Preeti Jhangiani on getting typecast: ‘It was an era when you did one thing and you kept doing it for ten years’

04/02/2023
It has been many years since we saw her in a Hindi film, but Preeti Jhangiani says she never took a break. Having made her debut with Aditya Chopra's Mohabatein in 2000, Preeti worked in films such as Awara Pagal Deewana. In her new interview, Preeti talks about her absence from Hindi films, being typecast in ‘softer roles’ and the kind of movies she'd like to do. You said in a recent interview with Hindustan Times that you were typecast in your early days. How did you feel being offered those...

I almost took up a profession out of acting: Alaya F

04/02/2023
Alaya F has said that she 'almost' opted for a profession that was not acting, adding that one must work hard at whatever profession one chooses. She was speaking in a new interview ahead of her new release Almost Pyaar with dJ Mohabbat. Alaya is the daughter of actor Pooja Bedi and the granddaughter of Kabir Bedi. Asked about her views on star kids choosing careers that are not part of showbiz, Alaya told, “It’s great. I almost took up a profession outside of acting. The key is to work ha...

No one is putting me on a magazine cover before debut: Zahan Kapoor

04/02/2023
There is bound to be immense curiosity when the late Shashi Kapoor’s grandson makes his Hindi film debut. But Zahan Kapoor wants people to watch Faraaz with the expectation of a good film, not as a star-kid’s launch vehicle. “My biggest fear is this being construed as the debut film of a Kapoor. If you are coming in with that expectation, you will be disappointed,” he says. Hansal Mehta’s directorial venture, also starring Aditya Rawal, recounts the 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisa...

Arbaaz Khan to host chat show with Hindi cinema legends

04/02/2023
Bollywood actor-producer Arbaaz Khan on Thursday said he is set to host “The Invincibles”, a new chat show featuring some of the legends of Hindi cinema. Billed as a “nostalgia trip”, the upcoming six-part chat series will fete industry veterans, including his father, celebrated writer Salim Khan and his stepmother, actor Helen as well as writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, veteran stars Waheeda Rahman, Shatrughan Sinha and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. “Cinema is evergreen and I wanted to create a serie...

Want to do memorable roles in Hindi cinema: Parambrata Chattopadhyay

04/02/2023
Bengali cinema star Parambrata Chattopadhyay believes the opening up of OTT platforms has helped him find “sensible” work in Hindi cinema. According to the actor, who made his Hindi cinema debut with Vidya Balan-starrer “Kahaani”, “Pari” IN 2018 marked the beginning of the second phase of his career in the industry and it has been more fruitful. “After ‘Kahaani’, a lot of people thought that I would move to Mumbai and start working there, which I didn’t do. I had no plans of doing that. But I...

The industry taught me patience: Gazal Sood

04/02/2023
Happu Ki Ultan Paltan is a popular show. Did you hear about it before you joined it? Of course! This is such a popular show that my family watches it regularly. They were so happy to hear about my entry in the show. How has been the experience? The shooting experience has been brilliant as I love playing Kate Singh. It’s always a humour-filled day on the sets. How is the rapport with your co-stars? Happu (Yogesh Tripathi) is a mind-blowing actor. He continues to spread happiness and laught...

Shah Rukh Khan on ‘Pathaan’ success: In these four days, I’ve forgotten my last four years

03/02/2023
As fans in the room cheered, 'Shah Rukh Khan is back, Bollywood is back', John Abraham interrupted to say, "Shah Rukh Khan is not back. He just went to a loo break." John's remark was received with a thunderous cheer. Khan took a 4-year break from the big screen only to return with the spy thriller 'Pathaan'. The film which was released on January 25 has been breaking several records at the box office every day since. From the biggest opening day collection in the history of Indian cinema to...

Actress Monica Chaudhary had to lose 20 kilos for her debut film ‘Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar’ that she gained for Salt City

03/02/2023
Having previously featured in shows like 'Salt City', 'Apharan' and 'Dark 7 White', actress Monica Chaudhary is set to make her Bollywood debut with Luv Ranjan's 'Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar' starring alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Anubhav Singh Bassi and Dimple Kapadia which is set to release on 8th March 2023. The actress had to lose 20 Kilos for this film which she had previously gained for a character in her last show 'Salt City'. Talking about the challenge of loosing weight for g...

‘Keeping low profile is good,’ says singer Esha Gaur

03/02/2023
Tell us about your background. How did you get into singing? I come from a doctor’s family. My father, brother and grandfather are all doctors. My mother had an inclination towards singing and she figured out the singer in me when I was four. What are the prominent projects you’ve been associated with in TV? I have sung title tracks of TV shows for various channels such as Ek Aastha Aisi Bhi (Star Plus), Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega (Zee TV), Vidya (Colours), Gupta Brothers (Star Bharat), Shubh...

‘I had a Crush on Naga Chaitanya’, Reveals South Actress Diyvansha Kaushik

03/02/2023
Popular south actress Divyansha Kaushik, who made her Telugu screen debut with superhit 'Majili' during the promotions of her upcoming entertainer 'Michael' clarified her relationship with Naga Chaitanya. She quipped about having a crush on him but denied dating Samantha Ruth Prabhu's ex-hubby. According to Telugu Cinema.com, during a media interaction, Divyansha Kaushik said, "I had a crush on Naga Chaitanya. He is a genuine individual. However, we have never interacted outside of profes...

The audience will see more versions of me this year: Kriti Sanon

03/02/2023
In her showbiz journey over the last nine years, Kriti Sanon has been a part of films of diverse genres. After making her debut with Heropanti in 2014, she made a mark as the quintessential Bollywood heroine in several big-ticket films. But she didn’t stop at that. She went on to pick roles that gave her a chance to push the envelope and showcase her range as an actor. In 2021, Kriti won immense appreciation for her role as a surrogate mother in Mimi and the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress,...

Alia Bhatt opens up on balancing work life after Raha’s birth: My No.1 priority is my daughter

03/02/2023
Alia Bhatt, who welcomed daughter Raha in November 2023, seems to be enjoying the special phase of motherhood. Recently the actress shared how she plans to balance her work life and motherhood duties in the future. When the actress was asked if she would slow down to focus on her family life, Alia had shared, “I am a take-each-day kind of a person. I will take it one day at a time and will definitely give it my best. But definitely, priorities have changed. My number one priority in my life ...

I never thought I would be friends with Priyanka Chahar Choudhary: Tina Datta

02/02/2023
Tina Datta who has been eliminated from 'Bigg Boss 16' over the weekend, got into conversation. Speaking about her friendship with co-contestants Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and Archana Gautam she said, "That's what Priyanka and I laugh about, we never thought we would be friends. We turned out to be very good friends and it's going to be even outside the house. I'm going to pick her up on the finale day. I look forward to an amazing time, we have made a lot of plans." Tina says Archana is mi...

Madhu Kandhari, who has acted in many web series, is now part of the movie ‘Gandhi Godse: Ek Yudh’. She talks about her journey

02/02/2023
Tell us something about your background I started my theatre journey in Delhi in 2010 with a musical titled Hello Dolly. It was with an IIT Delhi theatre group Dramatech. I also did theatre with Pierrots Troupe, Chilsaag Chillies and Behroopiya Entertainers. I have done a variety of plays in Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi. How did you get your first break on screen? Acting happened with the film Madras Café. Our group was rehearsing for a play in IIT Delhi and a casting team came looking f...

Richa Chadha learning Kathak for her role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi’

02/02/2023
Actress Richa Chadha has reunited with her old love, and it's not a person. Richa formally trained in the classical dance form of Kathak as a child but was forced to stop it due to her board exams. As now her role in maestro Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi demands Kathak training, the actress started preparing for the same. "I trained in Kathak as a kid under Pt Abhay Shankar Mishra for ten years as a child. Then life happened and my love for dance got left behind. I was afraid I lost my t...

After 38 years in cinema, I’m on main poster of film: Anupam Kher on ‘Shiv Shastri Balboa’

02/02/2023
Veteran actor Anupam Kher says his upcoming feature 'Shiv Shastri Balboa' is a special film as it gave him the opportunity to play a title role after being around in showbiz for over three decades. Directed by Ajayan Venugopalan, the movie is billed as a fascinating tale of survival of an Indian in a small town in America. Kher, who co-stars with Neena Gupta in 'Shiv Shastri Balboa', said he is happy for the both of them to have received the opportunity to finally shoulder a film. "Neena an...

Niyati Fatnani learns Bengali for her show ‘Dear Ishq’

02/02/2023
Actress Niyati Fatnani is seen on Hotstar’s recent series Dear Ishq. Talking about her character, Niyati says, “In the series, I am essaying the role of an award-winning literary editor, Asmita Roy. She is a Bengali girl who is independent and loves to take her own decisions. Asmita is a fan of classical writers and storytellers like Premchand, Rabindranath Tagore and more.” She adds, “The role I am playing is that of a Bengali girl, so I had to learn a few sentences and words to portray my ...

Sameera Reddy recalls the time when everybody was getting plastic surgery done; says she is grateful to God that she didn’t

02/02/2023
Sameera Reddy recently recalled the phase in the film industry when everybody around was getting corrective surgeries done. Although the actress admitted that she was tempted to do so, she is grateful to God that she didn’t. Spilling some beans about the same, Sameera said that about 10 years ago everybody around her was getting plastic surgery, boob jobs, changing their nose or bone structure. The actress remembered that she had to always pad her chest and was told to get a boob job done. ...

I was reminded often of my dark skin and how that would be an impediment in getting good roles: Sanghmitra Hitaishi

02/02/2023
Sanghmitra Hitaishi is slowly but gradually carving her niche in the entertainment industry. The actress is best known for her work in ‘Lajwanti’, ‘Bombay Begums’, ‘Out of Love’, ‘BA Pass 2’ and others. The actress also has National Award winning short films like ‘Custody’ and ‘Fly Bird’ and a Spanish feature film ‘El Desentierro’ to her credit. Sanghmitra recalls not getting good roles due to her dark skin colour, being an outsider and more. Excerpts… You come from a conservative political fa...

An actor always starts with empathy: Manoj Bajpayee on playing the common man

01/02/2023
Be it Srikant Tiwari of 'The Family Man' or Dasru from his upcoming film 'Joram', where he plays a displaced indigenous man on the run with his infant daughter, actor Manoj Bajpayee says his empathy always lies with characters that represent the common man. According to the National Award winner, most of his characters that have become popular with the audiences are the people that he has seen "sometimes from a distance and sometimes from close quarters". "I come from a lower middle class farm...

Two kids are twice the trouble, but also twice the fun: Evelyn Sharma

01/02/2023
Evelyn Sharma and her husband, Tushaan Bhindi, who became parents to Ava in November 2021, are all set to welcome their second baby. The actress announced the news with a social media post, flaunting her baby bump. The Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani actress, who is now based in Australia, says, “We always dreamed of having a big family of our own. Ava is such a beautiful little person, and it makes you want another one. We wanted the kids to be close in age so they can grow up together. We are exci...

Shamita Shetty breaks silence on dating rumours with Aamir Ali

01/02/2023
Is Shamita Shetty dating actor Aamir Ali? Has Shamita Shetty found a new love in her life? all these questions have been doing the rounds on the internet after a video of Aamir planting a kiss on Shamita's cheek went viral. Addressing such speculation, Shamita took to Twitter and clarified that she is "single and happy." She also took a dig at society for its "narrow-mindedness." She wrote, "I'm baffled by society and it's convenient prudish mindset all across. Why is every action and ever...

I was branded difficult and arrogant as I turned down certain projects: Tia Bajpai

01/02/2023
Tia Bajpai has been away from the limelight. She had a cameo in her last project, Hate Story 4 (2018). After a four-year hiatus, Bajpai was recently seen in a music video. Even after films like Haunted (2011) and 1920: Evil Returns (2012), the actor blames lack of good offers behind her disappearance from the screen. She states that her stint in two horror films stereotyped her in the genre. The actor says most offers that came her way were inconsequential, and hence, she didn’t take them up...

My journey has not been a typical star kid journey; I have never experienced hate on social media because of nepotism: Shriya Pilgaonkar

01/02/2023
Despite being the daughter of superstar parents Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar, entering the film industry and making her mark was not a cakewalk for Shriya Pilgaonkar. The young diva, who is currently ruling the OTT world with her brilliant performances, has seen her share of struggles and faced rejection. In a freewheeling conversation with ETimes, Shriya opened up about carving her own path, things she learnt from her parents, and her bond with them. Excerpts… How difficult was it to break t...

Harrdy Sandhu: ‘I didn’t have any money left for my car installments’

31/01/2023
Harrdy Sandhu is a popular name after having delivered hit Punjabi numbers like Soch, Naah and Bijlee being the latest one. The singer, also acts in movies and had played Madan Lal in Ranveer Singh-starrer, 83. But less do his fans know that Harrdy was a fast bowler who turned to singing after his elbow injury cut his sports career short. Harddy had played with Shikar Dhawan and many other known names in the U-19 World Cup. Also, it was former cricketer Robin Uthappa who had given him his...

Nora Fatehi talks about ‘biggest red flag in a guy’: You know he is talking to more than one girl when...

31/01/2023
In a recent interview, Nora Fatehi said 'disappearing' was the biggest red flag in a guy, according to her. She also spoke about the ‘pettiest thing’ one can do after a breakup. Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar recently claimed that Nora Fatehi has always been ‘jealous of Jacqueline Fernandez’, with whom he was 'in a serious relationship'. The actor-dancer has been in news for her association with Sukumar, who is involved in an alleged ?200 crore money laundering case. Now, in a new inter...

I don’t want to live a life where I cannot empathise with other people’s experiences: Tahira Kashyap

31/01/2023
Writer-director Tahira Kashyap and husband Ayushmann Khurrana’s love for travelling goes beyond the need for a break from the mundane. The couple finds it liberating, empowering and manage to make time for it with their two children between their hectic schedules. While referring to their vacation to Amsterdam and Paris last year, Tahira told BT, “Travel is very important for us because it makes us experience life. I don’t want to live a life where I cannot empathise with other people’s expe...

I am more prepared to take risks: Ravie Dubey

31/01/2023
Actor-producer Ravie Dubey feels one has to constantly challenge oneself to stay relevant in the industry. “If you refuse to break the shackles of your comfort zone, the industry tends to leave you far behind. I had realised this long time back. This was the reason that I landed into production and writing as well although I had some of the best characters to portray on screen. My last OTT release Matsyakaand (2021) brought me into the forefront of the acting game whereas shows like Udaari...

Sunny Leone: I have never played such a de-glam role

31/01/2023
If you were surprised to see Sunny Leone’s de-glam avatar in the trailer of Quotation Gang, you’re not the only one. The actor too was surprised when filmmaker Vivek Kumar Kannan approached her for the crime drama. After all, the role was completely at odds with the glamorous image she has built over the past decade with hit numbers like Baby doll and Laila main Laila. “When Vivek narrated the story, the first thing I asked him was what he wanted from me. He said he wanted me to play [a part]...

Sonam Kapoor gets nostalgic, find out why

31/01/2023
Sonam Kapoor, 37, reminisced about the period of her life when she was 17. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Sonam shared a major throwback photo and relived her teen days. It's a black-and-white close-up picture of the 'Delhi 6' actor. Sonam captioned the frame, " All of 17 thank you Boney chachu for the picture @boney.kapoor." The industry friends got amazed as time has not brought about much change in Sonam's appearance. What caught everyone's attention was Sonam's husband Anand Ahuja's comme...

‘Aarya’ gives me sense of empowerment: Sushmita Sen

31/01/2023
Bollywood star Sushmita Sen on Monday said she is thrilled to dive into the third season of her International Emmy-nominated series “Aarya”, which makes her feel at home and gives her a sense of empowerment. Created by Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi, the Disney+ Hotstar show is an official remake of the popular Dutch crime-drama “Penoza”, which revolves around a middle-aged woman and her struggle to save her family. After two successfully critically-acclaimed seasons in 2020 and 2021, the team...

As an avid traveller the actress wants to visit this exotic location: Amyra Dastur

31/01/2023
Amyra Dastur loves to travel. The avid traveller who’s been places shares that she has picked her destinations by getting influenced by social media posts. As she scrolled through posts the actress was surprised to see some undiscovered and untouched places to explore, which she did visit only to get surprised! She shares, “I think social media today has played a very big role in my travel plans. Especially, in discovering the places that aren’t really seen, aren’t very commercial, that have a...

Anurag Kashyap ‘didn’t direct me at all’ on Dev.D, claims he came up with idea for the film: Abhay Deol

30/01/2023
Actor Abhay Deol, who recently revived his old tiff with director Anurag Kashyap when he called him a ‘liar’ and a ‘toxic’ person, claimed, once again, in an interview that he came up with the idea for their film Dev.D. Directed by Anurag, the film became a cult hit and strengthened Abhay’s reputation as the poster boy of parallel Hindi cinema. But in the following years, it was revealed that Anurag and Abhay weren’t on cordial terms while making the movie. Anurag claimed in an interview with ...

‘Hum sab Hindustan ki santaan hain’ after fan labels Pathaan’s success as India’s success: Shah Rukh Khan

30/01/2023
As Pathaan is receiving love from across the globe, Shah Rukh Khan decided to share some more love through an ‘Ask SRK’ session on Saturday. Shah Rukh shared what his younger son AbRam told him after watching the film and also responded to a fan who expected him to unite India and Indians. Shah Rukh wrote on Twitter, “I am loving it that you are loving it. #AskSRK for a few minutes to share more of love if that’s possible….and keep the questions ZINDA!!! #Pathaan.” As soon as the actor tweeted...

I don’t want to be away just for sake of it: Dia Mirza

30/01/2023
Ever since she became a mother, Dia Mirza Rekhi’s perspective towards work has changed to a great extent. “I began to feel this even before I became a mother, more so now, that the time I spend away from home, away from my children, I want that time to really add value to what I am doing with life. I don’t want to be away just for the sake of it. I want to be able to do work that my children watch and feel some kind of a shift. It should do something for them as people,” says the Thappad (2020)...

She danced with Rajeev Sen at a wedding on family member’s request, confirms she is not back with him: Charu Asopa

30/01/2023
Charu Asopa and Rajeev Sen’s relationship once again caught the attention of people on the internet after the two performed on the song “Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai” at a family wedding amid their divorce proceedings. Many thought that the estranged couple has once again patched up, but Charu, in a recent interview, denied the same. In a new interview, the former Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor confirmed that she and Rajeev are getting divorced and are done with their mandatory counselling sessions....

Karan Johar always dressed up like her ‘background dancer’: Farah Khan

30/01/2023
Filmmakers Farah Khan and Karan Johar share a love-hate banter whenever it comes to commenting on each other's fashion choices. The two feature in each other's funny videos where they make fun and pass sarcastic comments on the other's clothes. Farah recently shared her worst red carpet nightmare and it involved Karan Johar. She said he dresses up like the background dancers in the songs choreographed by her. Farah attended a hotel launch party in Dubai a few days ago. When she was asked about...

Anurag Kashyap says mainstream Indian cinema ‘started to become cheap copies of Hollywood…’

30/01/2023
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has responded to a question on if there is a change in perception of the global audience's view on Indian cinema. In a new interview, Anurag said that 'any kind of originality, on what is original to them impacts them'. Anurag also said that the mainstream Hindi films 'stopped being original'. Anurag also praised filmmaker SS Rajamouli and his film RRR. Talking about the film's song Naatu Naatu, Anurag said that it is 'incredibly' hard to pull off. Lauding Rajamouli, h...

Short formats helping small town aspirants to make their way: Mohd Sharia

30/01/2023
The 22-year-old featured in a number of music videos after his cameo in the film The Zoya Factor, is currently working on an upcoming biopic on Shaheed Udham Singh that is being shot in Amroha. “I used to make reels for social media and sum up the message of a movie under a minute. My reel for Shah Rukh Khan’s film My Name Is Khan did very well and reached places. The message of ‘all Muslims are not terrorist,’ came directly from my heart and it helped me bag my first song as solo lead along w...

‘Padma Shri’ honour encapsulates my entire body of work: Raveena Tandon

29/01/2023
Actor Raveena Tandon says she is elated that through Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the country, her work in both mainstream and independent cinema has been recognized. The actor, whose name was announced among the Padma awardees on the eve of the Republic Day, said 2023 has begun on a good note. "It has been a year of awards for 'KGF 2' and 'Aranyak'. But this (Padma Shri) was the best of all because this encapsulated my entire body of work. It encapsulates everything, the...

I tasted the best baguette in Vietnam: Rasika Dugal

29/01/2023
When not delivering some power packed performances as an actor, Rasika Dugal loves to travel. Her Instagram is testament to her life as an explorer. She tells us, “The best holiday I have had was in Italy. I don't think one can ever get tired of a city like Rome. Every corner has a story to tell and each time there is more to discover. Tuscany is the perfect place to unwind read that book that has been on your bedside table for months, laze through the day, and gorge on the fresh food and o...

I love the corals and soft sands of Maldives: Elli AvrRam

29/01/2023
Travel is intrinsic to living and growing as a person. Bollywood actress Elli AvrRam is at her happiest when exploring new places. She told us, “My favourite travel destinations are Greece and Maldives. In Greece, I am especially drawn to island Kefalonia, because that is where I discovered the most amazing beaches. The one I’ll never forget, is where the entire beach exists of white round silky stones. It looks so beautiful and one can just role down into the ocean while lying on the stones...

Still feel like a newcomer on sets of films: Divya Dutta

29/01/2023
Critically acclaimed actor Divya Dutta, who has essayed several roles in a career spanning over two decades, says she still feels like a newcomer on the sets of her films. Dutta also said it is always a beautiful experience to work with a new director. "Yes, even after all these years, I feel like a newcomer on the set, I feel nervous. I have butterflies in the stomach," the 45-year old actor said. She was speaking during a session at the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary meet. Asked how she choos...

Radhika Madan announces new film ‘Rumi Ki Sharafat’, starts filming

29/01/2023
Actor Radhika Madan started working on her next feature film, titled "Rumi Ki Sharafat". The upcoming movie will mark the actor's yet another collaboration with Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films. She previously starred in the studio's 2020 film "Angrezi Medium" and "Shiddat", which released in 2021. "Rumi Ki Sharafat" is directed by noted ad filmmaker Prashant Bhagya. Madan, 27, shared her excitement of commencing shoot of the new film on Instagram alongside a picture of her holding the clapboard....

I haven’t been to a place more beautiful than Gulmarg: Aahana Kumra

29/01/2023
Aahana Kumra is always bumbling with energy and travel satiates the explorer in her. She shares, “My favourite travel destinations are quite a lot but Japan tops the list followed by England. As far as India is concerned, it’s Kashmir.” She recalls, “My first solo trip was to Japan. I went to Hiroshima, Kyoto, osaka, Tokyo. It was a surreal experience. I didn’t know the language and it turned out to be incredible. It’s a very safe country for solo female travellers. I met some wonderful people...

Pathaan actor Rachel Ann Mullins on co-star Shah Rukh Khan: ‘I didn’t know who he was until we worked together’

29/01/2023
Hollywood actor and Rachel Ann Mullins made her Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan's new film Pathaan, but she did not know who Shah Rukh Khan was before working on the film. In an interview, Rachel talks about starting her journey in India, and her experience of working on Pathaan. Rachel is best known for featuring in shows such as Happy Endings and The League. She has also worked in Hollywood films including Neighbours and The Entourage Movie. She plays the role of a Russian spy Alice in...

Shah Rukh Khan says Salman bhai is GOAT when a fan brings up muqabla

29/01/2023
Shah Rukh Khan who is basking in the massive success of his film 'Pathaan', called Salman Khan "GOAT," during an interaction with fans on social media. On Saturday, SRK conducted the #AskSRK session, during which a fan said, "Sir Pathaan tho hit ho gyi lekin Salman Khan ka muqabla nhi kr paoge box-office pe #AskSRK." To which he replied, "Salman bhai is...woh kya kehte hain aaj kal...young log...haan....GOAT. ( greatest of all time ) #Pathaan." During the 15 minutes, #AskSRK session the 'Don' ...