Mouni Roy recalls how she couldn’t smile at Akshay Kumar during Gold shoot
Mouni Roy is well known for her roles on television and has now moved on to shooting for some big projects. The actress also manages to take time out to shoot for television amidst her busy and hectic schedules. Mouni Roy is all set to play the role of an antagonist in Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer Brahmastra. The sci-fi film is expected to be one of the biggest and the best in the genre.
Recalling her initial days from Akshay Kumar starrer Gold, Mouni says she was surprised that she got the role because she did not hear anything for the first two months after her audition. She was then taken to Akshay Kumar’s office who welcomed her to the team. Playing his wife in the film, they were supposed to shoot for the song ‘Monobina’ where she was supposed to look at him and smile.
However, it was like she froze and she couldn’t do it, but Akshay Kumar being the gentleman he is, helped her get comfortable on the sets and gave her some time to get used to everyone and everything around her.
Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia were granted a divorce on Tuesday, the actor refused to speak about it
While there were rumours of Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia’s split back in 2011, it was only in 2018 that the couple announced separation. The couple has officially been granted a divorce as of Tuesday, November 19. Arjun Rampal recently had a kid, Arik, with his girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades.
Since Arjun and Mehr’s wedding was an inter-faith one, the process of divorce took longer than usual. Their marriage was registered under the Special Marriage Act where after filing a mutual consent for divorce, the ‘s plea is scrutinized, registered, and then they are required to attend marriage counselling sessions. This is to see if the couple can still reconcile, post which, they are granted 6 more months to work things out, if possible. Later, a final plea is filed and then the divorce falls through.
When questioned to comment about it, Arjun Rampal refused to speak about it saying that he doesn’t want to talk about it and it is nobody’s business. Mehr Jesia, too, remained unavailable.
Brahmastra: The details of Nagarjuna’s role in Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer are OUT!
Brahmastra can only be considered as one of the most anticipated films of 2020 ever since its announcement. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have shot for most of the film and is clearly one of those films with a fine star cast. The film also has Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna and Shah Rukh Khan playing pivotal roles in it.
The details of Nagarjuna’s role are finally out and it is surely going to make it difficult for you to wait for Brahmastra. Nagarjuna will be playing the role of an archaeologist who, along with his students, will be on an expedition to restore an ancient temple around the banks of Ganges. The actor has already shot for his part in Varanasi, last June. An important event leads Ranbir and Alia’s characters, Shiva and Isha, to him and the story then takes a massive turn.
The story picks up the pace after all the characters come face-to-face in Varanasi and an intense action sequence has already been shot for the same, earlier this year. Ayan Mukerji has surely given his all to this project and we can’t wait to know more about it.
Leonardo DiCaprio raises concern over Delhi’s air pollution
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has raised his concern over Delhi’s air pollution. The actor runs the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation which raises awareness over environmental issues.
Leonardo DiCaprio took to Instagram to share a photo of people protesting at India Gate. The ongoing protests demand the government to pay attention to the growing pollution. He wrote, “Over 1500 citizens gathered in at India Gate, in New Delhi, to demand immediate action on the cities hazardous pollution levels. According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 1.5 million people every year; these statistics make air pollution the fifth-largest killer in India.”
Leonardo further wrote, “People of all ages joined the demonstration, which succeeded to directly trigger action for Indian citizens: 1. The Indian Prime Minister’s office set up a special panel to address the issue, within a few hours of the protest. The panel is due to report on the issue within 2 weeks. 2. The Supreme Court of India asked the Central Government and respective state governments to fix the crop and waste burning issue of Delhi within a week. 3. The Centre accepted that the Green Fund will be used to combat toxic air pollution. 4. The Indian Prime Minister asked the Agriculture Ministry to distribute equipment urgently so that crop burning is no longer necessary.”
Many celebrities have raised their concern over the pollution in Delhi. Priyanka Chopra was recently in Delhi to shoot Netflix movie The White Tiger. She was seen wearing a mask and even took to social media to talk about the issue.
Jacqueline Fernandez confirms a film with John Abraham and Rakul Preet Singh
Jacqueline Fernandez, who recently starred in the Netflix movie Drive, has confirmed that she will be starring alongside John Abraham and Rakul Preet Singh in a film. But, she did not mention the film name. The actress has been rumoured to be starring in John’s next production Attack.
At a store launch in Mumbai on Monday, Jacqueline Fernandez said, “It’s a fantastic film and script. I am coming together again with John and we have Rakul also in this film,” Jacqueline said while speaking about the movie’s star cast. Speaking about Rakul Preet’s role in the flick, she said, “The one Rakul is doing is brilliant.”
Jacqueline further said, “During the story, I was wondering that Rakul’s role is really nice and I’m sure that she will do full justice to it. I am very happy that she is a part of the project.”
This would be the third time Jacqueline will be working with John Abraham. They have previously worked in Housefull 2 and Dishoom.
On the professional front, Jacqueline Fernandez will be seen next in yet another Netflix’s movie Mrs. Serial Killer. She will also be seen in Kick 2 opposite Salman Khan.
Shahid Kapoor speaks about Mira Rajput’s individuality; says she does not feel the need to change and adjust
It has been four years since Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput tied the knot. Mira Rajput comes from a non-filmy background yet she managed to blend well with the industry. Mira has always appeared confidently in the public eye and at various events.
During an interview with a daily, Shahid confessed that he was aware of Mira’s individuality. He said that he realized that on the first day itself when they got done with the marriage rituals and stepped out for some pictures.
He said that when they hosted a small get together in Mumbai after the marriage for people from the film fraternity, she was extremely comfortable. Shahid further said that Mira does not feel the need to change and adjust. He said that people like her for who she is and that he always knew that she will find her own space and will become her own person.
Shahid and Mira got married in 2015 and are now parents to two beautiful kids- Misha and Zain.
On the work front, after the success of Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor is currently gearing up for his next titled Jersey. The film is a remake of the Telugu movie of the same name. The movie co-stars Mrunal Thakur as the leading lady. The movie will be directed by Gowtham Tinnanauri, who also helmed the original film.
Saif Ali Khan and Alaia Furniturewala starrer Jawaani Jaaneman has a fresh release date now
We were the first ones to tell you that Saif Ali Khan’s Jawaani Jaaneman had faced a delay and would not release on November 29, as planned before. The film, which also marks the Bollywood debut of Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaia Furniturewala, now has a fresh release date. It will now hit the theatres on 7th February, 2020.
It was previously learned that director Nitin Kakkar had a special song on mind which would demand quite a makeover for Saif. “The director needs to shoot a promotional song for the film with Saif that also require him to don a particular look. However, Saif is currently shooting for his next web series Tandav and has a packed schedule. Because of this the movie has been pushed from Nov 29,” a source had earlier informed Bollywood Hungama.
The film, starring Saif as debutant Alaia’s father and a man well into his 40s, has a solo release window on the 7th of February. A week after, on 14th February, Imtiaz Ali’s yet untitled film starring Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan, which happens to be a sequel of Love Aaj Kal, is scheduled to release.
REVEALED: Fox Star Studios announces Dil Bechara’s release date but continues negotiations with Amazon Prime
Bollywood Hungama was the first one to drop the hint that Dil Bechara, an official adaptation of the 2014 Hollywood tearjerker The Fault In Our Stars, will not release theatrically and that it’ll directly premiere on a digital platform. 2 days later after this story came out, the producers Fox Star Studios announced that Dil Bechara is releasing in cinemas on May 8, 2020. If you think this announcement ends all speculations around the film’s OTT release, then you are mistaken.
A source close to the project says, “Fox Star Studios has pitched Dil Bechara to Amazon Prime. The negotiations are going on in full swing but both parties are yet to reach a consensus with regards to the economics of the deal. This is the reason why Fox has postponed the film’s theatrical release by 6 months; although it’s ready since sometime. This is their way of buying time so that the deal with Amazon Prime can be locked. If Fox Star Studios manages to get the OTT platform agree to the terms and money they are demanding, then the theatrical release of Dil Bechara will be shelved and it’ll directly release on Amazon Prime. If not, then it’ll release on May 8 next year as scheduled.”
The Fault In Our Stars is one of the highly acclaimed Hollywood films of this decade, that has a huge fan following. What then led Fox Star Studios to not release Dil Bechara in cinemas? The source replies, “It’s wrong to assume here that the makers are planning its direct OTT release because the film not up to the mark. The movie is quite touching but at the same time, it’s too depressing and niche. Hence, Fox management is worried that they might not be able to recover their costs, should the film release in cinemas. Therefore, they approached Amazon Prime, hoping that they’ll give them a good deal which will ensure profitability for them.”
If Dil Bechara’s deal with Amazon Prime gets locked, it’ll prove to be a double jolt for its lead actor Sushant Singh Rajput. A trade source states, “In the last one year, he gave two successes in the form of Kedarnath and Chhichhore, with the latter trending excellently and even crossing the Rs. 100 crore mark. But in between these two films, he delivered a box office disaster with Sonchiriya, which earned just Rs. 6.60 crore. And earlier this month, his other delayed film Drive finally came out directly on Netflix and was panned by one and all. And now if Dil Bechara also doesn’t see the light of the day in theatres, Sushant’s track record will be greatly affected.”
Dil Bechara also stars Sanjana Sanghi and is the directorial debut of casting director Mukesh Chhabra. It is a story of two terminally ill patients who meet in a support group and then fall in love. The music of this film is composed by A R Rahman. Saif Ali Khan also features in a special appearance.
Emraan Hashmi perceived Rishi Kapoor as an angry person before working with him
Emraan Hashmi starrer The Body will soon be released in theatres. The film was delayed by a year owing to actor Rishi Kapoor’s health who is also a pivotal part of the film. In a recent interview with a daily, Emraan Hashmi spoke about working with Rishi Kapoor. Emraan Hashmi said that he was in touch with Rishi Kapoor after he flew to New York for his treatment. He said that the entire team waited for him patiently.
When asked if Rishi Kapoor is as angry on sets as he is on social media, Emraan said that it is far from that. The Why Cheat India actor said that he had the same perception about the actor based on his Twitter feed, but said that he is a sweetheart.
The Body is an adaptation of the 2012 Spanish film of the same name. Directed by Jeethu Joseph, starring Emraan Hashmi, Rishi Kapoor, Vedhika and Sobhita Dhulipala, presented by Viacom18 Studios and produced by Azure Entertainment, The Body releases on the 13th of December.
EXCLUSIVE: Anees Bazmee BREAKS silence on Pagalpanti’s PATRIOTIC touch; Vijay Mallya-Nirav Modi connection!
The trailers and songs of the upcoming comic caper Pagalpanti are on air and have generated excitement. It has an ensemble star cast of John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda, Ileana DCruz, Urvashi Rautela and Saurabh Shukla, which has also added to the hype. However, if you are expecting it to be a mindless comedy, then you are very much mistaken. In an interview to an entertainment daily, John Abraham blurted that the film touches upon the “Fugitives who have escaped our country after looting our banks and robbing thousands of middle-class people of their savings”! And instantly, the question that has come in people’s minds is: Is Pagalpanti inspired by the lives of Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallya and diamantaire Nirav Modi, both of whom similarly ran away from India after duping banks?
When Bollywood Hungama quizzed Pagalpanti director Anees Bazmee about Nirav-Mallya connection, the hit filmmaker said, “Aise toh bahut log gaye hai na desh chod ke. So we have hinted in a way about them. But yeah, in logon ki (Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi) ki yaad toh zarur aayegi film dekh ke logon ko.”
Not just that, John Abraham in the same interview also called Pagalpanti a ‘weirdly patriotic’ film. Anees Bazmee agreed that and said that infusing patriotism in such film was no cakewalk. He states, “It was a very big challenge. Patriotism is a serious matter whereas my film’s genre is the exact opposite. It took me a lot of time. It’s one of the very important scenes in the film which will give goose bumps to every Indian. At the same time, it’ll also make you laugh! It is a one of its kind sequence. I don’t think any other film has had such a scene ever!”
Over the years, John Abraham has been known for nationalistic films. Some of his biggest hits in recent times like Parmanu, Satyameva Jayate and Batla House all had the element of love for our country. So was this said portion added because of John Abraham’s casting? Anees, at this, clarifies, “This scene was not written because of John Abraham’s presence in the film. He wanted the film to be completely funny. But when we thought of this patriotic scene, he and all the other actors loved it. They even told me ‘Anees bhai, this is a completely new take. We have seen many films but this kind of logic and writing is unheard of.’ The idea is to praise the greatness of our country and if some people have escaped from India, then how to make them realize their fault.”
Anees Bazmee then explains how he thought of this scene, “I remember I was in Lonavala with my team of writers and we were trying to crack the script. It was around 12:30 or 1 am when suddenly I got this thought. I was so happy. When I narrated it to my colleagues, they were pleasantly surprised. Some however were sceptical as to how it would be incorporated in the film. It took me around 2-3 days to fine tune it and finally it became a part of the script.”
Anees Bazmee then further adds, “In my earlier film Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), I had conceived a scene wherein Ajay Devgn tells Kajol to close her eyes and imagine a happy future with guy she wants to desperately marry, Bijay Anand. But when Kajol closes her eyes, she instead sees Ajay Devgn. She gets surprised as she had not yet realized that she loves Ajay Devgn. 21 years ago, it was a very unique scene because from what I have observed, there’s someone out there who always makes you realize something important, which you might not notice. I remember even Ajay and Kajol were amazed with the scene and they had told me, ‘Yaar Anees bhai, sirf aap hi aisa soch sakte ho’! I then saw a similar kind of a scene in couple of big films too. Similarly, this patriotic scene of Pagalpanti is also in the same zone as one character makes another character realize something and at the same time, its novel!”
BREAKING: SS Rajamouli signs Irish actress Alison Doody for RRR
It has been known to this writer for some time now that SS Rajamouli was searching for a Caucasian, preferably British actress to play a key role in his Ramcharan Teja-NTR Jr starrer RRR.
The search has ended. The actress chosen to star opposite NTR Jr is the Irish beauty Alison Doody whom some of you may remember in her large-screen debut in the James Bond film A View To A Kill in 1985. Then again, the debut, and Ms Doody’s subsequent career was no great shakes, unless you count bit roles in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade and the Michael Caine starrer The Actors.
It is baffling why and how Rajamouli thought of casting this relatively unknown actress, and that too opposite NTR Jr who is apparently much younger at 36 years to Ms Doody’s 53. Evidently getting known names from British cinema to be part of Indian films is not easy. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Ashutosh Gowariker had to make do with the unknown Alice Patten and Rachel Shelley for Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti and Lagaan, respectively.
A more crucial question is the scope and size of Alia Bhatt’s role. One hears she has much less to do than Alison Doody.
Makers of Mardaani 2 drop reference of Kota after locals allege it showed them in bad light
Rani Mukerji is back and this time with the sequel of Mardaani. The film’s trailer is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that will see Rani in a race against time to capture a brutal serial rapist who systematically targets women. Mardaani 2 focusses on the rise in violent crimes by juveniles in India and has definitely sparked a conversation on the threat this poses on young girls.
The trailer showcases how a man has created havoc by raping and murdering young female students in Kota. But the Rajasthan locals have alleged that the trailer showcases the city and IIT institution in a bad light. The makers have now decided to tweak the trailer and remove the reference of Kota.
Gopi Puthran, writer-director of Mardaani 2, says, “Mardaani 2 addresses a huge societal issue of rape and the rise of horrific crimes committed by juveniles in India. One is deeply moved when such shocking incidents happen and as a writer, I wanted to voice this issue and bring to light a terrible reality that today’s India and its youth faces. I was troubled by many, many incidents that took place across our country in the last four years and the complex nature of those crimes left me shocked and perplexed. As a human being, I felt fear after reading about these incidents because it could happen to my family or people that I know and I wanted to do my bit to make as many people aware of the threat posed by nameless, faceless, young and underage boys who are resorting to such violence. Mardaani 2 has been inspired by all such incidents that rocked the country and left us all scarred. Despite all the inspirations, Mardaani 2 at the end of the day is a film and not a documentary and it should be seen as that. Kota has been used by us as the setting for this film only. We are, in no way, suggesting that such events or incidents happen in Kota and there was no intention to tarnish the reputation of the city. If this has hurt or upset the sentiments of residents of the city, we are deeply regretful. We realize that since the trailer says it’s ‘Inspired By True Events’ and our film is based in Kota, it could be open to miscommunication. YRF has decided that we will remove the words ‘Inspired By True Events’ from the film to ensure that there is no further room for misinterpretation for anyone. We shot Mardaani 2 extensively in Kota and we only received love and warmth and huge cooperation from the people and all the authorities of the city. This gesture is YRF’s mark of respect to Kota and it’s wonderful people.”
Rani Mukerji is reprising the role of the fearless and committed Superintendent of Police, Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 2. Produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 2 will be Rani’s next release after Hichki. Mardaani 2 is set to hit theatres on 13th December.
Vicky Kaushal and Aditya Dhar’s Ashwatthama to be shot in multiple locations abroad
After the stupendous success of Uri – The Surgical Strike, Ronnie Screwvala, Aditya Dhar and Vicky Kaushal will return with an action entertainer, The Immortal Ashwatthama. The film will be shot all over India and abroad and the makers are targeting a mid-2020 filming schedule. As it turns out, the film will be a superhero flick and the director has already begun the prep for it.
Aditya Dhar said that prep began for the film two months ago but the major part will start in a fortnight. The filmmaker left for the US for six months to do the recee, meet with the studios for the VFX. It will be a start to finish schedule and will roll in mid-2020. They have locked New Zealand, Namibia, Tokyo, and Greenland as the locations. Aditya said that he will collaborate with teams from all over the world. The VFX of the film will be done in the US.
Aditya Dhar had narrated the story to Vicky Kaushal and Ronnie Screwvala a day after the release of Uri – The Surgical Strike. Five days later, he began working on the script. He said that Ashwatthama was one of the powerful and mysterious characters from Mahabharata. He was egoistic and arrogant because he was immortal. Aditya said that unlike Arjuna and Karna, not much has been written about Ashwatthama in various versions of Mahabharata. He was not perfect and that is what he loves about the character.
Son of guru Dronacharya and Kripi, Ashwatthama fought with the Kauravas against the Pandavas in Mahabharat’s Kurukshetra war. He was born to the couple as an answer to Drona’s prayers for a son as valiant as Lord Shiva. A Chiranjivi (immortal beings who according to Hindu mythology will last as long as Kalyug), Ashwatthama was born with a gem in his forehead which gave him power over all living beings lower than humans and protected him from hunger, thirst, and fatigue.
Deepika Padukone to share co-producer’s credit for Karan Johar’s next venture
Just a day back, at the trailer launch event of Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Good Newwz, producer Karan Johar emphasised that Dharma Productions believed in complete pay parity between men and women and also revealed that a leading Bollywood actress was soon to get a co-producer title in one the banner’s upcoming projects.
As reported by a portal, the A-lister in question is none other than Deepika Padukone. We already know that Deepika is going to be a part of Kapoor & Sons director Shakun Batra’s new film, which is supposedly a romantic film, but not a regular one. Earlier, at this year’s JIO MAMI Movie Mela, the actor had shed a little light on her new project. ‘I have found a film that I am likely to do early next year but it’s not light. It’s still a messy romance, it’s quite dark but still in the romantic space,” she said. We now hear Deepika and Karan had a discussion after which the former came on board as a co-producer too. The report further states that Gully Boy fame Siddhant Chaturvedi has been paired opposite Deepika.
This, however, isn’t Deepika’s debut as a producer. Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak, which has her playing the central character, is being co-produced by her. She is also one of the producers for husband Ranveer Singh’s ’83 which will feature her in a brief role too.
Scoop: Gautam Gulati joins Salman Khan for Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai
Salman Khan’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai started hitting the headlines even before it was officially announced. The action thriller, directed by Prabhu Dheva, was first touted to be a sequel of Salman’s 2009 hit film Wanted, a rumour that he later dismissed. However, Eid 2020 is taken and fans couldn’t be more excited!
Meanwhile, here’s an addition to the film’s cast. TV actor Gautam Gulati has just come on board, and will be seen playing one of the pivotal parts. While not much is known about his character yet, we hear Gautam loved the brief about his part and gave his nod quickly.
Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai also stars Jackie Shroff and Randeep Hooda in other pivotal roles. Disha Patani, who was briefly seen alongside Salman in Bharat, is also a part of the cast. The shoot recently kick-started in Maharashtra.
Salman, right now, is promoting his upcoming release Dabangg 3 in full swing. While his Chulbul Pandey avatar is set to make a comeback, Sonakshi Sinha will be seen reprising her role of Rajjo. Dabangg 3 also marks the debut of Mahesh Manjrekar’s daughter Saiee Manjrekar, and will release on 20th December.
Parineeti Chopra to sport short hair for Saina Nehwal biopic
Parineeti Chopra has been hustling hard for the next film which is a biopic on badminton champion, Saina Nehwal. The actress kick-started shooting last month and has been working really hard to ace the role of the badminton player.
Recently, Parineeti Chopra visited Saina Nehwal’s residence in Hyderabad to have a look around. She even borrowed some clothes for her role. And now, she will sport short hair as well. In the formative years of her career, Saina has short hair. So, Parineeti will be doing the same for some portions of the film.
Directed by Amole Gupte, the Saina Nehwal biopic is slated for a 2020 release.
Ileana D’Cruz says she was like Akshay Kumar at the beginning of her career
Actress Ileana D’Cruz will soon be seen on the big screen after a gap of nearly 20 months. She was last seen in the movie Raid opposite Ajay Devgn. The actress will next be seen in the film Pagalpanti directed by Anees Bazmee.
Ileana has worked in about 30 films in her career spanning 13-14 years. Recently, the actress spoke to a daily as to why she is not seen in films as frequently as she used to. She said that initially, she was like Akshay Kumar doing four films a year. Then, the actress felt she should slow down. Ileana said that she did not feel like she missed out on anything. The Barfi actress said that some things have not worked out in her favour due to some unusual reasons, but she has no regrets.
She further said that she was always conscious about what she chose and she still is. After Barfi, she received many offers to play a Bengali girl, but Ileana did not wish to do it again. She said that she needs to be sure of the films she does as they cannot be erased. The actor prefers to do fewer films and stay relevant than rushing and choosing 20 films. Besides, Ileana said that a little mystery is always good.
Ileana D’Cruz is paired opposite John Abraham in the film Pagalpanti. The film also stars Anil Kapoor, Pulkit Samrat, Arshad Warsi, Urvashi Rautela and Kriti Kharbanda.
