Actress Urvashi Rautela has once again taken the spotlight with her latest achievement. The news of her lavish new house has sent shockwaves through the industry. The actress has recently made headlines for acquiring an opulent bungalow situated in close proximity to the iconic residence of the late filmmaker Yash Chopra. The sheer grandeur and extravagance of the property are truly remarkable, with an estimated value of a staggering Rs 190 crore.
Nestled in the heart of Mumbai, this magnificent mansion spans across four sprawling levels, providing Urvashi with an abundance of space and luxurious living. According to reports, Urvashi Rautela’s newly acquired house is truly a haven of luxury and extravagance. One of the standout features of the bungalow is its lavish garden. In addition to this, Urvashi’s house boasts a personal gym. Moving inside, the interiors of the bungalow are nothing short of stunning, impeccable design, luxurious furnishings, and tasteful decor combine to create an ambiance of sophistication and opulence. One of the unique aspects of the property is its spacious backyard, which is connected to the garden area of the late filmmaker Yash Chopra’s residence.
Urvashi Rautela had been engaged in a prolonged quest to find a new bungalow, actively exploring various properties for a period of approximately eight to nine months. As per ETimes, she had finalised a bungalow named Celest in Lokhandwala Complex. Despite initially considering the bungalow located in the Lokhandwala area, Urvashi Rautela made the decision not to proceed with it. Instead, she discovered her new abode in Juhu Scheme, a sought-after neighborhood in Mumbai.
On the work front, Urvashi is eagerly anticipating the release of her two upcoming Telugu films, namely Zebra and Black Rose. At present, the specific release dates and details about the films’ plots are yet to be disclosed. Additionally, she is set to star alongside Akshay Oberoi in Dil Hai Gray, a crime thriller that encompasses elements of cop drama.
The spring-summer season has brought in a slew of Korean dramas that cater to fans of every genre. The month of June marks 6 months into 2023, a year which has given us gems like The Glory, Crash Course In Romance, Divorce Attorney Shin, Black Knight, to name a few. With June 2023 there seems to be a promising delivery of K-dramas with fan favourite actors like Ok Taecyeon, Woo Do Hwan, Shin Hye Sun, SNSD Yoona, 2PM Lee Jun Ho, Kim Tae Hee, making a comeback with interesting characters and stories. Let’s take a look at the upcoming June 2023 K-drama releases!
1. BLOODHOUNDS
Think fight, action and thrill; think Bloodhounds. Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi lead this drama as a pair of talented boxers who get entangled in the shady world of private loan sharks, debts and moneylenders. The two, who are struggling financially themselves, are dragged into the sand pit of more money troubles before they even realize. How they face their circumstances and manage the situations forms the crux of the story. This action thriller releases exclusively on Netflix on June 9, 2023.
2. KIND THE LAND
Girls’ Generation’s YoonA has shown great promise with her acting chops. Having led a successful career with hit movies like Exit and Confidential Assignment in her filmography, the singer-actor is returning to the small screen with a new romcom opposite 2PM’s Lee Jun Ho, who is no stranger to a great acting career himself. If you’re looking for an ‘enemies to lovers’ trope but in a K-drama version, then King the Land would make a good choice. YoonA plays the role of an upbeat hotelier and Junho plays the role of a chaebol heir. Their characters clash initially but soon are smitten by each other. King the Land is slated to release on June 17 on Netflix and JTBC.
3. SEE YOYU IN MY 19TH LIFE
Shin Hye Sun in fantasy dramas is indeed a delight. We loved her in Still 17 and Angel’s Last Mission Love and now she returns with another fantasy drama to win our hearts again with See You in my 19th Life. She plays the role of Ban Ji Eun who can remember all her past lives. Her 18th life is abruptly cut short, and she sets her mind to meet the people from her 18th life. She crosses paths with Moon Seo Ha (played Ahn Bo Hyun) the executive director of MI Hotels where she works. He shares a connection with her past, especially the car accident that cut her 18th life short. The drama is set to premiere on June 17 airing on TvN and Netflix simultaneously.
4. LIES HIDDEN IN MY GARDEN
It has been a while since Kim Tae Hee appeared on the silver screen. She returns with a thrilling drama Lies Hidden in my Garden where she plays the role of Joo Ran, the wife of a wealthy doctor. When she starts getting weird smells from her garden, she begins her investigation which leads her to Sang Eun, a woman who has lived a hard life and is married to an abusive husband. Sang Eun one day receives a phone call telling her that her husband has died. How this murder connects the two women and what lies are actually hidden in Joo Ran’s garden forms the crux of the story. The drama is slated to air from June 19 onwards on ENA.
5. REVENANT
Kim Tae Ri has proven her acting chops with dramas like Twenty-Five Twenty-One, The Handmaiden, Mr. Sunshine, to name a few across various genres. This time, she turns to the horror thriller genre with Revenant. (Not to be confused with DiCaprio’s movie of the same name!) Kim Tae Ri plays the role of a young woman named San Young who is possessed by a demon. Mysterious deaths begin happening around her which leave her confused and shocked. When she tries to find answers, she crosses paths with Yeom Hae Sang (played by Oh Jung Se) a Korean folklore professor who can see demons and spirits. The two work together to get rid of the demon possessing San Young. Revenant is set to air from June 23 on SBS and Disney+.
6. NUMBERS
Trust Kim Myung Soo when you want eccentric dramas with a splash of slice-of-life stories. Be it Miss Hammurabi or Secret Royal Agent, Kim Myung Soo has delivered stellar performances with each role. This time he returns to the small screen with the drama Numbers where he appears as Jang Ho Woo, an intelligent accountant who works at Taeil Accounting firm and is the only person in the firm who has only a high school diploma. Despite not having a degree, Ho Woo strives hard to earn his keep and prove that he deserves a place in the firm. Numbers will be released on MBC from June 23 onwards.
7. HEARTBEAT
Ok Taecyeon recently made a blink-and-you-miss appearance in the teenage romcom XO Kitty. But that won’t be the case with his next new drama Heartbeat, where he appears as a vampire. Well, a half-vampire and a half-human named Sun Woo Hyeol, who desperately wants to become fully human. His paths cross with Joo In Hae, who runs a guesthouse and also does several other side jobs. The cold-hearted guesthouse owner soon begins to soften for this half-vampire half-human and the two fall in love. Heartbeat will premiere almost as the month of June comes to a close on June 26 on KBS2.
Which of these upcoming K-dramas from June 2023 are you the most excited for?
Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan has garnered immense anticipation and is considered one of the highly anticipated movies of the year. Fans and audiences are eagerly looking forward to witnessing Shah Rukh Khan’s performance in this film, which has generated significant buzz and excitement. Joining him on screen will be Dangal fame Sanya Malhotra. The actress shared that it was her long-awaited desire to collaborate with Shah Rukh Khan. While she had been aware of it previously, what matters most to her now is that she can openly discuss her involvement in Shah Rukh Khan’s film, Jawan. During a recent interview the actress candidly expressed her joy about her dream coming true and how she used to skilfully avoid inquiries regarding Jawan until an official confirmation was made. She also recalled the time when she got call to make the news official on social media.
When asked about the wrap of the film, Sanya told film critic Sucharita Tyagi, “Ho gaya hai (it is done). And I am a part of it. And the fact that I can talk about it, mai toh uski baat karne mein hi itni khush hun (I am just happy that I am finally being able to talk about it)” and started laughing. She further added, “Now, finally I am able to tell people, kyunki uss se pehle toh log puchte, ‘Are you a part of Jawan?’ and main itni kharab answer deti thi, like ‘I hope I get to work with Shah Rukh Khan,’ I was dodging these questions horribly.”
Sanya Malhotra reminisced about the moment her manager gave her the green light to share the news about Jawan on social media. “I got to post about it. It was a Sunday when I posted that and I got a call from my manager saying, ‘Sanya, there is a creative coming in and we need to post about Jawan.’ I said ‘We need to post about Jawan? Are you sure this information is right?’ I was so happy because this was right before Kathal was released and I was giving interviews and I was asked this question frequently. And I just didn’t know how to not look stupid while answering those questions. But luckily, they announced it right before Kathal.”
Directed by Atlee Kumar and also starring Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, Jawan was earlier supposed to release in June this year. But, earlier this month, the makers of the Red Chillies production postponed the film to September 7 as they needed more time to work on the VFX of the film.
Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is currently keeping busy with the promotions of her upcoming film Zara Hatke Zara Bachke alongside Vicky Kaushal. Recently, the duo made a visit to the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. However, Sara did not receive much positive response from her social media followers upon her visit.
On Wednesday, Sara took to Instagram and shared pictures from her trip to Mahakaleshwar Temple. The actress chose to wear a beautiful pink-hued saree, which gracefully draped around her, exuding elegance and grace. Completing her traditional attire, she adorned her forehead with a teeka, a symbolic mark, showcasing her devotion. Sharing the picture she captioned, “Jai Mahakal.”
In a recent media interaction, Sara was asked about how she dealt with the negative comments on post. To which Sara said, “Honestly main ye keh chuki hoon aur phir se kahungi… ki main apne kaam ko bohot seriously leti hoon. Mein kaam karti hu janta ke liye, aap logon ke liye. Agar aap logon ko mera kaam achcha na lage… toh mujhe bura lagega. Lekin yeh jo meri niji maanyata he, ye meri niji maanyata hain. Main Ajmer Sharif utni shiddat se jaungi jitni ki Bangla Sahib, jitna Mahakal, aur main jaati rahungi. Toh jisko bhi jo bhi bol sakte hain, woh bol sakte hai. Mujhe koi problem nahi hai. Lekin kahi bhi jaakar sabse jaruri baat ye hoti hai ki aapko waha ki uorja achchi lagni chahiye…main uorja mein maanyata rakhti hoon. (I take my work very seriously. I work for people, for you. I would feel bad if you don’t like my work but my personal beliefs are my own. I will go to Ajmer Sharif with the same devotion with which I will go to Bangla Sahib or Mahakal. I will continue visiting. People can say whatever they want, I have no problem. You should like the energy of a place…I believe in energy.)”
Supporting Sara, Vicky Kaushal added, “Internet is an open medium aap kuch bhi bol sakte ho. Apki marzi aap kaha dhyaan doge. (Anyone can say anything on the internet. It’s your choice where you look.)”
#WATCH | Indore, Madhya Pradesh | When asked about internet trolling after her visit to Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, actress Sara Ali Khan says, “…I take my work very seriously. I work for people, for you. I would feel bad if you don’t like my work but my personal beliefs are my… pic.twitter.com/ffXdurUCDY
Talking about the film, Jio Studios & Dinesh Vijan present Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. The film is a Maddock Films production, produced by Dinesh Vijan and Jyoti Desphande, directed by Laxman Utekar, and written by Laxman Utekar, Maitrey Bajpai and Ramiz Khan. The family entertainer led by Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan is slated to release in cinemas on June 2, 2023.
Bollywood actress Ananya Panday recently shared a bunch of pictures from her recent visit to Dehradun giving her fans with a sneak peek of her trip. For those not in know, the actress is shooting for her upcoming project Shankara starring alongside Akshay Kumar.
On Wednesday, Ananya took to her Instagram account and shared glimpses from her Dehradun visit. In the first photograph, Ananya can be seen beaming with a heartfelt smile while posing in front of a mesmerizing backdrop. She looked mesmerizing in athleisure attire. Following which she shared a magnificent mountain view that enveloped the picturesque city. The subsequent image captured Ananya taking a mirror selfie, proudly showcasing her well-toned abs. She further added pictures chronicle the moments when the actress was not shooting in Dehradun, offering a glimpse into her activities during that period. Sharing the pictures, she wrote in caption, “(Monkey) business in Dehradun.”
Soon after she shared the post, fans and industry friends poured their love for the actress in the comments section. Ananya’s best friend Suhana Khan dropped several heart emoticons, and a butterfly emoticon in the comments section. Reacting to the pictures, a user wrote, “Soo cuteeee,” while another fan commented, “She is one of the cutest actress of Bollywood.”
On the professional front, Ananya Panday was last seen in Liger, opposite South sensation Vijay Deverakonda. The actress has wrapped the shoot for her next film, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. She will soon share the screen space with Ayushmann Khurrana in the sequel of Dream Girl. She also has a project titled, Call Me Bae that is slated to release on Amazon Prime Video.
Bollywood actress Kajol recently summarized the difference between the idealized perception and the reality of a situation. She treated her fans to a glimpse of her by sharing a series of photos. In a light-hearted manner, she humorously highlighted the contrast between expectations and reality.
On Wednesday, Kajol, delighted her fans by sharing two captivating pictures on her social media platform. The first picture showcased her in a breath-taking off-shoulder black dress that exuded elegance and glamour. With her impeccable styling and radiant smile, she effortlessly captured the attention of her followers, leaving them in awe of her beauty and charm. However, Kajol’s second picture took a hilarious twist, presenting a contrast to the glamorous expectations set by the previous photo. In the following picture, the actress can be seen wearing the same stunning off-shoulder gown but surrounded by an array of tissues carefully placed all around her dress. Sharing the pictures, she wrote in caption, “Expectation VS Reality.”
As the post spread across social media, Kajol’s fans embraced her refreshing ability to find humour in everyday situations. They flooded the comments section with laughter, appreciation, and affectionate messages. Reacting to the pictures, a fan commented, “Your still the most beautiful woman in the word Kajol Youre eyes still shine like the stars on the sky, youre smile is still stunnig then every place in this earth I Love you Like all the human kind in this world do youre the best,” while another user wrote, “The Reality is stunning.”
Meanwhile, on the professional front, the 48-year-old actress was last seen in Salaam Venky. The slice-of-life drama film, directed by Revathi, also featured Vishal Jethwa in the lead role. The plot of the movie revolves around a real-life account of a mother who goes to great lengths to ensure that her son, who has been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, enjoys his life to the fullest. She has a bunch of projects in her kitty, including the Hindi adaptation of the popular American series The Good Wife.
Zeenat Aman, a veteran actress in the Hindi film industry, enjoyed superstardom back in the day and continues to remain one of the most prolific stars of all time. Ever since she made her debut on Instagram, fans have been enjoying her posts and all the anecdotes she shares on the platform. She shares anecdotes, past memories, and so much more on her Instagram that audiences are in awe of her. A day ago, she shared a series of photos and said that the look in it was inspired by Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn. She mentioned “creative collaborations” and noted down nine iconic roles she would have loved to play in her career.
“As a model and actor, creative collaborations are so interesting because you get to see yourself as others see you. It also involves trust and patience. Speaking of Hepburn has me thinking about all the talented actors whose work I’ve enjoyed over the years. Here’s a list of iconic roles I would have loved to play,” she wrote on Instagram and listed down the roles she would have loved to play.
Her list included – “Tanya McQuoid in White Lotus, played with dotty perfection by Jennifer Coolidge, Rosie in Guide, played by the ever graceful Waheeda Rehman, Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam, played exquisitely by Madhubala, Cesira in Two Women, played so unflinchingly by Sophia Loren, Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, played with icy nonchalance by Meryl Streep, Shashi Godbole in English Vinglish, played masterfully by Sridevi, Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, seductively voiced by Kathleen Turner, Miss Piggy in The Muppets, voiced by various artists over the years, And… by popular demand and for my own amusement – Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek, played by the brilliant Catherine O’ Hara.”
Zeenat Aman added, “I just have to appreciate the acting prowess of all these women. They gave us characters that will resonate for decades.”
Zeenat Aman’s contributions to Indian cinema have been recognized with several awards and accolades. She has also been a recipient of Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India, for her outstanding contribution to the arts.
In the world of fashion, where trends come and go like the changing seasons, there are a few individuals who manage to stand out and leave a lasting impact. One such name that has been making waves in the industry is Bhumi Pednekar. Known for her exceptional acting skills and unwavering commitment to social causes, Bhumi has carved a niche for herself not only as a talented actress but also as a fashion icon with a conscience. Bhumi’s fashion choices are a reflection of her vibrant personality and her strong beliefs. She effortlessly blends elegance and comfort, always stepping out in ensembles that are not only visually stunning but also make a statement. Whether it’s a red-carpet event or a casual outing, Bhumi’s style is always on point, capturing the attention of fashion enthusiasts and critics alike.
The timeless colour combinations of black and gold are designed to enhance your image at any event. But when Bhumi Pednekar chooses the outfit, the trendy decisions are at their most core. Recently, the actress engaged in a similar behaviour, which resulted in a jaw-dropping fashion moment. Bhumi is dressed in a beautiful lehenga outfit by Ritika Mirchandani, and it exudes royalty. An anarkali blouse with hand-embroidered sequins and a plunging V neckline was part of the ensemble. The flowing, asymmetrical blouse has lace borders. She wore it with a similar lehenga that had intricate geometric embroidery and rich golden embellishments. The actress added a shimmering choker-style necklace to her outfit. Her stylish middle-parted bun completed the appearance. Strong, defined eyes and bare, glossy lips glistened on her.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Bhumi was seen in Bheed and Afwah this year with Rajkummar Rao and Nawazuddin Siddiqui respectively. She also has Ladykiller and Mere Husband Ki Biwi opposite Arjun Kapoor. Bhumi Pednekar has completed filming for her upcoming movie Bhakshak
Rani Mukerji has given Indian cinema some powerful female protagonists who have played a huge hand in shaping the way women are viewed in society today. A towering actor, Rani shares her vision to represent women correctly in films.
Rani says, “As an actor, your vision for cinema and roles will constantly evolve but one thing that’s constantly stayed for me is the way I wanted to portray and represent women on screen. Women are the backbone of a family and society and I think, as an actor, I have a responsibility to show this to as many people as possible across my country and the world.“
She adds, “Cinema can have a lasting impression on the minds of people. It is a very powerful tool to trigger a national conversation and I became conscious very early on in my career that I could make a real change in the way women are projected on-screen, that could be positive.”
Rani wanted to show girls as fiercely independent and self-reliant in films. She says, “I made it a point to choose films where the girl is also pivotal to the plot, where the girl is projected with dignity and power. For me, women have always been agents of change. They have been independent, courageous, caring, pursuers of dreams and the best multitasker you can ever find. I wanted to highlight these facets of a woman by choosing characters that echo this belief system of mine.”
Rani adds, “So, if you see films like Black, Veer Zaara, Mardaani series, Yuva, No One Killed Jessica, Hichki or even my latest film Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, to name a few, the girls I play are central to the plot, the sheroes that people have adored and accepted for being who they are.”
In her last release, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (MCVN), Rani again played a feisty woman who took on a country to win back her children. The film was a resounding hit at the box office and it brought back the belief that content cinema could pull in people to theatres in this post-pandemic world. Rani says, “The fact that MCVN is a hit today is because people want to see strong woman protagonists like this on the big screen. There is constant chatter whether women-centric films are box office draws? That concerns me, of course they are box office draws. A film is a hit when producers make money from it and it is not just about how much it collects at the box office because one should also factor in the cost of the film.”
She adds, “There is a lot of misconception about what a hit means and I think people should pay attention to this before passing judgement if a film is profitable. A good film will always bring people to the theatres and their gender has no role to play.”
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has signed with the international agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) in all areas globally. The news was reported by Deadline. The agency is home to Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, and Jake Gyllenhaal among others. In 2021, Alia Bhatt signed with the same agency.
The report states that Ranveer Singh has a brand value of $181.7 million. He is also a brand ambassador for many major brands including the NBA (appearing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in 2022 and 2023), Adidas, PepsiCo, and Abu Dabhi’s Yas Island.
On the work front, Ranveer Singh was last seen in Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus. The actor will now star in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The film also stars Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. The film is slated for July 28, 2023 release.
Even though Indian influencers and celebrities dominated the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, everyone was looking forward to the queen of Bollywood, Anushka Sharma, making her big debut. Anushka Sharma finally arrived in Cannes with L’Oréal Paris towards the end of the event to represent their campaign #WalkYourWorth and put an end to the Internet’s bubbling anticipation while the actor-producer’s big Cannes debut was the subject of much rumour this week.
It appears like Anushka Sharma saved the best for last since her submission to the Cannes Film Festival likely crossed the finish line after all and was well worth the wait. She chose an ivory off-shoulder dress from Richard Quinn for her most daring fashion choice, joining a long list of other famous people that attended the Loreal Paris event. Sharma was photographed wearing a cream-colored dress from the ready-to-wear Autumn 2023 collection by British designer Richard Quinn. The straight-cut, creamy satin gown was embellished with geometric and floral embroidered details that closely resembled the Indian style of jaal embroidery. The off-the-shoulder dress featured statement 3-D florals on its shoulder that, due to their sheer size and volume, nearly reached the waist.
Styled by Priyanka Kapadia, the actor accessorized minimally in dainty Chopard drop earrings and blingy baubles for the fingers and finished off with silver Gianvito Rossi heeled sandals. Anushka Sharma sparkled in earrings in Fairmined-certified ethical 18ct white gold and yellow gold featuring a pair of pear-shaped yellow diamonds totaling 23.17-carats and 8.03-carats of pear-shaped white diamonds, a ring in 18ct yellow gold featuring a 20.36-carat yellow sapphire, yellow sapphires and diamonds, a ring in Fairmined-certified ethical 18-carat white gold featuring a 5.49-carat oval-shaped diamond and diamonds, all from the Haute Joaillerie Collection, and a diamond ring in ethical 18-carat white gold from the L’Heure du Diamant Collection.
Sharma chose a tight, sleek updo to draw attention to the prominent rosettes on her shoulder. To go with the tenderness the cream of her gown bestowed, she also chose soft brown smokey eyes and a pinkish brown lip. Anushka Sharma’s film festival debut will be remembered for a number of reasons, including the simple yet effective makeup and hair she wore.
Now that’s one feat that could well have gone unnoticed, if not for the decent holds that it has been maintaining ever since the second week. Believe it or not but IB 71 has actually seen the best collections for a Vidyut Jammwal starrer from second week onwards. For an actor who was first seen as a leading man a decade back with Commando (2013), Vidyut is playing a nice little box office cameo with IB 71 which is set to see a respectable lifetime for itself.
How is that happening? Well, after its first week of Rs. 11.01 crores, the film went on to net Rs. 5.44 crores in the second week and now even in the third week, it has already brought in around Rs. 2.25 crores* more in 4 days, which means it’s looking at a finish of over Rs. 3 crores. Now that would mean a drop of less than 50% compared to the second week.
Let’s take a look at how his other films have fared in their first week and then added more before ending their theatrical runs:
IB 71
First week – Rs. 11.01 crores
Subsequent weeks – Rs. 7.84 crores* (so far)
Lifetime Total – Rs. 18.85 crores* (so far)
Commando
First week – Rs. 17.50 crores
Subsequent weeks – Rs. 3.97 crores
Lifetime Total – Rs. 21.47 crores
Junglee
First week – Rs. 21.20 crores
Subsequent weeks – Rs. 3.23 crores
Lifetime Total – Rs. 24.43 crores
Commando 3
First week – Rs. 29.24 crores
Subsequent weeks – Rs. 3.23 crores
Lifetime Total – Rs. 32.47 crores
Commando 2
First week – Rs. 23.09 crores
Subsequent weeks – Rs. 2 crores
Lifetime Total – Rs. 25.09 crores
Of course, IB 71 is playing on the lower side and other films has done well on the basis of the initials. However, if one looks at absolute numbers, the collections which IB 71 has earned since first week are highest ever for Vidyut Jammwal, as they stand at Rs. 7.84 crores*. The next best is actually his first major release as a hero, Commando, which stands at Rs. 3.97 crores, which shows how well is IB 71 holding up purely on the basis of positive word of mouth.
*Estimates. Final numbers awaited
Note: All collections as per production and distribution sources
Adding to its stellar line-up, Netflix announced its upcoming film Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in the lead roles. Directed by Imtiaz Ali the film presents the untold true story of Punjab’s original rockstar of the masses, Amar Singh Chamkila who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the 80s due to the sheer power of his music, angering many on the way, which finally led to his assassination at a young age of 27. The highest record-selling artist of his time, Chamkila is still regarded as one of the best live-stage performers that Punjab has ever produced.
With the maestro AR Rahman helming the music for the film, the audience will once again get to witness the magic of a Rahman – Imtiaz collaboration. Adding to the excitement, both Diljit and Parineeti have lent their voices to some of the songs.
Director Imtiaz Ali said, “Making Amar Singh Chamkila on the life of the iconic music star of the masses has been a unique journey for me. I could not have asked for better actors than the immensely talented Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra to play in this film, especially since it involves some live singing. The film follows the crazed popularity of Chamkila’s daring songs that society could neither ignore nor swallow. Having Netflix as a partner, I am humbled to take our story to millions of viewers not only in India but around the globe.”
Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films, Netflix India, “Amar Singh Chamkila is set to be a huge film for Netflix India and collaborating with the talent attached to the title has been truly rewarding. Our partnership with Imitiaz Ali on the provocative personality and story of Chamkila has been an exhilarating process. Netflix’s focus is to bring stories from across India to our local audiences and we’re confident that the magnetism of this story will also pique the interest of the film-loving audiences around the world. The enigmatic performances of Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, and music from the maestro AR Rahman make this an unmissable watch.”
Talking about the film, actor Diljit Dosanjh said, “Playing Amar Singh Chamkila has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life, and I am thrilled to be returning to Netflix with yet another exciting story. It has been a pleasure to work with Parineeti and the entire team that has worked extremely hard to bring this beautiful story to life. To be able to sing to Rahman sir’s exemplary music was a meditative experience and I hope I have been able to do justice to his vision. Thank you Imtiaz for believing in me for this role.”
Actor Parineeti Chopra added, “It is a privilege to play Amarjot, Chamkila’s singing partner and wife in this incredible film and I am truly grateful to Imtiaz sir for this opportunity. Sharing the screen with Diljit has been an immensely enriching experience. For me, singing is a passion and collaborating with the legendary AR Rahman has been a long-awaited dream. With Netflix’s global platform, I believe our film will touch hearts far and wide, allowing Chamkila’s inspiring tale to resonate with fans worldwide.”
The film is produced by Mohit Choudhary, Select Media Holdings LLP, Saregama and Reliance Entertainment.
Television actor Sameer Khan has been roped in to play the parallel lead role in Zee TV’s new show Shiv Shakti. A day ago, it was reported that Bhavika Sharma has been cast in the series as the female lead. Arjun Bijlani is the male lead of the upcoming TV series.
The show will be produced by Prateek Sharma’s Studio LSD. They have earlier produced shows like Rabb Se Hai Dua, Radha Mohan, Beyhadh 2, Ek Deewana Tha, Sufiyana Pyaar Mera, Bahu Begum, and more.
On the work front, Sameer Khan has done a slew of TV projects including Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali,Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani,Ek Ghar Banaunga,Kabhi Kabhie Ittefaq Sey among others.
Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi’s infamous feud with Salman Khan is known to all. The actor was in a public spat with the superstar due to which it was believed that he was allegedly boycotted from the industry and no work opportunities came his way. In 2003, Vivek claimed that Salman had called him 41 times and even made threats to his life. However, this statement led to impact Oberoi negatively as he allegedly lost out on many projects. Filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia recently said that producers had called him to replace Oberoi when he cast him in Shootout at Lokhandwala. He said only Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty and Sanjay Gupta supported him at the time.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Apoorva said, “At that time when I casted Vivek, a lot of producers called me and said ‘Replace him or we won’t work with you.’ But I had given a commitment to Vivek, so how do you go back from a commitment? And Sanju sir supported me, Suniel Shetty supported me, Sanjay Gupta supported me. So if there are guys are supporting me, I thought why should I think about the future? If Shootout became a hit, whoever rejected me will come back.”
He added, “But Vivek was a good actor. Whatever he did was wrong, he shouldn’t have done it, but that does not mean he is not talented. I am hiring for his acting abilities. I am not hiring any person for his personality. He is a professional and he was really good when I was reading with him. I think he did a fantastic job.”
Shootout in Lokhandwala also starred Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty and Arbaaz Khan along with Tusshar Kapoor, Rohit Roy, Aditya Lakhia, Shabbir Ahluwalia, and Amitabh Bachchan.
Over a week ago, Kartik Aaryan wrapped Satyaprem Ki Katha which also stars Kiara Advani. The film wrapped with a massive song shoot which is an introductory song for Kartik’s character. Interestingly, the song depicts four weddings – Gujarati, South Indian, Muslim and Christian nuptials.
As per a report in Mid-day, a source revealed, “Sameer and producer Sajid Nadiadwala were in two minds about it as it’s an expensive affair, costing almost Rs. 7 crores. On Kartik’s insistence, they decided to go ahead with it. In the narrative, the lead character Satyaprem wants to get married, and is dreaming about his prospective wedding.”
Having said that, the lavish sets were erected in Mumbai for the shoot which concluded last week. As per the report, production designer Rajat Poddarr and cinematographer Manu Anand, along with the director Sameer Vidwans had built two sets at Madh Island for South Indian and Christian weddings whereas two sets up erected for the Muslim and Gujarati weddings at Vrundavan Studio in Malad. The source added, “The Christian ceremony’s backdrop is influenced by the vibe of Santorini, Greece. For the Gujarati shaadi, a mohalla was built, while huge replicas of famous temples from the south were created for the south Indian wedding. The Muslim nuptials take place in a banquet hall.”
Kartik Aaryan was reportedly involved in the discussion for the song since the first day and danced his heart out. The song has been choreographed by Bosco Martis.
Satyaprem Ki Katha also marks a massive collaboration between NGE and Namah Pictures. Interestingly, Sajid Nadiadwala and Shareen Mantri Kedia with Kishor Arora & director Sameer Vidwans won a National Award for their respective feature films. It marks the second outing for Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.
Satyaprem Ki Katha will be releasing in theatres on June 29, 2023.
The Boogeyman returned to the big screen and saw Keanu Reeves back in action in John Wick: Chapter 4. After the blockbuster success of the movie, John Wick 5 is in early development. The news was confirmed during Lionsgate’s Q4 2023 earnings call when Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake confirmed that the fifth instalment is in the works.
Joe Drake said, “We’re now moving across that franchise, not just in the AAA video game space, but looking at what the regular cadence of spin-offs, television really growing that universe, so that there is a steady cadence of a franchise that there’s a clear appetite by the audience. What is official is that, as you know, Ballerina [starring Ana de Armas] is the first spinoff that comes out next year. We’re in development on three others, including John Wick 5 and including television series, The Continental, which will be airing soon. And so, we’re building out the world and when that five movie comes, will be organic – will be organically grown out of how we’re starting to tell those stories. But you can rely on a regular cadence of John Wick.”
During the CCXP event in São Paulo, Brazil last year, Keanu Reeves had hinted that the spin-off Ballerina is set in the time period between John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. Reeves has a cameo whereas Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick will reprise their roles.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Ian McShane, John Wick: Chapter 4 released in theatres on March 24, 2023. It was a direct sequel to the 2019 film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
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