Urmila Matondkar pays tribute to black n white cinema with her version of ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actress Urmila Matondkar decided to pay a heartfelt tribute to black-and-white cinema with her version of the classic track ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’ from the 1949 movie ‘Patanga’.

On Thursday, Urmila dropped a black-and-white video of herself performing on the popular number on her official Instagram handle.

Wearing a long Kurta with a skirt, Urmila was also seen accessorizing the look with a huge pair of jhumkas and an hairdo from that era.

“Tribute to my love for black n white cinema..old Hindi songs n all the nostalgia that comes with it (Kissy face, star eyed and red heart emoticons) (sic)”, Urmila captioned the clip.

She further wrote, “Play it again, Sam” followed by piano keys and musical note emoticons.

Set against the backdrop of World War 2, ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’ has been picturised on actor Gope and Mohana Cabral. The popular track has been crooned by C. Ramchandra, who also composed the music for the film, along with Shamshad Begum.

The ‘Rangeela’ actress keeps on entertaining the netizens with such fun social media updates.

In October, Urmila offered prayers at the hilltop Sanjivani Hanuman temple.

She even talked about the popular legend associated with Lord Hanuman, whose foot is believed to have touched the hill as he flew back carrying the Sanjeevani mountain.

Dropping a couple of glimpses of her spiritual visit on social media, Urmila, wrote, “India n its beautiful temples… Had a great opportunity to visit the historic hilltop Sanjivani Hanuman temple.”

“Legend says that as Hanuman ji flew back carrying the mountain, his foot touched this specific hilltop, which is why the summit’s rock formation is revered in the shape of a foot. The peace that you feel here is unmissable.”

The ‘Kaun?’ actress also shared a photo of herself seeking divine blessings from the temple.

–IANS

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Shah Rukh Khan says, ‘Let’s create some more magic’ to his ‘Jawan’ captain Atlee

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actor Shah Rukh Khan expressed his wish to reunite with the ‘Jawan’ director Atlee in his latest Tweet on Thursday.

Reacting to Atlee’s birthday wish on November 2, SRK wrote on his timeline, “Thank you my Jawan captain. Missing the madness of our sets. Let’s create some more soon. Love you. (sic)”

Commemorating King Khan’s birthday on Monday, Atlee had shared on the micro-blogging site, “Happy, happy, happy Birthday King Khan, SRK sir! The song ‘Tu Mil Jaaye’ is lovely. Can’t wait to see you on a big screen sir, looking forward for ‘KING’. (sic)”

The filmmaker called Shah Rukh Khan his biggest inspiration in a post that further read, “Thank you for being my mentor, my guide, my well-wisher and my biggest inspiration in this incredible journey. The time spent with you has taught me so much -not just about cinema but about life, people and staying truly humble. Grateful, always”.

‘Jawan’ which also featured Deepika Padukone, marked the first professional association between Atlee and Shah Rukh. Aside from being a massive success at the ticket counters, the movie also bagged SRK his first National Award as ‘Best Actor’.

Congratulating the ‘Devdas’ actor, Atlee had written on his official handle, “Shah Rukh sir being near you itself is a great blessing, sir. As a fanboy, working with you and making a film and presenting it in a mass mode of SRK, sir, is a pure, pure blessing from God, and finally, God is so kind to give us back the greatest moment in our life. Can’t ask for more, sir. This is more than enough for me; I’m the best fanboy of yours, sir. Love you. Love you. Love you. Lots of love sir.”

Produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment, ‘Jawan’ also starred Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, and Sunil Grover in prominent roles.

–IANS

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Venkatesh-starrer January 12 Vidudala’s next schedule gets underway in Kazakhstan

Chennai, Nov 5(IANS) The makers of director Anil Ravipudi’s eagerly awaited family entertainer, ‘January 12 Vidudala’, featuring actors Venkatesh and Nandamuri Kalyan Ram in the lead, on Thursday announced that the next schedule of the film had begun in Kazakhstan.

Shine Screens, the production house producing the film, took to its social media timelines to make the announcement. It wrote, “The action is getting bigger in Kazakhstan. The shoot of #January12Vidudala is in full swing, with Victory @VenkyMama & @Nandamurikalyan shooting a power-packed action sequence and a spectacular song. Just wait for a FULL-ON ENTERTAINMENT FEAST this Sankranthi, arriving in theatres on JANUARY 12, 2027.”

Sources close to the unit said that director Anil Ravipudi had planned a special combination of action and song sequences for this schedule, bringing together two major attractions featuring the lead stars.

They informed that Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram had begun shooting for a breathtaking action sequence under the supervision of renowned stunt choreographer Real Satish.

Set against the stunning landscapes of Kazakhstan, the sequence is being designed on a grand scale. Sources point out that with two prominent stars coming together for the action block and Anil Ravipudi overseeing its execution, this high-voltage sequence will be one of the major highlights of the film.

The Kazakhstan schedule will also feature a spectacular song featuring both Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram. Choreographed by Sekhar Master, the special number will be filmed in some picturesque locations.

Prior to heading to Kazakhstan, the unit had completed a schedule in Ooty in Tamil Nadu.

It may be recalled that the unit had shot in Mysuru prior to shooting in Ooty. Sources close to the unit of the film had then told IANS that all four lead actors — Venkatesh, Kalyan Ram, Keerthy Suresh and Krithi Shetty were spotted at the shooting spot in Mysuru. The team, among other things, had also shot a song there.

Actor Sriman, who was also a part of the film, had taken to his X timeline to share his delight about being in a song choreographed by Brinda master after eight years.

The actor wrote, “Rocking choreography by the legendary dance master BRINDA.It’s been almost eight years since I got a chance to be a part in her choreography Thank you DIRECTOR Anil ravipudigaru @AnilRavipudi.”

For the unaware, the makers of the film had recently announced the title of the film as ‘January 12 Vidudala’. Prior to that, it was being tentatively referred to as #VenkyAnil5 / #NKRAR2.

A few days ago, the makers had released the first look of actor Venkatesh as Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy in the film. The first look was revealed on the occasion of the star completing 40 glorious years in the film industry.

The poster showed Venkatesh in an Indian Army camouflage uniform, sporting sunglasses and a scarf, standing beside a rugged SUV. His composed stance and intense styling establish the image of a strict military officer.

The poster identified Venkatesh as Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy, serving in the Indian Army and specialising in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation. The Army insignia and crossed-swords emblem in the backdrop reinforced the military setting.

Produced by Sahu Garapati under the Shine Screens banner, the film is being presented by Suresh Productions Archana, and Zee Studios.

Keerthy Suresh stars opposite Venkatesh in the film, while Krithi Shetty is paired with Kalyan Ram. The film brings together an accomplished technical team, with GV Prakash Kumar composing its music, Sameer Reddy handling cinematography, Tammiraju taking care of the editing, and AS Prakash designing the production. S Krishna serves as the executive producer.

–IANS

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Raghava Lawrence to celebrate Rajinikanth’s birthday for a month; says, ” Everything I’m today is because of him!”

Chennai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actor, director and producer Raghava Lawrence, who is known to be a big fan of Superstar Rajinikanth, on Thursday announced that he was to celebrate Rajinikanth’s birthday this year for a month.

The dance choreographer turned actor and producer said that he would start the celebrations from November 12th this year until December 12, which will mark Rajinikanth’s 76th birthday.

Taking to his social mediatimelines to make the announcement, Raghava Lawrence wrote, “One month Thalaivar birthday celebrations from November 12 – December 12. One month. One celebration. One Thalaivar!”

He went on to explain,”As a lifelong Thalaivar fan, I couldn’t be prouder or happier to witness him deliver an industry hit at the age of 75! I wish to celebrate his 76th birthday and this legendary success together on December 12th, with a month-long celebration from November 12th to December 12th.”

The actor and director also said, “My wish is to invite Thalaivar himself and celebrate this special occasion in front of him. But knowing his humble and simple nature, I understand that he isn’t someone who seeks grand celebrations for himself. That’s exactly why we, his fans, are celebrating him in our own way out of immense love and respect for the legendary, one and only Superstar!”

Making it clear that this initiative had been born purely out of his love for Rajinikanth, Raghava Lawrence said he had admired the Tamil Superstar right from his childhood.

“He gave me life and everything I’m today in this industry is because of him. There will never be another star like Thalaivar. His legacy is one of a kind. His journey and birthday needs to be celebrated in the best way possible. This is our way of celebrating the man who has given generations of fans a lifetime of memories and happiness,” the actor, director and producer said.

“As Today is Thursday, Guru day, I wanted to share with you all that I’ll soon announce how we’re going to make this celebration special. This year is going to be truly memorable for all Thalaivar fans. One month. One celebration. One Thalaivar! #guruveSaranam,” he wrote.

–IANS

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Indira Krishna recalls first cast reading session of ‘Ramayana’ with Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actress Indira Krishna took a trip down memory lane as she recalled the first day of the cast reading session of Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated film ‘Ramayana’, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles.

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actress Indira Krishna took a trip down memory lane as she recalled the first day of the cast reading session of Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated film ‘Ramayana’, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles.

Sharing a series of pictures from the memorable day, Indira expressed nostalgia and penned heartfelt notes for her co-stars and the team behind the film.

Praising Ranbir, she said that she had witnessed the actor’s journey from ‘Animal’ to ‘Ramayana’ and described him as a beautiful person both inside and out. She also lauded his performance, saying that he had nailed his role.

Sharing her memories, Indira wrote, “Our first day of cast reading session. What a memorable day and today I could feel this nostalgia. RK I hv no words to tell how beautiful inside out u are. From Animal to Ramayana I witnessed this pure soul actor and believe me he nailed it. Take a bow RK.”

Addressing Sai Pallavi, Indira praised her innocence and spiritual thoughts, adding that their coming together for the film seemed destined. She also expressed gratitude towards Ravi for looking after her during their time in Chandigarh and described him as a sweetheart. She added, “Sai ur innocence speaks volumes and ur spiritual thought has brought u to this platform ..ur right we all were destined to meet here.”

Praising director Nitesh Tiwari, Indira said she was impressed by the way he guided the cast to bring out the emotions in their performances. Recalling a particular scene before the Vanvas sequence, she said she still remembered how the filmmaker helped her get the shot right in one take.

She also praised Rakul Preet Singh for her politeness and cheerful nature, while appreciating her portrayal of Surpanakha. Indira further thanked casting director Mukesh Chhabra for knowing the right cast from the very beginning. She also acknowledged Jay Kar’s work and recalled experiencing an elaborate camera setup involving more than 80 cameras.

Concluding her note, the actress expressed love and gratitude to the entire team and wrote, “Love u all ..cheers to the team cheers to Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana..JAI SHREE RAM.”

Indira Krishnan plays Mata Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Ram (played by Ranbir Kapoor), in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana.’

‘Ramayana’ is slated to hit theatres today, November 5, 2026, across India.

–IANS

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Angad Bedi recalls Anushka Sharma sharing a hearty laugh with Virat Kohli in birthday post

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actor Angad Bedi penned a heartfelt note for cricketer Virat Kohli on his birthday.

The ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ actor called him “The King” and praised his contribution to Indian cricket. Taking to social media, Instagram, Angad shared a heartfelt birthday message for Virat and wished him a blessed and peaceful year ahead. He also praised the cricketer for his passion and dedication towards the game, saying that his journey would continue to inspire future generations.

In his birthday post, Angad wrote, “Happy birthday to ‘THE KING’ @virat.kohli have a blessed and a peaceful year. May you continue to serve Indian cricket with as much passion and gutso so that the future generation learns and embodies your belief and hardwork.”

He further said that Virat’s name would always feature among the legends of the game. “Whenever there will be a mention of the legends of the game.. your name will be right up there!!” he added.

Angad Bedi also shared a carousel of pictures featuring himself and wife Neha Dhupia posing with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma. One of the photographs captured Anushka sharing a hearty laugh with Virat, offering a glimpse of their cheerful moment together.

The couple twinned in blue as they posed alongside Angad and Neha.

Actress Juhi Babbar also extended warm birthday wishes to cricketer Virat Kohli, praising his passion, discipline and determination to constantly raise the bar. She also added a playful note, jokingly asking Virat to play a little less when competing against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

“Happpyyy Birthdayyy @imVkohli So much passion, so much discipline, and that incredible hunger to keep raising the bar every single time. On the aside Virat, its ok to play a little less, when your playing against KKR ..!!! Wishing you lots of happiness, good health and many more unforgettable moments on and off the field…!! Jay, Juhi, Jahnavi and Arjun,” she wrote.

Virat Kohli turned 38 on November 5 and received warm birthday wishes from several celebrities and well-known personalities on social media.

–IANS

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Anshula Kapoor says ‘forever cheering the loudest’ as Khushi Kapoor turns a year older

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Boney Kapoor’s daughter and Arjun Kapoor’s sister, Anshula Kapoor, said that she will forever be the biggest cheerleader for Khushi Kapoor as she turned a year older on Thursday.

Anshula shared that she loved watching Khushi turn into this wonderful young lady over the years.

“A year older, a year wiser, a lot hotter!! Happy birthday, my @khushikapoor (Sparkling Heart emojis) Watching you grow into the woman you are has been one of my favourite things. Forever cheering the loudest for you, forever in your corner. Love you endlessly! (Hug emojis) (sic),” Anshula wrote on her IG.

Anshula dropped a couple of glimpses from Khushi’s small birthday celebration with her family on her handle. In one of the photos, the ‘Nadaaniyan’ actress was seen cutting the cake in the presence of dad Boney Kapoor. We could also see Anshula’s husband and Khushi’s jiju, Rohan Thakkar posing with the birthday girl in another pic.

Anshula also uploaded a couple of snaps of Khushi from her wedding, which took place on July 6 this year.

Kushi and Jahnvi both were seen carrying out their bridesmaids duties with full enthusiasm during the various wedding festivities.

A day after the wedding, Khushi had posted a glimpse of the emotional sindoor ceremony where she and Janhvi stood by Anshula’s side, helping Rohan put sindoor (vermilion).

“And then they were married and lived happily ever afterrrrr,” read the caption on the post.

A photo had Rohan gently applying sindoor on Anshula’s forehead as the bride burst into laughter. Khushi, who was standing beside the couple, helped Anshula by adjusting her hair.

In another still, Khushi and Janhvi were seen posing with the newlywed bride.

During the Ghor Dhana ceremony as well Anshula posted a video where Janhvi was tying a Paranda to her hair, while Khushi helped her in the process.

–IANS

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Alia Bhatt shares Ranbir’s precious BTS moments with Raha during ‘Ramayana’

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actress Alia Bhatt treated the netizens to some precious BTS moments of Ranbir Kapoor with their daughter Raha during the shoot of ‘Ramayana’, which reached the cinema halls on Thursday.

The primary picture in the post showed Ranbir posing as Ram, with what seemed to be a jungle in the background. The ‘Animal’ actor is kissing little Raha on the forehead in the sweet pic. This is followed by another photo of Raha lovingly holding on to dad Ranbir. Raha’s face was covered with a white heart emoji in both the photographs.

Expressing her pride for Ranbir, Alia wrote on her official Instagram handle, “You poured everything into this one and somehow still had all of it left for her (Red heart emoji) so proud of you Ranbir and of every single person who brought their heart and soul to this incredible experience at the movies (Sparkles emoji) (sic).”

“some stories are bigger than all of us & Ramayana is one of them (Folded Hands, red heart, Sun and Dizzy emoticon),” she went on to add.

Talking about Alia and Ranbir’s love journey, after dating for a few years, the couple finally tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at their Mumbai home in April 2022. These two welcomed their daughter, Raha, on 6 November 2022.

Many from the film fraternity used social media to congratulate team ‘Ramayana’ on the release.

Filmmaker Karan Johar shared on the photo-sharing app, “RAMAYANA ….. a story immersed in our cultural veins… a story generations have grown up on… a story that is an embodiment of Values, traditions and pure humanity….You have read it, seen it, told it… and YET to be BLOWN away by its cinematic adaptation is no short of a Miracle! I salute, I applaud and I have the deepest respect for each and every team member of Ramayana…. All of us can dream it… they actually went out and achieved it!!!! (sic)”

–IANS

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Harshvardhan Rane begins voice work for ‘Force 3’, shares update on new film ‘Police Company’

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actor Harshvardhan Rane has shared an update on his upcoming projects.

He revealed that he has begun voice work for ‘Force 3’ and that the shoot of his new film ‘Police Company’ is expected to wrap up by November 28. Taking to Instagram, the actor shared the latest developments of both projects, giving a glimpse into his ongoing work commitments.

Harshvardhan wrote: “FORCE 3 voice work begins DAYA NAYAK shoot to finish by 28th November #update.” The ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’ actress also gave a glimpse into his work and fitness routine by sharing a series of pictures and videos. In one of the pictures, he is seen sitting in a recording room with a script in his hand, while another video shows him working out and flaunting his muscles.

“Force 3” also stars John Abraham and Tanya Maniktala. Directed by Bhav Dhulia, known for his work on ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’ and ‘The Freelancer,’ the film marks the third installment in the popular ‘Force’ franchise. John Abraham will reprise his role as ACP Yashvardhan Singh in the film.

‘Force 3’ is being produced by John Abraham’s JA Entertainment and Sheel Kumar’s Karolina Corporation. The film is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 19, 2027.

On the other hand, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma’s upcoming directorial ‘Police Company’ will be based on the special squad formed by the Mumbai Police to tackle the growing gang activities in the city during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It will also draw inspiration from one of the squad’s well-known members, police officer Daya Nayak.

The film will explore the world of the Mumbai Police’s fight against organized crime during a significant period in the city’s history.

Announcing the project, Varma had written on X, “My NEXT film’s NAME being produced by T SERIES is .. POLICE COMPANY. With the tagline “It Is More Dangerous Than D Company “. The police is an institution, and an underworld company is a money-making organization. But when an institution is given extra powers, it will soon become a company.”

–IANS

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Shweta Tripathi: Working out is also very important because of all the Diwali sweets, amazing food

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Actress Shweta Tripathi believes Diwali is all about bringing in light, warmth and positive energy, while cherishing childhood traditions and creating little moments of happiness with loved ones.

She also told IANS about the importance of striking a balance between professional commitments, family time and fitness during the festive season, saying that working out is essential amid all the Diwali sweets and delicious food.

Shweta said: “Diwali for me is bringing in light, warmth and positive energy. Since childhood, before Diwali, I used to clean the house and my room. As a child, I used to wonder why I was doing this, but now I understand how important it is.”

“When you keep the things around you clean and lit, you give them light, and that light comes inside you as well. That is something I follow even today.”

The actress recalled lighting diya on the roof.

“All four of us — my mother, father, sister and I — would light diyas around the house. We would put oil in them and light them. That is a tradition we still follow,” she said.

Shweta said festivals are a reminder to pause and get together with friends and family.

“Professional life is, of course, very important, especially for us, as our schedules are unpredictable. But you have to take out little pockets of time, even if you cannot dedicate an entire day.”

The actress added: “It does not have to be elaborate. It can simply be a meal together, conversations, laughter, gifting something to someone or making something for them. It is important to create those little pockets of happiness for yourself and others.”

She mentioned: “Working out is also very important because of all the Diwali sweets and amazing food. Maintaining your workout routine helps you strike that balance. I think balance is extremely important in life.”

–IANS

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