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Sharmila Tagore on missing out on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani with Dharmendra, “I fell ill and couldn’t do the film”

“We shared the same birthday. He was my co-star in seven films. I knew he was not keeping good health. But the news of his passing is still very saddening,” said Sharmila Tagore, who worked in films as far-ranging as Satyakam and Chupke Chupke with Dharmendra. She reflected on their screen togetherness. “We first worked together in Devar and then during the same year in Anupama. Two very serious subjects, followed by an out-and-out commercial film Mere Humdum Mere Dost. Shooting with him was a breeze. He was as effortless on screen as he was off it. He was never ‘The Star’ on the sets, always his natural self. There was nothing put-on about him.” Sharmila Tagore recalled her first meeting with Dharmendra. “Before we worked together, we met when I was shooting with Yash Chopra’s Waqt. I don’t know in what context he was there. But I remember he was dressed… how shall I put it… not like a star at all. When s...

EXCLUSIVE: In a RARE development, CBFC passes De De Pyaar De 2 with ZERO cuts

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is known to impose several cuts or ask for replacements and modifications in scenes or dialogues that they find inappropriate or objectionable. Even clean family entertainers have gone through such censorship. Hence, it’ll be a pleasant surprise for our readers to know that De De Pyaar De 2 has proved to be an exception. Bollywood Hungama has learned that the upcoming Ajay Devgn-R Madhavan-Rakul Preet Singh starrer has not got a single visual or audio cut. The film has been passed as it is by the Examining Committee of the CBFC. The film has received a U/A 13+ certificate and the process was completed on November 6. The length of the film, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 147.10 minutes. In other words, De De Pyaar De 2 is 2 hours, 27 minutes and 10 seconds long. It releases in cinemas on November 14. Past experience De De Pyaar De 2 is a sequel to the Ajay Devgn-Tabu-Rakul Preet Singh starrer De De Pyaar De (2019), which suff...

As his debut film Once Were Warriors showed, Lee Tamahori was a director of guts and flair

Tamahori was the outstanding director of Along Came a Spider and Die Another Day – but his first film was his greatest work In 1994, the New Zealand film-maker Lee Tamahori made one of the biggest debuts of the decade, firing on all six cylinders with his gut-wrenching social-realist melodrama Once Were Warriors. The Mekes are a working-class Maori family in South Auckland: Temuera Morrison is the boozing, brawling, bragging alpha-male welfare claimant Jake, who comes home from drinking in the pub with his pathetic sycophant mates to terrorise and assault his wife Beth, played by Rena Owen, and their five children. He is entirely indifferent to the fate of his two elder sons who have drifted into gangland culture and crime, as well as his sensitive daughter Grace, who has talent as a writer. One son gets gang tattoos; the other is taken to a juvenile reformatory where he is at least tutored in the ways of Maori culture – the haka and the taiaha warrior spear – and learns dignity and s...

Lee Tamahori, director of Once Were Warriors and James Bond movie Die Another Day, dies aged 75

New Zealand film-maker became a Hollywood fixture in the 90s and 00s, including making Pierce Brosnan’s last 007 movie, before returning to his home country Lee Tamahori, the New Zealand director of Once Were Warriors and Die Another Day, has died aged 75. In a statement to Radio New Zealand , Tamahori’s family said he had Parkinson’s and died “peacefully at home”. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/90YdEWi via IFTTT

Aryan Khan to work on his first theatrical release before directing Shah Rukh Khan in planned 2027 film: Report

Aryan Khan, who recently earned appreciation for his debut Netflix directorial The Ba***ds of Bollywood, is already moving ahead with his next set of projects. The series, which featured Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Bobby Deol and an ensemble cast, marked Aryan’s official entry as a director and showcased his inclination towards bold storytelling. With the streaming debut now behind him, the filmmaker is preparing for a larger leap — a theatrical feature. According to industry sources, Aryan's next directorial will be a full-fledged film intended for a big-screen release. The young filmmaker is reportedly determined to establish himself in the theatrical space before stepping into what will arguably be the most anticipated collaboration of his career — directing his father, superstar Shah Rukh Khan. A source quoted by Pinkvilla revealed that Aryan is taking a measured, merit-driven approach to his career choices. “Aryan wants to deliver a theatrical success and prove himself as a filmm...

Shirley Valentine gave Pauline Collins a role to match her talent. She seized it with style and glee

The film for which the actor, who has died aged 85 , is best-remembered is also that in which she was afforded most airtime. If only more film-makers had managed to channel her warm, sharp charm Pauline Collins was the smart, funny, cherubically sexy female actor in the 1970s who became a recognisable star on both sides of the Atlantic in the smash hit British TV show Upstairs, Downstairs, the Downton Abbey of its day. She played Sarah, the pert-yet-vulnerable parlour maid with a dodgy past, who has a relationship with the handsome chauffeur Thomas, played by Collins’s real-life husband, John Alderton. It was a TV marriage that the public loved and which carried on into spinoff shows Thomas and Sarah and No, Honestly. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/maOthdj via IFTTT

Shirley Valentine actor Pauline Collins dies aged 85

Family pays tribute to actor who was ‘bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen’ The Shirley Valentine actor Pauline Collins has died aged 85, her family has announced. She died peacefully, and surrounded by her family, in her care home in Highgate, north London, having had Parkinson’s disease for several years, they said. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/5dOcsqE via IFTTT

Thamma director Aditya Sarpotdar defends use of item songs: “They’re marketing assets, but my story unfolds through them”

Filmmaker Aditya Sarpotdar, who is currently basking in the success of his latest release Thamma, has addressed the ongoing criticism surrounding the film’s inclusion of three item songs — ‘Poison Baby’, ‘Tum Mere Na Huye’, and ‘Dilbar Ki Aankhon Ka’. The director, who earlier delivered the horror-comedy hit Munjya within the universe, responded to the debate in an interview with SCREEN, explaining his creative reasoning and how such songs play a functional role in modern storytelling and marketing. Reacting to the backlash, Sarpotdar stated, “All these things are marketing assets that lead you into a film. What counts is what the film gives you in the end. For me, when these songs appear, they’re there because my story unfolds through them.” The filmmaker emphasized that the tracks are not inserted merely for glamour but are woven into the narrative to enhance its rhythm and emotional beats. The discussion around Thamma’s music gained traction after audiences questioned the need for...

Going to the Dogs review – lovable canines at the heart of a sport in decline

Documentary examines British greyhound racing with affection and respect but doesn’t shy away from the opposing views of animal rights activists At one point in this documentary about greyhound racing, an interviewee describes it as a fundamentally working-class sport, and it’s hard to argue with that. And like so many British working-class pleasures and pursuits, shifting tastes and the relentless march of gentrification have seen its popularity wane substantially since heydays past. This frisky film explores the canine-centric milieu with affection and respect – but, laudably, it also makes room, about halfway through its runtime, for the case against racing as articulated by several animal rights activists who decry the conditions in which some dogs are raised, the practice of euthanising animals deemed no longer viable for racing, and the injury risks racing itself poses. Naturally, the trainers, breeders and owners we meet here violently disagree with these critiques. It’s to di...

EXPLOSIVE: Siddharth Sharma BLASTS makers of Soorya for non-payment of dues: "Producer told me, 'Main toh pay nahin karunga. Tujhe jo karna hai, tu kar'; they are RUINING Sunny Deol sir's name…they made me shoot an ad for Manyavar WITHOUT my consent, knowledge"

In a shocking development, actor Siddharth Sharma posted on his Instagram handle that he has dissociated himself from the Sunny Deol-starrer Soorya. The caption of the post mentioned that he has initiated legal proceedings against the makers of the film. Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Siddharth Sharma to understand what went wrong. He began by saying, “This has happened for the first time in my career of 7-8 years. I have worked with T-Series for almost 5 years with Balaji. But I never faced something of this sort.” Siddharth then explained, “When I was working on the reality show ‘Lock Upp’, the producers of Soorya approached Kangana Ranaut in order to reach out to me as they wanted me to sign their film. They also got my number through Vinay Sapru sir and Radhika Rao ma’am, who gave me my biggest hit to date, ‘Leja Re’. It has 1 billion views on T-Series’ YouTube channel. Both worked with the producer (Kamal Mukut) on Sanam Teri Kasam (2016). The makers took their reference ...

Farhan Akhtar and Raashii Khanna to visit Jodhpur for emotional tribute on the day of 120 Bahadur trailer launch

As the anticipation builds for the trailer of 120 Bahadur, a powerful war drama based on the legendary Battle of Rezang La, actors Farhan Akhtar and Raashii Khanna are set to mark the occasion with a deeply emotional gesture. On November 6, the duo will visit Jodhpur to pay tribute at the memorial of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC — the heroic soldier whose extraordinary courage inspired the film. According to a source close to the production, the visit has been planned as a heartfelt homage to the late war hero and the values of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism that 120 Bahadur celebrates. “Farhan Akhtar and Raashii Khanna will be visiting the memorial of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, PVC, in Jodhpur on the day of the trailer launch. This visit is being organized as a mark of deep respect to the Major and his indomitable spirit,” the source revealed. In a touching gesture, the actors will first showcase the trailer privately to Major Shaitan Singh Bhati’s son, Narpat Singh Ji, and hi...