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Showing posts from November, 2023

‘You have to get over the me thing’: Kevin Bacon on money, marriage – and learning to live with himself

Kevin Bacon, Hollywood’s great survivor, first set hearts fluttering in the 1984 classic Footloose. Now 65, he’s back on the big screen again. Here, he talks about his band, politics, family, embracing change and, most of all, learning selflessness… There’s a state that veteran Hollywood actors can reach, beyond ravenous ambition, but with retirement still distant, that seems to make them contented as professionals and mellow as people. Kevin Bacon, now 65, has hit that sweet spot. Continually employed for decades, he shares a Manhattan apartment as well as a Connecticut farm with his wife of 35 years, Kyra Sedgwick, and their two adult children, Travis and Sosie. Bacon is in a country band with his brother, Michael, and otherwise channels any musical overspill into adorable Instagram videos of the Family Bacon (barnyard animals included) covering pop songs old and new. The hunger of the 1980s lead-actor-in-waiting, the frustration of the bit-player in mid-career who kept a wary eye

Ranveer Singh advocates for sexual health and wellness in India; announced as the co-owner of Bold Care

Bollywood Hungama was the first to inform that Ranveer Singh is set to endorse wellness and sexual health products. In an absolute first, Ranveer partners with Bold Care, a key player in India’s landscape for men’s sexual health and wellness. This comes in as a significant move since sexual health and wellness, a brand category which is otherwise considered unconventional, gets mainstream attention with this announcement. It’s the first step to normalise this taboo topic in society. Bold Care provides science-backed solutions for intimate health issues, including premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. Beyond this, Bold Care's product portfolio includes India’s fastest-growing condom range, water-based lubes, and a selection of wellness products. This is not the first time that Ranveer Singh will be spreading awareness about sexual wellness. He has in fact been committed to this cause for a long time. Back in 2014, he surprised everyone when he appeared in a series of cond

REVEALED: Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal ends with the promise of a sequel titled Animal Park

The much awaited film, Animal, has released today. Despite the ‘A’ rating, a run time of 203 minutes (that is, 3 hours and 23 minutes) and disturbing content, the film has generated tremendous excitement and is all set to take a flying start at the box office. The teaser and trailer has shown a lot and yet, there are several scenes and moments that are unpredictable and will leave the audience surprised and stunned. Bollywood Hungama has learned that Animal ends with the promise of a sequel. A new conflict is introduced in the end. Interestingly, the title of the second part is also unveiled. The sequel to Animal has been titled Animal Park. At 1:05 am today, the official social media handles of Animal posted a creative that said ‘Don’t miss the post credit scene of Animal’. The idea is probably to ensure the audience watches the memorable scene that indicates what the next installment will be all about. Do not Miss! ???? Book your Tickets now ????️ https://t.co/kAvgndK34I#AnimalInC

Ranveer Singh on ‘scepticism’ towards Don 3 after Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan: “Continuing the legacy of two of our greatest superstars…”

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh was honoured at the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. Following his panel in Jeddah and meeting fans, he sat down for a conversation to talk about several topics including him taking on the role of Don in the Farhan Akhtar directorial. The previous versions were headlined by megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer is aware of the scepticism. Speaking to Deadline, Ranveer Singh said, “I’m hoping to make Don my own and give it my spin, my interpretation. It is the handing over of the baton of one of the most loved and revered franchises of Hindi cinema. The significance of that is not lost on me. When the announcement was made, as expected, it came with its share of scepticism. But throughout the history of cinema, this has happened. Even as recently as perhaps when the Bond franchise changed hands and they announced Daniel Craig as the new Bond, it came with its fair share of scepticism. So, this is

Family Switch review – Netflix yuletide body-swap comedy is overstuffed

Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms can’t save a lukewarm family comedy that’s over-reliant on potty humor and eye-rolling contrivances There comes a time, in just about any modern family, when the youngest member of the household is old enough to warrant the commencement of “movie night”. About midway through the pandemic, when our daughter’s tastes graduated from Australian mermaid dramas to more palatable fare like The Baby-Sitters Club and Gilmore Girls, my husband and I celebrated by screening Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock films for our kids, who loved them as much as we did! But then the world opened back up, and personal preferences splintered off. Our son now likes watching football games, and football dramas, and while I can stand the latter, it’s hard to imagine subjecting his little sister to Friday Night Lights’ tequila shots and threesomes. Besides, she’d much rather hide away in her room and watch some Netflix show about cake. That same streamer’s Family Switch, out in time

Jonathan Majors trial begins for assault charges over alleged domestic dispute

Creed actor accused by then girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, of slapping her across the face, twisting her arm, and throwing her into a car The trial of the actor Jonathan Majors for assault and harassment against a former girlfriend following an alleged domestic dispute kicked off on Wednesday. Jury selection began in the morning for the highly publicized case, according to Deadline , with Majors appearing in the courtroom. The 34-year-old actor, known for his role in the Creed movie franchise, Lovecraft Country and several current and forthcoming Marvel projects, faces several assault and harassment misdemeanours. He has pled not guilty to all counts; if found guilty, he faces up to a year in prison. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/kHyBudl via IFTTT

CBFC Corruption Case: Vishal visits CBI office in Mumbai for questioning; says, “Never ever thought in my life I will…”

In a significant development in the ongoing CBI investigation into the alleged corruption at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Mumbai office, Tamil actor Vishal visited the CBI office on Tuesday to provide his statement. The actor had earlier accused CBFC officials of demanding a bribe for granting censor certification for the Hindi version of his film, Mark Antony. Vishal took to social media to share his experience at the CBI office, describing it as a "new experience" and expressing his satisfaction with the way the investigation is being conducted. "Was a complete new experience and am glad the way the enquiry is being conducted," he tweeted. The actor's visit to the CBI office comes amidst growing scrutiny of the CBFC, with several filmmakers alleging that they have been subjected to corruption and harassment by the board's officials.  Now on my way to CBI office in Mumbai for an enquiry regarding the CBFC case. Lol. Never ever thought I

Makers of Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal built 500 kg machine gun from scratch, the actor says, “It was a great idea that Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Suresh Selvarajan had”

Actors Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna's upcoming film Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, is all set to release this week. With only a few days left for the release of the movie on the big screen and it set to clash with Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur in theatres, the anticipation is at an all-time high. The trailer gives a glimpse into the hyper-violent crime saga led by Kapoor. In one of the scenes, Ranbir is seen using a machine gun. Turns out, it is not VFX but was made from scratch. The makers of Animal recently attended a promotional event in Chennai ahead of the film's release. At the conference, they were asked about the trolling for the machine gun and Computer-generated imagery (CGI). However, Animal production designer Suresh Selvarajan clarified that the machine gun, which weighed 500 kg, was built from scratch over a period of four months. It will reportedly appear during the 18-minute interval block. “I never saw such a thing happe

Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal becomes fourth Indian film to release in Bangladesh: Reports

Actors Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna's upcoming film Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, is all set to release this week. With only a few days left for the release of the movie on the big screen, it is being reported that Animal is set to release in Bangladesh. For unversed, Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan paved the way for Hindi films to release in the theatres in Bangladesh. This was followed by SRK’s Jawan and Thalapathy Vijay’s Leo. Now, Ranbir’s Animal has become the fourth Indian movie in history to be released in theatres. It also apparently becomes the second movie after Jawan to be released on the same day as the rest of the world. In a recent conversation with Variety, Ranbir said, "My character in Animal shares some traits with Sandeep Reddy Vanga's protagonists. He is indeed tough and uncompromising in certain aspects," Ranbir said. "But he is also multi-dimensional and complex, with moments of vulnerability and in

Javed Akhtar to walk down memory lane with ‘Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon’, a nostalgic evening of music and stories

On December 29, 2023, Padma Bhushan awardee, legendary screenwriter, lyricist and celebrated poet Javed Akhtar will host ‘Main Koi Aisa Geet Gaoon’, an evening brimming with unheard stories behind famous songs and songs that led to unforgettable stories. He will delve deep into his treasure-trove to share golden trivia about magical collaborations with iconic composers, musicians, singers, directors, and actors. Singers Meiyang Chang and Jahanvi Shrimankar, along with a live band, will layer this evening of never heard before anecdotes, with renditions of classic songs. The event, presented by Saregama Live, will be held from 7 pm onwards at Mumbai’s Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium. Sharing more about the show, Javed Akhtar said, “With the passage of time, memories gain a certain compelling power and ever so often, I find myself reliving musical sittings, conversations and moments of serendipity that led to the songs that are now considered iconic. Usually,

Suhana Khan turns singer for her debut film The Archies; croons ‘Jab Tum Na Theen’: “Please listen with kindness”

Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, is all set to make her debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies. She brings Veronica Lodge to life in Hindi adaptation of the comic. Ahead of the movie’s release, the makers launched the music album of the film on November 26. And turns out, along with her acting debut, Suhana has also crooned a song for the film. Suhana Khan announced that she made her singing debut with The Archies. Along with her co-star Dot, who is a singer, Suhana has crooned the song ‘Jab Tum Na Theen’. Sharing the news, she wrote on Instagram, “I sang my first song!! Thank you @zoieakhtar & @shankar.mahadevan for being so patient with me. Please listen with kindness.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Suhana Khan (@suhanakhan2) The Archies will have as many as 16 songs as the musical adaptation gears up for the release. The film’s ensemble cast includes Dot (Aditi), Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Mihir Ahuja, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina and Yuvraj Menda a

Rashmika Mandanna says it is scary to see deepfake videos: “They have been around for a while and we’ve normalised them but it isn’t okay”

Rashmika Mandanna has been promoting her upcoming film Animal and recently opened up about Deepfake videos. A widely circulated video of the actress entering an elevator was an artificial intelligence (AI) deepfake video where her face was morphed into the face of a social media content creator. Following the virality of the video, Rashmika had released a statement and raised concerns. Now, she has said that deepfakes are ‘scary’ and has urged women to use their platform to speak up. As quoted by Hindustan Times, at a press event in Hyderabad, Rashmika said, “Deepfakes have been around for a while and we’ve normalised them but it isn’t okay. I always wondered who would even care if I chose to speak up and point out that it isn’t okay. So, I’m glad people from across the film industries have supported me. I understand now how important it is to speak up. I want to urge women to take the help they need when it happens.” Her words come in right after a viral video of Alia Bhatt’s face m

Fashion designer Rohit Bal in critical condition and on ventilator support, admitted to Medanta Hospital: Report

Indian fashion designer Rohit Bal is reportedly in critical condition and has been on ventilator support in the Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon. As per several reports, the designer has pre-existing cardiac condition and also suffered from alcohol abuse and other health problems. As per a report in HT City, a close friend of Rohit Bal said, “Bal was rushed to the hospital by model Suraj Dhalia three days ago. His heart was sinking and he was unconscious. His pacemaker gave seven shocks. He was initially taken to Moolchand and when his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to Medanta.” "Gudda is a fighter but his illness has taken a serious toll on him. He became extremely weak over the last few months. We are praying for him," another close friend said. Rohit Bal has been in and out of hospital for health issues in the last few months. He suffered a massive heart attack in 2010. The 62-year-old has also been suffering from pancreatitis for several years. As per reports, his ol

Mahesh Babu and SS Rajamouli to join Animal pre-release event as “Chief guests” 

Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna’s upcoming film Animal, also their first on-screen collaboration, is all set to debut on the big screen soon. After the trailer launch, the team Animal is now gearing up for a grand pre-release event in Hyderabad. Along with the team, two of the most loved South Indian stars are also going to attend the event. Yes! Popular actor Mahesh Babu and renowned filmmaker SS Rajamouli will be at the event as the “chief guests.”  Making the official announcement of the same, T-Series, the production banner behind Animal, took to its social media handle and shared 2 posts. “The Sovereign…the one who always reigns supremely, Superstar @urstrulymahesh is attending as the Chief Guest,” read an excerpt for the post dedicated to Mahesh Babu. Meanwhile, the captions for the post dedicated to SS Rajamouli read, “Some might roar in streets, some might roar in certain locations, some might roar in a few places, but this man can ROAR across the globe with sheer brillian

Bread and Salt review – clarity and rigour as a talented Polish pianist returns to his hometown

Real-life pianist Tymoteusz Bies and his younger brother Jacek star in Damian Kocur’s extraordinary and intriguing debut There’s an icy, unforgiving clarity and compositional rigour to this arresting feature debut from Polish film-maker Damian Kocur, made using non-professionals and partly inspired by a violent incident from real life ; it won the special jury prize at Venice in 2022. Real-life Polish pianist Tymoteusz Bies plays Tymek, a high-achieving young man studying piano at Warsaw’s Chopin University of Music. He’s returned for the summer break to his drab home town, perhaps based on Ełk in the north-east, where all the kids he grew up with are heading for useless jobs and humdrum lives. He’s happy to be back with his music teacher mum and his brother Jacek (played by his actual brother Jacek Bies) but is perplexed and irritated by the fact that Jacek, despite his own piano talent, isn’t really working hard to get a musical scholarship, like him. Jacek seems lazily content

Albert Kabo Lepcha wins the title of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2023

After 3 months of being on the quest of perfecting their sur-taal through endless riyaaz and delivering some performances, Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2023 comes to an end. Throughout the season, viewers have watched the judges - Himesh Reshammiya, Anu Malik, and Neeti Mohan guide these budding singing sensations, while Aditya Naryan entertained one and all as the show's host. And now, racing ahead of all the contestants, we have Albert Kabo Lepcha as the winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa amidst much fanfare and celebrations. On the other hand, finalists Nishtha Sharma and Ranita Banerjee were announced as the first and second runners-up respectively. Speaking of the finale episode, it commenced with a power-packed performance by the top five finalists of the show - Sonia Gazmer, Sneha Bhattacharya, Nishtha Sharma, Albert Kabo Lepcha and Ranita Banerjee which left everyone spellbound. The episode was joined by the evergreen Govinda, his wife Sunita Ahuja, and veteran actress Aruna Irani. Not j

EXCLUSIVE: Suneel Darshan to commence shooting for Andaaz 2 from November 28; to launch three newcomers

Bollywood industry always had a soft spot for sequels. The blockbuster success of Gadar 2 (2023) encouraged filmmakers to make sequels of films released a couple of decades ago. Some months ago, Bollywood Hungama broke the news that Dharmesh Darshan is in talks to direct Dhadkan 2. And now, we bring to you another breaking news, about his brother Suneel Darshan. He’s all set to begin the shoot to the sequel of his hit film, Andaaz (2003). Suneel Darshan exclusively told Bollywood Hungama, “20 years after the release of 2003’s hit Andaaz, which launched then newcomers Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra opposite Akshay Kumar, I am about to commence the filming of Andaaz 2. The shoot begins from tomorrow.” Suneel Darshan further said, “Andaaz 2 will feature 3 new talents in leading roles with original music by Nadeem of Nadeem-Shravan fame and lyrics by Sameer and Nadeem.” The Shree Krishna International presentation is written, produced & directed by Suneel Darshan. Suneel Darshan, ho

Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for gunfire at Gippy Grewal's residence; says, “This message also extends to Salman Khan”

Gunshots reverberated through the residence of Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal on Saturday, with notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claiming responsibility for the brazen attack. The startling revelation unfolded on Facebook, where a post under the name of Lawrence Bishnoi detailed the orchestrated violence in the White Rock area of Vancouver, Canada. The message ominously warned Gippy Grewal that his close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan wouldn't serve as a shield. It read, “Your close ties with Salman Khan won't protect you. It's time for your 'brother' to step up and defend you. This message also extends to Salman Khan – don't fool yourself into thinking Dawood Ibrahim can safeguard you from our reach.” The post continued to address Gippy Grewal directly, accusing him of insincere condolences following the demise of Sidhu Moose Wala. He added, “No one can save you. Your ostentatious response to Sidhu Moose Wala's death didn't go unnoticed.

The Archies cast sets the stage on fire with ‘Va Va Voom’ dance extravaganza; watch

In anticipation of the digital release of Zoya Akhtar's upcoming film The Archies on Netflix, the star-studded cast came together for a music album launch event in Mumbai. The evening was a vibrant celebration of music and dance, showcasing the film's energy and retro flair. The event, held on Saturday, featured the dynamic newcomers Dot, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, Yuvraj Menda, Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor, who make up the promising ensemble cast of The Archies. Dressed in eye-catching floral and printed outfits, the cast members not only unveiled the film's music album but also treated the audience to a lively performance of one of the film's tracks, ‘Va Va Voom.’ Videos from the event quickly went viral on social media, capturing the infectious enthusiasm and groove of the young actors as they showcased their dance moves on stage. The colourful and retro vibes of their attire complemented the energetic beats of the song, creating a visual spectacle

BREAKING: 2.41 minute long trailer of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dunki passed by CBFC with U/A certificate

The month of December is expected to be an exciting one for moviegoers. Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna has already created a rage. This will be followed by Dunki, which marks the first collaboration between superstar Shah Rukh Khan and blockbuster director Rajkumar Hirani. Bollywood Hungama has been at the forefront in giving news about the censor process of the assets of Dunki. We now bring to you another exciting update. The theatrical trailer of Dunki was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Yesterday, that is, November 25, the trailer was cleared by the Censors with a U/A certificate. The length of the trailer, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 2 minute 41 seconds. Interestingly, the name of the applicant and producer on the certificate is Sahil Chandramohan Khosla. As per sources, he’s a part of Rajkumar Hirani Films, which has also produced the film. The development is significant as instead of Shah

‘We are heartbroken’: Coober Pedy loses its famous drive-in – but the opal town has plans for take two

It was South Australia’s last drive-in cinema – a scene in Priscilla was even filmed there. The historic screen lasted 50 years but couldn’t survive furious winds Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email The closure of a drive-in rarely makes the news, but Coober Pedy’s is no ordinary drive-in. Since it was constructed by volunteers in 1965, it has served as a meeting point for the remote opal mining community, itself immortalised on film in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. For decades, miners turned up in their utes, still filled with mining equipment and gelignite; as beer was sold at the drive-in, the operators had to ban patrons from bringing along explosives. But curtains have now closed on South Australia’s last drive-in after furious winds reaching almost 120 km an hour ripped through the town on 15 November, leaving the screen in tatters. More than half the panels and the underlying structure were ripped away by the wind.

Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter’s teaser to release on December 5: Report

In anticipation of the release of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's action-packed film, Fighter, scheduled for next year, the filmmakers have devised an extensive 50-day marketing strategy. Helmed by Sidharth Anand, Fighter is touted as an unparalleled aerial action entertainer, and the team is gearing up to create a buzz that will resonate with audiences. According to sources reported by Pinkvilla, the marketing campaign will kick off with the release of the film's teaser in the first week of December. The source said, “The campaign kicks off with a teaser launch in the first week of December. The post-production work and sound mixing is currently in progress and the idea is to take the audience on a ride like never before with the first asset of this action thriller. Both Sid and Hrithik are very particular on what’s their first communication and they have both zeroed in on an asset that could become the talk of the town.” The source also disclosed, “The plan is to give

Here’s why Karan Johar has been credited in Farrey

The opening credits of Alizeh Agnihotri’s debut film Farrey mentions Karan Johar for a special thanks. On probing a bit, I discovered that Karan played a hand in putting the project together, although he had nothing to do with it directly. Says Alizeh’s father Atul Agnihotri who is the co-producer of the film, “When we decided to remake the Thai film Bad Genius, we were looking for someone to direct Farrey. Karan connected us to Soumendra Padhi.” Padhi has earlier directed the highly acclaimed Manoj Bajpai starrer Budhia Singh: Born To Run which was about the child prodigy Budhia Singh who 48 marathons at a tender age of 5, He went on to attain unprecedented amounts of success when he closed a distance of 65 kms from Puri to Bhubaneshwar in a span of 7 hours and 2 minutes alone! Incidentally, Karan Johar is very close to Alizeh’s mom Alvira. Also Read: CONFIRMED! Salman Khan’s next action thriller with Karan Johar titled The Bull from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | H

Amitabh Bachchan gifts his bungalow ‘Prateeksha’ worth Rs. 50 crore to daughter Shweta Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is not just a megastar but also a doting father. In his blogs and writings, the actor often mentions and expresses his love for his children and grandchildren. In a unique gesture of love, the father has now presented a precious gift to his daughter Shweta Bachchan. Reports suggest that the actor presented the popular bungalow named ‘Prateeksha’ to his daughter, which is located in one of the plush localities of suburban Mumbai. As per a Moneycontrol report, the said property is located in the prime area of Juhu in Mumbai as  a part of Vithal Nagar Cooperative Housing Society Ltd, on two plots of size 890.47 sq m and 674 sq m. It is said that the bungalow was presented to Shweta Bachchan in the form of a gift deed which was signed on November 8, with a stamp duty of Rs. 50.65 lakhs was paid for the said property. According to these reports, the documents revealed that while Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan are the donors, the donee’s name was revealed to be

Jaani Dushman filmmaker Rajkumar Kohli passes away at 93

Veteran filmmaker and producer Rajkumar Kohli passed away today at his Mumbai residence due to a heart attack at the age of 93. As per reports, he had gone for a shower earlier in the day. As he didn’t return for long, his son and actor Armaan Kohli broke open the door of the bathroom and realized that his father has passed away. Reports also state that Kohli’s funeral will take place today. Kohli was known for making commercial, multi-starrer films. He made his debut as a director and producer back in 1963 with the movie Sapni, which starred Prem Chopra in the lead. He was also known for helming successful films like Nagin, Badle Ki Aag, Naukar Biwi Ka, Raaj Tilak, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, etc. But Kohli is known the most for helming the 1979 multi-starrer Jaani Dushman, which starred Sunil Dutt, Shatrughan Sinha, Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Mehra, Rekha, Reena Roy, Neetu Singh, etc. Kohli launched his son Armaan Kohli in 1992 with the movie Virodhi and followed it up with solo films with hi

Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor starrer Bawaal to have a world television premiere on November 25

Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor came together for the first time to win hearts in the romantic drama Bawaal, directed by Dangal fame filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari. While the film released directly on OTT, on Amazon Prime Video, we hear that the makers are now keen on reaching the television audience. The world television premiere of the entertainer is all set to be held on Saturday, November 25, on Zee Cinema at 8 pm. For the unversed, Bawaal, revolves around an image-conscious narcissist History professor who gets married to a beautiful, intelligent but epileptic Nisha. The couple set out on an unique journey to learn about World War II but ended up discovering a new perspective and view on interpersonal conflicts, as they cover both life and history lessons along the way. Ahead of the world television premiere Director Nitesh Tiwari opened up about the film and said, "My philosophies are based on my own experiences for so many years. I have started believing very strongly that whatev

Alia Bhatt joins hands with India’s largest environmental film festival

All Living Things Environmental Film Festival, India’s largest environmental film festival, is thrilled to join forces with actor, producer & entrepreneur Alia Bhatt’s production house Eternal Sunshine Productions. As the festival’s advocate, Alia Bhatt will be lending her support in bringing sustainability and storytelling together. Set to take place from December from 1st to December 10th, 2023, the festival now in its fourth year is dedicated to leveraging the power of cinema to address pressing environmental issues. Alia Bhatt, celebrated for her conscientious approach and advocacy on social and environmental causes, is a natural choice for the role of an ‘advocate’ for the festival and everything it stands for. Her commitment to using her influential platform for the greater good aligns seamlessly with ALT EFF's mission to foster awareness and dialogue around climate change, sustainability, and the environment. Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt established their production ho

Jubin Nautiyal to star and sing in the film Tum Aaye Ho Toh with Shreya Chaudhry

Singer Jubin Nautiyal is set to showcase his versatility by featuring in the upcoming short film Tum Aaye Ho Toh, a cinematic musical, which will not only see him as the soulful voice behind the melodies but also as the lead actor. Set to feature an album comprising six captivating songs, he will be sharing screen space with Shreya Chaudhry of Bandish Bandits fame. Ecstatic with the development after having launched the trailer of Tum Aaye Ho Toh, Jubin Nautiyal said, “I'm thrilled about this project—it's a dream project for me that has been in making for almost 5 years. It is not an album, it’s my life and working on this project has been very emotional and overwhelming for me. A project like this happens once in a while and my fans are in for a treat. This isn't just a cinematic musical but a soulful musical journey celebrating unrequited love. I can’t wait for everyone to experience it.” The amalgamation of his soulful voice, Rocky's lyrics, and the on-screen chemi

Cuba Gooding Jr sued for alleged sexual misconduct in NYC bars

After pleading guilty in criminal court, Gooding Jr again faces two plaintiffs who allege forcible kissing and groping Cuba Gooding Jr was sued on Wednesday by two women whose sexual assault cases against the Oscar-winning actor underlay a criminal prosecution that ended with him pleading guilty but serving no jail time. In a complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, Jasmine Abbay said the Jerry Maguire star forcibly kissed her without her consent in September 2018, while she was working as a cocktail waitress at the Lavo nightclub in midtown Manhattan. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/DwM6xkP via IFTTT

Santa Claus: The Movie review – Dudley Moore sparkles like a bauble in Elf prototype

Playing an early iteration of the fish-out-of-water elf in the corporate world of New York, Moore has just enough perky charm to redeem an otherwise forgettable seasonal offering Frankly, I would whisper a tiny humbug to a good deal of this gloopy Christmas movie from 1985, directed by Jeannot Szwarc and now rereleased; and only a sentimental loyalty to the seasonal spirit prevents me from demanding to know if there are no workhouses for the people who made it. The whole thing only comes to something resembling life halfway through, when Dudley Moore’s perky elf takes centre-stage. There are many other and more deserving yuletide films which should be ahead of this one in the queue for a revival, but my own sweet tooth for Christmassy schmaltz won’t allow me completely to reject this admittedly eventful and bizarre origin myth for Santa Claus, starring David Huddleston as the chortling, bearded present-giver himself. He is a kind of vaguely Euro-Scandinavian guy called Claus, much gi

Leave the World Behind review – Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke’s apocalypto-paranoid thriller

Roberts and Hawke’s weekend getaway starts to go wrong when two mysterious strangers appear at the door. Then things get weirder Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke star in this glossy, Shyamalan-level-10 apocalypto-paranoid conspiracy thriller, adapted from the 2020 bestseller by Rumaan Alam. It’s an example of a growing tendency in the movies: baggy, lengthy, episodic pictures which are starting to split the difference between feature film items and streaming TV. Amat Escalante’s Mexican thriller Lost in the Night is, I think, another example of this tendency: films that go on for a while and, like a shaggy-dog story, leave things open for the possibility of getting recommissioned for season two. (Ridley Scott’s Napoleon epic for Apple TV also straddles film and TV, with extra content for the small screen iteration – although, admittedly, he can hardly be accused of leaving things open at the end.) Roberts and Hawke play Amanda and Clay, well-off Brooklynites with two te

Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR to commence War 2 shoot in February 2024; second schedule to begin in December 2023 with stunt doubles: Report

With Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR starring in War 2, the excitement is on another level with two superstars coming together to face off each other in YRF Spy Universe. Hrithik’s cameo in Tiger 3 also added to the excitement, which is being helmed by Ayan Mukerji. While the first schedule was wrapped in Spain in October 2023 with stunt doubles, the second schedule will likely be shot the same way in Abu Dhabi. Hrithik and Jr. NTR will begin their shoots in February 2024. As per a report in Mid-Day, a source said, “NTR Jr is currently shooting for his 30th film, directed by Koratala Siva, and will then begin his first schedule for War 2. Aditya Chopra and Ayan have planned a massive action entry shot for him in the film. Shooting for the portions involving Hrithik and him will commence in February in Mumbai over a month-long schedule. The dramatic portions will be canned first, and will be followed with action sequences.” The source added, “Like he did for the Spain leg, he is likely to

Kartik Aaryan to headline Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor's co-production; epic war drama set to release on August 15, 2025

Following the fallout during Dostana 2, Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan have buried the past and now are coming together for a project. After hinting at a collaboration for several months, the project has been announced today on the occasion of Kartik Aaryan's birthday. Without announcing the title of the movie, Karan is joining hands with Ekta Kapoor for this co-production which will be helmed by The Night Manager director Sandeep Modi. For the unversed, Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan reportedly had a fallout after their collaboration Dostana 2 was shelved.  However, a source tells Bollywood Hungama, "Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan amicably resolved their previous hiccup. Now, putting the past behind them, Kartik is set to do a Dharma Productions film which is in co-collaboration with Balaji Telefilms. It is an epic war drama which will portray Kartik in a different light." The source adds, "The backdoor conversations as heard over the last week, have resulted in an a

Bradley Cooper weighs in on Maestro prosthetic nose controversy

The co-writer and director of the biopic, in which he stars as composer Leonard Bernstein, explains he ‘didn’t look right’ without the prosthetic Bradley Cooper has weighed in on controversy surrounding the use of a prosthetic nose in the film Maestro, in which he portrays the legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein. After initial photos and a teaser for the film were released in August, some critics decried Cooper’s decision to don a prosthetic nose to star as Bernstein, who was Jewish. Daniel Fienberg, the Hollywood Reporter’s chief TV critic, called it “problematic” and described the film as “ethnic cosplay” . Others called the decision antisemitic, or used the derogatory term “jewface”. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/4dB0sMh via IFTTT

Most TV and film crews feel safety has been compromised, says survey

Survey honouring cameraman who died filming a car stunt in 2017 has found safety protocols and training need to improve Nearly three-quarters of UK film and TV crew feel their safety or that of a colleague has been compromised at work, according to a new survey. On the sixth anniversary of the death of British camera operator Mark Milsome, and two years after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a survey by Bectu and the Mark Milsome Foundation revealed a consensus that safety training and protocols need to be improved, and that production companies should take ultimate responsibility for issues affecting shooting crew. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/VJu3UX4 via IFTTT

International Emmy Awards 2023: Jim Sarbh falls short in race; loses Best Performance by an Actor to Martin Freeman

The highly anticipated 51st International Emmy Awards has unveiled its winners, and in the category of Best Performance by an Actor, Martin Freeman emerged victorious for his outstanding portrayal in The Responder. Competing against a stellar lineup, Indian actor Jim Sarbh, recognized for his compelling role as nuclear physicist Homi J Bhabha in the acclaimed series Rocket Boys, faced tough competition but ultimately lost out to Freeman. The other nominees in the category included Gustavo Bassani for Iosi, El Espia Arrepentido from Argentina and Jonas Karlsson for the Swedish series Nattryttarna. The news was announced via the official social media handle of the International Emmy Awards, which tweeted, “The International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor goes to “Martin Freeman in The Responder” produced by Dancing Ledge Productions.” The International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor goes to "Martin Freeman in The Responder” produced by Dancing Ledge Productions#iemmy

Govinda and David Dhawan bury the hatchet; says, “Let bygones be bygones”

In the realms of Bollywood, few actor-director collaborations have achieved the iconic status that Govinda and David Dhawan enjoyed during the 80s and 90s. Their partnership gave birth to 17 films, most of which became hits. Despite their successful run, the duo faced a bitter fallout after their last collaboration in Partner (2007). However, recent developments indicate that the longstanding feud has finally come to an end, with Govinda and David Dhawan patching things up. The Bollywood fraternity took notice when Govinda and David Dhawan were spotted interacting at filmmaker Ramesh Taurani's Diwali party, marking a significant step in their reconciliation. Addressing the buzz surrounding their renewed friendship, Govinda expressed gratitude for the continued support from fans who wish to see them working together again. He told Bombay Times, “I am glad people still feel that we should work together. Yeh unka pyaar hai [This is their love]. Our patch-up had already happened.” Th

Napoleon review – Joaquin Phoenix makes a magnificent emperor in thrilling biopic

Ridley Scott dispenses with the symbolic weight attached to previous biopics in favour of a spectacle with a great star at its centre Many directors have tried following Napoleon where the paths of glory lead, and maybe it is only defiant defeat that is really glorious. But Ridley Scott – the Wellington of cinema – has created an outrageously enjoyable cavalry charge of a movie, a full-tilt biopic of two and a half hours in which Scott doesn’t allow his troops to get bogged down mid-gallop in the muddy terrain of either fact or metaphysical significance, the tactical issues that have defeated other film-makers. Scott cheekily imagines Napoleon firing on the pyramids in the Egyptian campaign as well as witnessing the execution of Marie Antoinette (but not the humiliation of Louis XVI by the Tuileries mob, which he might actually have seen). Out of deference moreover, Scott and his screenwriter David Scarpa suppress all mention of Napoleon’s reintroduction of slavery into the French co

Wish review – Disney’s throwback animation is missing some magic

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose voices an all-singing heroine in an overstuffed yet underpowered attempt to replicate the success of Frozen A decade ago, at a time when both Disney and Pixar’s animation output was not exactly unsuccessful but entirely unmemorable, Frozen became a sticky $1.2bn game-changer, a box office hit that turned into an all-consuming phenomenon. It won Oscars, produced earworms that burrowed (a little too) deep, spawned a $1.45bn sequel, led to a hit Broadway musical and showed Disney how to dust off the contemporarily critiqued princess narrative rather than throw it away completely. Opening in the same Thanksgiving slot 10 years later, with a script co-written by Frozen’s Jennifer Lee, Wish is a bullishly positioned successor, another self-aware, formula-tweaking Disney Princess narrative with as many radio-friendly power ballads as there are Christmas-timed merchandising opportunities. But Wish feels less like Disney’s new Frozen and more like an off-brand rip-o

Koffee With Karan 8 Promo: Karan Johar spills beans on ‘steamy affairs’ of Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan; latter calls him ‘Ghar Thode’

Just a day ago, a new promo of Koffee With Karan 8 was unveiled. Now, on November 20, the makers unveiled the latest trailer of the upcoming episode, and it is expected to feature Karan Johar’s favourite students, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan. Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan will be coming together on the couch after their debut on the show way back in 2013. And it seems it is going to be no less than a rollercoaster ride. The promo kicks off with Varun pleading Karan Johar about ‘keeping their relationships intact by the end of this show’. For the unversed, the association of Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan with Karan Johar goes way back since the time the duo were assistant directors of the latter’s directorial My Name Is Khan starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Opening up about shooting in UCLA for the film, Sidharth Malhotra revealed that Varun Dhawan would often ‘pataofy’ girls by promising them a photo with Shah Rukh Khan. While discussing the same, Karan Johar throws

Sushmita Sen opens up on father’s disapproval over swimsuit during Miss India; says, “My father didn't speak to me for a bit”

Sushmita Sen, the trailblazing Miss Universe 1994, recently delved into her journey to stardom, shedding light on her father's initial reservations about her participating in the Miss India pageant. In a candid interview with Mid-Day, the actress disclosed that her father, an Indian Army officer, was initially disapproving when she expressed her desire to enter the beauty pageant. Sen, who made history as the first Indian to clinch the Miss Universe title, admitted that her father's dream for her was to become an IAS officer. Recalling the moment when she informed her father about participating in Miss India, Sen shared, “When the bomb was dropped on my father that she wants to enter Miss India, my father didn't speak to me for a bit. I remember having this very emotional moment with my father when I promised him, ‘Baba I have to wear a swimsuit. I cannot not wear it. It’s part of the show.” In the interview, Sen detailed a heartfelt conversation with her father, assuring

From White Mischief to Bill & Ted, Joss Ackland was an actor of rare poise, range and pathos

Many will remember Ackland best on the big screen as plummy defenders of the realm, but this supremely polished star could also handle action, comedy – and a lot of cold war Soviets Joss Ackland’s elegant bearing, natural aplomb and English theatrical training meant that he never lacked for work on stage or screen, largely playing authority and establishment figures — although these movie roles were a bit ironised and sent up in the parts he got offered in the 90s and 00s (to his reported chagrin). But growing up, I was aware of him only via that rich, mellifluous voice of his, like melted butterscotch, in an inordinate number of TV ads: his tones were received pronunciation with a dash of naughtiness and insinuation, that of a TV newsreader or bishop who loved to savour a fine wine, or a decent cigar. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/yzps20B via IFTTT

The wait is over! Zeenat Aman's comeback film Bun Tikki goes on floors in Shimla

The legendary actress Zeenat Aman is making her comeback to the silver screen! Bun Tikki, the film that will mark her return, has gone on the floor today in Shimla. The film is directed by Faraz Arif Ansari and also stars Shabana Azmi and Abhay Deol. The news of the film's commencement was shared by fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who is also the producer of the film. He posted a picture from the sets on his official Instagram handle and wrote, “It was my dream to make movies with sensitive , emotional stories. We at #Stage5production started our 2nd Film production with a lot of love and passion #BunTikki this morning with prayers and the lord’s blessings in Shimla written and directed by @farazarifansari produced by #jyotideshpande @malhotra_dinesh @marijkedesouza and Myself . Starring Iconic @azmishabana18 @thezeenataman uber talented @abhaydeol @officialjiostudios @stage5production @om_sunny_bhambhani @tanaymalhotra01 #movies #passion #love.” Fans of Zeenat Aman are eagerly

Lost reels: 15 directors pick great films you won’t find on UK streaming

Many films – even classics such as Eraserhead and Chungking Express – remain surprisingly unavailable online to UK audiences. We asked film-makers from Martin McDonagh to Charlotte Wells to pick their favourites In theory, there has never been a better time to be a movie fan. The ubiquity of streaming platforms means that films are more accessible than ever before. One click, and we can be transported to any country, genre or period. Or at least, that’s the idea. In practice, it’s not quite as simple as all that. Despite the wide choice of mainstream modern titles offered by big hitters such as Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video; and the sterling work done by bespoke platforms such as Mubi, Curzon, BFI Player and regional specialist Klassiki , numerous films remain unavailable to be streamed by UK audiences (legally at least). And we’re not just talking about obscure arthouse titles (although my personal holy grail of missing movies, Alexei German Jr’s Paper Soldier , probably fits that

First song of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dunki expected to be out on Rajkumar Hirani’s birthday?

Shah Rukh Khan rocked the show in 2023 with Pathaan and Jawan. Hence, all eyes are on Dunki, his third and final release of the year. The excitement is tremendous due to SRK’s present track record and his first collaboration with the blockbuster filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani. The teaser was released on SRK’s birthday on November 2 and ever since, fans have been eagerly waiting for the next asset. And if sources are to be believed, the wait is about to end very soon. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “The first song of Dunki will be out this week. If all goes well, the song will drop on Monday, November 20. The date is significant as it’s the birthday of Rajkumar Hirani. It’ll be interesting as the earlier asset was launched on SRK’s birthday. Hence, launching the song on the much-loved filmmaker’s birthday will be apt.” The source continued, “There might be a delay of a few days but the plan is on to unveil the first song of Dunki this week.” When asked what the song is called, another s

Kangana Ranaut and R. Madhavan reunite for psychological thriller after 8 years

Eight years after their endearing performance in the hit romantic comedy Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan are set to collaborate once again for a psychological thriller. The announcement of their collaboration has sent a wave of excitement among their fans, who are eagerly anticipating their onscreen reunion. Taking to social media, Ranaut shared a glimpse of the film's shooting commencement in Chennai, piquing the curiosity of her followers. "Today in Chennai we started filming our new film, a psychological thriller. Other details coming soon. For now need all your support and blessings for this very unusual and exciting script," she wrote. Vijay takes the helm of this project, steering the narrative into uncharted psychological territories. Presented by Trident Arts, with their 18th production, has made quite an exciting announcement. The music for the film is composed by the talented G.V. Prakash Kumar, adding an additional layer of intrigue to t

Priyanka Chopra sells two penthouses for Rs. 6 crore in Mumbai to director Abhishek Chaubey

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who was recently in India to attend Diwali, sold two of her penthouses in Mumbai and the buyer is director, screenwriter and producer Abhishek Chaubey. The actress has sold her properties measuring 2,292 square feet (sq ft) for a whopping Rs. 6 crore in the Andheri area of Mumbai. As per a report in Money Control, Priyanka Chopra’s two penthouses are located at the Lokhandwala Complex in Oshiwara, Andheri in Mumbai. The first penthouse measures around 860 sq ft, and is on a higher floor. It was sold for Rs 2.25 crore. The second penthouse, which measures 1,432 sq ft, was reportedly sold at Rs 3.75 crore, as per the documents obtained by the publication. The stamp duty paid for the properties was around Rs. 36 lakh for both transactions which were registered on October 23, and October 25, respectively. On the work front, Priyanka Chopra was last seen in the Prime Video series Citadel which has been renewed for second season. She will next star in Ending Things w