MUMBAI: We are back with the latest Bollywood news to keep you updated. Take a look.

Genelia gets nostalgic on Riteish’s birthday  

Actress Genelia Deshmukh called her actor-husband Riteish Deshmukh the world's "best creation" on his 40th birthday on Monday.

Reminiscing their memories, Genelia posted an adorable photograph of herself with Riteish on Instagram and wrote, "Dear Forever, I still remember celebrating your birthday on Tujhe Meri Kasam sets... 17 years ago. Time flies and I have had the opportunity to celebrate so many of your birthdays through all these years."

"Your birthday will always be most special to me because it's the day the world got its best creation and that creation is my partner through thick and thin. I love you and I will take every opportunity to remind you of how much I do. Happy Birthday," she added.

The couple, who has featured together in movies like Masti and Tere Naal Love Hogaya, tied the knot in 2012 and welcomed their first child, a son named Riaan, in November 2014. Their second son Rahyl Deshmukh was born in June 2016.

Genelia and Riteish have also reunited on the big screen after four years for a song Dhuvun taak in the latter's latest released Marathi movie Mauli.

‘Bharat' shooting to resume in 2019

Bharat director Ali Abbas Zafar has wrapped up shooting in Punjab and Delhi, and says the team will start working on the next schedule in the new year.

"Finished with Delhi and Punjab schedules of ‘Bharat', last schedule will start in new year," Zafar tweeted on Saturday.

"Bhai ke birthday wale month mein kaun kaam karta hai (Who works in the birth month of bhai)... Par hum edit mein lage hue hain (But we are working on the edit)," he added.

The director was referring to the birthday of superstar Salman Khan, who is the male protagonist of the film. Salman will turn 53 on 27 December.

Bhara is an official adaptation of a 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. It is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.

The film also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Tabu and Nora Fatehi, among others. It is slated for an Eid release in 2019.

Saaho to release on Independence Day, 2019

Baahubali star Prabhas' new film Saaho will hit the screens on the Independence Day on 15 August next year.

The release date was announced via a statement.

The film, also starring Shraddha Kapoor, is being shot in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu simultaneously. It promises to provide a pan-India appeal.

On Prabhas' birthday earlier this year, the makers had shared a glimpse of the Abu Dhabi schedule titled Shades of Saaho from the action-heavy film, raising the excitement of the audience.

Action stunts have been choreographed by international action master Kenny Bates.

Saaho also has an ensemble cast of Jackie Shroff, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mandira Bedi, Chunky Pandey, Mahesh Manjrekar, Arun Vijay and Murali Sharma, amongst others.

It has music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Director of photography Madhie has lent his creativity to the film, with veteran Sreekar Prasad as the editor and Sabu Cyril as the production designer.

A UV Creations production, the film will be presented by T-Series and its Hindi distribution is being taken care of by AA Films.

‘Kesari' shoot wrapped, to release on March 21, 2019

Actors Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra starrer Kesari, based on the Battle of Saragarhi of 1897, will release on 21 March 2019.     

The actors, who have completed the film's shoot in Rajasthan on Monday, took to social media to announce the release date.

"And it's a wrap for Kesari, a film which swells up my chest with immense pride. Get ready to witness the bravest battle ever fought on 21st March, 2019," Akshay wrote on Instagram while sharing a photograph of his sikh look from the film.

Backed by Cape of Good Hope Films and Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Kesari is directed by Anurag Singh.

Thanking the film's cast and crew, Parineeti tweeted, "Anytime I watched a war movie, it was the love story of those brave men that kept me going. So proud to be a part of this epic experience! Thank you Akshay sir, Karan Johar and Anurag sir for allowing me to be a part of your vision. You all have made one of the most beautiful movies people will ever see."

Karan wrote on Instagram that the film is a true historic account of one of the bravest battles ever fought.

"So proud to have told this story," he said.

Artistes, writers urge Pakistan PM to lift 'Manto' ban

After Indian filmmaker Nandita Das expressed her disappointment about her film Manto not getting cleared for release in Pakistan, Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry has extended help while an online petition has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to lift a ban on its screening.

"Disappointed that Manto will not be seen in theatres in Pakistan. I was keen as he belongs to both countries equally," Nandita had tweeted on Saturday.

Her post, which included the link of an article -- which she penned for a news website, explaining why the film won't be crossing India's borders -- led Chaudhry to respond.

"I am trying to pursue importers to bring this movie to Pak(istan). I hope someone will definitely take risk of showing a less commercial film to the viewers," he wrote of the film, which traces the life of writer Saadat Hasan Manto.

Nandita, who has herself featured in a Pakistani film titled Ramchand Pakistani, responded with "Shukriya".

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui had brought the character to life in the movie, which follows the most tumultuous years in the life of the writer and those of India and Pakistan where Manto inhabited and chronicled.

Danyal Gilani, Chairman, Pakistan's Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC), told a publication via social media, "Manto wasn't cleared by the Board as the members found it in violation of the censorship code."

However, he said an importer had the right to request a review.

Industry sources from Pakistan told the publication that nobody was importing Manto as it lacked "commercial appeal".

Nandita on Saturday said the reasons cited by the Pakistan censor board for not clearing Manto were that "the film has anti-Partition narrative theme and explicit scenes, which is against the norms of Pakistani society".

According to Dawn newspaper, an online petition has been initiated to demand that Prime Minister Imran Khan lift a ban on its screening.

The open letter says, "Manto, a critically acclaimed film, directed by Nandita Das, celebrates the life of the Urdu writer who chose Pakistan as his home during the Partition but is collectively owned and revered by the people of the sub-continent. The audiences and critics worldwide have appreciated the film.

"However, it is a matter of huge concern that Pakistan has recently decided to ban the film. The disappointing decision to ban the film has created a hue and cry among writers, poets and intellectuals in the literary circles of Pakistan".

This is a ray of hope for Nandita.

Appreciating the efforts, the actress-filmmaker tweeted on Sunday, "I am grateful to the activists, writers, artists and concerned citizens in Pakistan who have spontaneously come together and signed an open letter to their PM."

I'm not in a hurry to become anyone: Sanya Malhotra

Actress Sanya Malhotra is in no hurry to reach "anywhere or become anyone", and says she is focusing on collaborating with "nice people" for good work.

Sanya entered the industry with Dangal, and followed it up with Pataakha and entertainer Badhaai Ho.        

"I'm literally living my dream. As a kid, I used to do it in front of the mirror, when I do it in front of the camera I feel really unbelievable. I'm literally living my dream and I just want to enjoy this period," Sanya told leading publication.

"I'm not in a hurry to be anywhere; to become anyone, so I just want to do nice work with nice people."

Despite getting back-to-back success, Sanya, who will next be seen in Photograph, is not taking any pressure to continue the winning streak.

"There is no pressure at all. I'm very happy that I'm an actor and I'm getting to work in such amazing projects and I'm getting to work with such amazing people. There's no pressure at all. I love being on set, I love being an actor," said the actor, who got associated with Skechers for a walkathon.

"This is what I've always wanted to do and if I put pressure on myself then I won't enjoy the journey of being an actor or living my dreams, so there's no pressure at all and I'm really happy that Badhaai Ho is being liked so much," she added.

Say no when required: Malaika Arora on focus on her personal life

She is one of the fittest celebrities in Bollywood and is currently in the news more for her personal relationship, but Malaika Arora says that it comes with the territory. She feels one needs to strike the right balance and say "no" when required.

"It comes with the territory. You have to be able to strike the right balance and say 'no' when required. It comes with the business," the actress told a publication in an email from Mumbai, when asked how more focus on her personal life over professional life affects her as a person.

The grapevine has been abuzz that Malaika is currently dating actor Arjun Kapoor and that they may soon tie the knot. However, neither of them have either confirmed or denied this.

In 2016, Malaika split from actor Arbaaz Khan, whom she got married to in 1998. They have a son together.

Asked about how she handles the lows in her life, Malaika said, "At the risk of sounding cliched, my friends, family and yoga really keep me going."

She comes across as someone who is very calm and balanced deep down, and explaining that, she said, "Like I said earlier, it's all a part and parcel of the business. You have to accept that it is a part of the profession you're in. You must learn to strike a balance."

Malaika was one of the judges for the auditions of models for the forthcoming edition of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer/Resort 2019.

The platform has previously given stars like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif. So, how much of a pressure did she feel while selecting the faces this time and what were the qualities she looked for?

"I think it is very important to express your individuality at such platforms. I don't like the clone, cookie-cutter vibe. I like girls to have their own individuality. They should be different -- whether she is tall, dark or slightly heavy, it is important to be different, to be able to stand out.

"She must offer something new and refreshing... or else they are all clones of each other," said Malaika.

She has been a model herself earlier, so does she think that gone are the days when models were not considered apt to portray powerful roles because of their limitations as actors?

"Times have changed. Some of the biggest names in the business currently have come from a modelling background. There is always an interest of seeing a new model on-screen. Models are being beautifully accepted on-screen and in the business," said Malaika.

The actress is known for her moves in the songs like Chaiyya Chaiyya, Gur naalo ishq mitha, Maahi ve, Kaal dhamaal and Munni Badnaam Hui. She turned a film producer in 2008 with Arbaaz.

Their company Arbaaz Khan Productions has released films like Dabangg and Dabangg 2.

On the career front, Malaika is nowadays primarily seen judging reality shows on the small screen and her visibility on the big screen is not much. Is that intentional?

"Maybe people just think I am a great judge," she replied with a smile emoticon.

Winning award motivates me to work harder: Radhika Madan

Actress Radhika Madan, who has bagged the Most Promising Newcomer award, says she feels motivated to work harder to entertain people through her work.

Radhika won the trophy at Star Screen Awards here on Sunday for her debut act in Vishal Bhardwaj's Pataakha.

"I didn't expect it. It just happened. It motivates me to work even harder to entertain more and more people, and give my 200 per cent. I gave my heart and soul to Pataakha," Radhika told leading publications.

"It didn't do commercially well, but to be acknowledged for that... it speaks a lot," added the actress about the film on two warring sisters.

The Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi actress has also acted in Vasan Bala's film Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, which is expected to release next year.

"I never picked those films. I feel that when I plan stuff, it doesn't work for me, but when universe plans it for me, it works the best," said the actress, who has done TV shows as well.

While she had to go for a few rounds of audition to get the role of Badki in Pataakha, the story of how she got Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is slightly different.

"I went to audition for Laila Majnu. Somebody saw me there and asked me 'Can you kick?' I was a dancer before. I did a few kicks," she said.

And soon, she joined the cast of Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.

For her, budget of a film doesn't matter.

"I am not thinking about the budget of the film that much. I am just waiting for something to come up and excite me. Be it a commercial film or an indie one, anything that makes me want to just jump on my bed and go for it," she said.

Shriya Pilgaonkar wants to focus on quality for long-lasting career

Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar says she doesn’t want to make a career that lasts for a short span of time.

The actress, who has shared screen space with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Fan and worked with Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal in Mirzapur, says she wants to focus on quality to build a long-lasting career.

"I am not at all in a rush to make a career that only lasts for a short span of time. I am here to stay so I can go with the flow, focusing on the content I am choosing," Shriya told a leading publication.

"Look at Pankajji, he is an actor working for so long and has dealt with so many hardships. Finally, he is getting the recognition that he has today...He focussed on his craft and that is what I think is important for people like us... Instead of thinking about visibility, (it is important) to focus on performance."

The daughter of actors Sachin and Supriya had an inclination towards performing arts from her childhood. She has also been a part of plays like Common People and Bombay Dying.

Does she feel nervous while performing with senior actors?

"In my latest Mirzapur, I had no pressure actually to match up the level of other people in terms of performance because all of our characters were well-written. So there was no sense of insecurity...In fact I do not work with such a mindset."

After the success of Mirzapur -- a web series which showcases a lawless land filled with action where the only rules are laid by Kaleen Bhaiya, played by the versatile Pankaj, Shriya says she wants to work in every medium.

"The big screen has its own magic but the fact is that in the present time there is no line for an actor to work in a specific medium which earlier used to happen. Earlier, only youngsters were trying their hands on digital platforms, TV was a different thing for actors and film actors were looked up as superior. Now, nothing of that sort exists anymore...So, I will be doing everything," she said.

Hope 'Manto' releases in Pakistan: Ali Zafar

Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar hopes Indian filmmaker Nandita Das' Manto is released in Pakistan as he feels the new generation will get a chance to know about the Urdu writer Saadat Haasan Manto on a deeper level.

Nandita is disappointed after learning that Manto did not get clearance for release in Pakistan.

However, Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry has extended help, while an online petition by writers and artistes has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to lift a ban on its screening.

On his part, Ali, who has worked in Indian films too, tweeted in support of the movie.

"Saw Manto on Netflix in Pakistan. Thoroughly impressed by the nuanced direction by Nandita Das and brilliant depiction by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. This generation must get know Manto on a deeper level and own its literary heritage and heroes. I hope it releases here," Ali wrote.

The movie follows the most tumultuous years in the life of the writer and those of India and Pakistan where Manto inhabited and chronicled. The film also features Rasika Dugal and Rajshri Deshpande.