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Utkarsh Sharma On Vanvaas Being Compared With Baghban (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The Utkarsh Sharma and Nana Patekar starrer Vanvaas witnessed its satellite streaming yesterday (March 8). However, the film was heavily compared with Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini’s 2003 movie Baghban. Now, in his latest conversation with Koimoi, Utkarsh broke his silence on the same and pointed out how the two films are different from each other.

Utkarsh Sharma On Vanvaas Being Compared To Baghban

While Utkarsh Sharma admitted that both Vanvaas and Baghban deal with the issue of parents being abandoned by their children, they are actually very different from each other. The Gadar 2 actor said, “If you’ve seen the film, it’s a very different movie. Baghban and Vanvaas ka genre ek hain, which is a family drama. This is more of a comedy and explores a different social issue. Baghban was on parents ke abandonment and uss mein ek love story.

Anil Sharma On Vanvaas’ Poor Box Office Response (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Director-producer Anil Sharma’s film Vanvaas, which was released in December last year, did not do well at the box office. The film starred his son Utkarsh Sharma alongside Nana Patekar. As the film gears up for its satellite release soon, in an exclusive conversation with Koimoi, he has opened up about why the movie struggled at the box office.

Anil Sharma On Vanvaas Emerging As A Box Office Flop

Anil Sharma recalled how his movie did not get enough screens because of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 dominating the big screen during the same time. However, he has no regrets since he remembers getting a good response from the people who have already watched the film. He said, “Yes, it is disappointing, but the main issue is that the people have loved the film and they have also cried.

Rachel Weisz is the Oscar winner who has been very selective of her screen appearances of late, and it has certainly paid off. In 2018 alone, she co-starred in two highly-regarded films -- "Disobedience" from Oscar winner Sebastián Lelio as the daughter of a late Orthodox rabbi who is romantically drawn to a female childhood friend, and Yorgos Lanthimos' "The Favourite," in which she plays Lady Sarah Churchill, a noblewoman whose position in the court of Queen Anne is threatened by her upstart cousin. Her performance as Lady Sarah earned Weitz her first BAFTA Award.

In fact, in the course of her 30 year-long career in films, Weisz has amassed quite a collection of awards. She won an Academy Award for her performance in 2005's "The Constant Gardener" and was Oscar-nominated again for "The Favourite." She has garnered three Golden Globe noms, winning again for "Gardener," and her "Favourite" win at the...

Jaya Bachchan Once Praised Hema Malini For Her Performance In This Movie (Photo Credit – Koimoi)

Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini ruled Bollywood in the 70s and early 80s. They entertained everyone with their contrasting yet equally powerful screen personas. They even shared the screen in Sholay, a legendary movie in cinema history; however, Hema’s role became more popular for obvious reasons, but Jaya left a mark with her demure performance. She once shared her admiration for Hema after watching her in one of the most popular family dramas. Keep scrolling for more.

For the unversed, Jaya dominated realistic, emotionally rich cinema, portraying strong yet vulnerable women. On The other hand, Hema ruled commercial Bollywood, becoming the face of glamour, dance, and blockbuster entertainment. Both actresses defined the golden era of Bollywood and left a lasting impact that continues today. Jaya also admired Dharmendra and reportedly had a crush on him.

Subhash K Jha celebrates the career of noted director Ravi Tanson and shares his selection for Tandon’s best work in this fascinating feature.

1. Anhonee (1973):

Ravi Tandon turned producer-director with this eminently engaging murder thriller, which starred Sanjeev Kumar as what seemed to be a mentally unstable man. But wait, there was a delicious twist in the story, which I suggest you experience for yourself if you haven’t already. With Sanjeev Kumar was the pretty Leena Chandavarkar seducing him with Lata Mangeshkar’s superhit song ‘Buddhu pad gaya palleyk. The hit Sanjeev-Leena pair was back in Ravi Tandon’s comedy Apne Rang Hazaar two years later. That, too, was a hit.

2. Zindagi (1976):

Many see this Ravi Tandon directorial as a precursor to the Amitabh Bachchan-Hema Malini autumnal drama Baghban. Sanjeev Kumar and Mala Sinha play a couple who are separated by their children who can only afford...

Anil Sharma who was all for gritted teeth and clenched fists in Gadar, goes incurably lachrymose in his new film Vanvaas. Set in the saffron splendour of Varanasi, Sharma’s cinema is an old-fashioned weepie with a bleeding heart and visuals that exude an over-saturated emotional meltdown in fits and starts.

It is a familiar tale often told since Shakespeare’s King Lear, of ungrateful children, this time abandoning their father to die in Varanasi. But these progenies from hell are substantially more wretched, less interesting in their toxicity, than their counterparts in the past including the Bachchan bunch in Ravi Chopra’s Baghban.

Nana Patekar plays Tyagi, the dementia-riddled patriarch who spends all his time day dreaming about his dead wife. After being abandoned by his children and their wives in Varanasi (to the sound a clamorous Bhajan), Tyagi who suffers from what seems to be advanced dementia, befriends a mischievous tourist volunteer.

Paris and Los Angeles-based Other Angle Pictures has scored further sales on its Jean Claude Van Damme-powered action comedy The Gardener (Le Jardinier) and released a first-look image.

The film has sold to Falcon for the Middle East, Films4U in Portugal, Spentzos in Greece, and Amazon Prime Video for Italy and Spain, joining previous sales to North America (Bluefox), France (Amazon), German-speaking territories (Plaion) and eastern Europe (Mediasquad).

Van Damme and Michaël Youn star in the film about a man who lands on the government’s blacklist and hatches an elaborate plan with his odd gardener to avoid...

Check out our teaser review for Vanvaas! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Gadar 2 hit-maker Anil Sharma is back with another gut-wrenching family drama titled Vanvaas. The movie stars his son Utkarsh Sharma alongside Nana Patekar. The teaser of the film was revealed today (October 29).

Talking about the same, the teaser of Vanvaas begins with a Shloka that says a father is equivalent to God. We see Nana Patekar’s character being stranded on a religious trip. By the looks of it, he calls his son, but no one comes to his rescue. We see a glimpse of Utkarsh Sharma offering prayers at a temple. Next, we shockingly see a funeral of Patekar’s character. The teaser ends with Nana Patekar asking his son whether he should have abandoned him in a dustbin when he was born. The movie’s tagline hints that sometimes someone’s family members are responsible for sending...

Aegon the Conqueror is one of the most famous names in Game of Thrones history, so there's a lot to know about the first Targaryen king. By the time of Game of Thrones season 1, Daenerys and her older brother Viserys are believed to be the last survivors of the Targaryen dynasty, a noble family that had been usurped from the Iron Throne of Westeros after a civil war called Robert's Rebellion. The history of House Targaryen is essentially the history of Westeros in the era leading up to Game of Thrones, and there's a ton of fascinating lore to break down.

Aegon II from House of the Dragon and Jon Snow (officially named Aegon Targaryen) from Game of Thrones are both named after Aegon the Conqueror, as are many other characters in Targaryen lore.

Much of what's known about Aegon the Conqueror, or Aegon I Targaryen comes from George R.R. Martin...

All-Time Best Bollywood Family Dramas.(Photo Credit – Amazon Prime)

Whether it’s celebrating festivals, dealing with conflicts, or cherishing moments of togetherness, Bollywood family dramas bring out the emotions that resonate with every Indian household. So, grab your popcorn and get ready for a filmy rollercoaster as we delve into some of the all-time best Bollywood family dramas that have left an indelible mark on our hearts.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)

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Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is the ultimate family drama that has defined the genre for years. Directed by Karan Johar, this film is a perfect blend of emotions, grandeur, and star power. The story revolves around the Raichand family, headed by the strict yet loving Yashvardhan Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Nandini (Jaya Bachchan). When their adopted son Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) falls in love with...

On Wednesday 17 July 2024, CBeebies broadcasts Dylan’s Playtime Adventures!

Gardener Season 1 Episode 3 Episode Summary

In this episode of “Dylan’s Playtime Adventures” titled “Gardener,” Dylan the Gardener is eager to see something grow. However, he learns that growing things takes time. To pass the time and have fun, Dylan and his friends come up with creative ways to stay entertained.

As Dylan tends to his garden, viewers will see the importance of patience and creativity. The episode highlights how working together and finding alternative activities can make waiting more enjoyable. Through their adventures, Dylan and his pals show that even when things don’t happen instantly, there are always ways to have a good time.

Join Dylan and his friends on CBeebies as they navigate the world of gardening and discover the joy of being patient and inventive. “Gardener” promises to be a heartwarming and entertaining episode that teaches valuable...

Get ready for a delightful episode of “Dylan’s Playtime Adventures” airing at 9:20 Am on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, on CBeebies. In Season 1, Episode 3 titled “Gardener,” young viewers are invited into Dylan’s world as he explores the joys of gardening and patience.

Dylan, the Gardener, is eager to see something grow in his garden. However, he quickly learns that growing plants takes time and patience. With the help of his friends, Dylan gets creative and finds innovative ways to nurture his garden. Each character brings their unique skills and ideas to the task, making gardening a fun and educational experience for everyone involved.

The episode encourages children to appreciate the process of growth and the rewards of patience. Through playful adventures and teamwork, Dylan and his pals discover the importance of perseverance and creativity in achieving their gardening goals.

“Dylan’s Playtime Adventures: Gardener” promises to entertain and educate young audiences...

Golmaal actress Rimi Sen ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Rimi Sen became popular amongst the audience with movies like Hungama, Baghban, Dhoom, Garam Masala, Kyon Ki, Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, etc. The last time the actress was seen in a big Hindi movie was in 2011 in Thank You. Since then, Rimi has been missing from the films.

In 2015, Rimi Sen also participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 9. The actress also tried to enter ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9’ as a wild card entrant in 2016. However, Sen was not selected. Since then, many have wondered where Rimi is and why she has not been acting in movies anymore. The actress has finally addressed the same.

Rimi Sen On Not Doing Movies Anymore

Rimi Sen grabbed headlines when she was conned by a man who reportedly took Rs 4 crore from her in 2020. The actress is currently dealing with legal issues. According to the actress, the man...

Auron Mein Kahaan Dum Tha Trailer: Ajay Devgn & Tabu In Veer Zara 2.0 With A Twist!(Photo Credit –YouTube)

Finally, romance lords have listened to our prayers and Bollywood is arriving with a mature love story with Ajay Devgn romancing Tabu in Auron Mein Kahaan Dum Tha. While Hindi Cinema has attempted shades of mature love in Baghban, Life In A Metro, Honeymoon Travels and many other films, there has been never a full-fledged mature love story apart from Cheeni Kum, that hopped along the comic lines.

With Neeraj Pandey’s film starring the Drishyam duo, romancing each other after ages, the trailer promises a heartwarming and intriguing tale of love and separation and everything that happens in between with Shantanu Maheshwari and Saiee Manjrekar playing the young versions of the leads.

Auron Mein Kahaan Dum Tha hints at a lost love story of a couple separated by circumstances, where one...

Paris-based distributor Arp Selection has acquired French rights for Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada ahead of its world premiere in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Oscar nominee Schrader wrote and directed the film, which reunites him with Richard Gere some 40 years after their collaboration on American Gigolo, with other members of the cast including Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli and Jacob Elordi.

Schrader has adapted the drama from late writer Russell Banks’ 2021 novel Foregone, about a renowned documentary maker with secrets from the past. It is Schrader’s second adaptation of a work by Banks, after 1997 mystery thriller Affliction, starring Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek.

“We’ve been long-time admirers of Paul Schrader’s work and devout readers of Russell Banks’ books,” said Arp Selection head Michèle Halberstadt.

“Oh, Canada is the reunion of two masters, and also a reunion between Paul Schrader and Richard Gere,...

Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Tuesday went down the memory lane and shared a 48-year-old picture with Anang Desai, which dates back to the time when they both were a part of Dharamveer Bharti’s iconic play ‘Andha Yug’.

Anupam also revealed that Anang and he were not only batch mates but also roommates in the National School of Drama in Delhi, from 1975 to 1978.

Sharing the throwback picture from the play ‘Andha Yug’, featuring both the actors, Anupam penned a sweet note on Instagram, which reads: “48 Years Later: Anang and I were not only batch mates but also room mates from 1975 to 1978 at the #NationalSchoolOfDrama in Delhi. In our second year we were part of #DharamveerBharti’s iconic play #Andhayug as junior actors. We both kept this pic as the souvenir of our friendship for so many years.”

Anupam shared a collage with a present day picture, in which both...

An array of film personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Chiranjeevi, Akshay Kumar, Allu Arjun and Hrithik Roshan took to social media to wish their friends and fans a “happy and safe” Holi.

Amitabh wrote a few lines from the song ‘Hori Khele Raghubeera’ from 2003 film ‘Baghban’.

The actor wrote: “Hori khele Raghubeera Avadh main, Hori khele Raghubeera.”

Tollywood’s Megastar Chiranjeevi said: “Happy Holi to All! May the festive colours of Holi make all our lives even more colourful!”

‘Pushpa’ star Allu Arjun simply wished “Happy Holi”.

Bollywood’s “Khiladi” Akshay Kumar dropped a hilarious video, featuring him and his ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ co-star Tiger Shroff and in the caption wrote: “Bura na mano, Holi hai #HappyHoli everyone.”

Abhishek Bachchan said: “Aap sabhi ko rango ke tyohar ki shubhkaamnaaen. Happy Holi!”

Bollywood’s Greek God Hrithik Roshan wished all the “beautiful people”.

“May each day of your life be as colourful and joyous as today.

The Hindi film industry has time and again celebrated Holi onscreen be it in films or the songs, which have encapsulated the feeling of fun and romance. Since the festival of colours is just around the corner, what better way to extend the fun by watching films after immersing in the spirit of the festival.

Here are a list of films that can make your Holi even more special:

‘Silsila’: The film is a romantic drama directed by Yash Chopra. Its theme revolves around the love triangle and extramarital affair. What makes it a great Holi watch is the song ‘Rang Barse’ picturised on Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha. The song is full of colours.

‘Sholay’: Be it the iconic dialogue ‘Holi kab hai, kab hai holi’ or the song ‘Holi Ki Din Dil Khil Jate Hai’ picturised on Dharmendra and Hema Malini, the film sits well for cinephiles on the occasion.

Holi fills life with colours of myriad shades. The festival has a special place in India’s rich cultural history and has spread out to other parts of the world courtesy the diaspora community.

While the festival brings out a sense of community, fun and banter, and is an occasion to indulge in lip-smacking food, it’s also a time to flaunt your DJ skills and play the best Holi songs that set the vibe.

As the nation soaks in the colours of Holi, here are some songs to add to your Holi playlist:

1. ‘Jai Jai Shiv Shankar’: One of the best Holi songs to come out of Bollywood in recent years, ‘Jai Jai Shiv Shankar’ from the Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff-starrer ‘War’, is all about thumping beats, and high energy groove that sets the tone for your Holi party. Its upbeat rhythm and modern twist on...

As the vibrant festival of Holi approaches, it’s time to gear up for a colorful celebration filled with music, dance, & joy. One of the key elements of any memorable Holi party is the music, and what better way to set the mood than with the top Bollywood songs that perfectly capture the spirit of the occasion? In this article, we present to you the ultimate playlist of the top 10 Bollywood songs that will elevate your Holi festivities to new heights.

1. “Rang Barse” – Silsila (1981)

“Rang Barse” from the iconic movie Silsila is a timeless Holi classic that continues to reign over hearts even after decades. Sung by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, this song embodies the essence of Holi with its playful lyrics and catchy melody. Adding “Rang Barse” to your DJ playlist is guaranteed to infuse your celebration with nostalgia and joy.

2. “Balam Pichkari” – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

No Holi...

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has completed a “wondrous” 55 years in the world of Hindi cinema and to celebrate it he has given himself an AI spin. It was in 1969, when the cine icon stepped into the world of showbiz with ‘Saat Hindustani’ and since then he has captivated the audience with his impeccable performances on screen.

Amitabh took to X (formerly Twitter), where he dropped two AI images of himself.

The first picture has a camera lens in place of his spectacle lens. The second photo has a colourful camera reel like streamers with faces and eyes made on it.

“T 4924 – 55 years in the wondrous world of Cinema… and AI, gives me its interpretation… a presentation by Ef B… self made,” Big B wrote on Twitter.

Even though he started his acting career with ‘Saat Hindustani, Big B had first began his journey as a voice narrator in ‘Bhuvan Shome’ starring...

Following The Film Stage’s collective top 50 films of 2023, as part of our year-end coverage, our contributors are sharing their personal top 10 lists.

From an industry standpoint, 2023 was eventful. We witnessed concurrent strikes, widespread film festival upheaval, Universal besting Disney at the box office, and much more. (I recommend Matt Belloni’s The Town podcast to keep up with this side of town.) On the indie biz side, this was a year in which I saw two small films succeed utilizing a method I long thought dead (or at least on life support): that being good old-fashioned four-walling. Al Warren’s Dogleg and Case Esparros’ The Absence of Milk in the Mouths of the Lost both captured the momentum of cross-country film touring with in-person Q&As. Distributor Utopia has mounted a similar touring strategy for Sean Price Williams’ directorial debut The Sweet East.

When it comes to the films themselves,...

As we continue to explore the best in 2023, today we’re taking a look at the articles that you, our dear readers, enjoyed the most throughout the past twelve months. Spanning reviews, interviews, features, podcasts, news, and trailers, check out the highlights below and return for more year-end coverage as well as a glimpse into 2024.

Most-Read Reviews

1. Body Parts

2. The Exorcist: Believer

3. Barbie

4. Beau Is Afraid

5. Priscilla

6. Suzume

7. Hypnotic

8. No Hard Feelings

9. The Zone of Interest

10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Most-Read Interviews

1. Claire Simon on Capturing the Female Body and What Sets Her Apart From Frederick Wiseman

2. “I Don’t Think Directors Should Be Amenable”: Erik Messerschmidt on Shooting The Killer and David Fincher’s Simple Process

3. Richard Kelly on Creative Heartbreak, Political Cinema, and Future Projects

4. Christopher Blauvelt on May December, Formatting for Netflix and 35mm, and Life Lessons from Harris Savides

5. Brandon Cronenberg on Infinity Pool,...

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,...

New Delhi, Sep 1 (Ians) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has revealed how the ‘Bharat Kokila’ Sarojini Naidu had consoled his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan when he went outside his caste and married Teji, which was looked down upon at that time in Allahabad.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a poet and writer of the ‘Nayi Kavita’ literary movement. He is best known for his work ‘Madhushala’. He married Teji in 1941.

In the 14th episode of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Big B welcomed Yojana Yadav, a senior news editor from Panchkula, Haryana to the hot seat.

For the Rs 3,20,000 question, Yojana was asked: Begum Akhtar was inspired to take up a career as a performer after she was lauded by which poet? The options given were A: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit B: Mahadevi Verma C: Sarojini Naidu, and D: Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.

After using the audience poll lifeline, Yojana gave...

New Delhi, Aug 31 (Ians) Expressing gratitude to the fans and the audience of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, megastar Amitabh Bachchan said that every single clap adds another breath to his life, and he is alive because of them.

The 13th episode of the quiz-based reality show began with the audience cheering for Amitabh Bachchan. Some people were seen holding posters of the actor, and were dressed as the popular characters of Bachchan’s famous roles.

Greeting the audience, Big B said: “I witness miracles happening to me every day on this stage. The moment I come running from that tunnel and sit on this chair, I see these gleeful smiling faces. I hear the applause, and see their enthusiasm and ecstasy. Believe me, ladies and gentlemen, every single clap adds another breath to my life, I am alive because of them.”

Thanking the audience for their love, the 80-year-old actor said: “The bond they,...

New Delhi, Aug 29 (Ians) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has admired the determination of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who despite challenging circumstances, had come on a wheelchair in Rajya Sabha to participate in discussion on The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, earlier this month.

On August 7, the said bill was passed in the Upper House, days after passing in the Lok Sabha, despite strong fight by the Opposition parties.

In the 11th episode which is titled as ‘Rishtey Special’ of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Harsha Verma, a devoted teacher hailing from Bhopal, to the hot seat.

For Rs 20,000, Big B asked Harsha: “As of July, 2023, Dr Manmohan Singh is a member of which of these houses?”

The options were- A: Punjab Legislative Assembly, B: Delhi Legislative Assembly, C: Lok Sabha and D: Rajya Sabha.

Harsha gave the correct...

New Delhi, Aug 25 (Ians) Veteran actress Hema Malini performed a mesmerising dance, leaving everyone spellbound, during the book launch event of ‘Chal Mann Vrindavan’ in Delhi.

The Og ‘Dream Girl’ of Bollywood, Hema, who is also the Lok Sabha Bjp MP representing Mathura parliamentary constituency, is the chief editor of the book ‘Chal Mann Vrindavan’.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also present at the book launch.

The book launch event witnessed a fashion show by the designer Sulokshna Monga.

The models were seen wearing beautiful lehengas with the designs representing heritage and cultural sites of spiritual city Vrindavan.

The ‘Sholay’ fame actress performed dance steps, along with the models during the fashion show. Hema posed around the male model who was representing ‘Lord Krishna’, leaving the audience in awe of her performance.

Hema was donning a green and yellow ombre print saree, with a matching blouse, having prints of the ‘Braj’ on it.

Although Good Bones might be coming to an end after eight seasons on HGTV, this might not be the last viewers see of Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E Laine.

In a statement obtained by Deadline confirming the renovation series was ending after Season 8, the cable network said they were exploring “other projects” with the stars.

“While this is the end of Good Bones as we know it, we’re currently in talks with Mina and Karen about other projects,” HGTV said.

Starsiak Hawk revealed on the latest episode of her Mina Af podcast that she had just wrapped filming, not only the latest season of Good Bones but the whole series altogether.

“Today, I filmed my last few pickups for Good Bones. Not Good Bones Season 8, but for Good Bones. So it is officially… That’s a wrap, folks,” Starsiak Hawk said. “It’s the end of an era.

It’s been eight months since the latest Sight and Sound Best Films of All Time poll was released, and Paul Schrader is still annoyed by how quickly “Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles” ascended to the top spot on the list.

In a new interview with Sight and Sound, Schrader once again voiced his discomfort with Chantal Akerman’s 1975 film being named the greatest film of all time. While the “Master Gardener” has not taken issue with the quality of the film, he sees its prominent spot on the list as the result of an insincere attempt to highlight more female filmmakers.

“They did two things to rig the ballot, and a third thing happened societally,” Schrader said of the latest poll. “The first was that they vastly expanded the contributors. You’ve got people who are not actual film critics weighing in on a critical poll, and the...

During an interview with SiriusXM, actor and filmmaker, Joel Edgerton revealed that the Master Gardener director was going through a lot during the film production. The director, Paul Schrader, was reported to have a torn retina, forcing him to wear an eye patch for protection, contracted Covid, and walking pneumonia just before finishing the work on the movie. Schrader had to go through extreme difficulties just to push forward with the film.

Edgerton shared in the interview his experience on the set with Schrader.

“He reminded of the old director Ford you know, with the eye patch post second world war. He put off an eye operation so that he could make the film in the window that he was able to. And because he talked about it, I’ll happily talk about it too.”

While filming, at one point, the actor asked how the director was doing, after seeing the latter’s physical state.

(Welcome to Under the Radar, a column where we spotlight specific movies, shows, trends, performances, or scenes that caught our eye and deserved more attention ... but otherwise flew under the radar. In this edition: Paul Schrader is back and as provocative as ever with "Master Gardener," "Unrest" meets politics and philosophy in the middle, and "Land of Gold" puts a new spin on road trip movies.)

We should probably address the elephant in the room, right? The longer this writers' strike marches on, the clearer it becomes that we've reached a pivotal inflection point in this industry. Writers, the lifeblood of the entire moviemaking business, are rightfully fed up with a studio system that has progressively disenfranchised the most vulnerable (and irreplaceable) creative talent. As much as top-level studio executives forced the hands of writers through unfair wages, the insidious practice of "mini-rooms," and the worrisome possibilities involving A.I.

Paul Schrader continues his morality trilogy with Master Gardener. The psychological drama centers on the horticulturist for a wealthy dowager who takes her great-niece under his wing as an apprentice, only for her personal troubles to lead to the demons from his past coming back and causing chaos in his peaceful new life.

Joel Edgerton leads the ensemble cast of Master Gardener alongside Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell, Esai Morales, Eduardo Losan, Erika Ashley, Rick Cosnett, Victoria Hill, and Amy Le. Tapping into similar themes explored in his prior efforts First Reformed and The Card Counter while also exploring haunting other dramatic territory, the film is a powerful and engaging tale of morality and processing one's past.

Related: Master Gardener Cast & Character Guide

Ahead of the film's release, Screen Rant spoke exclusively with stars Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver to discuss Master Gardener, the heavy themes of Schrader's script that drew them to the project,...

Master Gardener has a small, but well-known cast. The film, written and directed by Paul Schrader, had its premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. It’s finally being released in theaters, and it brings with it the talents of the cast, led by Joel Edgerton in the titular role.

Master Gardener follows the title character as he works to be redeemed for his past crimes, mentors a young woman, and keeps his head down as he appreciates the land that he cultivates on a daily basis. Ahead of the film’s release, it received mostly positive reviews from critics. Schrader gathered a good cast to star in the movie, a mixture of famous actors and others who are lesser-known. With Edgerton in the lead role, he’s surrounded by a capable supporting cast that brings Schrader’s story to life.

Joel Edgerton as Narvel Roth

Narvel Roth is the head horticulturist at Gracewood Gardens,...

Screen Rant is thrilled to present an exclusive new clip from the upcoming release Master Gardener. The movie is written and directed by Paul Schrader, known for writing iconic works like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Master Gardener features a star-studded cast, including The Green Knight's Joel Edgerton, Black Adam's Quintessa Swindell, and three-time Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver, known for films like Alien and the Avatar franchise.

Master Gardener centers on Edgerton's character Narvel Roth, who works as a gardener on the lush grounds of the wealthy Mrs. Haverhill, played by Weaver. Trouble arises when she asks Narvel to take her troubled niece Maya (Swindell) in as an apprentice. Her presence threatens to unearth Roth's dark past in Master Gardener, which brings violent new dangers to his peaceful life of horticulture and brings about conflict between him and Mrs. Haverhill.

Related: Joel Edgerton's 10 Best Movies, According to Ranker...

Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver in Master Gardener Photo: Magnolia Pictures A man sits at a desk, writing in his journal while the camera circles him. It’s an image that’s been repeated in every film of Paul Schrader’s recent loose trilogy. The three films are connected by this...

Film and TV actor Samir Soni recalled working with Bhagyashree and how hesitant she was while shooting a romantic scene with him. He said: “Let me tell you about my first shoot experience with Bhagyashree. Back then, Bhagyashree and I were working on a film, and in the film, I had a big scar on my face, and she was blind, and we fell in love with each other. We were shooting a honeymoon night scene when we were asked to bring some romance to the scene. I was getting closer to her, but she was running away.”

Samir is known for working in TV shows like ‘Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin’, ‘Kumkum’, ‘Parichay’, ‘Darr Sabko Lagta Hai’, ‘Khauff Begins’, and many more. He also acted in films such as ‘China Gate’, ‘Lajja’, ‘Baghban’, ‘Dil Kya Chahta Hai’, ‘Vivah’, ‘Fashion’, ‘I Hate Luv Storys’, ‘Student Of The Year 2’, among others.

Mumbai, April 12 (Ians) Veteran Bollywood actress-turned-politician ‘Dreamgirl’ Hema Malini left many Mumbaikars rubbing their eyes with disbelief when she hopped onto a Mumbai Metro train for a ride and later commuted in an auto-rickshaw.

The 74-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha MP from Mathura shared pictures and videos of her memorable journey on the public transport – the lifeline of over eight million Mumbaikars – on social media.

En route, sporting a pink shirt and creamy-white trousers with a handbag slung on her shoulder, Malini warmly smiled and interacted casually with several commuters, and even posed for selfies with her fans on the Mumbai Metro ride, and then shot her experiences during an autorickshaw commute to her home.

“I must share with all of you my unique, wonderful experience. Drove 2 hours to reach Dahisar by car, so tiring! In the evening decided I would try the Metro and Omg! What a joy it was!

Joel Edgerton in Master Gardener Photo: Magnolia Pictures While you would be forgiven for assuming something with a title like Master Gardener was simply the latest Master Chef-style friendly competition to hit the screens, the reality is a lot more The Menu than The Great British Bake (bloom?) Off. Paul...

With a career resurgence thanks to First Reformed, Paul Schrader decided to form a trilogy (and perhaps beyond) of like-minded character studies. His third outing of the series, Master Gardener, premiered on the fall festival circuit last year and will now head into theaters at the start of the summer from Magnolia Pictures. Ahead of the release, the first trailer has now arrived for the film starring Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, and Quintessa Swindell

Edgerton stars as Narvel Roth, the meticulous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens. He is as much devoted to tending the grounds of this beautiful and historic estate, to pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager Mrs. Haverhill (Weaver). When Mrs. Haverhill demands that he take on her wayward and troubled great-niece Maya (Swindell) as a new apprentice, chaos enters Narvel’s spartan existence, unlocking dark secrets from a buried violent past that threaten them all.

Rory O’Connor said in his review,...

Revered writer-director Paul Schrader is enjoying a late career renaissance, with “Master Gardener” being his third successive film to premiere at Venice after “First Reformed” and “The Card Counter.”

The film follows Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton), the conscientious horticulturist of the historic Gracewood Gardens estate, which is owned by wealthy dowager Norma Haverhill (Sigourney Weaver). When she demands that he take on her troubled biracial great-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as an apprentice, Roth’s spartan existence turns chaotic.

Schrader made Roth, a man with a past, a gardener because he felt that the profession is a “rich metaphor” for both good and evil. “On one hand, a white supremacist can say ‘We’re the gardeners, we pull out the weeds.’ On the other hand a humanist can say, ‘We’re gardeners, we help things grow.’ And both are using the gardening metaphor — one is evil and one is good,” Schrader told Variety.

Certain shows have changed the dynamics of the small screen as a medium and left a lasting impact on the audience. A case in point is Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (Kggk), an iconic show, which returned to the tube recently. Producer and content head for strategy at Atrangii channel, Nivedita Basu, who worked as one of the creative directors for Kggk, asserts, “Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii is a modern take on Ramayan and it will never run out of favour. It holds relevance even today. Every Indian household has watched it and the soaring TRPs when it aired on the tube were proof of it. Everyone drew parallels between the characters they resonated with on the show. It is the Baghban (the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer that was released in 2013) of Indian television. It teaches you the importance of family values, retaining goodness around evil, and how evil turns good eventually.

Sharmaji Namkeen(Amazon Prime Video)

Starring Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawail, Juhi Chawla

Directed by Hitesh Bhatia

Whether it is the affable culinary artiste Sharmaji or Rishi Kapoor , the much missed affable actor who plays Sharmaji, life dealt them with such unexpected blows. Rishi left us and this film incomplete . Sharmaji too is at a loose end when suddenly after forced retirement he finds himself looking at yawning stretches of emptiness, punctuated by bouts of exasperated protest against this custom of retirement.

Sharmaji Namkeen is not the first film about retirement blues: Ravi Chopra’s Baghban remains a quasi-classic of the genre. Baghban is referred to at the start of Sharmaji Namkeen by Satish Kaushik who is routinely dependable as Sharmaji’s best buddy.

This is no Amitabh Bachchan. But Hey, Rishi Kapoor bhi kissise kam nahin! The late much-missed actor brings a crackling joie de vivre to the role of...

Not that it matters really, but I have quite the love/hate relationship with panda bears. My kids love them, and of course I agree that they look cute and cuddly, with almost as many amusing YouTube videos featuring their antics as there are for cats and dogs. That said, their reluctance to mate or eat proper foods (based on their size and biology) annoy me, and I feel like the efforts made to support them would be better spent on creatures that struggle due to human negligence such as Wales, for example. That aside, China’s giant panda is central to the theme of today’s review – the board game of Takenoko – so I need to put aside any prejudice!

Takenoko is a game of tile placement (as you build out a garden), strategic movement (as you guide both a panda and a gardener around the garden), set collection...

Amitabh Bachchan is reminiscing his journey in 'filmdom' on social media. Looking back at his over five-decade career, he said that he still wonders how it all went by.

"52 years .. !!! Goodness .. thank you Ef Moses for this compilation .. still wondering how it all went by," Amitabh Bachchan wrote as the caption. 

The Shahenshah of Bollywood, star of the millennium Amitabh Bachchan shared a collage of his looks in a few of his highlight films today. The films featured in the collage include his debut film Saat Hindustani, which released in 1969, along with Deewaar, Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Coolie, Khuda Gawah, Sooryavansham, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Baghban, Paa, Sarkar, Gulabo Sitabo along with many others.

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A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan)

The veteran donated resources to help set up a 25-bed oxygen facility in Juhu. He teamed up with producer Anand Pandit for the philanthropic act.

Amitabh...

Mumbai, Jan 14 (Ians) Actor Nasirr Kazi essays the role of a doctor in a new TV show, which is set in pre-Partition India.

Set in Lahore of 1947, the show titled "Kyun Uthe Dil Chod Aaye" narrates the story of three girls -- Amrit, Vashma and Radha.

Nasirr's character Dr. Iqbal Beig is a supportive father to his daughter Vashma, who is a Kathak dancer. The actor, who is in his forties, will be playing a character 20 years older than him.

"Playing a character much older than my actual age is challenging, especially when Dr. Iqbal Beig even has a daughter who is of a marriageable age," said Nasirr.

"Iqbal has a nice moustache too which I don't in real life so, I have to put that on as. But as supporting Dr. Iqbal is for his daughter and his older son, he is a very sorted human being too," added the actor,...

Mumbai, Dec 6 (Ians) Actor Anang Desai of Khichdi fame has joined the cast of the show Mere Sai - Shraddha Aur Saburi.

He has done over 80 shows like "Miley Jab Hum Tum", "Ladies Special" and "Chidiya Ghar". He has also featured in movies ssuch as "Baghban" and "Yaadein".

Now, Anang will be seen in "Mere Sai" essaying the character of Ganjanan. His character was once a dedicated family man. However, after a series of unfavourable circumstances, he gets turned away from his family. Consequently, he becomes bitter and aggressive.

The love which he never got from his kids; he now wants to take it by force from Sai. So, Ganjanan starts to claim Sai as solely his own, to the extent that he alienates Sai's family, that of the people of Shirdi.

"I am overwhelmed to be a part of such an important track of 'Mere Sai'.The show touches...

The cast and creatives behind the upcoming HBO period drama, Perry Mason, was on hand for day 1 of the Atx TV…From the Couch! virtual festival.

From Team Downey, the limited series, which has Emmy winner Matthew Rhys in the title role, is set in 1930s Los Angeles and serves as an origin story of the famed criminal defense attorney based on the books by Erle Stanley Gardner.

Rhys, who is also a producer on the series, was joined by co-creators and executive producers Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald, executive producer Susan Downey, executive producer and director Tim Van Patten as well as co-stars Tatiana Maslany, John Lithgow, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk, and Shea Whigham for the opening night marquee conversation.

Downey kicked off the conversation, speaking about the almost 10-year journey of the project.

She shared that Team Downey was initially approached to do a Perry Mason feature adaptation.

Samir Soni, who started his film career with China Gate (1998), rues the fact that his career didn?t pan out the way he intended it to. ?I could have done better but I am glad, even after 20 odd years in the industry, I am still relevant and getting some good work. I did a lot of good films, including Baghban (2003) and Fashion (2008), but I didn?t get the right opportunities back then. Perhaps, I didn?t fit into any slot back in the day, which is why my film career didn?t work out as expected,? he says. ?People saw me as a goodlooking guy but never as the hero. My looks went against me, even when I was considered for negative roles. I wasn?t the dancing star, the action star or the romantic hero so things didn?t work out. But now, characters take precedence in films and Ott platforms,...

Actor Samir Soni feels he has been pigeonholed into the role of an Nri in showbiz. He wants to ditch that image.

The actor has featured in "China Gate", "Baghban", "Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin", "Vivah", "Fashion" and "I Hate Luv Storys".

"Earlier, there were not many character roles and they were not given much importance. Over the years, that has changed. When I came into films, I was an Nri and so I was offered those kinds of roles or rather some negative characters as I played in 'Fashion'," Samir said in a statement.

"As the format changed, character roles were given more importance. Now, I am trying to get rid of the Nri image," he said.

The actor added: "I want to get rid of the Nri image that initially I had since I moved to India from the Us. I am looking out for roles which stand out...