Have you heard? Samantha, Chaitanya part ways

Naga Chaitanya with Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Samantha, Chaitanya part ways

On Saturday, South actor couple Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya announced that they are going their separate ways. They shared the news on their respective Instagram handles. There had been chatter that all was not well between them for the past several months and now it's official. "After much deliberation and thought we have decided to part ways as husband and wife to pursue our paths. We are fortunate to have a friendship of over a decade that was the very core of our relationship, which we believe will always hold a special bond between us," their statement read.

Prabhu featured in the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer web series, The Family Man 2. Chaitanya makes his Bollywood debut with Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chaddha. Son of veteran South star Nagarjuna, Chaitanya wed Prabhu in 2017. The couple had a dreamy wedding in Goa according to Hindu rituals followed by a Christian ceremony. They met on the set of the Telugu romantic drama Maaya Chesave (2010). Despite the buzz about their strained relationship, the news of their divorce came as a shock to fans, who were "heartbroken". The couple's statement added, "We request fans, well-wishers and the media to support us during this difficult time and give us the privacy we need to move on."

Reacting to the couple's split, veteran actor and Chaitanya's father, Akkineni Nagarjuna said, "With a heavy heart let me say this. What ever happened between Sam and Chay is unfortunate. What happens between a wife and husband is personal. Sam and Chay both are dear to me, my family will always cherish the moments spent with Sam and she will always be dear to us. May god bless them both with strength."

Brace does not stop Kriti's pace

Though she has injured her right knee, Kriti Sanon is up and about. Over the weekend, she was spotted at a Juhu salon after a hair pampering session. The actor was earlier seen at a production house's office. Sanon is wearing a brace due to a strained ligament, which led to pain and swelling. She has been told to wear a brace for faster recovery and avoid discomfort while walking. She had been shooting for Om Raut's mythological, Adipurush co-starring Prabhas.

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Revisiting the melodious past

Vivek Oberoi, AR Rahman and R Madhavan caught up at the India Pavilion at the ongoing Dubai Expo. It was nostalgia time as Rahman composed the music for Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Alaipayuthey (2000) starring Madhavan and in Shaad Ali's Hindi remake Saathiya (2002) featuring Oberoi. The musician shared a click and wrote, "Both the Saathiyas on either side." Two decades on, Rahman's compositions, Aye udi udi udi and Humdum soniyo re in the Oberoi-starrer still resonate.

Special track

Singer Shadab Faridi who rendered the title track of the Salman Khan-starrer Sultan (2016) released his new single, Ae watan, on Saturday to mark Gandhi Jayanti. The patriotic track, written by Deepak Sharma, is "close to his heart and he was waiting to share it with music lovers".

It's a wrap

Vidyut Jamwal has wrapped up a major chunk of Khuda Haafiz Chapter II - Agni Pariksha. The actor had been stationed in Lucknow for the past two months for the shoot. Faruk Kabir's directorial venture, also starring Shivaleeka Oberoi, is a sequel to his 2020 film that dropped digitally. The second instalment highlights the challenges their characters face while tackling challenges posed by circumstances and society.

Manjrekar's film on Godse

Mahesh Manjrekar is wielding the directorial baton for Godse, a film based on the life of Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. It is backed by Sandeep Singh and Raaj Shaandilyaa. The project was announced on Saturday to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

Cleaning Mithi's dirty shores

On Saturday, to mark Gandhi Jayanti, Jacqueline Fernandez took part in a cleanliness drive on the banks of the Mithi. "A clean city is the best gift we could give ourselves and other citizens... doing my bit on this day," she said. The actor teamed up with NGOs working towards environmental conservation in the Mithi river clean-up mission.

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