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Applause Entertainment’s The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination, did it much better recently. The political thriller is a tricky genre, workable when on firm ground(ref: the Rajiv Gandhi series) ineffective when serenading slippery slopes.

Not being a major fan of Season 1( which I found dry staccato, and self-important) I didn’t exactly jump into Season 2 with joy. Admittedly Season 2 is a marginal improvement on its predecessor. At least this time we are able to keep watching, if for no reason then for the breakneck at which things move: it is always fun to see the flamboyant fall.

Celerity per se is no virtue, specially when it comes to laying out a coherent blueprint for an exacerbated spy thriller where the action moves from one exotic location to another. For starters , try an AI scientist who is kidnapped in Budapest by “unknown elements” (you will get a lot of...

Indian cinema’s biggest mythological spectacle is taking shape as actor-producer Yash has begun principal photography on “Ramayana.”

Yash‘s Monster Mind Creations and producer Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios have partnered on the adaptation of the Indian epic.

The project has enlisted Guy Norris, the celebrated stunt director behind “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “The Suicide Squad,” to choreograph elaborate action sequences tailored specifically for the massive scale of this mythological adaptation. Norris is currently in India working closely with Yash to craft set pieces that could redefine Indian cinema’s approach to large-scale spectacle.

The two-part film is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose “Dangal” is the highest Indian grosser of all time. Yash is best known for the “K.G.F.” action film franchise, the second part of which is also the fifth-highest grossing Indian film of all time. Malhotra is the global...

Guess How Much More Assets Upcoming On-Screen Ram Ranbir Kapoor Owns? (Photo Credit –Instagram)

The entire country is celebrating Ram Navami, birth of the Hindu God. While this could have been a very good opportunity to bring something about the upcoming Ramayana film directed by Nitesh Tiwari that stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Devi Sita, there is, unfortunately, no update on the same!

However, we decided to check the net worths of the three most popular actors who have played the mighty Hindu God on screen! Of course, Ranbir is a part of this list since the anticipation and intrigue surrounding him and his avatar of Lord Ram is magical!

Ranbir Kapoor Net Worth 2025

Ranbir Kapoor, as per a report by FinCash, owns assets worth 369 crore. This includes his salary of around 45 – 50 crore per film, along with the smart investments he has made through the years.

When Raaj Kumar Left Dilip Kumar Seething In pain ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar were two of the most celebrated actors in the Indian film industry. They had different personalities, and there were reports about their alleged rivalry and conflict. They shared the screen in Subhash Ghai’s Saudagar. During the filming, one day, Ghai had to cancel the shoot due to an incident caused by Raaj Kumar, which inflicted a lot of pain on Dilip. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Both were leading stars of the 1950s and 70s with different acting styles. According to reports, the late actors’ alleged feud stemmed from a slap while doing a scene for Ramanand Sagar’s Paigham. The Mughal-e-Azam star was reportedly a little too hard by Raaj, leading to their fallout. They decided not to work together again. There were reportedly separate shooting schedules to keep them apart as much as possible.

Late Ex-Prime Minister Challenged Anupam Kher To Play Him In The Accidental Prime Minister (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Ex-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26, at the age of 92. Condolences have been pouring in for the man who once predicted and hoped that history would be kinder to him. The late politician was portrayed on-screen by Anupam Kher in a film called The Accidental Prime Minister.

Based on a book by the same title, the film explored the late ex-pm’s tenure as the Prime Minister of India and the kind of control he had over the cabinet and the country. Anupam Kher embodied him like a chameleon. However, he initially had very strong reasons to not play the part.

Anupam Kher was not at all convinced to play Dr. Manmohan Singh in The Accidental Prime Minister for one major reason – the Congress leader was an active personality. People knew him first hand,...

How Does Shaktimaan Star Mukesh Khanna Feel About Ranbir Kapoor’s Casting As Lord Ram? (Photo Credit – Koimoi)

Mukesh Khanna, known for his iconic role as Shaktimaan, recently shared his views on Ranbir Kapoor’s role as Lord Rama in the upcoming film Ramayana. For those unaware, Nitesh Tiwari is directing Ramayana as a two-part epic, with Ranbir Kapoor cast as Lord Rama. This casting choice has received mixed reactions from the audience.

Speaking of Mukesh Khanna, he has been in the spotlight recently due to discussions around the return of Shaktimaan and some of his controversial remarks. When asked about Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Rama, here’s what he had to say.

Mukesh Khanna Shares Concerns About Ranbir Kapoor’s Casting As Lord Rama, Stresses Authenticity In Portrayal

Mukesh Khanna initially hesitated to comment, mentioning that if he did, he would be accused of pointing out everything and everyone...

Ustad Zakir Hussain Dies At The Age Of 73 In San Francisco (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The Music Industry is currently mourning the death of Ustad Zakir Hussain. The Tabla Maestro passed away in the US, fighting certain health ailments at the age of 73. Sadly, the news broke at a time when he was still struggling for life, and his family requested to pray for his life.

But the family confirmed that he died at a hospital in San Francisco. “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come,” said the statement from the family.

“He passed away very peacefully after the ventilation machine was switched off. This was 4 pm, San Francisco time,” said Ustad Zakir Hussain’s sister, Khurshid Aulia, in a statement to Pti quoted by Ndtv. Singer Sonu Nigam shared the news of him...

Smita Patil’s Last Wish Was Refused By Raj Babbar, Not Knowing It Was The Last! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

It was 38 years ago that one of the brightest stars of the film industry passed away, leaving everyone shocked. It was December 13, 1988, when Smita Patil was having a normal day after delivering her son Prateik Babbar, and none in her family could contemplate what was about to happen.

Smita delivered a baby boy, and ever since, she has been a little under the weather. Feverish on most days. Even on December 13, she felt feverish but could not bear the distance from her son anymore. She woke up to a crying baby and decided to breastfeed him after putting a damp cloth around her body to control the temperature.

The doctor came for a regular check-up and put her on saline after her husband, Raj Babbar, left for work. Smita decided to rest as she felt uneasy.

When The Ramayan Cast And Crew Ran For Their Lives While Shooting For The Show! (Photo Credit – Twitter)

That Ramanand Sagar’s cult TV show Ramayan is a sheer emotion for all the fans out there is known to all. Actors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia, and Sunil Lahiri immortalized the roles of Lord Ram, Devi Sita and Laxman Ji with their performances on the show. Another primary reason why the TV show struck a chord with so many people was because of the realism. Everything from the performances, costumes, locations, and emotions was brutally honest.

However, did you know that while the show was shot in real-life locations, sometimes the cast and crew also had to face the adverse effects of the same? In a throwback post, Dipika recalled how once the cast and crew had to encounter an ‘unwanted’ guest on the sets, which made them run for their lives.

When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Turned Down Movies Opposite Hollywood Stars (Photo Credit – Facebook/Instagram)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is truly a global phenomenon. Apart from being a regular at some of the high-profile international events, she has also worked in some Hollywood movies like Mistress Of Spices, Provoked, and Bride And Prejudice. However, did you know that there was also a time when the actress lost an opportunity to work opposite Hollywood biggies like Will Smith and Brad Pitt? One of the reasons was her being hesitant to perform intimate scenes in these movies.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Was The Original Choice For Mr And Mrs Smith

According to a news report in DNA, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the original choice for the 2005 movie, Mr And Mrs Smith. However, the Devdas actress was hesitant to perform some bold and intimate scenes in the movie, which was required of the female spy character.

Mukesh Khanna Picks Allu Arjun As Shaktimaan & Raves About Pushpa 2 (Photo Credit – Instagram/Facebook)

Mukesh Khanna recently stirred a discussion about who could play Shaktimaan in the reboot film, and now he has picked Allu Arjun as the ultimate choice. Though he clarifies that he is not committing something, he can only suggest the same to the producers.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the superstar discussed the pros and cons of Pushpa 2. He even compared the filmmaking styles in South and Bollywood, asking Bollywood makers to learn a thing or two from the South.

Allu Arjun As New Shaktimaan?

Talking about how apt Allu Arjun could be to play Shaktimaan, the actor said, “Main commit nahi kar raha hun, bol bhi nahi raha hun, judge bhi nahi kar raha hun lekin Shaktimaan ban sakta hai ye. Real life mein bhi acchi look hai acchi height hai,...

Ramanand Sagar Escaped Partition Riots & Turned Raj Kapoor’s Fate! (Photo Credit – Koimoi)

We all know Ramanand Sagar – the man who created Ramayana, a show that was loved by all. A show that was loved by all in Pakistan as well. Many did not know that the man who was the creator of the biggest mythological show in India, belonged originally to Pakistan!

Born as Chandramuli Chopra in Lahore, his entire family migrated to Jammu & Kashmir. However, the family was stuck in Kashmir during the Partition of India in 1947. The entire family thought of shifting to Mumbai.

Ramanand Sagar’s son Prem Sagar in one of his interviews with Mumbai Mirror, recalled the day Ramanand Sagar was airlifted from Srinagar amidst the Partition Of India unrest and riots. Narrating the incident Prem Sagar recalled the historic flight when Iaf rescued people in Srinagar.

Trending Raj Kapoor Lost His Voice On...

Do You Know? Ramayan’s Repeat Telecast Triggered Eye Injuries Among Children During Lockdown(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Whenever we talk about the most successful shows in the history of Indian television, Ramayan’s name has to be there. The show is still in the hearts of Indians, and we saw proof of it during the Covid-19 lockdown. During the lockdown, the historic show was brought back on TV, and it saw an earth-shattering response, proving the craze of the renowned show. However, it also had a negative impact. Keep reading to know more!

Rerun of Ramayan

During the Covid-19 lockdown, the entire nation was stuck in its home, and as an attempt to entertain the bored audience, Doordarshan decided to bring back its iconic shows for repeat telecast. One of those shows was Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, starring Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia in the lead roles. It was originally...

Popular TV actor Sunil Lahri, renowned for his role as Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic serial ‘Ramayan’, has criticized the citizens of Ayodhya for electing Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad over Bjp’s Lallu Singh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In his Instagram Stories, Sunil posted an image from the iconic ‘Baahubali’ scene where Kattappa kills Baahubali, with “Bjp” labeled on Baahubali and “Ayodhya” on Kattappa. He then shared a note in Hindi, which roughly translates to, “We are forgetting that these are the same Ayodhya citizens who doubted Goddess Sita after she returned from exile. What do you call someone who even denies God? Selfish. History is witness that the citizens of Ayodhya have always betrayed their king. Shame on them.”

In another Instagram story, his statement read, “We salute your greatness, dear citizens of Ayodhya. You are the ones who didn’t spare even Goddess Sita. We...

Sunny Deol’s Hanuman Spin Off Details Will Leave You Excited For Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana Universe (Photo Credit –Instagram/IMDb)

This year has been celebratory for the Telugu actor Teja Sajja, who became a superstar in Prashanth Verma’s film HanuMan. In fact, a sequel of the film titled Jai HanuMan is also in the making but it might have to face a competition from Sunny Deol who is all set to play Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana!

Ramayana Universe Is Being Planned?

But the film starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram is already gearing up to expand its Universe, and Sunny Deol is ready for the reigns of this Ramayana Universe with the first spin-off film on Lord Hanuman!

This Universe will be expanded after the release of the two Ramayana films in 2027. After the film, Sunny Deol will reprise his role as Lord Hanuman in a standalone film,...

Superstar Yash Re-Enters Ramayana As Ravana To Lock Horns With Ram Ranbir Kapoor! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

All seems to be in place for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana as superstar Yash re-enters the film, taking over his role of Ravana after much speculation about the film’s casting. So finally, it is Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi as Devi Sita and Lord Ram, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Arun Govil as Raja Dashrath, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman and Kgf Superstar Yash as Ravana.

Earlier, the Kannada actor who shot to fame with his Pan India films walked out as Ravana and joined the film only as a producer. But now reports confirmed that the actor has re-entered to play Ravana.

A report by Pinkvilla confirms that Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana will be a two-part saga and will be released in a span of one year. But both...

Arun Govil Net Worth 2024: A Whopping Salary Hike Of 9650% From Playing ‘Lord Ram’ In Ramayan To Date ( Photo credit – IMDb/Youtube )

Arun Govil is probably one of the most popular TV stars in the country. His stardom was evident when the entire country was locked down, trapped in a pandemic, and out of nowhere, he arrived on our television sets like a miracle and took charge to keep everyone entertained and their spirits and motivation high in the most testing hours of recent times. As the actor made a comeback, his net worth has shot up due to the brilliant work he is doing.

Currently, Arun Ji is playing the Prime Minister in Yami Gautam‘s Article 370. While details of the fee charged by the actors in the film are yet to be revealed, reports suggest that everyone has been paid their market prices or more.

Arun Ji’s...

Fighter Box Office To Avenge Every Single Indian Air Force Disaster Film In Bollywood ( Photo Credit – Viacom18 Studios / YouTube )

Hrithik Roshan plays an Indian Air Force Officer in the upcoming film Fighter. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film is all set to release on January 25, 2024. The film is about a group of Iaf fighters who come together for a mission against Pakistan. It also stars Deepika Padukone, Karan Singh Grover, Akshay Oberoi, and Sanjeeda Shaikh as Indian Air Force officers.

After watching the cast look terrific in uniforms, we thought we would research a bit about men and women in uniform on-screen. To our surprise, while there are plenty of films made on the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Navy remain much unexplored on-screen.

Quite a few of the films have Iaf as the backdrop, while there are rare films made on the Indian Air Force that offer a...

Actress Dipika Chikhlia, who along with other celebrities attended the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, shared some unseen photos with Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Nitish Bharadwaj, and Sunil Lahri.

The senior actress Dipika is best known for portraying Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’. The epic show featured Arun Govil as Lord Ram, and Sunil as Lakshman.

Dipika, who is avid social media user, and enjoys 2.5 million followers on Instagram, shared a Reel video, wherein she can be seen posing with others stars amid the backdrop of the beautiful Ram Mandir.

The actress is wearing an orange coloured saree and opted for gold jewellery. The video shows Dipika posing Nitish Bharadwaj, who is best known for his role as Lord Krishna in B R Chopra’s TV show ‘Mahabharat’.

Dipika is also posing with her ‘Ramayan’ co-star Sunil. There are happy pictures with Anupam Kher, Kangana, and Bjp MP Manoj Tiwari.

Before Playing Hanuman In Ramayana, Dara Singh Was The Highest-Paid B-Grade Actor ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

The entire country is immersed in Ram Bhakti right now, and we decided to bring some interesting stuff about the actor who played the biggest Ram Bhakt on-screen – Dara Singh. The Punjabi Pahalwan turned actor, who was given the title of Rustam-e-Hind, was one of the highest-paid actors of B-grade Bollywood films.

The actor was approached to play Ram Bhakt Hanuman for Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, where he was paid almost 35 lakh for the TV series. However, guess how much was he paid to star in B-grade Bollywood films?

Well, according to various reports, Dara Singh was paid 4.5 lakh for every Bollywood film he did in those days. During the 60s and 70s, he starred in almost 16 films with the actress Mumtaaz. Some of them earned a superhit tag. He earned almost 72 lakh doing these 16 films with Mumtaaz.

New Delhi, Jan 22 (Ians) Even though he has worked in several note-worthy shows and films, actor Gurmeet Choudhary is still remembered for his flawless performance of Lord Ram in the 2009 television series ‘Ramayan’ opposite Debina Bonnerjee, who played the role of Sita.

The 39-year-old actor said that he and his wife Debina got to play the biggest roles of the world — Ram and Sita.

Gurmeet told Ians: “I think we are blessed because we got to play the biggest roles of the world — Ram and Sita. There is nothing bigger than that…. People read the Ramayana to learn something and we got to play these roles so just imagine what we got to learn from it.”

The actor imbibed several characteristics of Lord Ram but the biggest take back was on how to handle big situations and solving them with a smile.

“I did Ramayana for almost 15 months, so everyday...

Ranbir Kapoor – Alia Bhatt & Other Celebs Jet Off For Ram Mandir Inauguration

The entire country is in a festive mood today to celebrate the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. While the Pran Pratishtha event will witness dignitaries from all walks of life, celebs from the Hindi film industry have started to jet off to Ayodhya for the big event.

Social media is buzzing with pictures and updates of the pre-events leading to the inauguration. Ambanis have decked up their mansion, Antilia, to celebrate the event, and their residence is gleaming with Jai Shri Ram lights.

Earlier, Kangana Ranaut was seen jetting off to Ayodhya, and while interacting with the media, she shared her happiness and talked about how her good deeds from her past life must have given her such a great opportunity to witness history being written.

Trending Ramayan: When Lord Rama’s ‘Impossible To Shoot’ Scene...

When The Cast Of Ramayan Witnessed A Miracle While Shooting For A Scene With Lord Rama’s Character ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

The entire nation currently is immersed in Ram Bhakti, and while everyone is hooked and glued to the news channels for live coverage and visuals of Ram Mandir’s inauguration, actors from the famous television series Ramayan – Arun Govil, Sunil Lahri, and Dipika Chikhlia are also present in Ayodhya.

Ramayan is clearly one of the most watched shows on Indian television, and during some of our research, we came across a beautiful anecdote that definitely needs to reach more people.

While shooting for Ramayan, an actual miracle happened on set, and the entire cast and crew were overwhelmed by witnessing the miracle while they were struggling to shoot a scene with a child actor who played Lord Rama on screen.

Trending Ramayan Star Cast Guide: Ram Arun Govil, Sita Dipika Chikhlia,...

Ramayana Star Cast Guide: What Ram Arun Govil, Sita Dipika Chikhlia, Luv-Kush Swapnil & Others Did Over The Years

The entire country these days is hooked on chanting Jai Shri Ram, thanks to Ram Mandir’s Inauguration in Ayodhya, scheduled on January 22. But while we sit at home and watch the parts of the temple on our screens, we decided to take you on a nostalgia trip while you remember and recall Ramayan scenes, episodes, and chapters.

This piece includes actors from your memories of the past. The actors whom you have watched play the most beloved names from Hindu scriptures – Lord Ram, Devi Sita, Lord Hanuman, and more.

It was Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan that brought these characters alive on screen, and while it is a long wait to tour Ayodhya and Ram Mandir, we thought to brush your memories about the actors who played characters from Ramayan on screen.

Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam is set to release a new devotional track titled ‘Humare Ram Aaye Hai’ on January 22. The song, dedicated to Lord Ram, coincides with the auspicious ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Star-Studded Devotional Symphony

The track, which highlights the vocal prowess of Sonu Nigam, features the revered trio from Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’ – Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia, and Sunil Lehri. They are revered for their portrayals of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman, respectively. The song promises to be a soulful symphony, bringing together the nostalgia of the iconic TV series with the contemporary voice of Sonu Nigam.

Arun Govil Announces the Release

Arun Govil took to social media to share the release date of ‘Humare Ram Aaye Hai’. He posted a captivating poster from the song’s video, expressing the collective excitement to welcome Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman in Ayodhya.

When Arun Govil Revealed Being Out Of Work For 14 Long Years After ‘Lord Ram’s Portrayal In ‘Ramayan’ ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

From the past few days ‘Ramayan’s lead cast, Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia, Sunil Lahri, and others, are making headlines for different reasons, especially ahead of the inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Up. The show, which was celebrated widely, gave them such recognition that they continue to rule millions of hearts. But did you know that after rising to fame with Ramanand Sagar’s epic, its lead actor was jobless for a long period of time? Well, many didn’t until now.

Sometime back, we brought you an interesting throwback story of Govil being rejected to play the lead by Ramanand Sagar. However, after being selected for the role, spending years shooting it, and rising to recognition with it, Govil was jobless for 14 years. Yes, you heard that right!

Ramayan Star Cast Fees: Here’s How Much Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia, Sunil Lahri & Others Were Paid ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Television’s one of the most-loved mythological shows ‘Ramayan’ continues to stay in our hearts. The classic TV show, which features Arun Govil as ‘Lord Ram,’ Sunil Lahri as ‘Lakshman,’ Dipika Chikhlia as Sita, Dara Singh as ‘Hanuman,’ and Arvind Trivedi as ‘Raavan, gained massive popularity across the nation, so much so that it enjoyed a re-run on National TV during Covid-19 Lockdown. Later, during the Adipurush controversy, the show was once again aired on TV in July last year.

But do you know who was the highest-paid actor in the entire Ramayan star cast? Well, many have guessed it right: it is the lead actor Arun Govil, who was followed by Dara Singh and Arvind Trivedi. But let us tell you, there was a minimal difference between the trios’ paycheques.

Bigg Boss 17: Vicky Jain’s Mother Shames & Insults Ankita Lokhande’s Parents On National Television(Photo Credit –Instagram/Reddit)

The internet has got the shock of a lifetime after seeing Bigg Boss 17‘s new promo. This week, family members are supposed to enter the house, and Vicky Jain’s mother displays why marriages and in-laws in India are called walking red flags. As the promo went viral, the internet called out Ankita Lokhande’s toxic sasuraal and begged her to run away from this relationship.

In the promo, Vicky’s mother is seen cracking lame jokes, and then she takes Ankita to a side and tells her, “Jis din tumne Vicky ko laat maara, papa tumhari mummy ko phone kiye aur pooche ki aap bhi apne pati ko aise laat maar thi?” The more disgusting part was Vicky’s mother saying this statement all welled up, believing she had...

When Arun Govil Was Rejected By Ramanand Sagar For Lord Ram’s Role ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The whole nation is currently waiting for the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, after a long wait. When we talk about Lord Ram or Ramayan, how can we not mention the character of the much-loved mythological show that changed everyone’s outlook? Helmed by Ramanand Sagar, the iconic show is often remembered by many. Featuring Arjun Govil as Lord Ram, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita, Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, Arvid Trivedi as Raavan, Dara Singh as Hanuman and others, Ramayan received massive popularity nationwide.

But did you know Govil wasn’t the first choice to play Lord Ram in the TV show? Well, many didn’t! In today’s throwback story, we will tell you about the time when he revealed getting rejected for the role in question. Scroll down...

New Delhi, July 30 (Ians) Courts in India make a criminal swear by the Bhagavad Gita before he deposes in a case, or at least, that is what I have seen in films. The Gita, if one understands rightly, is the ultimate belief one can swear on to tell the truth. A criminal may still lie, but our judiciary and our films continue to repose faith in this holy book.

Since our film folk swear by the Gita, why won’t our Central Board Of Film Certification (Cbfc)? The Cbfc has passed the Hollywood film ‘Oppenheimer’ with a scene showing the lead pair indulging in sex while the male actor is shown reading from the ‘Bhagavad Gita’!

No, not Vatsyayana’s ‘Kama Sutra’, unless the Cbfc thought it is all the same!

I don’t know why the makers thought of doing this stunt, but, maybe, the Cbfc did figure it...

A lot of films have been at the centre of controversies in all the years I have been an observer of the film trade. Some, because they chose a subject where a certain community was at the centre of the story, some, while they were attempting a realistic film, and some others who loved a book penned by a renowned writer, decided it was worth retelling it as a film and getting brickbats in return.

Take, for instance, ‘Ramnagari’ by Ram Nagarkar. The film was made by the National Award-winning filmmaker Kantilal Rathod in 1982. Objections were raised against certain references in the film and the Censor Board stalled its release. The problem Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Billu Barber’ faced some 27 years later was similar. The community known as Nayi or Hajam is called Barber in English.

In later years, these examples were followed by communities on a larger scale and somewhere along the way,...

Sakshi Chopra, the great-granddaughter of Bollywood director Ramanand Sagar, who made the ‘Ramayana’ TV series in the 1980s, has alleged sexual harassment during her participation in a game show. Known for sporting bold and skimpy outfits on social media, the actress took to Instagram, and captioned “Sexual Harassment at @netflix_in @solproductions.

She alleged that after signing the contract, a contestant openly spoke of her breasts and butt, saying it was fine for people to record and play all the ill things they said, in the hopes that the ratings will go up after assuring her that it was all only a game.

She added that Netflix gave her a horribly suffocating experience as they locked her in. “I cannot even explain how suffocating that was. It showed what these low class producers were capable of doing just for the sake of dirty entertainment. After this, when I asked for...

ControversySeveral people have expressed their disappointment over the ‘uncouth’ dialogues in the devotional film. After receiving severe criticism over the dialogues, makers of the recently released film Adipurush announced that they will be rewriting the lines as a mark of respect to the audience. A statement read: "Making this visual spectacle a memorable cinematic experience, the team decides to make alterations to the film's dialogues, valuing the input of the public and the audience." "The makers are revisiting the said dialogues, ensuring they resonate with the core essence of the film and the same will reflect in the theatres in the next few days. This decision is a testament that inspite of unstoppable collections at the Box Office, the team is committed and nothing is beyond the sentiments of their audiences and harmony at large." A day after the release, the film starring Kriti Sanon and Prabhas stirred controversy over...

EntertainmentThe Prabhas-Kriti Sanon starrer has been subjected to brutal trolling on social media by fans and Hindu right-wing nationalists, who are disappointed with director Om Raut’s modern retelling of the Ramayana.The internet has been abuzz with news of actor Prabhas’s new film Adipurush, which released on Friday, June 16. The Prabhas-Kriti Sanon starrer has been harshly criticised and subjected to brutal trolling on social media. The highly anticipated film, made on a reported budget of Rs 600 crore, has garnered the wrath of fans and Hindu right-wing nationalists, who are disappointed with director Om Raut’s retelling of the mythological Ramayana in a relatively contemporary form. Saif Ali Khan, who plays Ravana in the film, is seen sporting a modern haircut and wearing heavy kaajal. Other characters such as Vibhishana (Ravana’s younger brother) and Indrajith (Ravana’s eldest son) also sport funky tattoos and modern hairstyles. It is indeed strange that the movie,...

Adipurush is an Indian mythological film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana by Valmiki. The film is written and directed by Om Raut. While Adipurush literally translates to ‘first man’, Om Raut interprets it as ‘best man’ in the context of the film. We have two great references – ‘Ramayana’ (1987) – of course the most loved and revered version by Ramanand Sagar and the other being ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ (1993) by Yugo Sako. Frankly, for the generation who have loved either or both find it difficult to sink into anything else. There have been number of other attempts too, to create the epic. Om Raut who shot to fame with Tanhaji is the latest to attempt re-telling the epic; finds it too hot to handle!

Story

The film begins with a prelude in painted stills and Raghava (Prabhas) accepting his father Dashratha’s predicament and proceeds for his exile along...

Veteran actor Sunil Lahri, who played Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar’s television adaptation of the epic ‘Ramayana’, spoke about actor Sunny Singh’s portrayal of Lakshman in the upcoming film ‘Adipurush’ directed by Om Raut.

Sunil said: “At this stage, it is very difficult to say anything because there is hardly anything shown of Lakshman’s character in the trailer, but I am sure Sunny is a good actor and he must have done justice to the role since he also has previous references of the character.”

“Any good performance by an actor depends on how his character is created by the makers including writer, director, cinematographer and editor.”

He recalled his days of shooting for ‘Ramayan’, which ran on television from 1987 and was narrated by Ashok Kumar.

Sunil said: “When I was shooting for ‘Ramayan’, I didn’t have any reference from the past for the character of Laxman...

Actress-politician Dipika Chikhlia, who is always remembered for her portrayal of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s mythological serial ‘Ramayan’ that aired in 1987, shared a video in which she can be seen wearing a saffron coloured sari and performing puja of Lord Ram.

She said that it is the same sari she wore during the Luv Kush Kand in the show.

She wrote: “This is the same sari I wore during Luv Kush Kand.”

Previously also she shared two videos and recalled her journey on the show.

In one of the videos she recreated a scene from the show and wrote: Throw back..nostalgia..unedited footage or is it recreated..part 1″

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dipika (@dipikachikhliatopiwala)

Her post was much appreciated by her fans. One of them mentioned: “Mam..We all will forever be grateful to you for these three insta post of yours..feeling blessed.

Mumbai, March 18 (Ians) After being part of a fantasy drama like ‘Alif Laila’, actress Shweta Rastogi is doing another fantasy show, ‘Baalveer 3’.

Sharing about being part of it and how the presentation of the same genre on TV has changed so far with time, Shweta said: “From doing ‘Alif Laila’ to ‘Baalveer’, the industry has changed a lot. Fantasy shows have been a staple of TV for years, but I would say that the imaginative sense and the way things are presented on-screen have changed completely. Due to technology and advancement, fantasy shows have surely been raised a notch higher.”

She said: “Earlier, it was a difficult task to project and execute things for a fantasy-themed show, but now it’s not that hard. From doing tricks behind the curtains to VFX, everything has changed a lot.”

Shweta is popular for playing the role of Radha in Ramanand Sagar’s show,...

Veteran Bollywood actress Tabassum, who hosted the iconic television (talk show) series, “Phool Khile Hain, Gulshan Gulshan” on Doordarshan for two decades, passed away following a massive cardiac arrest, her son Hoshang said here on Saturday. She was 78.

Rushed to a private hospital after she suffered chest pain, Tabassum breathed her last around 8.40 p.m. on Friday, he said. She is survived by her son, and other relatives including her brother-in-law and actor Arun Govil (Ram of Ramayan).

“Her funeral rites were also completed late last night itself,” Hoshang informed. He described her as being totally healthy and her sudden departure has left the family in a state of shock.

Tabassum was married to Vijay Govil, the elder brother of the films and television actor Arun Govil – who portrayed the character of Lord Rama in the epic serial “Ramayana” (1987) and previously as King Vikramaditya in another cult serial, “Vikram Aur...

His life seems right out of a Bollywood potboiler. Pulled out of school and put to work on his family’s agricultural land, he is married off young but frustrated at the bickering between wife and mother, he goes abroad to make a career. In a few short years, he is not only a celebrity sportsman and a popular film star, but a cultural icon.

This was the life of Deedar Singh Randhawa, or Dara Singh, as we better know him.

Capable of tossing villains around without breaking a sweat, stopping airplanes with his bare hands, and chasing criminals to the moon in his onscreen persona, and in real life, boasting of a long bout as an unbeaten wrestler in both the amateur and professional circuits, and once lifting up a portly Raj Kapoor in his trademark “aeroplane” spin move in public, his very name was synonymous with sheer strength...

New Delhi, Oct 4 (Ians) After “Laal Singh Chaddha” and “Brahmastra”, another Bollywood movie has run into rough weather, with “Boycott Adipurush” trending on social media, days after its teaser got released.

The excitement for Om Raut’s film “Adipurush” — starring Saif Ali Khan, Prabhas and Kriti Sanon — was quite high ever since it was announced. However, just a few hours after the release of the teaser, the netizens began criticising the film for Saif’s “Islamic” look, unconvincing VFX, and also the costumes of the other cast were targeted.

Comparisons are also being made with Lord Hanuman from Ramanand Sagar’s serial “Ramayan” to “Adipurush”. Actor Devdatta Gajanan Nage is playing the role of Hanuman in the movie.

The netizens have claimed that Hanuman’s look in the film also has similarities with the Islamic attire.

A user tweeted, “Bollywood’s Hanuman Looks Like A Musalman #BoycottAdipurush.” Another one wrote,...

Most of us are aware of the Indian global epic ‘Ramayan’ and of course most of us have seen the cinematic presentation of the epic too time-and-again but seldom have we liked anything beyond Ramanand Sagar’s version. It surely is something to look forward to going by the 3D screening of the teaser.

The grand teaser of Adipurush was unveiled on the banks of the Sarayu in one of the most sacred cities in the world, Ayodhya. Present at the event were actors Prabhas (who plays Raghav) and Kriti Sanon (playing Janki) along with the men behind it all, director Om Raut and producer Bhushan Kumar.

Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’, is one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2023, featuring Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon and Sunny Singh in the key characters. Adipurush is Om Raut’s take on the ‘Ramayana’ by Valmiki set 7,000 years ago.

Reportedly Prabhas...

New Delhi, March 18 (Ians) More than three decades after essaying the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's epic TV serial 'Ramayan', actor Arun Govil joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp) in the national capital on Thursday in the presence of its national General Secretary Arun Singh and Union minister Debasree Chaudhuri.

Welcoming Govil into the Bjp, Singh said the actor has joined the party after being influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies. "He (Govil) played the character of Lord Ram in 'Ramayan', which was watched by over 7.7 crore people when the show was retelecast during the lockdown last year," Singh said.

After joining the Bjp, Govil said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is allergic to the chanting of 'Jai Shri Ram'.

"Some people are not ready to understand. Mamata Banerjee has some sort of allergy to 'Jai Shri Ram'. She...

Above: Some runner-up favorites. For titles and artists see below.If you follow me on Instagram you have quite likely also come across Posterphilia, a movie poster-centric feed curated by poster connoisseur Jahan Singh Bakshi. Jahan is kind of my counterpart on the other side of the globe: an art director and film marketing strategist from Mumbai who writes a column about movie posters—also called Posterphilia—for the Indian cinephile website Film Companion. Jahan has exquisite taste, so his feed is always full of great design (quite often we find ourselves posting the same new posters), but what I find especially interesting about Posterphilia is Jahan’s knowledge of Indian cinema and access to Indian posters. To crystallize his expertise I asked Jahan if he would come up with his Top 10 favorite Indian posters of all time, a challenge he readily accepted though he decided to restrict himself to Bollywood posters.

Obviously No Thank You to coronavirus. Though post the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic the game is changing. Who better than the entertainment industry to make the see change so obvious. And the audience drooling over the most unimagined in the contemporary times. Is this scenario hinting at a correction in what we feel and the facts of life?

Also read:?Is this making Sunil Lahri the new heart throb?

Well, I want to believe that ?The Kapil Sharma Show? which was aimed at unveiling a book on Ramanand Sagar, fortunately thought of inviting the (actors playing) Ram, Sita and Lakshman on the show with the makers. A complete generation went back into time and re-lived the greatest epic on television (called Doordarshan).

Until then, no one knew that the population would suddenly switch channels and make Doordarshan their favourite all over again with Ramayana rebroadcast on Dd National from...

EntertainmentShoots have been suspended from March 19 until April 14.Tnm StaffYouTube Screengrab/Tamil TV HouseA lifetime has passed. Shelves have been cleaned, floors reflect faces and the house looks fit for a queen. And yet, by earth hours only a week has passed since complete lockdown began on March 24. While we hope that the coronavirus pandemic that has severely affected human lives beyond imagination will end soon, there’s no harm in still being invested in what's playing on television. When the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (Fefsi) announced that all shoots will be suspended beginning March 19, it meant that daily soaps that depend on everyday shoots will be hard hit. While some filmed as much as they could, with the lockdown expected to last up to April 14, all mega serials are bound to run out of new content. National television channel Doordarshan has brought back Ramanand Sagar’s television...

Glamsham introduces Classic Rewind series where movie critic, feature writer and columnist Vishal Verma will revisit Indian / World cinema since its origin and highlight its relevance in today?s times.

Beginning from where cinema became an undying passion in our lives and created livelihood for generations after generations, Raja Harishchandra by the father of Indian cinema Dada Saheb Phalke.

History

Raja Harishchandra the 1913 Indian silent film, directed and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, is recognized by Government of India as the first Indian feature film. Raja Harishchandra features Dattatraya Damodar Dabke, Anna Salunke, Bhalchandra Phalke, and Gajanan Vasudev Sane and is based on the legend of Harishchandra, with Dabke portraying the title character. The film, being silent, had English and Hindi-language slates coming in between.

Significance/relevance in today?s times

It was the decision taken by a painter after watching The Life Of Christ (1906) at a theatre in Mumbai, the...

Ramanand Sagar who made the hit 1976 film Charas starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini, may not be alive but his film seems to be facing major trouble from the Income Tax Department. It seems that the filmmaker showcased lesser income that he received for the film whilst paying tax then and now that the ITRead More

The post Filmmaker Ramanand Sagar’s heirs asked to pay Rs. 6 lakhs as penalty to It Department over the 1976 film Charas appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

The 1965 film had music by Shankar-Jaikishan and lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri, who together gave us some beautiful songs like Ae Phoolon Ki Rani and Aji Rooth Kar. Directed by Ramanand Sagar, Arzoo starred Rajendra Kumar and Sadhana...

Remember the veteran theatre personality and actor Tom Alter? Well if not, let us remind you that we are indeed talking about the man who made his debut in Ramanand Sagar’s 1976 film Charas and later went onto to feature in numerous other films and stage shows. However, today morning the industry woke up toRead More

The post Tom Alter loses his battle to skin cancer, passes away at 67 appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.