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In this rare 2016 interview, Pooja Bhatt, who turned 53 this week, opened up to Subhash K Jha and spoke frankly and candidly about her life, priorities, pets & peeves.

Pooja, why don’t we see you on screen anymore?

I am not offered anything. No one wants to cast me! Earlier, they thought I was a producer-director’s daughter, hence difficult. Now, I am a producer-director myself. So, you can imagine how intimidated they are. The last person who was brave enough to cast me was Rahul Bose in Everybody Says I’m Fine. He gave me no choice. He is my dearest friend. I confided in him about how disillusioned I was by the business of cinema and stardom. He offered me a role. I was aghast. ‘What kind of a friend are you? I just told you I’m sick of the industry, and you’re offering me a role?...

Tiku Talsania In Critical Condition, Admitted To Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

A few hours ago, breaking news about the veteran Bollywood and television actor Tiku Talsania came in, leaving his fans and fraternity concerned. It is learned that the actor’s health condition is not good, and he has been admitted to the hospital in Mumbai. A few hours back, there were reports about him suffering from a heart attack, but now, his own family has dismissed such reports.

Tiku has been in the entertainment industry for a long time. He has been entertaining the audience for over four decades and has created his own space, especially in comedy roles. This morning, out of nowhere, reports about his hospitalization flooded the internet, and it was learned that the veteran actor suffered a heart attack.

While talking to Ndtv, Tiku Talsania’s wife, Deepti Talsania, dismissed heart attack...

Mumbai, July 30 (Ians) In the ‘Weekend Ka Vaar’ episode of ‘Bigg Boss Ott 2’, Pooja Bhatt, who is a contestant and show’s host Salman Khan were seen talking about the “rough” time in their careers.

In a heartwarming and candid moment during the Weekend ka Vaar episode, Pooja Bhatt revealed the lowest phase of her life during a heartfelt conversation on Bigg Boss Ott 2.

She opened up about the time when her movies stopped working, and she found herself at a career crossroads. Undeterred by setbacks, Pooja found solace in filmmaking and embraced the role of a director. Now, the show has provided her with a platform to reconnect with the world, share her story, and rediscover her true self.

Salman Khan also shared his experience of going through a rough patch in his illustrious career.

He admitted that there were times when he took his stardom lightly, but life...

Actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt in the upcoming episode of ‘Bigg Boss Ott 2’ revealed to the housemates about her regrets.

In a conversation with co-contestants of ‘Bigg Boss Ott 2’, Pooja talked about her journey in Bollywood and how she still feels alright in trying new things and revealed why she came on the show.

She said that her life revolves around the thinking ‘If you are the smartest in a room, you are in the wrong room.’ She goes on to explain that she doesn’t feel anything bad about things she has done in life.

Pooja said: “I only have regrets of things not done, not for things done! I feel it is important to at least try, either you lose something or you gain everything.”

About the show, she said: “We can’t hide what and who we are. Audience understands everything. One among us will only win, it is...

Mumbai, June 17 (Ians) Actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt is all set to step into the ‘Bigg Boss Ott’ Season 2 house as a contestant.

According to a source close to Ians, Pooja will be entering the house on Saturday night as the grand premier is set to take place. She will be joining Jia Shankar, Avinash Sachdev, Cyrus Baroacha and Falaq Naaz among many others.

The second season marks the digital debut of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who will be seen hosting the show.

Pooja is the daughter of Indian filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt. She played her first leading role in Mahesh Bhatt’s television film Daddy in 1989.

Her biggest solo hit and her big screen debut came with the musical hit Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, which was a remake of the Oscar-winning Hollywood classic It Happened One Night.

She made her directorial debut with Paap in 2004, starring John Abraham and Udita Goswami.

Ram Gopal Varma’s Rangeela means differently to different people. For some if it is Aamir Khan’s ‘Tapori’ act, others went bonkers over Urmila Matondkar and many who cherish Rangeela’s great music.

Rangeela as a name has an amazing success quotient in the world of Hindi cinema. For the first time when the word Rangeela was used, it was in Dev Anand’s film Prem Pujari as song Rangeela Re which marked the debut of Gopal Das Neeraj as a lyricist. It was the significant highlight of an otherwise mediocre film Prem Pujari. It was perhaps for the first time that Waheeda Rehman enacted a role of drunkard and did it with grace and panache. Before Yash Chopra could weave a tapestry of romance with a white saree, it was Dev Anand who set the tone for it in Prem Pujari.

A Cult Film

In 1995, Ram Gopal Varma...

Tumhari Sulu

Starring Vidya Balan, Manav Kaul, Neha Dhupia, Vijay Mourya

Directed by Suresh Triveni

One extra star in this flawed and often loosely structured film for Vidya Balan’s extraordinarily empathetic performance as a middleclass housewife, okay homemaker, with serious concentration issues.

You see, our Sulochana, aka Sulu can’t focus on any one thing (but then this film can’t focus on the issue at hand either) not even her growing son who, as it turns out, becomes conveniently problematic as the narrative progresses. A scene later in the film in the principal’s office of Sulu’s son’s school made me cringe in the way similar sequences of reprimanded parents never made me feel in English Vinglish or Hindi Medium.

The progress report of Sulu’s life runs in direct proportion to the storyteller’s(feeble) ability to keep the momentum alive.

Or perhaps ‘progress’ is...

Aamir is now likely to travel soon to the Us for further physical training. Confirming this, a source from the film's core team says, "Aamir now needs to get back into shape to play the younger version of his character. He won't be able to do it peacefully in Mumbai. There will be constant media attention on his weight. So we are planning to get him back into shape in the Us." Aamir will be accompanied by his physical trainer Rahul Bhatt. It's not been decided when the actor takes off for the Us. But according to sources he needs at least a month to lose all the flab. For a month Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul Bhatt was in Ludhiana for Aamir Khan's physical training in Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal. Now Rahul will accompany Aamir to the Us. The invitation, says a source, came directly from Aamir. "He...

Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul Bhatt is in Ludhiana for Aamir Khan's physical training in Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal. The invitation, says a source, came directly from Aamir. "He knows Rahul from the time he (Rahul) was a child hanging around on his dad Mahesh Bhatt Saab's set of Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin. Rahul grew up to be one of the finest physical trainers in Mumbai. So when Aamir needed to develop two distinct body types for his wrestler's character, he immediately thought of Rahul," says a source close to Dangal. Rahul flew off to Ludhiana where he is stationed along with Aamir Khan in the Radisson hotel where Aamir is stationed. Says the source, "Aamir trains with Rahul for approximately 90 minutes every day. It is very intense training. The rigorous exercises involve Myofibril-based strength work-outs. Aamir Khan is first training with Rahul for his bulky look when his character is 45-years old.

Rumours of a remake of Mahesh Bhatt's 1991 romantic musical Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (Dhkmn) seem as farfetched as the idea of Salman Khan doing Dabangg 3. Refuting the reports completely, Pooja wonders how and where they came from. "Mahesh Bhatt directed Dhkmn. He cannot be replaced. And there's no way anyone else will direct a remake. This whole speculation about a remake snowballed after I was asked by someone if Dhkmn was remade whom would you like to see playing Aamir Khan and Pooja Bhatt. I replied, 'Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt.' That's all there is to it." However there is more to this than just a misapprehended media response. A well-informed ex-groupie from the Bhatt camp says, "They are now in denial about the Dhkmn remake. But it was a reality two years ago. Mohit Suri was going to direct the remake. Emraan Hashmi had been finalized...

Pooja Bhatt and Aamir Khan starred in Mahesh Bhatt's Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin. They never came together again. Never saw eye-to-eye. Now with Aamir condemning the 'Roast' with Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, Pooja has spoken up against Aamir. Pooja's sister Alia Bhatt was also present at the Roast. Says Pooja, "FIRs have been filed against us film artistes from time-immemorial. Everyone from Raj Kapoor to Ismat Chugtai has faced it. I've faced it. Now it's my sister Alia and others' turn. One needs to take it in one's stride and not give in or cave in. Finally justice will prevail. I singlehandedly fought an obscenity case against my film Rog for ten long lonely years. It was frustrating. But I did not yield. Ultimately my patience paid off and I got justice. As for Aamir Khan's stance against the Roast, Aamir needs to remember that old adage.

Mumbai, March 9: He is a versatile actor and successful too, but Anupam Kher says he enjoys teaching more than acting.

The actor, who turned 59 Friday, runs acting institute Actor Prepares.

"I love teaching more than I love acting. It's great to give out than to take from others. There is no syllabus for acting and it's a great feeling. I also get to learn a lot from the new generation," said Anupam.

From serious role in "Saraansh", villain in "Karma" or funny man in "Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin", the actor proved his versatility in the beginning of his career and he maintained it in his over three decades long career. In the last few years he was seen in different kinds of roles in "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara", "A Wednesday".

The critically acclaimed and multi-directed film Bombay Talkies was selected to close this year’s prestigious London Indian Film Festival. Ashi Dua, who is producer of the film, was invited as one of the chief guests and also took part in a Q&A session after the screening. BollySpice spoke to Ashi at the Liff Closing Ceremony where she spoke about Bombay Talkies and much more!

Welcome Ashi to the London Indian Film Festival. How does it feel that your film Bombay Talkies is premiering here for the very first time in the UK?

I feel really honoured and it’s a great feeling. In India, obviously you look for appreciation. But when you get appreciation outside as well it feels good.

What motivated you to make a film like Bombay Talkies?

I wanted to make a film where dramatically different filmmakers, like the ones who have directed my film,...

After giving the audience a stupendous hit, AASHIQUI2, at the box office this year, Bhushan Kumar and Vishesh Films decide to come together yet again to announce their next venture. T-Series - Vishesh Films' announce to take forward their 1991 hit love story Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin. Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin released in 1991 was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and starred Pooja Bhatt and Aamir Khan. With the same enthusiasm they had during the making of Aashiqui 2, T-Series and Vishesh F...

Student Of The Year debutante Alia Bhatt's sister Pooja Bhatt is keen on casting Alia in her next film Mr. Love based on the infamous Nanavati murder case that shook Mumbai's beau monde way back in 1959. However, with Randeep Hooda stepping into the male lead in Mr Love, Alia is no longer eligible for this role. She is too young to co-star with Randeep. Pooja Bhatt who will produce Mr. Love is keen to cast the newest kid on the block. However Alia doesn't fit in to the film, specially now when Randeep Hooda (Pooja Bhatt's favourite leading man) has just been signed to play the male lead of the man whom the married woman conspires with to kill her husband. Says Pooja, "Yes, Randeep Hooda plays Prem Ahuja the businessman whom Kawas Maneckshaw Nanavati killed. I'd love to cast Alia in Mr. Love. But she's way too young.

Mumbai, April 22: In over three decades of his association with Bollywood, Mahesh Bhatt has delivered iconic films like "Arth", "Saaransh", "Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin" and "Zakhm". But it's quits on the direction front now, says the maverick filmmaker, who wants to promote young and fresh talent in the industry.

"I have said goodbye to direction. I am encouraging new talents. I am 64 years old now and at this age, encouraging upcoming talents is very satisfying," Bhatt told Ians.

The filmmaker, through his production banner Vishesh Films, has given a platform to many directors, actors and creative people with.

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who played the lead in the Hindi remake of Tamil hit Ghajini, says it's difficult to retain the emotion of an original film in its remake. "It's difficult to remake because the original things are made with such emotion that it becomes difficult to recreate the same emotion. When you come to compare it, a remake can never meet the level of its original version. But there is always an excitement of an artiste," said Aamir. The 45-year-old actor said his 1991 hit Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin was an adaptation of a Hollywood film It Happened One ...

Like a good Daddy's girl, Pooja Bhatt made her debut in the much acclaimed film Daddy. Post that she was a regular feature in most of Mahesh Bhatt's films be it Sadak, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee, Sir, Tamanna and Zakhm. However after impressing one and all with her acting prowess in the above mentioned films, Pooja took a self-imposed break from acting and started focusing on producing and directing films. Her directorial debut Paap may not have struck gold at the B.O. but films like Dhokha did fetch her critical acclaim. Today this feisty actress cum producer-director turns a year older (or should we say younger) and we at Bollywood Hungama give you a chance in joining us to wish Pooja Bhatt a very Happy Birthday. You may post your birthday wishes for Pooja in the comments section below.