Pankaj Tripathi had to walk out of Panga due to the lack of dates
Pankaj Tripathi is one of the most respected actors who have always managed to give better performances with each project. While he has quite the line-up of films for the coming year, he was initially supposed to be a part of Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s Panga starring Kangana Ranaut and Jassie Gill. But, due to the lack of dates, Pankaj Tripathi had no option but to opt-out of the project.
A source close to the project revealed that even though Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari was keen on having Pankaj Tripathi on-board, and had narrated a crucial role to him. After giving his nod, he was supposed to join the team for the Bhopal schedule in February but since his plate was full of other projects like Kagaz, Mirzapur 2, Mimi, ’83, Ludo, and Kargil Girl.
Well, it surely would have been a treat to watch Pankaj Tripathi be a part of this sport-drama. Pankaj Tripathi said that it would have been great to do the film but unfortunately the dates didn’t work out.
Laxmmi Bomb: Akshay Kumar opens up about the creative differences between director Raghava Lawrence and the makers
Akshay Kumar’s first look as a man possessed by the spirit of a transgender in Laxmmi Bomb stirred up a lot of buzz ever since it came out. The film is the remake of the Tamil hit, Muni 2: Kanchana. Laxmmi Bomb is being directed by Raghava Lawrence, who walked out of the project because of the creative differences with the makers. Even though he came back to it, nobody really spoke about the issue out in the open.
Akshay Kumar recently opened up about the issue in a recent interview with a leading tabloid. The actor said that he has no clue as to what happened between the makers but he says that Raghava and their producer, Shabina Khan, spoke about it and sorted everything out. He said that once the two got the issues sorted, nobody spoke about it and the shooting went on as scheduled. Akshay also revealed that he has enjoyed working with Raghava Lawrence so far and that he is a great director who knows his way around the horror-thriller genre.
Speaking of his role in the film, Akshay Kumar said that he loved shooting while wearing a saree, he loves doing the tricky stuff. He also revealed that a lot of people asked him not to go ahead with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Padman, but he went with his initial decision and the box office speaks for itself.
Akshay Kumar has 4 projects lined up for the coming year including Laxxmi Bomb, Sooryavanshi, Prithviraj, and Bachchan Pandey.
BREAKING: Salman Khan and Kabir Khan gearing up for their FOURTH collaboration?
Salman Khan is presently busy shooting for his Eid 2020 release, Radhe, which is his third collaboration with Prabhu Dheva after Wanted and the recently released, Dabangg 3. Though there have been several speculations about his next from Radhe ranging from Kick 2 to Satte Pe Satta remake, the 54-year-old superstar hasn’t signed on for any film. Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learnt that he is contemplating on several subjects which are offered to him and will take a call on his next only once Radhe is out of his system.
“Kabir Khan, who wrapped up shooting for ‘83 recently, has narrated an idea to Salman, which he has loved. The duo have discussed a probably collaboration and might go ahead with the same once Kabir locks the script and screenplay. Both of them are eager to collaborate after a 4 year break,” revealed a source close to the development.
Salman and Kabir have previously worked on two blockbusters, Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan and one dud, Tubelight, following which there have been reports about a fall-out between the two. The duo however has never spoken about the alleged fall-out. Kabir was recently spotted with Salman at two occasions – the premiere of Dabangg 3 and Arpita Khan’s Christmas party. “It is in a very nascent stage and things will be clear on this towards the second half of the year. Salman will finish another film before moving onto Kabir’s next, if things materialize as expected,” the source added.
Kabir is currently working on the post-production of his upcoming sport-drama, ‘83, which stars Ranveer Singh in the lead. He is simultaneously also developing the script of his next with his team of writers. “Salman – Kabir film belongs to an exciting space, which neither of the two have explored before and the collaboration will definitely happen once the script is final. There is no bad blood between them now as they are aware about being a formidable force together, forming a winning combo,” the source concludes on an optimistic note.
’83: Kabir Khan reveals that the Tunbridge Wellswhich paid tribute to Kapil Dev after he returned to the ground 36 years later
Director Kabir Khan has put his heart and soul in his next, ’83, with Ranveer Singh portraying the role of Kapil Dev. The team left for an elaborate schedule in June and even shot at the famous Tunbridge Wellswhich stadium where Kapil Dev scored the iconic 150 runs in an ODI against Zimbabwe. While there is no video evidence of this historic moment, the staff at Tunbridge Wellswhich surprised Kapil Dev pleasantly!
While Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath accompanied the team to keep an eye on their stance and give them their expert advice, Kabir asked them to accompany the team for shoots as well. During the shoot, Kabir revealed that the ground officials surprised them with a plaque celebrating Kapil Dev’s record-breaking score. When they found out that Kapil was returning to the ground after 36 years, the county got really excited and it was like their hero had returned.
Kabir reveals that the ground is beautiful but not a lot of matches have happened there. Slated to release on April 10, ’83 also marks the first film of Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone post marriage.
Bhumi Pednekar is all set for a special appearance in Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Bhumi Pednekar is all set to hit a hattrick with Ayushmann Khurrana with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. The actress, according to reports, will be making a guest appearance in the film based on same-sex marriages. Aanand L Rai has confirmed the buzz and said that the Shubh Mangal Savdhan franchise will be incomplete without Bhumi so they had to rope her in for the second film.
It was almost obvious that the makers will rope her in for an appearance in the film and producer Bhushan Kumar was all praises for the Pati Patni Aur Woh actress. He said that Bhumi’s contribution to the film is going to add value to it and that she’s a great actress. Bhumi and Ayushmann Khurrana shot for their sequences in the film over a two-day shooting schedule in Varanasi back in November 2019. The duo’s comfort level with each other is great and they happen to be really good friends who enjoy working together. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan will mark the fourth on-screen collaboration of Bhumi Pednekar and Ayushmann Khurrana after Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, and Bala.
Bhumi Pednekar will next be seen in Durgavati, Bhoot – Part One: The Haunted Ship, and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare.
Maine Pyar Kiya actor Bhagyashree would like to see these actors in the remake of her film
Salman Khan’s first blockbuster film Maine Pyar Kiya recently completed 30 years. Actress Bhagyashree too starred in the film. In a recent interview, she talked about her thoughts of a remake version of it.
In recent years, several blockbuster films from the 80s and 90s are being remade to suit the taste of the younger generation. Sooraj Barjatiya’s Maine Pyar Kiya is one such classic film of the 90s that made Salman Khan an overnight star.
When Bhagyashree was asked about the film’s remake and her thoughts about it, the former actress said that she is not a big fan of remakes and feels that some things need to be left untouched. She further said that there is a lot of pressure on those making and performing it as there is a constant comparison.
However, if ever there is a remake of Maine Pyar Kiya, she would like to see Alia Bhatt play her character of Suman, as Bhagyashree feels that the actress portrays innocence through her eyes. For Salman’s role of Prem, she took the name of Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.
Meanwhile, Bhagyashree chose to stay away from films after her marriage and decided to look after her family. Bhagyashree’s son Abhimanyu Dassani made his debut in 2019 with the film Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. The actor is currently shooting for his second film titled Nikamma.
Deepika Padukone is hoping that there won’t be the need to make more films on acid violence after Chhapaak
Deepika Padukone will be playing one of the most hard-hitting roles of her career so far in Chhapaak. Portraying the real-life story of Laxmi Agarwal as Malti, Deepika Padukone has made quite an impact as an artist after the trailer launch. The fans couldn’t be more proud of her for playing this role and she was also seen breaking into tears while talking about it.
In a recent interview, Deepika Padukone spoke about how she is hoping that after Chhapaak, there won’t be the need to make any more films on acid violence. She understands that cinema is a powerful medium and is very well capable of making a change in society. Speaking further about her role as a producer in the film, she said there are some projects that require a little more love so she thought she will be adding more value to this project as a producer.
Chhapaak also stars Vikrant Massey and is directed by Meghna Gulzar.
Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan starrer Mission Mangal has been released in Hong Kong with Cantonese subtitles
Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan had an onscreen reunion last year with Mission Mangal. The movie was based on the mission carried out by ISRO called Mission Orbiter Mars (MoM). The movie was one of the blockbusters among Akshay Kumar’s other releases. Making heads turn with the dedication of real-life heroes, it beautifully depicted the struggles and efforts put to make it a successful mission.
Mission Mangal was a clear hit in India and now, it has been released in Hong Kong where it is being screened with Cantonese subtitled and Akshay Kumar is just basking in the glory of this moment. He took to his Instagram to share the poster with the caption, “Feeling proud #MissionMangal is now running with Cantonese subtitles across theatres in Hong Kong. @balanvidya @taapsee @aslisona @nithyamenen @TheSharmanJoshi @iamkirtikulhari #JaganShakti @foxstarhindi #CapeOfGoodFilms #HopeProductions”
It surely is a proud moment for the makers of this film along with the star cast that included Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, and Sharman Joshi among the others.
Jassie Gill hopes he sets an example with his character in Panga
After being seen in Happy Bhaag Jayegi 2, Jassie Gill will be making his comeback to Bollywood with Kangana Ranaut starrer Panga. The actor is seen playing the role of Kangana’s husband in the film who supports her decision of returning to play Kabaddi after she decides to do so. With a lot of characters coming to light and being called out by the audiences as sexist, Jassie Gill hopes his character will be able to set an example for men out there.
Hailing from a small-town, Jassie Gill explained that he has seen women around him give up on their dreams to take care of their houses. Speaking of his character in Panga, he says it has been created with inspiration and he urges his wife to chase her dreams. He understands that movies tend to have an emotional impact on the audience and so he is hoping that with his character, the men living in small-towns will urge their better halves to chase their dreams.
Panga is directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and marks the first collaboration of the trio.
Saif Ali Khan speaks about the comparisons of Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior with Game Of Thrones
Saif Ali Khan will don the role of Uday Bhan in Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior. The actor will be portraying the role of the antagonist while Ajay Devgn plays the protagonist, Tanhaji. The movie is a high-octane period action drama that has left the fans in awe of both the stars. Also starring Kajol as Ajay Devgn’s wife, the movie is sure to hit the right strings among its audience.
When the first look of Saif Ali Khan was revealed, the fans couldn’t help but compare the poster to Game Of Thrones. During a conversation with a leading tabloid, Saif Ali Khan said that he agrees that there are Game Of Thrones references in the film, but only with regards to the costumes and the sets. The movie, however, is a war film and Saif had an instant liking towards the script after the narration.
The likes of Uday Bhan is something Saif has not explored in his career so far. Finding it a cool role to play, he gave a positive nod to the film. Playing the colourful and dramatic character, the role required a seasoned actor with body language, posture, and expressions.
Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior marks the third collaboration of Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn.
Ajay Devgn talks about working with Saif Ali Khan in Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior
Ajay Devgn is all set for his 100th release in the industry, Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior, and this time he is also producing the film. The high-octane action drama also stars Kajol and Saif Ali Khan. Even though Kajol and Saif have worked on multiple projects, Ajay has only worked with him twice in the past, Kacche Dhaage (1999) and Omkara (2006).
With regards to their third collaboration on-screen, Ajay spoke to a leading tabloid and said that Saif was a perfect fit for the role of Uday Bhan. They needed an actor who would emote the character well and had gravitas since he was supposed to be on par with Tanaji. He also revealed that Saif had an instant liking for the story as soon as he heard the script. Ajay expresses that he did not work with Saif as much as he should have but, they’re excited about this project since both the actors have gotten along really well from their first film together.
Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior is slated to release on January 10 and will also be releasing in 3D. Ajay Devgn revealed that the script demanded them to exploit this technology since it’s a high-octane action drama. He also went on to say that two paragraphs in the history textbooks did not do justice to Tanaji.
EXCLUSIVE: Shimla Mirchi to release in single screens before being out on OTT; talks with multiplexes on
Trade and industry were left surprised on December 26, 2019 afternoon when the trailer of Shimla Mirchi emerged on the internet all of a sudden. It’s a long delayed rom-com directed by Sholay director Ramesh Sippy. The star cast is interesting, comprising of Hema Malini, Rajkummar Rao and Rakul Preet Singh. The trailer too got thumbs up but the sudden release and zero promotions meant the film’s fate at the box office is sealed.
Knowing this aspect, the makers signed a deal with a major OTT platform. A trade source says, “The theatrical release is a mere formality. It can add to the worth of a film when it’s being sold to a streaming giant or television channel. The makers knew that it’ll have a one or maximum two weeks run in cinemas. After that, it was to be out on Amazon Prime. However, when the major multiplex chains were informed of this agreement, they straightaway decided not to give Shimla Mirchi any show. Since the time OTT became big, the multiplex players have been following a policy without fail with regards to Hindi films, and that is, the film can be released online only eight weeks after theatrical release. The producers of Shimla Mirchi are in fact planning to release it on Amazon in a fortnight. Hence, the multiplex chain put their foot down.”
As a result, as of now, Shimla Mirchi is having a limited release in single screens. Also, it’ll hopefully find a release in standalone multiplexes. Another source however reveals, “The makers are still having talks with the multiplexes. A clearer picture will emerge by tomorrow morning, that is, January 2.”
The trade source lashes out at these developments, “Ramesh Sippy ji has given Sholay, the biggest Hindi film ever. His film was stuck for so many years. Finally, when it’s getting a release and he’s able to earn some money, these multiplex people are playing spoilsport. They were just asking for 1 show in most cinemas and yet, these multiplex chains refused to bow down. It’s an insult of an icon.” He also adds, “Ramesh ji was the president of Producers Guild of India and right now, he’s in the council of management. The filmmakers should come out and revolt against the dadagiri of these multiplexes for insulting their veteran member.”
Sunny Leone opens up about the #MeToo movement; says more people speaking up creates awareness
The #MeToo wave which started in the West, took over India in 2018. Several women took to social media to reveal about people who harassed them in the past. The movement also brought into light the names of several Bollywood celebrities. The movement started with Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta accusing Nana Patekar of sexual misconduct on the sets of the 2008 film Horn Ok Pleassss. Gradually, several other women started naming the likes of Vikas Bahl, Sajid Khan, Rajat Kapoor, Alok Nath, and Anu Malik for using their position to exploit women.
Recently, in an interview Sunny Leone was asked about the change that came with the #MeToo movement. She said that she does not work in an office and lives in a bubble but does believe that more women talk about these issues of sexual harassment or (instances of people) making them feel uncomfortable at work, whether it is women or men. She said that even men are harassed and that it is not recognized because people think it is not a big deal.
She said that the more people speak up, the more they make it aware that it is not okay. The actress feels that thing swill change, especially with people getting exposed through social media and other media outlets.
Sunny was glad that a message around the importance of consent was included in web series Ragini MMS Returns Season 2. She has a cameo as a paranormal expert in the ALTBalaji series.
Neha Dhupia talks about the sexism she faced while working in the south film industry
Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia in a recent interview opened up on how her male co-stars in the southern film industry used to be given special treatment on the sets.
Talking about sexism in the southern film industry which she faced first hand, Dhupia narrated an event. She said that a long time back she did a south film where they always insisted on feeding the hero first. Neha said that she would say that she is hungry but they would say that the male actor is in a shot and will pick up the plate first. She said that similar bizarre things would happen back then.
However, Neha further said that those things do not happen anymore but when it happened with her, she laughed it off. She said that she was not bothered by the incident.
Neha Dhupia started her career in the entertainment industry as a child artist in a Malayalam film in 1994 and continued to do films since then. On the work front, Neha was last seen in Kajol-starrer Helicopter Eela. She has been representing herself as one of the judges in MTV Roadies since 2016 and hosts her own reality show, BFFs with Vogue.
Bigg Boss 13: Arhaan Khan is upset about the way his past was revealed on the show; says his relationship with Rashami Desai has become stronger
Ever since Arhaan Khan made an entry on Bigg Boss 13, the controversies have been at their peak. While he was evicted from the show in just two weeks, he entered the house again and stayed for almost a month. With his recent eviction, his girlfriend, Rashami Desai was heartbroken and couldn’t stop crying. In a recent conversation with a leading daily, Arhaan Khan revealed that he has no issues with Salman Khan bringing his past up on national television, but he has a grudge with the channel.
In an episode of Weekend Ka Vaar, Salman Khan revealed some shocking details about Arhaan Khan’s private life which said that he had a wife and a child. All of which was kept hidden from his current girlfriend, Rashami Desai, surprising the inmates even more as they thought she was aware of his past. Arhaan spoke about how he sees Salman Khan as his idol and he must have had his reasons for revealing his past like that, but he is upset with the channel. Arhaan Khan feels that bringing up his past was unacceptable because nothing of that sort has ever been done in the previous seasons.
When asked about his current bond with Rashami Desai, he said that the two are stronger today than ever before. They had decided not to talk about each other’s pasts but he had given her a hint about having a kid. He also pointed out how Devoleena Bhattacharjee came and spoke to Rashami during the task.
Varun Dhawan says he was inspired by Eminem
Varun Dhawan is all set to play the role of a dancer in Remo Dsouza’s Street Dancer 3D. The actor has had a keen interest in the art of dance. In the trailer, Varun Dhawan is seen showing off some kick-ass dance moves that are sure to leave you with a dropped jaw. Revolving around the India-Pakistan immigrants living abroad, this movie is expected to be the biggest dance movie India has ever seen.
Speaking of his inclination towards dance, Varun Dhawan revealed that he grew up listening to a lot of hip hop, that’s where his love for dance comes from. He listened to a lot of artists like Eminem who inspired him. He says he’s lucky to pursue his love for dance through his films and has appreciated the evolution of art in our country. Varun also expressed his excitement for the artists who express their emotions, educate, and encourage through their respective forms of art.
Street Dancer 3D also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Nora Fatehi and is slated to release on January 24, 2020.
Kajol says she would’ve chosen to do Tribhanga even if it was a theatrical release
Kajol is all set to make her digital debut in Renuka Shahane’s directorial, Tribhanga. The film is based on the lives of three women of different generations and is slated to release on Netflix in 2020. Starring Mithila Palkar and Tanvi Azmi, this film is based on a dysfunctional family and the team has recently wrapped the shoot for the same.
Kajol spoke about the project and why she chose to do it, in a recent interview. She said it’s the script that matters to her and not the platform of its release. Kajol went on to say that the digital platform has provided projects with a chance to release that would be difficult to release otherwise. Appreciating the wider audience reach, she said that she is glad that the movie will be available all across the world on the same day.
Kajol will also be seen in Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior starring her husband, Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan.
Shocking! Ramesh Sippy’s film Shimla Mirchi goes straight to OTT
While producers RSVP’s colourful musical extravaganza Bhangra Paa Le was wrongly being reported as going to the streaming platform, it is being released on January 3 in theatres across India, another talked-about film is not quite that lucky on the same Friday.
Unknown to anyone associated with the film the producers Viacom 18 have decided to release Ramesh Sippy’s Shimla Mirchi, Sippy’s first directorial venture in 24 years, on Netflix. Neither the director nor the principal members of the cast Hema Malini and Rajkummar Rao were taken into confidence on the release platform.
A source close to Ramesh Sippy says the veteran director of Sholay is mighty miffed, “Viacom 18 has taken the decision (to release Shimla Mirchi on the digital platform) on their own. Rameshji had no say in the matter. He made the film in 2014 at a meagre budget of 16-17 crores. It was meant to be a small sweet romantic film set in Shimla. Rameshji handed over the film to the producers in 2015. Just why they sat on it for 4 years and why they’ve decided to not give it a theatrical release is not explained. It isn’t as if small-town romances don’t work in theatres. Viacom themselves have released several such films. Recent films like Luka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh have done well. Then why this stepmotherly treatment to Shimla Mirchi?”
A true gentleman, Ramesh Sippy has decided to stay quiet on the matter. All he will say is, “I am very proud of Shimla Mirchi, and I’m glad it’s finally being released. The platform and format of release is the producers’ decision.”
