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This time in his terrific This Day That Year feature series Subhash K Jha looks at Anubhav Sinha’s Thappad, which released in 2020 and featured the brilliant Taapsee Pannu.

Damaged humanism, fractured emotions, and flawed relationships are the crux of Great Cinema. If there was no Auschwitz, there would be no Schindler’s List. If Madhubala had not died so young, would we still think of her as being so unattainable? And if Romeo and Juliet had lived happily ever after, would Shakespeare’s play have become a timeless classic?

Thappad is a flawed but important film on a fractured marriage. Like director Anubhav Sinha’s earlier monumental works Mulk and Article 15, Thappad tears at the hypocrisy of the middle class to show how pathetically short we fall as a collective nation when it comes to basic human rights even within the four walls of private homes.

The issue in Thappad is ostensibly solvable.

Renowned director Anubhav Sinha, famous for impactful films like Mulk, Article 15, Thappad, and Anek, recently opened up about his experience making Ra.

One, a pivotal project in his career. In a frank discussion, Sinha talked about the hurdles he encountered during production, which ultimately contributed to the film’s struggles.

The Birth of Ra.One

Sinha shared that he first came up with the idea for Ra.One back in 2005 and started writing it the next year. However, it wasn’t until Shah Rukh Khan announced the film at a press event in Berlin that things really kicked off. Sinha recalled being bombarded with calls for eight straight hours, unable to confirm the news. When he finally got in touch with Khan, the actor simply said, “Why hide it?”

The Production Journey of Ra.One

Sinha admitted that Ra.One didn’t turn out the way he had hoped. Even with a...

After a 27-year hiatus from television, veteran Indian filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is making his streaming series debut with Netflix’s “Ic 814: The Kandahar Hijack.”

The six-episode thriller, based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, marks Sinha’s first return to long-form storytelling since his early days in television, which includes Dd Metro series “Sea Hawks.”

The drama, adapted from the book “Flight Into Fear” by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, explores the crisis from multiple angles. It offers a multifaceted look at the incident, showcasing the tense negotiations in Delhi’s War Room, the high-stakes diplomacy at Taliban-controlled Kandahar, and the terrifying ordeal faced by passengers and crew aboard the hijacked aircraft.

Sinha, known for socially conscious films like “Article 15” and “Thappad,” initially resisted the idea of making a series. “I was doing films, so I wasn’t interested,” he tells Variety. However, a persistent...

Netflix India has unveiled the highly anticipated trailer for its upcoming mini-series, “Ic 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” slated for release on August 29. The series delves into the harrowing 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight Ic 814, bringing to life one of the most traumatic events in India’s recent history.

The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring veteran actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, Pankaj Kapur, and Patralekhaa. This project also marks the Ott debut of acclaimed director Anubhav Sinha, known for his impactful dramas like Mulk, Thappad, Article 15, and Bheed. Produced under his banner, Benaras Media Works, the series promises to be a gripping retelling of the events that unfolded during the hijacking..

The trailer offers a tense and immersive experience, capturing the extreme fear and uncertainty faced by the 188 passengers aboard the ill-fated flight. It opens with the sudden takeover of the aircraft by militants,...

Exclusive: South Asian film star Taapsee Pannu has signed for representation with Crimson Media.

She becomes the latest Indian talent to sign with Crimson this year, coming after the likes of Farhan Akhtar, Sayani Gupta and Rajshri Deshpande.

Pannu, who works across Hindi, Telugu and Tamil film, is coming off 2023 hit Dunki, where she appeared opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rajkumar Hirani’s feature about an illegal immigration technique called ‘donkey flight.’

In Tamil film, her notable roles gave come in the likes of 2011’s Aadukalam, comic horror Kanchana 2, tense action thriller Arrambam and thriller Game Over. In Telugu cinema, she first gained attention from her role in K Raghavendra Rao’s 2010 feature Jhummandi Naadam and romantic drama Mr. Perfect, which also starred Prabhas.

She began acting in Hindi films in 2013 in David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor, co-starring Siddharth, Rishi Kapoor, Divyendu Sharma and Ali Zafar, and in 2016 acted opposite...

Anubhav Sinha is set to make his streaming debut with “Ic 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” a thrilling series based on the real-life hijacking of an Indian aircraft in 1999 by five Pakistani militants. The series will premiere on Netflix India on August 29 and boasts an ensemble cast.

The teaser opens with Indian passengers preparing for takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, heading to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Vijay Varma, portraying pilot Sharan Dev, instructs the passengers to sit back and relax. Suddenly, five masked militants hijack the plane, putting the pilot at gunpoint and assaulting the air hostess, plunging everyone into terror.

Priyanka Chopra reacts on Citadel: Honey Bunny teaser says, “Vd and Samantha are incredible”

The stakes are high as the teaser emphasizes that the hijack is not just a crisis for the passengers but a matter of national security. Indian government officials, played by Pankaj Kapur,...

T-Series co-owner Krishan Kumar’s daughter, Tishaa Kumar, passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. Her funeral, held in Mumbai, saw numerous Bollywood celebrities arriving to pay their respects, despite the waterlogged conditions. Among those present were Riteish Deshmukh, Saiee Manjrekar, Salman Khan’s bodyguard Shera, Bhushan Kumar, Divya Khosla Kumar, Kushalli Kumar, Sajid Khan, Farah Khan, and Javed Jaffery.

T-Series had released a statement confirming the 20-year-old’s demise and requesting privacy for the family. According to The Indian Express, Tishaa was taken to Germany for cancer treatment but sadly passed away there. Her last public appearance was in November 2023 at the screening of “Animal,” a film produced by T-Series, where she was seen alongside her father, Krishan Kumar.

Krishan Kumar, an actor and producer, is known for his role in the 1995 film “Bewafa Sanam.” He took over T-Series after the death of his brother, Gulshan Kumar, in...

The upcoming film ‘Barah by Barah’, which has been shot on 16mm film, offers a unique perspective on life and death through the lens of a death photographer.

The film is set in Varanasi, and stars Gyanendra Tripathi of ‘Half CA’ fame and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan of ‘Thappad’ fame. The film has been directed by Gaurav Madan who met a photographer during a trip to Varanasi and found “immense cinematic potential” in the subject.

Talking about the film, Gaurav Madan said: “I hail from a small town called Jagadhri in Haryana. My parents had to let go of our ancestral home because the government decided to widen the adjacent highway. The house was razed in front of my eyes and we had to migrate to a drab housing colony.”

He continued: “Now, the entire town looks listless, like a big city clone. Progress is vital, of course, but there’s...

Dia Mirza, who actively participates for social and environmental issues, on Saturday, opened up on the destruction of biodiversity in the urban spaces and trimming of trees for monsoon, urging the officials to ensure implementation of better practices.

Taking to Instagram, Dia, who was last seen in ‘Made in Heaven’, shared a beautiful picture of herself sitting under a tree. She is seen wearing a blue suit paired with a white shawl. She also shared a series of pictures, featuring exotic birds and wildlife species.

The long post started with a shayari of Kaifi Azmi:

“Each year, the months of April and May are particularly heartbreaking when one witnesses the destruction of biodiversity in our urban spaces. Trees are being ‘trimmed’ in preparation for the monsoon…The ‘trimming’ is unscientific, and horrific, because the entire canopy/shade is axed away by unfeeling, unthinking individuals. The country is reeling in an acute heatwave.

Actress Taapsee Pannu, tied the nuptial knot with her long-time partner, the Badminton player Mathias Boe in Udaipur last month. Now, the glimpses from their wedding ceremony have surfaced on the Internet.

In a video, which is being widely circulated on social media, Taapsee, dressed in a red coloured Punjabi wedding outfit, can be seen walking towards Mathias as she dances to the Punjabi folk song ‘Chitta Kukkar’ playing in the background.

The track is Pakistani Punjabi wedding folk song, and has over the years been used in different renditions. The most recent is the rendition used in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer ‘Animal’ titled ‘Saari Duniya Jalaa Denge’.

In the video, Taapsee dances in swag wearing a pair of sunglasses over the wedding outfit, and gets up on the stage to hug her husband. Taapsee’s sister Shagun Pannu and their gang of girls walked with the bride.

As the two embrace each other,...

Taapsee Pannu’s love for saree is unmissable, as the actress has often worn and given a touch of modernity to the nine-yard wonder with sneakers during her international trips. However this time she professed her affection and hoped that it never ends.

Taapsee took to Instagram and shared a string of pictures, where she can be seen wearing a deconstructed version of a saree.

The actress wore a fusion style drape saree with pants and a coat. She completed her look with stilettos, minimum make-up and her hair neatly-tied into a braid.

For the caption, Taapsee wrote: “Hope this romance with saree never ends…”

The actress also added a song titled ‘Baagay’ by Hari and Sukhmani to the photo.

This is the first post that comes after reports of Taapsee tying the knot with her longtime beau Mathias Boe in an intimate ceremony.

It was reported that Taapsee tied...

Taapsee Pannu & Mathias Boe Are Rumored To Be Already Married ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Taapsee Pannu and her badminton legend boyfriend, Mathias Boe, have been grabbing headlines since Holi. Rumors suggest that the couple have tied the knot and are already Mr & Mrs. They might announce their wedding soon to the world, followed by a grand reception for friends and extended family. Their official unison makes a couple worth a whopping 171 crore.

A few days ago, actor Pavail Gulati, Taapsee’s co-star from Thappad, posted a picture partying with the couple and some other guests. Since then, rumors of the wedding have taken over B’town. Another picture from Holi shows Tapsee drenched in Gulaal with a hint of a little sindoor-styled tika that further fuelled the fire.

Taapsee Pannu and Mathias Boe met during a badminton league where Tapsee was the brand ambassador while the sportsman was coaching the team.

Mumbai, March 27 (Ians) On the occasion of World Theatre Day on Wednesday, actors Pavail Gulati, Sunny Hinduja and Akshay Oberoi have spoken about why theatre is important and what they have learnt from it.

For ‘Thappad’ actor Pavail Gulati, who has studied in the National School of Drama and Whistling Woods, it was “confidence” that he by doing theatre.

He told Ians: “Performing in front of a live audience and getting feedback at the same time is the biggest high for an actor. Going from being nervous with sweaty palms to confident on stage knowing you can fail anytime, is what theatre gave me.”

“It gives me the confidence to fail and succeed cause no show ever goes the same. It’s got its ups and downs and down just like in real life,” he added.

Actor Sunny Hinduja, who has worked in projects such as ‘Aspirants’, ‘The Family Man...

Actress Taapsee Pannu, who is known for ‘Baby’, ‘Pink’, ‘Manmarziyaan’ and others, has married her long-term boyfriend, Mathias Boe.

The two reportedly tied the nuptial knot in Udaipur on Saturday.

As per media reports, the ceremonies began on Wednesday. Their families and close friends attended the ceremony.

Actor Pavail Gulati, who has worked with Taapsee in ‘Thappad’ and ‘Dobaara’ joined the wedding celebrations along with auteur Anurag Kashyap, who is also Taapsee’s good friend.

Screenwriting couple Kanika Dhillon and Himanshu Sharma were also at the event.

However, her representatives didn’t give any official confirmation when Ians reached out to them.

International Women’s Day 2024 is a time to reflect on the achievements and struggles of women worldwide. It’s a day to celebrate their resilience, strength, and contributions to society. In the realm of cinema, numerous films have captured the essence of womanhood, shedding light on their diverse experiences and challenges.

Here are five outstanding women-centric Bollywood films that resonate with the spirit of International Women’s Day:

“Thappad”: Directed by Anubhav Sinha, “Thappad” portrays the story of a woman who takes a stand against domestic violence after being slapped by her husband. The film challenges societal norms and highlights the importance of self-respect and empowerment.“Lipstick Under My Burkha”: Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, “Lipstick Under My Burkha” follows the secret lives of four women from different backgrounds who seek freedom and fulfillment amidst societal constraints. The film explores themes of sexuality, desire, and women’s agency.“English...

February 2024 Box Office Expectations To Become The Best Valentine’s Month (Picture Credit: Facebook)

January 2024, the opening month of the year, collected 192.23 crore, with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s Fighter collecting close to 131 crore, followed by Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif’s Merry Christmas and Teja Sajja’s HanuMan‘s Hindi dubbed version. Progressing to February, the films scheduled to release this month, led by Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, should collectively earn close to 200 crore!

While January 2024 was the lowest earning opening month in the last five years, February also has tough competition in terms of target. The month of February 2024 has seven scheduled releases, all of them grade 2 and grade 3 films, which will be led by Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s rom-com, being the highest bidder at the box office.

7 releases are all set to drop in theaters in...

Mumbai, Jan 24 (Ians) Actor Pavail Gulati, who is all set to play a police officer in the upcoming Shahid Kapoor-starrer ‘Deva’, underwent a rigorous fitness journey, and dedicated extensive hours at the gym.

Talking about his preparation for ‘Deva’, Pavail shared: “Playing the role of a cop demands physical and mental dedication. I believe in maintaining a healthy balance in my lifestyle, and this includes both my fitness routine and diet.”

Despite confessing his love for occasional indulgence in junk food, the ‘Thappad’ actor demonstrated discipline, ensuring his dietary choices complemented his fitness regimen.

“It’s about being true to the character while also prioritising overall wellness,” added the actor.

Meanwhile, on the professional front he was last seen as Abhay in the romantic web series ‘Faadu’ alongside Saiyami Kher. He was last seen in romantic thriller film ‘I Love You’, co-starring Rakul Preet Singh and Akshay Oberoi.

–Ians...

Actor Pavail Gulati has embarked on a rigorous fitness journey and has dedicated extensive hours to hitting the gym, in order to authentically portray the robust image of a tough cop in the upcoming film ‘Deva’, starring Shahid Kapoor.

The ‘Thappad’ fame actor also acknowledged the positive influence of working alongside fitness enthusiast Shahid during the film’s production.

The camaraderie and shared commitment to physical fitness between the two actors served as a motivational factor for Pavail, elevating the collective energy on set.

His commitment to transforming into a convincing cop involved following a strict fitness regime, showcasing his determination and professionalism.

Talking about his preparation for ‘Deva’, Pavail stated: “Playing the role of a cop demands physical and mental dedication. I believe in maintaining a healthy balance in my lifestyle, and this includes both my fitness routine and diet.”

He opted for a balanced approach to his diet,...

Mumbai, Dec 23 (Ians) The upcoming Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde-starrer film ‘Deva’ has wrapped up its first schedule in Mumbai.

The film is an action thriller directed by Rosshan Andrrews. Shot in Mumbai, the cameras started rolling for ‘Deva’ in late October 2023. The makers of the film took to social media to confirm the completion of the first schedule of the film.

The film is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur of Roy Kapur Films and Zee Studios.

Earlier, actor Pavail Gulati, who is known for ‘Thappad’, ‘Made in Heaven’ and ‘Dobaaraa’, joined the cast of ‘Deva’. The film is set to unravel a gripping narrative of a rebellious police.

Talking about the same, Pavail said in a statement: “I am incredibly excited to embark on this exhilarating journey and absolutely thrilled to collaborate with exceptional talents like Shahid Kapoor and the amazing director Rosshan Andrrews”.

The actor further mentioned,...

Actor Pavail Gulati, who is known for ‘Thappad’, ‘Made in Heaven’, ‘Dobaaraa’ and others, has joined the cast of the action thriller, ‘Deva’ which stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role.

The film is directed by Rosshan Andrrews, and is set to unravel a gripping narrative of a rebellious police.

Talking about this, Pavail said in a statement: “I am incredibly excited to embark on this exhilarating journey and absolutely thrilled to collaborate with exceptional talents like Shahid Kapoor and the amazing director Rosshan Andrrews.”

The actor further mentioned, “This opportunity not only represents a significant milestone for me but also a challenge that I wholeheartedly welcome and am eager to embrace. It’s going to be a fun ride.”

The film also stars actress Pooja Hegde as the female lead.

Produced by Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films and directed by Rosshan Andrrews, the film has gone into production...

Actor Pavail Gulati, who is known for ‘Thappad’, ‘Made in Heaven’, ‘Dobaaraa’ and others, has joined the cast of the action thriller, ‘Deva’ which stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role.

The film is directed by Rosshan Andrrews, and is set to unravel a gripping narrative of a rebellious police.

Talking about this, Pavail said in a statement: “I am incredibly excited to embark on this exhilarating journey and absolutely thrilled to collaborate with exceptional talents like Shahid Kapoor and the amazing director Rosshan Andrrews.”

The actor further mentioned, “This opportunity not only represents a significant milestone for me but also a challenge that I wholeheartedly welcome and am eager to embrace. It’s going to be a fun ride.”

The film also stars actress Pooja Hegde as the female lead.

Produced by Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films and directed by Rosshan Andrrews, the film has gone into production...

Top Indian actor and emerging producer Taapsee Pannu is on a tear with a welter of projects lined up.

Pannu debuted as a producer with horror-thriller “Blurr” (2022) that she co-produced via her Outsiders Films. The company’s next, “Dhak Dhak,” which follows four women who set out for a road trip to the highest motorable pass in the world on a motorbike journey of self-discovery, went on theatrical release on Oct. 13. While “Blurr” starred Pannu, “Dhak Dhak” sees her serving as a producer only and stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanjana Sanghi. “Dhak Dhak” is produced by Outsiders, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, BLM Pictures and One India Stories.

“When you release a film, that’s a different monster altogether, nobody’s understanding why you want to release this film in theaters, because it has no big stars, it’s got no formula and no conventional...

Actress Taapsee Pannu, who is known for films like ‘Pink’, ‘Manmarziyaan’, ‘Game Over’, ‘Thappad’ and others, recently took to the Stories section of her Instagram to conduct an Ask Me Anything session with her followers.

The actress answered several questions from her fans about her personal and professional life.

While answering one personal question about her marriage plans from one of her followers, the actress gave a rather sassy reply as she said, “So when am I getting married? I am not pregnant as yet. So not anytime soon. I shall let you all know” as she burst into laughter.

Taapsee Pannu is known to be extremely private about her dating life. She is dating badminton player Mathias Boe and mentioned about the same on comedian Abish Mathew’s streaming show ‘Son of Abish’.

The actress had earlier told the media that she doesn’t want elaborate wedding festivities spanning...

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for hard hitting crime drama series “Scoop” from acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”).

Based on journalist Jigna Vora’s 2019 memoir “Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison,” the series is created by Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul (“Thappad”). The book recounts how renowned journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was murdered by members of the Chhota Rajan gang in 2011. A few months later, fellow journalist and crime reporter Vora was arrested in connection with the murder.

“Scoop” marks Mehta and Netflix’s maiden partnership and the series is set up as the first season of a franchise. Mehta has directed all six episodes of the first season.

The series follows Jagruti Pathak, a headline-writing journalist who is caught between the nexus of the police, the underworld and the media. “It explores that nexus through a personal story,” Mehta told Variety.

“The...

The time for Red Table Talk is over — at least for now.

Facebook Watch is shutting down all of its original programming, which includes the Jada Pinkett Smith-hosted talk show, our sister site Variety reports. The show’s production company Westbrook Studios, founded by Pinkett Smith and her husband Will Smith, is reportedly looking for a new distributor for the series, which features Pinkett Smith in conversation with her daughter Willow Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris as well as special guests. The show played host to an explosive discussion between Jada and Will in 2020 where the two detailed...

Mumbai, April 20 (Ians) Rapper Prabh Deep, who worked on the track ‘Sherni’ from ‘Manmarziyaan’ and ‘Toofan Main’ from the hit streaming series ‘Pataal Lok’, has released his new single titled ‘Thappad!’. He shared that his new single is inspired by the superhero characters in comic books, and that he plays the superhero Thappad Man in the song.

The song marks his first independent release after 6 years.

Talking about the single, the rapper told Ians: “The concept behind ‘Thappad!’ is that it is inspired by the superhero characters in comic books and graphic novels that gave us the confidence to dream beyond our limits. In this story, I am the protagonist – the superhero – Thappad Man.”

He further mentioned: “I’ve been wanting to create something with a lot of energy and have been missing writing bars – expressing my artistry and thoughts in that raw form – the process, wordplay, rhyme schemes and...

Entertainment‘Bheed’ will hit theatres on March 24.IANSFilmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who is known for his films such as Mulk, Article 15, Tum Bin, Dus, and Thappad, is awaiting the release of his upcoming film, the pandemic drama Bheed. The director, on Tuesday, March 21, took to Instagram to share a lengthy note about the film and made a heartfelt and honest appeal to the audience to judge the film for what it intends to convey. He shared that the film's work related to its release was completed on Monday and that he himself saw the whole film for the very first time after all the work was done. Sharing the film's trailer, he wrote in Hindi, "Hello friends, Bheed is coming to theatres on March 24. The work on the film in the run up to its release went on till last night. I myself saw the final output for the first...

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who is known for his films such as ‘Mulk’, ‘Article 15’, ‘Tum Bin’, ‘Dus’, and ‘Thappad’, is awaiting the release of his upcoming film, the pandemic drama ‘Bheed’. The director, on Tuesday, took to his Instagram to share a lengthy note about the film and made a heartfelt and honest appeal to the audience to judge the film for what it intends to convey.

He shared that the film’s work related to its release was completed on Monday and that he himself saw the whole film for the very first time after all the work was done.

Sharing the film’s trailer, he wrote in Hindi, “Hello friends, ‘Bheed’ is coming to theatres on March 24. The work was going on for the film in the run up to its release till last night. I myself saw the final output for the first time after it was done in the night.

After “Mulk” (2018), “Article 15” (2019), “Thappad” (2020) and “Anek” (2022), filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is back with “Bheed,” another hard-hitting film that shines a light on the fabric of Indian society.

The film is set during the 2020 Indian pandemic lockdown and tells the poignant story of migrant workers stranded without basic necessities while trying to go home to their villages. Shot in black and white, it is deliberately evocative of the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan when people were uprooted from their homes in the largest migration in history.

“When the pandemic hit, people were seeking help on Twitter. Everybody had different strengths so we were helping each other and, and I really got sucked into it. And that was the time when I felt that this film had to be made, this period of time has to be recorded, and I didn’t want it to be just a Coronavirus film,...

Mumbai, March 18 (Ians) Film director, producer, and writer Anubhav Sinha shared how apprehensive he was initially to make his movie “Bheed” in black and white as even classic films that were originally black and white are being coloured. He was not sure about the reaction of the audience toward his film.

About the idea of making a black-and-white film in the 21st century, Anubhav said: “I got this idea while we were all working in Alibaug. At first, I was scared to share the idea with the team because I thought it would be rejected, but to my surprise, everyone liked it.”

The well-known filmmaker, who made movies like “Ra.One”, “Tum Bin”, “Dus”, “Thappad”, “Anek”, “Middle Class Love”, “Article 15”, among others, said that he was nervous while thinking about the reaction of viewers after watching his film.

“I was apprehensive about how people would react to this film which is...

Update, with video: Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel went there: With everyone wondering whether he’d use last year’s big moment – the Slap of Chris Rock by Will Smith – for monologue source material, the host wasted little time providing an answer.

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“If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point during the show,” Kimmel snarked, “you will be awarded the Oscar for Best Actor, and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech.”

Kimmel also took aim at the audience response to The Slap: “If anything happens,” he told this year’s crowd, “just do what you did last year – nothing. Just sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe...

Chris Rock has reportedly yet to receive a personal, direct apology from Will Smith after the “Emancipation” star infamously slapped him at the 2022 Oscars, ultimately banning him from attending the awards show for 10 years.

Although Smith, 54, has addressed the incident twice on social media in two public apologies — one on Instagram a day after the awards show and one roughly four months later in a video apology — Rock feels that they “meant nothing.”

Read More: Chris Rock Hilariously Shreds Will Smith In Live Netflix Special: ‘Everybody Called Him a B***h And Who Does He Hit? Me!’

It appears his bitterness towards Smith, as showcased in his Netflix live stand-up special, which sparked controversy for reigniting the scandal when it premiered on Saturday, could have been avoided had Smith, his former friend, simply said “I am sorry.”

“Chris never got a one-on-one private apology from Will, only the public one which really meant nothing,...

Jada Pinkett Smith doesn’t want to be a part of Chris Rock’s narrative.

Speaking to People, a source close to the actress reacted to the comedian’s recent “Selective Outrage” comedy special, in which he addresses the infamous Oscars slap.

Read More: Chris Rock Addresses Will Smith Oscars Slap For the First Time: ‘Hell Yeah, It Hurt!’

“Jada has had no part in all of this other than being heckled,” the source said. “Chris is obsessed with her and that’s been going on for almost 30 years.”

They added, “Look where he chose to film his Netflix special. Her hometown [of Baltimore]. Obsessed.”

At last year’s Academy Awards, Rock joked about Pinkett Smith’s closely shorn hairstyle, a result of her alopecia, which prompted her husband Will Smith to walk up onstage and slap the host live during the broadcast.

In his Netflix comedy special, Rock discusses some of...

Chris Rock may be back on the dating scene after his reported relationship with Lake Bell was confirmed in July 2022. That month, People said that a source told the outlet that the two stars had been "seeing each other for a few weeks" at that point. The insider also said that it was a "pretty new relationship," adding that the pair were "getting to know each other and seem to have fun."

However, on March 4, 2023, during his live Netflix special, "Chris Rock: Selective Outrage," Rock, 58, shared an update on his relationship status, confirming that he's currently not seeing anyone in particular. "I'm single. I've been single for a long time," he said. "I was married for a long time. I was dating somebody for a while. Now I'm single."

It's unclear who exactly the comedian was referring to, but speculation around him and Bell dating ramped up last summer after...

It’s been said that revenge is a dish best served cold, and that was proven in Chris Rock’s latest standup comedy special for Netflix, “Selective Outrage”.

Not only did “Selective Outrage” mark Netflix’s first-ever live global special, it was also the first time that Rock has publicly weighed in on being slapped across the face by Will Smith during the 2022 Oscars, and the comedian did not hold back.

“I’m going to try to do the show without offending anyone. Because you never know who might get triggered,” Chris said early in the show (via Variety), seemingly in reference to Smith.

Read More: Chris Rock To Discuss Infamous Will Smith Oscars Slap During Live Netflix Special

Later, he addressed the elephant in the room. “You know what people say, they say, ‘words hurt,’” he joked. “Anybody that say words hurt has never been punched in the face.

It was the moment many had been waiting nearly a year for — a chance to hear just how Chris Rock would finally address Will Smith’s Oscar night smackdown of the comedian on the Academy stage with a slap that will live in infamy.

Perhaps because Rock knew much of the audience who tuned in were waiting for just that moment, he saved it toward near the end of his set Saturday night during Netflix’s much hyped first live special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage!

But when the moment finally came, Rock didn’t hold back — taking down Smith, dragging his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and targeting the couple’s marital issues (in which Pinkett Smith acknowledged a relationship with singer August Alsina as the couple addressed their marriage on an episode of Red Table Talk).

“Will Smith practices selective outrage,” Rock told the audience. “Outrage because everybody knows what the fuck happened.

Comedian Chris Rock unleashed his full fury on Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith during his live “Selective Outrage” Netflix special on Saturday night, blasting them both for the bad blood that led to the Oscar-nominated actor slapping Rock at last year’s Academy Awards.

It wasn’t until the end of the one-hour special that he lashed out with a year’s worth of resentment. “She started that s—-,” he said of Pinkett Smith’s comments that he should quit hosting the Oscars where he joked about her and Will’s boycott of the 2016 ceremony because Will wasn’t nominated for his performance in “Concussion.”

Check out the video above.

Rock said that the slap had nothing to do with him, noting that it erupted from Smith’s frustration over his own relationship with his wife. He made fun of their “entanglement” situation, saying, “Everyone called Will a...

Chris Rock is making Netflix history on Saturday with a new stand-up comedy special that will be streaming live, marking the first time Netflix has ever hosted a live event on its streaming service. Titled “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage,” the special is expected to be the first time Rock addresses the Will Smith slap at length on stage, for all the world to see. Which means there are plenty of reasons to tune in live.

But how do you watch the special, what time does it start, and what other events is Netflix hosting around it? Everything you need to know answered below.

What Time Does It Start?

“Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” begins at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et on Netflix. There is already a landing page for the special on Netflix, so go there promptly when it begins to watch it live.

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Chris Rock’s new comedy special, which debuts Saturday live on Netflix at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et, includes riffs on his ongoing bad blood with Will Smith after last year’s infamous Oscars slap.

According to the New York Post, Rock joked, “I rooted for Will Smith my whole life. The other day, I watched ‘Emancipation’ just so I could watch him getting whipped.”

In “Emancipation,” Smith plays an escaped slave who was known in real life as “Whipped Peter,” due to a photograph of his horrifically scarred back. TheWrap reviewer Carlos Aguilar called the film “unflinchingly grim.” While the bleak Apple TV+ period drama directed by Antoine Fuqua drew praise for Smith’s harrowing performance, it did not get any major awards traction.

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Will Smith Pokes Fun at Oscars Slap on TikTok (Video)

Rock has been trying out some of his post-slap material during his “Ego Death” tour,...

Netflix, in partnership with National Commission for Women (Ncw), today hosted special discussions on the role of media and entertainment in empowering women, ahead of International Women’s Day. The two panel discussions brought together some of the most distinguished personalities from the industry, academia, NGOs, women actors and directors who shared their perspective on the role of storytelling in shaping the narrative of women empowerment.

The day-long event started with a panel discussion on the role of media and entertainment in women empowerment. The panel had celebrated actor and producer Huma Qureshi, Himanshu Rai – Director Iim Indore, Veerendra Mishra – Ips Aig MP Police, Nayana Sahasrabuddhe – President, Bhartiya Stree Shakti, Priyanka Kher – Breakthrough India and Uday Singh – Head Motion Pictures Association.

The second-panel discussion titled ‘Her Story, Her Voice: A Conversation with Women in Media & Entertainment’ provided insights on championing female representation in the entertainment industry. The panel featured women...

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who entertained the audience with his movies like ‘Ra.One’, ‘Tum Bin’, ‘Dus’, ‘Thappad’, is all set to come up with his next intriguing project ‘Bheed’ which will depict the problems faced by common people during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

The film focuses on social disparity and shows how the situation was similar to the Partition in 1947, and decided to shoot the film in black and white.

Talking about the reason behind shooting the film in black and white, he explained: “‘Bheed’ is a story of the most perilous times which changed everything for humanity. The key objective of shooting the film in black and white was to showcase how the visuals of the social disparity during India’s Lockdown were strikingly similar to what people went through during the 1947 Partition.”

The director went on about how through this film, he is going to show real stories of people...

Nearly eight years after #OscarsSoWhite sparked discontent when the awards ceremony nominated no people of color in its 2015 acting categories, the hashtag creator April Reign reflected on her “organic” decision to speak up, saying it was not initially an “intentional” effort to kickstart a global movement.

“I’m listening to the nominations and it just struck me that the nominations, person after person, category after category, there were no people of color nominated,” Reign told CBS Reports in an exclusive clip of the upcoming Black Twitter documentary shared with TheWrap. “So I picked up my cell phone … and I said “#OscarsSoWhite they asked to touch my hair.'”

“For this particular hashtag, I thought there was a larger conversation that could be had about the lack of equity and inclusion, not just with respect to the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, but throughout the entertainment industry,” Reign continued.

The first-look trailer for “Die Hart the Movie” is here.

Prime Video dropped the new clip on Tuesday ahead of the flick’s release on Feb. 24.

The satirical action comedy film, which follows the release of the 2020 series, sees Hart playing a version of himself as he heads out on his “death-defying quest to become an action star.”

“Die Hart the Movie”. — Prime Video

Read More: Kevin Hart Says Will Smith Slap ‘Is No Longer The World’s Problem’

Hart stars in the film alongside stars including John Travolta, Nathalie Emmanuel and Josh Hartnett.

“My whole life I’ve dreamed of becoming an action hero,” Hart announces at the start of the trailer.

“Die Hart the Movie”. Credit: Prime Video “Die Hart the Movie”. Credit: Prime Video “Die Hart the Movie”. Credit: Prime Video

Read More: Kevin Hart Names The ‘Worst’ Dwayne Johnson Movie

A synopsis states the flick “follows...

India’s Reliance Entertainment, a producer on Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” has pacted with T-Series and Anubhav Sinha’s Benaras Mediaworks to distribute Sudhir Mishra’s “Afwaah,” Sinha’s “Bheed” and Hansal Mehta’s “Faraaz” internationally.

First up is Mehta’s hostage drama “Faraaz,” starring Zahan Kapoor, Aditya Rawal, Juhi Babbar Soni, which releases Feb. 3. The film, which had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, unfolds over one night and is based on an incident in July 2016, where armed gunmen held up customers at the Holey Artisan Bakery, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for 12 hours, before killing 20 of them and two of the bakery staff.

Bangladeshi auteur Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s “Saturday Afternoon,” based on the same incident, was recently cleared for release after a four-year struggle with the Bangladesh Film Censor Board.

Next up is Sudhir Mishra’s thriller “Afwaah,” starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar, Sumeet Vyas and Sharib Hashmi.

There’s no one on Planet Earth who knows more about forehand form, so in a way it makes sense that Gayle King asked Serena Williams for her opinion of “The Slap,” that shocking moment at the 94th Oscars (which is rapidly approaching its one year anniversary.)

Oh, and I guess Will Smith won Best Actor for playing Williams’s dad, too.

“I thought it was such an incredible film,” she said about the 2021 Warner Bros. release “King Richard.” She continued: “I feel that there was an incredible film after that with Questlove that kind of was overshadowed.” This is a reference to the Best Documentary winner, “Summer of Soul,” that Chris Rock presented as last year’s champion. Of course, everyone that was watching the great musician (and now filmmaker) speak was way too occupied with wondering “wait, what the hell did I just see?” after probably thinking, at first,...

Almost one year after the Slap that was heard around the world, Serena Williams opened up about the now-infamous moment that took place shortly before Will Smith won the 2022 Oscar for best actor in King Richard.

Ahead of Smith’s win, Chris Rock took to the Academy Awards stage to present the award for best documentary for Questlove’s Summer of Soul. Before announcing who would be taking home the gold statue, Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head. (The actress has alopecia.) Smith then took to the stage, slapped Rock and returned to his seat, where he shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”

At the time, the Williams sisters, whose life was portrayed in King Richard, remained mum on the Slap — until now.

Serena Williams stopped by CBS Mornings for a conversation with Gayle King about her business ventures, family and her Florida farm.

Anubhav Sinha is known to shed light on socially relevant subjects through his cinema. ‘Bheed’ his next film post Article 15 and Thappad promises to be a powerful commentary on modern society and is based on the backdrop of the 2020 India lockdown which interestingly also marks the third year of the first nationwide lockdown. The movie is scheduled to release on March 24, 2023, and is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar and Anubhav Sinha with a power-packed cast starring Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Pankaj Kapur, and Ashutosh Rana.

“Bheed is a film that reflects the complexities and contradictions of our times,” says Anubhav Sinha, the film’s director. “Bheed is a story that sheds light on the social disparity that the country faced in the toughest of times. It was imperative for me to bring this story to life and share it with the audience.”

Further commenting on the matter, Bhushan Kumar states,...

Mumbai, Feb 1 (Ians) Director Anubhav Sinha, who is known for films such as ‘Mulk’, ‘Article 15’ and ‘Thappad’, is set to roll out another film titled ‘Bheed’. The film promises to be a powerful commentary on modern society and is based in the backdrop of the 2020 India lockdown. The film stars Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Kapur, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, and Ashutosh Rana, and is scheduled to release on March 24, 2023.

Talking about the film, the director said, “‘Bheed’ is a film that reflects the complexities and contradictions of our times. It is a story that sheds light on the social disparity that the country faced in the toughest of times. It was imperative for me to bring this story to life and share it with the audience.”

The film is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Anubhav Sinha’s Benaras Mediaworks.

Commenting on the matter, Bhushan Kumar stated,...

The bad boys are back.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have officially announced the fourth installment of the “Bad Boy” franchise on social media on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Smith and Lawrence revealed the announcement in a handheld Instagram video in which Smith makes his way over to Lawrence’s house to debut the news with his long-time co-star.

“Y’all better stop scrolling seriously,” Smith tells viewers at home on their phones as he steps into his vehicle to drive to Lawrence’s house.

Read More: Golden Globes 2023: Eddie Murphy Cracks Joke About Will Smith Oscars Slap

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Smith aptly censored where the Gps was going to keep the surprise brewing.

“I wish I was you not knowing what I’m about to show me,” Smith further teased audiences of the video.

As Lawrence and Smith made their celebratory embrace,...

The creators of series including Tuca & Bertie and Gordita Chronicles, which both were axed at Warner Bros Discovery, have taken the conglomerate to task for the recent moves.

Those joining the WGA West in blasting the Wbd on Monday include Claudia Forestieri, creator and executive producer of Gordita Chronicles; Lisa Hanawalt, creator and executive producer of Tuca & Bertie; and Moisés Zamora, creator and executive producer of Whistleblower, a project in development at HBO Max.

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Forestieri, whose Gordita Chronicles was canceled last summer after one season and subsequently pulled from HBO Max, said the merger of...