Actress Priya Varrier most searched personality on Google in 2018

Malayalam actress Priya Prakash Varrier, who shot to fame following her 'wink song' Manikya Malaraya Poovi from the film Oru Addar Love, has become the most searched personality of the year, Google India said on Wednesday.

The Malayalam actress was followed by Priyanka Chopra's spouse Nick Jonas in the list of most searched personalities. Priyanka herself was the fourth most searched personality on Google.

The second and fifth positions went to dance performer Sapna Choudhary and actor Sonam Kapoor's husband Anand Ahuja respectively.

The interest in royal weddings spiked as American actor turned Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle also figured in the list of most-searched-for personalities from India, Google revealed in its "Year in Search" results.

The top five search terms centred around "How to.." were - how to send stickers on Whatsapp, how to link Aadhaar with mobile number, how to make rangoli, how to port mobile number and how to invest in bitcoin.

Some of the interesting search terms centred around "What is..." were - what is section 377, what is happening in Syria, what is kiki challenge, what is me too campaign, what is ball tampering.

This year, sports and entertainment dominated the top trending charts with queries around FIFA World Cup 2018 leading the pack followed by the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Interestingly, football swept cricket in the overall search listing, with queries around the Football World Cup topping those around the cricketing action during the IPL season.

During the Karnataka polls, queries around the Karnataka state elections soared to mark its presence among the top trending queries, while Big Boss turned out to be the top choice when it came to entertainment this year, surpassing queries related to the Rajinikanth/Akshay blockbuster Robot 2.0.

On the cinema front, the Bollywood blockbusters overshadowed Hollywood in the search lists, with Robot 2.0 taking the top spot, followed by Baaghi 2 and Race 3.

The three Hollywood entries in the list happened to be from Marvel Studios: Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther and Deadpool 2.

The songs that ruled the roost included Neha Kakkar's Dilbar Dilbar, Arijit Singh's Tera Fitoor and Atif Aslam's Dekhte Dekhte from Bollywood.

Interestingly, the lone English entrant was the ever popular Latin hit song Despacito, which also happened to make it to the 'Year in Search' list last year.

Celebrity weddings made big waves this year as fans scoured the web in search of the latest buzz on their favourite celeb marriages.

The three weddings that figured prominently included Priyanka Chopra/Nick Jonas, Deepika Padukone/Ranveer Singh and Sonam Kapoor/Anand Ahuja.

Other news events that grabbed attention included queries around the world's largest statue, the Statue of Unity, unveiled in Gujarat earlier this year.

Rounding off the list was a span of news topics including the striking down of Section 377, the union budget, bitcoin, as well as the Nipah virus.

Never thought I'd play mother so soon: Tanvi Dogra

Actress Tanvi Dogra, who started off her television career with Jiji Maa last year, says she had never thought that she would have to play a mother so soon on the small screen.

The actress has donned many looks on the show and will now be seen with a baby bump.

Tanvi had lost her mother at a young age. She found it a challenge to understand and get into the skin of a mother's character.

"I never thought I'll have to play a mother so soon on television. It's a character that needs a sense of responsibility. It requires a lot of maturity to portray a mother," Tanvi said in a statement.

"For me, it's even more difficult to get into the skin of a mother's role," she added.  

Janhvi Kapoor honoured by Norwegian Consulate   

Actress Janhvi Kapoor was on Tuesday presented Arts Stjerneskudd (Shooting Star of the Year) award by the Royal Norwegian Consulate here.

Dressed in a beautiful blue saree, the Dhadak actress came along with her father and film producer Boney Kapoor to receive the award in the presence of Iram Haq, the acclaimed Norwegian director. The event took place at the Metro INOX in Mumbai.

Talking on the occasion, Janhvi said, "It is an honour to be present here as any form of appreciation makes me feel special and I would like to continue my good work to live up to the expectation (of audience). I will work hard."

Boney Kapoor said, "I am feeling proud as a father to be standing here next to her to receive the award. I am feeling elated to be here because every time any of my family members...my son and daughter achieve something, I feel proud."

Announcing the award, Ann Ollestad, the Consul General said, "Your performance in Dhadak was excellent and we would like to recognise your talent in Norway on behalf of the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, I would like to call you the Shooting Star of the Year."

The occasion was followed by a screening of What Will People Say -- Norway's official entry to the Oscars 2019. The film features Indian actors like Adil Hussain, Rohit Saraf and Ekavali Khanna, among others, and also produced by an Indian producer Guneet Monga.

Kiara Advani excited over special appearance in 'Kalank'

Actress Kiara Advani is excited about her special appearance in Abhishek Varman's period drama Kalank.

Kiara interacted with the media at the launch of a Bluestone store here on Tuesday.

On her upcoming projects, she said, "I am very excited for my special appearance in Kalank since it's a huge film and it's the first time I am doing something in the period space. I have finished shooting for that."

Kiara said she has started shooting for Kabir Singh and Good News.

"I have just begun shoot for both Kabir Singh and Good News simultaneously and it's going very well. We are excited to continue the shoot and make a really good movie for the audience so, it has been a busy month," said the Lust Stories actress.

On Kabir Singh, in which she stars with Shahid Kapoor, Kiara said, "We have just wrapped up the December schedule of the film and we will again start shooting for the film in the first week of January. So, after Christmas and New Year, we will get back to shoot in Delhi."

Kabir Singh is a drama film written and directed by Sandeep Vanga. It is a remake of his own Telugu film Arjun Reddy.

Bollywood wishes long life for Dilip Kumar on 96th birthday

From veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan to younger talent like Shraddha Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan -- celebrities from the film world on Tuesday wished the legendary Dilip Kumar good health and a long life on his 96th birthday.

Dilip Kumar, who is confined to his house due to his frail health, has amassed a huge fan following with his work in films like Andaz, Babul, Deedar, Aan, Devdas, Azaad, Naya Daur, Yahudi, Madhumati, Kohinoor, Mughal-e-Azam, Gunga Jamuna and Ram Aur Shyam.

As an actor, he last graced the silver screen in 1998's Qila.

Here's what the celebrities have tweeted:

Amitabh Bachchan: The ultimate master of his craft -- Dilip Kumar -- Mohammed Yusuf Khan turns 96. Prayers and duas for his good health and happiness always. The history of Indian cinema shall always be written as 'before Dilip Kumar and after Dilip Kumar'.

Shatrughan Sinha: A legend, icon, thespian and an institution Dilip Kumar. Happy birthday! The most outstanding, magnificent and admirable actor of Indian cinema, spanning a career of six decades. A great humanitarian and humble human being. Satyajit Ray aptly named him 'ultimate method actor'.

Subhash Ghai: How can I express this greatest legend Dilip Kumar. Who taught me so many values and virtues of life While making three films with him Vidhata, Karma, Saudagar. He inspired me to set up Whistling Woods International for the next generation. Happy birthday sahib.

Abhishek Bachchan: Happy birthday Dilip Kumar sahab. We pray for your happiness and good health. Have a wonderful day.

Abbas Mustan: Happy Birthday Yusuf Saheb... Dilip Kumar. Lots of love and happiness. God bless always.

Karan Tacker: A very happy birthday Dilip Sahab... Thank you for being such an inspiration to millions!

Shweta Pandit shared a photograph, and wrote: Janamdin mubarak (Happy birthday) Dilip sahab. Seen here with my grandfather and his music brother, Sangeet Acharya Pandit Pratap Narayan, they both bonded over indian classical music and ghazals. Dilip Kumar duaas for good health and happiness always.

Siddhanth Kapoor doesn't aim to be in Rs 100 crore club race

Actor Siddhanth Kapoor has featured in successful movies like Shootout at Wadala and Ugly, but none of his movies has minted Rs 100 crore so far. He says delivering a hit film is essential for him, but not the box office figure.

"It's important for every film that I do to be a hit, but I don't really care about box office numbers like they have to touch Rs 100 crore, because if a film has earned Rs 25 crore and was made in Rs 3 or 4 crore, it will still be a hit," Siddhanth told leading publication.

"I am fully content-driven. The characters, content, how different it is from the other character, a lot of things go into what I am doing. I will not do something basic. Directors, production and co-stars matter, but the first thing is the content," he added.

As an actor, he has been mostly inclined towards crime-based movies.

"I like everything about crime and comedy (genres). My characters are 'thoda hatke' (a bit different). You saw them in Ugly, ...Wadala, Jazbaa and Haseena Parkar. In Bombairiya, you will get to see a different side of me," said the former assistant director.

Bombairiya will be his first comedy film.

"I always wanted to do a comedy. This is quite a comical character...a hectic comical character. I was looking forward to doing something like this," said the son of actor Shakti Kapoor.

Talking about his character, he said, "He gets a job to deliver a parcel, but in the morning, when he is out for delivery, he gets into an accident with a rickshaw. Radhika Apte's character is in the rickshaw then there is squabble. A third person from a different car comes to help with whom I get into a tiff.

"Radhika's character starts recording me on phone, then I am like why is she recording. I steal the phone and how their life changes after this (makes the rest of the story).

They had started shooting for it in 2015. It will finally see the light of day on 11 January 2019.

"We were looking to release it with a few corporates and then Sony came on board. We had to change the edit a few times. Now, we are all set to release it," said Siddhanth.

It has been a while, so does he still feel attached to the character?

"I feel attached to every character that I play. They don't get out of me. After this, I had immediately started shooting for Haseen. So, it was quite difficult to get out of the character and get into my character in Haseena but every character that I play stays with me because it is a part of me," said the actor, who played underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Haseena Parkar.

He is also looking forward to the release of his film Yaaram.

"I just finished shooting for it in Mauritius with Prateik Babbar. I have finished dubbing for it as well. It's a friendship story," he said.

He calls Prateik his childhood friend.

"It was very easy (working on the film) because my friendship with Prateik is very strong," he said.

Sajid Khan suspended from IFTDA for a year

Bollywood filmmaker Sajid Khan who was accused of sexually harassing multiple women, has been suspended for a year by the Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA), it was announced on Wednesday.

Following the PoSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Investigation Closure Report of 7 December 2018 - IFTDA - following the Internal Complaints Committee's (ICC) recommendation, has suspended Sajid's membership for a period of one year with immediate effect. A copy of the letter was sent to Sajid on Tuesday evening.

His membership will be reviewed after a year.

Shrabani Deodhar, a filmmaker and IFTDA member, said in a statement, "IFTDA's ICC had marathon meetings and have come to the conclusion of cancelling Sajid Khan's membership for one year, which will be revived after the completion of that period."

Saloni Chopra, Rachel White, Simran Suri and journalist Karishma Upadhyay, were among those who accused Sajid of inappropriate behaviour.

Advocate Mrunalini Deshmukh said, "We cannot recommend that someone's right to livelihood be snatched away for life. It was not a legal trial and neither were we led by evidence or witnesses like it is in the court of law. This was a redressal committee set up by the association of directors.

"We spoke to both the parties involved and tried to get prima facie understanding of the matter. The outcome should be seen as a deterrent for those riding a high horse, living in ivory towers and thinking that they can get away with any wrongful behaviour because they enjoy a position of power."

Deshmukh said the action is also to say that any movement for the larger good has to be carried out responsibly and seriously.

"In this scenario, women cannot be permitted to make the #MeTooIndia movement frivolous by doing things to settle scores or to gain five minutes of fame. A larger responsibility lies on them to lead this movement correctly. The act, law, principle and the movement are good but for sustaining them well, women have to also act responsibly," she added.

Copies of the letter suspending Sajid have been shared with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, the parent body of all the crafts involved in filmmaking, for their consideration and perusal.

Sajid was in the middle of the shooting of his film Housefull 4 when the allegation of sexual harassment came into the picture and as the matter took a serious turn, he stepped down from being the film's director.

Bohemia excited to perform for Indian fans

Popular rapper Bohemia is excited about performing for his fans in India, especially in the capital city, after two years. He feels the people have evolved in their musical taste.

Known for songs like Car nachdi, Kali denali and Ek tera pyaar, Bohemia will perform live on Friday night at Roar Nightclub here.

"I am looking forward to interact with the Indian music enthusiasts. Delhi has emerged as a very strong city over the last two years with choices in their music, food, culture and hence performing in Delhi will be refreshing," Bohemia said in a statement.

"I am really looking forward to my live performance and engaging with my fans," he added while appreciating the nightclub's owner Aajay Bindal for making an effort to spread the magic of music with the 'One Night Stand' property.

Earlier, international artiste Sean Kingston has performed at the nightclub.

(ource: IANS)