MUMBAI: Here we are back with the exciting updates from the world of Bollywood. The list comprises of news updates like ‘Big B to meet UP farmers to pay off their loans’, ‘Kareena-Abhishek-Madhuri joins Mowgli’s world’, ‘Vicky’s childhood tale’, and many more... Read on.

When Vicky Kaushal swallowed a nail

Actor Vicky Kaushal says he got screwed early in his life when he swallowed a nail.

The actor recalled the incident when he became part of No Filter Neha, read a statement.

"I've got screwed in life quite early on. I was a kid, I was in school. I was in Punjab for my summer vacations. It was my mom, me and my younger brother. And there, the electricity used to go very often. It was evening and I still remember it was a Saturday. I was actually playing with a screw, it was just there," Vicky said.

"It was a nail. I was playing with it, trying to lick it and taste the metal. All of this is happening in the dark. I was just playing with myself, nail, and screw. I just gulped the screw down. And everyone's happy that the electricity was back and I'm like mom, I ate a screw.

"She slapped me. And I was just sitting there feeling normal. They took me to the doctor, who gave two options -- one surgery and second to let it pass naturally. "

I'm content with life now: Aparshakti

Actor Aparshakti Khurana says he is content with life.

Aparshakti has made a place for himself in Bollywood after featuring in supporting roles in movies like Dangal, Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi and Stree.

Looking back, Aparshakti, who turned a year older earlier this month, told a publication, "I think I am more patient and content now with life."

Do you think age matters in Bollywood

"Not at all."

Shooting for 'Housefull 4' wrapped up

The shooting for the fourth installment of the Housefull franchise has concluded.

Actor Akshay Kumar on Tuesday took to Twitter, where he shared a photograph of the team and captioned it, "While we have called it a 'wrap' for Housefull 4, the fun never ends..See you all in 2019!"

Actress Kriti Sanon shared the same image, and wrote that the "mad fun crazy ride comes to an end! It is a wrap forHousefull4."

Housefull 4 also stars Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Kharbanda, Rana Dagubatti, and Pooja Hegde.

The film has faced several ups and downs.

Rana replaced veteran actor Nana Patekar after the latter was accused of sexual misconduct by actress and former beauty queen Tanushree Dutta on the sets of 2008 film Horn OK Pleassss.

In October, filmmaker Sajid Khan stepped down as its director after he was accused of several sexual harassment incidents. He was replaced by Farhad Samji.

Finding the right combination of good script, good people a rarity: Arshad Warsi

Actor Arshad Warsi's performances in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, Dhamaal and Ishqiya have been loved by audiences and critics alike. He says less visibility does not bother him as an actor as his parameters of choosing a project combine not only good script but also collaborating with good people.

Arshad will be soon seen in Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta-starrer Bhaiyaji Superhit, which releases on Friday.

Even though he has been appreciated consistently over the years, what makes him do so few films?

"Firstly, it feels nice for an actor to gain the confidence of the maker as they believe that I can bring something to the table while playing a character. I can handle a good human being who is an average talent, but cannot handle a great talent who is an as**le as a human being," Arshad told the leading publications.

"Apart from a good script, the cast and crew matter to me. I really can work with an averagely talented crew but cannot work with people who are brilliant at their jobs but bad people to mingle with. That really puts me off... So for me, finding a combination of a good script and good people is a rarity. That is why selective work is happening."

The actor has managed to make his mark in commercial potboilers as well as content-driven films like Anthony Kaun Hai?, Kabul Express, Jolly LL, Hulchul and Golmaal 3.

What makes him so confident about his position in the film industry which is so cut-throat otherwise?

Arshad explained, "I am the last person to be worried about the attention. I strongly believe that if an individual knows his job and is really good at it, the work will always come. One cannot stay jobless if one is sincere. Fear of losing visibility comes when you are faking talent."

Citing an example, he said, "People like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, and Naseeruddin Shah will always work no matter how old they become or how few films they are doing... Because they magnify talent."

Born and brought up in Nasik, Arshad initially struggled to survive; but he was very good at dancing and won several awards and prizes in dance competitions, including at World Dance championship, London.

Before entering Bollywood as an actor, Arshad worked as an assistant director and choreographed a song for the film Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja.

How does he look back at his journey -- the transformation of a dancer into an actor?

"I really, really miss dancing. When I started dancing at a young age, I was so passionate about dance. I knew it is my passion and I wanted to live for it, but (I knew I) would not be able to make my living out of it. Back then, the opportunity was not much for a dancer to make money. I knew I had to do something else to earn money. There came the acting.

"But my friends and family said that my personality did not change much... I've only become a little mature with age," smiled the 50-year-old.

If he had to choose his favorite and most challenging character as an actor, which would it be?

Arshad said, "I enjoyed playing Babban from the film Ishqiya because that was a very tricky character to play. He is a grey character with a sense of humor, yet something is very off about him. I liked that. Of course, I loved playing Circuit.

However, he said he does not find any of his characters challenging.

"I do not look at any character as challenging. I try to understand the essence of it and perform. I do not analyze my performance and really do not worry about its future. I do not have any anxiety before a performance. Of course, my heart breaks if my performance is not liked by the audience, because that is all you want as an artist; but I get up and go again... It is not the end of the world."

The actor is also gearing up for his digital debut with the show Asura

More than the medium, Arshad is excited about the story because he feels it is very well-written.

"I am not talking much about the medium because for me acting is acting. Whether it is a film or a web show, it is about acting in front of the camera."

Woodpecker film fest to be back with the sixth edition

The Woodpecker International Film Festival will be back with the sixth edition here next month.

This year, the fest will screen several films and documentaries based on social issues.

Short films and documentaries from India and other countries will be screened at the three-day festival at Siri Fort Auditorium here. The fest will start from 23 November.

Around 58 films which deal with issues like migration, displacement, poverty, and violence will be a part of the festival's film line-up.

Roof Knocking -- a short film on the ongoing violence in Gaza and A House for the Syrians -- a film about a community initiative to welcome a Syrian refugee family, will be screened on an opening day.

Several films at WIFF will have women as the central protagonists. These include Jasoosni-Look who's watching, Veil Done, Eye Test, Nakusha, Kiske Liye, I Remember, If You Dare Desire and Chori.

Apart from film screenings, masterclasses and workshops will be held at the festival.

Actor Avijit Dutt will conduct a storytelling masterclass, while National Award winning filmmaker Akanksha Sood will conduct a masterclass on wildlife filmmaking.

"The festival will bring the best of Indian and global cinema for film lovers and has an interesting line-up of films," Rao Narender Yadav, the festival's founder-director, said in a statement.

International films like Bullies, Meet Peter, My Dad Matthew, Listening to a Smile, Abu Adnan - Adnan's Father andAgwaetiti Obiuto will also be screened at WIFF.

Also, the festival will treat nature lovers by showcasing David Attenborough's Ant Mountain, White Wolves - Ghosts of The Arctic, The Fight For The Arctic, Wild Uganda and The Lions Rule EP1 - Death in the Glade.

The WIFF will also hold an award ceremony to honor the filmmakers who are focusing on alternative ways of filmmaking and experimenting with new ideas and issues.

Shakeela a brave soul who defied norms: Richa Chadha

Actress Richa Chadha says southern adult film actress Shakeela was a brave soul who defied the norms of the business during her time.

Talking about Shakeela, Richa said in a statement, "She was a brave soul who defied the norms of the business during her time and her story was much more than what people know of. To essay, the role of a living being is additional responsibility on me as actor and team as the makers of the film."

Richa will be seen playing the role of Shakeela in the biopic, based on the life of the southern actress of the same name, whose popularity soared after the untimely and tragic demise of Silk Smitha.

She added, "I'm looking forward now that the film has wrapped up for the release next year. We have kept the story to the most authentic version of her real life. Shakeela herself has been pivotal to making this film happen and helping us in in-depth knowledge into her life which has helped us tell the story in its most authentic version possible."

The Indrajit Lankesh film is co-produced by Magic Cinemas and Yoddhas Entertainment. It is slated to release in Summer 2019.

Kareena, Abhishek, Madhuri join the world of 'Mowgli...'

Indian stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff will lend their voices to characters of Netflix's Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle for its Hindi dubbed version.

Netflix announced the names of the Indian actors involved with the project in a statement on Tuesday.

Abhishek will lend his voice for Bagheera. Kareena will be infusing life to the soft and hypnotic voice of the python Kaa.

Anil will be giving voice to the free-spirited bear Baloo, Madhuri to Nisha and Jackie to Shere Khan.

In the English version, Christian Bale has given his voice for Bagheera and Cate Blanchett for Kaa. Director-actor Andy Serkis has lent his voice for the character of Baloo, Benedict Cumberbatch to Shere Khan.

Indian-American child actor Rohan Chand will be seen as Mowgli, Matthew Rhys is Lockwood and Freida Pinto essays the role of Messua.

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle will bring the world of Rudyard Kipling's 1864 classic The Jungle Book alive on the big screen, splashed with shades of grey.

The Jungle Book tells the story of an Indian boy named Mowgli, wandering in an enchanting Indian forest with an entourage of his animal friends and fighting for survival. Mowgli's adventures have made way for several adaptations like the popular eponymous 1967 animated film or Jon Favreau's similarly titled re-imagination.

Netflix bought the film from Warner Bros in July. The acquisition is believed to be one of the streaming giant's costliest ever purchases.

Warner had planned to release the movie in October.

Directed by Serkis, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle will premiere globally on Netflix on 7 December.

In fact, Serkis along with Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Rohan, Bale, and Freida will visit Mumbai for the world premiere of their film. The premiere will be held here on 25 November.

Avitesh is an inheritor of Aadesh Shrivastava's talent in the true sense: Big B

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who shared a close bond with Aadesh Shrivastava, says that the late music composer's son Avitesh is the inheritor of his father's talent in the true sense.

Big B was interacting with the media at the Main Hua Tera song launch along with Avitesh Shrivastava and his actress-mother Vijeta Pandit on Monday, here.

Citing his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poems example, Big B said, "My father once wrote a poem on a will and in that poem, I really liked one line that said ‘Mere bête, bête hone se mere uttaradhikari Nahi honge, jo mere uttaradhikari honge wo mere bête honge' (Just because you are my sons, you will not become my inheritors (and) those that will be my inheritors will be my sons) and this line's example is Avitesh because, in a true sense, he is inheritor of his father's talent."

Congratulating Avitesh, the megastar said, "I congratulate Avitesh on his new journey and I am just thankful to great musicians who have put their minds, hearts, and talent together to bring Avitesh to this stage. Without the co-operation of the wonderful team, nothing is possible in today's world and I am sure their contribution will go a long way."

Aadesh Shrivastava had composed music for Amitabh Bachchan's successful films like Baghban, Baabu, and Major Saab.

Sharing his memories spending time with Aadesh Srivastava, the 76-year-old said, "Aadesh and I used to treat each other like brothers. He was my younger brother. I don't know when we formed that kind of relationship but often we used to sit in his studio in the midnight. There wasn't any special motive for that but in that seating, we used to create some tunes and from that, he created some great music for my films."

Avitesh, popularly known as Avi, is the elder son of Aadesh and Vijeta Pandit. He has always had a strong inclination towards Indian classical music. But to hone his skills on western musical instruments and music theory, Avi studied at the Hollywood Academy in Los Angeles.

Sharing his feelings at the song launch, Avitesh said, "I am really thankful to all people who have graced this occasion especially my godfather Amitabh Bachchan because, without him, I couldn't be able to launch this song.

"It's very emotional for me because I am feeling a bit nervous right now and I really wish my father was here today with us. It's a blessing of my mother and all the people who have supported me in this journey. I am thankful to SM Entertainments and others who have been associated with me in this project."

His Main Hua Tera is self-composed and co-written with Kunal Verma. It is a foot-tapping pop number with a blend of Indian and western sounds.

Big B to meet UP farmers to pay off their loans

After Maharashtra, megastar Amitabh Bachchan will pay off loans of farmers in Uttar Pradesh and will personally meet some of them to give them their bank letters.

He will arrange for 70 farmers to travel to Mumbai and receive their bank letters, his spokesperson has said.

The superstar will be taking care of 1,398 farmer loans from Uttar Pradesh amounting to over Rs 4.05 crore.

Amitabh has done a ‘One Time Settlement with Bank Of India' and cleared the farmers’ loans with the bank. He has also invited 70 farmers to Mumbai by blocking an entire train compartment for their travel, to personally give them their bank letters on 26 November.

The farmers will receive their bank letters from Big B at his office here.

When approached, his official spokesperson confirmed, "Yes, Mr. Bachchan has cleared the loans of 1398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh. He had earlier paid off the loans of Maharashtra's farmers. And now he has done so for the debted farmers of UP. Around 70 farmers have been chosen to personally travel and receive the bank letters directly from Mr. Bachchan in Mumbai, clearing their outstanding dues."

Earlier this year, the Paa star, who is in Baroda to accept Sayaji Ratna Award, helped over 350 farmers by paying off their debts and also helped the families of around 44 martyrs of Maharashtra.

Amitabh and his wife Jaya handed over the amount to the farmers and army martyrs families privately in Mumbai a few months ago.

(Source: IANS)

Karan Anand in Rangeela Raja

Karan Anand, who last worked in the film Lupt, next will be seen in Govinda starrer Rangeela Raja, directed by Sikander Bharti and produced by Pahlaj Nihalani.

Speaking about his role, Karan said, "My character's name is Yuvraj Singh. I'm playing the role of an honest and confident IAS officer who is good looking, dashing and handsome. The background of the role is that he is the son of a king and he is doing this job just as a matter of interest and no one can put him down or go against him.”

“The special thing is that I have never done such kind of a role in my small acting career. I played the role of a simple boy in my recent movie Lupt, a negative role in Baby, and essayed the role of a poor man in Kick,” he added.

On how he started his acting career, Karan shared, “I started my career with theatre where I got to learn from many teachers. And my only inspiration is Amitabh Bachchan, who is a role model for every actor of our generation. If I'm able to get even 10 percent of him then I'll feel very lucky. One more thing that is common between both us is that we both are from Allahabad. I wish to share screen space with him even if it is a very small role.”