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?I?ve been here 30-35 years so I never carry expectations about songs,? says Faisal Kapadia
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Syed Jibran discusses the elements of 'entertainment, laughter and comedy' in Ghabrana Nahi Hai -
Pakistani-American singer and composer Arooj Aftab got 50,000 followers on social media after her Grammy win
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Bollywood's action star Vidyut Jammwal has made his reality show debut with Discovery's India's Ultimate Warrior. In the show, which is currently streaming on Discovery+, the actor is seen as Dojo Master who is mentoring the disciples, along with four mentors, to become the ultimate warrior. View this post on Instagram Superstar Akshay Kumar recently appeared on the show as a special guest to assign some tough tasks to the contestants. This was the first time when Akshay and Vidyut shared the screen space. Since Akshay too is among the biggest action stars of Bollywood, the promos have left fans excited. While the episode will air on March 16 on the Discovery Channel, Vidyut, in an exclusive chat with MensXP, shared his experience of shooting with the 'Khiladi' Kumar. View this post on Instagram Talking about Akshay, the Commando star said, "It was great. We were having fun. We were seeing things that we've been experiencing every day of our lives. You know, watching people go through turmoils that life puts you into, every day. And, that was the fun part of Akshay sir and me because we were having fun. We were learning while teaching all the disciples". On being asked about the possibility of teaming up with Akshay for an action film in the near future, Vidyut gave an interesting answer. He replied, "You should expect the unexpected, always in life. So, yes, the unexpected just might happen". Well, only time will tell if a film featuring Vidyut and Akshay is on the cards or not. In case it happens, it is going to be the biggest action extravaganza. View this post on Instagram Talking further about making his reality TV debut with India's Ultimate Warrior, the country's first reality show on martial arts and combat skills, Vidyut added, "The idea of being a master (Dojo Master) was the imperative thing for me because I've been raised by a lot of masters when I was growing up. And, not only to learn physical abilities but to do mental as well as spiritual work. So, when the team came up to me with the offer of playing a master to four mentors and 16 disciples, I thought why not do a show that's exactly the way I've been raised. So, we put people in the situations that happen to everybody in their daily lives to find India's ultimate warrior". The show is slated to premiere on the Discovery Channel on March 14. View the full article
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After staying away from the Hindi film industry for almost nine years, Raashii Khanna is making a comeback with her debut web series Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. The show also marks the OTT debut of Ajay Devgn and is an official remake of the popular British show Luther starring Idris Elba. In Rudra, Raashii plays the character that was originally portrayed by Ruth Wilson. © raashi khanna instagram When asked about how she was approached for the role and how she got on board, Raashii exclusively told MensXP, “So, basically when they were looking out for Alia Chowksi’s role, as in when they were looking out for people to play her, I think they auditioned a lot of actors and they asked me also to audition for it. Because they were like, ‘Haan theek hai South mein ho and you are doing great but we need an actor and we would want you to audition for it. Will you be up for it?’ I said, ‘Of course’ because I haven’t seen Luther and they had sent me the script and they’d sent me the character brief and I was really excited because as an actor we wish to get something that is out of our comfort zone. And when I read about it, I was pretty excited to give the audition and I gave it very earnestly because I really enjoyed playing her. And somewhere in my heart, I thought maybe you know I should get it. And I did.” She further added that after getting the role, she decided not to watch the original because she didn’t want to get influenced by Ruth Wilson’s performance. However, she knew that the actress got a lot of acclaim and accolades for her performance. She also knows that she has a responsibility and there will be comparisons but she isn’t bothered by it. She is just happy that people are intrigued by her character from the trailer. © raashi khanna instagram When asked if she was nervous working with a superstar like Ajay Devgn also considering that her character is such she has to rattle him in the show. She responded, “So, usually I am not really starstruck in life. But, when I was going to work with him I knew that I had to have a certain comfort level because he is a superstar and you know there are chances I might get intimidated by him. You know there are chances and I was fully prepared for it. So I was like, ‘Sir I think will be intimidating’. Because he doesn’t talk much, that's what I felt. But the first day when I went, he just treated me like this buddy and he was like, ‘Aaja baith jaa and we’ll do our lines’ and I was like, ‘Hain! It’s so easy’, you know. I think it was only difficult in my head but when I sat with him and we read the lines I think it became very easy for me and I saw a co-star next to me and not a superstar, which I think is all thanks to him. I don’t think I would’ve pulled off 10 per cent of Alia if not for him and his support.” © Disney+ Hotstar Rudra: The Edge of Darkness streams on Disney+ Hotstar from March 4. View the full article
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After helming the Marathi blockbuster Sairat in 2016, filmmaker Nagraj Manjule is back with his next directorial, this time a Hindi one in the Amitabh Bachchan starrer sports drama Jhund. Ahead of the theatrical release of the film, we sat with Nagraj Manjule and talked about why he held onto the film for over a year despite the film being ready and didn’t go for the option of OTT release. The reason revealed by Nagraj Manjule is quite sweet and is about his love for Amitabh Bachchan since childhood. © Instagram/Nagraj Manjule He told MensXP, “Bilkul aaye they (OTT platforms se offers) aur socha bhi tha hamaare producers ne aur sabne aur mere saamne yeh baat bhi rakhi thi. Lekin main chahta tha ki bade parde par hi yeh film release honi chahiye. Yeh meri pehli film hai Bachchan sir ke saath. Aur main chahta tha ki jinko maine zindagi bhar parde pe dekha hai bade unko main apni film mein sabke saath bade parde par dekhna chahta tha. (We received a lot of offers from OTT platforms and our producers even thought about it. They also told me, but I wanted the film to release on the big screen because this is my first film with Amitabh Bachchan and I grew up watching his films on the big screen. So, I wanted to watch him in my film on the big screen).” He continued, “Doosri baat yeh hai ki agar yeh film aap jhund mein dekhenge, samooh mein dekhenge, sabke saath dekhenge, uska ek impact alag hota hai. Aur main toh maanta hoon ki koi bhi film aap akele dekho ya logon ke saath dekho toh uska perception kahiye ya impact kahiye badal jaata hai. To mujhe lagta tha ki yeh film theatre mein dikhana hai aur sabne baat meri maan li and finally film release ho rahi hai. (Secondly, the impact of watching a film in a group is different than watching it alone. So, I said I want this film to be seen on the big screen first and thankfully producers agreed and finally the film is now releasing)”. © T-Series Jhund is slated to release on March 4, 2022. View the full article
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After the theatres were shut down back in March 2020 due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, it finally opened up in full glory in November 2021 with the release of Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. The film collected close to Rs 200 crore in India but post that there was a spate of unsuccessful films at the box office. And then, due to the spread of Omicron, the theatres were closed yet again. Now, Badhaai Do has become the first Hindi film in over a month and a half to release in theatres and doing fair enough. However, the magic of the box office that was seen pre-pandemic is missing. © MensXP That onus has been put on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming directorial Gangubali Kathiawadi. Shot on a big scale, it is one of the biggest films to come out of Hindi cinema in recent times and there have been talks all over about this is going to 'revive Hindi cinema'. Recently, we chatted with Gangubai Kathiawadi’s lead star Alia Bhatt where we discussed the theatrical release of her film after almost three years and if there is pressure on her about reviving Hindi cinema. She exclusively told MensXP, “I am not taking that pressure. I mean there is that conversation but I am like, ‘Okay, listen this is too much of a pressure for me to take.’ But, ya there is generally just a feeling of movies, forget the pressure of one film. I think in general we just want the theatres to be pumping and thumping again with of course all the safety measures in place.” © MensXP She continued, “But, there is no feeling like, ‘’Oh, cinema is back! And people are running and flocking to the theatres’ because there’s been so many gaps. So, I am hoping that with the films that are coming out this month and with Gangubai Kathiawadi, I hope there is no stopping. I hope it just keeps going. I definitely hope it’s a successful film at the box office. And I hope people come and see the film.” She further added that Gangubai Kathiawadi is meant for big-screen viewing. “I believe this is a film that you cannot not see on the big screen. It’s meant for the big screen. The experience is meant for the big screen.” © Bhansali Productions Besides Alia Bhatt, Gangubai Kathiawadi also stars Vijay Raaz, Jim Sarbh and Ajay Devgn. The movie is slated to release in cinemas on February 25. View the full article
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Alia Bhatt is all geared up to set the screen on fire with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming masala entertainer Gangubai Kathiawadi. Ahead of the release of the film, she sat for an exclusive chat with MensXP and discussed her character in the film, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s process and what was her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor’s reaction when he first saw portions of the film. © MensXP While talking about the kind of treatment that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given to the film, which is in the mass zone, we asked Alia if she was told in advance by the director about the zone he will be taking with this biopic. She replied, “No, and I didn’t ask either. I know whatever treatment he is going to give to the film will be amazing only. And also, he likes to discover his treatment. He doesn’t want to have a fixed way of doing anything. Which is why you can never speak about his process and possibly that is why he doesn’t like to give interviews because what will he say, you know. How will he say? Because he has a vision and he just arrives at it. So, there is no method. It’s not mechanical, it’s very emotional. He gets so involved in it.” © MensXP She further added, “But, he kept telling me before the shoot that I want weight in the character, power in the eyes. And initially, I would not understand what he meant by that. What does he mean by the eyes? He used to keep saying that the eyes are saying something but actually your words are saying something else and your hand is moving at another rhythm. And now, when people have seen the trailer, they talk about my eyes. Now, I am not telling that sir has given me this brief about the eyes. People are just coming to me and saying, ‘Oh, your eyes.’ So, then I know, ‘Okay, fine that was his vision’ which is coming across and I am just the tool to communicate that.” When pointed out by us how Al Pacino in the ‘70s and ‘80s had similar traits in terms of the performances that he gave playing those iconic gangster roles be it Michael Corleone in The Godfather films or Tony Montana in Scarface. Physically, Pacino wasn’t dominating or authoritative in personality but he used to more than makeup for it with his brilliant performances and with his aura. © MensXP Reacting to the statement, Alia laughed and replied, “You know it’s so strange. The first time Ranbir (Kapoor) saw something of Gangubai Kathiawadi and he said this is The Godfather. So, it’s so strange that you are saying this. And there is also this thing when we are talking in language, you know, we have posters and we are like, ‘Okay, so we have a lying down poster, we have this poster and then there is The Godfather poster’. We have these words. We are using these words. But we are using this internally for fun. But, it really sounds quite funny when somebody else says that back. So, if you feel the same way then clearly what we are thinking is somehow getting communicated.” Gangubai Kathiawadi also stars Vijay Raaz, Jim Sarbh and Ajay Devgn. The film is slated to release in theatres on February 25, 2022. View the full article
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After appearing in films like Uri: The Surgical Strike and 83, Dhairya Karwa is eagerly waiting for the release of Gehraiyaan. Directed by Shakun Batra, the film features Dhairya in one of the lead roles opposite Deepika Padukone. With the film's trailer and songs, the actor has already made his presence felt and is slowly making his place in the film industry by choosing diverse roles. View this post on Instagram Jointly produced by Dharma Productions, Viacom18 Studios, and Jouska Films, Gehraiyaan also stars Siddhanth Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday and is all set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on February 11. In an exclusive chat with MensXP, Dhairya Karwa talks about Gehraiyaan, his equation with Deepika, and more. Here are the excerpts: MXP: The film is looking great. How has been the response so far? DK: The response is amazing and I'm really looking forward to the release. It's been a very fulfilling experience of working with some esteemed artists and beautiful souls who welcomed me with all their hearts and made me feel comfortable. It's been more than a film where I've made genuine friends for life. I couldn't have asked for more. MXP: How did the film happen and what made you say yes to Gehraiyaan? DK: It started with a casting call, the team of our casting director Panchami Ghavri reached out to me. Before that, I had seen a news article about Shakun and the other three cast members and I was like 'wow man, these people are lucky'. Shakun is just two films old but every actor wants to work with him and I'm no different. So, the moment Panchami's team reached out to me, I was so excited. I asked them if it was for Shakun's film? They answered 'yes' and then I did my research. I was very prepared for my audition because I went through Shakun's films and what he likes, what he doesn't like. That audition process went on for a month or so, 3-4 rounds, and eventually, Shakun and Karan (Johar) felt that I was the right choice (for the part) and I'm grateful that they thought so. Coming to the second part of your question, I said yes because I'm a huge admirer of Shakun's work and then there's Deepika, Ananya, Siddhant, and it's a Dharma film. I mean, it's a no-brainer. View this post on Instagram MXP: You worked with Deepika, Ananya, & Siddhant for the first time in Gehraiyaan. Tell us about your offscreen equation with them. DK: Again, I'll give credit to Shakun because all four characters (in the film) have known each other for a while. So, to have that camaraderie and to be comfortable around each other, it was Shakun's vision to call us in early before the shoot started. We spent around two weeks in Goa before shooting and we all were together the entire time. By the time we started shooting, we actually became friends. That really helped. We were so comfortable around each other that there was no baggage or pressure of working with established stars. They were so friendly and we all got along really well. It's been a wonderful experience, we still catch up and hang out together. We generally are friends. We met over a film and our friendship continues even after work. MXP: Since you're playing Deepika's onscreen husband, most of your scenes must be with her. What was your first reaction when you got to know that you're paired opposite her? DK: Oh, excited. So there's a fascinating anecdote that I have regarding this. On the sets of 83, we really didn't interact that much. Only small talk, you know. But at the wrap-up party of 83, everybody was taking pictures with Deepika and I'm a shy guy. So, I was at a distance and just looking at it. I don't know what went through my head, I went up to her and told her 'I'll not take that picture with you because I'm going to do a film with you'. At that point of time, I didn't know such a film (Gehraiyaan) was being made. Around 3-4 months later, I auditioned and got the part. The first time, when we met on a reading, Deepika asked 'did you know you were doing this?' I answered, 'I didn't know about this film at all'. So, it just so happens that you put it out in the universe and the universe was listening to it. MXP: Now that you've worked with both Ranveer and Deepika, share one quality of both that you really liked. DK: Apart from being these huge superstars, the quality that appeals to me the most is that they are both such grounded, simple, genuine human beings. They genuinely care about people around them and it is something that I want to carry forward as well. You should be a good actor in this business but it's important to be a good human being as well. MXP: From essaying supporting roles in Uri and 83 to bagging one of the lead characters in a Dharma film. Tell us about your journey so far. Are you happy with the way your career is shaping up? DK: The trajectory is in the right direction and I couldn't have planned it any better. It's been about six years in Mumbai now. When I moved here, I had no expectations. I came to Mumbai for modeling, to see and explore what the city has to offer. When I moved here, this whole film and Bollywood environment really engulfed me. That's when I realised that I enjoy doing this and I want to do this. Then, I worked really hard and I've been rewarded for it as well. My first break came around three years into Mumbai with Uri. Till now, whatever work I've done, it's just been because of auditioning. As soon as I finished Uri, I started work on 83. In fact, for 83, I had auditioned before Uri as well. The timings just aligned really well. After finishing 83, Panchami asked me to audition for Gehraiyaan and I cracked that too. It's working out fine till now. Like you said, from supporting roles to playing a lead part. Well, that's the responsibility an actor really looks forward to and I'm glad I have that responsibility. I've done my job honestly and I hope it replicates onscreen. I'm very fortunate that so early in my career, I've been a part of films that have been unanimously loved by everyone. MXP: After playing a soldier & cricketer, you'll now be seen as a typical husband in Gehraiyaan which is a romantic drama. Is it a conscious decision to choose such diverse characters at the beginning of your career? DK: Of course, I think it's the choices that define an actor and I've been fortunate also that I waited and the right opportunities have come my way. So yes, it's a conscious decision of displaying your versatility and choosing different parts. MXP: When you got to know that Gehraiyaan will not be released in theatres, were you disappointed? DK: I was not disappointed at all. In fact, I'm elated and excited. As an artist, you want your work to reach the widest audience possible and Amazon Prime Video provides exactly that. Our film is going to be released in over 240 countries and territories, so just imagine the number of people who are going to watch it. See, the charm of theatres will always stay and that's a different charm altogether. But OTT is here to stay as well. We've survived on that for the last two years and it's a pleasant change. MXP: Earlier, Karan Johar had revealed that you lied about your height being 6'2" because you thought that you might lose the part for being too tall (6'4"). Have you experienced something like this before? DK: When you start your career in Mumbai, usually you're auditioning for a lot of ads. During auditions, on the slate, you write details like name, age, contact number, height, etc. I felt that if I write 6'4", people will think he's too tall. I thought, who is going to come and measure me. Also, the co-actor I was auditioning with was a little short in comparison. So, I thought let's lie about my height but that didn't last for too long. I think my height has always helped me in my career because my Uri director told me that he was looking for someone who's tall and has broad shoulders for the role. So, I got that. Then, I got Ravi Shastri's part (in 83) because he's tall as well. I'm proud of my height and there's nothing like I'm consciously trying to hide it. MXP: After Gehraiyaan, what's in store for your fans? DK: There have been a lot of exciting conversations happening. No confirmations yet. But, it's just been a matter of time when we announce something really exciting. MXP: At last, a message for your fans. Why should they watch the film? DK: It's an exciting and engaging film with a new take on relationships which, I feel, is relatable. The music is great. If I want to sum up our film in a word, I would say it is fresh. Because it has a fresh perspective, fresh pairing, music, and the way it is shot. So ya, I'm quite excited View the full article
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After the grand success of Allu Arjun’s Telugu film, Pushpa: The Rise in Hindi, the studio behind the Hindi dubbed version of his 2020 Telugu blockbuster Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo decided to release the dubbed version in theatres in the hope to cash in on the huge popularity of their lead star. Soon, a controversy erupted where the makers of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo's Hindi remake Shehzada starring Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon were left in a fix. If the Hindi dubbed version works, there were high chances the Hindi remake would have suffered badly at the box office. View the full article
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Sunny Deol’s elder son, Karan Deol made his acting debut with the 2019 film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. The movie was helmed by Sunny Deol himself and also marked the debut of actress Saher Bamba. Unfortunately, for the young Deol, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas received a negative response from the audience and critics alike and failed to make a mark at the box office. Two years later, Karan is back with his second film, Velle co-starring his “chachu” Abhay Deol. The two are busy promoting the film and recently sat for a chat with MensXP discussing Velle and their respective careers. © Karan Deol Instagram During the conversation, when we asked Karan about the failure of Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, the negative reviews he received for his performance and how he dealt with it. He revealed that he took workshops for Velle and added, “I worked with Feroz sir who was a very big help to me during that period after Pal Pal...He instilled a lot of confidence in me. Obviously, it’s only natural as a human being to read reviews. I can lie to you and tell you I didn’t read the reviews but I did. And you have to take it with a pinch of salt and see where the criticism is right and what you need to work on.” He further added, “As actors, we are always growing, day by day we are growing. Our growth never stops. I thought that ‘this time is given to you Rocky, don’t give up, don’t let the negativity overcome you and what can you do from here and grow as a person and grow as an actor and keep on working on yourself. Just keep on honing your craft. Be patient, your time will come. Don’t let the negativity keep you down.” © Karan Deol Instagram He then talked about the support of his family in tough times, “I am fortunate to have such a supporting family. I am grateful for everything that they have given to me in my life. So just don’t give up. No one in your house has given up. Not a single family member of yours has given up no matter what has happened in their lives. So, look at all of them as role models. This industry has its ups and downs. So, just don’t give up and work on yourself.” When asked if there was anything in particular told to him by any of his family members after his first film had flopped, Karan responded that his uncle Bobby Deol had a heartfelt chat with him, “Bobby chacha actually came to me and he said, ‘You see what had happened with me in between but look at my life right now. I have come back in a big way. We all have our ups and downs, so be patient and work on yourself and don’t let it affect you.’ He had come and he sat with me for a bit and I got emotional.” © Bobby Deol Instagram We then asked Abhay how he looked at Karan’s debut film and if he had any conversation with him at that time or during Velle. Abhay replied, “No, honestly when you stumble, when you make mistakes, you have a setback, it’s the best thing that can happen to you. Because we only learn from our mistakes. So, I wasn’t worried about him at all. The industry can be a very harsh place. Not just by the people who inhabit it but even being in the public eye, being a public figure. Everybody has something to say about you.” He continued, “My only worry for him was he shouldn’t take to heart what people are saying because people will always say something or the other. Even when you are riding high there will be criticism. But setbacks are good, setbacks are needed. We all go through them. He is pretty strong. And being born in a film industry, you kind of see it when you are a kid. So, we are actually stronger than we look. You are kind of conditioned right from the day you walk in school and you are being made fun of for being related to so and so and being the son of so and so. It starts from the beginning.” © Karan Deol Instagram He then stated that whenever he has a conversation with Karan, he always tries to talk about positive stuff, “When I speak with Karan, I always try and speak about positive things and look at things happily. I don’t complain about things, I don’t pay attention to negative things. He knows already he has his family with him. He has me there, he has his father and his brother and his mother and all of us. So, we are in such a privileged place that things could be worse. So, never doubted for one moment that he wouldn’t get over it.” Karan then added that the negative reaction to his debut film “fueled my fire. Pal Pal… fueled me inside and motivated me in a different way. Like it charged me up and energised me because we all are fighters. So, I said, ‘Chalo, get up and let’s go for another round’ because I am not gonna fall down.” © Ajay Devgn Ffilms Abhay and Karan along with Anya Singh, Sawant Singh Premi, Vishesh Tiwari and Mouni Roy will be seen in Velle directed by Deven Munjal. Backed by Ajay Devgn, Velle is slated for a big-screen release on December 10. View the full article
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Ever since Abhay Deol made his debut with Imtiaz Ali’s Socha Na Tha, he has always believed in delivering something unconventional each time he has come on board for a film. Some of his films that have attained a cult following over the years include Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Dev D, Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Manorama Six Feet Under, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara etc. The actor who is quite choosy with his scripts has slowed down a bit in recent years, as far as his films are concerned. He was last seen in the 2020 Netflix film What Are The Odds which he also produced and is now returning to the big screen with Velle after the 2018 horror-comedy Nanu Ki Jaanu and his cameo in Zero. His upcoming film Velle marks his first collaboration with his nephew Karan Deol, who is the elder son of Abhay’s cousin brother Sunny Deol. © Ajay Devgn Ffilms Ahead of the film's release, we sat down with Abhay and Karan for a chat and pointed out about the hashtag that the former uses on Instagram, “#MakingWhatBollyWouldn’t” and how he was a major force in blurring the lines between mainstream and parallel cinema 10-15 years ago backing the kind of films that are considered mainstream today. Responding to it, Abhay told MensXP, “I hope I get to continue making such films. It is not easy. I hope that people continue to give me chances. But, the thing is, what I want to do today, it’s the same thing, it is ten years later. Because people are doing today, what I did 16 years ago. What I want to do today, they are not making it right now.” View this post on Instagram © Abhay Deol Instagram He further added that he is "bored" of what Bollywood is doing today and "what I want to do now is far more provocative. And it’s not the time for that because they have just come around to accept what I did more than a decade ago. So, now it’s hard for me because I want to repeat what I did with those movies but they are not going to take a chance because those movies are not being made right now. Now it’s harder because it’s all corporatised. So, hopefully I get a chance to do what I did earlier. There may be one, actually, no, there may be two of such films releasing next year.” View this post on Instagram We then asked Karan about how he perceived the kind of films his "Abhay chachu" was doing, he stated, “I loved his body of work. I loved Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, I loved Dev D, I loved Manorama Six Feet Under. I have seen everything he has done and I thoroughly loved it. It was brave what he was doing because no one was doing it at that moment of time. And that cinema, it connected with my generation. Like it really connected with us and it was a really brave and bold step. And he was brilliant in everything and I still see those films. They stood the test of time. You see any of his films today and it’s still relatable. Hats off to him for making those decisions and I would love to do what he has done. I will be fortunate to get those types of subjects.” © Karan Deol Instagram As for their film Velle, apart from Abhay and Karan, the movie also stars Anya Singh, Sawant Singh Premi, Vishesh Tiwari and Mouni Roy. Backed by Ajay Devgn and directed by Deven Munjal, Velle is an official Hindi remake of 2019 Telugu hit Brochevarevarura. The film is slated to hit the big screens on December 10. View the full article
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EXCLUSIVE: Belligerent Arnab Goswami caught lying about Serena Hotel in Kabul
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
Geo.tv contacts Serena Hotel Kabul to expose Arnab Goswami's lie -
Geo.tv investigation finds power companies have tampered with electricity tariffs as NEPRA takes a lax approach to enforcing tariff rules
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When news first broke that Marvel Studios is bringing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, fans were excited to see the first Asian Marvel superhero. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the 25th movie in the Marvel cinematic universe has made history by casting an Asian superhero in form of Simu Liu. Most of us now know Canadian actor Simu as the lead of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings but he hadn’t always been a sensation. View this post on Instagram In a recent interview with guest host Sean Hayes on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Liu opened up about his past gigs wherein he shared that he used to dress up as Spider-Man for kids' birthday parties. I recently got an opportunity to interact with Simu and asked him about the same. He told me, “The decision of dressing up as Spider-Man was only financial. I had to pay my bills. When you are a struggling actor, you don’t really make that much. I thought if I will be Spider-Man for kids' birthday parties, I will be working on my acting muscles too.” I also mentioned that it would be interesting to see a Spider-Man and Shang Chi crossover. To which, he replied, “It would be really interesting and there are comics that are supportive of the theory. Consider me a fan and I can’t wait to see what Marvel and Kevin have planned for the character.” Here’s the interview: View this post on Instagram In my interview, I also asked if he ever felt the burden of being the first Asian superhero. He said, “I don’t choose to see it as a burden but an incredible opportunity. I think the world is ready for an Asian superhero and I want to show everyone how it feels to fully embrace it rather than to treat it as a burden or shy away from it. I am incredibly grateful for it and I am also hopeful that it opens doors in the future for more superhero movies like this so that many more communities could see themselves like it as they haven’t been portrayed this way. I think it’s a sign of progress.” View this post on Instagram We have already watched the movie and we strongly recommend you to watch it in theatres near you. View the full article
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a master of his craft and is known for being a director who puts in his creative vision to make the movies look larger-than-life. From the sets to costumes, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie is a visual treat for the viewers because it’s magnificent. He is known for films like Devdas and Bajirao Mastani and now, he is stepping into the world of OTT. He is making his digital debut with Heeramandi. The series will explore stories of courtesans, the hidden cultural reality of Heeramandi, a district in Lahore in pre-Independence India. The show will have all the trademarks of a Bhansali film, grand sets, elaborate compositions, and a plethora of characters. Heeramandi promises to be stories of love, betrayal, politics, and succession. View this post on Instagram In a statement, Bhansali said, “Heeramandi is an important milestone in my journey as a filmmaker. This is an epic, first-of-its-kind series based on the courtesans of Lahore. It is an ambitious, grand, and all-encompassing series; therefore I am nervous yet excited about making it. I am looking forward to my partnership with Netflix and bringing Heeramandi to audiences all over the world.” We got in touch with our trade source who has exclusively shared some deets about the budget of the show. The source told us, “Considering it’s a show by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and backed by Netflix, you can guess the fact that it’s one of the most expensive shows being produced and it’s not even surprising.” View this post on Instagram The source added, “Bhansali is stepping into the whole OTT space and he won’t do it with a small show. He would want to make a statement and if the show makes an impact that would require big budgets. As per the talks, the show does have an ambitious budget and according to the buzz in the market, one episode’s budget is probably around Rs 30 to 40 crores. The show is getting shot in Lucknow and Lahore’s red light area is being recreated.” As per reports, the show will have around eight episodes and if we do the math, the budget comes around Rs 240 to Rs 300 crores. Well, this is surely insane. The cast is yet to be announced but the synopsis of the show has surely got us interested. View the full article
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If you have seen Jamtara, you can’t just overlook the character of Rocky played by Anshumaan Pushkar. He was recently seen in Grahan which is set in the backdrop of the 1984 riots. His character of Rishi Ranjan was a sensitive one and could have backfired had he not been portrayed sensibly. But after watching the show, I can tell you that the makers took care of the fact that every dialogue and scene was scrutinized before it was finally given a final nod for streaming on OTT. For Anshumaan, Rishi was a character that is one of the turning points of his life as the story of Grahan was narrated from his lense. I got in touch with Anshumaan Pushkar to understand his journey of playing Rishi Ranjan in Grahan, and how he overcame all the battles in his personal life. Here are the excerpts from my interview: I have seen you in Grahan, Jamtara, and Kathmandu Connection and I must say that your acting is commendable. You come from a background in theatre and there's a popular perception that people from theatre are more of method actors. Do you also follow method acting? It’s not like only one thing makes you a good performer, you observe a few things and pick them up. Theatre does help you to grasp things quickly and there’s a whole process. But then, you learn from experiences too and for me, it was all about that. In method acting, we pick up reactions from the other actor who’s paired opposite you and react accordingly. In Grahan whenever Wamika was around, I didn’t have to work too much as I picked up her reactions and my job was done. She is that good. I am someone who does go by method acting and as I belong from a rural background, theatre helped me understand the nitty-gritty of this art. All the characters that you have done so far, be it Rishi Ranjan from Grahan or Rocky from Jamtara, they are completely different from each other but have a certain rawness to them. They are connected to their roots. What’s your psyche behind picking up such roles? Well, I am not in a position to choose yet but I have been lucky enough that these roles landed in my lap. By the grace of God, I have got such directors who have given me certain thumb rules and theatre has taught me the language of a director. For me, the script and what the directors wanted out of me were important. I feel there should be a connection with the audience. All I see is if my character has that essence and if there’s an emotional graph in his journey. Soumendra Padhi, Sachin Pathak, and Ranjan Chandel have completely different techniques and that's where what I learnt from theatre comes into play. I just get into the character and work on it as the script demands. © Amazon Prime Video If you take Rishi Ranjan for instance, it was a controversial character as many people are emotionally connected to the riots of 1984. It was one of the darkest chapters of Indian history. Were there any inhibitions before taking up taking this role? It’s not just this character but before any character that I have played so far, meri raaton ki neend kharab ho jaati hai. There surely is a sense of nervousness before taking up any character. I feel people who do not get that anxiety should rethink it before taking it up. I first got Jamtara, then Grahan, and later on Kathmandu Connection. The release got delayed as the makers were very conscious of not hurting religious sentiments. They understood the complexities behind the subject and how many people were connected to it. If any of the sequences got misunderstood, it would have hurt people since the riots had a strong impact. If you talk about my character, I fell in love with it. When I got a call from Mukesh Chabra’s team saying that I am being considered for the role, I didn’t want to lose it. We were so sensitive about how my character was portrayed that we all went through every sequence in detail. I wasn’t scared because I knew it was in sensible hands. © Amazon Prime Video Rishi Ranjan’s character is integral to the show and somewhere, it’s around his character that the story was woven. You have done two series before this and you landed such an important role. How do you feel about that? Aap kisi ek dhaage ke saath ek kahani ko piroh sakte ho and that could have been any character. Yes, Rishi was an important character and I feel grateful that I got such a role to portray. As an actor, you want to find what new you can do every time you are thrown a challenge and Rishi’s character was that for me. From Rishi, I learnt the quality of sacrifice and how far you can go to protect your loved ones. I was somewhere sure that show will get a good response but I am happy that people are loving my performance. I think all the characters had a story to tell and were important in their own way. You can not centralize any one character. All the characters had their own uniqueness and added to the story. © Amazon Prime Video I was reading one of your interviews wherein you had said that you had had a tough time for more than three years and there was a moment when you had completely lost hope of making a mark in the industry. How did you overcome it? Someone I follow told me that ‘Winners can’t be quitters and quitters can’t be winners’ and it worked wonders for me. I have never thought about quitting or else I wouldn’t have been here. You know it’s just that you lose the focus sometimes. I feel it’s the low points when a person can truly define himself. You learn about yourself when you hit rock bottom. I won’t say that I was struggling to feed myself. I have seen many others who are struggling more than me and I have also realized that many of them turn to aggression in those low moments. And you know you are going through so many thoughts, you do get into that destructive mode. All I want to say is that if you manage to stay composed, you will win the battle. © Amazon Prime Video Mumbai can be a tricky place for people who do not have a stable background as it’s insanely expensive. As I have stayed in Mumbai, I can totally relate to it. Were your initial days in the city difficult? My father is no more and it’s my brother who has taken care of me. He is a father figure to me. I didn’t have any problems per se in terms of having food but what bothered me was till when I would be stuck here. I have done MBA and I was seeing people earning a handsome salary. At the end of the day, you have responsibilities towards your family. I couldn’t fulfill even the basic necessities, so the question of having luxuries didn’t arise. I was working hard but work wasn’t coming my way and I was losing hope. You are giving auditions back to back but it wasn’t working out. © Amazon Prime Video If you belong to a middle-class family and are coming to Mumbai, you need to come with the belief that whatever the situation the city throws at you, you will stay calm. The city does teach a lot, so come with an open mind. As you told me your brother supported you all this while, how does he feel seeing you grow? Not just my brother but my sister and all my family members never doubted me. A few people that I know used to tell me that I need to take life seriously but my brother was pretty sure that I would make it. My brother is the first one to complete my shows whenever they get released and takes time out from his hectic schedules to do so. He is proud of me and it keeps me in a happy space. © Amazon Prime Video Not just your brother, I am also very proud of you. Do you somewhere agree that audiences have become smarter and have understood the difference between stardom and talent? I think they are not blinded by how much fame the actor has anymore and I am glad that the shift towards this is happening. What about you? Yes, I definitely agree with this, or else you wouldn’t have been talking to Anshuman Pushkar (laughs). It’s after OTT that many others actors who don’t have an influential background got the chance to showcase their talents. Four to five years back, the audience had a different outlook on consuming content. The change started a long time back as directors like Anurag Kashyap, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Imitiaz Ali got such stories that people understood the difference. I am glad that OTT gave a push to actors like me. © Amazon Prime Video I, too, agree that there’s a positive change, and all I want to say that I only wish luck for you. Hope to see you give more such strong characters in your career. View the full article
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Exclusive: President Alvi underscores importance of e-voting in interview
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
President Alvi explains how the e-voting system, which will include both electronic voting and ballot papers, will work -
Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal, finally got married today, after a long courtship, in a rather small and intimate ceremony, among close friends and family. Varun Dhawan Owning to the restrictions because of COVID-19, the couple decided to tie the knot in The Mansion House in Alibaug. Among the attendees, were Varun's mentor, Karan Johar, ace designer Manish Malhotra, and Sidharth Malhotra. According to reports, the ceremonies for the wedding started at around 6:30 PM in the evening. The ceremonies were finally concluded at around 8:30 PM, finally making the longtime couple, a husband and wife. Varun Dhawan Varun and Natasha were childhood friends, long before they decided to tie the knot. Although they haven't been overly vocal about their relationship, they weren't too shy of acknowledging it either, choosing to speak about it as and when the opportunity was appropriate. Case in point would be Varun's interview with Kareena Kapoor Khan, for her radio chat show, What Women Want, where he stated that although they met when in the 6th standard, Varun decided to ask her out in the 11-12th standard. Viral Bhayani Coming to the sherwani that Varun was seen wearing, it is exquisite, to say the least. The intricate embroidery and the structure has a very aristocratic appeal. Viral Bhayani The sherwani is rather understated, simple, and subtle, which sits rather perfectly, with the lehenga that Natasha Dalal is seen wearing. The blue chunni, again, adds to the regal aesthetic of Varun's sherwani. We also like that Varun matched his juttis with his sherwani. Nothing else would have worked, nearly as well. Viral Bhayani Given that Natasha is a haute couturier herself, it can be safely assumed that she designed her own wedding lehenga. The lehenga has some really intricate embroidery and zari work. The intricacy and the cream backdrop against which the embroidery is set, give it a very elegant and aristocratic appeal. Viral Bhayani Several reports stated that the couple will be hosting a reception in Mumbai, on the 2nd of February. It is also believed that Varun & Natasha would be travelling to Turkey for their honeymoon, and will probably be staying at The Ciragan Palace, in Istanbul. Viral Bhayani Owing to the covid restrictions, the wedding was attended by about 50 people, who began flocking to the tiny island about two days ago. As stated, the couple plan on throwing a reception in Mumbai on the 2nd of February. It will be rather interesting to see, what the two wear for their wedding reception. View the full article
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is out and while we are busy finishing the game for our official review, we had a short chat with the Producer of the game Julien Laferrière about what people can expect. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is already amongst the top franchises in video games that have reinvented themselves to become on the most admired role-playing games this generation. This time around the game is set in England and Norway and we follow Eivor’s adventure as he/she goes Viking, establish settlements and raid to create a home for the Norse people. We sat down with Laferrière over a Discord call to pick his brains about the game and how it is different from other Ubisoft games: © Youtube/Ubisoft (Interview was conducted before we started playing the review copy of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla) 1. I want to start off with something more personal. You know, we've spoken how Valhalla is introducing new experiences in the game with the new settlements mechanic, a raiding system, and some of the experiences we may not know. Which is your favourite thing to do in the game as I haven't started it yet? Well, that's a good question. I've played the game a lot, obviously, in the past and in the past years. I've seen it evolve. And it's a super difficult question to answer because, for me, I'll tell you two things. I really love the way the settlement system came together. I think it's really cool. I'm, you know, I'm really into player progression and you know, clear expression and kind of customise my experience. I really love this is the sort of the art flavour of RPG will bring to the table. I think that the settlement system is that but applied to a village. And it's just really cool to meet those new NPCs, those new buildings see your village, your clan progress through your adventure. So that's, that's really cool. But maybe it’s something that person won't notice. But I'd be surprised if players say okay, I really like this part of it. But we've put a lot of effort into exploration. So when you play the game, either using your Raven with the beams of light and the way we've crafted the world, we really want to trigger the curiosity of players. And for me that that works really well. Because when I play the game, I have those moments where even if it's a game I worked on, you know, for every single day of the past three years, there were some moments where I could just explore the world, have fun, and discover new things. And you know, obviously for me, it was seeing the world progress. But for players that will be like, okay, there's this house over there and I'm curious, I'm going to go explore it while I see there's treasure underneath. So how do I get there? And you get in this sort of dialogue with the game, which is really cool. It creates moments where you can live your adventure at your own pace and discover things at your own pace, almost contemplative at some point. I think the game creates a very good balance with a very intense moment of fighting and that sort of stuff. So for me, that's something that I really like about the game as well. © Ubisoft 2. In a recent interview, it was mentioned that there were over 14 Studios involved in the development of the project. And of course, COVID-19 has affected the flow of production of almost everything. And that includes games as well. How hard was it to get the game ready for launch? Especially when everyone is working from home? And this is a two-part question, were any of the Indian studios involved with the production process of the game as well? So I think we can honestly say that, this is not 2020 we were expecting for sure, I was not expecting to be you know, to be talking about the game on discord. And events, you know, we're used to having those physical events. So obviously, that kind of changed the whole world & the whole way we're working but quite honestly, this format works really well as well. I don't know about you, but like, I'm at the office now, you know, I do my interviews, after I'm done with that, I can go back to my desk and continue doing stuff. So you lose a bit of intensity at that moment, but it's very efficient. We were fortunate enough to be in the last moments of our production when COVID hit in Montreal and, and the rest of the world. And we also have a studio in Singapore, who were actually hit before us. So we learned a lot from them. And we could see the impact and so on. So we kind of adapted to that. Since we are working with technology where you know, you're as efficient from home as we would from the office because we're working with software. So it's just an adaptation in terms of communication and so on. But because we are collaborating with so many studios, in a way, we were already working in a distributed context, you know, a lot of our processes had to be able to scale based on remote sites, so now we just multiply the amounts of sites that we have. Instead of being countries, it's streets and addresses, but they are still remote sites, you know, so we relied on the stuff that we put in place before COVID started. To answer the second part of your question about the involvement of Indian studios. So, we are working with the Pune Studio, in India. We basically have a lot of testing and our two main studios for testing are in Bucharest and Pune. So we have a lot of testers in Pune actually who are playing the game every day, sending feedback, finding bugs, and just helping us achieve overall quality on the game by just making sure that the game is solid. We have actually pretty solid testing practices that will go throughout the years. It's just cool to see that that skill set is being developed in Pune, working in collaboration with us. 3. I mentioned earlier in our conversation before, right after the COVID lockdown, in Odyssey I was able to learn a lot about Greek culture. And there was a feature called ‘Discovery Tour’ for people who don't necessarily own the game, but they could still learn about the setting, and learn history as well. Can we expect something similar for Valhalla, as well, where players can go explore the world and kind of have a virtual tour, especially in this COVID era where we can’t travel? Would it be relevant for you to add that feature? So, when we designed this game, obviously we did our research, we talked with experts, we took our history very seriously. And what's great I think about the Viking era is that there is a lot to be told that is kind of difficult to find in terms of historical documentation, we really had to rely on experts. But there's a lot of research, but because of the oral tradition, the research was actually more complicated. So obviously, we did all our research. But there's something about the immersiveness to be said on almost a personal level, you know. What were the motivations behind the Vikings? So there's a lot of cool elements that we have yet to talk about. As for the discovery tour, stay tuned on that front. We'll update on that topic later on. But as of today, we don't have anything to announce on the Discovery tour so far. © Ubisoft 4. I'm going to ask the same question I asked Thierry (Stay tuned for our second interview) about the Norse people. The Norse in popular media have mostly been depicted as barbaric and violent in TV Shows and other forms of media. We know that's not entirely true, because there's a human side to that culture as well. Could we expect to see a different side of that culture apart from the stereotypical depictions in popular media? How has the development team translated Viking subtleties into the gameplay, story and the world of Valhalla? Actually, it's a great question. It's a great question because it's exactly what we're trying to achieve with this game. Vikings, in popular culture, are depicted as mindless barbarians just out for blood basically. And it's because historically, their story has been mostly written by Saxons, who were actually the ones being invaded. So obviously they didn't have nice things to say about Vikings. I'm not saying that you know, the Vikings were the good guys and the Saxons were bad or vice versa. What I'm saying is that there is always motivation behind someone's actions. I think when you're saying that we're trying to kind of show the human side behind this culture and understand their motivations, why they were raiding in England and what led them to this? Well, first of all, it's because, you know, you have to go back to Norway to understand, and you know, Norway is not a friendly place to live in, you know, there's not that much room, you can’t really grow crops easily. And on top of it there was political pressure from a king in Norway trying to unify things in his own way, to say, you know, it's either my way or you're out, so a lot of Vikings would have had to leave their homes to find new places to prosper. They were the masters at sea in terms of navigation, and the shores of England were reachable by them as it took three to five days to reach by boat. For them, it was completely achievable. And when they got to England, the contrast with Norway was just so strong, you know, they could grow crops endlessly, and they could have all that space in the world that they wanted. So, obviously, they wanted to be there and take control of this land. Since they had harsh land in Scandinavia, they just forged a really militaristic culture, they just invaded England and just started to take land and so on. So that's the sort of story that we want to tell in order to kind of show both from the Saxon and Viking side. We wanted to show what were the realities, and you find that it's not really either completely black or completely white, you know, there are many shades of colours in there. And that's what we've tried to depict in this game. 5. It was mentioned that Vikings would expand their territories and would explore a lot of the areas in England. And from what I've seen so far, even the game, has a huge focus on exploration. What are some new things that players can expect when they're exploring the world? Anything that could surprise them? I also read that you don't entirely tell the player everything, even when they are exploring with their raven. So can people expect something different from, let's say, Odyssey and Origin? So let's start with movement, for example. So you now have a longboat, which you can customise the way you want. Your crew is also on that boat and it is one of your main means of transportation in this game. So exploring the world from the perspective of the rivers will give a very, fresh take on playing an Assassin's Creed game, that's for sure. Because your Longboat gives you an element of strategy since you can use your longboat to attach locations along the shores of rivers. You can also use your longboat for support, let’s say you need support if you are attacked by bandits on the shores, your crew will either disembark or shoot arrows to help you out in the fight. So this definitely brings a fresh take on exploration. And then there's this thing that we're trying to convey, which is that the Vikings were also master explorers. So obviously, we want you to feel a bit like an explorer yourself. The Raven that you mentioned is a very good example of it. It's basically your best friend for exploration, as you survey the land, you will see beams of light. We wanted to achieve a delicate balance where players can generally understand what sort of reward they will get if they venture into those beams of light. However, the game will not tell you what exactly it is. So this is where the beam of light kind of teases the player and caters to their inner curiosity. For us, this was a tool to give variety as well because we wanted players to discover something that feels fresh. It could either have a small puzzle level design that we've put together or maybe a special fight or maybe a special location that we've built, we wanted it to always come as a surprise. After 50,60, or 70 hours of game time, we wanted players to still feel like explorers by discovering new surprises in this game that would kind of trigger that inner curiosity a player has. View the full article
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Sacred Games actor Kubbra Sait is currently seen in the latest web series Wakaalat From Home that went on air today on Prime Video. What’s worth pointing out about the much-awaited show is that it was shot over Zoom calls during the lockdown. © Prime Video The show, also starring Permanent Roommates couple Sumeet Vyas and Nidhi Singh along with Gopal Datt and Akarsh Khurana, revolves around a couple whose divorce hearings take place over video calls due to the lockdown. Save the date and join sujin and radhika virtually as they embark on their divorce hearings over video calls this sep 10 🏻⚖️ #WakaalatFromHomeOnPrime@Nnidhisin @vyas_sumeet #gopaldatt @KubbraSait pic.twitter.com/K4T7GRJiDH — amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) September 3, 2020Be a witness to sujin and radhika's digital divorce diaries 🏻⚖️ : https://t.co/sMgSC7Yi4R#WakaalatFromHomeOnPrime, Coming on September 10!@Nnidhisin @vyas_sumeet @KubbraSait #gopaldatt @AnuvabPal @rohansippy pic.twitter.com/sOqDal3D9r — amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) September 4, 2020Recently, in an exclusive chat with MensXP, Kubbra got candid about her show Wakaalat From Home, playing a lawyer with a twist, her life after Sacred Games and much more. Here are the excerpts from the conversation: 1. Wakaalat From Home has a very unique concept. It is a lighthearted take on the new normal that we have to adapt to. What came to your mind when you first read the script? The beauty of this entire show is that we worked on the script as we went along. We had about a month to prepare and we shot the show in 10 to 12 days. It was really exciting and a lot of fun. And finally, as we were writing the parts, the characters, the stories, the moments, there were bizarre pieces of news that we were able to collate from different parts of the world like for instance, people in shorts showing up on Zoom calls or cases being confirmed to be run on Zoom meeting by the family court and so on. So it was just funny to see that we were ahead of the curve. Of course divorce can be a very tricky subject to tread upon but that’s where comedy comes in and plays its charm out to the fullest. There couldn’t be a better way to deal with divorce than to deal with it in the sense of comedy and humour and we really enjoyed making it. 2. Tell us about your role in the series. Comedy as a genre is usually the most difficult. How was your overall experience? Can we expect to see you in more such comedy dramas? Yes, I really hope you can and the next time I do a comedy, I wish Sumeet, Gopal, Nidhi and I are in the same room looking at each other instead of looking at each other through the screen. This one was particularly challenging because we were really restricting ourselves out of any kind of sensory cues. We were literally using audio to give cue to our lines and that was really challenging and exciting at the same time. © Prime Video 3. As an actor, what do you think about this new trend of releasing movies on OTT platforms? Do you think the trend is here to stay, and watching movies in a theatre is passe? No chance. I’d love to go watch a movie in the theatre. I think there are certain experiences you can’t take away from the nostalgia that it brings. Come on, I'm not giving up my popcorn or nachos and my once in a while indulgent large cans of cola. I’ll not give them up for movies I'll only watch at home. Also the experience of watching a movie in a movie hall is that you are actually getting off your couch and doing something. It’s an activity of doing with people you love, sharing an experience. Yes, of course you can do that at the luxury of your home while you are watching TV but you are always going to be distracted which takes away the experience of watching a movie. But yes I think content on OTT is increasingly getting better and a lot of money is being pushed in. Like if I have to understand the commerce of it, movies get a far better reach, it takes away from the distribution costs, you can just pump in all the money in marketing people, know enough of the movie before the release and they can choose to watch it or not. It allows people to watch the film for the story and the message that lies in there - and they aren’t just graded as a hit or a flop based on the box office numbers. So I think it has its pros and cons. 4. You mostly opt for quite interesting unconventional roles. Is it a deliberate decision or what goes on in your mind before saying yes to any particular role? I’m extremely blessed and lucky that I've been receiving such unconventional, so to speak, roles my way. I’m yet to reach a level or a stage where I go like “Hey, wo role mujhe karna hai.” I don’t have such thoughts in my head right now. I think the team that I'm working with kind of inspires me to take up the roles. Also, I don’t make decisions with my head, I make decisions with my gut or instinct and it has played out pretty well so far. 5. How has your life changed post Sacred Games as your character Kuku managed to take away some of the limelight from the likes of Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui? Come on, they are true stars (laughs). In fact, I am an ardent fan of Nawaz and Saif and I think I’m so grateful Sacred Games happened. That’s why I was able to work with Saif in Jawani Jaaneman too. I’ve worked with both of them, and first hand I can vouch that these two incredible human beings are masters of their craft. I was just extremely blessed to share space in proximity with them and screen space with them as a co-actor. They are extremely inspiring and wonderful human beings. Has life changed? Well, my career has changed. Life is pretty awesome. It always was. It’s always been the way I look at life and it’s always been good. © Pooja entertainment 6. What were your low moments during this lockdown, as you had to stay indoors away from the sets. How were you coping with the situation? Thanks for asking me this question. No one has asked me about my low moments. I think it is very important for us to realise that the lockdown was a time to reflect upon your own inadequacies to say the least and I think it allowed me as well to reflect and spend time with myself because you always seem to have an escape in life and you tend to like kind of pass the buck on to other people and try to escape from the problems on a day to day basis. And here you had nowhere to run. You had to spend time with yourself and be in the confinements of your home and cook your own food. One thing that I realised was I will now actively, and I mentioned in my tweet as well, not ask people or tell people how they should feel. I am not going to be like, “Hey you are well and you are fine”. I am going to be far more patient to ask people how they are feeling and create a safety net around letting them tell me how they feel. And if they aren’t telling me how they feel, then we should accept that too. It is ok to not be okay. I had several “not okay” moments. My cat was sick during the lockdown, and we had to undergo emergency surgery and that wasn’t the easiest thing. I became a full blown parent during lockdown and at one point I couldn’t handle this stress and actually called my mum down. I think it’s good we dealt with it well as a family and I think it’s really important to accept that we all will have shit days and it’s ok to have shit days. 7. You are one of the actors who is quite opinionated on social media and yet oftentimes you too receive flak or get trolled. And with so many recent suicides, (16yo and 18yo old tiktokers, PubG player from West Bengal) there's so much negative impact of social media. What would be your advice for youngsters who are watching you? What should one do for their mental well being as that's equally important too? If you are not feeling okay, speak to your peer group or people you can trust. You don’t need to count your life on the number of followers you have or the number of people who you think or claim to be your friends. If you have friends by the end of your life and you can count them on your fingers, you are a blessed human being. Identify those five people who truly matter to you and who will be there, hear you out and who you feel safe with. And if you are really unable to deal with the pressures, then please reach out to professional counsellors or helplines who’ll help you to maneuver your ideas and guide you towards psychiatrists who will give you the right direction to deal with the stress you are going through. It’s okay to acknowledge that mental health today is a crisis that we are in and it’s okay to address it and nobody will judge you. And if they do, they aren’t your peer circle. Don’t ever let yourself feel terrible because someone else doesn’t understand you. What’s important is you understand yourself. 8. Tell us about your future projects. Also, what will be your first thought when you go back to the sets? I’m dying to go back to the sets and I'm really excited that I should be heading back to sets in October. Right now I'm just prepping myself and ensuring my immunity is good and strong so I can battle it out. What we are fighting is this invisible threat and it could happen to anybody. Please normalise it for people who have contracted the virus. It’s okay to go get a COVID test done. There’s a lot of drama around how it is done. Please it’s not that difficult. I had to get a COVID test done because I had a dental surgery. So please normalise these things and please don’t escape it if you are somebody who has got infected. It’s not a shame rather it’s something that’s happening to everyone. Just take care of yourselves right now. 9. There's a general opinion that people don't form "real relationships" in the industry. Is it true? I think it’s only as real as you want it to be because come on, let’s be honest. This industry deals with people project by project. I have some friends who I have only been able to become friends with because I've done more than one project with them. I don’t think I can say, I'm friends with Nawaz or Saif or Anurag. I’m not friends with anybody. These are really close working acquaintances and they have their lives beyond that set, beyond the shoot that we did. We are cordial and respectful with each other but besides that, do I respect and love them? Yes I do. Do they respect and love me? Yes they do. Is that good enough as a gratification or a validation for me as a human being for me to exist on this planet? Yes, that’s good enough. Do I want to have friends in the industry? It’s not a criteria for me to exist and do my work. Why is it even important to have friends from the industry? I worked at Microsoft and I don't think I ever made friends from my office. In fact, my ex-boss and I are friends today, many many years after I quit Microsoft. So if that doesn't happen in the corporate world, then why is it assumed that I would be best friends with people I work with in the realm of my business? 10. When is your memoir expected to release and what can we expect in that? I think in between the journey of being an anchor and an actor, I’m also a storyteller and what I picked on that was, we can look at an incident in isolation and then you will identify a beginning, a middle and an end to that incident and how it kind of impacted you as a human being and your growth. I also am excited as I’m a constant learner. What I have realised is that through the journey of learning, I don’t restrict my learning to a particular age group or a demographic or industry. I learn from everything including my cat, a 4-year-old, ruins from the 4th century or a 40-year-old person. I think it’s perfectly okay for any person of any age to write a memoir. It was just a way to address the thoughts I was going through and that’s exactly what I did. So, instead of bottling my thoughts I let them flow on paper. I realised that I had no qualms in writing 1000-3000 words a day. I would then just bang my laptop and be excited about a successful day. I celebrated many successful days like that during the lockdown as my journey towards being a nascent author. I'm just really excited that HarperCollins decided to publish the book. I think it’s a matter of serious legit honour. I’m really happy. View the full article
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We have said this before and we will say it again - if there is anyone in India, on whom men and women alike have had an intoxicating crush on, it is Milind Soman. © Instagram/milindrunning So naturally, when the man drops some serious knowledge about modern relationships, and how our actions and choices in those relationships shape us social animals, we were all ears. Having seen Milind play Dr Aamir Warsi in Amazon Prime Video's Four More Shots Please! which, in its essence is a show that is made about women, by women, but not necessarily just for women, we thought why not have a chat with one of the charismatic men from the show, about what modern-day relationships actually entail. © Amazon Prime Video One thing that pops up in mind when one watches 'Four More Shots Please!' is, the parallels it draws about the four women in lead and the women from *** and the City Series. In both the shows, it was the urban space and the cityscape that allowed the women to make the choices they make. However, in terms of cultural conscience, there is such stark difference, that what would have been “normal,” and insignificant in SATC, takes on a much more nuanced position in Four More Shots Please!. © Amazon Prime Video Milind as Dr Warsi inhabits a rather unique position in the scheme of the show. His portrayal of Dr Aamir Warsi in the series is layered and has a lot more going than what meets the eye. We asked him about the dynamics of changing relationships in these times, where and how do we go ahead in the post-COVID-19 era relationships, and most importantly, we try to ask the age-old question - what do women want from a relationship. © Amazon Prime Video Edited Excerpts: The show deals with relationships in a rather nuanced manner, and in ways that we don't often get to see in Indian films and shows. It has instances of polyamory, it talks about co-parenting, and then there is the conversation about having an agency in a relationship. How would you say have these ideas been received by the audience? These aren't entirely new concepts for us as Indians, especially if we have been exposed to the West in any way. But yes, these are situations where we as a society and as individuals have never faced before. For us, even if we inhabit the urban space and the sensibilities that accompany that space, it has always been about not talking about them. Four More Shots Please! explores these concepts, and places the four women in a position where they come face to face with things like co-parenting and polyamory. The show is not just about four women drinking, and having a good time, it is much more than that. On the other hand, for a series like *** and the City, it wasn't something new, even back then when they were making that show. In the Indian context, Four More Shots Please! tries to explore, the choices and options that people now have, seeing how sub-cultures and influences all over the world, and again, in India, are evolving. © Amazon Prime Video There is this very fleeting but poignant instance in the show when Sayani Gupta's character, Damini, talks about having 'the talk' with your partner before you start a relationship. How does one ensure that both the people are on the same page, assuming they truly get there at all? You can never be truly on the same page unless you talk. When you are starting out in a relationship, you want to present only the good things, what your dreams are and where do you want to go. However, what makes a person are the choices that they make, and what are they willing to do to get to their dreams, what actions to they take, and this is where the differences often creeps in. This is why it is important to have 'the talk', just so that you know what is expected outcome of a relationship is, how do we get there and what do we do once we get there. © Amazon Prime Video Let's talk about fatherhood and how the show deals with it. How would you say the show deals with fatherhood? I think the most crucial thing about fatherhood that the show explores, is the concept of choices, and its notions in these changing times. We have been conditioned in a way that has forced us to see fatherhood using only one lens. The show points towards the free will to make different choices, something that did not occur to most men, like Siddhi's father. Dr Warsi as a character is a very laid back person who lives each day as it comes by. There is no sense of planning. © Amazon Prime Video However, when Damini informs Dr Warsi, that they are pregnant, he jumps on board, even though he knows they have no future together. This is where Warsi's actual personality comes to the foreground. He is no longer a passive character. He switches into overdrive, and starts planning, starts thinking what are they going to do about the situation, and about the baby. That being said, he does not impose what he thinks is best, but rather, adapts to what Damini would want. She does not take a stance when asked about their future as co-parents, and that of their child's. But had she taken one, Warsi would've accepted it and adapted. Then we have someone like Siddhi's father, who even though was a distant father at the beginning of the second season, comes around and becomes one of Siddhi's biggest and most vocal supporter towards the end. He has also been conditioned to go by a certain way, and yet, he breaks those conventions. The point that the show makes is that it is no longer feasible to stand behind what we have come to call conventions and “culture.” You need to take a stand according to what you believe in and look at the virtually limitless options that you have. © Amazon Prime Video One recurring aspect that the show talks about is the idea of being friends with your exes. From your personal experience, would you say that is feasible, and more importantly, a healthy thing to do? This actually depends on the situation. Once you enter into a relationship with someone, it stays. Yes, the dynamics, the meaning, the name of the relationship changes. For example, when two people part ways, they still have a relationship after they have parted. If they are romantically involved, we call them exes. It still is a relationship, albeit a different one. It is up to the individuals to work out what will the new boundaries be, whether it will be productive and healthy for both of them or not. Sometimes, it genuinely is, whereas sometimes, it is not. © Amazon Prime Video Let's talk about your acting career for a bit. You were a supermodel before you took up acting, and after you, we had John Abraham. However, we don't see that happening often, when men who are really successful and established models take up careers in acting. What would you say has changed? It was easier earlier for people to get a part in a film. Casting directors would often meet someone in the most mundane of places and just pick them up. Now though, the process has become very professional. You won't be at the top of a casting director's mind at this day and age, because there is a very limited context in which models are represented in the media. There are no supermodels any more. Models or for that matter anyone who wants to act in films or OTT platforms have to get in touch with the casting directors and agents and actually show that they can act, before getting the green light. © Viral Bhayani Or perhaps, the easier and shorter answer would be they probably aren't that interested anymore. Tell us something about your acting process. How do you prepare yourself for a role? I have come to realise that at the end of the day, it is about human characters. How would a certain human being behave in a certain situation and how I as an actor make it interesting for the screen and the audiences, without going over the top. Of course, there are some technical things that one needs to take care of, but the director and the writers help you out with those things. You cannot expect an actor who plays a gynaecologist, to have undergone the same training as a real-life gynaecologist - that would be impossible. So you construct the character in your mind, how he would behave in a certain situation, and fine-tune those things. © SonyLIV This lockdown is something that has forced people to spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with each other, without any scope of a momentary respite, which is quite antithetical to the way modern relationships have come to function. How should one go about this and deal with it, so that they come out of this situation, stronger as partners and stronger as individuals? The key is to have compassion and understand that the position that you are in, your partner is also in a similar position, that they too are finding it extremely difficult to do normal things. You need space, so ensure that you give your partner the same. This requires discipline, respect and understanding, all of which has to be mutual. View this post on Instagram Day 6. Plain, simple, slightly warmed up, coconut oil for my hair ð¤ A post shared by (@milindrunning) Cases of domestic violence have increases in the lockdown. Although it is much easier said than done, you have to take a stand for yourself. There is a tendency for things and people to breakdown so it is very important for people to find spaces for themselves and afford the same to their partners. Understand where your partner is coming from and work on yourself. And most importantly, talk things out. View the full article
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It's raining sequels in Bollywood right now. It can also be said that sequels have now become a sure shot formula to score success at the box office. The latest one to join the league is Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'. Earlier, there were reports about the sequel but now we have a confirmation about the same. Yes, you heard that right. The horror-comedy superhit will have a part two and we cannot help but hope for more twists and turns. T-Series honcho Bhushan Kumar will be producing the film and interestingly, he has got the first narration from director Farhad Samji. A source close to the development told MensXP, “Farhad Samji is both writing and directing the film. He has given the first narration to Bhushan Kumar and he has liked the idea. Currently, Farhad is working on the script and is also looking for a fresh cast this time. The title has always been registered and it's called 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'.” Is Akshay a part of the sequel? Well, then the answer is no. Our source also told us, “Akshay is, for sure, not a part of 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'. The makers will look for a new cast altogether. Right now, the latest development is this and Bhushan Kumar is quite interested in the idea of this sequel.” The original film was an official remake of the Malayalam hit film 'Manichitrathazhu'' starring Mohanlal and Shobana. Director Farhad is presently working on 'Housefull 4' and it features Akshay Kumar. It will be interesting to see who will step into the shoes of Akshay Kumar. Any guesses? Do let us know in the comments below. Apart from 'Bhool Bhulaiya 2', the producer is already remaking BR Chopra's 1978 drama 'Pati Patni Aur Woh' starring Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ananya Panday and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1975 comedy 'Chupke Chupke', in which Rajkummar Rao will reprise Dharmendra's role. Stay tuned in for more such Bollywood updates.
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Was 'PM Narendra Modi' a film made for serving any sort of propaganda? Or was it just a subject that filmmaker Omung Kumar felt was necessary to be told to the audience? Well, Vivek Oberoi's upcoming film, 'PM Narendra Modi', was surrounded by such questions and many pointed fingers at the whole idea of releasing the film just before the elections. The trumpet was blown, the trailer was out and the big launch was done. The trailer was taken off from YouTube after the screening of the film was stalled by the Election Commission. The movie was initially scheduled to release on April 11. The cast and crew were all devastated after the order was passed that the film will NOT release on the day it was supposed to be. On Friday, there came a sigh of relief for the producers and the whole team. It was announced that it is finally set to release on May 24, a day after the counting of votes of Lok Sabha polls. MensXP got in touch with Vivek Oberoi's father and one of the producers of the movie 'PM Narendra Modi', Suresh Oberoi, to know his reaction on this happy news and if they are planning to show the movie to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the movie is about his life and struggles - from a 'chaiwala' to India's PM. When we asked Suresh Oberoi about his reaction to the happy announcement, he said, "I am happy that the film is releasing. Yes, we were upset that the film had been banned but we have no complaints at all from the Election Commission. I am just glad that everything is sorted and there are no hassles. We have made this film with full dedication and I would say that my son Vivek has done a great job in it. When we were shooting for the film, Vivek made sure that he took care of his crew members in all the difficult conditions." © Viral Bhayani Adding to it, the father said that he is extremely proud that his son has done a great job and is confident that the movie would work at the box office."I am very proud of him and I am sure the movie would do well at the box office because it has been made with all the right intentions. Vivek has worked hard for it and I believe people would appreciate the efforts that have gone into the making of the film," said Sr. Oberoi. Wondering if Modi himself has watched the movie or not? Well, we couldn't stop ourselves from asking that question. So we ended up asking Suresh Oberoi - Has PM Narendra Modi himself watched the film or are the producers planning for a special screening for him? © Viral Bhayani Answering our query, he said, "The film was banned, how could we show it to Modi ji? He is also busy with his work. Right now, we haven't given any thought to it as we are busy with locking down the screens with the distributors. I would be happy if there is a reaction from his end but as of now, there is no plan as we are busy with the technicalities." Well, this only the time will tell if Modi tweets about it. Suresh Oberoi has been a part of the industry for decades now and we wanted to talk about a few other things too. He was welcoming enough to talk about the serious topics that we divulged into. Many have raised issues over the years about CBFC not being liberal and that it doesn't let the filmmaker use freedom of expression in his craft. Sr. Oberoi is of a view that things are much better now compared to earlier when it wasn't that easy. "Let me tell you that CBFC is much liberal now. Earlier, actresses were not even allowed to take off their 'dupatta' or else CBFC would cut those scenes. Things are much better now in all the capacities. We have seen some other era altogether and now, the industry has evolved in a way where you have freedom of expression," said Oberoi. © Viral Bhayani Before ending the conversation, we asked him a very direct question - Many actors have complained that they should get more benefits of having the star status. On this, he gave us a very honest answer - "Why do people complain? I don't really understand. Back then, when we used to shoot for 15 to 16 hours, we had no vanity vans and we used to shoot under the scorching sun. I remember only Amitabh Bachchan, Poonam Dhillon, and a few others bought vanity vans. Now, everyone has vanity vans. Life has become less complicated and simpler. I recently did an ad shoot and there were vanity vans for every artist just outside the shooting venue. Everything, nowadays, is much better than the old days. For film-making, we have better equipment and cameras." He bid us goodbye promising that he will keep us posted about any sort of further developments.
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Was 'PM Narendra Modi' a film made for serving any sort of propaganda? Or was it just a subject that filmmaker Omung Kumar felt was necessary to be told to the audience? Well, Vivek Oberoi's upcoming film, 'PM Narendra Modi', was surrounded by such questions and many pointed fingers at the whole idea of releasing the film just before the elections. The trumpet was blown, the trailer was out and the big launch was done. The trailer was taken off from YouTube after the screening of the film was stalled by the Election Commission. The movie was initially scheduled to release on April 11. The cast and crew were all devastated after the order was passed that the film will NOT release on the day it was supposed to be. On Friday, there came a sigh of relief for the producers and the whole team. It was announced that it is finally set to release on May 24, a day after the counting of votes of Lok Sabha polls. MensXP got in touch with Vivek Oberoi's father and one of the producers of the movie 'PM Narendra Modi', Suresh Oberoi, to know his reaction on this happy news and if they are planning to show the movie to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the movie is about his life and struggles - from a 'chaiwala' to India's PM. When we asked Suresh Oberoi about his reaction to the happy announcement, he said, "I am happy that the film is releasing. Yes, we were upset that the film had been banned but we have no complaints at all from the Election Commission. I am just glad that everything is sorted and there are no hassles. We have made this film with full dedication and I would say that my son Vivek has done a great job in it. When we were shooting for the film, Vivek made sure that he took care of his crew members in all the difficult conditions." © Viral Bhayani Adding to it, the father said that he is extremely proud that his son has done a great job and is confident that the movie would work at the box office."I am very proud of him and I am sure the movie would do well at the box office because it has been made with all the right intentions. Vivek has worked hard for it and I believe people would appreciate the efforts that have gone into the making of the film," said Sr. Oberoi. Wondering if Modi himself has watched the movie or not? Well, we couldn't stop ourselves from asking that question. So we ended up asking Suresh Oberoi - Has PM Narendra Modi himself watched the film or are the producers planning for a special screening for him? © Viral Bhayani Answering our query, he said, "The film was banned, how could we show it to Modi ji? He is also busy with his work. Right now, we haven't given any thought to it as we are busy with locking down the screens with the distributors. I would be happy if there is a reaction from his end but as of now, there is no plan as we are busy with the technicalities." Well, this only the time will tell if Modi tweets about it. Suresh Oberoi has been a part of the industry for decades now and we wanted to talk about a few other things too. He was welcoming enough to talk about the serious topics that we divulged into. Many have raised issues over the years about CBFC not being liberal and that it doesn't let the filmmaker use freedom of expression in his craft. Sr. Oberoi is of a view that things are much better now compared to earlier when it wasn't that easy. "Let me tell you that CBFC is much liberal now. Earlier, actresses were not even allowed to take off their 'dupatta' or else CBFC would cut those scenes. Things are much better now in all the capacities. We have seen some other era altogether and now, the industry has evolved in a way where you have freedom of expression," said Oberoi. © Viral Bhayani Before ending the conversation, we asked him a very direct question - Many actors have complained that they should get more benefits of having the star status. On this, he gave us a very honest answer - "Why do people complain? I don't really understand. Back then, when we used to shoot for 15 to 16 hours, we had no vanity vans and we used to shoot under the scorching sun. I remember only Amitabh Bachchan, Poonam Dhillon, and a few others bought vanity vans. Now, everyone has vanity vans. Life has become less complicated and simpler. I recently did an ad shoot and there were vanity vans for every artist just outside the shooting venue. Everything, nowadays, is much better than the old days. For film-making, we have better equipment and cameras." He bid us goodbye promising that he will keep us posted about any sort of further developments.