Category: ENTERTAINMENT

Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS) Fashionista Sonam Kapoor has thanked Hollywood star Gillian Anderson for sending across her book, which the Bollywood actress is sure will be an incredible read.

Sonam took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture of the book titled “Want”. It is described as “submitted by anonymous, collected by Gillian Anderson.”

For the caption, she wrote: “Thank you @gilliana I’m sure this will be an incredible read…”

“Want” is a book on sexual fantasies. According to a description, it has stories collected and introduces the anonymous sexual fantasies of women from around the world. They are all extraordinary: full of desire, fear, intimacy, shame, satisfaction and, ultimately, liberation.

Talking about Anderson, She is best known for her roles as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the sci-fi series The X-Files, Lily Bart in the drama film The House of Mirth, Jean Milburn in the Netflix comedy drama series Sex Education, and Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of series The Crown.

Meanwhile, Sonam revealed that one dish that reminds of her home includes Sindhi delicacies.

Sonam, whose mother Sunita is a Sindhi, took to Instagram stories, where she shared a reel about “one dish that always reminds of home” is “Sindhi koki with dahi and papad.” She also shared a video of “masala bread.”

The actress in her stories also shared that she is on her way back to home in London after her stay in Dubai.

Sonam shared a picture of a Christmas tree and wrote: “Back home in London coming back to this lovely @dior.”

On December 8, Sonam shared glimpses of her family by the sea. In the first picture, Sonam can be seen sitting with her husband, Anand Ahuja, on the seashore, enjoying the sunset view.

Sonam and Anand Ahuja tied the knot in 2018 in Mumbai in a lavish ceremony. They dated for five years before getting married. The couple welcomed their son, Vayu, in August 2022. Post marriage Sonam divides her time between London, Delhi, and Mumbai.

Sonam will next be seen in “Battle of Bittora”, produced by her father Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea Kapoor.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11(IANS) PM Modi met with the Kapoor family in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 10, to celebrate Raj Kapoor’s cinematic legacy on the occasion of his centenary.

Some special moments from this meeting have been released by PMO. In the video PM Modi can be seen talking to Kapoor family about Raj Kapoor and his immense contribution to Indian cinema.

However, the most hilarious moment of the meeting came when PM Modi humorously said ‘Cut!’ as Reema Jain( Raj Kapoor’s daughter) started speaking to him.

It all began when Reema Jain started her conversation with PM Modi and appeared to struggle with her words while addressing him. As she tried to phrase her sentence, starting with ‘Aadarniye Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi Ji,’ PM Modi instantly interjected with ‘Cut!’ leaving everyone in splits.

The Prime Minister also asked the Kapoor family to make a movie, especially catering to Central Asia, about Raj Kapoor who is still in people’s mind after so many years. He added that we must put in efforts to make it reach to the new generations in Central Asia and urged the family to create a movie which would act as a link.

Acknowledging the love and fame received from across the globe, Ms. Reema Kapoor said that Shri Raj Kapoor can be called as ‘Cultural Ambassador’ and she lauded the Prime Minister for being the ‘Global Ambassador’ of India and the entire Kapoor family was proud of the Prime Minister.

Shri Modi emphasized that the prestige of the country had risen to great heights today and cited Yoga as an example which is discussed across the globe. He further added that he discussed Yoga and its importance with the leaders of other nations during their meet.

—IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Shane Gregoire, the husband of Anurag Kashyap’s daughter, Aaliyah Kashyap, was seen welling up at their wedding ceremony on Wednesday.

Even Anurag Kashyap’s eyes were moist when he came to meet with the paparazzi stationed outside the venue. He told them that he shed tears on the happy occasion shortly before meeting them.

As per media reports, Shane and Aaliyah, who have been dating for over four years now, tied the knot on Wednesday. The two got engaged in May last year, after which they threw an engagement bash for their loved ones in August 2023.

Actress Kalki Koechlin, who his Anurag’s second wife and has worked with him in ‘Dev.D’ and ‘That Girl In Yellow Boots’, was also seen at the wedding festivities. Anurag and Kalki tied the knot with the director in 2011. However, the two parted ways in 2015.

Kalki has said that she and Anurag have since been good friends. She has also said that the first few years after their divorce were difficult, but that they needed time apart to learn about each other’s lives.

It was Anurag’s second marriage, he was earlier married to film editor Aarti Bajaj with whom he shares daughter Aaliyah Kashyap.

Earlier, actress Khushi Kapoor, who made her Bollywood debut with the streaming movie ‘The Archies’, attended the haldi ceremony of Aaliyah.

On Sunday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared an array of pictures and videos from the haldi ceremony. In one the videos Khushi was seen applying haldi on Aaliyah. Another video shows Aaliyah sharing a kiss with her fiance.

Khushi wrote in the caption, “Haldi morning”.

The actress was seen donning a yellow coloured ethnic outfit as per the theme of the wedding festivity.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) The Kapoor family recently met the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in the national capital.

The family prepared well in advance to meet the PM, discussed internally on their WhatsApp group about how they would address him.

Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor told PM Modi, “Last week, on our whatsapp family group, we decided how to address you as Prime Minister, Prime Minister sir. Reema aunty called me daily asking if she could say this, or say that”.

PM Modi assured them that they can address him as per their choice, and asked them to consider him a member of their family. Reema Jain, the daughter of Raj Kapoor told PM Modi, “Respected Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi”, before the PM chimed in and said, “Cut” thereby lighting up the mood in the room.

Reema further mentioned, “In such a precious time, you have invited everyone here on Raj Kapoor’s 100th birthday. We thank you. And I remembered a couple of lines from Papa’s movie. I will not live, you will not live, but there will be memories. You have given so much love and respect to today’s India. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given so much respect to the Kapoor family. It is a great honour for me to welcome you. And Raj Kapoor’s 100th birthday is the golden age of India’s film industry”.

Elsewhere during the conversation, PM Modi was be seen talking to the Kapoor family about Raj Kapoor. He shared how Raj Kapoor was so ahead of his time as he established India as a ‘soft power’, when the word wasn’t even coined, among the people across the globe with his stories.

He said, “In 1947, we had ‘Neel Kamal’, and now in 2047, as we approach a 100-year journey, it symbolises the immense contribution of such a vast nation. Today, in the diplomatic world, there’s much talk about soft power.

Back then, the term ‘soft power’ didn’t even exist, but Raj Kapoor had already established India’s strength in this domain globally”. December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest cinematic forces of India. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor.

Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Bollywood star Varun Dhawan, who is gearing up for his upcoming theatrical movie ‘Baby John’, recently graced the streaming sketch comedy show ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’, and his entertaining foot forward on the show.

During the episode, Varun pulled show host Kapil Sharma’s leg as he made a reference to the infamous fight between Kapil and his fellow comedian-actor Sunil Grover.

The recently released promo of the series shows Sunil telling Varun, “You look like an original Baby John”.

Kapil chimed in as he told Sunil, “You’re the duplicate. Everyone else is original here”.

Varun caught the beat and the pulse of the moment as he said, “I don’t understand one thing. Whenever you’re in the airport setting, why do you always fight?”.

In 2017, Kapil Sharma had a bad fight with Sunil Grover and Chandan Prabhakar while they were on a flight back from Melbourne. Kapil reportedly verbally abused Sunil Grover. As a result, Sunil decided not to return to ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’. Before Kapil Sharma and Sunil Grover’s infamous feud, the two had worked together on hit projects like ‘Comedy Nights With Kapil’ and ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’.

Elsewhere during the episode, Varun also pulled off a pole dance. Looking at this, director-producer Atlee said, “I’ve not seen a boy pole dance. This is the first time I’m seeing”.

Meanwhile, ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ revolves around Kapil Sharma and his team of comedians, including Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda, Krushna Abhishek and Rajiv Thakur.

The format of the show is largely similar to his earlier shows as it is largely engineered for the mass audience on the streaming medium. The extravagant set of the play is a visual extravaganza, set against the backdrop of an opulent airport terminal. Archana Puran Singh is the permanent guest of the show.

The show streams on Netflix.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who recently met with the Kapoor family ahead of the centenary of the late filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor, lauded the Raj Kapoor as a visionary artiste.

In an exclusive footage of IANS, PM Modi can be seen talking to the Kapoor family about Raj Kapoor. He shared how Raj Kapoor was so ahead of his time as he established India as a ‘soft power’, when the word wasn’t even coined, among the people across the globe with his stories.

He said, “In 1947, we had ‘Neel Kamal’, and now in 2047, as we approach a 100-year journey, it symbolises the immense contribution of such a vast nation. Today, in the diplomatic world, there’s much talk about soft power.

Back then, the term ‘soft power’ didn’t even exist, but Raj Kapoor had already established India’s strength in this domain globally”. December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor, who is widely regarded as one of the biggest cinematic forces of India. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor.

Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards. His films ‘Awaara’ and ‘Boot Polish’ competed for the Palme d’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and 1955’s editions respectively.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India’s highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed to him in 1988 by the Government of India.

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India, organised jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa, in Goa, honoured Raj Kapoor on his centenary, and invited Ranbir as the speaker to share anecdotes about his grandfather.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11(IANS) Cine & TV artists’ Association(CINTAA) is all set to commemorate the centenary of the legendary Shri Raj Kapoor with an enchanting musical evening.

The grand celebration will be helmed by CINTAA President Poonam Dhillon and Sr. Vice President Padmini Kolhapure.

This special occasion will be marked by a mesmerizing musical extravaganza on December 18th, 2024, at the prestigious Mukesh Patel Auditorium, Mumbai.

In a celebration befitting the Showman of Indian Cinema, the event will bring together some of the most celebrated voices in the music industry.

Esteemed artists such as Nitin Mukesh, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Suresh Wadkar, Shailendra Singh, Sudesh Bhonsle, Bela Sulakhe and others will breathe life into the unforgettable melodies of R.K. Films, evoking cherished memories of Raj Kapoor’s cinematic masterpieces.

Reminiscing about the icon Raj Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon shares, “Raj Kapoor ji was not just a filmmaker; he was a storyteller of the human spirit. His legacy is a guiding light for generations to come”

Padmini Kolhapure adds, “Celebrating Raj Kapoor ji’s centenary is akin to honouring the soul of Indian cinema. His genius continues to inspire, and this evening will be our heartfelt tribute to the man who made dreams come alive on screen”

Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to supporting CINTAA’s vulnerable and needy members, underscoring the values of community and care that Shri Raj Kapoor championed throughout his illustrious life.

CINTAA, the esteemed Cine & TV Artistes’ Association, is enriched by the presence of some of the most celebrated names in the Indian entertainment industry. Among its distinguished members are renowned actors such as Poonam Dhillon, Padmini Kolhapure, Puneet Issar, Upasana Singh, Hemant Pandey, Kanwarjit Paintal, Deepak Parashar, Mukesh Rishi, Vikas Verma, Rakesh Bedi, Anita Raaj, Yashpal Sharma, Sahila Chadha, Chandraprakash Thakur, Manoj Joshi, Rashid Mehta, Priti Sapru, Vindu Dara Singh, Hetal Parmar, Deepak Chadha, and Sheeba Akashdeep.

—IANS

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Kochi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to national award-winning Malayalam actor Balachandra Menon in a sexual assault case, observing that men also have the right to dignity, not just women.

A single-judge bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan observed that the case was filed 17 years after the incident occurred.

“It is an admitted fact that the alleged incident happened in 2007. It is also admitted that the petitioner is a known cine artist, he is also known as a film actor, director, and scriptwriter. He directed about 40 films and obtained two national awards. The nation awarded him by giving him a Padma Shri. Based on a statement of a lady, that too after 17 years, this case has been registered. It is true that investigation is going on but everybody must remember that the right and dignity is not only to a woman but to men also. This is a fit case to grant bail to petitioner in the interest of justice,” said the Court.

Incidentally, the Court had earlier granted Menon interim bail on finding that there was no plausible explanation given by the complainant for the “inordinate delay” in lodging the FIR in 2024 when the alleged crime took place around 17 years back.

After the Justice Hema Committee’s report on the condition of women in the Malayalam film industry was released in August, a storm of allegations was unleashed against its leading figures.

As a few former actresses publicly revealed their bad experiences, the police were quick to act, registering 11 FIRs against various film personalities.

A special bench of the High Court was now keeping track of the developments of the special investigation team formed to go forward in the case.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Music composer-singer Jasleen Royal, who is known for ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, ‘Love You Zindagi’, ‘Heeriye’, ‘Ranjha’, and ‘Sahiba’, is set to join the British rock band Coldplay as a guest during the India leg of their ‘Music of the Spheres World Tour’.

Jasleen will be performing alongside Coldplay at the following venues on January 18, January 19, and January 21, 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

She will also perform alongside the band on January 25, and January 26, 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Talking about the same, Jasleen Royal said in a statement, “I am thrilled and honored to be sharing the stage with Coldplay. Their music has been a huge inspiration to me, and I can’t wait to perform for our incredible fans in India”.

Fans can expect an unforgettable experience as Jasleen Royal and Coldplay come together to create magic on stage. This collaboration is set to be a musical extravaganza, blending the best of Indian and international music.

With her songs dominating global charts and back-to-back hits, Jasleen is set to captivate audiences alongside Coldplay.

The set list for the band includes tracks like ‘Yellow’, ‘The Scientist’, ‘Clocks’, ‘Fix You’, ‘Viva La Vida’, ‘Paradise’, ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’ and ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’.

The India leg of the band’s world tour follows the sellout success of the band’s summer 2024 European stadium shows and the announcement of eight new shows in the UK.

This is the second time that Coldplay will be performing in India, they last visited the country in 2016 when they performed in Mumbai as a part of the Global Citizen Festival.

Since kicking off in March 2022, the Music Of The Spheres World Tour has sold over 10 million tickets across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, making it the most highly attended tour by a group of all time. The tour is also travelling to Abu Dhabi, Seoul and Hong Kong between January and April of 2025.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Actor Nana Patekar, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming movie ‘Vanvaas’, recently graced the quiz based reality television show, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 16′, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

During the course of the episode, the actor heaped praise on Madhuri Dixit as he shared his experience of working with her.

During the episode, an audience member asked Nana Patekar about his experience working with Madhuri Dixit in ‘Wajood’.

Responding to the same, Nana Patekar said, “It was a great experience. She is an exceptional actress—beautiful, an incredible dancer, and as an actress, she had everything one could ask for. Besides that, she is a wonderful person, and I admire her a lot”.

Further, the audience asked about the poem, ‘Kaise batau mai tumhe’, which Nana had recited for Madhuri in the movie.

The actor said, “That poem was written by Javed Akhtar Sahab and even after 30-35 years of that film, it is etched in my memory because of Madhuri. I recited it for her, and that’s why it’s unforgettable. Even today, it feels like it’s running in my blood. Whenever someone asks about it, it brings back so many memories”.

Nana Patekar attended the show along with Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, and writer-director Anil Sharma. He took to the hot seat, captivating viewers with his engaging stories and wisdom, as he shared anecdotes and bonds with Amitabh Bachchan over their incredible journeys. Playing for the Naam Foundation, Nana aims to raise awareness and funds to prevent farmer suicides, a cause close to his heart.

‘Vanvaas’ is directed by Anil Sharma, who is known for ‘Gadar 2’. The film’s team recently held a special screening for businessman Vijaypat Singhania with whom the film struck a deep personal chord.

‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 16’ airs at 9 PM on Sony Entertainment Television.

–IANS

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