MUMBAI: A new day has arrived and here we bring you the fresh and new happenings from the world of B-town.

Ashish Vidyarthi an underrated, underutilized actor: Vishal Bhardwaj

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, gearing up for the release of his forthcoming film Pataakha, has said that his old-time actor friend Ashish Vidyarthi is an underrated and under-utilized actor in Bollywood.

Bhardwaj was interacting with the media at a special screening of Kahanibaaz along with Imtiaz Ali, Ashish Vidyarthi and Sandeep Verma on Tuesday in Mumbai.

Bhardwaj said, "It's a psychological thriller. Sandeep Verma has written a really good story and directed the film really well. Ashish (Vidyarthi) is one of the finest actors that we have in our country.

"I think he is a very underrated and underutilized actor. Bollywood hasn't given justice to his talent. In this film also, he has performed beautifully. I am looking forward to work with Ashish in a big project."

They have worked together in Haider.  

Bhardwaj is himself really busy with promotions of his forthcoming film Pataakha, and people are positively reacting to his film's trailer and songs.

He said, "I hope positivity around my film be the same till its release and I have done whatever I could have done for the film. I am here because Ashish Vidyarthi and I are from same college.

"We have grown up together and we both came to Bombay (Mumbai) at the same time and we did our struggle in Bollywood together and we got success at the same time. So, it's my responsibility to be with him on his special occasion."

When Imtiaz was asked if he agreed with Bhardwaj's statement that Ashish is underrated, he said, "I totally agree with what Vishal Bhardwaj has said about Ashish, but I am also encouraged by the fact that there is also a long career ahead of Ashish and hopefully people like me can exploit that a lot.

"I would look forward at some point to work with Ashish."

Kahanibaaz is a short film presented by YellowBulbs. It is inspired by Gaana's original Kahanibaaz podcast.

Being aired on Large Short Films channel on YouTube, it also stars Sasho Saarathy, Rhea Rai, Sanjay Vichare, Sonia Tredia and Sarvesh Adawade.

Amitabh Bachchan to start shooting for 'Jhund' in November

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan will start shooting for his next film Jhund in November in Nagpur.

The cine icon will start shooting after the season finale of quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, and after the release of his upcoming film Thugs Of Hindostan, which will open on 8 November.

Filmmaker Nagraj Manjule's Jhund is reportedly based on the life of Vijay Barse, who is the founder of Slum Soccers. Big B plays role of a professor who channelises the street children to build a soccer team.

The total shoot duration is 70-80 days, and Amitabh will shoot for 45 straight days in Nagpur.

"I chose the city of Nagpur because the story is based there. I wanted the look and feel to be as authentic as possible and Nagpur has its own unique charm, feel and locales, different from Mumbai and Pune. The language of the film would be best showcased in Nagpur hence I chose the lanes of that city," Manjule said in a statement.

On working with Big B, Manjule said, "Working with Mr. Bachchan on a story like this is a dream come true. He has always been my favourite legend and there was nobody other than him who fit the role perfectly and to do justice to this particular character.

"In fact, the other people in the film are all new and since I have been known to work with fresh talent, I think the combination of Mr. Bachchan with this young team will be something to watch out for."

Jhund is produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series, Savita Raj Hiremath, Manjule under the banner of T-Series Films, Taandav Films Entertainment Ltd, and Aatpat.

'Brahmastra' will take Indian cinema to another level: Alia Bhatt

Actress Alia Bhatt, who is busy shooting for Brahmastra has said the film will take cinema in India to another level.

"We all are very Excited for the film...I think Brahmastra is a step ahead. It will take cinema to another level so, I am very excited for the next year," Alia told the media at the preview of "East Greets West - A Conversation Through Calligraphy" on Tuesday here.

The cast of Brahmastra including Amitabh Bachchan, Alia and producer Karan Johar keeps posting pictures of the film's shooting in progress on the social media, but the actress said, "Hopefully, none of them are from the film."

Attending the calligraphy exhibition, in which two strangers come together depicting a story through decorative lettering even though they do not speak the same language,

Alia said, "It shows how art has no boundaries and there is only language and that is art..."

She also revealed that she used to do charcoal paintings in school. And she would like to make her cat Edward's portrait someday.

Brahmastra is a fantasy film that also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Akkineni Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy. The film is scheduled to release on 15 August 2019.

I was raped at 16, kept silent: TV host Padma Lakshmi

US television host Padma Lakshmi has said she was raped at the age of 16, but kept silent as she feared fingers would point at her for bringing it upon herself.

The 48-year-old Top Chef host, wrote a piece for the New York Times published on Tuesday, where she made the revelation.

The article was prompted by allegations surrounding US President Donald Trump's choice for the Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women, the BBC reported.

However, Trump has defended Kavanaugh and cast doubt on the two women. He tweeted, "I have no doubt that, if the attack... was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents.

He also asked Christine Blasey Ford to make public her compliant "so that we can learn the date, time, and place".

Lakshmi wrote, "President Trump tweeted that if what Ford said was true, she would have filed a police report years ago.

"But I understand why both women would keep this information to themselves for so many years without involving the police. For years, I did the same thing."

Lakshmi said she was raped on New Year's Eve by her boyfriend in the 1980s. She had met him, who was then 23, while working in Los Angeles.

After attending a couple of New Year's Eve parties, she said they went to his apartment where she fell asleep, and woke up with him on top of her.

"I asked, 'What are you doing?'...'Please don't do this,' I screamed. I didn't report it. Not to my mother, not to my friends and certainly not to the police," she wrote.

She said she began to feel the attack was her fault. She explained, "We had no language in the 1980s for date rape. I imagined that adults would say: 'What the hell were you doing in his apartment?'"

She said she understood why women might not disclose sexual assaults.

Thirty-two years on, she says, "I have nothing to gain by talking about this."

But she added, alluding to Trump's implication that allegations not made immediately are less true or less severe, "We all have a lot to lose if we put a time limit on telling the truth about sexual assault."

Her account won praise on social media.

The allegations against Judge Kavanaugh, which he has repeatedly denied, date back to the 1980s. Christine Blasey Ford, his first accuser, is due to testify before a US Senate panel this week.

Don't think of my work as business anymore: Saif Ali Khan

Actor Saif Ali Khan, who is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming film Baazaar, has said that he doesn't think of his work as a business anymore.

Saif Ali Khan was interacting with media at the trailer launch of Baazaar at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) along with his co-actors Radhika Apte, Chitrangada Singh, Rohan Mehra, director Gauravv K. Chawla, producers Ajit Andhare and Nikhil Advani on Tuesday in Mumbai.

Saif Ali Khan earlier used to be the face of romantic comedy films but for the last few years, he is doing different films such as Rangoon, Chef, Kaalakandi and digital shows like Sacred Game'.

About being more open to experiment, he said, "I don't think of my work anymore as a business where I want to try and make money, because by the grace of god, I feel secure with that sort of thing."

He said he wanted to choose exciting roles. "I want to challenge myself by doing different things. I think it's a great time for movies because the kinds of films that are being offered are so different from how it used to be," he said.

"I think having a creative job is god's gift. Life is good when you have something on your plate that keeps you occupied and that's all I am looking for," the actor said.

Saif Ali Khan made his Hindi film debut with Parampara which released in 1992.

On what changes he observes in himself over these years as an actor, he said, "I feel as an actor, I am better than ever and I am more interested in acting than I have ever been."

He said he is learning more, adding, "I am getting better every day and there is a growth which I am enjoying and I hope I get the opportunity to continue with that."

Baazaar is financial-crime drama directed by Gauravv K. Chawla, written by Nikkhil Advani, Aseem Arora and Parveez Sheikh. It stars Saif Ali Khan, debutant Rohan Mehra, Chitrangada Singh and Radhika Apte in lead roles.

The film is set in the backdrop of money, power and business, largely based on the Stock market. It is scheduled to release on 26 October 2018.

Feel lucky to be a part of Saina Nehwal biopic: Shraddha Kapoor

Actress Shraddha Kapoor, who is gearing up for her forthcoming film based on the life of Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, has said she feels lucky to be part of the film of an athlete who won the bronze for the country in 2012 London Olympics.

Shradhha Kapoor was addressing the media on the sets of her forthcoming film along with director Amol Gupte, producer Bhushan Kumar and Saina Nehwal's parents Dr. Harvir Singh Nehwal and Usha Rani Nehwal on Tuesday in Mumbai.

Sharing her film's shoot experience, Shraddha said, "Saina's parents gave lots of love to me and they treated me like a family when I visited their home, so, it felt really nice to see them here."

"When Saina's parents came here to visit us, then it felt like my parents had visited us on the film set," she said.

"I feel very lucky to be part of this film and to be seating along with these respected people," she said.

The shoot of Saina Nehwal's was getting postponed several times since announcement of the film. Did it make her nervous? "We are making lots of preparations for this film and we are doing it for a long time. It's a biopic so I am putting all my effort to be in my best form and it feels good to finally start off the film," she said.

Shraddha Kapoor's last released film Stree has managed to collect around Rs 119 crore at the box-office in its fifth week. "I am very happy that the film is doing really well. I am thankful to the entire media and audience because they supported a content-driven film and it feels really good as an actor being part of such film," said Shraddha.

Stree is inching towards beating Alia Bhatt starrer Raazi which collected around Rs 125 crore at the box-office.

Shraddha said, "I think more than breaking record of other films, it is necessary to see that good films are being made and it is being appreciated by people. I don't think there is need for any kind of comparison."

Biopic of Saina Nehwal is being directed by Amol Gupte and produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series.

We need less corruption and scams, says Saif Ali Khan

Saif Ali Khan, who is all geared up for the release of his forthcoming film Baazaar, says "we need less corruption and scams in the country."

Saif was present at the trailer launch of Baazaar at Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

Baazaar is based on stock market scam and corruption. When asked about recent scams, Saif Ali Khan said, "I think it is horrible and terrible, we want less corruption and less scams."

He said artists are in a very honest line of work. "We try and make films, we try and sell films, most of the times, press is catching movie stars to make examples of, and you should catch these guys. Seriously, press should catch these guys (those who do scams), we're nothing, we're small-time people," he said.

"The big game is happening somewhere else and we don't even know what the game is," he added.

Taking dig at the press, Saif said, "Someone says he did this, or that, and everyone is happy with that... it is like a dustbin. We celebrities (are always blamed) I mean, everyone gets happy with that, we need people to blame. But the real people you should be blaming are the people who are stealing your money."

In the movie, Saif Ali Khan plays the role of Shakun Kothari as a ruthless businessman whose world revolves around money and power.

Talking about his role, Saif said it has been the most special role he has ever played in his career. "First of all, I would like to thank Nikkhil Advani for offering me such an amazing role. It is one of the most special parts that I have played in my career," said the actor.

The film is directed by Gauravv K. Chawla, written by Nikkhil Advani, Aseem Arora and Parveez Sheikh. The film also stars debutante Rohan Mehra, Chitrangada Singh and Radhika Apte.

The film is scheduled for release on 26 October.

Mallika Sherawat supports FIAPO to promote veganism

Actress Mallika Sherawat has extended support to the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) to promote veganism in India, and has urged fans to try a vegan diet for 21 days.

Mallika took to her Twitter handle to promote FIAPO's #21DayCompassionChallenge, asking her fans to ditch dairy and other animal products and try a vegan diet.

In the video, Mallika talks about choosing a compassionate future for herself.

She said, "I believe in compassion for all. I feel we are all inherently compassionate, but fail to see the reality. I have been vegan for more than 15 years and for me veganism is a lifestyle choice - a healthier and cruelty free way of living! Many people think, to be vegan you have to give up a lot of things, but being a long time vegan, I can proudly say I have not given up on anything.

In fact, I am much healthier and happier knowing no animal had to suffer for my food. I don't drink cow's milk and I don't eat meat because no one should suffer for our choices. I urge all my fans to take the challenge and try veganism for 21 days."

There is an increase in the number of people choosing a vegan diet.

FIAPO's Executive Director Varda Mehrotra said, "The best thing about being a vegan is to be able to live a life aligned with one's values. We can only be in peace knowing we aren't harming, killing, maiming others for our greed.

"In the last decade there has been a tremendous shift in how veganism is perceived in India. While many organisations and individuals are dedicatedly working on creating awareness, a Bollywood actor speaking up and promoting veganism is a huge push for veganism in India."

‘Hichki' to release in China on October 12

Rani Mukerji-starrer Hichki, which received a standing ovation at the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), will hit the screens in China on 12 October as "Teacher with Hiccup". The actress is hopeful it will resonate with the audience there.

Produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Siddharth Malhotra, the inspiring social drama which projects a message on equality and inclusivity has won the hearts of many across the world with its social message of equality.

"It's truly amazing when films can crossover to different cultures and languages because of its universal story. Hichki is a reflection of society, a reflection of how we all have weaknesses and we need to overcome them to make the world a better place.

"Social dramas find a connect with audiences in China and I am hopeful that my film will resonate with everyone especially the teachers, students and parents," Rani said in a statement.

With the film, the actress made a positive impact with her performance as Naina Mathur, a school teacher dealing with an involuntary nervous system disorder, Tourette Syndrome. She won awards and accolades for playing the role of a specially-abled character, who not only changes her life but also the lives of children from economically backward areas by not succumbing to life's obstacles.

China has opened up to Indian movies significantly over the past few years.

Be it Aamir Khan's Three Idiots, PK or Dangal, Irrfan Khan's Hindi Medium, Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan or S.S. Rajamouli's mega hit Baahubali: The Conclusion or Akshay Kumar's Toilet - Ek Prem Katha -- they have all hit the right notes in China, which has a limited quota for foreign films.

Sonu honoured with doctorate in Taekwondo, credits his action films

Actor Sonu Sood, who has been honoured with a doctorate degree in Taekwondo here on Tuesday, feels special that his dedication has been recognised and says he gives due credit to the slew of action films that he has starred in.

Sonu was feted in the presence of Prabhat Sharma, secretary general of Taekwondo Federation of India, at the opening ceremony of 107th International Kyorugi Referee Seminar/121st International Kyorugi Referee Refresher Course and 40th International Poomsae Referee Seminar here.

"I feel really honoured. I remember the days as a kid I had joined Taekwaondo classes and never really knew or realised that one day I will be honoured with a doctorate in it," Sonu told a publication over phone from Mumbai.

The 45-year-old actor gave credit to all the action movies he has done.

"All thanks to the action movies that I have done. I have spent so many years doing action and today when I have been honoured I feel really good. It is really special," added the actor, who has featured in films like Dabangg, Kung-fu Yoga and Paltan.

He was nostalgic about his early tryst with the martial art form.

Sonu said, "I remember the first time my mother bought a Taekwondo outfit for me and took me to these classes. Today, I wish she was here to see that I have been honoured in the same action field of Tekwaondo. I am sure her blessings are doing the trick that I am getting all these honours... There are still miles to go, but the journey is on," he added.

Not bought remake rights of 'Ghar': Prernaa Arora

Producer Prernaa Arora says she has not acquired the remake rights of Rekha-starrer Ghar.

There were reports that after buying the rights to 1964 Bollywood classic Woh Kaun Thi?, featuring Sadhana and Manoj Kumar, Prernaa has also bought the rights to Ghar, which is about a married couple coping to save their marriage after the wife is gang-raped.

Producer duo Prernaa and Arjun N Kapoor of KriArj Entertainment have denied this.

"We have initiated our relationship with Pravesh Sippy's production house N.N Sippy Productions by buying the rights of Woh Kaun Thi? and we will be doing the official remake of the movie soon.

"The speculation about the remake rights of Ghar is incorrect. We are in conversation over many other things," they said in a joint statement.

Tahira my biggest inspiration: Ayushmann

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says his wife Tahira, who has been detected with pre-invasive breast cancer, is his biggest inspiration.

Ayushmann on Wednesday re-tweeted a post by Tahira where she wrote, "I had once heard that if you talk to your plants, they grow. Breasts are no different. They grow, become ripe and full and then droop. So, I had long monologue sessions in the bathroom, waiting for my left breast to grow too....' My two bit on breast cancer."

To this, the Vicky Donor actor wrote, "Dear Tahira, you have become my biggest inspiration. It takes immense courage to share your challenge with everybody. You will be victorious. I have started seeing life through a different prism because of you."

On 22 September, Tahira revealed that she has been detected with pre-invasive breast cancer.

She posted on Instagram that she was detected with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in her right breast with high grade malignant cells.

"Simply put stage 0 cancer/pre-cancerous stage, with cancer cells multiplying in a contained area.

I can't judge myself in terms of acting: Disha Patani

Actress Disha Patani, who is busy shooting for the upcoming Salman Khan starrer Bharat, says she cannot judge herself in terms of acting.

She is even shy to watch her own films.

Disha made her acting debut in 2015 with the Telugu film Loafer. She then ventured into Bollywood in 2016 with M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story after which she was seen in films like Kung Fu Yoga and Baaghi 2.

Asked whether she has evolved in her craft, Disha said, "I can't judge myself in terms of acting. I am very shy. I never see myself or watch my films. So, I don't know. But for sure I am getting more comfortable with the whole environment of filmmaking."

The 26-year-old called the Salman a great human being.

Talking about working with Salman, she said, "He is very nice. He is a great human being and he's a great co-star. We are working very hard for the film. We are doing different scenes and action. It has been really nice and it has been really great."

Bharat is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and also stars Katrina Kaif.

The actress was in Bhubaneswar to launch the first store of British multinational retailer Mark & Spencer in Odisha.

Asked if she is fashion conscious, Disha said, "I am not fashion conscious. I believe in comfort and I always want to wear clothes that I am comfortable in and I should feel beautiful more than anybody else should feel."

(SOURCE : IANS)

Soha Ali Khan pampers Inaaya with the softest diaper ever!

“I choose only the softest diaper for Inaaya as her comfort is most important,” says Soha as she launches New Pampers Premium Care Pants.

Soha Ali Khan is like any new mum! Learning new tricks of being a hands-on-mommie on an everyday basis but at the same time being extra cautious with what she uses on her baby. Quiz her on what she is most particular about when it comes to her baby Inaaya and she quips that using products which are softest for her baby’s tender skin is the most important feature of a product. 

Soha Ali Khan says, “I keep Inaaya’s comfort before everything else. She has a very sensitive skin, so as a mother one of my biggest concerns is her skin. In fact, I am a control freak and like to do everything myself, so I am very particular about what I use for her. Many brands claim 10 different things, but the New Pampers Premium Care Pants have really impressed me, especially with how unbelievably soft these diapers are, and with breathable materials as well. I only trust Pampers, when it comes to Inaaya. In fact, all our friends and close family also swear by Pampers.”

The closed door session was an engaging one with Soha bonding with other mothers from across Mumbai over their motherhood journey. Exchanging notes and experiences, Soha revealed that she is a hands on-mom to her 11 month old toddler.

The mother recently launched the new Pampers Premium Care Pants. The Pampers Premium Care Pants soft as cotton is enriched with baby lotion with the goodness of Aloe Vera gel that protects baby skin from harshness.

Dia Mirza represents the country, voices strong opinion at the Social Good Summit in New York

Actress, producer and ‘champion of nature’ Dia Mirza, who has become a global name owing to her work in the field of environment protection, has been invited to be one of the speakers at the Social Good Summit 2018 at New York on 23 September this year. In her personal and professional life, Dia has always highlighted the cause 'Beat Plastic Pollution' in every way and has used her voice to spread this message far and wide.

Brought up in a family where sustainability has been ingrained in every little act of theirs, Dia has been conditioned right from childhood to embrace an eco-friendly way of living.

Dia said, “I think the beat pollution campaign comes to me as one of the most significant campaigns of our times and one of the most successful, because now more than ever before, people understand how useless single use plastics are - and how dangerous they are for the environment.”

She added, "The Social Good Summit is a great platform for recognizing and celebrating people who champion sustainability and at the same time, understanding the gravity of the situation. I am delighted to be a part of this and meet these wonderful individuals who are working every single day towards a better world. It's an onus each of us needs to take on ourselves and act responsibly."

Dia strongly believes that youth is at the center of the solutions for the environment and can be the wave of change that is required. At the panel, they discussed the importance of building this awareness right from childhood helping them shape their conviction to champion the environment in every act. They also spoke of the need for successful advocacy and campaigns, like the #BeatPollution campaign around World Environment Day in India, to draw awareness to pollution and environmental issues.

Taapsee headed home to surprise dad for his retirement between a packed schedule

Taapsee Pannu is currently basking in the praise Rumi has been getting in the film Manmarziyaan, a film that has seen many firsts, from it being Anurag Kashyap’s first romantic directorial venture to Taapsee as a full-fledged feisty Punjaban. It is a film that people are calling a new aged love and to add to it, the music and everyone's looks from the film seem to be a continued topic of discussion.

Apart from Manmarziyaan, Taapsee has been busy shooting for her upcoming film with Big B directed by Sujoy Ghosh for Badla. She has also been working on brand projects, focusing on her app and prepping for a new film she will begin shooting soon. But even amidst all the work, something takes most priority and that is ‘family’. Taapsee has always been a family oriented girl. She lives with her sister and never fails to show her fans a glimpse of her family life. The actress' father recently retired after many years of service and his last day was when Taapsee was in between many projects in Mumbai.

But that didn’t stop the Pink actress to do something for her father. With the help of her sister, the actress planned a surprise party, and when her dad least expected, she showed up at the door with a cake and bouquet in hand. What an adorable gesture!!  When asked about it she said, "I had been waiting to see this day when my father would finally retire from decades of work he has been doing.”

“I used to see him go to work driving a scooter and later a car for minimum two-three hours every day. His office always used to be far away from our residence and once I started working I always wanted to see this day he doesn’t need to work anymore and can finally relax and do whatever he wants to in a day with no obligation. I did not want to miss it at any cost so I made sure I take that day off from my schedule to fly down to Delhi for a few hours."

The actress headed back to the film set in a few hours, but even if it was for a little time, she ensured she made her dad feel special.

We understand everyone juggles with finding a balance between work and family but we absolutely love the effort Taapsee puts into it to make it work.