Oscars 2023: Guneet Monga on Academy Award win for The Elephant Whisperers: ‘To women who want to tell stories, the future of cinema is audacious, the future is here’

Netflix’s short documentary, The Elephant Whisperers, becomes the first film produced in India to win at the 95th Oscars for Documentary Short Film category. Producer Guneet Monga and director Kartiki Gonsalves who helmed this docu-short feature also created history by becoming the first Indian producer and director to achieve this recognition. They are also the first Indian woman producer and director to win an Academy Award. The Elephant Whisperers is produced by Guneet Monga and Achin Jain under the banner of Sikhya Entertainment.

On winning the prestigious awards producer Guneet Monga says, “Tonight was powerful and historic as two women from India stood on the Oscars stage, lauded for their work. I’m so proud of The Elephant Whisperers, so proud of this moment and proud of my amazing team at Sikhya Entertainment. That an independent production house from India has made history and produced the first-ever Indian film to win an Oscar, still feels unreal. My heart is full of joy, love and excitement, most of it imbibed from everyone in India cheering for our win. I’m so grateful to the visionary filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves and to Netflix who gave us the biggest stage in the world, believing in us all the way. To women who want to tell stories, the future of cinema is audacious, the future is here. This is for my beautiful, diverse country, India.”

Director Kartiki Gonsalves on The Elephant Whisperers winning the Oscars, “It’s incredible to have an Indian indigenous documentary on the sacred bond between man and animal set in the heart of southern India to be recognised globally. Thank you to the Academy for recognising our film, and highlighting indigenous people and animals. To Netlfix for believing in the power of this film. To Bomman and Bellie for sharing their tribal wisdom. To Guneet my producer, and Sikhya for all their support. And to everyone behind the making of this beautiful film. And finally to my parents and sister to whom I am forever grateful. It is truly a proud moment for India, for women, indigenous communities, our wild spaces and animals.”

The Elephant Whisperers is a heart-warming story of an indigenous couple who have been given an orphaned elephant, Raghu, to look after. The story follows the couple’s journey as they relentlessly work to ensure Raghu’s recovery and survival. The short documentary beautifully stitches the tale of how the couple falls in love with the majestic creature over the course of time. Set against the backdrop of the wild spaces of South India, The Elephant Whisperers highlights the beauty of exotic wildlife, unforgettable untamed spaces, and the people and animals who share this space.

The Elephant Whisperers and ‘Naatu Naatu‘ from RRR (Hindi) were the first Indian wins at the 95th Academy Awards, ever. Both films are streaming on Netflix around the world.

ALSO READ: Oscars 2023: Shah Rukh Khan congratulates team RRR and The Elephant Whisperers on their Academy Award wins; calls them ‘inspirational’

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SEVENTEEN hint at April comeback with new album at 3-day fanmeeting: ‘We’re proud of our work, and we promise it will be a month to remember’

K-pop stage-breakers SEVENTEEN hinted at yet another grand year ahead as they wrapped up their 3-day fan meet ‘2023 SVT 7TH FAN MEETING .’ In celebration of the close bond between SEVENTEEN and their fans ‘CARATs,’ the band delivered 4-hour shows dedicated to the fans and revealed plans for their next album set to drop in April.

Connecting with the fans offline and online through a live stream, the band welcomed the audience with a performance of “Pretty U” and “My My.” The performances were followed by an on-stage iteration of a popular game from their own YouTube show ‘GOING SEVENTEEN.’ Performances of “Together” and SEVENTEEN special unit BSS’ recent hit “Fighting” lifted the level of energy across the arena, segueing into another game that brought the fans together in chatting with the members and cheering for them as they divided into teams and competed against each other to avoid the embarrassment of performing a song from ‘The list of songs that least suit SEVENTEEN.’

Next in line were the long-awaited ‘UNIT REVERSE’ performances iconic to ‘CARAT LAND,’ during which the three units within SEVENTEEN each perform a song originally sung by a different unit within the group. After the PERFORMANCE unit’s “Back it up”, HIP-HOP unit’s “Imperfect love” and VOCAL unit’s “PANG!,” all 13 members gathered back on stage for “DON QUIXOTE.”

The show culminated in SEVENTEEN and CARATs sharing moments of vulnerability as a slideshow of the act’s memories together and hand-written letters from the members’ parents surprised the members on stage. SEVENTEEN said, “Seeing these photos remind us how valuable our times together are, and how lucky we are to have our members and fans by our side.”

The members revealed, “We are releasing our next album in April. We’re proud of our work, and we promise it will be a month to remember.”

Completing the collective experience was another staple of a SEVENTEEN show. The 13 members returned to the stage repeatedly for their iconic ‘never-ending encore,’ performing a range of songs from “Fighting,” “Healing,” to “Very Nice” and inviting the audience to sing and dance along with them.

The 13-piece act held the first edition of their fan meet in 2017 and has since then greeted fans with interactive shows filled with performances, games and talk segments every year. SEVENTEEN will also host a 4-day fan meet ‘SEVENTEEN 2023 JAPAN FANMEETING ‘LOVE’ in Japan in May, taking over Kyocera Dome Osaka and Tokyo Dome.

ALSO READ: BTS, SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids feature in Top 10 of IFPI’s 2022 Global Artist Chart

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Oscars 2023: Shah Rukh Khan congratulates team RRR and The Elephant Whisperers on their Academy Award wins; calls them ‘inspirational’

Monday was a big day for the Indian film industry as two teams brought two Oscars home at the 95^th Academy Awards on Sunday night. The first win came for Guneet Monga and Kartiki Gonsalves’ The Elephant Whisperers for Best Documentary Short Film. The second win came for RRR movie which bagged Best Original Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan took to Twitter to congratulate the teams.

Congratulating the team RRR and The Elephant Whisperers, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, “Big hug to @guneetm & @EarthSpectrum for Elephant Whisperers. And @mmkeeravaani #ChandraBose ji @ssrajamouli @AlwaysRamCharan @tarak9999 thank u for showing us all, the way to do it. Both Oscars truly inspirational!!”

SS Rajamouli responded to it by saying, “Thank youuuu sirrrrrrr.”

Thank youuuu sirrrrrrr ????????????????????????????????????

— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) March 13, 2023

The Elephant Whisperers is a heartwarming story of an indigenous couple who have been given an orphaned elephant, Raghu to look after. The story follows the couple’s journey as they relentlessly work to ensure Raghu’s recovery and survival. The short documentary beautifully stitches the tale of how the couple falls in love with the majestic creature along the course of time. Set against the background of life in the wild spaces of South India The Elephant Whisperers highlights the beauty of exotic wildlife, unforgettable wild spaces, and the people and animals who share this space.

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.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is currently basking in the success of Pathaan. The film has surpassed Rs. 1044.50 crore at the box office, breaking several records. The film also features John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana. The Yash Raj Films project, directed by Siddharth Anand, released on January 25, 2023.

SRK will be next seen in Jawan, helmed by Atlee. The project also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi. It is scheduled for June 2, 2023 release. He also has Dunki with Rajkumar Hirani, set for December 2023 release.

ALSO READ: Ram Charan’s wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela shares video of MM Keeravani playing piano at the after-Oscars party

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Sara Ali Khan enjoys parathas in mountains as she vacations in Spiti Valley, see photos

Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan was in Mumbai recently for Lakme Fashion Week 2023 as she walked the ramp for designer Punit Balana. Following that, she quickly headed to Spiti Valley and has been sharing photos from her mountain vacation.

Sara Ali Khan shared a series of photos on her Instagram account on Monday. She was seen eating parathas and enjoying the snowy mountains.  The actress wore a printed bomber padded jacket with black top and white joggers and sneakers. She wrote a poem which read, “Parvato Mein Parathe. Jannat in Pahade. Chalti Rahi Coffee ke Sahare  Barf mein bhi Bahaare. Toh Azmaao yeh Nazaare.”

On the work front, Sara Ali Khan has a promising lineup of films in her kitty. She has Laxman Utekar’s next untitled film, co-starring Vicky Kaushal and Gaslight alongside Vikrant Massey and Chitrangda Singh. Sara has also signed up to play the lead in the patriotic drama Ae Watan Mere Watan. She plays the role of a freedom fighter in this film, which will be released directly on OTT. She is also a part of Homi Adajania’s next, titled Murder Mubarak.

ALSO READ: Sara Ali Khan and Vikrant Massey starrer Gaslight’s first poster out!

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Lakme Fashion Week 2023: Sushmita Sen returns to the ramp after heart attack as she turns showstopper for Anushree Reddy: ‘Thank you all for so much love & appreciation’

Sushmita Sen is on the road to recovery. The actress survived a ‘very big’ heart attack recently. Now, the actress is back to work and made her first appearance at the Lakme Fashion Week 2023 in Mumbai.  The Aarya actress took to her Instagram account on Sunday to thank everyone for showering her with love as she returned to the ramp as a showstopper for designer Anushree Reddy.

 

Taking to her Instagram handle, Sushmita Sen shared the behind-the-scenes video and wrote, “Thank you all for so much love & appreciation…been reading all your comments & watching all your stories!!! I am always as good as my Team!! A big shoutout to my team & to people who made my walk at #lakmefashionweek2023 magical….”

 

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Anushree Reddy is renowned for her gorgeous bridal wear collections that are coveted by lovers of timeless fashion. At Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, she unveiled an ethereal line of ensembles, inspired by the elegance of Apsaras who were known for their amazing beauty during the golden mythological age. Anushree’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection, “Ahilaya” brought together a colourful medley that revealed a fusion of hues starting with shades of sunset, soft pastels, exaggerated gold touches and contrasting tones.

The “Ahilaya” collection was dappled with beauty as it moved through motifs of singing birds and lush swinging flowers. The inspirations were creatively and cleverly drawn from history but merged with modern, cutting-edge sensibilities that Anushree is well known for. The historic references of textiles and embroidered motifs were evident in the design direction of the ensembles. There was at times delightful evidence of art meets couture, when the intricate craft of resham hand embroidery with zardozi was lavished on luxurious fabrics. The selection remained true to the utterly, feminine inspiration, when raw silk, katan and organza were splashed with bursts of colour. The silhouettes were regal and elegant, as magnificently embellished lehengas and pretty, ornate cholis were draped with diaphanous dupattas. The dazzle of the ensembles on the ramp will delight brides when they search for memorable options for their bridal trousseaux. For the groom, Anushree created the perfect look for the kurtas, sherwanis and bundgalas that will be ideal when taking the wedding vows.

Looking gorgeous, the very fabulous Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994, looked fantastic in a yellow lehenga/choli/dupatta trio, as she gracefully glided down the runway to close the Anushree Reddy show. Sushmita Sen, said, “I love Anushree, and I can go on talking about her design expertise and the masterpieces she creates. This was truly a magical collection with outburst of colours, modelled around the muse of Ahilaya. The collection is about apsaras, and the magical world of powerful women. To be Anushree’s muse was truly special, especially because I was born in Hyderabad where she is also from. She made me come alive and it felt like a rebirth considering all the excitement my life has offered me lately. She put me in a colour that I had never expected would look so good on me so now I think I will dawn it often.”

 

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The “Ahilaya” collection by Anushree Reddy brought all the pomp, grandeur, and creative styling for a timeless fashion offering for the couple who wants to wear memorable clothes. Anushree Reddy said, “Ahilaya is a very special collection for me as we have blended and really played with colour, keeping in mind the upcoming Summer. We have used contrasting tones, which come together to make one lehenga; in some of the outfits, there are even 3-4 colours used. So, for me, this collection is a riot of colour, which is very exciting. We have also used traditional zardozi embroidery, which is true to where I come from. The craft has been kept alive to this day by extremely skilled artisans from the era of the Nizams of Hyderabad, which is where I am from. So, I’ve combined my love for colour with my love for zardozi embroidery to present this S/S’23 bridal collection.”

On the work front, Sushmita Sen has Aarya 3 and a movie Taali which is based on the life of transgender activist Gauri.

SUMMARY OF LOOK DETAILS:

Actress: Sushmita Sen

Designer: Anushree Reddy

Stylist: Ami Patel

Make-Up: Mahendra Gupta

Hair: Maniasha

ALSO READ: Sushmita Sen resumes workout after surviving heart attack: ‘Cleared by my cardiologist’

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Kapil Sharma talks about his role in Zwigato; says, “Since I am a father, a sentiment comes from within”

Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma is well-known for his comic timing and has previously worked in comedic movies. For the past few years, he has experienced enormous growth in popularity. In Nandita Das’ Zwigato, he now intends to appeal to sentiment by taking on the role of delivery man Manas. He will be portrayed as a man who lost his job as a factory manager and now works as a delivery boy to support himself.

In addition to portraying a delivery man, Kapil also portrays a father in the film, and he claims that having a child in real life helped him relate to his character’s feelings more. Kapil told ETimes, “Today I am a father of two kids, but tomorrow I might get a chance to play a man who is like 40 years older than me and I will play that as well. However, having said that, since I am a father, a sentiment comes from within.” He added, “It happens that being a father in real life helps you connect more to the emotion.”

During the interview with the celebrity, Kapil Sharma put himself in Shahana Goswami’s position. When questioned about Shahana’s persona, Kapil (playing Shahana) responded, “I am playing the role of Pratima in the movie. As you know I was born and raised in Delhi, and this is my second movie with Nandita, I earlier worked with her in Firaaq, and we have a great relationship. And I work only with those people with whom my heart connects, I don’t work just for the sake of it.”

In the same breath, he further added, “Kapil is such an amazing actor.” “It was such an honour and pleasure to work with Kapil Sharma,” said Kapil.

On the professional front, Kapil Sharma’s had earlier done two comedy films, i.e., Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon in 2015 and Firangi in 2017. He will now feature in Zwigato. The film is about an ex-floor manager of a factory who loses his job during the pandemic. He then works as a food delivery rider, grappling with the world of ratings and incentives. To support the income, his homemaker wife begins to explore different work opportunities, with fear but also the excitement of newfound independence. The film is about the relentlessness of life, but not without their shared moments of joy. It captures the lives of invisible ‘ordinary’ people, hidden in plain sight.

Following its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Zwigato also had its screening at Busan International Film Festival 2022. Applause Entertainment and Nandita Das Initiatives present Zwigato, directed by Nandita Das.

Also Read: Kapil Sharma reveals he had suicidal thoughts; says, “I used to feel that no one is truly mine”

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Karan Johar pens a heartfelt note as Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani gets wrapped

It’s a wrap for Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Rocky Aur Ran Ki Prem Kahani. Filmmaker Karan Johar recently took to his social media account to share the news of the film shoot getting completed. This film marks as his directorial comeback after Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that featured Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma in lead roles.

Taking to Instagram, Karan Johar shared a string of BTS pictures from the set of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. In the pictures, cast and crew, including Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi can be seen. “Sharing the pictures, he wrote, It’s been 7 years since I directed a film….. I embarked on a journey of a film that I had to stop mid way for various unavoidable reasons and then the germ of #rockyaurranikipremkahani came to me from a real life family anecdote ( something my father once told me about ) and then my soldiers helped me create everything I wanted to with my 7th feature … I was blessed with the best team … a team so full of love that bidding them goodbye was not easy….. thank you to each and every one of the core team that helped me through thick , thin , Covid and bad weather…. ( you know who you are and I love you forever) to my amazing cast from veterans to friends … from first time actors to established maestros …. I am blessed with this illustrious cast who portrayed each and every part to its visualisation and more …. We finally wrapped last night!!! We can’t wait to share our labour of love , family, fun and sheer joy with all of you on the 28th of July 2023…… see you at the movies!! #rockyaurranikipremkahani.”

 

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Soon after he shared the post, fans and industry friends poured their love in comments section. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty commented, “Can’t wait to see this one @karanjohar,” actor Tiger Shroff wrote, “Woohooo congratsss.” Several celebs including Janhvi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Zoya Akhtar expressed their love in the comments section. Reacting to the post a fan commented, “Literally Can’t wait, Best Duo @ranveersingh & @aliaabhatt, loved the pairing, My best wishes always with you, thankyou for giving us lovely cast & film,” another fan wrote, “Good luck to the entire cast and crew…can’t wait to see the movie in theatres.”

Readers would be aware that Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani was expected to release in April this year. But the release date shifted further after the makers decided to reschedule the finishing portions as well as the shoot of a song after Alia Bhatt’s delivery. While they came together as a couple in Gully Boy, fans will get to witness the chemistry between Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt even more in this upcoming romantic comedy. The film is slated to release on July 28, 2023.

Also Read: Karan Johar shares a video from the sets of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani as he bids adieu to Kashmir

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