Predominantly writes on desi mass/pop-culture. Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @mayankw14
An obvious glitch is Kangana Ranaut claiming more than once, “Indira is India; India is Indira!” As if she coined it herself. That’s actually a line from DK Barooah, the Congress president then... [Read More]
18 January,2025 07:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharWhy Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant is sheer masterclass on how you can pick a book and dive even deeper into a series with it!... [Read More]
15 January,2025 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharFateh is basically the hero, as director, shooting himself, randomly shoot down hundreds on the go. ... [Read More]
10 January,2025 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharRobert Eggers` Nosferatu blends classic horror with modern gothic craft, paying tribute to the 1922 silent film while offering a fresh, atmospheric take on the genre... [Read More]
10 January,2025 08:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharSatya is up for re-release on Jan 17. Despatch is his last film. Both, 26 years apart, dive into this city as a crime scene. Thought must reconnect with Bombay’s adopted but very own Bajpayee... [Read More]
08 January,2025 06:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharA robbery took place on Friday night at Mayank Jewellers in Vasai’s Kaul Heritage City, Agarwal & Dosti Complex. The incident occurred at around 9:15 PM when the shop owner, Ratanlalji Sanghvi, was preparing to close the store. (Pic/Hanif Patel)... [Read More]
11 January,2025 12:49 PM ISTThe year 2024 saw the audience choosing OTT over cinemas. As the audience gravitated toward digital streaming platforms, a lot of web series were released this year. If you are confused about which ones were the best, here`s a list of the Indian web series that ruled 2024... [Read More]
28 December,2024 04:44 PM ISTChaudhary Charan Singh was born in 1902. He became the Parliamentary Secretary in Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant`s Government in 1946 and worked in various departments such as Revenue, Medical and Public Health, Justice, Information, etc. (Text/ANI, Pics/PTI)... [Read More]
23 December,2024 05:57 PM ISTPrime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jaipur to attend the `Ek Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh` programme, marking one year of BJP governance in Rajasthan. PM Modi was welcomed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, with the crowd chanting "Modi! Modi!" (Pics/PTI) ... [Read More]
17 December,2024 02:21 PM ISTPolice have arrested 46 individuals in connection with the violent clashes that erupted during a Ganesh idol procession in Nagamangala town, Mandya. Pics/ PTI... [Read More]
12 September,2024 02:51 PM ISTA nationwide strike, known as `Bharat Bandh`, has erupted in response to the Supreme Court`s recent ruling on SC/ST reservations. Organised by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the bandh has led to widespread protests across the country. Pics/ PTI... [Read More]
21 August,2024 05:46 PM ISTLatest OTT releases to watch this week: It`s that time of the week again when we bring you the freshest updates from the world of over-the-top (OTT) entertainment. The next seven days are packed with a delightful mix of movies and TV shows that promise to satisfy all your binge-watching cravings. So, grab your popcorn, and let`s dive into the exciting lineup.... [Read More]
14 August,2024 04:39 PM ISTThe Maharashtra MLAs were on Tuesday seen reaching the assembly on Tuesday as the government tabled supplementary demands of Rs 94,889.46 crore in the state legislative assembly. Pics/Sameer Abedi... [Read More]
09 July,2024 08:34 PM ISTAs Saif Ali Khan trends, revisit this old #SitWithHitlist interview where he opens up about his career, Bollywood nepotism, and the fallout of #SacredGames2. Journalist Mayank Shekhar brings out Saif’s candid side in this must-watch conversation, reuploaded for its renewed relevance. Tune in to hear stories and insights from Bollywood’s Nawab!... [Read More]
17 January,2025 03:54 PM ISTIn an exclusive interview with Mayank Shekhar, Manoj Bajpayee reflects on his evolution from `Satya` to `Despatch` as a Mumbaikar. His latest film, Despatch, is a gripping crime drama that explores the dark world of journalism, with Bajpayee portraying a journalist. He discusses his experience working with director Kanu Bhel, whose intense character workshops push actors to their emotional limits, often leaving them in tears and in need of therapy. Bajpayee reveals how Bhel’s uncompromising direction challenged him as an actor, helping him reach new heights in his performance in `Despatch.`... [Read More]
13 January,2025 03:33 PM ISTFrom playing Bhiku Mhatre in Satya to delving into the crime world as Joy Bag in Despatch, Manoj Bajpayee has nailed the Mumbaikar onscreen more than once. However, despite living in Mumbai for 3 decades, he still doesn`t feel at home here. On the latest episode of Mid-day’s podcast series The Bombay Film Story, Manoj, who has set an example of how an outsider can survive in the industry despite various challenges, speaks about his relationship with the city.... [Read More]
08 January,2025 12:00 AM ISTToday, as we remember the legendary Shyam Benegal, we’re revisiting an insightful interview where Mayank Shekhar caught up with him and Anurag Kashyap to discuss the past 40 years of cinema. Shyam Benegal shared his views on the term "parallel cinema," while Anurag Kashyap recalled their first meeting in 1993 when he arrived in Mumbai (then Bombay). From Bollywood`s evolving trends to social media trolls, the directors got candid during this fascinating conversation with Mid-Day. ... [Read More]
24 December,2024 04:28 PM ISTA decades-old temple has been reopened in tense Sambhal, found during anti-encroachment drive. The district administration on Saturday morning carried out an anti-encroachment drive in the Shahi Jama Masjid area. The district administration team visited Sambhal to check on the noise pollution through loudspeakers, the Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) said, adding that they found that there was electricity (power) theft in the area.... [Read More]
14 December,2024 11:06 PM ISTOn the centenary of Raj Kapoor`s birth anniversary, let`s revisit a clip from Mid-day`s Sit With Hitlist, where his grandson and superstar Ranbir Kapoor shared how Yash Chopra once expressed interest in making a biopic on the legendary filmmaker. Ranbir revealed that the Kapoor family would not allow anyone to make a biopic on Raj Kapoor, explaining that such a project would require access to many confidential files. Watch the video for more... [Read More]
13 December,2024 08:03 PM ISTThe nine-day celebration of India’s cultural and cinematic heritage—the International Film Festival of India (IFFI)—has kickstarted in Goa. Many prominent celebrities like Nagarjuna, Sunny Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Bhumi Pednekar, Shekhar Kapur, Prasoon Joshi, & many others graced the event. Goa`s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, addressed the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 20, highlighting the festival`s growing success each year. He emphasised the strong connection between IFFI and Goa, calling it a key calendar event for both national and international guests. Sawant also mentioned ongoing efforts to upgrade the festival`s infrastructure. The event, which began on November 20, will run until November 28 in Goa.... [Read More]
21 November,2024 04:28 PM ISTAnanya Panday, in a recent chat with Mid-day on `Sit With Hitlist,` opened up about her media training. She revealed that while Karan Johar, who launched her career with `The Student Of The Year 2,` didn’t provide much formal training, his only advice was to "be herself." She noted that today’s new generation of actors is much more media-savvy and better trained to handle public attention. On her relationship with `Gehraiyaan` co-star Siddhant Chaturvedi, when the latter took a jibe at her with his nepotism comment in an interview panel back in 2019, Ananya joked that he “probably wrote his comeback in a book and came prepared,” but stressed there’s no bad blood between them, highlighting their friendly rapport despite what the media portrayed of the fiasco.... [Read More]
19 November,2024 03:24 PM ISTFrom Bhikhu Mhatre in Satya (1998) to Joy Bag in Despatch (2024), actor Manoj Bajpayee takes you through his Mumbai madness — both personal, and onscreen; especially exploring this city as the crime scene, from his first hit, to his last film. Plug in, as we have fun with the Family Man, discussing everything, including the good ol’ Delhi-Mumbai debate!... [Read More]
07 January,2025 08:17 PM IST | MumbaiDid you know that a "broke" Guneet Monga Kapoor had e-mailed Richard Branson and Ratan Tata, requesting them to sponsor her maiden trip to Oscars in 2010? Or that she had sold her Delhi house to finance Monsoon Shootout? Plug into our latest episode as she breaks down the hustle, heartbreak and jugaad it takes to go from indie producer to two-time Oscar winner.... [Read More]
26 September,2024 07:36 PM IST | MumbaiDid you know that Hansal Mehta was to direct Gangs of Wasseypur before Anurag Kashyap? Or that he left Mumbai after a spate of flops and resurrected his flagging career with Shahid from the outskirts of Lonavala? Plug in as Lootere creator Hansal, with his filmmaker-son Jai, charts his journey from helming TV’s most popular cookery show to delivering one of Indian OTT’s biggest series in Scam 1992.... [Read More]
18 June,2024 08:24 PM IST | MumbaiHow did a home in a rough Mumbai neighbourhood propel Sonali Bendre’s acting career? How did she land Humma humma, the mother of all item songs? Plug into our latest episode as the actor takes us back to the ’90s when a star’s X-factor was as important as talent, and actresses sometimes needed to “dumb themselves down” as a survival tactic.... [Read More]
14 June,2024 06:57 PM IST | MumbaiWhich director was the first to call Prosenjit Chatterjee after watching Jubilee? Which Hindi film did he turn down, only for it to be picked up by Salman Khan? Plug in to our Durga Puja special episode where we have an “adda” with Bengal’s biggest star, as he takes us from Kolkata’s Park Street to Chembur’s RK Studios and Juhu’s Sun-n-Sand... [Read More]
22 October,2023 01:15 PM IST | MumbaiHow did filmmaker Jag Mundhra’s daughter reveal Yash Chopra’s son, Yashraj scion, Aditya, actually exists? What was it like to be the last to interview Rishi Kapoor, for the Netflix series, The Romantics? How did Oscar nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra find ‘Sima Aunty’ for Indian Matchmaking? Plug in for more!... [Read More]
02 March,2023 06:00 PM IST | MumbaiThere are movies, and then there are `B` movies. What`s the difference between the two? Vasan Bala, film-buffs` ultimate filmmaker, and director of docu-series, Cinema Marte Dam Tak, walks us through secret bylanes, the stars, and the auteurs of Bollywood`s C-grade cinema, that peaked in the late 1990s!... [Read More]
08 February,2023 06:33 PM IST | MumbaiOne of the very few Indian actors to become an international star, Kabir Bedi engages in a candid conversation about his journey in Bollywood, stardom in Italy, his friendship with the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and more!... [Read More]
14 August,2021 07:44 AM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
