new set with a big smile She is later joined by other women and they all move to the music and smash plates They are later seen dancing in the video Arpita was accompanied by her son Ahil who also had a fun time smashing plates Last year Arpita delivered the baby girl on December 27 on the birthday of Salman Her husband and actor Aayush Sharma also introduced Ayat to his fans and followers through an Instagram post Welcome to our world Ayat Arpita wrote while sharing several images of Ayat along with her husband and son Ahil IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/arpita-khan-smashes-plates-in-dubai-restaurant-video-goes-viral-85312.html Tue, 08 Dec 2020 08:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/elizabeth-debicki-difficult-resisting-society-pressure-to-look-a-certain-way-84339.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Dec 4 Hollywood actress Elizabeth Debicki feels it is very difficult to resist societal pressure to look a certain way and says she found it liberating when as a woman she decided to get fit for herself and not for people One of the things that recently has been such a lovely and liberating thing for me as a woman is I think it began with Tenet when I identified that I have to have a certain kind of stamina to make this film Debicki told IANS in an interview Fitness for women and strength in the body can be such an interesting precarious line to tread For us its very difficult to resist the kind of pressure from society to kind of look a certain way and a lot of that seems to be projected to us that it can be achieved through fitness she added The actress explained It is a lovely necessary but difficult place to get to in your own kind of personal evaluation of yourself as a person as a woman and to kind of use fitness to give you strength rather than it be something about your appearance to the world Debicki continued It was such a liberating moment in my life as a woman when it turned into let me get fit for me and not for people That took a long time Looking back she said Like a lot of my life its been working out like I have the inclination to do something but how do I do this so that it works for me I think that is something women really grapple with a lot The actress feels women are very good at changing our experiences giving a lot and exchanging a lot That can leave us really empty at times I think we have to learn how to change the perspective with which you are coming at the same activity whether it is fitness or making art You have to figure out and it takes a long timeto figure out how to manipulate it so that you get just as much out of it she added She feels fitness is a great example In a funny way fitness is such a good example of how to do that because it can be such a seemingly simple but also quite complex shift in your brain to think like how do I do this So that it works for me and not that its depleting me Its a really important shift added the actress Debicki entered showbiz in 2011 with a small role in A Few Best Men From her role as the evil Ayesha in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 brief appearance as a friend of the female protagonist in The Great Gatsby riding instructor Mrs G in powerful sexual abuse drama The Tale to the lighthearted movie Peter Rabbit Debicki has taken up diverse roles in a bid to prove her mettle as an actor Now she will be seen in a powerful role in Christopher Nolans muchawaited film Tenet Dubbed as an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage Nolans new film takes one on a thrilling timebending mission with two secret agents essayed by Robert Pattinson and John David Washington The Warner Bros Pictures also stars Elizabeth Debicki Kenneth Branagh Michael Caine Aaron TaylorJohnson and Clemence Poesy The film is scheduled to release in India on December 4 It will be available to the Indian audience in English Hindi Tamil and Telugu languages Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/elizabeth-debicki-difficult-resisting-society-pressure-to-look-a-certain-way-84339.html Fri, 04 Dec 2020 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nawazuddin-siddiqui-not-hopeful-about-ott-future-in-india-81507.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Nov 21 Nawazuddin Siddiqui feels OTTs are getting cramped in India and herd mentality is seeping in The actor says everyone wants to do something on the digital platform not for the art but just for the sake of business Frankly speaking OTT used to be a platform for content that was different from the typical Bollywood form and had a distinctive character I am not talking about social content but content for audience who want something apart from the regular Bollywood Nawazuddin told IANS while looking back at the start of OTT story in India At the moment bharmar ho raha hai there is an overload We have a tendency of herd mentality With that there will be a decline and there is no doubt about it There is a possibility of going below the set level he added The actor whose Serious Men Raat Akeli Hai and Ghoomketu released on streaming platforms this year rues that art is being turned into a business Hum log art ko dhandha bana dete hain we turn art into trade Initially it is art and then eventually turns into a business I fear that it will seep into the OTT space as well and woh jo low standard hota hai ke business ke purpose se kuch bhi dhikhao Woh hoga and woh ho bhi raha hai I fear the trend of showing anything and everything in the name of business It will happen in fact it has already begun shared the actor who has explored the OTT space as an actor extensively For example I didnt expect that these types of films will be released on Netflix which I wont be able to watch But they are being released on Netflix especially in India Netflix and other OTT services have a very different set of audience he added without naming the films There was a time when the Sacred Games star was hopeful about the OTT wave in India but not anymore I thought there would be a change for the better I thought that it would go a step ahead from the bar which we had set on OTT Now I dont think so I am not hopeful That is just declining said the actor who has cinematic gems like Gangs Of Wasseypur The Lunchbox Liars Dice Badlapur and Manjhi The Mountain Man in his resume Explaining his point he said Because that is what happens when people come from all directions and do business in the name of creativity Woh decrease hi hoga it is bound to decrease I feel everyone wants to do something or the other on OTT at the moment This is because of business When things are done for the sake of business and not for art then it will be hopeless I dont think there would be much development in India in this sphere he shared Ek baar laga tha jab dochaar shows aaye the tab laga tha ke enhance hoga but baad mein woh business ban gaya toh abhi bahut hi mushkil lag raha hai there was a time when I thought things would be better after a few shows came out But then it turned into business Now it seems very difficult said Nawazuddin who joined stars like Saif Ali Khan Samantha Akkineni Manoj Bajpayee Tisca Chopra and Divya Dutta to discuss the future of the industry through Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films Evening discussions soon to be featured on the Zee network Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nawazuddin-siddiqui-not-hopeful-about-ott-future-in-india-81507.html Sat, 21 Nov 2020 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ishaan-khatter-expectation-of-fans-is-a-blessing-81157.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Nov 18 He grabbed attention of cinegoers with his skilled performance in Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidis Beyond The Clouds in 2017 His next Dhadak fared below expectations and though Khaali Peeli managed to create some waves earlier this year the film had to be released on OTT owing to the pandemic He was also seen in the Mira Nair web series A Suitable Boy Ishaan Khatter is already being considered a contender for Bollywoods Next Big Thing He is yet to experience a definitive blockbuster but Pankaj Kapoors younger son and Shahid Kapoors younger brother has managed to dodge nepotism charges thanks to his screen presence efficient acting and dancing skills I am fortunate to get every opportunity that came my way I am lucky there is no denial on that But I want to say something here I think I started working at the right age At times the look that we have because of age helps us to get certain roles I think working with Majid sir and Mira di was that I could have missed out on such an opportunity if I would have started my career after five years There are certain things that are not in our hands but in the hand of destiny All the good film that have happened to me were a part of that What I have done is put my heart and soul put my sweat and tears to each characters that I played to justify every opportunity Ishaan told IANS I know I am fortunate and there are actors who wait for so long in their career to work with two iconic filmmakers that I have almost started my career with All I can promise is to put my hard work to not let anyone down added the actor In Nairs A Suitable Boy he made an unconventional pairing with the veteran Tabu just as in Khali Peeli he scored effortlessly setting up chemistry with budding star Ananya Pandey I played characters that are versatile Amir Beyond The Clouds is so different from Madhu Dhadak Blackie Khaali Peeli is so different from Maan Kapoor A Suitable Boy If I am getting a chance to live my dream and I fail to deliver what good I am All I wanted is to dance and act I am doing tha I have to keep my level high and match the expectation of fans I think expectation of fans is a blessing and privilege said Ishaan who is preparing for the war drama Pippa and the horror comedy Phone Bhoot I also think that though I get emotionally exhausted after every character I wake up in the morning with a sense of satisfaction As long as I hold that feeling I think my hard work is good work the young actor added Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ishaan-khatter-expectation-of-fans-is-a-blessing-81157.html Thu, 19 Nov 2020 02:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/drew-barrymore-i-know-what-its-like-to-lose-and-work-for-things-81214.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Nov 19 Drew Barrymore made it big in Hollywood at the age of seven only to be blacklisted at the age of 12 The Hollywood actress says living through the turbulent times of her career has made her appreciate her position and opportunities today Its crazy Ive never felt more humble and grateful in my entire life than I do right now to be alive to have two kids that are healthy Barrymore told IANS while looking back at her showbiz struggles I dont know how I ended up here but Ill never lose sight and I never have lost sight of how lucky I am Ive lost my job When you are blacklisted at 12 you appreciate every job I appreciate every job I have she shared adding I know what its like to lose and work for things and be so lucky and have the opportunities that I have and everything in between Barrymore became a star as a child artiste after working in Steven Spielbergs 1982 global scifi blockbuster ET The ExtraTerrestrial and then Firestarter 1984 With fame came addiction and rejection making her the wild child of Hollywood Now sobered up Barrymore has courted success as an actress producer and director Her resume shines with projects like Poison Ivy Boys On The Side Mad Love Scream Ever After The Wedding Singer 50 First Dates Blended Never Been Kissed Charlies Angels Music And Lyrics and Santa Clarita Diet he made her debut directorial film Whip It in 2009 At the moment she is busy with The Drew Barrymore Show which she hosts and backs as producer The show brings forward positive stories humour along with celebrity guest interviews Im just excited to be able to live the real existence that I do when you dont see me working This is so true to who I am but Ive gone through a real excruciating uncomfortable metamorphosis doing a show like this Im really glad I met this moment in my life and not another and timing really is everything said the 45yearold She continued I also want to show up and its like when you have your kids and its different but you get asked to be the best version of yourself And that was something I didnt take lightly The entire time was a really incredible and informative journey For the show she looked at her life for inspiration Ive been out there my whole life and I thought one of the things that made me best suited for this job is interacting with people on a daily basis and respecting people and having kindness and patience and respect and dignity and thinking every meeting with someone was an opportunity to hear their story she said The actress known for her infectious brand of humour asserted that she is a people person I just want to take my life experience and talk about it with other people and figure it out together she added The Drew Barrymore Show will premiere in India on Zee Cafe on November 18 Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/drew-barrymore-i-know-what-its-like-to-lose-and-work-for-things-81214.html Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bigg-boss-14-gauahar-khan-is-all-praises-for-rahul-vaidya-78828.html Mumbai Nov 8 Bigg Boss 7 winner Gauahar Khan considers singer Rahul Vaidya as one of the true solo performers in the ongoing season of the reality TV show Rahul killing it Truly a solo player lovely performance Gauahar tweeted For the unversed in the latest episode of Bigg Boss 14 Rahul was seen giving a solo performance on the song I am the best from the Shah Rukh Khanstarrer movie Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Not only Gauahar fans also hailed Rahuls performance It was so nice to see RahulVaidya solo dance amongst all the couples dancing Sole warrior His performance was fantastic I cant stop gushing a user wrote on Twitter Rahuls dance performance was the BEST My heart is so happy Total hero vibes Yes buddy you are the best another one commented Gauahar had participated in Season 14 as well but only as one of the Toofani seniors IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bigg-boss-14-gauahar-khan-is-all-praises-for-rahul-vaidya-78828.html Mon, 09 Nov 2020 10:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/lashana-lynch-confirms-her-character-will-replace-james-bond-77946.html London Nov 5 There have been a lot of speculations about the role of Lashana Lynch in the Bond franchise and now the actress has confirmed that her character is set to be the next protagonist of the film series and take the story forward In an interview with Harpers Bazaar the Captain Marvel star revealed the news and addressed the online abuse she faced when the rumours first surfaced earlier this year reports radiotimescom I am one Black woman  if it were another Black woman cast in the role it would have been the same conversation she would have got the same attacks the same abuse she said I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that Im a part of something that will be very very revolutionary The actress will be taking over as Bond from actor Daniel Craig who will reprise the iconic character one last time in No Time To Die Talking about Nomi her character in the franchise she said A character that is too slick a castiron figure Thats completely against what I stand for I didnt want to waste an opportunity when it came to what Nomi might represent I searched for at least one moment in the script where Black audience members would nod their heads tutting at the reality but glad to see their real life represented In every project I am part of no matter the budget or genre the Black experience that Im presenting needs to be 100 per cent authentic she added Lynchs character Nomi enters the franchise in the new James Bond film No Time To Die even as Daniel Craigs James Bond bids adieu to the series with the film IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/lashana-lynch-confirms-her-character-will-replace-james-bond-77946.html Fri, 06 Nov 2020 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sophie-turner-set-for-royal-outing-with-next-76951.html Los Angeles Nov 1 Actress Sophie Turner will be lending her voice for the character of Princess Charlotte in upcoming animated series The Prince Turner has officially joined the cast of animated series The Prince created and executive produced by Family Guy producer writer and actor Gary Janetti reports varietycom The satire focuses on sevenyearold Prince George who is voiced by Janetti and his antics as the firstborn child of Prince William and Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge Turner will voice Georges sister Janetti shared the update on Instagram by sharing a Halloweenthemed sneak peek of the show Meet Charlotte Sophie Turner Janetti wrote in the videos caption In the clip George attempts to coordinate his siblings Halloween costumes and soon realises that they have picked out their own outfits for the occasion The Prince ensemble also includes names like Orlando Bloom as Prince Harry Condola Rashad as Meghan Markle Lucy Punch as Kate Middleton Alan Cumming as Georges butler Owen Frances de la Tour as Queen Elizabeth and Iwan Rheon as Prince William The Prince is being made for HBO Max IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sophie-turner-set-for-royal-outing-with-next-76951.html Sun, 01 Nov 2020 21:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shabana-azmi-need-to-change-the-way-we-bring-up-boys-76366.html BY SUGANDHA RAWAL New Delhi Oct 29 Actress Shabana Azmi wonders why society is stuck with definite ideas about masculinity from telling boys not to play with dolls to telling them not to cry She says it is important to tackle patriarchy and the notion of masculinity first and foremost to change things for women as well as men Many years ago when I was a Member of Parliament I was on a committee that was set up by the chief ministers wife on the scourge of female foeticide Many steps at that point were taken and one feels that ultimately it is based in patriarchy The belief that a boy should be privileged at birth because of being born male that discrimination against the girl child exists all through her childhood adolescence and then later adulthood Shabana told IANS while talking about her film Kaali Khuhi which explores the issue of female infanticide through lens of horror What we need to do is to tackle patriarchy because patriarchy affects not only women but also men Men also internalise We have definite ideas of how a man should behave Boys should never cry why shouldnt they Why is it looked down upon she added The actress continued Why do we at the age of three decide that girls should be playing with dolls and the minute a boy decides to play with dolls we say haww this is terrible All this stratification that starts sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously is what we need to really get to the root of She cited her son Farhan Akhtars MARD Men Against Rape and Discrimination as an example to elborate on her point For instance my son Farhan He runs an organisation called MARD which asks that we redefine masculinity Why is masculinity about brute power and muscle power Why isnt it about passion or compassion Why isnt it about gentility gentleness compassion or kindness she asked There are many questions and the answers lie in tracing the root cause and changing which Shabana feels is a huge battle that one has to fight It is all very well that we say that we need to bring up our daughters as independent and we are doing a good job of it But until and unless we change the male and the notion of masculinity by bringing up our sons differently from how we bring them up this scourge is not going to end It is a huge battle that one has to fight So whatever steps can be taken should be taken film being a very important medium particularly because it is told in a story form added the daughter of late Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi Mention that one needs to involve men to change things for women Shabana added Change the way we bring up our boys definitely On screen the acclaimed artiste will next be seen bringing alive the complexities of the character of Satya Maasi who is haunted by her own past in Kaali Khuhi Set in a Punjab village the Netflix Original film traces the journey of a girl named Shivangi Riva Arora who is put to the ultimate test when she witnesses her family getting engulfed in the secrets of a mysterious well It was the script that resonated with me It was very interesting that the issue of female infanticide was being tackled through this I would hesitate to call it a horror film I think its more like a dark thriller Because if you call it horror then there are some precondition responses You think there will be lots of prosthetics and you feel oh God there are going to be these jump shots But the fact that it was being told through a story that held your attention made it more effective in reaching out to audiences said the National Award winning actress while talking about the factors that drew her towards the project Directed by debutant Terrie Samundra the film also features Sanjeeda Shaikh and Satyadeep Mishra It will release on October 30 Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shabana-azmi-need-to-change-the-way-we-bring-up-boys-76366.html Thu, 29 Oct 2020 21:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kapil-sharma-i-dont-pay-much-attention-to-trolls-75773.html BY NATALIA NINGTHOUJAM New Delhi Oct 27 Comedian Kapil Sharma is no stranger to online hate but he says he does not pay much attention to trolls because he believes in making the world a better place with his jokes Recently BoycottKapilSharmaShow trended on Twitter as netizens were not too thrilled about one of the shows segments featuring Kiku Sharda and Krushna Abhishek A while ago a netizen attacked Kapil on Twitter for not putting up anything regarding the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput Though he shut down the troll in his own style its not always that you see him reacting to all the negative comments coming his way Asked how he deals with trolls Kapil told IANS My sole focus is to provide nonstop laughter to all my fans and I believe in making world a better and light place with my jokes I dont pay much attention to trolls In fact he is currently enjoying his current phase Last year he became a dad and now he is associated with a show for kids I am extremely blessed Each day offers something new Even before parenthood I always wished to do something for kids Hence you could see the kid avatar on The Kapil Sharma Show But yes I will try and do more for kids and The Honey Bunny Show With Kapil Sharma is a good start he said Talking more about his new show he shared This was the first time I was shooting for an animated show The process was something new but with time I was able to adapt and I thoroughly enjoyed the process It was a unique and thrilling experience When it comes to inspiration my style has always been more on observing people and bringing it on screen and I have done the same for this show Kids have always been dear to him I would want to do something special for them said Kapil who finds his mother inspiring She his mother has always made people laugh even through tough times which is difficult he shared IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kapil-sharma-i-dont-pay-much-attention-to-trolls-75773.html Tue, 27 Oct 2020 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/suhana-khan-looks-stunning-in-olive-bodycon-dress-75308.html Mumbai Oct 25 Suhana Khan daughter of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan looked stunning in a beautiful olive bodycon dress she wore for a night out Suhana posted the picture on Instagram In the image she is seen posing in a stunning painted wall Suhana in the picture is seen posing for the camera dressed in a perfectlyfitted bodycon dress She completed her look with minimal makeup and left her hair open Alongside the image she wrote bye moving into this bathroom Suhana last month revealed how she was told she is ugly because of her skin tone since she was 12 years old She said she has not got her skin lightened adding that she would never do it Suhana is studying filmmaking in New York Currently she is in Mumbai and spending time with her family The 20yearold is SRK and Gauri Khans second child after their son Aryan who was born in 1997 In 2013 the couple welcomed their third child AbRam via surrogacy IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/suhana-khan-looks-stunning-in-olive-bodycon-dress-75308.html Sun, 25 Oct 2020 22:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nora-fatehi-talks-about-struggles-of-a-dancer-75310.html Mumbai Oct 25 Actressdancer Nora Fatehi says dance is a valuable form of art and wants people to celebrate it more I want to do it dil se from the heart because I know what the struggle is to be a dancer Somehow I dont understand how dance is one of the best forms of art the most valuable forms of art but I dont understand why its not celebrated the way it should be she said Further expressing her disappointment in the lack of acknowledgement and appreciation for dancers Nora said The biggest icons we have till today were all remarkable dancers Michael Jackson he would come on stage and blow the world away Beyonce another one Janet Jackson all these people Prabhu Deva when he would move he would blow your mind away because he would do things that are almost impossible to do a layman couldnt do it For something that a normal person couldnt do why is it not being celebrated and uplifted the way people celebrate actors An actor would do one scene in a movie and people go oh my God actor actor actor They get all the awards in the world they get all the praises but I just dont see an award show where people are giving awards to performers the dancers Sometimes songs make movies a hit and theres no category for that performer why I dont understand that What about the performers that break their knees for the performance that bleed for the songs because if you see the BTS behind the scene of the people that do songs you would be amazed that Oh Theres so much that goes behind that she added Opening up about the varied skill sets of the artistes Nora said Dancers are multifaceted artistes they dont just do dance they can sing they can act they can paint they can do so much but they are not given chances because they are always stereotyped they are always slotted in one place which is wrong If you give dancers an opportunity they can make magic We just need those doors to open and I think they will slowly On the work front Nora is currently enjoying the success of her latest music video Naach meri rani She will be next seen in Bhuj The Pride of India IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nora-fatehi-talks-about-struggles-of-a-dancer-75310.html Sun, 25 Oct 2020 22:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/a-suitable-boy-heroine-tanya-maniktala-drew-from-familys-past-for-role-75217.html EDS TO GO WITH STORY Kushinagar In this undated photo is seen Arvind Kumar who has secured All India rank 11603 and 4392 in OBC category with his mother Lalita Devi in Kushinagar district Arvind succeeded in clearing NEET in his ninth attempt after he moved to a Kota institute in 2018 for coaching He decided to become a doctor as his scrap dealer father was subjected to constant humiliation by villagers because of his work and name He first appeared in 2011 for the AllIndia PreMedical Test AIPMT now replaced by the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET PTI BY SUGANDHA RAWAL New Delhi Oct 25 Budding actress Tanya Maniktala felt a personal connection with many Partition plot points in A Suitable Boy the Mira Nair web series where she has a starring role and which has currently made her a talking point Tanya grew up with stories from her grandfather who is originally from Lahore about coming to India after Partition with a new sense of home and identity The actress says working in the series which touches upon several similar themes was all about bringing home the same feelings His her grandfather home would always be defined by Pakistan When I was a young kid even though I dont remember a lot of stories the way he spoke about his home his identity they all shaped through the prePartition era For me it was a sense of bringing home the feeling that my grandfather had stories he told and his childhood It was always about those things Tanya told IANS Recalling one story Tanya shared I remember one incident that he told us about the time of Partition when his elder brother tried to cross the border Being a Hindu he was surrounded by a group of people who wanted to check whether he was a Muslim or not Such events left a mark on him It was a very remarkable incident The sense of fear that he had I think is what I felt during the portrayal of the sensitive scenes like the riots scenes in the show she added Mira Nairs A Suitable Boy is a screen adaptation of the Vikram Seth novel of the same name Set in India of 1951 it tells the story of spirited university student Lata essayed by Tanya in 1951 a time when the country is carving out its identity as an independent nation and is about to go to polls for its first democratic general election Backed with the emotion of love and heartache the Netflix show is infused with many themes like tensions between religions groups riots and sexuality Tanya says the character of Lata has taught her the way of life I aspire to be like Lata Tanya said going on to share how she admires her onscreen protagonist as she is not afraid of failures I learnt how I tend to hold myself back Lata is the complete opposite She just let herself go She believes in living in the moment even though she might fail She might fall down she is never afraid to pick herself up because she is so confident in her own skin So that is something that I learnt from her to sort of let yourself go because the best things in life can happen in the moment where you are holding on she added Before her global break with the series Tanya also appeared as Ishita in the digital series Flames Asked how she wants to go ahead the newcomer said Right now my approach has been to just focus on the content I just want to create and focus on the content in being creative and just exploring myself as an actor The show was released on Netflix on October 23 Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/a-suitable-boy-heroine-tanya-maniktala-drew-from-familys-past-for-role-75217.html Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/when-make-up-burnt-through-bhumis-skin-during-saand-ki-aankh-shoot-75253.html Mumbai Oct 25 It was not at all easy for Bhumi Pednekar to play the role of older woman in the film Saand Ki Aankh Directed by Tushar Hiranandani Saand Ki Aankh which was released in 2019 and was based on the lives of Indias oldest sharpshooters Prakashi Tomar and Chandro Tomar Bhumi played the role of Chandro Tomar the oldest sharp shooter in India who along with her sister played by Taapsee Pannu has won laurels for India Recalling the challenges faced to play the role Bhumi said I think SKA in terms of difficulty where the physical work was concerned was quite high because the makeup was specialized and that was honestly very tough to be in Through that experience the makeup was so harsh on the skin to a point that I had actually burnt my skin and I had very major allergic reaction Cracking the body language and playing a character which is way older is always a challenge too So I think physically it was a lot tougher than all my films Bhumi feels great to be a part of such progressive and important content I dont know if my cinema is offbeat I definitely feel the definition of main stream cinema has changed tremendously over the last 5 years where my films have contributed towards that change Im really happy about this because thats what artistes are meant to do she shared So many fantastic actors before me have done a tremendous job to pave the way for this change too but there is a certain momentum that the socalled unconventional cinema has caught onto which hasnt happened in such frequency earlier I feel these days the audiences are looking for work which is entertaining along with high content and I think my films kind of give that So I have managed to create a space for that and myself and I thank GOD for that she added Bhumi now is gearing up for the release of Durgavati IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/when-make-up-burnt-through-bhumis-skin-during-saand-ki-aankh-shoot-75253.html Sun, 25 Oct 2020 17:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gulshan-devaiah-on-bwood-controversies-people-are-raising-voice-with-insincerity-75059.html BY ARUNDHUTI BANERJEE Mumbai Oct 24 Actor Gulshan Devaiah feels recent controversies related to allegations of Bollywooddrug trade nexus as well as nepotism charges which have been surrounding the film fraternity do not bother him Without taking names I want to say that the controversies and generalisation that have defamed our film industry in the recent past do not bother me What bothers me is the people who are raising their voice with a huge amount of insincerity If you know that you are an influential voice of the film industry will you not check your own words before uttering them That is why I have difficulty trusting them The audience that is observing the toxicity should sit back and try to understand who is benefitting from these controversies As an audience are you said the actor Gulshan has managed to make his mark in the entertainment industry across mediums He has impressed in films like Shaitan Hate Story Goliyon Ki Raasleela RamLeela and A Death In The Gunj just as he has scored in web series like Smoke and Afsos His new film Footfairy releases on television In his upcoming film Gulshan has worked with budding filmmaker Kanishk Varma Asked if the actordirector equation changes depending on on the experience of the director Gulshan told IANS I am not friend with Dibakar Banerjee the way I am friend with Kanishk but then I have a different level of respect for Dibakar because of the excellent director he is So when I worked with him in Ghost Stories it was a unique actordirector equation on set Who I collaborate with matters to me for sure I would really love to work with Vasan Bala and Anurag Kashyap and not to as well We are good friends and there is a great comfort level If I only work with my good friends and keep myself in that comfort zone all the time I will stop pushing myself towards challenges and that will not help in my career growth he reasoned He explained his point further When I was working in Commando 3 I wasnt friends with the director initially Everyone was new to me the director actors and crew members Eventually we got along really well That is how we expand our professional lives I think I would love to work with Vasan and Anurag but not in every film Because our equation or bonding is not defined by the number of projects we do together explained the actor The actor made his debut with Anurag Kashyaps 2011 release That Girl In Yellow Boots and also appeared in the filmmakers 2015 coproduction Hunterrr With Vasan Bala he worked in Peddlers 2012 and Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota 2018 Gulshans latest Footfairy is an pictures original film all set to hit television screens on October 24 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gulshan-devaiah-on-bwood-controversies-people-are-raising-voice-with-insincerity-75059.html Sat, 24 Oct 2020 19:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chandan-roy-sanyal-stay-at-home-if-you-want-to-enjoy-durga-puja-next-year-75110.html BY AHANA BHATTACHARYA Kolkata Oct 24 The Calcutta High Court has limited the number of visitors at Durga Puja pandals to 45 at a time this year in an attempt to ensure social distancing amid the ongoing Covid19 pandemic Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal supports this idea and suggests that people not venture out during the festival I support the idea of people not flocking to Puja pandals this year I think it is important because it is Covid19 time and people should stay home and make their offerings to the Goddess from home I know it is tough for Bengalis not to venture out wearing new clothes during Durga Puja shop eat out have bhog and spend time with their family and friends but if you want to see next years Puja and have double the fun you have to make sure you stay safe and dont catch the virus Chandan told IANS Chandans latest Bengali film Rawkto Rawhoshyo has just released in theatres across the state and the actor believes it would be a good idea to go watch the film in theatres rather than flock to the pandals You can go and watch my film Rawkto Rawhoshyo in the theatre while maintaining social distancing and enjoy the Puja It is a murder mystery an emotional thriller I just hope people like it he said Going down memory lane Chandan recalled his experience of attending Durga Puja in Delhi in his growingup years He shared Durga Puja in Delhi in my growingup years was amazing We used to visit Kalibari have bhog wear new clothes spend time chatting with friends at the pandal and enjoy the festival Coming back to limitations imposed upon this years festivities due to the pandemic the actor shared I know there cant be any alternative to the fun of visiting your parar Puja local Puja pandal Any Bengali knows the warmth energy and excitement of Durga Puja Going to the pandals dressing up nicely meeting friends is all very exciting With the shankh conch ghonta prayer bell dhunuchi dance and the whole fragrance in the air it is a different experience you cant match it But this year we must stay at home and look forward to the festivities next year IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chandan-roy-sanyal-stay-at-home-if-you-want-to-enjoy-durga-puja-next-year-75110.html Sat, 24 Oct 2020 23:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shahid-mrunal-wrap-up-uttarakhand-schedule-of-jersey-73781.html Dehradun Oct 18 Actors Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur have completed the Uttarakhand schedule of their upcoming film Jersey Taking to Twitter Shahid thanked the state government for their efficient policies that enabled the team to shoot with proper safety measures amid the pandemic Its a wrap on this schedule of Jersey I would like to thank the Govt of Uttarakhand for supporting and putting in place efficient policies that enabled us to safely shoot and wrap the schedule of our film in the many beautiful locations of the state he tweeted Mrunal too expressed her gratitude towards the Uttarakhand government I would like to thank the Govt of Uttarakhand for supporting and putting in place efficient policies that enabled us to safely shoot and wrap the schedule of our film Jersey in the beautiful locations of the state she wrote on the microblogging site Jersey is a Hindi remake of the Telugu hit of the same name The Hindi version is also being directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri who helmed the original The story is about a talented but failed cricketer named Arjun who decides to make a comeback in his late thirties and play for India in order to fulfil his sons wish Before shooting in Uttarakhand the team had shot some portions in Chandigarh IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shahid-mrunal-wrap-up-uttarakhand-schedule-of-jersey-73781.html Mon, 19 Oct 2020 01:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/saiee-manjrekar-on-why-dabangg-3-screen-test-was-special-73972.html Mumbai Oct 19 Saiee Manjrekar who made her debut in the 2019 Salman Khanstarrer Dabangg 3 looks back at her screen test for the film saying she knew she had to impress in the very first take if she was to star alongside her favourite childhood hero During my screen test I knew that the first take was going to decide my fate to star along with my childhood favourite artist Salman she recalled About shooting with Salman and director Prabhudeva she said While shooting it all felt surreal and each day I was on my toes to do justice to the character and the faith Prabhudeva sir and Salman sir had put in me I got to learn so much from each one of them It was one of the greatest experiences of my life We all love a good old origin story and Chulbul Pandey has been one Indias most loved and adored characters of all times It was a dream come true to be an integral part of that journey she added The love that I got for Khushi her character in the film is the push I needed to evolve as a person and as an actor I feel more responsible and driven Life post Dabangg has been just greata said Mahesh Manjrekars daughter about working on the film that also stars Sonakshi Sinha and will soon air on Zee Cinema IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/saiee-manjrekar-on-why-dabangg-3-screen-test-was-special-73972.html Mon, 19 Oct 2020 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/matthew-mcconaugheys-father-dies-while-having-sex-73736.html Los Angeles Oct 18 Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey says his father died of a heart attack while having sex with his mother The Oscarwinner is all set for the release of his new memoir Greenlights in which he has opened up about his family history In an excerpt featured in his People cover story he revealed that his father James Donald died while having sex with his mother Kay pagesixcom I got a call from my Mom Your dad died My knees buckled I couldnt believe it He was my dad Nobody or nothing could kill him Except mom Hed always told me and my brothers Boys when I go Im gonna be makin love to your mother And thats what happened He had a heart attack when he climaxed McConaughey said James died in 1992 He and Kay had an onagain offagain relationship marrying each other three separate times Matthew was conceived shortly after their third wedding They were at times violent he told People adding As I say in the book that is how they communicated They were divorced twice married three times I mean yeah it was like the Pacific Ocean in a storm IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/matthew-mcconaugheys-father-dies-while-having-sex-73736.html Sun, 18 Oct 2020 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rajkummar-bhumi-to-start-shooting-for-badhaai-do-in-jan-73744.html Mumbai Oct 18 Actors RajKummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar are all set to start shooting for Badhaai Do in January 2021 It is the second instalment in the Badhaai Ho franchise In it RajKummar will be seen playing the role of a Delhi cop who is the only male police officer in a mahila thana while Bhumi essays the role of a school PT teacher I am happy things are picking up pace and the wheel is moving again Badhaai Do is a special film for me I am glad to take up this nuanced character who has layers of conflicts to resolve in and around him As far as preparations are concerned I have my own process of preparing a character and also this time it is the setting of this character in Badhaai Do that makes it unique The audience is in for a surprise which will unfold with time Rajkummar shared Bhumi is extremely excited to share screen space with RajKummar I have played many different roles previously in my films but my character in Badhaai Do is truly special I loved the script since the first narration as the subject is very relevant and is packaged in the most entertaining way Since this is the first time I will be working with Rajkummar I am super excited as we begin our shoot soon Badhaai Ho has been one of my favourites and it feels amazing to take this franchise forward she added Badhaai Do is written by the writers of Badhaai Ho Akshat Ghildial and Suman Adhikary Harshavardhan Kulkarni who helmed Hunterrr in 2015 will direct Badhaai Do Family comedies are evergreen and the idea was to create wholesome entertainment that can be enjoyed with the entire family Since pandemic we have been able to do some reading sessions and the chemistry between Raj and Bhumi is so palpable that I am really looking forward to capturing this for the big screen Our preproduction is in full swing and we will start filming very soon in January Harshavardhan said For the unversed The Amit Sharmadirectorial Badhaai Ho revolved around an aging couple played by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao who deal with a case of accidental pregnancy Ayushmann Khurrana featured as their son Speaking of Badhaai Do the movie is being backed up by Junglee Pictures IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rajkummar-bhumi-to-start-shooting-for-badhaai-do-in-jan-73744.html Sun, 18 Oct 2020 19:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/eva-mendes-hints-at-comeback-73746.html Los Angeles Oct 18 Actress Eva Mendes is hinting that she might return to acting soon Mendes has taken a sixyearlong break to raise her children with actor Ryan Gosling In an interview with Sydney Morning Herald the actress sounded as if she might be ready to return to acting reports dailymailcouk Asked about her priorities the 46yearold actress said that her ambition to act was starting to make a comeback I feel like as far as my ambition it didnt go away it just shifted onto the children Mendes shared I applaud and look up to those women who can do it all but Im not one of them and thankfully I have a choice not to work and I realise how fortunate I am that its even a choice Ive been so happy to be able to incubate with my babies but now they are four and six Im starting to feel like my ambition is coming back added the mother of two The couple began their relationship in 2011 after they met on the set of the crime drama The Place Beyond The Pines which also starred Bradley Cooper In the interview she opened up about raising two young children Sometimes it feels like we are running some kind of bedandbreakfast with very drunk and aggressive guests she joked adding We really do feel like we are working in a hotel and the guests are angry and bossy and demand food brought to them And by the time they go to sleep were left to just clean up and talk about how theyve treated us that day IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/eva-mendes-hints-at-comeback-73746.html Sun, 18 Oct 2020 20:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ethan-hawke-life-is-like-building-a-spider-web-72746.html BY SUGANDHA RAWAL New Delhi Oct 14 Hollywood star Ethan Hawke compares living life to building a spider web saying each moment success and challenges are connected to each other beautifully Life is a lot like building a spider web You kind of jump from one corner to the next Hawke told IANS in an exclusive interview while looking back at his journey from a child actor to a star The little journeys dont seem significant at that moment But when you look back and when we see the whole journey you see how they are all connected to each other It can be very beautiful he added Hawke continued The parts that were most challenging which you thought were the most difficult were where the most growth happened Im very grateful to my craft and my profession because it allows you to meet all kinds of people Hawkes tryst with Hollywood started as a babyfaced child in Explorers in 1985 He went on to make a breakthrough with his appearance in 1989 with Dead Poets Society After a multidecade journey Hawke has evolved as an Oscarnominated leading star critical writer and director passionate about the stories he wants to tell Some of his performances that are carved in public memory include the narcotics officer in Training Day the hopeless romantic in the Before Sunrise franchise the tormented Father Toller in 2018 film First Reformed and a bizarrely imagined time travelling agent in Predestination I have worked with directors from all over the world in many different languages and many different points of view I have played characters that bring me and my imagination deep into whether its playing a World War 2 soldier or a jazz musician or a Russian communist or so many of the characters that expand my education I have been so grateful to that he said Hawke says he likes to delve into projects he is passionate about I try to spend as little time as possible doing things Im not passionate about Im not that good The funny thing is that Im not good enough to do anything well that I dont have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for So my whole life Ive just been following my nose and hoping that what turns me on might turn other people on said the 49yearold Passion is what drew him towards his latest project The Good Lord Bird The limited series is based on a novel by James McBride and is infused with themes of racism religion and gender The story is told from the point of view of Onion Joshua Caleb Johnson a fictional enslaved boy who becomes a member of John Browns family of abolitionist soldiers Talking about the show the Academy nominated star said When you are playing someone who really existed it is always a little different than if youre just making up a character on your own You have to step into someones shadow One of the things that was important to me was the realisation that I wasnt playing John Brown the man who lived and breathed I was playing John Brown as invented by James McBride I just tried to read as much as I could and have as much fun as possible Besides starring as John Brown Hawke has executive produced and cocreated the show currently available in India on Voot Select Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ethan-hawke-life-is-like-building-a-spider-web-72746.html Wed, 14 Oct 2020 11:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-self-doubt-is-something-every-actor-goes-through-72000.html New Delhi Oct 11 Two National Awards a Padma Shri and an experience of 26 years in the Hindi Film Industry later acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee reveals that he still doubts himself Selfdoubt is always there Acting is such a tricky art Its a craft that never lets you relax or feel confident about yourself Is something you are learning everyday Manoj reasoned while speaking to told IANS You cant afford to go wrong in this Its an ongoing process of learning Selfdoubt is something each and every actor goes through everyday I am no different from anybody he said Manoj is currently riding high on the praise for his rap number Bambai main ka ba The rap song spotlights the dilemma of migrant workers in the country and has been appreciated since its release on September 9 On the film front he will next be seen in Abhishek Sharmas Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari costarring Diljit Dosanjh and Fatima Sana Shaikh IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-self-doubt-is-something-every-actor-goes-through-72000.html Sun, 11 Oct 2020 08:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pop-single-vaaste-crosses-1-billion-mark-72097.html Mumbai Oct 11 Vaaste sung by singers Dhvani Bhanushali and Nikhil DSouza has crossed one billion mark on YouTube Its composer Tanishk Bagchi feels humbled by the love that the song has been receiving Dhvani took to Instagram on Sunday to share the big news An emotional Dhvani was seen thanking people for making the song a success She captioned the video Vaaste has changed my life Thankyou to one and all vaaste onebillion Sharing his excitement Tanishk said I am humbled by all the love that Ive been receiving Vaaste holds a very special place in my heart We had set out to create a song that could resonate with the youth of the country but the way it has gone on to break records is overwhelming he added Earlier the romantic track was named the top song of 2019 by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry IFPI an organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pop-single-vaaste-crosses-1-billion-mark-72097.html Sun, 11 Oct 2020 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bday-wishes-pour-in-as-shahenshah-turns-78-72118.html Mumbai Oct 11 Indian film celebrities from Mahesh Babu Prabhas Nimrat Kaur to Ajay Devgn among many others wished megastar Amitabh Bachchan on his 78th birthday on Sunday Telugu star Mahesh Babu wrote Wishing the living legend SrBachchan a very Happy Birthday Youre an inspiration for me and a million others around the world Happiness and good health always sir Superstar Mohanlal tagged Big B as a true gem He wrote A true gem of the Indian Cinema Happy Birthday SrBachchanji Love and prayersHappyBirthdayAmitabhBachchan Actor Ajay Devgn who has shared screen space with Amitabh in films like Satyagraha Khakee and Major Saaba said Many happy returns of the day dear Amitji Prayers and best wishes for a great year ahead Sir Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra wished and said Greetings for the Day Amitji peace health and happiness for ever and ever SrBachchan Actor Prabhas who will be seen sharing screen space with him in a multilingual mega production which is slated to release in 2022 said Many many happy returns of the day to the legendary amitabhbachchan sir Thank you for inspiring us all Bollywood action hero took to Amitabhs comment section on Instagram and wrote May you set the bar only where you can reach and then break the bar every passing year and may the happiest birthday of your life be ahead of you starting with this one Wish you the best health and happiness always sir Lots of love Actress Aditi Rao Hydari wrote Then now and forever a legend Happy happiest birthday SrBachchan sir Actress Yami Gautam who worked with the thespian in Sarkar 3 said Wishing a very happy birthday to the one only legend ASrBachchan Sir Actress Nimrat Kaur tweeted Wishing great health the most robust incredible life filled with love and loved ones all around to the one only and forever astounding Mr SrBachchan HappyBirthdayAmitabhBachchan Actor Riteish Deshmukh who was seen alongside Amitabh in the 2009 fantasy movie Aladin said Happy Birthday Dearest SrBachchan ji May god grace you the best of health long life Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be in the same frame as you Gods have surely blessed me HappyBirthdayAmitabhBachchan juniorbachchan me having our own moment as SrBachchan Sir on stage Dont miss our version of the Iconic Saara Jamana Jacket with lights The Unforgettable Tour 2008 HappyBirthdayAmitabhBachchan Actor Ali Fazal just wrote Happy Birthday sir Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra confessed that she was a fan of Amitabh and that had the privilege to work with him From being your fan will always be to having the privilege of sharing screen space with you Its been like a surreal experience just knowing you Your aura persona still leave me awestruck Wish you great health love and success always Happy birthday SrBachchan Love you she wrote Actress Athiya Shetty said Happy happy birthday SrBachchan ji thank you for always inspiring us the world learns from you everyday I wish you an abundance of happiness and love I hope you enjoy today lots of love Actor Vivek Anand Oberoi wrote Heres wishing the legendary SrBachchan sir a very happy birthday Truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you and admire your brilliance up close Your passion intensity discipline and dedication continues to inspire us all Actor R Madhavan shared Happy BIRTHDAY SrBachchanJi thank God for you Actor Darshan Kumaar called Big B the most powerful inspiring iconic and legendary He also wished him good health IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/bday-wishes-pour-in-as-shahenshah-turns-78-72118.html Sun, 11 Oct 2020 19:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/maniesh-paul-amitabh-bachchan-continues-to-inspire-me-72145.html Mumbai Oct 11 Actor TV host and Amitabh Bachchan fan boy Maniesh Paul says the megastar continues to inspire him Maniesh took to Instagram where he shared a string of pictures along with the cine icon from the sets of the popular quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati KBC Expressing his fondness for Amitabh Maniesh reminisced his childhood memories of the actor He wrote Im a Delhi boy who lived in a small place called Malviya Nagar Still remember the time when we used to watch movies and I would force my mother to write MARD on my chest as my HERO did that in a film Would make sure I was the first to be in the que to buy milk so i could say HUM JAHAN KHADE HOTE HAIN LINE WAHIN SE SHURU HOTI Hai The moment my mom would see him she would say Mickey tu zaroor inke saath kaaam karega Maniesh then wished Amitabh who turned 78 on Sunday And the day came when I hosted an episode of KBC with him I have shared the stage with Bachchan sir on many occasions thereafter and I have to say that he continues to inspire me no endI can go on and on and ona Wish you a very happy birthday amitabhbachchan sir May god bless you with health happiness and love always Your fanboy for life mpbigb bachchansir superstar films he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/maniesh-paul-amitabh-bachchan-continues-to-inspire-me-72145.html Sun, 11 Oct 2020 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/uday-shankar-to-step-down-as-disney-india-chairman-71442.html Mumbai Oct 8 Uday Shankar will step down as president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and chairman Star and Disney India to pursue an entrepreneurial career He will step down from his positions effective December 31 this year The news was announced by Rebecca Campbell chairman of the brands DirecttoConsumer and International segment Over the next three months Shankar will work closely with Campbell to identify his successor to ensure a smooth transition A former president of Indian Broadcasting Federation IBF Shankar is currently senior vice president of FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and in line to take over as its next president On his decision to step down from his current positions at Star and Disney Shankar said I have always believed in the power of creativity and cuttingedge technology to create a better world and consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to do so For some time now I have been contemplating the question of how I give back to the country community and the industry that have given me so much I think the best way to express my gratitude to all of them will be to support and mentor a new generation of entrepreneurs as they set out to create transformational solutions that will have a positive impact on countless lives I intend to partner with global investors and pioneers to achieve this he added Since February 2019 Shankar has served as president The Walt Disney Company APAC and chairman Star and Disney India Previously he was president of 21st Century Fox for Asia and the chairman and CEO of Star India He had taken over the leadership of Star India in 2007 Under his leadership Hotstar which has now been rebranded as Disney Hotstar became one of the leading streaming platformS in the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/uday-shankar-to-step-down-as-disney-india-chairman-71442.html Fri, 09 Oct 2020 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/karl-urban-the-boys-makes-poignant-social-commentary-71498.html BY SUGANDHA RAWAL New Delhi Oct 9 Actor Karl Urban feels his superhero satire series The Boys holds a mirror to realities of the current society and says the web show makes poignant social commentary According to me the show makes very poignant social commentary from corporate greed to the manipulation of the media to the corrupt nature of some celebrities Urban told IANS in an interview It also explores contemporary issues like Black Lives Matter and racism It seems to me that it is a very timely reminder of the dangers of Right wing ideology especially now at a time where Right wing ideology seems to be growing and thats got to be a major concern he added Developed by Eric Kripke the superhero satire The Boys is an irreverent take on what happens when superheroes who are as popular as celebrities as influential as politicians and as revered as Gods abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good The show gives a spin to a positive narrative of superhero stories and shows the fight between good and bad in a new light Talking about his character of Billy Butcher Urban said Billy Butcher is a fun character to play He is one of those characters who lives life on the edge He does things that many of us wish we could do He is cheeky and very dangerous So I have a lot of fun playing the character Asked if he relates to the causes Billy is fighting for Urban said Most definitely Ultimately he is seeking justice The lesson for Butcher is that he must pursue justice not revenge Because revenge is a very dangerous obsession and thats one instinct that Butcher must learn to conquer The series is available on Amazon Prime Video The intense season two of The Boys will culminate with the finale being streamed on October 9 With the second season coming to an end Urban is tightlipped about the future of the hit show I honestly wouldnt be able to tell you Its not up to me Thats really a question for the showrunner Eric Kripke he said when asked about the future of Billy Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/karl-urban-the-boys-makes-poignant-social-commentary-71498.html Fri, 09 Oct 2020 08:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chris-gayle-music-comes-naturally-to-me-71345.html BY NATALIA NINGTHOUJAM New Delhi Oct 8 West Indies cricket superstar Chris Gayle sure has a career alternative now He is out making a mark in the world of music and a new track he has collaborated on as a rapper has already crossed one million views on YouTube Gayle tells you music comes naturally to him One of the most destructive batsmen in limitedovers cricket Gayle prefers calling himself an entertainer Fondly known as the Universe Boss he says music is something he finds very enjoyable I find it very enjoyable Ive grown up surrounded by music and sport its a big part of our Jamaican culture and its in our blood Gayle told IANS He recently collaborated with British Indian singer Avina Shah for a dance track titled Groove as a rapper I was excited about doing this project and creating a song that anyone can listen and groove to it is an international sound with a mix of Jamaica India and the UK said Gayle We really enjoyed putting this song together and managed to put it together in a very short space of time It was all done over the phone a lot of WhatsApp messages back and forth to plan it out but it worked out perfectly he added After shooting for the music video in Jamaica Gayle flew to Dubai for the Indian Premier League He recalls using the lockdown period to polish his singing skills I released a remix song with Stylo G called Too hot during lockdown and now this Groove is my first collaboration with a female artiste I had fun making this track and the response has been really great said Gayle Clearly he is serious about his musical plans Ive also just set up my music label so we plan to launch more songs in the near future in various genres he informed IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chris-gayle-music-comes-naturally-to-me-71345.html Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chandan-roy-sanyal-2020-a-lucky-year-for-my-career-70984.html Mumbai Oct 7 Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal is happy with the way the year has shaped up professionally despite the ongoing Covid pandemic paralysing life Chandan has been seenesaying strong roles in the web series Aashram and the film Rules Of The Game this year and he says the year is lucky for him because two of his very important efforts released during the pandemic I think 2020 is one of the lucky years for me because this year some very important works of my career released I know it is quite an irony because we are going through a tough time due to the global pandemic Shooting is resuming but we are constantly dealing with the risks attached to it But some of my important work like Aashram with director Prakash Jha and coactor Bobby Deol and Rules Of The Game with director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury da released this year Chandan told IANS Talking about working with Pink fame director Roy Chowdhury in Rules Of The Game he said We worked together in a Bengali film called Aparajita Tumi Since then we wanted to collaborate in other projects too but I think this was the best script we could have done together According to the actor the film made him realise that his happiness in life lies in bachelorhood I am single and single by choice happily single and I have no plan to get married In the film I play a character who along with his wife is trying to rediscover the chemistry they once shared the spark that went missing Since I had no experience of such an equation in a relationship I followed the script But I also realised that it is much better to stay single than get married laughed the actor Rules Of The Game also features Aahana Kumra and is streaming on Zee5 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chandan-roy-sanyal-2020-a-lucky-year-for-my-career-70984.html Wed, 07 Oct 2020 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/facebook-slams-netflix-says-the-social-dilemma-is-distorted-70228.html New Delhi Oct 4 While most of us loved the new Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma that shows how social media platforms treat users as a product and spreads misinformation Facebook has come down heavily on the leading content streaming platform saying it has buried the substance in sensationalism In a rather uncharacteristic move the social network slammed the documentary stressing that it gives a distorted view of how social media platforms work to create a convenient scapegoat for what are difficult and complex societal problems The sevenpoint rebuttal came as The Social Dilemma created waves globally for exploring the dangerous human impact of social networking with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations Denying that it treats users as a product Facebook said it is an adssupported platform which means that selling ads allows it to offer everyone else the ability to connect for free This model allows small businesses and entrepreneurs to grow and compete with bigger brands by more easily finding new customers But even when businesses purchase ads on Facebook they dont know who you are the company said in a statement We dont sell your information to anyone You can always see the interests assigned to you in your ad preferences and if you want remove them The documentary from Jeff Orlowski tried to make a point that addiction and privacy breaches are the features not bugs of the social media platforms Facebook said that it uses algorithms to improve the experience for people using its apps a just like any dating app Amazon Uber and countless other consumerfacing apps that people interact with every day That also includes Netflix which uses an algorithm to determine who it thinks should watch aThe Social Dilemma film and then recommends it to them This happens with every piece of content that appears on the service the social network argued For example said Facebook it uses algorithms to show content thats more relevant to what people are interested in whether its posts from friends or ads Portraying algorithms as mad may make good fodder for conspiracy documentaries but the reality is a lot less entertaininga Facebook noted The documentary was released on Netflix last month with a message that social media platforms are irresponsibly using their power dividing society with addictive misinformation According to Facebook the films creators do not include insights from those currently working at the companies or any experts that take a different view to the narrative put forward by the film They also dont acknowledge critically or otherwise the efforts already taken by companies to address many of the issues they raise Instead they rely on commentary from those who havent been on the inside for many years Facebook emphasized Despite what the film suggests Facebook said it has policies that prohibit businesses from sending it sensitive data about people including users health information or social security numbers Netflix was yet to comment on this The documentary also touches upon the failure on part of social media firms on maintaining election integrity to which Facebook said that it did acknowledge that it made mistakes in the 2016 US presidential elections Yet the film leaves out what we have done since 2016 to build strong defences to stop people from using Facebook to interfere in elections Weve improved our security and now have some of the most sophisticated teams and systems in the world to prevent attacks the social network argued The idea that we allow misinformation to fester on our platform or that we somehow benefit from this content is wrong said Facebook We dont want hate speech on our platform and work to remove it despite what the film says While even one post is too many weve made major improvements on this We know our systems arent perfect and there are things that we miss But we are not idly standing by and allowing misinformation or hate speech to spread on Facebook IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/facebook-slams-netflix-says-the-social-dilemma-is-distorted-70228.html Sun, 04 Oct 2020 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/being-mohinder-amarnath-saqib-saleem-on-playing-the-icon-in-83-69908.html New Delhi Oct 3 Actor Saqib Saleem knows the responsibility he shoulders while essaying Mohinder Amarnath in a film about the 1983 cricket World Cup He recalls being edgy before he started the film adding that he spent a lot of time with the legendary cricketer to prepare for his role Saleem plays Amarnath in 83 Kabir Khans Bollywood tribute to Indian crickets first ever World Cup victory that casts Ranveer Singh as the team captain Kapil Dev Amarnath popular as Jimmy among friends and fans was the star of Indias 1983 World Cup campaign He won Man of the Match titles in the final as well as the semifinal Before every film there is an immense self doubt and when you are playing a reallife character you just have to try and be as close to him so that when the people watch the film they get a glimpse of the guy I was very edgy before I started the film I have just been fortunateI got to play him and I got to spend time a lot of time with him Saqib told IANS He added I have had enough lunches with him whether in Dharamshala or London or in Bombay He came to help me train in cricket Ive spoken to him about his life and experiences and what he was thinking at that time also about the relationship he shared with his father He opened up to me and I realised he is just a fantastic human being He may have been nervous before shoot but Saqib says he did not take any pressure once filming started Now I hope when the film comes out people will see a bit of Jimmy Amarnath in me The would make me really happy he said 83 was originally scheduled to hit the screens in April but the film has been pushed to Christmas owing to the Covid outbreak Was he disappointed on learning that the films release has been pushed 100 per cent I am very excited about this film The disappointment didnt last for more than 10 days though One realised the world is going through a lot more at this point he said Yes the film is important to all of us who worked on it and to those who really want to watch it but then there are a lot of people going through a tough time The world is going through a tough time The world needs healing right now he said Directed by Kabir Khan 83 also features Tahir Raj Bhasin Pankaj Tripathi Boman Irani Harrdy Sandhu Ammy Virk Jiiva Sahil Khattar Chirag Patil and Adinath Kothare in key roles along with Deepika Padukone as Kapils wife Romi Dev IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/being-mohinder-amarnath-saqib-saleem-on-playing-the-icon-in-83-69908.html Sat, 03 Oct 2020 08:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sui-dhaaga-maker-sharat-katariya-my-characters-come-from-personal-experiences-68737.html Mumbai Sep 28 The Varun DhawanAnushka Sharma starrer Sui Dhaaga released two years ago on this day Director Sharat Katariya opening up on his creative process says the characters in his films come from his personal experiences The 2018 release Sui Dhaaga was Katariyas third directorial after 10ml Love 2010 and Dum Laga Ke Haisha 2015 He also contributed as a writer in films like Bheja Fry 2007 and Titli 2015 Katariya who also penned dialogues in Fan 2016 and Befikre 2016 has carved his niche for crafting critically acclaimed commercial entertainers that celebrate realism as a writer and filmmaker I was born in Delhi The characters normally come from personal experiences of growing up All these characters whether its Prem and Sandhya Dum Laga Ke Haisha or Mauji and Mamta Sui Dhaaga or other characters like their parents their family their neighbours whatsoever you write or you are influenced from are people who you come across Katariya said Most of these people in the films are the characters one has come across in life while growing up he added His films always make a subtle social commentary Asked if he tries to bring social change through his works Katariya said When you write you are not thinking about all these things You write what you feel for thats the primary thing Anything that you feel for has a resonance to the social environment and it automatically reflects in the script One doesnt start from there one starts from an incident or something that inspires or moves you Thats where is the beginning he added Citing the example of Dum Laga Ke Haisha Katariya says the films genesis was seeing the character of a wife winning a championship I was not thinking of social relevance or anything like that I was thinking of a story but when you are developing characters a woman is overweight and a man is thin and its a marriage which is not working then automatically all the social conflicts and stigmas will automatically come into the story he said Because the characters grow up in real environment and they have their own prejudices and conflicts and hence the social commentary He added that it was the same with Sui Dhaaga I saw a man under a tree who was working as a tailor to make ends meet and from there it began These are the real people these are the real heroes For me he is a superhero Superheroes are not just about flying in the air Superheroes are also about making their ends meet in the most difficult scenarios the filmmaker said Thats how it came in and became social commentary The idea is never to manipulate writing in a way that it becomes that he summed up IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sui-dhaaga-maker-sharat-katariya-my-characters-come-from-personal-experiences-68737.html Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/irrfan-khans-son-babil-pens-moving-note-68738.html Mumbai Sep 28 Babil Khan elder son of late actor Irrfan Khan has penned an emotional note for his father and said that he would give every cell in his presence to remember his skin Babil took to Instagram and shared a motley of pictures of his father Irrfan and him working behind the camera He wrote Im working Baba You pushed through demons up in your feelings no one gets it no Id give every cell in my presence to remember your skin My spinal chord will rotate and my soul can implode in a search to feel you close I wish I would have known how it feels to end so I can begin Why are you surprised Its the job of the Politician to choose to lie and when Im bleeding I know sleep is just death being shy I pray for you our farmers in our selfillusiveness we thought we were better I hope we can surrender I hope we find a way I miss you India No political comments please this is not a political expression Babil and his mother Sutapa Sikdar keep sharing memories of Irrfan on social media The actor passed away in Mumbai on April 29 this year Irrfan was still under treatment when he returned to acting with Angrezi Medium a followup to his 2017 hit Hindi Medium Irrfans final film incidentally has also been Bollywoods last release in the theatres for now before the Covid19 pandemic forced a total lockdown of the nation In Angrezi Medium Irrfan played a small town father willing to go to any extent to fulfil his daughters dream of a foreign education so much so that he lands in a hilarious mess IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/irrfan-khans-son-babil-pens-moving-note-68738.html Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shivamani-on-amitabh-bachchan-singing-his-composition-in-atkan-chatkan-66767.html BY ARUNDHUTI BANERJEE Mumbai Sep 21 Renowned percussionist Shivamani made his debut as a film music director with the recent OTT release Atkan Chatkan and among his glittering lineup of playback singers was screen icon Amitabh Bachchan He says he could only think of Bachchans voice after composing the song Daata shakti de for the film to bring alive the numbers spiritual motivational and inspirational tone I have to mention how the whole song happened and why Mr Bachchan sir We wanted to create a song that goes beyond a religious song and be more of a spiritual motivational inspirational song Especially the crisis that we have been through in the last few months we need music that makes us stand up motivate to fight and not give up Daata shakti de came from that thought the master percussionist told IANS While composing he thought of Amitabh Bachchan because for so many decades even right now at this very moment he is an inspiration for people across the country To try my luck I had a word with him and sent the song to him with a request if he would like to lend his voice he said adding I cannot emphasise enough how lucky I felt that he heard the composition and very happily sung the song for us He is a very good singer I would say I would also like to mention that he did not charge any money It was the same thing with Hariharan anna and Sonu Nigam ji other leading singers who recorded for the film because again they are also some of the greatest talents of the nation But they were so generous with me that they lent their voice because they believed in the song and the story of the film Shivamani noted The song is written by Runaa Rizvii Shivamani who incidentally made her debut as a film lyricist with the number This was my first written song composed by Shivamani and sung by Amitabh Bachchan I could not have asked for more Initially some prominent lyricist was supposed to write the song but since they were occupied and could not accommodate time Shiv ji said why not me recalled Runaa She added Being a singer and coming from a musical family I always had a flair of writing in Hindi and Urdu But I am a vocalist and had never written anything professionally So I wasnt sure However everything fell in place and the song came out right The film is on a 12yearold chai delivery boy named Guddu whose passion is to observe listen and create new sounds Rising beyond his daily mundane life he forms a band with three other street children The film featured child pianist Lydian Nadhaswaram who is also a protege of music maestro AR Rahman who has presented the film Asked about his reunion with Rahman for the film Shivamani replied Rahman is my brother what do you mean by reuniting We are always exchanging ideas and have never lost touch Yes the intention behind the film was to celebrate dreams Most web series and shows online are very toxic in nature He was very happy to watch the film and that is why decided to present the film Rahman met me when he was 10 years old and I am just a couple of years elder to him In a way we have grown up as friends together He is family Atkan Chatkan streams on Zee5 Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shivamani-on-amitabh-bachchan-singing-his-composition-in-atkan-chatkan-66767.html Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-dont-ask-actors-about-things-not-related-to-them-66563.html BY DURGA CHAKRAVARTY New Delhi Sep 20 Bollywood celebrities are asked for their opinions on just about everything these days National Awardwinning actor Manoj Bajpayee notes How is it possible to give a satisfactory answer on something he is not related to or wellversed about he wonders If you say we are only actors on Twitter you troll us by saying that since we are actors you want our opinions on things that we are not so good about Yes we are only actors and to talk about economy to talk about something I dont have an idea or about the IndoChina border tension How am I supposed to answer and satisfy your questions Manoj told IANS deliberating on the subject of film celebrities having to tackle all sorts of questions these days on media and social media Manoj is back in the limelight rapping a number titled Bambai main ka ba which highlights the plight of migrant workers and he would rather focus on answering questions about his song right now So calling for a byte and harassing actors is something you should not do Let them actors be and let them do their job Pull them up if they are doing anything illegal pull them up if they are taking the citizens or the country for granted or society for granted Ask for an answers but dont ask them something that is not related to them he said But then being an actor comes with baggage isnt it How does Manoj deal with it I am not so much concerned or care about glamour and fan following I concentrate on my job and I just go home I do things with loads of freedom going to the grocery store or stopping at a vegetable vendor I can do it because I really dont care he said I am very much concerned with my growth as an actor and as a human being Rest of the things dont affect me I dont care about other things At times people tell me that Manoj you have a million followers on Twitter you should say thank you Friends let me know if I have reached one million or two million on Instagram and tell me I should thank people I do it the actor added He said that it does not even occur to him that these things are so much important If I am posting something I post it clearly because of professional reasons mostly and some for very personal reasons Otherwise there is no mental or emotional compulsion to be on Instagram Twitter or Facebook at all Manoj summed up Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-dont-ask-actors-about-things-not-related-to-them-66563.html Sun, 20 Sep 2020 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/payal-ghosh-anurag-kashyap-got-naked-in-front-of-me-66672.html BY SUGANDHA RAWAL New Delhi Sep 20 Actress Payal Ghosh has claimed that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap tried to molest her once recalling an incident when he got naked in front of her and tried to get intimate with her In an interview to IANS the upcoming Bollywood actress opened up about the incident that she says happened in 2014 adding that it continues to haunt her I was molested by a very famous director The director told me that girls he works with have a gala time with him The circumstances created at that moment were very embarrassing Payal told IANS Asked to name of the director the actress said It was Anurag Kashyap who tried to molest me in 2014 On why she stayed silent for so many years and was opening up only now Payal said I tried to open up about it several times but my family and close friends asked me to be silent to avoid any problem in the future I wanted to talk about it but I was silenced We should talk about it so that people like him dont abuse their position of power Recalling the incident Payal said First I went to meet him in his office at Yari Road He was talking to somebody else and asked me to sit in front of him He was busy talking to somebody else and thats why I left Next day he called me asking me not to wear anything glamourous that would suggest that I am an actress He said wear something simple So I went to meet him in salwar kameez He cooked for me and picked my plates as well I left after sometime but he messaged again asking me to come I refused since it was late He even enquired about who lives with me Payal added After two or three days she says she met Kashyap again when the alleged incident took place He called me over to his home and I went I sat while he smoked After sometime he took me to another room where there were many shoes of his then wife Kalki Koechlin He showed me her shoes and said my wife has gone to the US She is angry with me I used to cook for her too but dont cook anymore She is angry with me Payal continued Anurag also said that girls were ready to sleep with him just to do one film with Ranbir Kapoor At that time he was working on Bombay Velvet Payal recalled Anurag started playing an adult film at that point I got scared at that moment That room had many cassettes books and a sofa It seemed like a library After that he suddenly got naked in front me and asked me to remove my clothes to which I said Sir I am not comfortable Payal claimed The actress continued He said all the actresses I have worked with are ready to come to me at just one call Again I said that I am not comfortable After some time I said Sir I am really feeling uncomfortable and unwell and just escaped from the place I didnt meet him ever after that incident He asked me to meet him after that incident also but I didnt meet him That incident haunts me till date she added sharing that Anurag was not even divorced at that point of time Anurag and Kalki were married from 2011 to 2015 They officially got divorced in 2015 after announcing their separation in 2013 Imagine someone removing ones clothes in front of you all of a sudden I was very young at that moment I didnt know what to do When I shared it with my friends they asked me to file a police complaint but I avoided Payal stated Why didnt she speak up when the MeToo movement gathered momentum in India a while back My family my brother manager and other people from the industry  all of them asked me to stay quiet if I wanted a career in this industry Your career will get ruined no one will work with you were some of the things they said to me the actress replied On why she had chosen this point of time to come out Payal claimed Because it is very important to speak up about these issues and truth should come forward Payal Ghosh made her feature debut in the 2009 Telugu film Prayanam and has been seen in the 2010 Kannada film Varshadhaare besides the 2011 Telugu releases Oosaravelli and Mr Rascal She also had a role in the 2008 British TV film Sharpes Peril starring Sean Bean Her only Bollywood release till date is Sanjay Chhels 2017 romcom Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi featuring the late Rishi Kapoor Paresh Rawal Vir Das Prem Chopra and Shilpa Shinde Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/payal-ghosh-anurag-kashyap-got-naked-in-front-of-me-66672.html Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ellie-goulding-it-takes-a-lot-of-work-to-be-a-star-65749.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Sep 17 Ellie Goulding is a globally popular singer who won two BRIT Awards and has been nominated for Grammy and Golden Globe awards in the past The road to stardom has not been easy for the singer who admits not always having a huge amount of confidence I think I wanted to be a singer when I was 14 I dont really remember much from then I think I was always singing always playing the guitar writing music and imagining myself performing But I didnt have huge amount of confidence so that was something I had to build and work on It wasnt like I was born just to be a star It takes a lot of work on yourself to eventually get used to that kind of attention and spotlight Ellie told IANS in an interview Looking back at her musical journey which professionally began with the release of her debut album Lights 10 years ago she shared I really cherish writing music for no one but myself and not feeling any obligation to please anyone In a sense I was a poor student but I was also making music that I really loved that I was very passionate about You know you can get lost a little bit along the way and I think its kind of a journey where every single thing is amplified especially when you end up being in the public eye everything becomes a bit stranger You are trying to be a performing artiste but also a writer Everything is just made that bit bigger and so it has definitely been a testing journey where I have had to find a balance between being humble and having confidence Its been a very colourful and magical journey but I feel I have come out of it really feeling grateful for the experiences for my fans and just to be able to do what I love I have a lot of gratitude for that added the Love me like you do hitmaker She is now back with a new album Brightest Blue This is her first album in five years after 2015s Delirium After the last album I spent a good three years touring and doing shows around the world My third album did well and I was really occupied with that By the time I was done with the tour I was ready to take rest she said I think we forget that an album comes with a cycle I spent a few years touring with that and I did some collaborations which took up some time I had moved to New York and lived a bit and realised that I didnt have a life other than touring and embraced it I embraced being in one place shared the British singer On the personal front she married Caspar Jopling last year My husband studies at Oxford University so I was able to move out there and spend so much time in nature did so much walking I got to run on the road because there were no cars it was very liberating The pollution seemed to have disappeared for a while she shared She was back on stage in August She performed at Londons iconic Victoria and Albert Museum but with no audience owing to Covid concerns Talking about her first show of 2020 she said I was excited Weirdly I didnt show any nerves I suppose part of being nervous is having an audience Theres something about the energy of other people in the room Her fans were not physically there to sing along and cheer for her but they got to enjoy it as her show was livestreamed It didnt feel like a challenge I just enjoyed it I dont want that to be the new normal but I think it will have to be like that for a while Now that we have done it once its possible to do it over and over again Hopefully I will have an audience back at some point she said Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalian iansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ellie-goulding-it-takes-a-lot-of-work-to-be-a-star-65749.html Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/selena-gomez-is-someone-i-look-up-to-trevor-daniel-63923.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Sep 9 Young American singer Trevor Daniel recently sang a duet with pop star Selena Gomez with Grammy winner Finneas contributing as a songwriter Trevor now hopes to join singer Camila Cabello on a tour Trevor released Past life on March 6 2020 and followed it up with an official remix with Selena While creating the song I initially felt Selena would sound really great on it so the idea of having her on the record was there I am really happy and blessed to have her a part of it Trevor told IANS He shared that what makes the song special is what the song stands for which is letting go of toxic things and growing as an individual And Selena really related to it he claims Selena had mentioned that she resonated with the record and really related to it said the Falling singer Trevor also learned from Selena personally I have been able to observe how shes navigated her career thus far She is someone I look up to and am happy to have worked together he said Past life has another star attached to it It has been cowritten by Finneas Working with Finneas was an amazing experience One thing that I remember is not being able to hit a certain note in the studio and Finneas telling me that I could do it to keep going That moment really helped motivate me and after I hit the note it made me realise that I should never doubt myself recalled Trevor Going beyond music studios the artiste was supposed to join Havana hitmaker Camila Cabello on a tour this year The tour from what I am aware has been postponed but with the pandemic it is hard to tell for how long I am still hopeful that it will be sooner than later he said Amidst the pandemic he misses performing on stage and being able to connect with fans in person But I am happy to have the virtual gigs and give my fans a way to experience a show during the pandemic Especially with no clear timeline when shows will be a thing again he said Till then he hopes everyone is staying safe and positive throughout these challenging times and he looks forward to being able to see you all when this pandemic allows us to As for his lockdown life it has been a challenge But I have continued to remain positive throughout and work on new music I also like to make clothes and write poetry but most of the time the poetry just ends up as music said Trevor There is definitely a lot of great music coming together and I am excited for everyone to hear whats to come he concluded Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalian iansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/selena-gomez-is-someone-i-look-up-to-trevor-daniel-63923.html Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/radhika-apte-we-have-supported-nepotism-as-a-society-63377.html New Delhi Sep 7 Actress Radhika Apte feels the nepotism conversation is complicated and not just related to the film industry I dont want to be a part of this discussion really Radhika told IANS when asked about the ongoing nepotism discussion adding It is not just about the insider and the outsider It is a larger discussion There is not one answer to it As a society we have supported nepotism a lot and its not just the film industry In order to change everything we all need to change how we look at it she added Talking about how difficult it is to make a name in Bollywood the actress said I think its difficult for both the insider and the outsider to be successful Success is not just about being born into a family It is a complicated answer I dont think its easy to answer that Earlier in an interview to IANS Radhika shared that she does not want to get stuck in something convenient or be satisfied and she is not chasing fame Im not here for fame I do like the perks sometimes but I dont take success and failure seriously Radhika told IANS Radhika entered the industry with a small role in the 2005 release Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi and went on to do films like Shor In The City Kabali Phobia Badlapur and the short film Ahalya The actress is credited for breaking the stereotypical image of the Bollywood heroine with her roles in Phobia Badlapur Manjhi The Mountain Man Lust Stories Sacred Games Pad Man and Ghoul IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/radhika-apte-we-have-supported-nepotism-as-a-society-63377.html Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/piyush-mishra-theres-a-lot-of-dadagiri-in-bollywood-62571.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Sep 4 I am a bigger star than you You didnt stand up when I walked in You didnt seek my blessings These are some of the emotions that rule Bollywood says actor Piyush Mishra who feels the industry is more about bullying than nepotism I dont think there is nepotism If there was it didnt hinder my growth It didnt come in between me and any of my work neither did it bring any problem in any of my agreements Piyush told IANS Until and unless I did something foolish nothing or no one tried to hinder my work There have been one or two instances when I suffered because I didnt read the contract properly That was because of my lack of knowledge Otherwise wherever I am today it is because of my work and people have also accepted me he added Mishra a National School of Drama NSD product continued I dont think there is nepotism or at least I dont know about it Theres dadagiri bullying in the industry Dadagiri bahut hai theres too much of dadagiri That I am a bigger star tumne humara ashirwad nahi liya you didnt seek my blessing you didnt stand when I entered these type of things exist he added When it comes to nepotism the actor feels every father wants to give a good career to his child Who doesnt want to give his kid a flourishing career But a lot of time people have a misunderstanding that hum star hai toh humara beta bhi star hoga I am a star so my kid will also be a star That doesnt happen said Mishra who is seen in SonyLIVs new original series JL50 My father was a clerk It is not necessary that if parents are artistes their children will also be artistes One should not burden kids with such expectations and I dont think it is right to give a readymade career to a kid Dhoop mein tapna chahiye one should be roasted in the sun They should struggle to know how their parents reached the heights of stardom Many artistes who get this type of stardom from their parents regret in the future but by then it is too late They end up being aadhe adhure incomplete stars said the accomplished actor In Bollywood Mishra is known for his performances in films like Maqbool Gangs Of Wasseypur Pink and as a lyricist in Black Friday Gulaal and Aaja Nachle Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/piyush-mishra-theres-a-lot-of-dadagiri-in-bollywood-62571.html Fri, 04 Sep 2020 08:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ram-kapoor-if-youre-not-emotionally-tough-this-is-a-tough-industry-62040.html Mumbai Sep 2 Actor Ram Kapoor has seen his share of ups and downs in the entertainment industry having worked in TV films and the OTT space He says one has to be emotionally tough to survive here and luck plays an important part to get success Kapoor who is noted for his film roles in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi Golmaal Returns Udaan and Thappad among numerous others has forayed the digital space in recent times with the web series Abhay 2 and A Suitable Boy It was such a treat to work with director Mira Nair in A Suitable Boy because the story is set in a different era and I play a politician It is a well written multilayered character and it was a nice reunion Kapoor told IANS He had earlier worked with Nair in her 2001 film Monsoon Wedding While the conversation around the dark side of Bollywood and how mental health is affected by competition in the industry Kapoor said that one has to find stability within After the initial struggle I went through I managed to make a name for myself in the television industry Then it was my conscious decision to make a shift from quality to quantity Today when I say that work is fun for me and I look for challenging and engaging characters in the kind of web series I do I say that with a certain amount of emotional and financial stability I have earned it from television for more than 10 years he said In our industry the ups the success the fandom is extreme but when the downfall happens it is really dark If you are not emotionally tough it will be tough for you to survive the dark period before you see the light he shared During the lockdown period several television actors committed suicide including Preksha Mehta Manmeet Grewal Anupama Pathak and Sameer Sharma The untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput who also started his journey from television with the show Pavitra Rishta was initially suspected to be a case of suicide by the Mumbai Police However the case is now under investigation by the CBI Although hard work plays an important role Kapoor emphasises on the luck factor too I am lucky to get the right opportunity at the right time to prove my talent Honestly speaking there are many actors I know who are talented They are no less talented than I am but probably they did not get the kind of opportunity they deserve or did not get the appreciation from the audience the way I got he said I think it is pure luck and that is where my heart is filled with gratitude Having said that I would say whenever there is a down it is only wise to stay hopeful and not give up Who knows the good time is just on the way coming towards you to change your life for a greater good I am eternally hopeful Ram signed off IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ram-kapoor-if-youre-not-emotionally-tough-this-is-a-tough-industry-62040.html Wed, 02 Sep 2020 13:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/singer-baiju-mangeshkar-as-child-i-never-felt-lata-aunty-is-star-62067.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Sep 2 Singercomposer Baiju Mangeshkar who is the nephew of legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle says being born and brought up in the Mangeshkar family naturally gave him a musical inclination and also instilled a sense of discipline As a child I never felt that Lata aunty is a star because at home she was really that simple whether she was talking or singing It is her second nature to be in sur tune besura kya hota hai humein pata hi nahin tha we didnt know what it means to be out of tune Baiju told IANS He added Of course about their stardom and how they are adored by the world were things we got to know when we travelled with them on international tours Sangeet music sur tune art everything is practiced in our household in a manner that it has become second nature for us since childhood We started understanding how difficult it is to hit the correct note as vocalists when we started learning music formally By then we had a sense of sur in us He opened up on the best learning he imbibed growing up in the household of the first family of musicians There is a different kind of humility discipline and worship of music that I have seen while growing up If you know Lata aunty and Asha aunty you must be knowing how with every song they recall the music composer the lyricists along with others We talk about giving credits to musicians and writers today but they have been doing it every time by mentioning their names That is how in a way they inculcated the habit of giving credit to artistes Also I would say that Lata aunty and Asha aunty are very emotional about music said Baiju who is the son of noted musician Hridaynath Mangeshkar who is the brother of Lata and Asha Baiju who got a huge exposure to the world of music and travelled with his aunts since childhood recalled one of the first stage shows As you know our formal training in music started from a tender age In a US tour with Lata aunty I remember singing as one of the children in the chorus of Aai mere wataan ke logon It was not about me singing but watching from a corner of the stage how the whole audience was thrilled by Lata auntis magnetic voice I think Asha aunty and Lata aunty are really the chosen ones by the Almighty because when they sing sitting in front of you you feel the energy the aura Baiju who recently released his new album Within You recorded his first song at the age of 10 In 2014 he released his Sufi album Ya Rabba with Lata Mangeshkar Admitting it is tough to choose his favourite songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle Baiju said For Lata aunty it has to be Allah tero naam and Lag ja gaale When it comes to Asha aunty there are few Marathi songs she sang for my father and those are very close to my heart In Hindi I cannot really choose one I think agar main ek gaane ka naam loon toh doosra gana naraaz ho jayega if I name one song another would be upset All the songs by Pancham RD Burman uncle Also a very old song of Asha aunty Jaane kya haal Actually they and their songs are so close to my heart that I really cannot choose Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/singer-baiju-mangeshkar-as-child-i-never-felt-lata-aunty-is-star-62067.html Wed, 02 Sep 2020 15:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/taiwanese-pop-star-eric-chou-on-performing-amid-10-000-fans-in-pandemic-era-61461.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Aug 31 Mandopop star Eric Chou recently put up a concert with an over10000 audience in the midst of the pandemic in Taiwan the first artiste to do so He is set to hit the stage again next month as the world gradually adjusts to the new normal in the pandemic era Being the first is very exciting for us Of course its not easy to do To be the first a lot of preparation was necessary Its a must for everyone to wear a mask to enter the concert for hands to be sanitised To purchase a ticket you have to use your own name your ID number and phone number Eric who had performed on August 8 and 9 at the Taipei Arena told IANS He continued We prepared masks for over 10000 people so they had one in hand even if they forget to bring it to wear during the concert ensuring that it was a safe environment to be in We hold our audience accountable for the concert Its actually one of the most difficult concerts to pull off but we did it thankfully The concert was an amazing experience for him It was one of the most special concerts I think I will ever experience just 10000 people wearing masks Not seeing their faces but hearing them screaming and singing your songs Thats pretty special he shared He will be back on the stage on September 5 and 6 this time at the Kaohsiung Arena Taiwan Doing a concert is something I look forward to the most being a singer Its something that I share with the audience Nothing else in the world can compare The direct response of people enjoying your singing comes in a split second you can hear you can feel and just know if theyre enjoying it or not For me of course Im nervous But I feel more excitement than nervousness Im very happy said the young singer who primarily performs in Mandarin Eric has built an impressive fanbase in India too The nation ranks at number 13 worldwide in terms of his Instagram following Asked if he has any plans of holding concerts in other cities or countries Eric said As of now we do not have any plans to do any other cities Taipei and Kaohsiung are two of the biggest in Taiwan so were very lucky to be able to do these concerts Eric has released several music videos including one for the English track In the works as well as a collaboration with Mandopop star GEM titled Dont force it Earlier this year he had released his album When We Were Young He has continued to write more new music However he intends to take a break from releasing new songs for now Were letting my fans digest this new album because theres 20 songs to listen to We also shot 1314 music videos so theres been plenty I think At the same time Ive had more time to think about what music I want to put out in my next album and the kind of message I want to tell my fans said Eric Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/taiwanese-pop-star-eric-chou-on-performing-amid-10-000-fans-in-pandemic-era-61461.html Mon, 31 Aug 2020 10:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/prakash-jha-changing-others-opinions-by-scaring-them-is-wrong-61021.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Aug 28 National Awardwinning filmmaker Prakash Jha feels the social media space has become toxic because people are not using their freedom of expression responsibly Rather they are doing so randomly He feels forcing opinions and victimising people who are on the other side of the debate is wrong Jha is currently gearing up for public reaction to his new web series Aashram which premieres on Friday The show could ruffle a few feathers what with Bobby Deol as the protagonist essays a corrupt godman I think most people these days use their freedom of expression not with responsibility rather randomly There is nothing wrong with protesting or rejecting But if someone has an opinion let them have their opinion too You can disagree and say I do not agree with you thank you and move on But to make sure that you are changing others opinions by scaring them is wrong Jha told IANS In fact that is why I am not on social media whether it is Twitter or Facebook I also want to add that news these days is manufactured and retold with a point of view That has become very difficult to digest These days people do not mind hurting others and that is wrong he added Does he have an apprehension that his web series Aashram could raise problems given its religion backdrop That is precisely the reason I am talking to the media I am telling a story through the web show I am practicing my freedom of expression responsibly and not defaming religion Rather I am telling a story of those who are defaming religion he said Aashram features Bobby with Anupriya Goenka Aaditi Pohankar Chandan Roy Sanyal and Darshan Kumaar among others and drops on MX Player Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/prakash-jha-changing-others-opinions-by-scaring-them-is-wrong-61021.html Sat, 29 Aug 2020 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kapil-sharma-feels-incomplete-to-shoot-my-show-without-live-audience-60473.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi Aug 27 Comedianactor Kapil Sharma feels comedy can help people forget about their problems for a while and so he says there should more shows in the genre right now His comedy show The Kapil Sharma Show has been regaling fans since 2016 and Kapil feels when it comes to comedies its more the merrier We get so many messages and posts from people saying if they were stressed watching the show helped them overcome certain situations or they just felt relieved and forgot about their problems for a while I think comedy has that effect on people Kapil told IANS After a long and tiresome day all one wants is to forget about whatever that has happened even though its for a little while and relax So yes more comedy shows should be on air he added Like others he was also at home during the lockdown but he did learn one thing The biggest lesson that I have learnt in life is that nothing is constant Therefore one shouldnt take anything for granted There will always be good and bad times in life But the bad times always teach something important and help us sail through he shared He has resumed work now and he feels absolutely great to come back on the set with all my coactors and the crew There is so much positive energy I see broad smiles on peoples faces there is motivation to do so much more said Kapil He also got a new look Since we were all starting afresh I thought why not change my look as well A cleanshaven look is a classic style As an entertainer just like I keep experimenting with the portrayal of different characters on the show I like experimenting with my look as well said Kapil who has now let go of his beard Unlike fiction shows his project involves the audience too Now there is no live audience They have been replaced by cardboard cutouts For all these years that I have been working the audience has played a huge role in my success Whenever I perform I get a reaction and that helps me build on it further Since we cant host audience on set due to the pandemic you will see cardboard cutouts of audience reactions now It does feel incomplete to shoot without an audience however Archana Puran ji makes up for it she and her laughter are equal to 100 people on set he quipped Technology has helped him to engage with people without their actual presence People can now get in touch with us and express their interest and we will be more than happy to video call them Not just them we can interact with their whole family through this call he shared There are other safety measures too taken by the team on set From sanitisation to temperature checks and people working in PPE suits we are taking all preventive measures in our capacity while shooting Personally we are all very careful and conscious Our display of affection has also changed Now we consciously maintain a distance and greet each other with a namaste We shoot with a limited number of crew and even our personal staff who accompanies us on the set is minimum We have a hand sanitiser readily available on the stage for guests But it gets used by Archana ji more often than not he quipped Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kapil-sharma-feels-incomplete-to-shoot-my-show-without-live-audience-60473.html Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shabana-azmi-indianness-is-inclusiveness-59950.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai Aug 24 Veteran actress Shabana Azmi shuns the hardliner stance that music and art is prohibited in Islam She cites the example of greats such as late shehnai legend Ustad Bismillah Khan and late sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan to underline her point that true art is created when it is kept away from religious extremism She notes that the very essence of Indianness is inclusiveness We have to make redundant the questions that prevent the practice of art and bring religious extremism in between There are people who say music and art is prohibited in Islam but look at how iconic artistes like Ustad Bismillah Khan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and so many other artistes have earned respect and success with their art and craft because they have made that question redundant thanks to their artistic excellence If we want to build a progressive society we have to get rid of such questions said Shabana Shabana Azmis thought process defines the theme of the film Mee Raqsam which released digitally this weekend The actress has presented the film which marks the directorial debut of her brother veteran cinematographer Baba Azmi The film is about a Muslim girl who desires to become a bharatnatyam dancer but hardliners in her community react with intolerance to her dream and try to curtail her efforts because they have a problem with the fact that the dance form originates in Hindu mythology Baba Azmi and actor Danish Husain who plays a central role in the film agree with Shabanas viewpoint that the pursuit of a particular art can never be judged by ones religious identity or the origin of the art itself Said Danish If the origin of bharatnatyam lies in Hindu mythology it is but obvious that the influences in the art form will come from Hindu gods and goddesses The qawwali for instance is a form of music that emerged from Sufi tradition and Amir Khusrau so it will have Islamic influences Now see how extremely talented Dhruv Sangari is as a qawwali singer But qawwali doesnt come from Hindu mythology That does not mean that one can question why Dhruv sings the qawwali That is the barrier we have to break Anyone who is interested in an art form can learn and practice it irrespective of the origin of the art form Director Baba Azmi added Art is a part of culture Religion is a different topic You are born into a religion If you find any art form fascinating and are interested to learn it it is your choice How does it matter which art form originated from which religion If a youngster who is a Muslim finds bharatnatyam as a beautiful dance form and wishes to learn it why should religion and society stop her Art is different from religion art itself is a religion The Zee5 release features Danish Husain with Aditi Subedi Sudeepta Singh Rakesh Chaturvedi Om Kaustubh Shukla Juhaina Ahsan and Shivangi Gautam With Naseeruddin Shah in a special role Indianness is inclusiveness That inclusiveness makes us celebrate our diversity We are like a bouquet of flowers with different fragrances but when these come together they spread the beautiful fragrances Shabana signed off IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shabana-azmi-indianness-is-inclusiveness-59950.html Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gordon-ramsay-i-would-love-to-open-my-restaurant-in-india-58921.html By Simran Sethi New Delhi Aug 19 Renowned chef Gordon Ramsay loves India and its diverse culture and he says he would like to open a restaurant here one day There are very few countries in the world that have such unique diverse flavours from north to south and then east to west Every state every region in India has its own speciality in food I have been coming to India for so many years and every time I explore something new Its the love of local people that compels me to visit the country again and again I really want to open my restaurant for the Indian people in India Ramsay told IANS The Michelinstar chef was in Coorg one of the most serene hill stations in South India shooting for the second season of National Geographics Gordon Ramsay Uncharted before Covid19 paralysed the world He had cooked famous pandi curry for local women in Coorg He also shot portions of the show in Kerala The south is all about spices and it felt amazing to smell the fragrances of those masalas It was an incredible experience visiting India this time I shot with local female cooks Trust me they are far far better than me In fact I was surprised to see how they were not sweating while cooking in such hot climate he shared Ramsay also emphasised on the need of introducing subjects related to food and cooking in schools I wake up every day and I think about sustainability I think about seasonal cooking and I think about the healthy aspects being a father of five I think about diabetes in terms of making sure that we have the correct sugar levels with children growing up I think about the educational part of food how much confidence it gives to youngsters Every time its not about getting an A star in English or an Aplus in French Sometimes things like cooking can also give confidence when youre young It is as important as learning English or math he said Looking after yourself and your eating habits is important Cooking should be an example in many schools for boosting students confidence and making them understand how to look after their wellbeing Thats welfare And this is a big agenda for me this year to encourage more people to cook and talk and have the best conversations with your loved ones around the table Ramsay added Simran Sethi can be contacted at Simransiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gordon-ramsay-i-would-love-to-open-my-restaurant-in-india-58921.html Wed, 19 Aug 2020 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aasif-mandvi-my-parents-were-disappointed-that-their-son-was-good-at-being-a-clown-57990.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi Aug 14 Indianorigin American actor Aasif Mandvi played out various stereotypes while exploring a career in Hollywood because he had just two options grab the opportunity or starve Now the IndianAmercian star is happy that these things are being challenged and says that people have started seeing the economic and financial viability of telling stories that do not revolve only around white people Early in my career I think there was a lot of that stereotypical notions attached to people of colour and it continues in some respects even today But we are at a point in history where a lot of these things are being challenged A lot of ideas of who gets to tell what stories and what stories matter are now being questioned I think were also seeing the economic and financial viability of telling stories of people who are not just white Aasif told IANS in an interview The heroes dont always have to be white men When I was coming up in the business there were a lot of stereotypes a lot of playing what I like to call the patankiing which is like the way the westerners hear the Indian accent which is like patank patank patank patank And a lot of people asking us to do that and sort of play with those stereotypes I find that less now The culture has changed Hollywood has changed somewhat We still need a South Asian superhero and that will be the culmination he shared and joked When that happens then Ill have nothing to bitch about Born in Mumbai Aasif moved to England and then shifted to Florida when he was 16 to settle down with his family He has played a range of roles in film such as The Proposal Ghost Town The Internship Todays Special and SpiderMan 2 and has gone on to carve a way onto the small screen with shows such as The Brink Halal In The Family The Daily Show and Evil Looking back at his career he said Ive just always been doing my work Ive done television movies and theatre My Indian parents were incredibly disappointed to realise that the only thing their son was good at was being a clown and sort of just being a ham acting and performing writing poetry which nobody reads But that was always just part of my DNA What I was doing as a child I continued to do as an adult and so I just kept going on I was lucky enough to study and go to school for this and then get work and there was no alternative for me So it was like either I play the bus driver or the cab driver or whatever stereotypical role there was or I starve in the early days thats kind of what it was for me added the comedian and writer Mention that his parents must be proud of him today he said I think ultimately my parents did come around and were quite excited especially when I got on The Daily Show I think that was a big moment for them I always used to joke with my mother that I was her second favourite Daily Show correspondent Right now Aasif is seen on the small screen as Ben Shakir on the series Evil which airs on Zee Cafe The psychological mystery examines the origins of evil along the dividing line between science and religion Talking about his character Aasif said My character is a true pragmatist He only believes in the things that he can see smell taste and touch He doesnt believe in any kind of religious mumbo jumbo he doesnt believe in anything that is outside of the realm of what he cant prove Hes also very handy and can fix things So hes very different than I am But theres an element of being a counter voice to the status quo that I liked about him and that I really related to and sort of found fun Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aasif-mandvi-my-parents-were-disappointed-that-their-son-was-good-at-being-a-clown-57990.html Fri, 14 Aug 2020 23:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vaani-kapoor-i-am-happy-doing-what-i-like-and-what-i-want-54062.html Mumbai July 28 Actress Vaani Kapoor says she does not carry the baggage of being the most relevant in Bollywood If I was carrying the baggage of wanting to be the most relevant in the industry I wouldnt make the choices that I did Vaani told IANS The actress made her Bollywood debut in 2013 with a sliceoflife portrayal as a smalltown girl in Shuddh Desi Romance that won her acclaim and then switched on the uberglam mode in Befikre 2016 and War 2019 I am happy doing what I like and what I want These are my decisions and I am happy that I got to choose and make these calls for myself she said Vaani currently has two films in her kitty Shamshera and Bell Bottom Shamshera costarring Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt is a dacoit drama set in the 1800s The film casts Vaani as a dancer Bell Bottom is a thriller set in the 1980s and stars Akshay Kumar The film also features Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vaani-kapoor-i-am-happy-doing-what-i-like-and-what-i-want-54062.html Tue, 28 Jul 2020 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/katy-perry-push-myself-into-thinking-in-a-different-way-53095.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi July 24 Singer Katy Perry likes to push the darkest moments of her life and channel her emotions into upbeat songs The pop superstar who has gained global fame with hits including Firework Roar and Dark horse has always been candid about her constant struggle with darkness and how she overcomes it Asked how she manages to push herself to write upbeat songs when she is down Perry said Actually I think its kind of like my higher self or my better self from my spirit side kind of just takes the wheel and says scoot over Im gonna start channeling a little inspiring message for you from the heavens and hopefully it will inspire you to continue further and therefore maybe inspire someone else When I write songs like Firework and Roar its not because Im like Yay it is like Im really bummed and I just have to push myself into thinking in a different way And through that push I usually get something kind of special she added and joked There is a lot of pushing in my life and a lot more pushing coming up Amid the pandemic and the quarantine Perry is looking forward to giving birth to her first child with fiance actor Orlando Bloom She is keeping a positive outlook throughout something that can be sensed through her posts on her social media handles Yeah it is good and I am happy and my body feels good she said when asked about her pregnancy during a special virtual press event held before her firstever performance at the Tomorrowland Around The World The Digital Festival this weekend She says a happy state of mind means she can give a great performance Asked if it will be her last performance before she gives birth she said I actually think it is possible The digital edition of the festival uses the technology of 3D design video production and special effects to bring the music gala alive virtually which will be available to Indians through BookMyShow The lineup includes Alan Walker Adam Beyer Amelie Lens Armin van Buuren Charlotte de Witte David Guetta Dimitri Vegas Like Mike Kolsch Lost Frequencies Martin Garrix Paul Kalkbrenner Steve Aoki Tale of Us and Tiesto Perry is excited about her debut performance here I thought it was so innovative and so resilient of a festival to say okay we are just going to pivot and we are going to bring something really technically advanced and difficult but we are going to create something beautiful out of this mess So I really admire and respect how the festival went and did it And basically some of my other pop friends have done the festival and I felt really in sync with the roaster of all I am happy to be invited and included in this kind of new way of doing it she said The 35yearold continued I have been doing so many things because I have a record coming out in August I have been doing so many things remotely and I have the capability and even though I am like an extra 40 pounds I am still dancing around and still bringing that kind of sparkle in life and finding joy So I was just happy to be called Perry also known for her songs such as I kissed a girl Swish swish and Bon appetit has prepared a special set for the performance and says it is not going to be just the original versions I think its really important to know your audience and I definitely made a setlist based on that Theres going to be my new song Smile and a little bit of my new song Daisies So its not going to be just the kind of original versions said the 35yearold Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/katy-perry-push-myself-into-thinking-in-a-different-way-53095.html Fri, 24 Jul 2020 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/british-magician-dynamo-recalls-meeting-shah-rukh-khan-51654.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai July 18 British magician Steven Frayne popularly known as Dynamo for his magic show Dynamo Magician Impossible is all set to release his new television series titled Dynamo Beyond Belief on Saturday night In conversation the magician shares why he cannot wait to return to India and explore the country that always fascinates him The magician visited India during the filming of one of the episodes of Dynamo Magician Impossible and went to Varanasi Recalling that trip Dynamo told IANS Your country is so fascinating next time when I come to India I would like to go on an exploration to know more about its history and culture I went to Varanasi and that was such an incredible backdrop There was definitely magic in the air that I cannot put into words That city is so vibrant so beautiful I definitely left India with a connection that I built with nowhere else in the world I wanted to be back in India I have a lot of magic to show The last time I was here was for only 48 hours You know every time I am in India something incredible happens I end up spending most of my evenings with SRK Shah Rukh Khan I am a little starstruck I wont lie to you he is such a huge figure Yet he was so chilled it was quite a humbling experience to meet him I did not expect so much but I ended up showing magic to him It was an incredible experience really he added In fact back in 2018 after his India trip Dynamo had tweeted on March 1 Great trip to India and a real pleasure to meet the legendary iamsrk hopefully be back soon Has he watched any of Shah Rukh Khans film I have watched a little bit of his films Actually my fatherinlaw loves watching Bollywood films So I watch with him and also recognise all the big actors by face smiled Dynamo The new show Dynamo Beyond Belief releasing on Saturday on History TV18 channel and takes the viewers across the globe to places like Tokyo Chiba Dubai Moscow Mexico City San Miguel de Allende London and Los Angeles In one of the episodes of the series Dynamo performs a spinetingling encounter with a Geisha in one of Tokyos royal tea rooms In another he makes vodka shots turn to ice in the heart of Moscows underworld The show reveals how the magician recovered from a lifethreatening illness Yes it took that much time for me to put everything in place I went through hardship but hey I did not allow my illness to hold me back My passion was driving me constantly and I am here in front of you Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/british-magician-dynamo-recalls-meeting-shah-rukh-khan-51654.html Sun, 19 Jul 2020 02:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kiara-advani-have-good-maternal-instincts-51459.html Mumbai July 17 Actress Kiara Advani believes she has good maternal instincts and says she feels happy in the company of children I have changed diapers and I have done everything that I could have I believe I have a good maternal instinct I feel children are so honest I just feel so happy in their company because they are so oblivious to everything and they are so pure Kiara said Opening up about her filmy background Kiara said I have never met Saeed Jaffrey and I wasnaÂt even aware that I was related to Ashok Kumar When I joined the film industry was when I heard a lot about him I do hope they have some kind of genetic influence on me because of the relation I have with them Talking about her recent hits blockbusters including Kabir Singh and Good Newwz she said I really got lucky having got these two different films with extremely different roles The tough part is to balance and manage to make each film as exciting I simply have to work hard and leave the rest to the audience and God On her performance and role in Lust Stories Kiara said When Karan Johar called me for Lust Stories I decided that I have to do this because I thought that I am getting such a huge opportunity to work and be directed by him She had a special message for some of her costars For Shahid Kapoor she said He shouldnt think too much and for Akshay Kumar she said He needs no advice infact he needs to give me a lot of advice Her full name is Kiara Alia Advani she changed it before entering Bollywood There was already another superstar Alia before I entered and she was well established but I wanted my own identity and wanted to avoid confusion on the name so that is how Kiara came up she said in an episode of Zee Cafes Starry Nights GEN Y IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kiara-advani-have-good-maternal-instincts-51459.html Sat, 18 Jul 2020 05:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/arjun-kanungo-not-sure-if-im-going-to-survive-in-music-industry-for-next-3-years-51210.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi July 17 Arjun Kanungo is one of the most successful nonfilm singers right now It took him a few years to get noticed but he says there is no survival trick and despite all the success he is unsure if he is going to survive in the music industry for the next three years or not Arjun has been in the music industry for over a decade but it was the 2015 song Baaki baatein peene baad Shots that changed his fortunes The song became a party essential He followed it up with many romantic numbers peppy tracks and more It wasnt easy for him to break into the industry but he believes that its not impossible for outsiders to make it big I came from outside I made it on my own I feel that you have to keep on trying keep working and you need to have a positive attitude about it If you feel like you are not going to make it you are not going to make it You have to keep trying and one day somebody will give you a shot and you have to be ready So you have to keep working towards that and hope for the best because there is no plan B in this industry For me I wake up in the morning I breathe music Arjun told IANS He said he didnt have anybody creating roadblocks in his career I dont have any enemies as such I feel if you are nice to people they are nice to you As an outsider yes it was hard I worked very hard to be where I am right now I have been in the music industry for a little more than 10 years It took me about five or six years to just get noticed Thats the kind of timeline that you have to come to the industry with like you have to have that passion Okay I want to do this so badly that I am willing to work for five years or seven years to be there There are no shortcuts said the Gallan tipsiyaan singer As for survival he feels there are no tricks to survive in the industry You have to be genuinely deserving to be here You have to love what you do you have to be passionate and humble I am not sure if I am going to survive for the next three years I dont know if I am going to be an artiste who survives Bollywood or the nonfilm world for even three years I dont know whats going to happen tomorrow he said But what he can do is give it his 100 per cent I am going to try to get better every day I hope that people understand this when they enter Bollywood They have to give their 100 per cent said the singer who has sung for Bollywood films like Goa Goa Gone As of now his new song Fursat hai aaj bhi is fast gaining popularity The video of the song features Arjun with actress Sonal Chauhan The two had also featured in his 2016 video Fursat I have always had a special place in my heart for Fursat As a music video it was gamechanging for me and my career I have always wanted to work with Sonal again When I wrote Fursat hai aaj bhi with fursat in the title even though it had nothing to do with the previous song I thought of Sonal and I felt we should work together again especially since the chemistry in the first video was so good I felt this was a good time to work with her again said Arjun Shooting for the music video during lockdown was tough Explaining the process of working on the video he said We shot the video from our own houses during lockdown The director of the video was on call throughout the shoot He was telling us to change the camera angle etc so it was quite interesting to shoot like that You are so used to having a crew someone to do hair and makeup camera and lighting and this time there were no additional people helping us On the last day we shot together me and Sonal That was easier because the director was around He was holding the phone We shot the entire thing on phone During the lockdown many singers released new music Now that people are adjusting to new normal and returning to work gradually is he willing to hit the stage again I cant imagine having a stage show at least till November Our first enquiries are for November and December Who knows when the government is going to allow it I havent received any offer before November he said He is in no rush I dont think its responsible to go and perform right now We dont know how badly coronavirus is going to affect in India Until I know for sure that people coming to my concert are safe I dont think Ill be comfortable in performing said Arjun Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/arjun-kanungo-not-sure-if-im-going-to-survive-in-music-industry-for-next-3-years-51210.html Fri, 17 Jul 2020 07:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rahul-dev-among-first-few-actors-to-resume-filming-after-lockdown-50487.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai July 14 Rahul Dev is among the actors who have hit the sets soon after shooting resumed post lockdown and he is enjoying being back at work Ive been among the first few actors to resume filming and the change has been refreshing After three months of being under lockdown I did miss the sets and facing the camera It was a good feeling to be back at work Rahul told IANS Talking about shooting amid the pandemic and the precautions taken the actor informed A large difference has been the use of face masks keeping safe distancing and meticulous hygiene Apart from that there is insurance for actors technicians and crew members replied the actor Dev has already wrapped up shooting a few portions of his upcoming flick Velapanthi Velapanthi is a comedy in which I play a dangerous yet endearing Haryanvi don Most of my dialogues are in colloquial Haryanvi with some incorrect English words The characters name is Zoravor Singh Milk Wala which in itself is very funny Its a breezy appearance and in the climax adds to the twists and turns The part has been written with a fair amount of liberty informed the actor From playing completely negative characters to roles with a funny twist does he enjoy the change The actor replied Change is always refreshing whether it was a couple of straightfaced comic situations in Mubarakan where I play the patriarchal head of the family or the series Whos Your Daddy where the characters naiveness lends to the comedy I would like to explore roles that are intense and real I am yet to land something like that he added Rahuls has several big screen as well as web series projects lined up He will be seen in the film Torbaaz alongside Sanjay Dutt the web series Poison 2 where he plays a cop and Nikkhil Advanis forthcoming web series Moghuls among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rahul-dev-among-first-few-actors-to-resume-filming-after-lockdown-50487.html Tue, 14 Jul 2020 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/raftaar-india-has-a-fair-share-of-favouritism-and-nepotism-50262.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi July 13 Popular rapper Raftaar feels muscle and money power are great tools to intimidate those who are fresh in the music business adding that we need to give an equal chance to everyone irrespective of their lineage Remember true power is vested in the hands of the fans Muscle and money power are great tools to intimidate someone who is fresh in the business but real talent will always shine and the universe will back it Raftaar told IANS while talking about the ongoing debate around the disbalance of power in the music industry and place for outsiders in the industry We need to stop this whole insideroutsider debate We need to start looking at talent for what it really is and give an equal chance to everyone irrespective of their lineage Yes unlike the West India has a fair share of favouritism and nepotism and we must eradicate the problem from its roots added the rapper known for rapping in foottapping numbers like All black Swag mera desi and Toh dishoom He continued The biggest takeaway from this whole conversation is for established artistes to learn to give back what they have learned to the community at large Everyone is enjoying the money they are making and are living luxuriously but its important to be humble when you climb higher in life and help others also climb with you Thats the real weapon to fight nepotism and favouritism The day we stop judging artistes by their social media stature or the time when musicians bag awards and projects on the strength of their talent or when the whole community stands together as one against injustice that day the whole system of favouritism will crumble This generation of artistes are savvy about their own potential rights and commercial worth So the whole movement of nepotism and favouritism has somewhere found an audience whereas in the past it was brushed under the carpet he added Raftaar whose real name is Dilin Nair hopes this conversation doesnt remain a TRP garnering debate and PR stunt for a few If a movement starts it needs to be pursued at a grassroot level for real change to occur It cant be headline news for a month and then forgotten as we have always seen with most movements We need to stop the blame game Perpetrators need to rectify their fault and the victimised need to forgive said the rapper who has given his musical touch to films likes Bullet Raja Fugly Dangal and Andhadhun and is currently seen on MTV Roadies Revolution as a gang leader Talking about his Roadies experience he said The entire journey has been a roller coaster ride bundled with so many memories to cherish year on year This show also gives me a chance to bond with Neha Dhupia Rannvijay Singha Nikhil Chinappa and Prince Narula and they all are great stressbusters Were a family now and its always a delight to be with your family and create memories Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/raftaar-india-has-a-fair-share-of-favouritism-and-nepotism-50262.html Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amit-trivedi-i-am-out-of-the-box-by-all-means-50312.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai July 13 Bollywood composer Amit Trivedi says he cannot stop experimenting with music Perhaps that has become his signature sound It would seem like a trademark for the young National Award winner going by his work in DevD Udaan No One Killed Jessica Bombay Velvet or Manmarziyaan When I compose a song for a film I am supposed to follow the script the given situation the character on which the song is to be picturised and the demand of the director So I have a limitation At the same time it is because of the same conditions that I find a way to show my originality Perhaps that is what you guys are calling my signature has been created unknowingly It is not a conscious effort to make my signature it is quite instinctive Amit told IANS As a music composer Amit says he is influenced by RD Burman Jaidev SD Burman AR Rahman ShankarEhsanLoy and Ilaiyaraja Asked about the best way to stay relevant with time in music Amit said There is no formula to stay relevant with time as a musician because in every six months or a year the sound of music is changing We get to hear a new sound in every six months So one cannot go by a set formula But the way to keep at it is to stay updated with the global sounds and experimenting in own composition You see my listening habit reflects in my composed songs Is it tougher to establish a new sound than add to the trend It depends on individuals I would rather struggle to establish a sound that allows me to experiment and also somehow I am out of the box by all means At least when I am creating a sound through experimentation I am satisfied Once I am satisfied with my creation I am confident of my work Once the song releases you realise that it is a new sound replied Amit Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/amit-trivedi-i-am-out-of-the-box-by-all-means-50312.html Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shilpa-shetty-there-is-no-free-lunch-in-the-world-49948.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi July 12 She has been in the Hindi industry for almost 27 years Actressentrepreneur Shilpa Shetty Kundra agrees that stardom does not come easy and that one needs to put in efforts to be successful There is no free lunch in the world so one has to put in effort to achieve success in any sphere There are pros and cons but in my case the pros outweigh the cons so it is enough reason to rejoice Shilpa told IANS Shilpa made her Bollywood debut in the 1993 Shah Rukh Khanstarrer Baazigar Since then she has been a part of the cast in many bigticket films including Main Khiladi Tu Anari Dhadkan Indian Garv Pride And Honour Apne and Dus Her performances in Phir Milenge and Life In A Metro have been particularly applauded Over the past 27 years how does she look at the evolution of roles for women in Bollywood It is a great time for actors and cinema as the medium is evolving and so are the audiences There has been a welcome change and it is an opportune time to experiment she replied Shilpa 45 has even tried television In 2007 she became won Celebrity Big Brother in the UK She was then seen hosting season two of Bigg Boss The actress also judged reality shows like Zara Nachke Dikha Nach Baliye and Super Dancer What else does Shilpa aspire to do There is So much to do and achieve Times have changed experience is a good teacher and makes actors better I am looking forward to people seeing a new and better side to my talent after this sabbatical My approach to cinema is also different she said Comedy is one thing she wants to try more I enjoy watching comedy so would love to do more of that she pointed out Shilpa married businessman Raj Kundra in 2002 The two welcomed their son Viaan in 2012 They had a second child daughter Samisha in 2020 via surrogacy She shared the key to her happy and successful marriage We have just learned to accept and let each other be We want to grow in this relationship not grow out of it We try to do things that make us happy because if we cant be happy we cant keep each other happy Weve learnt to agree even in disagreements Shilpa said Shilpa said that the bedrock of her relationship is faith and friendship We prioritise family Thats what keeps us going she stated Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shilpa-shetty-there-is-no-free-lunch-in-the-world-49948.html Sun, 12 Jul 2020 11:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anubhav-sinha-entire-discussion-after-sushants-suicide-agenda-driven-48546.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi July 7 Anubhav Sinha finds all the clamour around Sushant Singh Rajputs suicide ridiculous The filmmaker says the everyday drama is disturbing adding he suspects some politics has gotten into the conversation which started after the news of the young actors death Sushants demise sparked off discussions around a lot of things from nepotism to the ruthless ways of Bollywoods power camps to the culture of blind items What is going on is ridiculous I would allow that young boy to rest He must have been really disturbed in his head restless and not at peace at all I think we should just let him be for some time Sinha told IANS while discussing how a blamegame started after Sushants death Its not easy to take your own life and especially when youre doing rather well We need to keep quiet but a lot has been spoken about and I suspect there is some politics that has gotten into it and thats not good for anybody not for the boy at all he added The filmmaker feels one needs to be sensitive towards Sushants family They need to think about him and his family Every day there is some drama or the other which is disturbing I didnt know him I never met him but I am disturbed He was just 34 I made my first film at 36 and he was younger than that I personally think that this entire discussion is pretty agenda driven and that is the reason why I dont want to participate in it he added On June 14 Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra residence by his domestic help which left the industry and his fans shocked He was reportedly battling depression over the past few months and undergoing treatment Toxic culture of Bollywood and imbalance of power are two things that have been highlighted after his demise Sinha admits that there is imbalance of power in Bollywood but it is not something new In any era there have been more powerful people than the rest and I am not only talking about Bollywood So that is not something new It is the order of the world that some people have more power than the rest which according to me is not fine but that is how the world is noted the filmmaker He added Most businesses are so ruthless Its about me having the larger market share me having a better number of stock exchanges Our business is such that it deals with human beings So every product is a human being it could be a director an actor or a DOP So while we are a business we are very vulnerable human beings We should be kind to each other and we should be mindful of each other our insecurities and each others happiness There is a place for everyone to be happy he concluded on a hopeful note Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anubhav-sinha-entire-discussion-after-sushants-suicide-agenda-driven-48546.html Tue, 07 Jul 2020 07:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chris-hemsworth-im-as-vulnerable-as-anybody-else-46715.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 29 Hollywoods Thor Chris Hemsworth is as vulnerable as anybody else and grapples with uncertainties just like everyone The actor says he looks at vulnerability as an access point for the audience and feels they make the character more relatable Im as vulnerable as anybody else Hemsworth told IANS when asked about tapping into vulnerabilities for a character You know anything involving children children being in jeopardy or if their safety is threatened having children myself its certainly easier to sort of draw upon the visceral nature of what that the circumstances would evoke in you he added Picking his recent digital film Extraction as an example he continued We shot this movie in India Bangladesh and Thailand I didnt have my family with me so having that distance I was certainly missing them more than usual And so to sort of tap into those emotions was a little more accessible You know we all have the same uncertainties Some people are better at hiding them than others But I think vulnerability is an access point for an audience and it shows that you are human It shows that there are qualities that hopefully people can relate to and uncertainties and questions with which people can identify with and that was what was so wonderful about the script of Extraction that was laid out in front of us and there for us to dive into After steering projects like Home And Away and JJ Abrams Star Trek Hemsworth scored his big break in 2011 with the film Thor as the Norse God of Thunder Thor embarking on the journey of becoming one of the biggest and bankable movie stars in the world This year Hemsworth made his digital debut as an actor with Extraction In Sam Hargraves Extraction Hemsworth is seen as a fearless black market mercenary Tyler Rake who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord Talking about the working experience on the Netflix film he said It was just such an incredibly wonderfully collaborative experience It was the first time that I was working with the streaming platform They have really carved out a space for this type of film that you may not be able to put on the consumer during this sort of time in cinema history We were able to make a sort of a real throwback to the classic action films where you are not relying on special effects and visual effects It is all in camera It was a pretty exhausting but wonderfully collaborative incredible experience he summed up the experience Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/chris-hemsworth-im-as-vulnerable-as-anybody-else-46715.html Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-hope-ott-does-not-go-the-way-theatre-owners-producers-have-gone-46275.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai June 27 The digital is an unbiased and democratic platform where the audience does not discriminate between big and small banner But it should remain this way and not go the way theatre owners and conventional producers have taken cinema to feels Manoj Bajpayee I have been screaming it from the rooftop for so many years that the box office does not define the quality or merit of cinema but now small films have started losing their relevance in the industry and for the producer Because everything which makes 100 crore and above is a good film and small films dont get attention We have started losing The whole independent film movement has only gone down in the last few years because we have stopped getting mentorship from the producers distributors and exhibitors I just hope the OTT platform keeps that avenue open and does not go the way the theatre owners and conventional producers have gone Manoj Bajpayee told IANS Manoj Bajpayees latest movie Bhonsle has just had an OTT release on Sony LIV The actor feels OTT is the ideal platform for a small film like this It is fantastic for a film like Bhonsle A small film like this would not have so many eyeballs and reach in the theatres as much as it will get on an OTT platform So OTT release is a blessing in disguise for Bhonsle even though we had initially planned to release it in the theatres in April Because of the lockdown the plan got cancelled shared the actor Talking about his character in the film the actor revealed My character Ganpat Bhonsle is a recluse cut off from social activity and interaction He does not like it and prefers to remain undisturbed He is not happy with the way the word is functioning society is functioning He has a deep anger within The film deals with the real problem faced by migrants in Mumbai which is very relevant in the present times Commenting on the same the actor said The conflict between migrants and locals is an age old one now it is peaking globally It has come right on the forefront so much so that you cannot even ignore it Also during the lockdown the sight that we got to see of migrants leaving the city was quite heartwrenching Somewhere it has shown that migrants losing respect and having no trust in the urban society having completely been disappointed chose to walk thousands of kilometers The problem is universal Now that the lockdown is gradually opening up and shooting is all set to resume how difficult will it be to shoot while maintaining social distancing I dont know We are still wondering I am going to speak to all the people I work with I dont know how we will manage But I guess this is the new normal that we have to get used to What will be the procedure what will be the protocol what will be the dos and donts on the set these will be decided Yes it is not going to be so easy but the industry will surely find its way concluded the actor IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/manoj-bajpayee-hope-ott-does-not-go-the-way-theatre-owners-producers-have-gone-46275.html Sun, 28 Jun 2020 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/reggae-star-conkarah-i-have-an-arsenal-of-rhythmic-beats-45629.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 25 Reggae star Conkarah whose song Banana with Jamaican reggae sensation Shaggy has been trending for a while doesnt plan to slow down He says he has an arsenal of beats that he is ready to release to the world to generate good vibrations Over the years he has given hits like Dont kill my love Dont go and Heavy He doesnt feel the pressure to create one chartbuster after another Music is so passionately my life I believe when youre in alignment with who you are and the medium in which you are set to create in this life the creation element is limitless I have an arsenal of rhythmic beats that I am ready to release to the world to generate endless good vibrations he told IANS Talking about his recent hit Banana Conkarah who was born as Nicholas Anson Murray said I was traveling in Medellin Colombia at the time when I wrote Banana The moment I finished the final lyrics to the song I got goosebumps I just knew in that exact moment this was it The 2019 track being aired on Vh1 India also has Shaggys vocals It was an amazing experience to work with a foundation Jamaican artiste Shaggy has been around for a couple decades and has a plethora of experience in the music industry where I was able to observe how he interacts with an audience and create captive stage presence he said The two gave their own touch to Harry Belafontes 1956 hit Banana boat DayO Jamaica is my foundation to who I am as an artiste Tapping into the Caribbean essence of this track was easy what we accomplished was adding a modern spice and flavour to this amazing piece of music he shared Conkarah is also known for his unique covers of hit singles like Havana and Perfect As an emerging music artiste I found inspiration in so many of these spectacularly talented voices expressing their truths through different genres he said about giving a new twist to hit songs by others I felt an opportunity to have reggae music and these diverse cultures infuse to a hybrid demonstrating what I am abundantly proud of he added Moving forward he shared that his music career may not always be about reggae but will always have its roots in the Caribbean Islands Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/reggae-star-conkarah-i-have-an-arsenal-of-rhythmic-beats-45629.html Fri, 26 Jun 2020 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vardhan-puri-on-granddad-amrish-puri-we-were-best-friends-44721.html Mumbai June 22 Budding actor Vardhan Puri has shared some of his fondest memories of his late grandfather actor Amrish Puri on the latters birth anniversary on June 22 Amrish Puri was born on June 22 1932 and he gave many memorable performances in Bollywood including arthouse films such as Nishant Manthan and Bhumika as well as commercial hits such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Karan Arjun and Nayak The Real Hero He is best remembered for his role as Mogambo in Mr India He made an international mark playing Mola Ram in Steven Spielbergs Indian Jones And The Temple Of Doom long before it became fashionable for Bollywood stars to foray Hollywood For Vardhan of course he was more than an accomplished actor We were best friends before being anything else When he was around I did not need anybody else He was so gentle with all the children We used to bond over classic cinema Discovery channel and cartoons He really was a gentle giant and the most loving man I have ever come across Vardhan told IANS He was kind compassionate and so full of love for anyone and everyone He had an amazing sense of humour and women and children felt very secure in his company We have never heard him raising his voice or getting angry like he would do in films It is still so difficult for me to separate the grandfather from the actor and superstar that he still is We all miss him terribly he added Vardhan calls him a master of his craft He had devised his technique and it worked so brilliantly for him That is why he is the most versatile actor of all times said the youngster about Amrish who had acted in Hollywood films such as Gandhi and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Vardhan considers Bade Raja Thakur of the 1997 film Virasat as the best Amrish Puri character It is So believable so real so palpable so emotionally correct so dual and so magnetic Every time I watch the film I cannot help but cry Amrish Puri died on January 12 2005 at the age of 72 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vardhan-puri-on-granddad-amrish-puri-we-were-best-friends-44721.html Mon, 22 Jun 2020 05:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/its-not-entirely-right-natkhat-director-on-blaming-films-for-misogyny-44300.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi June 20 Hindi films have often been blamed for spreading misogyny and toxic masculinity a recent example being Kabir Singh Director Shaan Vyas whose new short film Natkhat revolves around the concept of gender inequality and patriarchy says its not entirely right to blame only movies for spreading negativity Its not entirely right to blame only films because belief systems are not formed in isolation But as filmmakers we need to acknowledge that the misogyny and machismo that we celebrate in our films do make an impression on young minds and we need to take responsibility for that Vyas told IANS He added Moreover films and what we show in films also reflect society somewhere so it is not just an influence but also a mirror at times Vyass latest release Natkhat was made together by a genderequal crew with names like Vidya Balan child actress Sanika Patel and writer Annukampa Harsh in its cast and crew Films today are focussing in telling tales with female actors in the lead unlike in the past when Bollywood usually ran high on masculinity It is important and it highlights the change happening in society Traditionally the reason our films ran high on masculinity was that our ticketpaying audiences were predominantly male and spectacledriven Increasingly the audience now wants better stories more substance and less spectacle I think the shift is due to that he said Natkhat revolves around a mother educating her son about gender equality The film is coproduced by Vidya Balan along with Ronnie Screwvala How can toxic masculinity be handled and does he think movies can help Any form of change will always take time The starting point for any change is generating conversations around issues and making people acknowledge their own biases and mistakes Films and stories help us see our inherent behaviours and talk about them he said Talking about how the idea of making a film like Natkhat come up Vyas shared that in 2018 there was a spate of cases of female oppression and one such case triggered his thought process on many levels and led him to the pursuit of causes and remedies for this problem When I explored the causes of any kind of violence and abuse I realised that a large part of it stems from a superiority in the belief system from a perception of power inequality When I looked at the remedies available none of them were preventive and each of them addressed postabuse measures The topic sprang from this he told IANS It was a burst of anger that led Vyas to explore and eventually come up with a very skeletal draft of the story which he tags as a germ of an idea But what I had written was a story about masculinity written by a man It was incomplete and impulsive Annukampa Harsh my cocreator cowriter creative producer casting director and acting coach then came on board and transformed it She got the empathy and compassion into the script and imbued it with a life and a heartbeat Vyas recalled He credits Harsh for getting the feminine energy into the film and its making Natkhat is 33 minutes long In India our short film average between 15 to 25 minutes and so we were very apprehensive when our film timed at 33 mins But eventually if a film hooks you time does not seem to matter He added As firsttime filmmakers we obviously had a lot to say and we tried cramming it all into 33 minutes but with the conscious knowledge that maybe all of it wont be comprehensible It also helped that there is a story within the story for audiences to follow and hold their attention Natkhat gives out a strong message regarding gender equality The film premiered on YouTube as part of the We Are One A Global Film Festival on June 2 Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/its-not-entirely-right-natkhat-director-on-blaming-films-for-misogyny-44300.html Sat, 20 Jun 2020 15:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gulshan-devaiah-i-wish-favouritism-did-not-exist-44225.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 20 Actor Gulshan Devaiah feels there is a lot of misplaced anger among people following the passing of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and says it is time to introspect and not play blame games or find what pushed him to take his life We should take this opportunity to think rather than point fingers because there are a lot of conspiracy theories There is a lot of anger that is misplaced If you ask me the anger is misplaced Gulshan told IANS One needs to mourn Actors such as myself need to think about how we play the game whether its worth it or not whether we have the endurance and whether we have the chops whether we can deal with our disappointments Sometimes you work hard for years and years and years and nothing really happens It has happened before and will happen again What do you do then People will judge you They will say good things to your face and vice versa What do you do What are you made of Is it worth it Will you go on or give up We need to figure that out We need to find these answers and not what killed Sushant He has gone he added Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra residence on Sunday morning by his domestic help which left the industry and his fans shocked He was reportedly battling depression over the past few months and undergoing treatment The suicide sparked off a conversation around the toxic culture of Bollywood and Gulshan feels one needs to talk about favouritism more than nepotism People say nepotism Nepotism is about family lineage when you inherit something from your family Lets call it favouritism The producer is making the movie with his money and not using taxpayers money so people cannot say we paid so we want you to make this kind of film only and we want to do it by merit No because it is a private enterprise said the actor who has appeared in films like Shaitan Goliyon Ki Raasleela RamLeela Hunterrr A Death In The Gunj and Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota He continued You cant ask for merit when you cant measure merit How do you measure it Everybodys got to have an opinion Sushants fans will think that Sushant deserved more Rajkummar Raos fans will think he deserves more My fans will think I deserve more This is endless This cant be measured Asked about the change he wants to see in Bollywood he said People can be a little less judgmental and nicer to each other People can stop blaming each other I think there is an unreasonable expectation of meritocracy Performance cannot be measured Its very subjective Theres a little bit of the tendency in our industry to say that so and so is more deserving but I feel its not because you cannot really measure it But yes I wish they were more reasonable with welding their power and wish favouritism didnt exist Gulshan understands that a lot of people are feeling very guilty Its very nice Its heartwarming that people feel that way But its not their fault I dont know why somebody takes their life If they leave a note then maybe there is some indication as to why they do that Otherwise we dont know So no need to feel very guilty We can all be very nice to each other added the actor whose film Commando 3 will air on June 21 on pictures Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/gulshan-devaiah-i-wish-favouritism-did-not-exist-44225.html Sat, 20 Jun 2020 09:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sushmita-sen-talking-about-mental-health-very-important-43635.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 18 Depression is a reality says Sushmita Sen adding that the tragic passing of actor Sushant Singh Rajput nudged her to start a conversation around the importance of talking about mental health something she was intending to do for long Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra residence on Sunday morning by his domestic help which left Bollywood and his fans shocked He was reportedly battling depression over the past few months and undergoing treatment Sushmita feels what Sushant and so many other young people are trying to tell us is that we have to take responsibility for our own things before we start blaming other people The truth is that after hearing about Sushant Sushants sad news came at a time when everytime we pick up the newspaper this is happening around the world to young people Sushmita told IANS when asked about the Instagram post she made soon after the news of Sushant committing suicide surfaced It has been happening a lot to people from all walks of life When I started the YouTube channel one of the comments that kept up coming repeatedly and it was very spooky was everyone kept asking me to speak about mental health This is before Sushants news And I kept on thinking okay I will do something Ill do a Vlog I will talk about it because it is very important and I know more than anybody else as much as any other person who has experienced clinical or otherwise selfinduced depression that it is real added the actress who is making her comeback with the upcoming web series Aarya The former beauty queen continued And somehow because of all this going on I never got to do the Vlog And when I heard Sushants news I just started typing like a mad person like I just could not resist saying it out because every time I delay this  Its not good because it might help somebody somewhere So thats why it was written In her strongworded message Sushmita asked her fans and viewers to never quit in life to keep fighting till the end and to always seek help when in need She put the post with an image reading out Protect your peace Sushants demise has once again put spotlight on mental health and on the importance of expressing ones emotions Sushmita says when something tragic happens we are very quick to blame somebody because it is so painful that we want to blame somebody very quickly But I think what Sushant and so many other young people are trying to tell us is that we have to take responsibility for our own things before we start blaming other people because that blame is what has gotten them to such extremesTaking such extreme measures Everyone gets tired of it We already have so much of bickering about smallest of things it would be wonderful for people to just say mein kya alag kar sakti hun What can I do not that woh kya alag kar sakta hai what heshe can do usne kyun nahi kiya why didnt heshe do it In the whole blame game nobody actually ends up helping anybody added the mother of two On the work front she is looking forward to the release of Aarya which delves into how organised crime and betrayal run deep in a family It is about how her protagonist Aarya is pulled into the narcotics business when her family is threatened The series will release on June 19 on Disney Hotstar VIP Directed by Neerja fame filmmaker Ram Madhvani Aarya is an official adaptation of the popular Dutch crime drama Penoza The show is written by Sandeep Srivastav and Anu Singh Choudhary and also features Namit Das Jayant Kripalani Sohaila Kapoor Sugandha Garg Vishwajeet Pradhan and Manish Chaudhary Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sushmita-sen-talking-about-mental-health-very-important-43635.html Thu, 18 Jun 2020 07:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ila-arun-corporates-should-come-out-to-support-folk-artistes-42803.html Mumbai June 14 Actressfolk singer Ila Arun who has seen many ups and downs in her journey as an artiste since 1979 says that the live entertainment business and folk artistes will be badly affected post COVI19 as social distancing becomes a part of our lifestyle The artiste urges corporate companies to come out in support of artistes I have been performing live on stage as a folk artiste as well as a theatre actor for ages It is true that live performing art has faced several threats in social and cultural changes but we have survived I still have other mediums but there are folk artistes who are only earning from live performance In the future when social gatherings will not be as easy to organise as it used to be corporate companies should come forward and support live artistes We cannot put everything on the government Ila told IANS Since this is a very unique situation people will be scared to gather as a crowd as we know that the virus can kill us Under this situation all live artistes need more support said Ila who recently acted in the Nawazuddin Siddiquistarrer film Ghoomketu Ila not only acts on stage but has also been an established folk singer who has also recorded songs for films notably Choli ke peeche Morni baaga ma bole and Ringa ringa among others The fact is we artistes give our life to art We cannot change our profession overnight The artiste community will also not go out and ask for money but I think after a point people will step out from virtual concerts and we will again sing songs on the stage she added Bas tab tak humein support chahiye aur koi bhi kalakar dil nahi harein till then we need support and no artiste should lose hope We inspire people to live life we must not give up on life said Ila IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ila-arun-corporates-should-come-out-to-support-folk-artistes-42803.html Mon, 15 Jun 2020 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/toilet-ek-prem-katha-writers-directorial-debut-affected-by-lockdown-42247.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 12 Toilet Ek Prem Katha writers SiddharthGarima had announced their directorial debut Dukaan in October last year but with the COVID19 lockdown they are looking at many hurdles in the way The process of working on their film has become slower due to the expected pile up that would be caused by the lockdown The dates have to be renegotiated with and subsequently the future steps Siddharth Singh told IANS and shared that they intend to shoot the film this year provided the situation gets better Luckily they hadnt begun shooting for the film before the lockdown came into effect in March The film was in the casting stage The casting is a process thats still on and we cant reveal any names as of now But yes casting has been difficult Apart from the fact that we are debut directors its also a debut concept Since we dont really have a reference point its been a difficult path he said For their first film as directors they have picked the subject of commercial surrogacy A screenwriters life is similar to that of a surrogate mothers When you hand out a shoot draft to a director you become the surrogate mother The theme resonated with us So we set out for a research to the heart of surrogacy in India Anand in Gujarat The research the reality the nuance the misconception about surrogacy was mindboggling Its our ode to everyone who creates something original and the importance of a simple thing called credit for it Also commercial surrogacy as a subject has never been explored in Indian cinema The novelty drew us to the subject said Garima Wahal For them its a natural progression to turn directors We feel a directors job apart from handling managing and directing the cast and the crew is to execute shoot the written word in a manner which translates it to the audience A screenwriter of any kind is the first visionary on the film He understands every character the movement the motifs of the thought Hence we thought direction would enable us to show the vision behind the idea in the best possible manner and in a manner that we feel would strike a chord with the audience said Garima Apart from this movie the writers also lyricists have other projects lined up Our next is Jersey with Shahid Kapoor and director Gowtam Tinnanuri We have written the dialogues of the film Then theres a crossover project with a Los Angelesbased production house which is almost ready to go on the floors Another film with Akshay Kumar sir is in the scripting stage As far as lyrics go we are very Also a little idealistic as we dont really write lyrics for remixes which is the trend We write lyrics for our own screenplays and for entire albums like Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas said Siddharth Meanwhile the lockdown has given the duo ample time to create more stories that they want to tell We also plan to soon start a content hub a production house that would be driven by ideas and content said Garima Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/toilet-ek-prem-katha-writers-directorial-debut-affected-by-lockdown-42247.html Sat, 13 Jun 2020 04:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/axone-comes-at-right-time-says-director-amidst-corona-attacks-on-northeasterners-42301.html Duesseldorf Pole vaulter Karsten Dilla of Germany competes during a Flight Night event at a drivein cinema due to the coronavirus pandemic orders in Duesseldorf Germany Friday evening June 12 2020 Fans were able to follow the athletes from their cars and watch the action on a big screen when all sport events in stadiums had to start behind closed doors without spectators PTI By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 13 Many people from the Northeast have faced racist slurs in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and director Nicholas Kharkongor feels that his film Axone has released at the right time because as it will help educate people about the lives of northeasterners The film is about a group of friends mostly from the Northeast who get together to prepare a special dish called axone While the movie captures the endeavours of cooking the dish in a typical South Delhi neighbourhood it highlights the issue of racism in a humorous vein Asked if its a good time to release the film when people from the Northeast are being called corona Nicholas told IANS I think it is With the corona thing going on now is a great time to have a film like this Hopefully to educate them more on the lives of the Northeast people In his film which has many actors from the Northeast a dish plays the hero Talking about how he decided to give such an important role to food he shared When we people of the Northeast start cooking in a big city it happens to all of us Some sort of incident plays out when we start cooking so it wasnt difficult to think of that as the starting point The idea was to be able to tell the story of Northeast peoples experience of living in a big city Whether it is fermented fish or soya beans there is something or the other we always get into trouble for when we cook So I thought that was a fun thing to do Let me start from that and then build a story around that he added about the film that stars Sayani Gupta Lin Laishram Rohan Joshi Lanuakum Ao Tenzin Dalha Asenla Jamir Dolly Ahluwalia and Vinay Pathak The director who hails from Shillong has addressed racism with a humorous vein in his film and theres a reason for that People have done it in the past too You make it lighthearted for the subjects that are dark Theres a reason for that because you dont want to deal every serious issue in a serious way You can also deal a serious issue in a lighthearted way That in its own way can throw light on the subject and people can speak about it With any social issue the point is to be able to talk about it he said If you can achieve that through comedy then why not Also I chose comedy because if I had made a very serious film If it is a very dark film about somebody from the Northeast who goes through something terrible its not going to get a huge audience Then whats the point One of his main objectives is to show this film to as many people as possible in the city That way they can see what it is like to live with a Northeasterner in a big city and hopefully to be able to reflect on their own behaviour in their interaction with Northeasterners said the filmmaker who now stays in Mumbai He has touched upon many incidents of racism faced by the people of the region in different parts of the country I was very affected by what happened to Nido Tania from Arunachal Pradesh One of the characters is drawn from what had happened to him said Nicholas about Nido who had died of lung and brain injuries from a racist attack inflicted upon him in Delhi in 2014 I didnt mention Nido directly because it is not a documentary Otherwise it would have been a very dark film So in the film you see all these incidents of racism he said Axone which had premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and had made its India debut at the Mumbai Film Festival MAMI last year is now available on Netflix Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/axone-comes-at-right-time-says-director-amidst-corona-attacks-on-northeasterners-42301.html Sat, 13 Jun 2020 10:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/big-b-each-film-project-is-a-challenge-42224.html Mumbai June 12 For Amitabh Bachchan each project comes with its own challenges and his latest Gulabo Sitabo was no less Each film project is a challenge for those that agree to work on it GiBoSiBo the short name by which the film is being promoted was no less Amitabh told IANS while talking about the biggest challenges he faced while working on the Shoojit film Yes there was the prosthetic makeup routine each day for four to five hours and its discomfort the posture of the old Mirza his character in the film the extraneous weather of the summer of May But if you wish to call yourself a professional then it all comes with the territory and you damn well accept and enjoy it he added In Gulabo Sitabo scripted by Juhi Chaturvedi the actor plays Mirza landlord of an old dilapidated haveli in the heart of Lucknow named Fatima Mahal while Ayushmann Khurrana is his shrewd tenant Baankey Their situation is akin to that of Tom and Jerry with witty banter adding to the quirk factor of the script Big B says working on the film was a delightful experience The takeaway Lucknow the city the people an absolute delight to work in and with he pointed out The film produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar premiered worldwide on Amazon Prime Video IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/big-b-each-film-project-is-a-challenge-42224.html Sat, 13 Jun 2020 01:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/thor-success-was-a-major-win-kenneth-branagh-41655.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 11 Actorfilmmaker Kenneth Branagh started off directing the Thor franchise with the first film in 2011 introducing actor Chris Hemsworth as Hollywoods God of Thunder The fivetime Oscar nominated filmmaker holds the success of the film close to his heart and says it was a major win that a surfer dude riding on a rainbow bridge in space wasnt laughed out of the cinema By rainbow bridge Branagh means Bifrost the mythical bridge that connects Asgard to other realms Over the years the story of a superhero from the intergalactic realm has spawned a success tale for itself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a fourth part Thor Love And Thunder in the pipeline and a spinoff series on Loki in the works I remember when we did Thor it was like a major win that it wasnt trashed and the surfer dude riding on a rainbow bridge in space wasnt laughed out of the cinema Branagh told IANS in an interview while talking about his approach of adapting existing material And then you know across the next two three and soon to be four movies theres a chance to sort of play with peoples expectations So I guess its important to start at the source and start simple he added Before Thor 4 of course Branagh is ready with his new digital release Artemis Fowl the film interpretation of Irish childrens author Eoin Colfers written work Eoin has developed the character over eight books I think by the time he gets to the end something that doesnt seem to be there at the beginning of the first book occurs And we tried to do this in this film which is to unfreeze his Bond sort of a villain He becomes more human and more humane during the course of the books he said while explaining the premise of the book The director continued In our film we wanted to try and have some sort of journey But it was an origin story it reminded me of the same kind of challenge we had when we were presenting Thor for the first time which was trying to introduce to a world to cinema goers perhaps who dont know these books at all a new character with whom they could initially identify which is why we make Artemis in the film at the beginning of the movie a little more ordinary For the fantastical film the 59yearold also took some cues from Francis Ford Coppolas 1972 classic The Godfather We decided to take the origin story model and in my mind like in The Godfather Michael Corleone is invited to take over the family business He doesnt know whether he is going to be getting any good at killing people And by the end he certainly is So that was our little arc for Artemis Fowl he said Artemis Fowl promises to take the audience on a fantastical adventure into the magical world of fairies dwarves and centaurs It narrates the story of a 12yearold genius Artemis Fowl a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds as he goes on a mission to save his father who has been kidnapped Branagh is credited for translating several works of literature into cinematic gems from Shakespearean classics to superhero comicbooks to Agatha Christie whodunit to fantasy stories His filmography is filled with criticallyacclaimed projects including Henry V Much Ado About Nothing Othello and Hamlet Murder On The Orient Express and Cinderella He asserted that the key in adapting lies in staying simple and patient Having worked in the theatre I grew up believing that your job was to serve the writer So it took a long time for me to even refer to the script as material I use it now and thats when I began to understand that for people in movies it the existing text was often clay It was stuff to be molded Ive been in a few situations where I had my first cut in and studio executives roll their sleeves and say Okay now we can start Some movie executives regard the first cut as a block from which they will now chip and cut away and they will find the statute within My first instinct with all of these things has been literally to go to the source he said Picking Artemis Fowl as an example he continued When I started with the project after 15 years of development and a half a dozen scripts which were all hugely long I asked if Eoin was involved in any of these No one had spoken to Eoin The first thing I did was speak to the author of the books because without it we would not be doing this The starting point was to go back to the original Eoin created a series of bestselling books so he must be doing something right So it was basically to try and find out what that is Branagh feels it is important to avoid overstuffing the story Sometimes especially in the case of the first version its a lot of things to take in So aside from going to the source the next rule is how you can keep it simple How can you find the backbone narrative on which things can hang as a real adornment as opposed to just being more and more You got to be patient with an origin movie I know given how much they cost how patient you can afford to be but just to even get people interested is important I think it is a major phenomenon he added Artemis Fowl stars Ferdia Shaw Lara McDonnell Josh Gad Tamara Smart Nonso Anozie Josh McGuire Nikesh Patel and Adrian Scarborough with Colin Farrell and Judi Dench The movie will release on June 12 on Disney Hotstar Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/thor-success-was-a-major-win-kenneth-branagh-41655.html Thu, 11 Jun 2020 06:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/madhuri-dixit-on-khal-nayak-2-thats-news-to-me-41661.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 11 There has been buzz about a sequel to the hit 1993 film Khal Nayak but the films heroine Madhuri Dixit does not seem to be aware of the reports Khal Nayak features one of Madhuris most famous songs Choli ke peeche kya hai and a lot of her fans have been hoping to see her in its sequel too Asked about the sequel Madhuri told IANS Thats news to me I have no idea It is a surprise for me It depends on the script how they are planning to do where they want to shoot I think we will take things as they come she said when asked if she would like to continue with the films story that revolved around the escape and attempted capture of the criminal Ballu Sanjay Dutt by the cop Ram Jackie Shroff and his girlfriend officer Ganga Madhuri In fact she said she hasnt really given a thought to remakes or sequels of any of the films that she starred in I think its up to others said the actress who has given many hits like Tezaab Dil Saajan Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Dil To Pagal Hai As of now she looks forward to getting back to the studios after a long break due to the coronavirusinduced lockdown After the lockdown I will resume my projects like Dance Deewane and a Netflix project I will be back to the studios she said Last year Madhuri had made her debut as a producer with the Marathi film 15 August She followed it up with a second Marathi production Panchak Will she be taking a break from her duty as a producer due to the pandemic I think the pandemic will dictate whatever we do I dont know when things will open up completely when we can start new projects First we will take care of projects that we are already doing she said Even though she was not shooting for shows or movies in the last three months she kept herself busy with various things including singing She recently released her first song Candle as a singer explaining that Candle is a symbol of hope positivity and faith for her Candle signifies so many things So we talked about candle in the song Now when I look around there is hopelessness and uncertainty I had never thought that we would face something like this she said referring to the pandemic So I thought this was the time when people needed that positivity The feeling that everything is going to be okay If we stay strong we will all come out of this together and stronger she added She has always been interested in singing but it took her a while to do it professionally I was so busy We used to do two to three shifts every day We used to do a lot of films at the same time We used to go from one studio to another Now that I got a little time and it is also close to my heart thats when I actually did it said Madhuri She hopes this is not her last song I would love to sing more but right now I am concentrating on this I am seeing the feedback what people think then we will take it from there she said Lockdown hasnt been just about work for her She also celebrated her birthday You know birthdays sometimes you go out sometimes you have friends over this year its been like pretty quiet which I dont think is bad either It was an intimate thing with mom kids and husband It was fun in a way I didnt really miss anything I enjoyed my birthday this year Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/madhuri-dixit-on-khal-nayak-2-thats-news-to-me-41661.html Thu, 11 Jun 2020 07:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/siddhant-chaturvedi-want-my-audience-to-grow-with-me-share-my-taste-41345.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi June 10 He rose to fame playing rapper MC Sher in Gully Boy and is currently enjoying the success of his debut attempt as a singer Dhoop Actor Siddhant Chaturvedi says his goal was not to establish himself as an established singer but to bring happiness and a feeling of hope among people during the lockdown Siddhants track dropped on June 4 and currently it has over 206414 views on YouTube My goal was not to showcase myself as an established singer My goal was that this is my vibe My taste in music or whatever my taste is as a personality The films I have chosen or the career graph I have chosen So I want the audience to understand me as a person and my taste is whatever I do I want my audience to grow with me and share my taste Everything should be inspiring and contributing into their lives as well Siddhant told IANS He stressed that he wants to make a difference in other peoples lives with his work Thats why I am here and not because I want to be famous a goodlooking guy who made it Those things dont interest me I really like it if people listen to my song and are feeling happy and hopeful he added Siddhant himself penned and sung the number The music was composed and produced by DAWgeek whom he met during an audio session for Bunty Aur Babli 2 The songs purpose is that sitting in home you can do something I am bored a lot of people were having mental issues A lot of them felt low and disconnected Even I did initially because it has just been a year for me that I have been on the run and suddenly everything stops he told IANS The actor said he has not been checking the views for his song because they had no marketing planned for it He was not even sure of releasing the track The actor shared that he did not want to do a rap number as he is not into the genre To be honest I was trying to stay away Coming out of a musical film if I dropped a rap or anything then people would think I am a rapper which is not true It is a skill set acquired in the film I am not into rap The music that I like is John Mayer Ed Sheeran Armaan Malik or Arijit Singh type mellow is my vibe and rap is not I never enjoyed rap he said But he was always very passionate about singing and would keep practicing I was just doing all this thinking that someday I will get a role in a good musical So I might get to sing my own song because I want to do that I was just preparing for that I was consciously trying to stay away from rap because a lot of people who dont know me still think I am a rapper said the actor He recalls how it all started DAWgeek said I am sending you something just hear it Using these fourfive lines he made this cool musical version of this song I just had the first four lines and then I wrote the whole song Then I tried it I have a very basic mic setup at home and even record myself at times But recording the songs came with a lot of challenges Siddhant shared that to cut out the other sounds like the dishes clinking or people talking he set up a curfew at home I had a different curfew set at my home while recording this at home There was a lot of comedy too for half an hour I used to impose a proper curfew at home Thats how I recorded it he recalled describing Dhoop as a zerobudget number involving only three people DAWgeek his father and him Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/siddhant-chaturvedi-want-my-audience-to-grow-with-me-share-my-taste-41345.html Wed, 10 Jun 2020 06:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/josh-gad-we-need-escapism-now-more-than-ever-40898.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 9 Hollywood actor Josh Gads new starrer Artemis Fowl will get a digital premiere instead of a theatrical release amid the Covid19 crisis Although Gad says he is a big fan of the whole moviegoing experience he adds that it should not come at the stake of anyones health The actor feels there is a need for stories through which people can escape the craziness that has come with the pandemic and that is something the digital world is busy doing Well nobody is a bigger fan of the moviegoing experience than me I love sitting in a dark theatre with an audience and going on an emotional roller coaster sharing those laughs sharing those gasps all of it Unfortunately we find ourselves in an unprecedented moment where going to a theatre means potentially risking your health Gad told IANS in an interview And thats not a reality that any of us could have imagined I do know that one day we are all going to be able to go to the cinema again And I cant wait for that day In the interim I not only as somebody who worked very hard to bring this movie to life but also as the father of two kids am beyond grateful that movies like Artemis Fowl are finding a home at peoples home You know now more than ever we need escapism We need entertainment We need a chance to not think about the craziness that we are surrounded by he added The actor continued So knowing that I can sit in my house and watch a movie like this with my kids makes me profoundly grateful and excited because without it we would run out of content pretty quick I think that theres a healthy balance and Im really excited that movies like Artemis Fowl are going to find an audience that wasnt necessarily intended to be the immediate audience but I think will be a grateful audience nevertheless Disneys Artemis Fowl brings alive the world of the book by Eoin Colfer taking the audience on a fantastical adventure into the magical world of fairies dwarves and centaurs It narrates the story of a 12yearold genius Artemis Fowl a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds as he goes on a mission to save his father who has been kidnapped In the movie Gad will be seen as the giant dwarf Mulch Diggums With the movie Gad got to work with actorfilmmaker Kenneth Branagh for the second time which he describes as the highlight of his career Working with Kenneth has been one of the highlights of my lifes career I literally studied Kens work in college when we were studying Shakespeare over the course of two semesters in my sophomore year That process began with watching Kens Henry V and on Hamlet so getting to work with him on two consecutive films was beyond a dream come true said Gad who has made a name in Hollywood as an actor comedian and singer On Murder On The Orient Express I had Ken who was both in front of the camera and behind the camera which obviously is a very different experience than one who is just behind the camera Both films are totally completely different On Orient Express there were so many moving parts and so many different people coming in and out It was a bit more hectic and there was a lot more to get through and so less time to improvise he said The actor popular for voicing the beloved snowman Olaf in megahit Frozen stressed that Artemis Fowl was a completely different ballgame Ken just unleashed me and really let me play every day on set Hes one of the greatest collaborators ever because he himself is an actor and so he understands what an actor needs to be communicated in order to execute a direction that will yield the kind of result that theyre looking for I have worked with him twice now and I would welcome a third chance said the actor Artemis Fowl also stars Ferdia Shaw Lara McDonnell Tamara Smart Nonso Anozie Josh McGuire Nikesh Patel and Adrian Scarborough with Colin Farrell and Judi Dench The movie will release on June 12 on Disney Hotstar Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/josh-gad-we-need-escapism-now-more-than-ever-40898.html Tue, 09 Jun 2020 05:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shaggy-feels-good-to-have-lasted-through-so-many-trends-40909.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 9 Jamaican reggae singer Shaggys music was a party essential in the 90s He is back on top of charts with Banana a collaborative effort with Conkarah He says it feels really good to know that he has lasted so many years and through so many trends Topping music charts isnt new for the Grammy winner who had gained massive success with tracks like It wasnt me Boombastic and Angel But Banana making it to the top spot of TikTok app is special for him Music is music though it feels really good to know that weve lasted so many years and through so many trends and its especially great that were pretty popular within the current trend Shaggy whose real name is Orville Richard Burrell told IANS The 2019 track which is being aired on Vh1 India has become a rage now thanks to the Banana drop challenge From commoners to celebrities including Indian TV star Rashami Desai people have been dropping their sunglasses down to their faces while dancing to the foottapping number There are lot of Indian fans that have taken the challenge and Ive posted many of them Were just really grateful that this song is bringing smiles to so many peoples faces said the singer Australian cricket star David Warner got his family to try out the challenge Shaggy calls the challenge a family affair The singer would definitely take up the challenge with his family too but Im separated from them right now They are in Jamaica and Im in New York With Conkarah he had given a new twist to Harry Belafontes 1956 hit Banana boat DayO In the past too Shaggy had worked on remakes and recreations His first hit in 1993 Oh Carolina is a dancehall remake of the song by the Folkes Brothers His single Girls just wanna have fun featuring rapper Eve samples the 1983 hit song by Cyndi Lauper He said it is easier to do a song that has already been done because having been a hit before it is pretty much proven Then you must add your own feel and vibe to it Sometimes its great to reintroduce the song to a younger generation too as they will go on to discover the previous one I think its really cool but I think its great to write original material also he said Now fans are eagerly waiting for his upcoming album Hot Shot 2020 which is expected to be out on July 10 With this project Shaggy will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his hit album Hot Shot For now he is waiting for things to get back to normal after the coronavirusinduced lockdown Once it gets lifted he said he will really take the time to enjoy nature and all the things that were blessed with that we sometimes take for granted Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shaggy-feels-good-to-have-lasted-through-so-many-trends-40909.html Tue, 09 Jun 2020 06:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kutle-khan-we-will-have-to-adjust-to-new-working-style-post-pandemic-40025.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 7 Rajasthani folk singer Kutle Khan says the music industry has suffered adversely with growing financial losses due to the shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic He feels only time will show how the industry will get back on track in the future The lockdown has given me time and helped me create new music as well as work on improvising and making changes to my previous pieces However during this lockdown our industry has also suffered adversely due to the financial losses Khan told IANS while opening up about his lockdown experience I am making up for lost time due to my busy schedule and travelling I used to hardly get to spend time with my family but now I am focusing completely on them and ensuring that I am around I am also finishing up some pending work as I realised the importance and I think I should finish them given that I have the time he added Its been almost two months since the lockdown was announced bringing the whole entertainment industry to a standstill The COVID19 pandemic not only meant gloomy days for film business and live entertainment gigs but also had a domino effect on the livelihoods of thousands of people associated with showbiz The popular folk singer feels a new era awaits us post the pandemic I dont know how things will turn out post the pandemic I guess we will have to wait and see how things unfold Let time decide the future but we will have to definitely adjust to a new working style according to the new situation he said At the moment he is working on new songs and thinking of ways to incorporate the current scenario into my music Kutle found fame by taking authentic folk music of Rajasthan to international fame courting global recognition The multitalented folk musician is known for collaborating with bands and international artists and has his own The Kutle Khan Project He has shared the stage with leading musicians like Amit Trivedi Kailash Kher Susheela Raman and Midival Punditz Amid the pandemic the artist feels it is important to stay connected with the fans During these tough times where we have to practice social distancing and stay indoors I think it is extremely important to stay connected virtually not only with your friends and family but also with your audience and listeners For an artist his audience is a part of his extended family said the singer who recently performed virtually at WeekendLive by Oaksmith Gold Glasses Talking about the experience he said The experience of performing was wonderful I got a chance to reach out to my audience and stay connected with them during the hard times Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kutle-khan-we-will-have-to-adjust-to-new-working-style-post-pandemic-40025.html Sun, 07 Jun 2020 08:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/yami-gautam-i-would-love-to-maintain-the-streak-of-surprise-39657.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi June 6 Its been an eightyearlong journey for Yami Gautam in the Hindi film industry so far and the actress is hungry to explore more stories and genres She says she wants to keep the streak of surprise going by playing diverse roles Yami made her Bollywood debut in 2012 with the film Vicky Donor She later featured in films like Badlapur Sanam Re Kaabil Sarkar 3 Uri The Surgical Strike and Bala Over the years Yami feels the journey has made her tough If I have to sum up my journey in the industry I would say that I have a lot of gratitude not just for filmmakers or for certain people who believed in me and my talent but also for the phase when things didnt turn out the way I planned Im very thankful for that phase too because it made me more resilient and stronger Yami told IANS She has learned from her ups and downs It helped me hold on my own be patient It helped me persevere and have a belief in my talent A big takeaway has been that if you have talent potential and will power things will pan out the way you feel you deserve Thats why I have lots of gratitude for whatever I have added the actress who was born in Himachal Pradesh She wants to keep surprising her fans with a myriad of roles on screen The journey is still on and there is so much Im yet to explore as an actor There are so many stories and genres Im yet to explore There are so many filmmakers and writers I want to work with There are so many roles I want to sign up for roles which take you by surprise for instance Bala was a surprise for viewers she said Yami pointed out that the audience did not expect comic timing from her or that she would essay that sort of a character as she did in Bala I would love to maintain the streak of surprise Ill try to maintain it as much as I can she said Amid lockdown Yami is in Mumbai all by herself Im missing my family the most Inherently Im not an outgoing person so Im not struggling that much Of course it has been a long time since we have been locked down she said The 31yearold actress stays busy with activities at home during the lockdown I have managed to maintain patience and sanity by keeping busy with activity such as yoga cooking reading sketching watching something and talking to my family on video calls I miss being around them she said Yami added As soon as travel is permitted and when its safe Id love to fly back home and be with them Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/yami-gautam-i-would-love-to-maintain-the-streak-of-surprise-39657.html Sat, 06 Jun 2020 06:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ramya-krishnan-queen-season-2-to-have-more-action-thrilling-content-39664.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 6 Southern star Ramya Krishnan cant wait to start shooting for the second season of her hit web series Queen Last year when Queen released her character reminded the audience of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa from the plain white sarees with black and red stripes and round red bindis that she sported to the protagonists character progression from a filmstar who becomes a top politician You are free to feel so that the web series is inspired by Jayalalithaas life Thats what the director also told me Ramya told IANS But she says its not her story This is based on a book by Anita Sivakumarannitha I loved it web series because of the similarity with Jayalalithaas story and I loved the late CM for her guts and for being the real queen said the actress Queen chronicles the life of Shakti Seshadri a spirited and determined woman whose vision and sense of resilience made her an epitome of strength for likeminded women Despite finding herself in several unfavourable circumstances at different stages of life and being let down by many people she held closest to her heart Shakti puts up a fight to emerge as a winner every time Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon along with Prasath Murugesan the finite series captures her struggle with her familys adverse financial position her excelling in academics and rising to the ranks of a state topper and emerging as a leading superstar in the film industry and eventually becoming the youngest chief minister of her state I just went by what Gautham told me He wanted me to be myself and thats what I did I was reacting to the words which I had to speak which were so powerful and so well written said the actress She Shakti is not a politician yet She is getting there as far as season one goes I enjoyed doing it especially the interview portion I loved the way questions were phrased and answers were written added Ramya Queen season 2 is in the works and she is excited I am just waiting to get there and be a part of it People can expect more action more interesting content thrilling and exciting content she said The shooting is yet to begin owing to the ongoing lockdown We dont have a clarity on when shooting will start With the quarantine right now we are yet to know she said adding Last when I spoke to writer Reshma she was done with the script Its all ready to go on floors but it all depends on the quarantine phase she added Till then the audience can watch the first season of Queen on Zee TV starting from June 6 If a channel has decided to air it they know that it has done well This content will really do well on their channel too said Ramya Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ramya-krishnan-queen-season-2-to-have-more-action-thrilling-content-39664.html Sat, 06 Jun 2020 09:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anurag-kashyap-my-filmmaking-process-is-changing-39186.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 5 Demonetisation plays an integral role in Anurag Kashyaps Choked Paisa Bolta Hai and the filmmaker says it helped them put together the story of money and marriage in a seamless manner The filmmaker says Choked Paisa Bolta Hai always had a great idea and a good script but was missing the Xfactor a gap stitched together through demonetisation Working on the film was a good process It was a long wait It started in 2015 with a script At that time there was no demonetisation When demonetisation came it had to be included in the script and we had to rewrite the script Nihit Bhave kept on Saiyami Kher came on board in 2017 and Roshan Mathew came on board 2018 We shot the film in 2019 Kashyap told IANS recalling the process of putting the film together Back in 2016 the Indian government decided to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes to flush out black money eliminate fake currency notes and combat financing of terrorism What followed was long queues at banks people looking for different ways to exchange old notes with new ones and disruption in many big events like wedding something that Kashyap has captured through the story of Sarita Pillai Saiyami and Sushant Pillai Roshan The film was always about money and marriage but demonetisation had to become a part of it because when we were shooting the film it happened And it was interesting to place the film in that period so that it doesnt remain totally absurd and has much more meaning to it The film suddenly came together because of demonetisation It was always a great idea and a good script but I felt that there was this XFactor missing so when demonetisation came in it started to make sense said the filmmaker Choked Paisa Bolta Hai is the story of a middleclass housewife who finds cash flowing out of her kitchen sink every night and how this changes her life It also puts spotlight on how she is supporting her jobless husband The suspense drama comes with understated tones of humour and cant be placed in Kashyaps relatively dark storytelling genre Asked if steering away from his trademark style was intentional the filmmaker said I wanted to stick to the script of Nihit and I wanted to do right to the author He was an incredible collaborator There were times when I was tempted to take the script in a certain direction When I would try to do that I would have someone from the team to correct me Rahul my second unit director was my biggest conscious keeper They would all say it is becoming an Anurag Kashyap film The filmmaker known for Black Friday Gangs of Wasseypur DevD and Ugly asserted With this film I was trying to go away and stay away from what I would generally do with a film My filmmaking process is also changing because the last three films I did the idea originated from somebody else and not me and that really is a big help sometimes he added Choked Paisa Bolta Hai is out on Netflix on June 5 Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anurag-kashyap-my-filmmaking-process-is-changing-39186.html Fri, 05 Jun 2020 07:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-box-office-obsession-dictates-our-perception-of-a-film-38223.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi June 3 Actor Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor says he has loyalties to his character Sikander Khanna in Bhavesh Joshi Superhero and if the film ever gets a sequel he would love to be a part of it In the Vikramaditya Motwane film the young Sikander becomes a masked vigilante to avenge his friends murder and soon gets involved in a fight to end corruption Although not a blockbuster the film has managed to garner a cult following over the two years since its release I am not a very big fan of superhero films which is one of the reasons why I chose Bhavesh Joshi Superhero because its so different from any superhero film I really loved the realism the actor told IANS I am more attracted to human dramas and stories about reallife people and if I ever wanted to do a superhero film I will be happy to be part of its Bhavesh Joshi Superhero sequel if it happens I just want to keep myself free for that and have my loyalties to the character he added When the film the screens on June 1 2018 it didnt enjoy 100 percent occupancy at cinema halls Later when it moved to an OTT platform it was showered with love by many Does he think that releasing a film on an OTT platform is better than theatres especially now when there is a fear of COVID19 The theatrical system or the way that it is set up in India is pretty much strictly for mainstream films When you have alternative films or films that are slightly different or smaller films releasing in the west they have very unique marketing and release strategies Sometimes they release initially on five or 10 screens and they end up going wide whereas in India for example a film like Bhavesh Joshi Superhero will have a pretty wide release and if the box office and audience turn out is not good enough then the exhibitor will replace the show and give it to a film that is doing better he shared He feels that in a world where exhibitors and distributors are handling the situation like that it becomes very difficult for a film like Bhavesh Joshi Superhero to get the attention and the time of play And what happens with India and the Indian media is when a film releases in a theatre people are just so obsessed with the box office it kind of dictates the perception of a film For example if the film releases and the numbers on the first day are underwhelming and below expectations the large section of the media is very quick to dice off the film They are not really focused on the artistic integral of the film or the technical merits of the film or the idea or method behind the film and what happens is once the film is out of the theatre the whole dust settles and when it comes on digital people are watching it with fresh lengths They are not concerned about the box office numbers and they are watching in the comfort of their own homes they have more time they are more patient and I think it is a film when you watch it patiently it will give you a very unique experience and there are very few films like it he added He thinks that the lines are blurring between the digital and theatrical audiences But we still have some ways to go The good part is the film has found its home in Netflix and what happened to the film over the past two years because of the digital revolution has been remarkable said the Mirzya actor Talking about best memory of working on the film Harsh Varrdhan shared While making the film Priyanshu Painyuli who plays Bhavesh and me we actually moved out of our houses and lived together for about three to four months in a flat in Shastri Nagar Andheri We would do rehearsals eat together go on a drink and go to set together So we literally lived like roommates and brothers for that entire time which brought us extremely close The whole making of the film was very memorable and very difficult said Harsh Varrdhan Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-box-office-obsession-dictates-our-perception-of-a-film-38223.html Wed, 03 Jun 2020 05:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/madhuri-dixit-candles-shining-brightest-now-are-frontline-workers-37703.html New Delhi June 2 Actress Madhuri Dixits latest single Candle has received over seven million views online Dedicating the song to frontline workers she says they are the ones who are shining brightest in these dark times The song was recorded before the COVID19 lockdown in Los Angeles We thought of what would I sing about I thought everybody goes through struggle in their life But then you have to think that I am going to be stronger than this I wanted to tell that story So we wrote the song Madhuri told IANS adding that Candle is a symbol of hope positivity and faith for her Candle signifies so many things So we talked about candle in the song Now when I look around there is hopelessness and uncertainty I had never thought that we would face something like this she said referring to the pandemic So I thought this was the time when people needed that positivity The feeling that everything is going to be okay If we stay strong we will all come out of this together and stronger she added She feels the candles that are shining brightest right now are the frontline workers The healthcare and sanitation workers police who are there to protect us They are the real candles that are burning the brightest I wanted to dedicate this song to them she said But the video was not shot earlier so she had to do it within the confines of her home We talked to some people checked on YouTube how to light up Even though I am from the industry I dont do the lighting and all We have makeup artistes hairdressers stylists DOP cameramen and everything is taken care of It was for the first time that we had to do everything from scratch We used iPhone my husbands camera He did the photography said the actress Her two sons also contributed to the video by sharing their opinions on it They were there when we finally did it When we were editing the song they said this is looking slow They are the ones who watch videos of songs They were there to guide us to say this works or doesnt work she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/madhuri-dixit-candles-shining-brightest-now-are-frontline-workers-37703.html Tue, 02 Jun 2020 07:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/arshad-warsi-i-try-my-best-not-to-act-37711.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi June 2 Actor Arshad Warsi has impressed audiences and critics alike with varied characters in films like the Munna Bhai series the Ishqiya films the Golmaal series Dhamaal Jolly LLB and Seher and the web series Asur The actor says he tries his best not to act in any of his projects He feels acting is just like special effects adding that if you can see the special effect then the job wasnt done well I have always believed that acting is like special effects If you can see the special effect then its bad special effect In the same way if you can see the acting then its bad acting I try my best not to act Arshad told IANS while looking back at the way he has evolved as an artiste Before entering Bollywood as an actor Arshad worked as an assistant director and choreographed a song for the film Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja He made his acting debut in 1996 with Tere Mere Sapne which was a box office success Earlier this year he made his digital debut with psychological thriller Asur which streams on Voot Select The series showcases the conflict between good and bad The show takes the audience on a journey of two opposing worlds forensic science on the one hand and the mysteries of Indian mythology on the other Explaining his thought process for plunging into the digital world Arshad said I thought the script was very intriguing and exciting The whole idea of mythology and science combined with the good old whodunit was enough to get my attention The cherry on the cake was I was offered a noncomic role He thinks the digital media has been fantastic for actors I am not experimenting or risking anything I am finally getting to do the work I have been longing for and enjoy doing he added At the moment the actor is spending his lockdown period with his family My hands are full Firstly my kids take up a lot of my time which I love then a bit of painting reading and listening to scripts handling my life besides films and of course the usual house cleaning and helping in cleaning up the society we live in he said The actor also shared a message Please look after your health because that is the only thing that will help you from any virus Negativity makes your immune system weaker and positivity makes it stronger choose wisely On the work front he will soon be seen alongside Bhumi Pednekar in Durgavati which is being touted as a heroinecentric horror film The film is presented by Akshay Kumar He also has Golmaal 5 in his kitty Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/arshad-warsi-i-try-my-best-not-to-act-37711.html Tue, 02 Jun 2020 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rebecca-hall-my-family-life-separate-from-my-public-persona-37195.html New Delhi June 1 Iron Man 3 actress Rebecca Hall doesnt like to put out her life on social media and says her family life is separate from her public persona The actress is on Instagram but she hardly posts Questioned about being so distant from social media Hall said I know Im really bad at it I find it really difficult I just cant quite bring myself to it and Im quite a private person honestly And that has become a bit of a derogatory word Hall told IANS Its not really The suggestion is that youre hiding something and Im not I dont agree with that My family life is separate from my public persona she added The actress feels Instagram blurs the lines a little bit Part of me really wants to support the projects that Im involved in like small independent films that dont have the kind of publicity machine thats when she posts about them through her handles It is incredibly valuable But I find it difficult to post pictures of myself all the time Im really trying though she added On the work front she is currently seen as Loretta in Tales From The Loop Created by Nathaniel Halpern the series is about people who live above The Loop a machine built to unlock and explore the mysteries of the universe and chronicle their experience with things previously consigned to the realm of science fiction Tales From The Loop streams on Amazon Prime Video IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/rebecca-hall-my-family-life-separate-from-my-public-persona-37195.html Mon, 01 Jun 2020 06:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/usha-uthup-i-cant-expect-to-do-gigs-for-50k-strong-audience-again-36867.html By Natalia Ningthoujam New Delhi May 31 Pop diva Usha Uthup hopes that venues for performances will open up after the lockdown is lifted However she feels it will not be the same again and she can never expect to do the concerts with 1000050000strong audience In the US country singer Keith Urban recently performed at a show in a drivein theatre for healthcare workers fighting the COVID19 pandemic Asked if a similar show be done in India or if there was an alternate way to do live shows Usha a frequent performer told IANS I really dont know when that is going to happen Things will open up Im sure but it will never be the same again I can never expect to do the concerts that gave me 1000050000strong audience Actually I dont know when it will ever open up again But she is not thinking of being on stage anytime soon The risk of infection is too high and I think we need to be sensible about this instead of rushing into things that would jeopardise the lives of others said Usha In the meantime she is happy with virtual concerts She has been doing digital shows and contributing to COVID19 relief efforts Virtual concerts are one of the best and safest ways to do this though I miss the live audience But keeping in mind the current situation it live show is not ideal said the Hari Om Hari hitmaker who was recently part of a fundraising concert to aid COVID19 relief effort by Magic Bus The singer based in Kolkata would also love to do something for the people affected by the recent Cyclone Amphan that devastated Kolkata and indeed the whole of Bengal and Odisha I have done films for the Tsunamiravaged people as well when cyclone Aila struck So I hope I can mobilise singers and artistes to come together for Amphan too said Usha As for lockdown she tries to treat the average lockdown day as any other day Its been difficult but I have achieved it I am one for routine and discipline so I rise early say my prayers the Buddhist chant Nammyohorengekyo then the Maha Mrutyunjaya mantra and the universal Our father who art in heaven By the time I finish all this plus my walk on the stairs and in my building car park my mornings are done successfully she said I do a lot of shows on Zoom Facebook Instagram YouTube et cetera during the day so that keeps me busy I have also taken up my old hobbies of knitting reading and sewing so I have a lot to do plus a little housework Its fine she signed off Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalianiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/usha-uthup-i-cant-expect-to-do-gigs-for-50k-strong-audience-again-36867.html Sun, 31 May 2020 10:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ishwak-singh-shooting-for-paatal-lok-was-like-doing-3-movies-36848.html New Delhi May 31 Ishwak Singh has featured in films like Veere Di Wedding and Tum Bin II but it is only over the past few weeks that he has become a familiar name among the Hindi audience after his act as the earnest rookie cop Imran Ansari in the web series Paatal Lok Ishwak says working on Paatal Lok was like shooting for three movies at a go because the makers had a big canvas to paint The shooting process in the digital world is quite different from that of the movie While shooting for Paatal Lok it was like shooting for three movies as the makers had a bigger canvas to paint and a lot more to express and communicate So thats the biggest difference I felt was between Paatal Lok and my other projects in Bollywood he told IANS He is currently being lauded for his role in the series which is the debut web production of actress Anushka Sharma Talking about handling success post Paatal Lok he said Its a great feeling The way I handle success is what inspires me to work harder and stay more focused This is like an art where if you are rewarded it creates a new interest to put in a lot more energy and focus into it Its like a collective art where if you are kind of alone and you dont get the appreciation then it gets difficult to carry on with it But success for an actor means more work more energy more positivity and a lot more excitement to explore new stuff he added He is now open to doing more web projects I always look forward to do more contentdriven projects it doesnt matter if the project Im a part of is a web show or movie that has an OTT or a theatrical release As long as the content of the project and the makers appeal to me Im happy to be a part of something which the audience will enjoy to the core said Ishwak For now he is spending his lockdown days by working on different skills Ive always been passionate about learning martial arts and dance so Ive been exploring their different forms I have been reading and watching various movies which I never get to do due to my hectic schedule he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ishwak-singh-shooting-for-paatal-lok-was-like-doing-3-movies-36848.html Sun, 31 May 2020 08:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/jacqueline-fernandez-hope-to-be-an-action-icon-one-day-36473.html By Durga Chakravarty New Delhi May 30 Its been an 11year journey for Jacqueline Fernandez in Bollywood The actress who first set her foot in 2009 with Aladdin says she has learned a lot with every role she has done so far and hopes to be an action icon one day Over the years Jacqueline has featured in films such as Kick Murder 2 Dishoom Judwaa 2 and Race 3 She feels blessed to have worked with some of the best in the industry In my career so far I feel blessed to have worked with renowned people from the industry be it directors or actors Additionally Im ecstatic and grateful to have got the opportunity to do different exciting and challenging roles I have learned a lot with every role and movie I have done so far which has further helped me evolve as an artiste and an individual Jacqueline told IANS She hopes to continue doing the good work I hope to continue to do good work and Im looking forward to different learning experiences with each project she added Over the years Jacqueline has featured in genres like thriller action drama and comedy but she aspires to be an action star I am glad to have experimented with so many genres and equally excited to try my hand at many more I definitely enjoy action a lot and hope to be an action icon one day she said Jacqueline recently made her digital debut in the web series Mrs Serial Killer and even launched an online dance competition Home Dancer on Disney Hotstar How does she see the boom of digital platforms Can it give a competition to the moviegoing experience Times have changed and in these few months the entire economy has witnessed a major paradigm shift OTT platforms have been the goto medium for content creators considering its dynamic nature which has allowed viewers to enjoy fresh content from the safety of their homes fulfilling social distancing norms she said She cannot compare it with the moviegoing experience though However as an actor and a viewer I cannot compare the experience of watching a movie on the phone or television screen at home with watching a premiere in the theatre with friends and family she told IANS Jacqueline identifies with the title of her new show Home Dancer saying she is one I love dancing and love to learn new dance forms too It is also a part of my fitness regime It helps break the monotony from training at the gym which includes lifting weights and other exercises Dancing helps relax my muscles and lift my spirits she said Jacqueline recently featured in Salman Khans song Tere bina The number currently has 32540987 views on YouTube Working with Salman has always been fun and simply amazing whether it is for a song or a movie I think it is our chemistry that the fans are appreciative of the most she claimed Her next is an action thriller titled Attack The film also stars John Abraham Im very excited Shooting for the film was fun and a great learning experience I have worked with John before and working with him again was a great experience I am looking forward to the films release she told IANS Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durgaciansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/jacqueline-fernandez-hope-to-be-an-action-icon-one-day-36473.html Sat, 30 May 2020 11:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adah-sharma-on-pandemic-hope-we-come-out-of-this-as-kinder-people-35886.html New Delhi May 29 Actress Adah Sharma has no idea about how or when shooting will resume amid the ongoing COVID19 pandemic and is hoping that once they go on sets everyone acts responsibility and take necessary precautions to ensure safety of all At present a lot of plans are being explored to find a way to restart shoots soon as the entertainment industry continues to reel under the ongoing lockdown Asked how she feels things things will change Adah told IANS Honestly I have no idea I just hope we all come out of this as more grateful kinder people who are conscious about the environment I think once we begin shooting all of us will be responsible and take the necessary precautions ensuring safety of oneself and the people around us the actress said while talking about if she is wary about going on sets as of now she added Talking about her lockdown period the Commando star said From slicing watermelons to doing cartwheels reading scripts and learning to mimic all the bird whistles this lockdown has been quite productive The actress started her Bollywood journey with horror film 1920 and went on to do Hasee Toh Phasee Bypass Road Commando 2 and Commando 3 Adah is confident that the Commando series which also stars Vidyut Jammwal will continue further Till there is evil the commando franchise will go on We will fight crime and go on different missions and take down the bad guys she said Commando 3 will air on Zee Cinema on May 31 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/adah-sharma-on-pandemic-hope-we-come-out-of-this-as-kinder-people-35886.html Fri, 29 May 2020 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ila-arun-initially-i-was-sceptical-to-work-with-nawazuddin-34874.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai May 22 Veteran actress Ila Arun who plays a pivotal role in the Nawazuddin Siddiquistarrer Ghoomketu says that though she has been acting for the last four decades she was initially sceptical about acting with Nawazuddin In the film Nawazuddin plays the central role of a struggling actor who lands in Mumbai from Bihar to become an actor I am not one of those actors who believe that acting for a longer time and having experience makes you superior The style of acting is evolving performance is evolving and as an actor I have to constantly update myself to stay relevant Nawaz is such a fine actor and I am so impressed by him In fact initially I was sceptical to act with him Ila told IANS She added He is young his mind is alert and he adds certain nuance in every scene that takes the character to the next level I as a senior actor had to stay on my toes I had to stay alert to match up to his performance level Directed by Pushpendra Nath Misra Ghoomketu also features Ragini Khanna Anurag Kashyap and Swanand Kirkire Yes it is true that I have been performing as an actor as a singer on stage in TV shows and in films but look at all the mediums All has changed Nawaz Raghu Raghuvir Yadav and other actors have been excellent There is a subtlety in Nawas performance He is so on point I bless him He is an actor with all emotions on point explained the actress who plays Santo Bua in the film Ila started acting in 1983 with Shyam Benegals Mandi and has appeared in films like Ardh Satya Welcome To Sajjanpur Jodhaa Akbar and Manto to name a few Since she is working for so long how is it possible that she feels nervous while acting with a junior I think the feeling of fear and nervous energy is good for an artiste I know there are many senior actors who work with newcomers and carry power along with them They tend to intimidate or say things like I wont say the dialogue like this change it I do not believe in that My acting is the medium to execute ones vision I would rather try and understand that Nawaz is younger to me but his life experience is different from mine You cannot measure experience with time and years It is the variety the exposure that one has So working with newage actors makes me feel energetic observant and alive said the actress Ghoomketu releases on ZEE5 on May 22 Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ila-arun-initially-i-was-sceptical-to-work-with-nawazuddin-34874.html Fri, 22 May 2020 06:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kichcha-sudeep-on-daughters-bday-stay-happy-stay-blessed-34536.html Hyderabad May 21 Southern star Kichcha Sudeep took to Instagram and shared a photo collage of his daughter Saanvi from her toddler days to present times on the occasion of her birthday Stay happy stay blessed We all are proud of you baby went the caption of the collage He later shared another collage of himself along with Saanvi gorging on pizzas Thanks to each one for ur unconditional luv and wshs Created a special video for Sanvi U all have been a beautiful part of my life and I Would luv to share it wth you all Shall upload it in an hour he wrote alongside the image Sudeep got married to Priya Radhakrishna in 2001 anb the couple welcomed Saanvi 2004 He recently shared a collage of photographs on Instagram where he flaunts a perfectlychiselled body On the acting front Sudeep was last seen in the Salman Khanstarrer Dabangg 3 He will next be seen in Kotigobba 3 and Phantom IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kichcha-sudeep-on-daughters-bday-stay-happy-stay-blessed-34536.html Thu, 21 May 2020 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/zareen-khan-couldnt-think-of-being-in-bollywood-without-salman-khan-30484.html By Simran Sethi Mumbai May 15 Its been a decade that Zareen Khan entered Bollywood in Veer The film failed to ignite the screens despite the presence of superstar Salman Khan but it opened a few doors for the young actress She happily gives all credit to Salman as it was he who launched her in the film industry Its been a rollercoaster ride I am somebody who never dreamed of being a part of this industry I thank Salman for giving me the opportunity I never thought that I could be a part of the film world without him Zareen told IANS She added I did not have to struggle to enter into films but my real struggle started after I became part of it I do not come from a filmy background so it took me a while to understand how this industry works I wont say that its been 10 years and I have figured it all Honestly I am still learning But today I am much better than what I was when I just came Speaking of Zareens upcoming projects she has a few films in her kitty but shooting of all her projects came to a halt owing to the COVID19 lockdown I was about to shoot for a Punjabi movie in London in May I had to start work on a Hindi horror film too and even on my digital debut show Everything is uncertain now I dont know when things will return to normalcy Seeing the current situation it seems it will take time to resume especially in my industry where most of the work is teambased Zareen said Simran Sethi can be contacted at simransiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/zareen-khan-couldnt-think-of-being-in-bollywood-without-salman-khan-30484.html Fri, 15 May 2020 08:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pankaj-tripathi-talks-censorship-in-digital-space-19719.html Mumbai April 27 Actor Pankaj Tripathi who has tasted success on the big screen as well as the digital space says that when it comes to the debate on web censorship a dialogue is very important Everything should have a debate because a dialogue is important The storytellers get to tell their stories the way they want to without the censors on the platform They have freedom opined Tripathi who gained a major fan base as Guruji in Sacred Games and Kaleen bhaiya in Mirzapur However not everything can be defended in the name of creative freedom he feels There are some people who just want to spread sansani sensationalism They too have some freedom because there are no censors So there are pros and cons of having censorship and if there is a debate only then will people arrive at some conclusion the actor pointed out On the acting front he will next be seen in Kabir Khans 83 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pankaj-tripathi-talks-censorship-in-digital-space-19719.html Mon, 27 Apr 2020 09:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ramesh-sippy-not-really-keen-to-remake-sholay-16545.html By Simran Sethi New Delhi April 21 Bollywood has been obsessed with remakes of cult films and blockbusters but filmmaker Ramesh Sippy who gave Indian cinema one of its biggest gems Sholay in 1975 does not favour the idea of his 45yearold classic being recreated I am not really keen to recreate Sholay unless one can imagine a way to represent it in a very different way Otherwise remaking is something I would not like to do as far Sholay is considered It does not mean that I am against remakes many films have been remade beautifully but its not that easy Its how you recreate the whole world of a particular film and genre that matters Sippy told IANS An attempt to recreate Sholay was done by Ram Gopal Varma in 2007 with Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag However Varmas attempt was universally rejected and the film failed at box office Sippys Sholay starred Amitabh Bachchan Dharmendra Sanjeev Kumar Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan among others Today the film is primarily remembered for Amjad Khans iconic performance as the films arch villain dacoit Gabbar Singh Recalling the memories of Sholay Sippy shared that it was extreme challenging to helm such a masterpiece back in the day From making so many actors work together to involving highoctane action sequences and introducing people to the concept of a 70mm screen creating Sholay was a huge challenge I am glad that our efforts did not go in vain People liked our film appreciated it and even 45 years later they still talk about it It feels great to be associated with such a remarkable project he added Sholay apart Sippy made several other bigticket Bollywood films such as Andaz Seeta Aur Geeta Shaan Shakti and Saagar He is also known for his serial of the eighties Buniyaad which is currently being retelecast on Doordarshan amid the coronavirus lockdown The 73yearold verteran is naturally thrilled Written by Manohar Shyam Joshi the show is a family saga based in the time of IndiaPakistan Partition The retelecast of Buniyaad has ushered in a wave of nostalgia I am really happy to see my show back on the screen after almost 35 years We have a difference audience today I hope they will get to know what the nation had to go through in the past and learn something from it as we are dealing with a similar kind of situation right now Sippy said Simran Sethi can be contacted at simransiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/ramesh-sippy-not-really-keen-to-remake-sholay-16545.html Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pankaj-tripathi-im-made-of-the-experiences-ive-had-14938.html New Delhi April 17 One of contemporary Bollywoods most talented actors Pankaj Tripathi who has been outstanding in almost all his roles says hes whatever he is today because of the experiences he has had There are no regrets Those have been just experiences I am made of the experiences I have had I have no regrets at all Pankaj told IANS Pankaj debuted in 2004 with Run and has since then has worked in more than 40 films and 60 television shows His breakthrough role came in 2012 with Anurag Kashyaps Gangs Of Wasseypur film series He has received appreciation for his roles in films including Fukrey Masaan Nil Battey Sannata Bareilly Ki Barfi Newton Fukrey Returns and Stree among many others On the OTT platform Pankaj has gained a major fan base as Guruji in Sacred Games and Kaleen bhaiya in Mirzapur Talking about how he still remains so grounded Pankaj said A man who sees a lot of highs and lows in life doesnt need yoga to stay grounded Because when you see ups and downs you understand the meaning of life and then you dont have to make an extra effort IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/pankaj-tripathi-im-made-of-the-experiences-ive-had-14938.html Fri, 17 Apr 2020 09:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kiku-sharda-wish-angrezi-medium-released-a-bit-earlier-or-later-14358.html Mumbai April 16 Actorcomedian Kiku Sharda feels bad that Irrfan Khans comeback film Angrezi Medium didnt get a proper run at the boxoffice owing the shutdown of theatres all over India in the wake of the escalating COVID19 pandemic The movie later had its digital release Its crazy and really sad I really wish that Angrezi Medium would have released a little earlier or little after at least we would have had a proper release The movie was taken down after one day of release It is such a beautiful film and Irrfan Khan hasnt done a film in a long time given his health conditions It was such an important thing for everyone to see him and I was really hoping that people would get a chance to see him in theatre said Kiku Apart from Irrfan and Kiku the Homi Adajaniahelmed also features Radhika Madasn Deepak Dobriyal Ranveer Shorey and Kareena Kapoor Khan The response of people who have seen the film is great People have reached out to me on social media platforms and praised the movie And of course everyone is talking about the great ensemble cast Each and every character is being praised every actor is apt and remarkably good in the role they performed The chemistry between Irrfan Khan and Deepak Dobriyal was very much appreciated People are in awe of the story as well It is such a beautiful story of a father and a daughter and it is such a positive film he said Kiku also said that Irrfan Khan was the reason he agreed to do the film I knew Irrfan Khan was doing the movie and that was reason enough for me to join the ensemble cast I knew my character and brief but the selling item was Irrfan Khan I would get to work with him share screen space with him so that was enough for me I have loved adored and admired Irrfan Khans work Some of his movies are remarkable So working with him has been an honour and pleasure for me he said Kiku Sharda is also part of The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony TV portraying various roles including Santosh and Bumper and his very famous character Baccha Yadav IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kiku-sharda-wish-angrezi-medium-released-a-bit-earlier-or-later-14358.html Thu, 16 Apr 2020 10:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/naseeruddin-shah-recalls-the-day-his-attitude-towards-prayer-changed-13160.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai April 14 Iconic actor Naseeruddin Shah recalls an incident from his early days in the city when he was a struggler and how a moment of realisation back then changed his attitude towards prayer forever I can recall that day even now I was very vulnerable back then I had no work no friends in the city no money to buy my bread and it felt like all the doors were closed I thought I would pray While performing Wudu I began to think what is prayer about Is it saudebaazi bargaining where I say God please give me this and I will become that and I will offer you that No That should not be the reason why we pray That day and ever since I never prayed to ask anything from the Almighty My attitude towards prayer changed forever the veteran actor told IANS I only pray to express gratitude When I was broken I realised that the only solution is to get work and whoever offers me would appear to me as Godlike I have to hold myself strong till then I think begging to God for things while praying is despicable he added Shahj has recenty appeared in the short film Half Full Directed by debutant Karan Rawal the film also features Vikrant Massey and will premiere on the OTT platform ZEE5 What made him sign up a short film directed by a greenhorn filmmaker I am very supportive of these short films that are made by young filmmakers They have a voice that they express through storytelling and I think if the idea is good it deserves support I receive several scripts but I do not agree to work with all of them You see the idea the story matters to me I did not know this young man Karan before reading the script That way I did not know Shekhar Kapur before doing Masoom I did not know Neeraj Pandey before doing A Wednesday For me the story matters When I came on board for this film I found the script interesting he explained Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/naseeruddin-shah-recalls-the-day-his-attitude-towards-prayer-changed-13160.html Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/badshah-want-to-make-a-new-song-with-ratan-kahar-12082.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi April 12 Rapper Badshah was caught off guard with the plagiarism accusations against him over his new single Genda phool with regard to Ratan Kahars Bengali folk song Boroloker biti lo The rapper wants to set things right by doing a song with the veteran folk artiste to do justice to it He also plans to get him registered on the copyright bodies and register all his work so that he can get royalties Living far away from spotlight in povertystricken condition in Birbhum districts Siuri town with his family Kahar found himself in the limelight because of his alltime Bengali folk pop hit Boroloker biti lo which he created in 1972 all thanks to Badshah and the virtual world Badshah used portions of the song in his new single Genda phool Soon after the song was released netizens pointed out portions of the song have been lifted from the popular Bangla folk hit of the seventies Acting swiftly the rapper reached out to Kahar and deposited Rs 5 lakh to the veteran folk artistes bank account Asked if the controversy caught him off guard Badshah told IANS Yes of course it did But my team and I had done our complete research on the sample before using the sound done our due diligence and everywhere it was mentioned as a traditional folk song There was no existing record on any of the past releases of shri Kahar as the lyricist and which is why we went ahead and used the sound in the first place However in a couple of days we started getting tagged in a lot of articles and posts that suggested otherwise according to just popular belief and still with no documented proof But when I saw and heard his story irrespective of the credits I think he is one of the gems that should have been preserved and taken care of My team reached out to him through some of the people who had run his story as I definitely wanted to get him the recognition that he deserves he added Badshah continued A lot of work has obviously been difficult because of the current lockdown but as soon as things are back on track I intend to visit him and request him to do a song with us that Sony Music India will release and do whatever I can do being from the same fraternity financially or otherwise But I really wish and hope that he had been taken care of being the traditional legacy that he is I come from Punjab and we really nurture and celebrate our legends here and it was sad to see shri Kahar in a situation that he is right now Hopefully this will change things Due to the lockdown Badshah spoke to him on a video call He is like any of our elders lovable and extremely affectionate He sang a few of his songs for me blessed me and I have promised him I am going to be seeing him and do whatever I can in my strength to celebrate and take care of his legacy Make a new song with him and do justice to it If required get him registered on the copyright bodies and register his works and whatever else is required for him to receive his royalties It was sad to see that an artist of his stature has been in such a situation As a basic gesture Badshah deposited Rs 5 lakh in his account and wants to do more Once I visit him after the lockdown I will try and understand exactly where his difficulties are in health or his childrens education and take necessary measures to help him further That is the least and a matter of honour and pride I can do is from the new generation of musicians for one of our traditional legends of music said the rap star Though he started his career in 2006 alongside Yo Yo Honey Singh with band Mafia Mundeer Badshah has paved a way for himself in the industry by giving chart toppers and party numbers When it comes to Bollywood theres Saturday Saturday Kala chashma The humma song Kar gayi chull Tareefan and Abhi toh party shuru hui hai In the section of nonfilm chartbusters there are Proper patola DJ Waley Babu Mercy and She move it like As Badshah 20 he released Genda phool the video of which features actress Jacqueline Fernandez The song which comes with a Bengali touch is themed around Durga Pujo and is directed by Sneha Shetty Kohli It has got over 150 million views on YouTube IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/badshah-want-to-make-a-new-song-with-ratan-kahar-12082.html Sun, 12 Apr 2020 10:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/its-a-difficult-time-in-the-world-right-now-oscar-winning-filmmaker-11521.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi April 11 Oscarwinning filmmaker Marshall Curry feels the world is going through a difficult time saying people have been whipped up by demagogues who want us to demonise each other and discriminate against strangers who might have different religions or skin colour This year Curry won an Oscar for The Neighbors Window a short narrative film that he wrote and directed He was previously nominated three times for Academy Awards for his documentary films Street Fight If a Tree Falls A Story of the Earth Liberation Front and A Night at the Garden Asked if The Neighbors Window which gives a message for having empathy towards neighbours resonates with the political and social sentiments around the world Curry told IANS It is a difficult time in America and in the world right now People have been whipped up by demagogues who want us to demonize each other to discriminate against strangers who might have different religions or skin colour or lifestyles than we do So I hoped that in a small way the film would remind people to be gentle with each other and realise that everyone is struggling with something he added The Neighbors Window which is available to stream in India via ShortsTV tells the story of a middle aged woman with small children whose life is shaken up when two freespirited twentysomething move in across the street Talking about the movie he said When I finished writing I began to pull together a terrific team cinematographer producers actors and we shot the whole film in just four days in the apartment owned by very generous friends I wanted to begin the film with a sense of light humour to draw the audience in but over the course of the film I tried to make the emotions deepen and darken a bit until the end I think that life often has turns like this that happen suddenly so we were all working together the cinematographer the actors the musicians etc to try to trace those contours in a way that felt natural The short film runs high on voyeurism and nostalgia and Curry says the themes were built into the very initial concept for the film A few years ago I heard a story on a podcast called Love Radio in which a middleaged woman named Diane Weipert described seeing a young couple move in across the street The story was beautifully told and really stayed with me and a few years later it became the inspiration for my script added Curry who has also directed the awardwinning documentaries Racing Dreams and Point and Shoot Asked if the world is missing out on creative learning by not delving more into short film format he said I love making short films and Im happy there are platforms such as ShortsTV and others that are sharing them The ability to stream short films on the Internet has made a big difference in the size of audiences Its now possible to share short films with millions of people who would have had no way to see them just a few years ago With platforms such as ShortsTV our films can reach millions of households he said He has been nominated for an Oscar several times and won an Oscar But he doesnt let the award glory come in middle of his creative thoughts while working on a project I have been nominated three times before for documentaries but winning was a new experience for me and it was nice to be there with a fiction film It was also a lot of fun to be able to celebrate with the team that made the film with me I dont really think about the Oscars when I am making a film because I know that it is always a huge longshot for any film to get recognised by the Academy so I just try to make the best films I can he said At the moment he is working on a few fiction projects and a few nonfiction projects that are in early stages I really love to shoot and edit so Im looking forward to digging in again on a new film IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/its-a-difficult-time-in-the-world-right-now-oscar-winning-filmmaker-11521.html Sat, 11 Apr 2020 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/paresh-rawal-was-surprised-to-know-my-son-has-signed-a-film-as-an-actor-10879.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai April 10 Paresh Rawals son Aditya is all set to make his acting debut in the upcoming digital film Bamfaad but the National Awardwinning veteran actor always thought that Rawal junior would be a writer because he had studied creative writing The proud father however is emotional and overwhelmed seeing his son on screen The fact that he has signed a film as an actor came as a surprise to me Aditya had an interest in writing He is a very good scriptwriter He writes dialogues and poetry and I have seen how good he is as a writer He went abroad and studied writing too So naturally I thought that he will write films I did not know that the script he and the team of his film were working on over the past one month was actually his acting assignment They were doing a workshop But when I got to know it is his acting debut I was surprised pleasantly Paresh told IANS He added about the cast and crew of his sons debut project I know all these youngsters and all of them are hardworking Now that I know they put their heart and soul into Bamfaad I really want people to love their work My wish is not just for Aditya but the whole team Bamfaad also features Vinay Varma and Jatin Sarma among others and is set to release on Friday on ZEE5 While the trailer has received positive feedback what was his reaction of watching his son on screen As a father when I watched my son on screen it was an emotional and overwhelming moment I think he does not look like a debutant His body language expressions dialogue delivery are all in control He looks the part He carried himself well as a character in the film I appreciate that Paresh replied Usually in a debut film we look for the potential in an actor I think Aditya has it in him As an actor his basics are correct said Paresh Does he see a younger version of himself in Aditya Not at all Adityas approach to a character and style of acting are way different from mine He is methodical as a performer I am spontaneous These are two different styles of acting I think we are also different as individuals So what is his tip for Aditya I think we all emphasise on hard work What I told Aditya is do your hard work as part of your preparation and unlearn it when you are acting Audience tumahara hard work nahin ek film dekhne aa rahein hain the audience is not coming to see your hard work they are coming to watch a film So people should see the character in you and not Aditya who is playing the character or the hard work in between It has to be seamless You are an artist not labour Warna banawati lagta hai darshak woh nahin dekhega otherwise it seems fake people wont watch it Paresh signed off Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/paresh-rawal-was-surprised-to-know-my-son-has-signed-a-film-as-an-actor-10879.html Fri, 10 Apr 2020 08:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/why-four-more-shots-please-celebrates-men-and-women-10999.html Mumbai April 10 Rangita Pritish Nandy was always certain that she wanted to celebrate women their flaws their highs and lows through her show Four More Shots Please but without malebashing We were clear from the top our women propel themselves Their flaws highs crashes celebrations are theirs They are not a consequence of the men in their lives and therefore they will not pin either whats wrong or for that matter whats right in their lives on the men they share their lives with Rangita told IANS That is the only way this show is about them their stories their lives And that is what sets us apart from every other showmovie made in the Indian content space about women There is zero malebashing The men are lovely there are times that as an audience you want to yell at my girls because theyre letting down the men in their lives Sometimes you even love the men more than my girls do Its one of the things we pride ourselves on there is no black or white The world we live in is many shades of grey she added Through the prism of Four More Shots Please Rangita tells the story of four unapologetically flawed women as they discover life while balancing their friendship in Mumbai They are not ashamed about their sexual desires unabashed about their sexuality or how they lead their lives They screw up but own up to their mistakes They are successful but yet face failure in some aspects of their life Many assumed it will be a reminder to American drama Sex and The City a presumption which was shortlived as the show narrates a much more complex tale imbued with subtle sexism present in Indian society along with wit When you tell a story about young women living and loving their way through life in Mumbai can sexism ever be ignored Prejudice is a reality has been forever The challenge is to make it tonally audible It is important that women watch our show and it is also important that men watch enjoy and have our backs on it Rangita said Opening up about the success of the show she said The success amongst women we had anticipated to an extet not this massive avalanche of love What also surprised us was the love we received from male audiences though not all of them will come out and say they watch the showits their guilty pleasure But the numbers tell us clearly that this is a show that both women and men have not only loved but anticipation for season 2 is high The show is produced by Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd Starring Kirti Kulhari Sayani Gupta Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo with Prateik Babbar Lisa Ray Milind Soman Neil Bhooplalam Simone Singh and Amrita Puri the second season of the series will launch on April 17 on Amazon Prime Video in India The story picks up from the previous seasons cliffhanger ending According to Rangita the second season is all about peeling back the layers we had written in season one and digging deep to find new fears new conquests new highs new pitfalls for the girls Talking about the challenges while making the second season Rangita said The writing got challenging for sure We now had characters that an audience had made their own the world around women the conversations around women women themselves continue to undergo a seachange as we speak To write a show about women that doesnt disrespect everything thats happening in the world in context to women and yet remains entertaining relatable and tonally audible for all sexes thats a tremendous challenge Hitting a shrilly pitch where no man even other women wants to listen to what we have to say defeats the purpose of our show And ofcourse dates The show was successful that led to many of our talent and HODs picking up lots of new work leaving limited time for us It was the juggle of the century and from every estimation this is going to only get tougher as we progress hopefully to subsequent seasons added Rangita who has previously backed projects like Chameli Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Mastizaade Next she wants to tell a love story I love a good human connect story And then theres love Different for everybody and yet at the core of it all the one emotion the world pivots to Id love to work on a love story for our times when everything we know about love has changed one could even say mutated she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/why-four-more-shots-please-celebrates-men-and-women-10999.html Fri, 10 Apr 2020 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nikkhil-advani-vir-das-will-be-interesting-to-watch-in-hasmukh-10195.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai April 9 Nikkhil Advanis upcoming show Hasmukh features Vir Das as a reluctant killer and the Bollywood filmmaker says people will be surprised to watch the popular standup comedian in the his new avatar In the trailer of the Netflix show Vir is a comedian who needs to kill someone before performing on stage As an individual he does not like the whole act of killing people but he has no other way to get the right kick to perform as a comedian on stage He battles the dilemma I think the audience will find it interesting to watch Vir in that avatar No one can imagine Vir like that because even in real life he is a standup comedian He has acted really well The story is of a reluctant killer It is a fight between moral and ambitions Advani said The show is directed by Nikhil Gonsalves and also features Ranvir Shorey Manoj Pahwa Ravi Kishan Amrita Bagchi Suhail Nayyar Inaamulhaq and Raza Murad According to the filmmaker he always wanted to collaborate with the celebrated standup comedian Vir and I always wanted to collaborate He came up with the idea and I suggested making the story a little darker So we developed the script accordingly We have got a great casting with some of the finest actors Things just fell in place nicely said Advani about the show which releases on April 17 Asked if digital release is an advantage during the time of lockdown Advani replied It is a big advantage for us that the show is releasing now on Netflix when people are sitting at home and consuming a lot of digital content But it was always meant to release at this point of time It was planned to release in April Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/nikkhil-advani-vir-das-will-be-interesting-to-watch-in-hasmukh-10195.html Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kay-kay-menon-i-lack-the-skill-to-market-myself-10238.html Mumbai April 9 Actor Kay Kay Menon says he lacks the skills to promote or market himself adding that his expertise lies in performing and not promoting Despite being a revered actor Kay Kay is still an enigma to many The actor hardly ever uses social media Asked if selfpromotion is something he avoids or doesnt like he replied I dont have the expertise in that department I seriously lack the skill to market myself Some people have it and they are blessed but I dont think I have expertise to promote myself He added I like to promote my work I do the promotion for my work because that is required Apart from that I just dont know how to promote myself to be honest I think my work ideally should speak for itself I have expertise of performing not promoting Kay Kays latest role as RAW agent Himmat Singh in Neeraj Pandeys web series Special OPs has won him lots of acclaim In fact even superstar Hrithik Roshan praised the entire cast and crew of the show in a video post Ive already thanked him Hrithik on social media It feels good that suddenly someone has seen this series and appreciating it wholeheartedly and you can see it in their eyes that it has come from the heartKay Kay said About bringing alive Himmat Singh he said When I perform I perform people I dont perform roles So thats my basic difference If I am playing Himmat Singh in Special Ops I am playing Himmat Singh only His being a RAW officer is secondary thing My idea is to play the person more than the role While preparing first I figured out what Himmat Singh is all about fter that my process becomes very simple I surrender to it I surrender my ego my personality and I listen to only that persons call Special Ops is an espionage thriller series created for Hotstar The series is codirected by Neeraj Pandey and Shivam Nair IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kay-kay-menon-i-lack-the-skill-to-market-myself-10238.html Thu, 09 Apr 2020 10:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/neeraj-pandey-opens-up-on-special-ops-season-2-9552.html Mumbai April 8 Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has confirmed the second season of his debut web series Special Ops Season one of the espionage thriller show was launched on Hotstar earlier this year and became an instant hit When we were discussing the show with Hotstar we planned to make something that will have recall value and we were clear about two things First we will conclude the story within the first season I mean there would be nothing left no loose ends But at the same time we wanted to create a brand and a franchise with which we can easily narrate some other stories Once our lives are restored to normalcy we will figure out what needs to be done said Pandey in a telephonic chat on the possibility of a second season The amount of love that has come in and theres the demand for the second season There is an appetite for it Now it all depend on our schedules Right now everything is thrown out because of the coronavirus pandemic schedules work lives and timelines Let things get back to normal and we will definitely explore the possibility said the filmmaker who has codirected the series with Shivam Nair Special Ops has Kay Kay Menon leading the cast as special agent Himmat Singh who traces a pattern in terror strikes over the years and draws the conclusion that one person is behind all the attacks The story is inspired by several reallife espionage missions over the last two decades IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/neeraj-pandey-opens-up-on-special-ops-season-2-9552.html Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sobhita-dhulipala-i-am-not-anxious-about-the-future-8907.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai April 7 Actress Sobhita Dhulipala who had three films on floor when lockdown stopped all shooting activity in the film industry says she is trying to keep her body and mind healthy instead of feeling anxious about not being productive in these times of isolation I was shooting three projects and the plan was to finish them so that by the month of May I could start shooting Made In Heaven season 2 But now everything is on hold I was shooting for the TeluguHindi bilingual Major with Mahesh Babu In fact Mahesh Babu is also producing the film We were shooting our Hyderabad schedule but we had to stop due to the outbreak of COVID19 I am part of Mani Ratnam sirs upcoming film and that shooting is also stopped now I am also working on a film called Sitara produced by RSVP We shot a small schedule in Mumbai We were supposed to do a schedule in Kerala next That has also stopped I had a release of a Malayalam film Kurup opposite Dulqure Salman We have to reschedule the release of the film now Sobhita told IANS So initially I was feeling restless over what had happened so suddenly I had planned everything I had a flowchart and I had prepared myself as an actor Now what should I do Of course we are artiste and things affect us emotionally But now I am not fighting it anymore I know this too shall pass I am not anxious about the future that is not productive mentioned the actress So how is she dealing with the lockdown time Now I am taking care of my body and mind I am evaluating my decisions and putting things in retrospect I am watching web series films and I am also reading books I remember as a child I was such a geek loved reading books In the last few years things have been different I am finishing some books that I so wanted to read for long And also I started cooking again after three years So my days are packed Sobhita signed off Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sobhita-dhulipala-i-am-not-anxious-about-the-future-8907.html Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kal-penn-and-the-art-of-surviving-hollywood-stereotypes-8909.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi April 7 Kal Penn has lived through Hollywoods phase of stereotypes and understands what it means to not see yourself being truly represented on TV The Hollywood actor of Indian origin says there was a time when people of colour didnt have the luxury to have a company ensuring right casting and representation and is glad that things are changing He hopes his animated show Mira Royal Detective will weave around with the Indian culture and traditions adds velocity to the shifting attitude of the West Asked how the show will change things in the West with respect of diversity or ethnicity Kal told IANS I dont know if this is indicative of any dramatic change in the west or in the industry though I hope it leads to that But I really want to give credit to the creators and Disney for wanting to do it right When doing an animated show a lot of cynics will be of the mind that a show can be set anywhere and not be culturally accurate with performers of that background I understand that But I also understand never seeing yourself being represented on TV and that was me we never saw that When you feel things happening that were impossible to you and this cannot be explained to those who have always seen them being depicted on TV added the actor who found fame through his character of Kumar Patel in the Harold Kumar film series Kal continued We never had that luxury and a company like Disney making sure that the casting and the representation is accurate Right from language to the visuals it is a lot of effort and budget that other companies may not have given So I think it is a huge leap forward and I hope it is indicative of a lot more to come Secondly it gives a better show that kids can watch and learn better things from Reflecting back early on in his own career Kal said My first audition was probably 20 years back or more Some of my first auditions were for characters that were more stereotypical There are still plenty of those around In a few auditions I was asked to talk in the accent of Apu where it was not even voiced by a SouthAsian actor So I think of those and then shows like Mira it is a giant leap in not that long span of a time It feels really great and Im proud that my nieces and nephews will get to watch it Born to Indian immigrant parents in the US his real name is Kalpesh Suresh Modi but is known by his stage name Kal Penn He has featured in projects such as The Namesake Son of the Mask Superman Returns 24 House How I Met Your Mother New Girl The Big Bang Theory Designated Survivor and Sunnyside In 2009 he took a twoyear sabbatical from acting to work for the then US President Barack Obama in the White House Office of Public Engagement Now he has lent his voice for the character of a mongoose Mikku a friend of Mira Set in the fictional land of Jalpur Mira Royal Detective follows the life of Mira a commoner who is appointed to the role of royal detective by the queen The series features an allstar cast of prominent South Asian actors including Jameela Jamil Freida Pinto Hannah Simone Utkarsh Ambudkar Aasif Mandvi and Aparna Nancherla amongst others It also introduced 16yearold newcomer Leela Ladnier as the voice of Mira The show airs in India on Disney Channel India Talking about the show Kal said When I first heard about the show read the script I was selfishly very excited towards it I would get to do something for kids because my earlier works comedy or drama were not that child friendly And now I have nieces and nephews so that was quite exciting to me Next was obviously the whole South Asian cast and that it takes place in a fictional land of India that was real fun Then I came to know the South Asian American performers as the cast that was a rarity in any kind of art action or cartoon So I think it was a perfect combination My character Mikku is super adorable and he wears these glasses and I was like it is going to be the most fun and at the same time a meaningful project to be a part of he added Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/kal-penn-and-the-art-of-surviving-hollywood-stereotypes-8909.html Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/raghubir-yadav-i-try-to-find-goodness-in-bad-projects-8420.html New Delhi April 6 Actor Raghubir Yadav has had some hits and misses since he took up acting all those years ago He says he generally doesnt perceive projects as extremely good or bad In fact he picks out the drawbacks in a good project Asked about his best and worst projects Raghubir known for his work in films such as Lagaan Club 60 and Sui Dhaaga told IANS I have been part of this industry I think before 1980s I have been associated with many projects in the entertainment field I generally dont perceive projects as extremely good nor bad I try to find goodness in the bad projects and pick out the drawbacks in good projects All this is only for myself He is currently seen in the web series Panchayat The main reason that made me take up the series was the script language and the many unique characters It was like a breath of fresh air he shared The Amazon Prime Videos web series Panchayat created by The Viral Fever follows an urban boys journey far away from his comfort zone as he picks up a government job in rural heartlands Caught between crazy characters he quickly sets his mind on one thing  getting out of there as soon as possible If we take a close look at rural India we will never find anything that will leave us with a sense of similarity I am known to play a lot of roles inspired by rural India but there are so many unique characters that it is impossible to play all of them in one lifetime Panchayat throws light on one of such characters for me that is what interested me he said While the web series will surely entertain people who are locked indoors due to COVID19 Raghubir is keeping himself busy during quarantine period This situation has given us the opportunity to reflect on ourselves This situation has taught me that I have lost myself in the past couple of years The time that we have got in hands now I have chosen to completely indulge in doing household chores music old books which have been lying in the dust for years and yoga for my health he said He has already thought of the first thing that he will be doing once the 21day lockdown is over I will wake up in the morning and start my day by looking at the sunrise thanking the world This will be followed by yoga In my workshop I plan to make a flute I will carve it and then play it too I am hoping this will be a flute that brings me peace said the Newton actor He is also trying to write his autobiography The golden lessons that this life and experiences have taught me are like treasures I dont want to keep them hiding or saving for myself Hence I am trying to write my autobiography said Raghubir who was in news in February as his estranged wife Purnima Kharga had filed for divorce from the actor IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/raghubir-yadav-i-try-to-find-goodness-in-bad-projects-8420.html Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/the-name-ravi-shankar-still-spells-magic-sukanya-shankar-7220.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi April 4 Sukanya Shankar feels her late husband and Grammy awardwinner musician Pandit Ravi Shankars contribution is not limited to music and adds that he put India on the map for many people leaving a lasting impression His contribution is not only to music He put India on the map for many people So many have told me that they wanted to visit India after they heard him He has changed many lives for the better He has made a platform for so many musicians to go and perform now Sukanya told IANS Today anybody can become famous with all the social media and self promotions etc but those days without any of this he was a household name The name Ravi Shankar still spells magic everywhere she added about her late sitar maestro husband Asked how she wants to celebrate his legacy Sukanya shared His legacy is in both his amazingly talented daughters and several disciples He has influenced millions of people around the globe He is celebrated everywhere wherever I go from immigration officers to porters to ambassadors and royalty Ravi Shankar and Sukanya got into a relationship in the 1970s She gave birth to their daughter Anoushka in 1981 and eventually married Ravi Shankar in 1989 Looking back at the time spent with the internationally renowned talent the 63yearold said There was music always but we watched movies went out for walks played games and I loved to cook and he loved to watch me and enjoyed my food Sukanya along with the family was planning a centenary tour to celebrate Ravi Shankars 100th birth anniversary in April The centenary tour got cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic She hopes to get the tour back on track soon I am hoping to rearrange them for spring next year as we dont know how all this will last Sukanya noted On how she is coping up with social distancing she said I am Trying my best I have not stepped out of the house for the last two weeks Anoushka and her kids are with me but they keep a few feet away from me I talk to my family and friends on video call Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/the-name-ravi-shankar-still-spells-magic-sukanya-shankar-7220.html Sat, 04 Apr 2020 08:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/i-want-badshah-to-visit-me-and-help-me-boroloker-biti-lo-creator-ratan-kahar-5837.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai April 2 Bengali folk artiste Ratan Kahar suddenly finds himself in the limelight as never before It is the sort of panIndia limelight he didnt quite enjoy even at the peak of his success when he created the alltime Bengali folk pop hit Boroloker biti lo all those decades ago in 1972 Kahars name comes in the spotlight because rap superstar Badshah has used portions of the song in his new single Genda phool Soon after the song was released social media went wild accusing Badshah of plagiarism citing Kahar as the originals creator Following this the rapper on Wednesday had issued a statement saying he has been trying to reach out to Kahar but has not been able to do so owing to the nationwide lockdown Kahar a veteran folk singersongwriter now lives in povertystricken condition in Birbhum districts Siuri town with his family Age has taken a toll on his health but even today people call him from faraway places like Durgapur to felicitate him for his music and he sings and dances on stage with the gusto of a teenager Reacting to the news that Badshah wants to reach out to him to acknowledge the fact that his creativty has been used in Genda phool Kahar sounds happy It feels great that such a renowned artist has used my song and has expressed his desire to help me I have watched his video and I liked it the 80plus singer singer told IANS He adds after a pause on a more sober note I hope Badshah will help me I expect a little monetary help from him I live in a povertystricken condition and will be glad to receive his help When a star like Badshah who has a global fan base used Boroloker biti lo in his new song Kahars creation has also reached audiences all over the world The song that he created in 1972 is today seeing a spirited revival Does Kahar feel the rush all over again It feels great that people are listening to my song I feel so proud and happy This song of mine has enjoyed immense popularity in so many years but only within West Bengal I had never imagined an artist of Badshahs stature would use it Im happy that people everywhere else are listening to my song now Badshah has used the track in his own style and in a way nobody did before Kahar is now eager to meet Badshah He wants the rapper to visit his place I want Badshah to visit me and talk to me I would first like to thank him for using my song I am also eager to discuss music with him if he has the time expressed the folk artist On Wednesday rapper Badshah tweeted his statement where talking about Ratan Kahar he mentions After receiving so much information from the Bengali community I have been constantly trying my best to reach out to him and connect with him and be able to do justice to the situation to all my might However the lockdown situation has not been very helpful it has been difficult to get through to the village that Shri Kahar is in and I am still trying I urge and request any of the representatives who have been speaking on his behalf to help me connect with him so I can do whatever possible on my part on humanitarian grounds to put this right IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/i-want-badshah-to-visit-me-and-help-me-boroloker-biti-lo-creator-ratan-kahar-5837.html Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/writing-is-a-little-box-of-interest-for-actor-mukul-dev-5588.html By Arundhuti Banerjee Mumbai April 2 Actor Mukul Dev is receiving a lot of praise for his performance as a terrorist mastermind in the web series State Of Siege 2611 He is also the man who penned the story of the Rajkummar Raostarrer Omerta that released in 2018 Mukul says he does not feel the pressure of finding a balance between the two callings as writing is just a passion I am an actor who also writes I love reading so I read a lot of books The interest in writing has developed recently When I was writing the story of Omerta I was not writing it to make a film or something But when a filmmaker like Hansal Mehta picked up my story and turned it into a film I thought that now I can consider myself as a legitimate writer Having said that I am an actor and I will remain that Writing is a little box of interest that I take out once in a while Mukul Dev told IANS State Of Siege 2611 directed by Matthew Leutwyler has Mukul playing Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi The show also features Arjan Bajwa Arjun Bijlani Vivek Dahiya Sid Makkar Tara Alisha Berry Khalida Jaan Jyoti Gauba Roshni Sahota Suzanne Bernert Naren Kumar and Jason Shah Since I am an actor and am shooting most of the time I have time in between shots and I keep writing then I am surrounded by people who are filmmaker producer and actors So once in a while they also inquire if I have a story or somethin If they like it they eventually make something out of it But that is a timeconsuming process and I see no reason of stop acting for my writing Writing is a passion he shared So what is his favourite topic to write about I like to write on anything that is intriguing unheard of something that is offbeat I used to love reading Richard Bach So yeah writing will happen side by side he replied State Of Siege 2611 is streaming on ZEE5 Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhutibiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/writing-is-a-little-box-of-interest-for-actor-mukul-dev-5588.html Thu, 02 Apr 2020 08:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aahana-kumra-consent-for-me-is-everything-4537.html Mumbai March 31 Actress Aahana Kumra says she didnt grow up understanding the meaning of consent adding that she feels it is a very important conversation everybody must be having Consent for me is everything I dont think I grew up with the idea of understanding what consent meant because obviously we are all conditioned to believe that everything that our parents impose on us or the society imposes on us is the end of everything Aahana said But I have realised over the years that we must have an opinion we must have a mind of our own The good thing is that my parents have always explained to me the difference between good touch and bad touch They have always had these conversations with me even when I was a child she added The actress continued So I was always taught these things and this is the same conversation I have with the children in my family Consent for me is everything because it really has opened me up in terms of conversation with the person in front of me and I think only once when you get into a relationship and then you understand what a relationship is going to teach you Thankfully I have had great relationships in the past and I have learnt so much from them So of course it is a very important conversation everybody musthave At the moment Aahana is seen in drama thriller web series Marzi It is about a series of casual activities between the two protagonists of the show who subsequently falls into a major mishap exposing the fading line between power deception and trust Set in Shimla the show which streams on Voot Select questions the loyalty of a situation while constantly asking the question whos side are you on It also stars Rajeev Khandelwal Talking about the show she said The script was fabulous and thats something that I thought was very challenging It is something different from what I have done in the past on the screen I think it was very liberating in many ways because I felt that sometimes even in performances there are spurs of moments wherein you need to be emotional dramatic frustrated but here I was constantly violated I was constantly agitated constantly frustrated and it obviously felt like something that I havent ever done in my life I think it really did completely change my perception towards performance to quite an extent Its a conversation that I feel is very important to have in todays time and I think a lot of people are moving towards having conversations about consent which is something that people didnt speak about earlier or back in the days Now its rather important to have this conversation because I think in this century we can only move forward and not backward This is a conversation that we must pass on to our generations to have because we are learning through our mistakes and they should see what mistakes we have made and should not repeat them she added IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/aahana-kumra-consent-for-me-is-everything-4537.html Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/remo-dsouza-i-wouldnt-have-made-it-as-a-dancer-today-4032.html Mumbai March 30 Filmmaker and dance choreographer Remo DSouza feels he wouldnt have made it as a dancer in todays time There are a lot of better dancer than me There are really good dancers in our country at this moment and I feel that I wouldnt have made it as a dancer in todays time said Remo a leading choreographer in Bollywood who has also called the shots on dance movies such as ABCD ABCD 2 and Street Dancer 3D besides the Salman Khanstarrer Race 3 Did he ever have a doubt in his mind about making it big in the film industry I used to feel stressed when I would see new dancers and when I would their new dancing styles I used to think that I am not as good as them but I was really hardworking and I had a belief in myself So my passion and dedication kept me going and thats how I survived for so long in this industry he said Remo started off his career as a background dancer and went on to choreograph severalhit Bollywood dances and music videos He also played small roles in several films and madenhis directorial debut with the 2010 film FALTU Despite being a successful filmmaker now Remo still holds his identity as a dancer as special I would still say dancer because thats what I love and thats what I feel that I am very good at he reasoned Remo was a judge in Zee Televisions Dance India Dance DID with Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapoor for several years Asked if the success of the show changed his career graph he replied I would give the entire credit of my success to Dance India Dance If today I have become a household name it is because of Dance India Dance I still remember the makers approaching me and telling me that the show would change my life Then I didnt believed them but I did the show Actually it did change my life Remo DSouzas next release as a director is Dancing Dad a dance drama about the emotional journey of an ageing dancer and his lively 13year old daughter whos on her own path to greatness Although the cast is yet to be announced unconfirmed rumours have suggested that Remo wants to collaborate again with his Race 3 hero Salman Khan for the project IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/remo-dsouza-i-wouldnt-have-made-it-as-a-dancer-today-4032.html Mon, 30 Mar 2020 18:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/brian-cox-i-think-about-taking-it-easy-3286.html By Sugandha Rawal New Delhi March 29 Succession star Brian Cox feels actors never retire but fade out gently At 73 he is enjoying the peak of his career though he sometimes thinks about taking it a bit easy After almost 60 years in showbiz Cox won his first Golden Globe at the 77th annual award ceremony for his work on the TV show Succession earlier this year One is always in two minds about awards You think why to work for awards but its very nice when you get them and also an award is kind of like an affirmation of your work Cox told IANS when asked what does his first Golden Globe mean to him So in that sense its an affirming of what you do and affirming on a global scale So anyway Its very gratifying he added Starting his career in theatre Cox has carved a place for himself with powerpacked performances as the antimutant villain William Stryker in the XMen movies the villainous opportunist King Agamemnon in Troy CIA Deputy Director Ward Abbott in the Bourne franchise and Winston Churchill in Churchill At present Cox who started working in the sixties is seen as media mogul Logan Roy in the show Succession aired in India on Star World Asked if he plans to retire anytime soon the Scottish actor said I think about taking it easier Actors never retire I think we go on to be dropped or we fade gently out Im having a peak in my career So Im hoping to continue it for a few years And then later on Ill be getting into my 80s in a few years and think then maybe I can take it easy and just do voiceovers the actor said with a chuckle At present he is happy to essay the role of Logan in Succession which follows the lives of the Roy family as they contemplate their future once their aging father essayed by Cox begins to step back from his media and entertainment conglomerate Talking about his role the actor said Logan is a self made man He is a man from a kind of mysterious background We reveal that he grew up in a traumatic background We see evidence of that with the scars on his back that he was beaten when he was young and that he had a troubled childhood In a sense he is a man who is a bit of a nihilist And is really disappointed in humanity He loves his children thats very important to realise about Logan He does love his children but he feels that they are in impossible positions and he knows that he is partly responsible he added Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandhariansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/brian-cox-i-think-about-taking-it-easy-3286.html Sun, 29 Mar 2020 08:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shirley-setia-i-get-nervous-and-scared-while-talking-to-strangers-2834.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai March 28 New Zealandbased singeractress Shirley Setia is all set to make her Bollywood debut this year But before that she has already just featured in the Netflix film Maska In the movie Shirley plays a blogger Talking about her character the actress said My characters name is Persis She is a very strong headed girl She is independent She is very passionate about stories and finding out peoples stories She is a blogger So you will always see her with a camera and a voice recorder She talks to people and writes about them in her blog She is making a new book about Irani cafes and their culture about the people related to the Irani cafes Not just the people who own them but also the regular customers who have a lot of memories with such cafes Thats how she meets Rumi played by Prit Kamani and the story unfolds said Shirley sharing further details about the story The actress then shared her similarities with her own screen character When quizzed about the same Shirley thought for a while and said Some things I relate to like her passion for stories Ive always been very passionate about stories even when I was just a singer I still sing When you are writing a song you want to put a story in it which the audience and your fans can relate to So I related to her passion for stories There are some aspects in her character which I might not absolutely agree with I guess thats where we differ But both of us are quite independent and strong headed We know what we want to do how we want to focus on things Being an introvert person it was not easy to play a blogger especially because she gets nervous and scared while talking to strangers revealed the newcomer She said It was a little difficult because I am an introvert person When you are a blogger you have to go to random people talk to them take their pictures you have to be out of your comfort zone This was very difficult for me because I get very scared and nervous while talking to strangers However things became easier after a few workshops Our director did workshops with us and put me in such a situation that I had to go talk to random people as Persis and ask them their stories It was unexpected but helped me understand the mindset of the character She is free and doesnt care about what people think of her She does what she feels is right I wish I could also be like that expressed Shirley Even though brought up in New Zealand the 24yearold actress speaks fluent Hindi Talking about the same she revealed We speak in Hindi at home Also when I was in high school I used to work as a radio jockey in a Hindi radio station in New Zealand On the work front Shirley is set to make her Bollywood debut with Sabbir Khans Nikamma where she stars alongside Shilpa Shetty and Abhimanyu Dassani Meanwhile her Netflix debut film Maska premiered yesterday The Neeraj Udhwani directorial also stars Manisha Koirala Javed Jaffrey and Prit Kamani in key roles IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/shirley-setia-i-get-nervous-and-scared-while-talking-to-strangers-2834.html Sat, 28 Mar 2020 12:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anil-kapoor-kishen-kanhaiya-one-of-my-favourite-films-1751.html Mumbai March 26 Actor Anil Kapoor says his 1990 release Kishen Kanhaiya has a special place in his heart The actor reminisced about the Rakesh Roshan directorial as it turned 30 The actor said that he is constantly reminded of all the love and appreciation that the movie has received over the years Madhuri Dixit and I have worked in a lot of films together and every film has a set of memories which cannot be forgotten Anil said Kishen Kanhaiya was and continues to be one of my favorite films My double role in the film gave me an opportunity to explore two very different personalities one strong and macho and the other soft and vulnerable On the occasion of its 30 year milestone Im reminded of all the love and appreciation that the movie has received over the years he added The film is about twin brothers Kishen and Kanhaiya who are separated at birth One is raised in a mansion and the other in a poor family They reunite in a bid to fight evil The film will air on Zee Bollywood on March 28 IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/anil-kapoor-kishen-kanhaiya-one-of-my-favourite-films-1751.html Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sunil-grover-on-low-moments-of-his-life-983.html New Delhi March 25 Comedianactor Sunil Grover has been bringing smiles on peoples faces with his funny acts for long but he has now opened up on the low moments of his life Comedians are like everyone else have their high and low moments too he shared The important thing is to learn from each experience I have seen my father struggle every day to pursue his dreams and that has taught me to never give up on mine Sunil told IANS When I was struggling in the industry I learnt that there were many others like me who were superstars of their town and strugglers here in Mumbai But I kept my calm and believed in myself I tried to reach out to people in the industry for work Soon I started getting work and realised how fortunate I was and regained my strength bit by bit added the artiste who has done TV shows movies and web series In films like Baaghi he has gone beyond comedy Does Bollywood give him more opportunities as an actor as compared to television All my roles in films or comedy shows have been different Yes of course this Baaghi was a challenging role for me as I played the lead actress father a character that was years older than my real age I streaked my hair grey and picked up a Punjabi accent for the part recalled the Bharat actor He is happy doing well written characters that make my audience laugh irrespective of the platform The objective for television theatre or radio is the same to entertain Television is a medium where you have to work on your character on an everyday basis and films is medium where when you get to work you have to work before it starts he explained Elaborating further Sunil said In television character grows with time because its a longrunning affair most of the time but in films the characters story has a beginning middle and an end and then after some time a new journey starts with a new character For me both the mediums have their own charm Working on films and television both give opportunities to explore myself as an actor and enjoy the journey he added He has played many comic characters but Gutthi remains a favourite of many According to me the audience connects with this character the most because it is an amalgamation of various characters that you come across in your daytoday life Guthi is a whole package a blockbuster entertainer he said He has donned the sari or a suit to play other women characters too When he was first asked to play a woman character was he a bit hesitant I have been someone who has always been good at mimicry acting and making people laugh While playing a character I dont think of the gender Till the time I can make people laugh without offending anyone I am not hesitant I only take 10 minutes to get dressed for a male character and 20 minutes in total to be ready as Gutthi Also I like it when people call out my character name as it is very overwhelming that they are aware of the characters I play said Sunil He has also been on multiple tours the latest being Imperial Blue SuperHit Nights Season 6 which brought together music and comedy This is a unique combination not just for the audience but also for me as a performer What made this most exciting is that I got to perform with legends such as Vishal and Shekhar he said about working with the composer duo IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/sunil-grover-on-low-moments-of-his-life-983.html Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vijay-varma-i-am-glad-to-be-a-part-of-imtiaz-alis-creation-211.html By Ahana Bhattacharya Mumbai March 24 Actor Vijay Varma who became a housholde name after Gully Boy returns as a dreaded narcotics dealer in the Netflix web series She scripted by Imtiaz Ali The actor is extremely elated to have got an opportunity to be a part of the filmmakers creation I am glad that I have got an opportunity to be a part of Imtiaz Alis creation which is so beautiful and so full of rich profound stories This is a completely different shade of Imtiaz Ali is what I felt He has a wide range of things to say and this one is his most unique story till date Vijay told IANS In the web series a lady constable poses as a prostitute to help the police nab Sasya the narcotics dealer Sharing about his character the actor said I play a character called Sasya although its debatable what his real name is He works in a very mysterious way he is doing a business which is very secret Therefore the personality is extremely secretive The unreliability of this person is extremely attractive He belongs to a certain region and speaks that dialect The most charming part of this character is the surprises and shocks that he brings Sasya is a sadistic person and a control freak especially in matters of sexuality Informing about the character traits Vijay added There is a deep sense of superiority that he experiences because he is a control freak Especially when it comes to matters of sexuality he thinks that is his forte There are streaks of sadistic nature in him and there is also a great storyteller in him at the same time It wasnt easy to approach this kind of a character initially For Vijay it was quite disturbing but at the same time interesting because he is fascinated by the works of Manto and Ismat Chughtai The actor revealed It disturbed me when I heard the part The story also felt disturbing Therefore it compelled me to dig deeper and find something I am a big fan of writers like Manto and Ismat Chughtai who dwell in these kinds of complex emotions All these fascinating stories and storytellers have charmed me Also starring Aaditi Pohankar She premiered on Netflix on March 20 The web series has been directed by Avinash Das and Arif Ali IANS https://dailyworld.in/quote-unquote/vijay-varma-i-am-glad-to-be-a-part-of-imtiaz-alis-creation-211.html Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:29:00 +0530