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Subhash K Jha looks back at the 2005 Ram Gopal Varma drama D, which starred Randeep Hooda, in a new installment of This Day That Year.

After Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya and Company, after Mahesh Manjrekar’s Vaastav and Hansal Mehta’s Chhal D gives us this day our daily dread… Enough about unwashed men washing their conscience in the blood of the slain. Enough of this swivel-and-snarl routine with blood-red eyes, slurring speech, and smoking guns.

That reminds me…. Why are the censors so worried about smoking people when they should be concerned about those blazing guns that signal urban anarchy? In places D glamorizes violence with disdainful words and crackerjack visuals to a point where you wonder whom the script supports.

“Why do people look at us as freaks? We’re just doing our jobs like doctors and engineers,” Deshu tells his ‘gori chamri’ girlfriend. That’s how...

In a career of 45 years Mohanlal has been ‘dare’ , done it all. His range of roles and spectrum of characters could put Burton, Brando and Bachchan to shame. Though some of his finest performances are in obscure films. Here is my pick of Mohanlal’s most memorable .

1. Kireedam (1989): A smash hit. Many consider Kireedam Mohanlal’s most influential film to date . It is the story of Sethumadhavan ths son of an honest police constable who ends up on the wrong side of law when he rescues his father from being assaulted by a local gangster’s henchmen. Director Sibi Malayil brings out the best in Mohanlal, showing him as both a loving son and a ferocious anti-social. Audiences loved maverick Mohanlal in both avatars. Mohanlal’s buddy Priyadarshan remade the film in Hindi as Gardish with Jackie Shroff in Mohanlal’s role. It wasn’t the same.

2. Kilukkam (1991):...

Yuva, which was released on May 21, 2004 is that rarity which can be watched both as an entertainer and a vehicle for projecting socio-political ideas. The easiest thing in the world is to sneer at someone who attempts to be unconventional through conventional routes. In that sense, Mani Ratnam and Michael Mukherjee, his protagonist in his latest film, share the same predicament.

Like Ajay Devgan’s fascinating character, who wants to bring about a change in the social order, Ratnam’s cinema signifies tremendous leaps in the way we perceive popular entertainment in this country.

A riveting blend of social message and entertainment is what sets Yuva apart. Like Ratnam’s first Hindi film Dil Se, Yuva is an extremely restless film about young characters who are on the lookout for a relevance to their existence. While Michael wants to use student power to change the festering fortunes of Indian politics,...

One of the finest and most versatile gets completely lost inside a character actors, Manoj Bajpayee, who starred in such brilliant films like Satya, Bandit Queen, Gangs of Wasseypur, Gali Guleiyan, and the series The Family Man and so many more, talks with Subhash K Jha about birthday wishes, his range of roles and myriad films, and even a hint of what’s next.

Manoj, any unfulfilled wishes?

My directors locate me in Chandni Chowk or a village near Varanasi where they’ve probably never heard of Savile Row. There was a time when Neeraj Pandey, my director of Special 26, was producing a film that was to be shot in London. I cribbed to him that when he casts me, he takes me to the gullis and bylanes of Indian cities. But when he produces a film located in London, I’m not part of it. No one shoots...

Actors Who Made It In Bollywood Without Industry Ties ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

In a film industry often shaped by dynastic privilege, a few actors have carved paths purely through resilience and talent. Without family backing or influential mentors, these five performers broke through the noise with grit and consistent hard work. Their stories serve as testaments to the idea that merit still matters in Bollywood.

Manoj Bajpayee

Hailing from Bihar, Manoj Bajpayee’s journey began with multiple rejections from the National School of Drama. He eventually made a mark in theatre, leading to a game-changing role in Satya (1998) as Bhiku Mhatre. Known for acclaimed work in Aligarh, The Family Man, and Gangs of Wasseypur, Bajpayee continues to be a powerful force in performance-driven cinema.

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Rajkummar Rao

Inspired by Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao pursued acting at Ftii after completing his education.

Manoj Bajpayee’s Top 5 Highest-Rated Movies ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Manoj Bajpayee’s reputation as an actor in the film industry is synonymous with intensity, brilliance, and versatility. From playing a variety of roles, from an honest cop in Shool, to a dreaded gangster in Satya, and a helpless father in Joram, he nailed them all.

On his 56th birthday today, we have collated a list of the National Award-winning actor’s top five highest-rated movies as per their IMDb scores, and where you can watch these films on Ott platforms. We have considered only those feature films in which Manoj Bajpayee played the lead role or at least had a significant role, and that are available on various Ott/online platforms.

1. Satya Year of release – 1998 Streaming Platform – SonyLIV IMDb Rating – 8.3/10

The cult gangster thriller follows the titular protagonist Satya (J.D. Chakravarthi), who becomes friends with a dreaded gangster Bhiku Mhatre...

Actor Dhaba Struggle Story (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Sanjay Mishra took a long and rough walk in Bollywood. His first film, Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India! was released in 1995 and also starred Shah Rukh Khan. A debut like this ought to have been his ticket to lead roles, but he continued to lose out on good opportunities. On a very small scale, he did what he could to remain in the spotlight, appearing in films like Satya and Dil Se.

Slowly, light began shining on him in 1999, after he had done an advertisement for the Cricket World Cup in which he portrayed Apple Singh. His popularity rose with the hit series Office Office, where he proved himself to fit well in films of the comedy genre-Golmaal, Bunty Aur Babli, and All the Best.

However, personal adversities kept trailing his success in humor. The death of his father in the early 2000s devastated him.

Ram Gopal Varma who last directed the prolific Manoj Bajpayee in Satya 25 years ago, is excited about collaborating with Manoj again.

Sharing details, Ramu tells me, “It’s called Police Station Mein Bhoot. It is a horror comedy. I have written it myself, and we will start in June. Manoj plays a cop who accidentally kills a criminal who comes back to haunt him as a ghost. The idea is, where does the cop hide when he is pursued by a criminal? Let’s see if the audience finds it funny. This is a new genre for Manoj and me. We start shooting in June. Besides Manoj, I can only confirm Abhishek Banerjee at the moment. I think he completely owned the first half of Stree. I have signed a newcomer for the ghost’s role. I don’t want to reveal his name at the moment.”

Ramu’s fights...

This edition of Subhash K Jha’s Thus Day That Year features looks back at Durga, which released in 2002.

Chakravarthy, who played the title role in Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya, has gone on record to claim some experience in filmmaking before attempting to make this film. We don’t know how far this is true. As far as we know, Chakravarthy was spotted on the sets of a movie by Varma and cast in Satya.

By borrowing heavily from Satya and even cartlifting a face from Varma’s camp to play his best friend and sidekick, Chakravarthy cannot claim to be qualified to make a feature film. He makes a mayhem-gorged mess out of a plot that’s ridiculously self-important.

Like Ram Gopal Varma’s Shiva, Durga opens on a college campus where we see the protagonist Durga and his friends behaving like overgrown adolescents looking for a first date.

Ram Gopal Varma Recalls The Sholay 2 Idea Pitched By Sascha Sippy (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ram Gopal Varma is one of Bollywood’s most famous directors, best known for movies like Rangeela and Satya. However, he was also behind Rgv Ki Aag, a 2007 remake of perhaps the most iconic Indian film, Sholay. Despite the vision of Varma and a star cast of Mohanlal, Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, and Sushmita Sen, the film was a commercial and critical flop. However, Varma has now revealed that this was not the only movie in which he would incorporate the elements of Sholay.

Speaking to Galatta India, the maverick filmmaker revealed that Sascha Sippy, nephew of Sholay director Ramesh Sippy, once pitched the idea of a sequel centered around Gabbar Singh’s son. Furthermore, Sippy also wanted to cast Jackie Chan in a role for the movie. However, the concept didn’t sit well with Rgv,...

Post the emotional cathartic silver jubilee screening of Satya, Ram Gopal Varma is all set to launch his new film.

Shedding light on the project, Ramu says, “The film is called Syndicate. It’s about a terrifying organisation which threatens the very existence of India. Street gangs, which flourished till the 70s, were finished when they got absorbed into hardline political parties, and later, when the smugglers rose up due to heavy demand for electronic goods, gold, etc, they too were destroyed by the economic reforms, and then the deadly corporate gangs like D Company etc arrived, to be once again victoriously crushed. Similarly, the early black September terrorists paled in comparison to the deadly Al-Qaeda, which in turn looked like nothing in front of the horrific Isis group.”

Ramu admits there has been no notable criminal organisation since the last 10 to 15 years in India. “But right now the intense...

Did Ram Gopal Varma Lose His Creative Vision After Making Satya? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ram Gopal Varma is one of the most famous directors in Indian cinema. He is celebrated for his groundbreaking films like Rangeela (1995) and Satya (1998). The director was just 33 years old when Rangeela, starring Aamir Khan, became a critical and commercial blockbuster. While Rgv was hailed all around India for these two movies, he has admitted to being “blinded” by their success.

As these masterpieces cemented his reputation in Indian cinema, Varma found himself going far away from his core values as a filmmaker. In a heartfelt note shared on his social media, Varma revealed how the acclaim of Satya and Rangeela caused him to lose sight of storytelling. The realization struck him during a recent screening of Satya, his first viewing of the film in nearly 27 years.

Ram Gopal Varma Became Emotional After Rewatching Satya 27 Years Later

Recently,...

There are so many stories related to the making of Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya, it is hard to tell the trees from the wood, so to speak. The film has been mythologised beyond a reasonable pout. And I do mean pout, what with the film’s leading lady doing a facsimile of an authentic Mumbai working girl.

Urmila Matondkar plays a struggling singer who sings in Lataji’s voice, and gets propositioned by a music director(the late Neeraj Vora) who tells her, ‘Talent is okay, but what else do you have to offer?’

One could ask Ram Gopal Varma the same question. He brings together a gallery of outstanding actors in Satya. But most of the players are swamped by sinking sense of sketchiness, even the protagonist: where does Satya(a subdued J. D. Chakravarthy) come from, why does he behave like a trained Ninja when he is supposedly a virgin to violence?...

A special screening was held on January 15th to celebrate Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya. The director along with composer Vishal Bhardwaj, Aditya Kashyap as well as Manoj Bajpayee and Urmila Matondkar among others came together to celebrate both its release 27 years ago and that it once again is playing on the big screen.

After the screening, Ram Gopal Varma spoke with Subhash K Jha in an open and reflective conversation to share his experience of seeing the film once again.

What was the experience like?

By the time Satya was rolling to an end, while watching it two days back for the first time after more than twenty-five years, I started choking and tears were rolling down my cheeks and I didn’t even care if anyone would see. The tears came from somewhere deep inside me not just for the film, but it was for everything that had...

Ram Gopal Varma’s drama Satya, which starred J. D. Chakravarthy, Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee, Paresh Rawal, Aditya Srivastava

And Saurabh Shukla is back in theatres again after 27 years. Talking with Subhash K Jha, Manoj Bajpayee revisits Satya.

Manoj, how was the special screening of Satya last night?

It was a great screening actually, an amazing interaction when the entire press was there and also so many assistant directors and so many production people, some of the actors, Urmila and Chakravarti, Makrand Deshpande, all of us…Anurag Kashyap made it, Vishal Bhardwaj and yes, of course Ram Gopal Varma.

To be meeting them all together after so many years!

It was great meeting first of all everyone after such a long time. It really seemed to me as if there was no time lost, there was never a gap coming back together and really talking about all those things that...

This Friday it is time for a gallery of diverse releases. Abhishek Kapoor’s Azaad introduces two newcomers Rasha Thadani and Aaman Devgan, both torchbearers of a distinguished legacy, there is also the re-release of Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya on Friday.

Ticket prices on the day of release of the above films will be Rs 99 across the board as January 17 is declared Cinema Lovers Day.

Producer and trade analyst Girish Johar says the boxoffice performance of the new releases is bound to benefit from the slashed ticket prices. “Definitely. The endeavour of the industry and forthcoming releases is to ensure that movie watching becomes more comfortable for the audiences. Once it becomes pocket-friendly, enticing the audiences with the content is the next logical step. More they watch, more topical it becomes and thereafter accordingly it Wom will spread. Hoping Wom will be positive, will lead to attract larger set of audience base.

Bollywood Mascot: Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya remains a milestone in Indian cinema, celebrated for its raw portrayal of Mumbai’s underworld and its unforgettable characters. Among them, Manoj Bajpayee’s portrayal of Bhiku Mhatre stands out as a cultural phenomenon. Recently, the film’s director, Ram Gopal Varma, revealed a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about the inspiration behind this iconic role.

The Real-Life Inspiration for Bhiku Mhatre

In a recent interview, Ram Gopal Varma disclosed that Bhiku Mhatre’s character was partially inspired by a real-life individual he had encountered during his research for the film. Although he did not name the person, Varma mentioned that the individual’s magnetic personality, quick wit, and unique mannerisms served as a foundation for the role.

The character’s blend of charm and menace, as well as his raw authenticity, made Bhiku Mhatre resonate deeply with audiences. Manoj Bajpayee’s stellar performance added layers of depth,...

Did Producers Cheat Govinda Out Of Money? Wife Sunita Ahuja Reveals ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Govinda is one of the most famous actors in Bollywood’s history and perhaps the biggest name in comedy movies. Known for his great screen presence and charming dance moves, he ruled the silver screen during the 90s. While his acting lit up cinemas nationwide, the road behind the camera wasn’t always smooth.

Recently, Govinda’s wife and former manager, Sunita Ahuja, revealed instances where producers took undue advantage of her husband’s trusting and emotional nature. Govinda’s simplicity and faith in people are huge reasons fans love him to date. But behind the scenes, his positive qualities sometimes made him vulnerable to business partners.

Govinda’s Wife Reveals How Producers Often Lied To The Actor

In a recent interview with Hauterrfly, Sunita Ahuja discussed her time as the manager of Govinda. During the...

How Did Upasana Singh React When A Director Gave Her A Disturbing “Sitting” Offer? ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Upasana Singh is an actor and comedian, widely popular for her iconic roles in films like Judwaa and her unforgettable appearances on Comedy Nights with Kapil. Besides Bollywood, Singh has also worked in various regional movies in the Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, and Gujarati industries. Now, Singh is in the news again for her brave nature, where she opened up on a harrowing incident from her early days in the film industry.

Speaking candidly during an interview with Siddharth Kanan, the actress recalled an unsettling encounter with a South Indian director who allegedly tried to exploit her under the guise of a professional meeting for a film opposite Anil Kapoor. The incident left her emotionally shaken. However, it also became a turning point in her life where she learned the harsh reality of the cinema.

Here’s All We Know About The Re-Release Of Manoj Bajpayee’s Satya (Photo Credit – Sony Liv)

Manoj Bajpayee had a decent run in 2024 with the theatrical release of Bhaiya Ji. The action-thriller received mixed reactions from audiences but acquired widespread favor upon its debut in Ott. Speaking of crime thrillers involving the Family Man actor, the association between Ram Gopal Varma and Manoj Bajpayee has always been considered a cult classic, thanks to the iconic film Satya.

Amid the wave of re-releases, PVR Inox has announced the re-release of Satya on the big screen, bringing the cinematic masterpiece back to theaters.

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Trending Sky Force: When Will Akshay Kumar-Led Aerial Action Film’s Trailer Release? Potential Date & Duration Reports Explored

Suhana Khan & Agastya Nanda’s Dating Rumors Intensifies After Their New Year Celebration Pics Go Viral!

When Shyam Benegal Convinced Manoj Bajpayee To Play A Prince In Zubeidaa (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Legendary director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal died at 90 on Monday (December 23). The pioneer behind movies acclaimed movies like Manthan, Ankur, Mandi, Mujib, and other notable works, his death has marked a significant loss for Indian cinema. Those who had associated with Benegal spoke highly of his unique vision. One of them was actor Manoj Bajpayee, who worked with the director in the 2001 film Zubeidaa. In a throwback interaction, Bajpayee revealed how the filmmaker had convinced him to play a royal prince in the movie even though he was skeptical before taking the role.

What Did Manoj Bajpayee Reveal About Shyam Benegal?

Manoj Bajpayee revealed to Pti that he met Shyam Benegal a few years after the success of his film Satya wherein he had played the iconic role of gangster Bhiku Mhatre. The director of Satya,...

Manoj Bajpayee Net Worth (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Manoj Bajpayee remains one of the most versatile and accomplished actors in Indian cinema currently. Many fans also hail him as an institution in acting. Needless to say, this has also resulted in the talented actor amassing an impressive net worth over the years.

Manoj Bajpayee’s Glorious Journey In The Industry

Being an alumnus of the National School Of Drama, Manoj Bajpayee started his acting career with TV shows like Imtihaan, Swabhimaan and Suno Re Kissa. However, his breakthrough came with the 1998 Ram Gopal Varma film Satya, in which he portrayed the role of gangster Bhiku Mhatre. The movie also got him a National Award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role. This was soon followed by a string of both commercially successful and critically acclaimed films like Loc Kargil, Shool, Pinjar, and Raajneeti.

Trending Rekha Net Worth: Luxury Cars, Lavish...

Acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee has recently shared his thoughts on not working with director Anurag Kashyap for a long time. In a recent interview, Bajpayee revealed that he felt Kashyap wasn’t making the type of films he wanted to be a part of.

The two creative minds had previously collaborated on critically acclaimed films like “Satya” and “Gangs of Wasseypur.” However, their paths diverged, and they haven’t worked together in recent years.

Bajpayee expressed his admiration for Kashyap’s work but emphasized that he wants to be part of films that resonate with his own creative vision. He stated, “I felt he wasn’t making my type of film, and I wasn’t fitting into his scheme of things.”

Despite this, Bajpayee acknowledged Kashyap’s talent and contribution to Indian cinema. He also expressed his willingness to collaborate with Kashyap if a suitable project comes along in the future.

Bhojpuri star Akshara Singh shared that she shot for a project for 24 hours and then took a selfie. Akshara took to her Instagram stories and posted a mirror selfie video of herself dressed in bright pink Indian attire and silver earrings.

The actress wrote: “Good morning everyone. 24 ghante ke shoot ke baad bhi selfie video kaun leta hai??” with the tune of the title track of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Main Hoon Na’ playing.

Akshara then shared a reel on the song ‘Harpal’ by Kunal Mishra and Shonali Mishra, starring Mintuaa, wearing a pink and white T-shirt paired with a bright pink baseball cap.

One of the highest-paid actresses in Bhojpuri cinema, Akshara made her debut in 2010 opposite Ravi Kishan in the action drama ‘Satyamev Jayate’. She has worked in popular films such as ‘Tabadala’, ‘Sarkar Raj’, and ‘Satya’.

Akshara singh finds the energy to take a selfie after extended...

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh on Sunday treated her fandom with a behind-the-scenes glimpse from her film ‘Aisa Pati Mujhe De Bhagwan’, where she is seen dancing to the latest song ‘Tu Kya Jaane’ from the movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’.

Taking to Instagram, Akshara dropped a reel video showcasing her in a green suit, walking with a bicycle alongside her co-star Anshuman Singh Rajput from ‘Aisa Pati Mujhe De Bhagwan’.

She gave the music of the song ‘Tu Kya Jaane’ from Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra-starrer ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, directed by Imtiaz Ali.

The old soul romantic song is sung by Yashika Sikka, composed by A. R. Rahman, and penned by Irshad Kamil.

The post is captioned: “In love with this song #goingwiththetrend Vc: film #aisapatimujhedebhagwan #aksharasingh #oldschoollove #arrahman #chamkila.”

Akshara was recently seen in the music video titled ‘Defender’, alongside Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh. The song is sung by Mankirt,...

Mumbai, April 16 (Ians) Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh, on Tuesday, dedicated a video to her “favourite” friend, her caretaker Abhijit, sharing how he is there for her in every situation.

Akshara, who participated in the controversial reality show ‘Bigg Boss Ott’ took to Instagram, and dropped a reel, wherein we can see Akshara wearing a green saree and Abhijit opening an umbrella for her on the set of her project.

He can be seen holding a mini fan for Akshara, and both can be seen dancing and making fun videos in the vanity van.

The post is captioned: “Is reel me mujhe aur koi nahi dikha sivaay mera pyara baccha Abhijit ke jo na sirf caretaker hai, mere 24 hours ka saathi hai…jo mere ek ek chiz ka khayal rakhta hai. Thankyou for everything…Abhijit tujhse acchha dost to mera koi ho hi nahi sakta jo mere har paristhiti mere saath hota hai…...

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh on Monday took an autorickshaw to work and shared her happiness by dropping a video on social media. The ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ fame actress, who is an ardent social media user, took to her Instagram Stories and shared a video in which she could be seen in a white T-shirt and blue shrug.

With her hair half-tied, the actress opted for natural makeup.

“Auto Me Ghumne Ki Khushi,” Akshara captioned the post with the song ‘I Can’t Get Enough’ playing in the background.

Akshara was recently seen in a music video titled ‘Defender’ alongside Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh. The song has been sung by Mankirt, Renuka Panwar, and Shevv, with lyrics by Raees, and music by Shevv. The video is directed by Shera.

Akshara, who featured in ‘Bigg Boss Ott’, has also worked in projects such as ‘Porus’, ‘Satya’, ‘Tabadala’, and ‘Dhadkan’.

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh flaunted her bold and powerful ‘womaniya’ look of the day and said ‘hado me rahoge to lihaaz dekhoge, paar kar li to mizaaj dekhoge’. Akshara was recently seen in the new music video titled ‘Defender’, alongside Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh. The song is sung by Mankirt, Renuka Panwar, and Shevv.

The lyrics of the track are given by Raees, and music is by Shevv. The video is directed by Shera.

The ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ fame actress, who is an ardent social media user, took to Instagram on Sunday and posted a cool picture of herself, sitting on a bullet bike.

She is wearing a black top, paired with a dark brown jacket, and beige-coloured pants.

For the makeup, she opted for pink lips and blushed cheeks.

The post has the music of the track ‘O Womaniya’ by Khusboo Raj and Rekha Jha.

It is captioned in...

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh on Monday treated fans to a fun, crazy video of herself, doing ‘pagalpan’ in front of the mirror. Taking to Instagram shared a Reel video, wherein she can be seen wearing a white cotton shirt, grey joggers, and accessorised the outfit with a cross body gun holder.

The actress is wearing blue sunglasses, and her hair is open.

Akshara is recording the mirror video, and said: “Dhan Te Na…. main already high on energy rehti hun.”

The post is captioned: “Kya apne mirror ke saamne pagalpan kiya hai kabhi?? Waise I love it.”

The video has garnered 70.1K views.

Meanwhile, she will be soon seen in a music video titled ‘Defender’, alongside Mankirt Aulakh. The lyrics of the track is given by Raees, and music is by Shevv. The video is directed by Shera.

Akshara is known for her participation in ‘Bigg Boss Ott’. She has...

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh on Tuesday shared some pictures, flaunting her hair and makeup, and asked fans when they are celebrating the festival of Holi. Taking to Instagram, Akshara shared a series of pictures, wherein she is wearing a white shirt, and is posing with a full face of makeup and hair styled in soft waves.

Akshara, who hails from Bihar, and the state is celebrating Holi on March 26, captioned the post as: “What’s up guys? aapke yahan Holi kab hai? #happyholi.”

The fans commented on her post and said: “Mrignaini”, “Aaj se hi hai Holi start”. One user said: “aaj hai Singh ji”.

Akshara is known for her participation in ‘Bigg Boss Ott’. She has also featured in projects like ‘Porus’, ‘Satya’, ‘Tabadala’, and ‘Dhadkan’.

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A post shared by Akshara Singh (@singhakshara)...

Mumbai, March 24 (Ians) Actress Ankita Lokhande went down memory lane and recalled her conversation with late Bollywood star and former beau Sushant Singh Rajput about his 2015 film ‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshy’.

Talking to Ians about the world of cinema giving different learnings, producer Sandeep Singh said: “ ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, ‘Mother India’, ‘Do Bigha Zamin’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Mandi’, ‘Mausam’ and ‘Aandhi’ taught us.”

” ‘Satya’ gave us a different world and so did ‘Bandit Queen’, which gave us a completely different world (onscreen).”

Chiming into the conversation, Ankita said: “I just remembered something, when ‘Byomkesh Bakshy’ released, then Sushant used to say that today people wouldn’t understand the film, but there will be a time when people will understand this kind of cinema.”

‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!’ is directed and co-written by Dibakar Banerjee, which is based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi, created by the Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.

Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide...

Akshara Singh, a popular Bhojpuri actress known for her roles in films such as ‘Tabadala,’ ‘Sarkar Raj,’ and ‘Satya,’ recently shared on her Instagram stories that she had been shooting continuously for almost 24 hours. In the video she posted, she can be seen getting her touch-up done between shots.

She mentioned in the video, “Subah ke baj rahe hai 5.10 a.m. aur humaari 24 ghante se shooting chal rahi hai,” which translates to “It’s 5.10 a.m. in the morning, and we have been shooting for 24 hours now.” Despite the long hours, Akshara appeared cheerful as she prepared for her next shot.

Her make-up artist asked her how she managed to stay happy despite the demanding schedule, to which she replied, “Khush rehne ke alawa aur koi option nahi veere,” meaning “There is no option but to stay happy.”

Although Akshara did not disclose specific details about the project she was working on,...

As the country celebrates Bihar Diwas on Friday, Ians has compiled a list of actors from the state who have made it big on the big screen and are making waves in Bollywood.

Manoj Bajpayee: The National Film Award winner, who is from village Belwa in West Champaran district, applied for admission into the National School of Drama (Nsd) four times, but got rejected on each occasion. That did not stop him from pursuing his celluloid dreams and attaining the fame he could never have dreamt of.

He made his film debut with a one-minute role in the 1994 Naseeruddin Shah-Om Puri-starrer ‘Drohkaal’, followed by a minor role as a dacoit in Shekhar Kapur’s much-acclaimed ‘Bandit Queen’. Fame came Bajpayee’s way when he played the gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama ‘Satya’.

The 54-year-old actor is well known for his roles in movies such as ‘Kaun?...

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh on Friday extended greetings to the fans on the occasion of Bihar Diwas. Akshara, who made her acting debut opposite Ravi Kishan in the 2010 action drama ‘Satyamev Jayate’, is an avid social media user, and is often seen sharing fun updates about her personal and professional life.

Taking to Instagram, Akshara, who hails from Bihar penned a note on ‘Bihar Diwas’. The actress shared a poster, which has glimpses of famous Mahabodhi temple, and Chhath puja.

The poster has a tagline in Hindi, which read as: “Bihar sthapana diwas ki samast Bihar vaasiyon ko hardik shubhkamnaaye“.

The post is also captioned in Hindi: “Adhyan, adhyatama, gyaan, karma, sanskriti, sankalp shakti, tyaag, shaurya, veerta jaise anginat udharan se jana jata hai hamara vishwadhara Bihar. Hamare sabhi pyaare-dulaare Bihar vasiyon ko Bihar Diwas ki hardik badhai evam shubhkamnaaye.”

“Bihar ka ateet yugon yugon se gauravhsaali raha hai, aur...

Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming streaming series ‘Killer Soup’, on Monday dropped a terrific picture of himself featuring his toned body with washboard abs.

In the picture, Manoj stands with a bare upper body as he stares into the camera. One could see his carved deltoid muscles, chest and biceps – special mention to his collar bone.

He wrote in the caption: “New Year New Me! Dekho soup ka meri body pe asar. Ekdum killer look hai na?”

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who directed Manoj in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ commented under the picture: “Chuppe Rustom.”

Apurva Asrani, the editor of Manoj’s ‘Satya’ and ‘Aligarh’ pulled the actor’s leg as he commented: “Very impressive. But please leave the thirst traps to me.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Manoj has ‘Killer Soup’ in the pipeline. The series, which also stars Konkona Sensharma, Nasser, Sayaji Shinde and Lal,...

The writer of movies like ‘Aligarh’, ‘Shahid’, among others, Apurva Asrani on Thursday clarified a rumour which addressed veteran actor Asrani as his father, and said if his dad had been a well known actor, his struggles would have been much less.

The filmmaker served as the editor of the 1998 crime film ‘Satya’ directed by Ram Gopal Varma. It stars Urmila Matondkar, Jd Chakravarthy and Manoj Bajpayee in the lead roles.

Apurva is also the editor of movies like ‘Om Jai Jagadish’, ‘Mukhbiir’ and ‘CityLights’.

Taking to Instagram, Apurva, who has a fanbase of 41.6K followers, shared a still of a video, which shows a collage featuring Asrani as father, and Apurva as son.

Along with the photo, he wrote: “No, that’s Not my father. That’s veteran actor Asrani. My dad was a flight purser with Air India and had nothing to do with the movie industry. I wonder though,...

Rapper and singer Badshah, who is all set to take the charge once again for the rap reality television show ‘MTV Hustle 03 Represent’ shared his excitement to return to the battleground, and said he can’t wait for the country’s next wave of rap sensations to be discovered. The show is all set to bring the unprecedented rap sounds from all corners of India. Representing the country’s youth, this season’s definitive clarion call, ‘India Ab Tumhari Baari’, the show urges everyone to proudly celebrate their ideologies, beliefs, issues, music, passion, culture, hood, stories, and identity.

Talking about the same, Badshah said: “It is India’s only desi hip-hop stage, that represents the dreams and aspirations of the Indian youth. I’m excited to return to the battleground.”

The rapper added: “I can’t wait for the country’s next wave of rap sensations to be discovered.”

To...

Rapper and singer Badshah, who is all set to take the charge once again for the rap reality television show ‘MTV Hustle 03 Represent’ shared his excitement to return to the battleground, and said he can’t wait for the country’s next wave of rap sensations to be discovered. The show is all set to bring the unprecedented rap sounds from all corners of India. Representing the country’s youth, this season’s definitive clarion call, ‘India Ab Tumhari Baari’, the show urges everyone to proudly celebrate their ideologies, beliefs, issues, music, passion, culture, hood, stories, and identity.

Talking about the same, Badshah said: “It is India’s only desi hip-hop stage, that represents the dreams and aspirations of the Indian youth. I’m excited to return to the battleground.”

The rapper added: “I can’t wait for the country’s next wave of rap sensations to be discovered.”

To...

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has released the trailer for his latest political-thriller film ‘Vyooham’. Another experimental outing from the ‘Siva’ director, the trailer packs in high intrigue, gritty realism, a compelling storyline, and immense thrills.

From the surface,the Telugu film seems to be based on the real-life Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the many events that shaped his life after the passing of his father, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.

While indeed there is a lot of realism to the compelling narrative much of which is based on true events, the trailer doesn’t exactly look like a biopic as opposed to just narrating one facet of a politician’s very complicated life.

The movie also seems to aim guns at the former Andhra Pradesh Cm Chandrababu Naidu, who allegedly hurled corruption charges against Y S Jagan for which the latter was imprisoned back in...

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has released the trailer for his latest political-thriller film ‘Vyooham’. Another experimental outing from the ‘Siva’ director, the trailer packs in high intrigue, gritty realism, a compelling storyline, and immense thrills.

From the surface,the Telugu film seems to be based on the real-life Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the many events that shaped his life after the passing of his father, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.

While indeed there is a lot of realism to the compelling narrative much of which is based on true events, the trailer doesn’t exactly look like a biopic as opposed to just narrating one facet of a politician’s very complicated life.

The movie also seems to aim guns at the former Andhra Pradesh Cm Chandrababu Naidu, who allegedly hurled corruption charges against Y S Jagan for which the latter was imprisoned back in...

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, popular TV actor Mohammed Iqbal Khan claimed himself to be a huge fan of the philosophy of Gandhi that is now developed gradually over decades by the experiences, experiments and vision of Gandhi. The actor said:”I’m a huge fan of Gandhian philosophy. It could be understood as a collection of social, religious and political ideas formulated and developed by Mahatma Gandhi himself, from 1893 to 1914 while in South Africa and later during the Indian freedom struggle.”

Iqbal known for featuring in shows like ‘Crackdown’, ‘Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai’ among others mentioned that he follows the idea of truth and non-violence that Gandhi once taught the nation.

The actor said: “Truth and non-violence are the two basic foundation blocks of Gandhian philosophy. The term ‘truth and non-violence’ is derived from Sanskrit ‘Satya aur Ahimsa’. Gandhi would have opined, has broader meaning than mere ‘truth...

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, popular TV actor Mohammed Iqbal Khan claimed himself to be a huge fan of the philosophy of Gandhi that is now developed gradually over decades by the experiences, experiments and vision of Gandhi. The actor said:”I’m a huge fan of Gandhian philosophy. It could be understood as a collection of social, religious and political ideas formulated and developed by Mahatma Gandhi himself, from 1893 to 1914 while in South Africa and later during the Indian freedom struggle.”

Iqbal known for featuring in shows like ‘Crackdown’, ‘Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai’ among others mentioned that he follows the idea of truth and non-violence that Gandhi once taught the nation.

The actor said: “Truth and non-violence are the two basic foundation blocks of Gandhian philosophy. The term ‘truth and non-violence’ is derived from Sanskrit ‘Satya aur Ahimsa’. Gandhi would have opined, has broader meaning than mere ‘truth...

The celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi are in full swing in Mumbai, and the entire city is immersed in the festive spirit. B-town is not far behind as many of the celebs were spotted seeking blessings at the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja in Parel area of Mumbai.

After Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan sought blessings at Lalbaugcha Raja, his ‘Jawan’ co-actor Riddhi Dogra too visited the iconic Lord Ganpati. She was seen dressed in salwar kurta with floral print and statement jewellery. She rounded up her look with a pink coloured dupatta and her hair tied in a bun.

‘The Lunchbox’ actress Nimrat Kaur too was seen at the venue as she walked in to attend the celebrations and seek blessings. Nimrat too was dressed in yellow ochre coloured Indian attire with matching dupatta. She kept her look sharp with hair tied in a bun accentuated by a gajra. On her way to the venue,...

The celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi are in full swing in Mumbai, and the entire city is immersed in the festive spirit. B-town is not far behind as many of the celebs were spotted seeking blessings at the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja in Parel area of Mumbai.

After Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan sought blessings at Lalbaugcha Raja, his ‘Jawan’ co-actor Riddhi Dogra too visited the iconic Lord Ganpati. She was seen dressed in salwar kurta with floral print and statement jewellery. She rounded up her look with a pink coloured dupatta and her hair tied in a bun.

‘The Lunchbox’ actress Nimrat Kaur too was seen at the venue as she walked in to attend the celebrations and seek blessings. Nimrat too was dressed in yellow ochre coloured Indian attire with matching dupatta. She kept her look sharp with hair tied in a bun accentuated by a gajra. On her way to the venue,...

Iffla Will Open With Khufiya Directed By Vishal Bhardwaj And Close With All India Rank By Varun Grover

US Premieres of Documentaries The World is Family by Legendary Filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, and The Golden Thread by Nishtha Jain

Exclusive Masterclass with World Renowned Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj

Today the 2023 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) announced the lineup of official selections for the 21st annual edition of the internationally acclaimed film festival. Iffla will showcase 24 films from 13 countries and in 14 languages, including the world theatrical premiere of Vishal Bhardwaj's Khufiya, the world premiere of Atul Sabharwal's Berlin, and the North American premieres of Varun Grover's dramedy All Indian Rank, Dominic Sangma's Garo language film Rapture,and the Malayalam film Aattam (The Play) by Anand Ekarshi. Plus, the LA premiere of Joram by Devashish Makhija.

Passes and Gala tickets are now available at www.indianfilmfestival.org. Tickets to...

Film editor and writer Apurva Asrani, who is known for stitching together some of the milestone films of Hindi cinema like ‘Satya’, ‘Shahid’ and has written the poignant biopic ‘Aligarh’, is reflecting back on his journey of almost 3 decades in the cinema.

Apurva, who has now permanently shifted his base to Goa and works from there, shared several throwback pictures in which he can be seen on the sets as a young guy filled with dreams in his eyes and dedication towards his work.

Talking about how the film industry has seen monumental change ever since he started his journey, Apurva penned a long note in the caption. He wrote, “It all began in 1995. So many good people in these pictures have moved on, the industry has changed, film has moved to digital, TV has moved to Ott, newer stories, newer talents have replaced the old. I am filled with gratitude that almost 30 years in,...

Manoj Bajpayee, one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors in Bollywood, is all set to play a ruthless gangster in his next film ‘Bhaiyaaji’. The film, which is directed by Apoorv Singh Karki and written by Deepak Kingrani, will be a gritty action revenge drama set in Uttar Pradesh.

The makers of ‘Bhaiyaaji’ announced the film on social media with a poster featuring Manoj Bajpayee in a menacing avatar. The poster has the tagline ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold’. The film’s official synopsis reads: “Bhaiyaaji is a story of a gangster who is betrayed by his own men and left for dead. He survives and returns to take his revenge on those who wronged him.”

Bandaa Trailer

‘Bhaiyaaji’ will mark the first collaboration between Manoj Bajpayee and Apoorv Singh Karki, who is known for directing the popular web series ‘Bandaa’. The film will also be produced...

Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap, who is currently gearing up for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (Iffm) premiere of his upcoming directorial ‘Kennedy’, has shared the reason behind making his cult-classic ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’.

While, ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ is his most unanimously loved film, the director has often said that the film has changed his life but not for good because people now watch all his films with the imprint of ‘GoW’ on their minds, something that Kashyap considers a disadvantage and an injustice to his films that have come after ‘GoW’.

The director recently spoke with Ians about the film which was released in two parts, back in 2012.

Anurag, who started his career with ‘Satya’ (he shared the screenwriting credits with Saurabh Shukla), said that he always tried to make something which is radically different from his past works.

He told Ians: “My reason for making ‘Gangs of Wasseypur...

Director Ram Gopal Varma posted an AI spin of Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay’ featuring Hollywood stars Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino as the lead characters.

In the AI version of the film, Julia was seen as Basanti originally played by Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan’s Jai is essayed by De Niro, Al Pacino as Dharmendra’s Veeru and Amjad Khan’s Gabbar is played by Nicholson.

The iconic character of Thakur Baldev Singh, originally played by Sanjeev Kumar, is seen played by Kevin Spacey in the re-imagined version of the film, which was released in 1975.

Rgv took to Twitter, where he shared the video and wrote: “What if Robert de Niro played Amitabh Bachchan , Al Pacino played Dharmendra , Julia roberts played Hema Malini , Kevin spacey played Sanjeev kumar and Jack Nicholson played Gabbar in Sholay? Artificial Intelligence is just Killing it.”

He then added: “Hollywood...

Mumbai, July 18 (Ians) Director Ajay Bhupati, who is known for his 2018 Tamil superhit film ‘Rx 100’, is coming up with a new film ‘Mangalavaaram’. The director described the film as a village-based action-thriller set against the backdrop of the 1990s and has promised that the film sticks to the nativity.

The film stars Payal Rajput, Shravan Reddy, Chaitanya Krishna, Nandita Swetha, Ajay Ghosh and Laxman playing the pivotal roles in the film.

Talking about the film, Ajay Bhupati said, “Our ‘Mangalavaar’ is a village-based rare action-thriller set in 90’s backdrop. It sticks to our nativity with raw, rustic visuals and emotions. There are 30 characters in the story and every character has got a certain place in the larger scheme of the film.”

Ajay has worked with ‘Satya’ director Ram Gopal Verma as an executive director in the film ‘Vangaveeti’, as chief co-director in the film ‘Killing Veerappan’ and as associate...