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Turning the focus on the Mani Ratnam and A R Rahman, Subhash K Jha celebrates all the musical collaborations that stood out in the movies.

It is a massive pity that Mani Ratnam stopped working with Ilaiyaraja. They are born a day apart , Mani Ratnam on June 2 and Ilaiyaraja on June 3, and share a deep affinity to creating a texture of music that flows organically from the plot. There is nothing imposed or show-stopping about the stunning elegant songs Ilaiyaraja did for Mani Ratnam in Mouna Ragam, Nakshatram , Geethanjali and Anjali.

Each of these were musical milestones and Mani admitted to this writer that his early films would not have made the impact that they did were it not for Ilayaraja’s contribution.

Then came Mani’s Roja and a new composer called A R Rahman. Mani never looked back. Since Roja, it has been Rahman all the way.

About switching from Ilaiyaraja to Rahman,...

Subhash K Jha celebrates Bunty aur Balbi, directed by Shaad Ali and starring Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee as the con-romance hits 20 years!

Meet Bunty and Babli. They aren’t your average running-around-trees—shooting-the-breeze kind of filmic love birds. Bunty and Babli are special. And not only because they are played by two very special actors Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee.

Shaad Ali whose debut film Saathiya was about a working-class marriage gone unpleasantly awry, here sinks his teeth into a finely- written caper that moves our endearing couple with devilish dexterity through a series of corny-and-funny encounters with petty crime.

Some of these caper situations are decidedly unique to Hindi cinema. Come to think of it, Shaad Ali’s narration sets out to achieve an impossible dream: it makes the dreams of two small-towners the fulcrum of narration, and makes these dreams both funny and sad, sometimes both at once.

Veteran Indian producer Bobby Bedi, who boldly backed Deepa Mehta’s landmark LGBTQ+ film “Fire” in 1995, returns to the frontier of boundary-pushing cinema with “Lala & Poppy,” a unique love story being presented at the Cannes Film Market.

The Mumbai-set drama, directed by Kaizad Gustad (“Bombay Boys”), explores uncharted cinematic territory through its central premise: a love story between a trans woman and a trans man navigating their transitions and relationship in a traditional fisherman’s colony.

Bedi’s credits include some of the landmark titles of Indian cinema, including Shekhar Kapur’s international breakthrough film “Bandit Queen” (1994), “Fire” (1996), Rani Mukerji-starring relationship drama “Saathiya” (2002), Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Macbeth” adaptation “Maqbool” (2003), Stanley Tong’s Jackie Chan starrer “The Myth” (2005) and Gurvinder Singh’s Rotterdam title “Crescent Night” (2002).

“When Kaizad brought Lala and Poppy to me, I did not see it as an LGBTQ subject but purely a love story between two...

To celebrate the brilliant Rani Mukherjee’s birthday, Subhash K Jha shares some special memories and outstanding performances by the actress in this fabulous feature.

Though she was already one by then, the first time I met Rani Mukherjee, I couldn’t believe she was a star. Short and pretty plain, she walked into my then-good friend Akshay Kumar’s makeup room to say hello. They were both shooting in the same studio on adjoining sets…he for Khiladi 420 and she for Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega .

Akshay and I were having lunch with some friends when the door opened. Rani walked in wearing clothes that depict a typical party sequence in our films and heels so high they looked like stilts!

Rani, being Rani, shook hands with everyone in the room with a democratic smile and saved a special smile and a hug for the hero in the room.

Box Office: When Bipasha Basu Delivered The Only Blockbuster Of 2002 ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Bollywood films over the years have attained massive box office milestones including crore of clubs in terms of collections and fee of actors, profits ranging from 500+ crore to 1000% making unbelievable new records and targets for the generations of films to come. However, there was once a time that Bollywood box office struggled so much so that it delivered only one blockbuster in a single year!

It was on Februrary 1, 2002, that Bipasha Basu broke stereotypes and delivered a horror film Raaz, that witnessed unprecendented success. The film was the first blockbuster of the year 2002 and it stayed the only blockbuster of the year 2002!

Raaz Box Office, Budget & Recovery

Raaz was mounted on a budget of 5 crore at the box office, and it earned 22 crore in its lifetime. The film made a profit of 340%, which was unbelievable and unheard of,...

Were Srk-Kajol Mani Ratnam’s First Choice For Alai Payuthey? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

It’s hard to imagine a more iconic Bollywood pairing than Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. The duo, celebrated for their unforgettable chemistry in hits like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, were almost cast in Mani Ratnam’s Alai Payuthey. The filmmaker, renowned for his ability to craft visually poetic romances, revealed during an open forum at the G5A Retrospective that he initially envisioned his 2000 Tamil classic with Srk and Kajol. However, the dream project never materialized.

Mani Ratnam shared that while Shah Rukh Khan was on board and Kajol was the natural choice for the female lead, the project stalled due to a narrative challenge. This creative hurdle led him to shelve the idea and move on to another iconic film, Dil Se. Mani Ratnam eventually made Alai Payuthey with R. Madhavan and Shalini.

E. Niwas’ third feature film Dum, which clocked 22 years on January 24, is like a newspaper report. Grim, dark, traumatic, and yet thrilling. In the working class hero’s fight with a corrupt law enforcer, the audience might mutter: “Thank God it isn’t us.”

Protagonist Uday Shinde, played by Vivek Oberoi, takes on the immoral might of a villainous cop Shankar, played by Atul Kulkarni, a human being so degenerate and debased that he makes Sholay’s Gabbar Singh seem like a comic strip character.

There’s nothing colourful, uplifting or comforting about Dum. If you regard cinema as a form of escapist entertainment, then Niwas’s film is a no-no. But if you regard cinema as a mirror of social reality, then Dum is a hard sock in the jaw.

A corrupt cop barges into an honest colleague’s home and tries to gas his wife to death. When she escapes,...

Courtesy of Ar Rahman Instagram

In 1992 the nation and its favourite DJ were poised for a musical revolution. Over the years, a score by Rahman is not only rare but also habitually pathbreaking. In 2001 the maverick composer scored resoundingly in Lagaan. 2002 it was Saathiya. But there was a difference. A large chunk of the Saathiya soundtrack was transposed from its Tamil counterpart Alai Payuthe, the Mani Ratnam film which launched Madhavan’s career as a Southern superstar.

And yet Saathiya was certainly not the handiwork of a lazy or bored artiste. The stunningly laid out tapestry of tunes went from genre to genre in search of flawless harmonies. The film’s debutant director Shaad Ali inherited his musical ear from his father Muzaffar Ali who got terrific music out of composer Khayyam in Umrao Jaan and Jaidev in Gaman.

Says Shaad Ali, “I’ve grown up in an atmosphere of music and aesthetics.

Preity Zinta Net Worth ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Preity Zinta is inevitably one of the most adored female celebrities out there. Even now, some fans manifest her return on the big screen, and her public appearances are often quick to go viral on social media. Even though she took a sabbatical from movies after 2008, she established a strong entrepreneurial journey by becoming the owner of the Ipl team, Punjab Kings. Over the years, her film career and journey as a businesswoman have catapulted her net worth and bankability.

Preity Zinta’s Journey

Preity Zinta made her Bollywood debut with the 1998 film Dil Se. Since then, there has been no looking back for the actress. She went on to do commercially successful and critically acclaimed films like Kal Ho Na Ho, Veer Zaara, Soldier, Dil Chahta Hai, Koi Mil Gaya, Kya Kehna, Dil Hai Tumhara, Lakshya, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Mission Kashmir,...

Indian production house Maddock Films’ “Param Sundari,” a cross-cultural romance starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, is set for theatrical release on July 25, 2025.

The film, directed by Tushar Jalota (“Dasvi”), centers on a love story between a North Indian protagonist (Malhotra) and a South Indian character (Kapoor), filmed in Kerala. The film “promises a heartfelt tale of love, where two worlds collide, and sparks are bound to fly. Set against the breathtaking backwaters of Kerala, this love story is a rollercoaster of laughter, chaos, and unexpected twists you won’t see coming,” per a description provided by Maddock.

“Its like those films that Mani-sir [Mani Ratnam] used to do like ‘Saathiya’ [the Hindi-language remake of Tamil drama-romance film “Alai Payuthey”],” Maddock chief Dinesh Vijan told Variety. “The kind of music it has and Janhvi playing a South Indian is interesting, Sid’s playing a Northern Delhi boy and the conflict is very cool. It’s like maybe...

Anil Sharma, Ameesha Patel, Gadar 2, Age Progression, Creative Differences (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Since Gadar 2 was released in August 2023, the film’s director, Anil Sharma, and lead actress, Ameesha Patel, have been at loggerheads with each other. Though Ameesha agreed to reprise her iconic role as Sakeena in the sequel, things have not been good between her and her director.

Anil has now taken another dig at Ameesha, revealing she did not want to play a mother-in-law in Gadar 2. The filmmaker said that the actress failed to understand her character’s age and timeline in the film.

Anil Sharma Says Ameesha Patel Did Not Understand Her Character’s Age and Timeline in Gadar 2

Gadar 2 continued the story of Tara Singh, Sakeena, and their son Jeete from the first film. However, a major portion of the film revolves around Jeete, who is now all grown up and...

Pushpa vs Baby John Screen Battle! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Pushpa 2: The Rule has enjoyed an incredible run in the first two weeks. Today, Mufasa: The Lion King was released in Indian theatres. Even Varun Dhawan‘s Baby John is arriving in theatres on Christmas 2024, which has led to a huge battle for screen count. Anil Thadani is fighting with theatre owners for maximum showcasing of Allu Arjun starrer, which may not be going well!

As per a report by Pinkvilla, Anil Thadani led AA Films in embroiled in a huge fight with multiplex owners as they demand 50% screen counts for Pushpa 2 on Christmas. A source close to the development reveals, “Anil Thadani asked all India multiplex chains to commit 50 percent of the showcasing for the Christmas holiday (Day 21 for Pushpa 2), leaving the remaining 50 percent to be split between Baby John and Mufasa: The Lion King. The distributor...

Janhvi Kapoor And Shikhar Pahariya Net Worth (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Janhvi Kapoor and Shikhar Pahariya are one of the most adored couple in the tinsel town currently. The couple had reportedly broken up a few years ago but rekindled their romance a few years back proving that true love always finds it way. Here is taking a look at their combined net worth and assets.

Janhvi Kapoor’s Net Worth

Even though there is no denying that Janhvi Kapoor has been born with a silver spoon in a film family, she has amassed an impressive fan-following and bankability with her work in the industry. According to Lifestyle Asia, her net worth as of 2024 is reportedly 82 crores. The report further stated that she charges around 5 to 10 crores for her movies. A major part of her income also comes from brand endorsements as she is the face of many high-profile brands.

Trending...

Vivek Oberoi Decodes His 1200 Crore Net Worth! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Vivek Oberoi is a renowned Bollywood actor. In recent times, he’s enjoying all the limelight because of his 1200 crore net worth. He is one of the richest Indian actors, leaving behind renowned stars like Allu Arjun, Ranbir Kapoor, and Prabhas. Scroll below for details as he lists 3 secret formulas toward financial freedom.

Besides his acting career, Vivek is deeply invested in his entrepreneurial journey. He got involved in the stock market and created a portfolio when he was around 16-17 years old. In fact, at the age of 22, he sold his tech startup to a multinational company.

Vivek Oberoi decoded three formulas for wealth creation: 1. Source of income

According to Vivek, individuals must define what their source of income is. They might have a steady flow of money if they are professionals or be blessed with generational wealth in a lump sum amount.

Vivek Oberoi Talks About Shift to Business ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Every Bollywood fan is aware of the name Vivek Oberoi. Beginning his career in 2002, he was once known as among the industry’s most versatile actors. His debut in Company (2002) earned him critical acclaim, followed by outstanding performances in films like Saathiya, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and Yuva. He also transitioned seamlessly into a negative role, as proved in Krrish 3 and Vivegam. Despite his stacked filmography, Oberoi is no longer seen in Bollywood, and there is an excellent reason for this.

Vivek Oberoi has become a Business magnate. He is behind two companies, a real estate business in Dubai and an event management company, and is now counted among the wealthiest actors in the industry. In his business today, Oberoi feels independent, so he has shifted away from acting.

Vivek Oberoi could not have let a lobby decide his future.

Bobby Bedi, one of India’s most successful film producers, unveiled a powerful multinational production slate ranging from dance documentary to soaring fantasy.

Speaking at a private event on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India, in Goa, Bedi introduced “Mudras,” the journey of a Spanish dancer who travels to India in the 1980s and finds her form and identity in a blend of Flamenco, Bharat Natyam and Kathakali. More than 20 years later, the woman’s daughter makes a similar journey but emerges with very different results.

Currently in post-production the feature documentary produced is by Bedi and Anna Saura through Bedi’s Contentflow Studios, with Bedi and Maria Salgado co-directing. Bedi described the film as “a story of two ladies, two countries two cultures and two generations, exploring dance, exploring themselves and discovering themselves.”

The company is in pre-production on “Bandit Queen MP,” a title that builds...

Saathiya Starred Rani Mukerji & Vivek Oberoi With Tabu & Shah Rukh Khan In Special Roles (Photo Credit –IMDb)

Saathiya was released 23 years ago! Yes, let that sink in. The year when Adnan Sami just Udi udi-ed his way to our hearts. The year Sonu Nigam peaked with his notes, and Gulzar peaked with his pen while he wrote, “Maarva ki raag mein, Meer ki baat ho!” The year Shah Rukh Khan established how cameos should and could be done!

Starring Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukerji, the film was an unexpected success for its unique storytelling, mixing timezones, a fresh style for the Indian audiences in a commercial film.

For the first time, I watched this Shaad Ali film on TV in 2006 or so, and I loved it. Of course, who does not love a Yash Raj Film? And I craved watching it in theaters. Thanks to Mumbai, I got this chance...

Oscar-, BAFTA-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman, veteran producer Bobby Bedi and the Technicolor Group have unveiled a film project based on Middle Eastern wit Mulla Nasruddin at the Cannes Film Festival.

Also known as Nasreddin Hodja, Nasruddin was a 13th century folklore character from what is now Turkey, known for his pithy wit and humorous wisdom. Stories about him appear in the Islamic folklore of the Middle East, the Balkans and China and the character is enormously popular in India as well. The International Nasreddin Hodja festival is celebrated every year in Turkey.

Bedi’s credits include some of the landmark titles of Indian cinema, including Shekhar Kapur’s international breakthrough film “Bandit Queen” (1994), Deepa Mehta’s controversial “Fire” (1996), Rani Mukerji-starring relationship drama “Saathiya” (2002), Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Macbeth” adaptation “Maqbool” (2003), Stanley Tong’s Jackie Chan starrer “The Myth” (2005) and Gurvinder Singh’s Rotterdam title “Crescent Night” (2002).

Frequent collaborators,...

Today, Rani Mukerji celebrated her birthday with the paparazzi, donning a white outfit adorned with a white necklace. The actress graciously accepted cakes and flowers from them, even cutting a cake herself and offering a slice to the photographers. Rani Mukerji was born on March 21.

Rani Mukerji commenced her career in 1996 with the Bengali film “Biyeer Phool,” directed by her father, Ram Mukherjee. She then transitioned to Bollywood, making her Hindi debut in 1996 with “Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat.”

Rani Mukerji has delivered numerous stellar performances throughout her career. Here are some of her top movies:

“Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (1998) – Mukerji portrayed the role of Tina Malhotra, earning widespread acclaim for her performance.“Black” (2005) – Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mukerji’s portrayal of Michelle McNally, a deaf-blind girl, garnered critical acclaim and several awards.“Hum Tum” (2004) – In this romantic comedy, Mukerji starred opposite Saif Ali Khan, portraying the character of Rhea Prakash.

When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Expected Rani Mukerji To Reach Out To Her After Taking Over Her Role In Chalte Chalte Opposite Shah Rukh Khan. (Photo Credit – IMDb/Instagram)

The entertainment business is a competitive space where one person’s loss is another’s gain. It sometimes creates a rough patch between people’s relationships. For example, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was hurt when Rani Mukerji replaced her in Shah Rukh Khan’s Chalte Chalte. Srk and Aishwarya opened up about it during their interviews. Things might have turned normal now, but the former Miss World expected her friend Rani to inform her about the switch personally; scroll below to know more.

The movie was released in 2003 with Shah Rukh and Rani as the lead. It was produced by Srk and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. The romance drama was directed by Aziz Mirza, who also directed Srk in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani...

The B2B meetings at Mumbai’s annual Frames media conference have now bloomed into the full-fledged Global Content Market under the guidance of veteran producer Bobby Bedi.

Bedi’s credits include some of the landmark titles of Indian cinema, including Shekhar Kapur’s international breakthrough film “Bandit Queen” (1994), Deepa Mehta’s controversial “Fire” (1996), Rani Mukerji-starring relationship drama “Saathiya” (2002), Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Macbeth” adaptation “Maqbool” (2003), Stanley Tong’s Jackie Chan starrer “The Myth” (2005) and Gurvinder Singh’s Rotterdam title “Crescent Night” (2002).

The market, which was buzzing from the get go, boasted a significant international presence from the U.K., Korea, Turkey, Spain, Germany and Saudi Arabia, besides a sizeable Indian contingent. Bedi said that the word ‘Asian’ suggests mainly content from the Far East and the Frames market plugs the gap for South Asian and Middle Eastern content. Differentiating the market from the Indian government’s Film Bazaar in Goa,...

The ‘Bigg Boss 8’ contestant and drag queen, Sushant Divgikr, also known as ‘Rani KoHEnur’ has announced relationship with a mystery man, by dropping photos on social media, hinting at their marriage. The trans actor shared some romantic pictures with the partner.

In the snapshots, we can see Sushant wearing a white patterned shirt, smiling with the eyes closed and blushing, while the partner is seen in a black shirt looking towards Divgikr. Though, the partner’s face is not fully revealed yet.

The lovebirds can be seen having a yummy meal together at Sushant’s house. The ‘Mr Gay India 2014’ gave the geotag of Mumbai to his post, and also attached the music of the song ‘Saathiya’.

The pictures were captioned as: “Alexa, what do you call Jiju in Bengali? Asking for #ranifam !!!reveal when? Also in Marathi / konkani – we call Jiju – Bhauji / Bhaaiya! What do you call Jiju in Your language?...

Playback singer Sadhana Sargam, who is set to grace the stage of ‘Indian Idol 14’, and contestant Menuka Poudel will be singing ‘Chupke Se’, from the Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukerji-starrer romantic drama ‘Saathiya’.

The evergreen singers of Indian film industry Anuradha Paudwal and Sadhana Sargam will be gracing the stage of the singing reality show in its ‘Queens of 90’s’ episode. Bringing alive this golden era of music, the Top 14 contestants will mesmerise one and all with their powerful performances.

Contestant Menuka Poudel has been winning hearts ever since she stepped foot in the show. She sang ‘Chupke Se’ from the film ‘Saathiya’, and ‘Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise’ from the movie ‘Saajan’, sung by Sadhana and Anuradha respectively.

Sadhana, who was overwhelmed with emotion, went on stage to hug Menuka for her exceptional performance.

She says: “Menuka, you have God’s blessings and that’s the reason your voice touches our hearts,...

Playback singer Sadhana Sargam, who is set to grace the stage of ‘Indian Idol 14’, and contestant Menuka Poudel will be singing ‘Chupke Se’, from the Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukerji-starrer romantic drama ‘Saathiya’.

The evergreen singers of Indian film industry Anuradha Paudwal and Sadhana Sargam will be gracing the stage of the singing reality show in its ‘Queens of 90’s’ episode. Bringing alive this golden era of music, the Top 14 contestants will mesmerise one and all with their powerful performances.

Contestant Menuka Poudel has been winning hearts ever since she stepped foot in the show. She sang ‘Chupke Se’ from the film ‘Saathiya’, and ‘Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise’ from the movie ‘Saajan’, sung by Sadhana and Anuradha respectively.

Sadhana, who was overwhelmed with emotion, went on stage to hug Menuka for her exceptional performance.

She says: “Menuka, you have God’s blessings and that’s the reason your voice touches our hearts,...

Actor Vivek Oberoi has talked about his struggles, his values and his views on what it means to succeed and fail in Bollywood. Vivek, who made his debut in 2002 with Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Company’, became an instant hit with his powerful performances in films such as ‘Saathiya’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’, ‘Omkara’ and ‘Rakht Charitra’ among many others.

However, he tasted failure with duds such as ‘Prince’, ‘Dum’, ‘Kyun! Hogaya Na’, ‘Naksha’ and ‘Home Delivery: Aapko… Ghar Tak’ among many others.

Recently, in an interview with Dubai-based podcast Ab Talks, Vivek revealed that he had never really taken money from his father and actor Suresh Oberoi, and for his ‘launch’ into the industry he was determined to make his own way in. A snippet of the interview has been shared on Instagram.

“He had fixed up a producer and there was a script waiting and everything. And I said no,...

Ace choreographer and judge of dance reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer 3’, Geeta Kapur has praised the actor Ayushmann Khurrana, saying she is a fan of his voice, and his talent has found a place in people’s hearts.

The star cast of ‘Dream Girl 2’- Ayushmann and Ananya Panday will grace the stage of the dance reality show’s upcoming episode.

One of the highlights of the episode will be the beautiful tribute to the incredibly talented Ayushmann. The contestants will showcase Ayushmann’s remarkable contribution to the world of cinema through a series of amazing dance performances.

The stage will resonate with the magic of Ayushmann’s filmography as the contestants groove to iconic tracks like ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’, ‘Dard Karaara’, ‘Pani Da Rang’, and ‘Naina Da Kya Kasoor’.

Judge Geeta Kapur couldn’t contain her admiration for Ayushmann’s journey and will share: “Ayushmann deserves...

Mumbai, Aug 3 (Ians) Actress Rani Mukerji will be conducting an exclusive masterclass on her illustrious journey in cinema at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (Iffm).

The special event will take place a day ahead of the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, on August 10.

Rani in a statement said: “I’m honoured to have been invited to the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. As an actor, I have been fortunate enough to receive incredible love from people in Australia and I’m looking forward to sharing my journey in Indian cinema through a masterclass that I have been invited to conduct.”

“I think it will be a beautiful experience to connect with my fans and cinephiles during this event. I’m ready to delve into some of the most memorable characters from my filmography and try to peel off layers of emotions and nostalgia attached to those characters and scenes,...

Over a career spanning two decades, actress Rani Mukerji has impressed audiences with her acting prowess. She credits her powerful performances to new directors for shaping her career and empowering her to have the love she has received in her journey in cinema.

Rani said: “If you look at the list of new directors that I have collaborated with, you will see how they have contributed in shaping my career, my craft and empowered me to get the love that I have got all through my journey in cinema.”

Rani believes that all the newcomers she has worked with throughout her journey in Bollywood, have one thing in common. They are always more hungry to disrupt because they are looking to make the biggest mark on the industry with their first few films.

“I have always been excited by new directors because I have believed that they are always hungrier...

The song ‘Veera Raja Veera’ – the second to be released from the Mani Ratnam spectacle ‘Ponniyin Selvan: 2’ – was shared by the film’s makers on Saturday. Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer A R Rahman has composed the track, picturised on Karthi, Trisha and Shobita Dhulipala against the backdrop of warships sailing across the high seas. It is based on a traditional Shiva Stuti in Raag Adaana of the Dagarvani tradition of Dhrupad.

The track features a melodious use of the tabla and veena, both instruments complementing the ‘murkiyaan’ in the melodious voices of Kavita Krishnamurti, Shreya Ghoshal and Arman Dehlvi.

The Hindi lyrics for the song have been penned by Gulzar, who has earlier delivered knockout albums with Rahman for ‘Guru’, ‘Dil Se..’ and ‘Saathiya’, among other such notable films.

‘Ponniyin Selvan: 2’, which is sequel of ‘Ps-1’, 2022’s highest-grossing Tamil film, has been helmed by the National Award-winning maker of classic hits,...

Mumbai, March 14 (Ians) Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji, who will be seen as a celebrity guest on the singing reality show, ‘Indian Idol 13’, lauded the show’s contestant Rishi Singh from Ayodhya for his performance on the songs, ‘Hey Udi Udi’ and ‘Koi Mil Gaya’.

The actress said that he is such an amazing singer that maybe very soon he will get an opportunity to record his songs at Yash Raj studio.

Rani is known for being part of several movies such as ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Ghulam’, ‘Saathiya’, ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Hum Tum’, ‘Veer Zara’, ‘Kabhi Alvidaa Naa Kehna’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, ‘Black’, ‘Talaash’, among others appeared on the singing reality show for ‘Celebrating Rani Mukerji’ episode.

She also came to promote her film ‘Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway’.

Applauding his performance, Rani shared: “You have a very strong voice. When you were singing the entire atmosphere on the set was charged up.

Mumbai, March 13 (Ians) Known for her roles in ‘Saathiya’ and ‘Page 3’, actress Sandhya Mridul is playing the role of Jodha Bai in the show ‘Taj-Divided by Blood’. She spoke about how her portrayal of this historical character is going to be different and the role Ott plays in giving actors a chance to reinvent themselves.

Despite the fact that the character she is portraying has been played on screen multiple times, she thinks people will remember her version of Jodha Bai: “Why not? I am hoping that I brought something that only I can bring to the character. I am hoping that uptil now, I have resonated with people and I have tried to bring things authentically and I hope that I still resonate somewhere and they remember me as Jodha too.”

“To add to it, every person is unique. I am a different person from other people who have played Jodha.

Mumbai, Feb 26 (Ians) TV and film actress Sandhya Mridul, who is known for her roles in films such as ‘Saathiya’, ‘Page 3’, and was also the first runner-up in ‘Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa 2’, will be seen playing the historical character of Jodha Bai in the web series ‘Taj: Divided by Blood’.

Talking about the kind of preparation she undertook for portraying the role, Sandhya said: “The preparation for Jodha was literally from my narration and from what the script said. I am not someone who tries to plan out a character too much. The script must interest me and speak to me. I trust the director in navigating me and my efforts for the last 20 years have been to stay true to the script and myself.”

“The dialogues tell you what the character is. My biggest prep is I read the entire script a couple of times before I get on the...

Akshay Kumar and Rakul Preet Singh starrer Cuttputlli’s trailer was unveiled recently and it created a massive buzz amongst the audience. After launching the most intriguing and captivating trailer, the makers decided to take the buzz a notch higher by releasing the first song of the film ‘Saathiya’, which is a delightful love ballad.

Akshay Kumar and Rakul Preet will share the screen space for the first time ever and their chemistry appears to be extremely refreshing already. Sung by Zahrah S Khan and Nikhil D’souza, Saathiya has been shot in a very stylish manner. Along with being a romantic number, the Saathiya sets a blooming and cheerful vibe at the same time. The music and lyrics are by the supremely talented Tanishk Bagchi.

After the release of the first song of the film Akshay Kumar said, “We had a massive set built in London for this one, from...

It’s been 16 years since Bollywood star Rani Mukerji played the role of Vimmi, an infamous con-artist in Bunty Aur Babli, a local hit which took $3.4M at the box office This week, the multiple-award winning actor returns to the role for Bunty Aur Babli 2, the much-awaited sequel that hits Indian theaters on November 19 after its original release last year was delayed by the pandemic. The Hindi-language romantic comedy is backed by production giant Yash Raj Films and produced by the company’s chairman Aditya Chopra (who also happens to be Mukerji’s husband). Mukerji can also be seen in recent Hindi title Sooryavanshi’, which was released just after Diwali on November 5, taking $1.3M in its opening weekend in India.

This year, Mukerji is celebrating 25 years of her career as a Bollywood actor. She’s starred in a raft of commercially successful love stories such as Saathiya and Hum Tum,...

WandaVision has set a high bar for all future MCU shows on Disney+. Next up is The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which is set to debut on the streaming platform soon. While WandaVision played like a traditional sitcom with an episodic format, MCU showrunner Kevin Feige recently explained in an interview that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will feel more like a really long movie than a tv show.

"[The length of the show will be] not quite eight hours, but yes. It all comes down to the storytelling. I guess the short answer is we don't distinguish it too much. The bar is set high for the features and for the series, and we try to exceed that bar every time. Obviously, the week-to-week unveiling gives us opportunities, as we're now seeing with WandaVision for sure.""But we're building the shows to be experienced that way, the way we build our features to be experienced in a run,...

’Beautiful Minds’ is inspired by the real-life experiences of co-director Alexandre Jollien who was born with cerebral palsy but overcame his disabilities to study philosophy

Elle Driver has launched sales on Bernard Campan and Alexandre Jollien’s pioneering French comedy-drama Beautiful Minds, about a workaholic funeral director and a solitary vegetable delivery man and philosopher born with cerebral palsy, who embark on a road trip in a hearse.

It is inspired by the real-life experiences of Jollien who was born with cerebral palsy but overcame his disabilities to study philosophy and become became a major thinker and spiritual teacher, who has written several best-selling books.

Exclusive: Oscar nominee Bruce Davison is set for a recurring role on the fourth and final season of Netflix’s critically acclaimed series Ozark, starring and executive produced by Jason Bateman.

Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, Ozark is a thrilling drama set in the present-day and follows the Byrde family’s journey from their normal, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Ozarks, Missouri. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans.

Davison will play Randall Schafer, a powerful retired Illinois U.S. Senator who is accustomed to doing things his way. He is not always easy to win over… but for the right price….

In addition to Bateman, the series stars Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Charlie Tahan, Jessica Frances Dukes, Lisa Emery, John Bedford Lloyd, and Joseph Sikora.

Chris Mundy returns as showrunner,...

HBO Max’s programming is getting the podcast treatment.

WarnerMedia and iHeartMedia have inked a deal to co-produce a slate of companion podcasts for the streamer’s upcoming originals and legacy programming. The first two projects will be podcasts about comedy thriller Search Party, which is set to debut its third season on June 25, and upcoming sci-fi drama Raised by Wolves.

“Today’s streaming fans are hungry for more content the second they finish an episode of their favorite shows, and podcasts are a great way to keep those fans engaged while also giving our roster of creative talent additional ...

Hulu is jumping into the companion podcast game, teaming up with iHeartRadio to create a series that will take listeners inside its new limited series, Little Fires Everywhere.

The TV series, which premieres March 18, brings Celeste Ng's book of the same name to the small screen. Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington star in the drama.

Its companion podcast will be hosted by comedian Jamie Loftus and series showrunner Liz Tigelaar. Over six episodes, they will explore the making of the series — from the adaptation of the book to production design decisions. The podcast will feature interviews with ...

She has been around in Bollywood for over two decades and has been touted as one of India's finest actresses. Yet, Rani Mukerji admits harbouring doubts, because she believes if there is no self-doubt one cannot move ahead in life.

"It (self-doubt) is part of your being. If you don't have self-doubt you can't move ahead in life. You need to have some degree of insecurity or self-doubt, and you just can't be like you are the king of the world and do whatever comes your way," Rani told Ians.

Also Read:?Rani Mukerji shares an important social message

Questioning yourself is important, stresses the actress.

"You have to have a little sense of questioning to basically try and achieve and keep achieving your goal. That can only happen when you doubt yourself a bit and push yourself harder towards your goal," she said.

Rani made her Bollywood debut with...

Actor Vivek Oberoi took to social media and wish the very best to actor Abhishek Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and director Kookie Gulati for their upcoming film "The Big Bull".

A day after the film's titled was unveiled on social media, Vivek took to Twitter to wish the team luck.

Also Read:?Vivek comes face to face with Abhishek

"Congratulations team #TheBigBull! This looks amazing! Wishing the super talented team @kookievgulati, @juniorbachchan, @ajaydevgn, @anandpandit63, @KumarMangat and the entire crew all the very best! Hope you take the bull by the horns! Much love," he wrote.

Recently, just months after Vivek had shared memes about actress Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan on social media, he had come face-to-face with Abhishek at an event, and now the "Saathiya" star has wished Abhishek for his next film.

The meme controversy happened in May during the Lok Sabha General Elections. The now-deleted tweet had a meme comparing the...

TollywoodThe Bollywood actor made his debut in Tollywood in 2010 playing the villain in Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Rakta Charitra I’.Digital NativeDigital NativeBollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has been signed up to play the baddie in Ram Charan Teja’s upcoming film, which will be directed by Boyapati Srinu. According to sources in tinsel town, the director was looking to rope in an actor to play this ruthless character and finally zeroed in on Vivek Oberoi. The last time the actor was seen playing the villain was in the 2015 Ajith starrer Vivegam, which was directed by Siva. The shooting for this film, which has not been titled yet, began in Vijayawada recently. The director is reported to have shot the intro scene with nearly 2,000 junior artistes. This proves that Ram Charan’s magnum opus will be made on a grand scale. Ram Charan is currently busy giving the finishing touches to the Sukumar directorial Rangasthalam that is gearing up for release on March 30. In this movie, Ram Charan is paired with Samantha for the first time and his different get-up would be a treat to watch, say sources. He will be joining the sets of Boyapati Srinu’s film soon after he is done with the shooting for this film. Vivek Oberoi made his acting debut with the 2002 release Company, which won him the Filmfare Best Debut Award and Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. He then went on to star in films such as Road, Saathiya, Yuva, Kaal, Rakta Charitra I & II and so on. The last Bollywood flick he starred in was Bank Chor, in which he played a Cbi officer. It may be mentioned here that Vivek Oberoi made his debut in Tollywood in 2010 with Rakta Charitra I, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, in which he played the villain. Sources say his performance in that film was one of the reasons for Boyapati to rope him in for the Ram Charan starrer. (Content provided by Digital Native)...

I had the pleasure of attending the Ar Rahman “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” concert on 8th July, at the Sse Arena, Wembley celebrating 25 years of the maestro’s music. When you hear the name Ar Rahman, you immediately think of a plethora of songs which he has expertly composed and sung, and during the evening, it was a real treat to hear these very songs performed live. Armed with a great line up of singers, Ar Rahman was accompanied by Neeti Mohan (‘Jiya Re’ – Jab Tak Hai Jaan), Jonita Gandhi (‘Sau Tarah K’ – Dishoom), Benny Dayal (‘Badtameez Dil’ – Ye Jawani Hai Deewani), Javed Ali (‘Kun Faya Kun’ – Rockstar), Haricharan and a few more upcoming talents.

The show was hosted by Anushka Arora, and opened with a show reel showcasing all the highlights of Ar Rahman’s career so far, including his most recent performance with Chris Martin (Coldplay). He then arrived on stage,...

Ok Jaanu

Starring Aditya Roy Kapoor, Shradha Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Leela Samson

Directed by Shaad Ali

Welcome back, Shaad Ali. It was a Mani Ratnam remake that gave us Shaad, one of the sharpest smartest directors in Saathiya. It is another Mani Ratnam remake that brings Shaad back in form after a string of duds.

Ok Jaanu (ignore the yucky title) is smart, slick heartwarming and utter endearing as Shaad, from material moulded in Mani’s imagination , forges out an urban love story set in the city that gives love a shove for more practical considerations, like making a living and realizing your ambitions.

Meet Adi and Tara, a couple so believable in their exuberant ambitions and the determination to lock their mutual adoration in a chastity belt, that you can’t help feeling exasperated at their blindness to see the obvious.

Yes, love is in the air. It’s...

Narenda Modi, Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kapoor pay tribute to the celebrated actor.

Famous faces from film, politics and sport have tweeted tributes to Indian actor Om Puri, who died of a heart attack aged 66.

Puri was familiar to audiences in India and worldwide for his roles in East Is East, My Son The Fanatic, Aakrosh, Arohan and Singh Is Kinng.

Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi tweeted: “The Prime Minister condoles the passing away of actor #OmPuri and recalls his long career in theatre and films: Pmo”.

Film star Shah Rukh Khan said: “Gods garden must b beautiful, He always takes the best” Will miss ur laughter over the shared brandy in Berlin. Will miss u lots Omji. Rip”.

Quantico and Barfi! star Priyanka Chopra said: “The end of an era …. The legacy lives on.. Rip #OmPuri”.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “You will live in our hearts forever through the impressions you have left with your...

A breezy offering of new age Indian cinema welcomes in the New Year as romantic drama, Ok Jaanu, releases in cinemas on 13th January 2017, presented by Dharma Productions and Madras Talkies, distributed by Fox Star Studios.

Reflecting modern, urban India and its energy, aspirations and love stories, conveyed through the inimitable style of director Shaad Ali (Bunty Aur Babli, Saathiya), Ok Jaanu revolves around a young couple in a live-in relationship in Mumbai. The juxtaposition of career, ambitions, playfulness and emotions are brought to life onscreen through tender humour and pathos. The film is inspired by the super hit Tamil film, Ok Kadhal Kanmani, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who here lends his creative input as co-producer.

A wealth of acting talent takes ownership of the screen in Ok Jaanu as new gen artists Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur join veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Leela Samson, respectively delivering...

The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil cast is getting bigger and even more exciting by the minute. If Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Anushka Sharma coming together in a Karan Johar film was not good enough already, Fawad Khan was added to the mix.

Now we hear that there is another amazing cast memeber that will be making a special cameo! The film director, Karan Johar, has confirmed that Shah Rukh Khan will be making a guest appearance in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

At the Toronto International Film Festival Karan Johar said, “Shah Rukh and I have an amazing working rapport. I haven’t directed a film with him in the last seven years, but he did a scene for me recently in a film that is going to release in Diwali and after seven years when I directed him, I realised nothing had changed. He knew exactly what I...

After years, Sonu Nigam has decided to return as the judge of Indian Idol season 7. Sonu had previously judged a couple of seasons of this music reality show along with music composer Anu Malik but soon several others like Udit Narayan, Javed Akhtar among others became a part of the judging panel but Sonu wasn't a part of it anymore. And now, Sonu is all set to join hands with music director Anu Malik. On the other hand, music composer Malik was a part of almost all seasons of the music reality show and in fact, the musician also went on to be a part of Asian Idol as a judge, as the only music representative from India. Sonu Nigam was previously also associated with yet another show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV. However, Indian Idol is known for giving the music industry some popular singers like Abhijeet Sawant,...

She has been the voice to some of Bollywood’s biggest stars on some of the most beautiful and best tracks in the Hindi film music canon. We are talking about the incredible Madhushree. She was worked with Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy, Sohail Sen, and extensively with Ar Rahman to name a few. From ‘Neem Neem’ (Yuva), to ‘Pal Pal Hai Bhari’ (Swades), ‘Tu Bin Bataye’ (Rang De Basanti), ‘Inn Lamho Ke Daaman Mein’ (Jodha Akbar) and so many more, the singer has brought the emotion and the beauty to life with her incredible voice. And that is just in the Hindi film industry, the singer has also sung for films in the South film industries as well.

I was very excited to be able to do an email interview with one of my favorite singers and even more excited when I received the answers back. Check out Madhushree’s fabulous...

Earlier we had reported that Mani Ratnam, who has given films like Bombay, Saathiya, Yuva and the recent Ok Kanmani, had signed Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari for his next Tamil film titled Kuruthi Pookkal. Now we hear that the director is all set to start work on his next film.

In fact Ratnam is looking to commence work on the project from July 8, with the first schedule taking off in Chennai. Following this, the crew will then move to Kashmir.

As for the film itself, Kuruthi Pookkal that is produced under Mani's home banner Madras Talkies features Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari, with Karthi playing a pilot who falls in love with a girl on his trip to India. While Ravi Varman has been roped in to crank the camera, the film will have music by A.R Rahman.