The Romantics: “People are rejecting cynicism and divisiveness of movements like Boycott Bollywood,” says director Smriti Mundhra

Netflix docu-series The Romantics, which is a tribute to the legacy of Yash Chopra & YRF and their cultural impact on India and Indians for the past 50 years, was released on February 14 to unanimous acclaim and love globally. The Romantics has been directed by Oscar & Emmy-nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra. She feels with the historic success of Pathaan, Bollywood has bounced back and silenced those propagating the idea that Hindi film industry and its stars have been boycotted by people. She feels the air around Bollywood is finally celebratory again as is evident with the success of The Romantics which is again a homage to the Hindi film industry through the lens of Yash Chopra and YRF’s impact on Indian pop culture.

“After a dark period defined by bad faith attacks and global uncertainty around the theatrical business, it is amazing to see audiences embracing Bollywood again. It proves that our love for the movies never went away, and people are rejecting the cynicism and divisiveness of movements like #BoycottBollywood,” feels Smriti.

Smriti is referring to the two-year bashing of Bollywood by nameless, faceless people on the internet who shamed the industry at every step without any proven or concrete logic or reason. Smriti says, “In this regard, the response to The Romantics has been overwhelming. I’m so glad the series was able to remind people of the ways cinema has been able to connect and unite us. As Indians, cinema is in our DNA, and the collective act of watching movies in a theatre is one of our most cherished rituals.”

She adds, “As the series shows, the industry has been through low points before and eventually, audiences find their way back to theatres, and to each other. It just takes the right film, and the right stars, to do draw them in.”

From Aamir Khan to Salman Khan, from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranbir Kapoor, from Amitabh Bachchan to Ranveer Singh, from Rani Mukerji to Hrithik Roshan, from Katrina Kaif to Anushka Sharma, the mega-stars and icons of Hindi cinema came together and spoken about Hindi cinema and YRF’s cultural impact for over 50 years.

ALSO READ: The Romantics: In the first draft of Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Amrish Puri’s character used to wear a dhoti and turban in London; was cheated by his cousin and had left Punjab after floods destroyed his farm

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LEAKED PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Alia Bhatt shoots a song for Rocky Aur Rani Prem Kahani in Kashmir, see her gorgeous look

Filmmaker Karan Johar is back to work. The director has begun the last schedule of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani in Kashmir. He is shooting a massive song with Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh and has hinted that he is paying homage to his favourite filmmaker of all time. Over a month ago, Bollywood Hungama had reported that Karan Johar will shoot the song as a tribute to his mentor Yash Chopra. For the romantic track, Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi in Chandni are the reference points.

Previously, sharing a video of his team on a flight flying to an unknown location, Karan Johar wrote on Instagram, “Shooting the last schedule of our film #rockyaurranikipremkahani…a film i have directed after 7 years…shooting a song which is a homage to my favourite filmmaker of all times… won’t say any more…”

In a new video and a series of photos going viral on the internet, Alia Bhatt is seen shooting for the song in Gulmarg. She was dressed in a red turtleneck sweater with a matching red blazer, soft curls and a nose ring with minimal makeup. Alia clicked a selfie with a fan. She was also shooting for the song while sitting in a car.

Alia Bhatt shooting for Rocky aur Rani ki Prem kahani in Kashmir#AliaBhatt #Rrkpk #RockyAurRaniKiPremKahani pic.twitter.com/FvHw5WkVfz

— Alia’s nation (@Aliasnation) March 3, 2023

Alia Bhatt shooting for Rocky aur Rani ki Prem kahani in Kashmir#AliaBhatt #Rrkpk #RockyAurRaniKiPremKahani pic.twitter.com/FvHw5WkVfz

— Alia’s nation (@Aliasnation) March 3, 2023

alia bhatt will look her FINEST in ROCKY AUR RANI KI PREM KAHANI. pic.twitter.com/rsLpzm81rn

— anushka. (@softiealiaa) March 3, 2023

Alia Bhatt with a fan during Shoot ????#AliaBhatt #RRKPK #RockyAurRaniKiPremKahani pic.twitter.com/7ZNelqt2Fh

— Alia’s nation (@Aliasnation) March 3, 2023

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama last year, Karan Johar called his next directorial a ‘joyous’. “The film is a joyous film, in my opinion, I hope that everybody else believes that. I just think that I’m very privileged to have been able to work with Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, and Dharmendra, besides Ranveer and Alia. We have an amazing cast from Kolkata as well. We have Churni Ganguli, and Tota Roy Chowdhury. I’ve worked with Aamir Bashir, Kshitee Jog and an actress called Anjali Anand. We have so many interesting new actors and it’s a massive ensemble, a family love story. It has all the elements in the film that I have loved watching and always having as part of my films. The songs and the dances – it a celebratory film and I can’t wait for actually everyone to kind of dig themselves into the world of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.”

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani has been postponed to July 28. The film was earlier supposed to release on April 28, 2023. It is written by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy and produced under Dharma Productions.

ALSO READ: SCOOP: Alia Bhatt’s look in Karan Johar’s romantic song from Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani to be modelled on Sridevi in Chandni

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BTS’ Jungkook grooving to RRR song ‘Naatu Naatu’ is pop culture crossover at its finest, watch video

With the Oscars 2023 right around the corner, hopes are high for the Telugu film RRR to win an award at the ceremony. Director SS Rajamouli, actors Jr. NTR and Ram Charan along with music composer MM Keeravaani will reportedly attend the award show in the US. Recently, The Academy also announced that singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava would perform the RRR song ‘Naatu Naatu’ at Oscars 2023 on March 12.  Now, the craze of the movie has reached popstar BTS’ Jungkook.

The 25-year-old singer is known for his vibrant stage presence and beautiful vocals. More importantly, his diverse taste in music is known amongst the fandom as each time he does a live broadcast on the Weverse platform, he sings several songs and does Karaoke. On Friday post-midnight, Jungkook turned on the ‘Naatu Naatu’ song during his livestream, and turned to the camera, to ask the fans in Korean, “Do you guys know this song? This is from a recent movie called RRR!” He had recently watched the movie and really liked the song. He was not only vibing but also knew the dance steps to it.

RRR’s official social media account shared the video and was thrilled to see the singer groove to it. “JUNGKOOK. It’s amazing to know that you loved #NaatuNaatu so much. We are sending a ton of love to you, the #BTS team, and the whole of South Korea. #RRRMovie.”

JUNGKOOK….‍????‍????‍????

It’s amazing to know that you loved #NaatuNaatu so much.????????

We are sending a ton of love to you, the #BTS team, and the whole of South Korea.???????? #RRRMovie pic.twitter.com/ktAEfc56xB

— RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) March 3, 2023

Jungkook went on to play and sing several songs including Dan + Shay’s ‘10,000 Hours,’ Justin Timberlake’s ‘Señorita,’ Justin Bieber’s ‘Boyfriend’, Charlie Puth’s ‘Hilarious’ and more.

Meanwhile, RRR’s ‘Naatu Naatu’ won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2023 and Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics Choice Awards 2023. The song has also been nominated for Best Original Song for the Oscars 2023.

RRR stars Jr. NTR and Ram Charan in the leading roles along with Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn in special roles. The film released last year in March and went on to become a blockbuster. RRR is a fictional tale of two Indian revolutionaries, Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju. The film explores the friendship between Ram and Bheem and their journey away from home during the 1920s.

ALSO READ: Oscars 2023: 1600 RRR fans scream for SS Rajamouli, Ram Charan; actor says the standing ovation will forever be etched in his memory; videos go viral

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Photos: Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Alaya F and Shriya Saran snapped at the airport

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Photos: Akansha Ranjan Kapoor snapped at Mizu in Bandra

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BTS’ J-Hope conveys hope and gratitude in lo-fi track ‘on the street’ with American rapper J. Cole, watch music video

Rapper-producer-songwriter j-hope of 21st century pop icons BTS released a new single “on the street” (with J. Cole) today. The official music video of the song was also revealed on the official YouTube channel. “on the street” (with J. Cole) arrived about seven months after his first official solo album Jack In The Box released in July 2022. The song conveys gratitude and hope as an ode to his fans.

The lo-fi hip-hop track is an earworm with easy-listening melody and warm-hearted lyrics. j-hope participated in the songwriting and the creative process for the choreography and music video, delivering a hopeful message and warmth with the change of season. The song is highlighted by the whistling sound recorded by j-hope himself.

j-hope took the word ‘street’ as a key motif for the song. ‘Street’ can be interpreted as a place where many people’s everyday lives pass by–a metaphor for life. The word also bears special meanings for j-hope as it comes from the genre ‘street dance’ that represents his roots as an artist. Street is where his musical inspirations come from and where he learns lessons of life. It also symbolizes the path he will continue to take with fans around the world.

For the song, j-hope is joined by one of his all-time favorite artists, rapper and producer J. Cole, as a featured artist. j-hope’s bright energy and J. Cole’s heartfelt rapping together create a unique synergy between the two artists.

The music video of “on the street” (with J. Cole) pictures j-hope freely vibing on the streets of New York City. From narrow streets to subway stations and a rooftop, j-hope takes the viewers through moments in life represented on the street. J. Cole also made an appearance in the music video. The music video ends with the two artists’ meeting on the rooftop.

Furthermore, j-hope held a Weverse live outdoors just prior to the release of “on the street” (with J. Cole), introducing and expressing his views about the song. Since the title “on the street” (with J. Cole) suggests his dream and the message of “a path to walk together” with fans around the world, he set out to engage fans in a novel way against the backdrop of the street.

‘On the street’ is set to be revealed on March 3 along with a music video. Last year, j-hope also validated his capability as a creative director by leading all aspects—from music to concept and visual elements—of his solo album, Jack In The Box (July 2022), which addresses his passion and agony he goes through as an artist. In 2022, j-hope made history as the first South Korean act to headline a main stage at Lollapalooza.

ALSO READ: BTS’ J-Hope unveils first music video teaser of ‘on the street’ featuring American rapper J.Cole, watch

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Ratna Pathak Shah, Raj Babbar, Atul Kulkarni star in the chaotic Prime Video comedy series Happy Family: Conditions Apply, watch trailer

Prime Video, today, announced the global premiere of its family comedy, the Amazon Original series Happy Family: Conditions Apply, with the launch of its quirky, uproarious trailer. The series features an ensemble of established and young actors, such as Raj Babbar, Ratna Pathak Shah, Atul Kulkarni, and Ayesha Jhulka, along with Raunaq Kamdar, Meenal Sahu, Sanah Kapur, and Ahaan Saboo. Created and directed by Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia, and produced under the banner of Hats Off Productions, Happy Family: Conditions Apply will be an episodic release. The first four episodes will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on March 10 in more than 240 countries and territories, with 2 episodes releasing every Friday until March 31.

The facetious trailer takes the audience into the world of the Dholakias, a family of four generations living under one roof, as they navigate the many ups and downs of their lives together. To the world, Dholakias appear to be picture-perfect, but like most families they are dysfunctional; each one with their own unique quirks, quibbles and eccentricities. It is in these imperfections that they find the perfect bond that keeps them together.

“Happy Family: Conditions Apply is our honest endeavor to depict a multigenerational family that is quirky yet lovable. Each of these characters have their own idiosyncrasies, which promises to bring our customers a weekly dose of hilarity and the much needed break from their viccissitudes”, said Aparna Purohit, Head of India Originals, Prime Video. “It is our first collaboration with the masters of the genre, JD Majethia and Aatish Kapadia, who have created a show that is humorous, warm and witty and we are confident that audiences across the globe will relate to the Dholakias and see a glimpse of their own families in them.”

 

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“Comedy, we feel, works best when it comes from everyday situations and observations, and Happy Family: Conditions Apply is just that. The Dholakias are a loving-yet-eccentric family that mirror all joint families and the many quirks that we see in them,” said creators and directors Aatish Kapadia and JD Majethia. “Through our various shows, our aim has always been to portray different aspects of a family. The characters in Happy Family: Conditions Apply depict habits and mannerisms we have observed in members of our family over the years. It is what makes this series so relatable. The cast and the crew have all come together beautifully to bring our little vision to life, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with Prime Video, with whom we will now be able to take this show to audiences worldwide.”

“Comedy is not a genre I have often dabbled with. Happy Family: Conditions Apply is, in fact, my first out-and-out comedy, and that itself is what made me want to be a part of this series,” said actor Raj Babbar. “The series has everything that can be found in any regular family. There’s drama, romance, fighting and making up, playfulness—all of which add to the hilarity of the series. It has been a genuine honour and pleasure to work with Aatish and JD and our exceptional cast, each of whom have done utmost justice to their characters. I’m looking forward to seeing how audiences across the world will react to my new avatar, and hope they enjoy meeting the Dholakias just as much as I enjoyed being a part of the Dholakia family!”

“There is a certain joy in playing a character who is unabashedly herself. Hemlata Dholakia is a character who wears her heart on her sleeve, but is always ready with a sassy remark. She is unintentionally hilarious, honest to the point of being brash, but also fiercely protective of her family,” said actor Ratna Pathak Shah. “It has always been a pleasure to work with Aatish and JD, who have once again brought their distinctive style to the series, and the extremely talented cast. I’m proud to be a part of this series and look forward to the audience’s reaction to it.”

Happy Family: Conditions Apply is written by Aatish Kapadia, and also features Swati Das, Atul Kumar, Kariuki Margaret Wanjiku, Paresh Ganatra, Pranoti Pradhan, Samar Vermani, and Neha Julka in pivotal roles.

ALSO READ: Ratna Pathak tries to convince Naseeruddin Shah to not voice his opinions publicly: “Koi aa kar khada ho jayega ghar par humaare, patthar daalne”

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