Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said on Monday. Hussain died due to complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the family said in a statement. He was 73. He had been hospitalised for the last two weeks and was later taken to the ICU after his condition deteriorated. Hussain, who is regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation, is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola and his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. Born on March 9, 1951, he is the son of legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. "He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come," the statement read. In his career spanning six decades, the musician worked with several renowned international and Indian artistes, but it was his 1973 musical project with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar, and percussionist TH 'Vikku' Vinayakram that brought together Indian classical and elements of jazz in a fusion hitherto unknown. Starting early at the age of seven, he went on to collaborate with virtually all of India's iconic performers, including Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma in his career. His groundbreaking work with Western musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Charles Lloyd, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Mickey Hart, and George Harrison brought Indian classical music to an international audience, cementing his status as a global cultural ambassador. Hussain has received four Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. The percussionist, one of India's most celebrated classical musicians, received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. Messages of condolence poured in on social media as the news of Hussain's demise spread. Grammy winner musician Ricky Kej remembered Hussain for his "immense humility, approachable nature". "One of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced. Along with being the best himself, Zakirji was known for...being responsible for the careers of numerous musicians, who are now forces to reckon with themselves. He was a treasure trove of skill and knowledge and always shared and encouraged the entire music community through collaborations and his actions. His legacy will live on forever, and his influence will be felt for generations. He left us too soon," Kej wrote on X. American drummer Nate Smith thanked Hussain for "all of the music you gave us". Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi paid tributes to the "irreplaceable legend" "The world of music will be lesser without Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and his fans all around the world. My prayers, Om Shanti," she wrote in a post on X. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 December,2024 07:27 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIRecently, Aamir Khan announced that Sitaare Zameen Par, which was to originally release this December, was being pushed to 2025. On Sunday, the superstar reported to the Film City set for the last portion of the RS Prasanna-directed venture. Sources tell us that it was a patch shoot. “It was a day-long shoot that started at 2 pm and went on till night. Aamir wanted to make sure that the film was wrapped up on Sunday. With the shoot done, Sitaare Zameen Par has now reached the finish line. Aamir and Prasanna will now shift their focus to post-production, which will include extensive editing, visual effects, and sound design,” shares a source. RS Prasanna A spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par (2007), Sitaare Zameen Par is an official adaptation of the Spanish sports comedy, Campeones (2018), and stars Genelia Deshmukh and Darsheel Safary alongside Khan. It has been heard that the superstar is now aiming for a summer 2025 release and intends to conduct focus-group screenings in February. The insider adds, “Aamir is known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking and often runs focus-group screenings. This process is integral to his style of fine-tuning the narrative based on the audience’s feedback. He had done it with Dangal [2016] and Secret Superstar [2017] too. The team will start working on the final edit to enable Aamir to show it to focus groups by February.”
16 December,2024 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuMurder and mind games, again Raise your hand if you had wished for a sequel to Badla (2019). Well, we weren’t the only ones; it turns out Taapsee Pannu did too. Now, the actor, who led director Sujoy Ghosh’s razor-sharp mystery thriller along with Amitabh Bachchan, has hinted at a possible second instalment. At a recent event, Taapsee acknowledged that several of her films have the potential for a second part. “People especially expect a second part of Badla because of the way it ended. Sujoy and I talk about it quite often. Ab dekhte hai unke dimaag mein kab idea aata hai,” she said. Will Sujoy develop an original follow-up story to Badla, which was an adaptation of the Spanish film, The Invisible Guest (2016)? Here’s hoping! See you in summer The makers of Anushka Shetty’s Ghaati announced that the film is set to release on April 18, 2025. This announcement was made through a video featuring Anushka, director Krish Jagarlamudi, and the producers. The release date poster showcases the leading lady in a fierce avatar, wearing a black saree, with blood running down her face. It is the second collaboration between Anushka and the director, following the success of their blockbuster Vedam (2010). Ghaati will be released across multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. More Masti for you There are sequels we want, and then there are sequels we get. On Sunday, the fourth edition of the Masti franchise, starring Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Aftab Shivdasani, went on floors. Aftab made the announcement on Instagram, with a series of pictures, and a video featuring director Milap Zaveri and Riteish. Masti (2004) was a sex comedy directed by Indra Kumar and starred Ajay Devgn alongside the trio. It was followed by Grand Masti (2013) and Great Grand Masti (2016). Celebrating the legend Shyam Benegal turned 90 on Saturday. While the filmmaker doesn’t believe in celebrating birthdays, his actors wouldn’t let him get away easily. Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajit Kapoor, and Divya Dutta came together to celebrate the director, who made Hindi cinema richer with gems such as Ankur (1974) and Manthan (1976). The show goes on The Raj Kapoor Film Festival, which was to conclude yesterday, has been extended due to public demand. On Sunday, the Film Heritage Foundation announced that the retrospective, celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of the showman, will continue till December 19. Fans of the legendary actor-filmmaker can watch some of his finest creations, including Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Sangam (1964), Mera Naam Joker (1970) and Bobby (1973), at select theatres. On December 13, a day before the showman’s birth anniversary, the Kapoor clan kicked off the festival with a grand celebration that saw the film industry turn up in full force.
16 December,2024 07:12 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamWHILE social media and news channels were rife with rumours of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain's passing on Sunday night, his family has categorically denied it to mid-day. Earlier in the evening, news of him being admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital with heart related problems was confirmed by friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia. Hussain’s sister, Khurshid Aulia told mid-day, "The news of his passing away is false. He is very much alive, but he is in very, very critical condition." As of as of 23:50 IST Sunday, Aulia told mid-day that Hussain’s wife has said that if anything happens to him or he passes away, she will put out a statement. But until he is breathing, they won’t say anything. Aulia added, "We request people to pray for him in this difficult time because he is a star of the world and a genius. He is my brother." The 73-year-old US-based musician, who has taken the tabla to the global stage, had been having blood pressure issues, added Hussain’s manager Nirmala Bachani. "He has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco for a heart related problem for the last two weeks," Bachani said. "He is unwell and admitted in the ICU right now. We all are worried about the situation," Chaurasia told PTI. The eldest son of legendary tabla player Allah Rakha, Hussain has followed in the foot-steps of his father, becoming a marquee name in India and across the world.
16 December,2024 12:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaRenowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain is reportedly facing serious health issues and has been admitted to a hospital in San Francisco. According to reports, he is undergoing treatment for a critical condition, though further confirmation and updates on his health are awaited. Ustad Zakir Hussain is the son of the legendary tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha. The celebrated musician recently won three awards at the 66th Grammy Awards held in the United States. He received the prestigious award in the 'Best Global Music Performance' category for his work on 'Pashto'.Earlier, Ustad Zakir Hussain, along with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia, announced the 'As We Speak' India tour. Scheduled for January 2025, the tour promises to captivate audiences with a fusion of diverse musical influences. These outstanding artists, all Grammy Award winners, collectively boast 31 prestigious accolades, including two for their 2023 album As We Speak.The multi-city tour is being organised by Perfect Harmony Productions in collaboration with Panache Media. Performances will take place in cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
15 December,2024 10:33 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIDiljit Dosanjh is ruling the hearts and how! The actor-singer performed in Chandigarh last night, and it was a whole different vibe with the entire area dancing to Diljit’s beats. Now, as clips from outside the venue go viral on social media, Diljit’s Chamkila director, Imtiaz Ali, has the sweetest reaction to the videos. Imtiaz Ali took to Instagram and shared multiple stories showing the situation both outside and inside the venue. Imtiaz Ali believes Diljit is ‘recreating Chamkila’ The first reel that Imtiaz shared on his story shows people climbing trees to watch the Punjabi sensation perform live. While sharing the clip of fans going crazy, Imtiaz Ali termed the madness as the "Diljit effect" and stated that he is "recreating Chamkila." Meanwhile, the next story shows people dancing outside the venue as they groove to Diljit’s beats. The third story features Diljit performing a song from his recently released film Chamkila, with the caption "Chamkila in Chandigarh" written on it. Diljit Dosanjh's craze is making fans go wild. Every city he performs in has fans elated by his aura and presence. He has made many fans happy by helping them propose or by giving them his jacket or gloves. Diljit’s videos after every concert make fans love him even more. The singer never shies away from calling out people in his own way. Meanwhile, before Diljit’s show, the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) issued an advisory urging him to avoid performing alcohol-themed songs during his live performance. The advisory, issued by CCPCR chairperson Shipra Bansal on Thursday, specifically referenced songs such as Patiala Peg, 5 Tara, and Case, cautioning against performing even modified versions that promote alcohol, drugs, or violence. Diljit Dosanjh’s work front On the acting front, Diljit is all set to star in the upcoming movie Border 2, where he will be seen alongside Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan. The film, based on the historic Battle of Longewala, is set to begin shooting in November. Meanwhile, Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati Tour will continue with performances in Mumbai (December 19), and Guwahati (December 29).
15 December,2024 04:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTaapsee Pannu married her longtime boyfriend Mathias Boe in an intimate ceremony held at Udaipur on 23rd March 2024. Only a few selected family and friends were invited to the intimate affair. Anurag Kashyap, Pavail Gulati, and Kanika Dhillon were amongst the few celebrities who attended the couple's wedding.The two had met each other 10-11 years ago and love had blossomed immediately. Mathias proposed to Taapsee a year after they had met. Once, Taapsee had also mentioned that she used to meet Mathias in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they met there for the first time as well. In a recent interview, Taapsee revealed details about her wedding. Taapsee Pannu wants a clear distinction between personal and professional lives During the conversation, Taapsee Pannu emphasised that she and her husband Mathias want to have a clear demarcation between their professional and personal lives. She further mentioned that in her experience, excessive exposure to personal life in professional life can negatively impact both spheres and she has always tried to maintain a balance. She said, "The successes and failures of one's career often spill over into personal life, causing unnecessary stress. I've always strived to maintain a balance between the two." Taapsee Pannu reveals the real date of her wedding with Mathias Boe Taapsee Pannu said that the intimate wedding ceremony they had in Udaipur in March was sort of a formal announcement of their marriage as people were not aware. She further said that she had tied the knot with Mathias Boe in December 2023. She mentioned that her first wedding anniversary is approaching soon. Taapsee further said that in December they had just signed the papers. Taapsee also said, "If I hadn't mentioned it today, no one would have known." Mathias Boe is a former Danish badminton player and currently, he is the coach of India's powerful shuttler duo Chirag Shetty and Satwik Ranki Reddy.Whereas talking about Taapsee's work front, she had two releases this year, 'Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba' and 'Khel Khel Mein'. Taapsee reprised her role of Rani in the former and it was well received by the audience. The latter flailed despite having an ensemble cast.
15 December,2024 02:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Divya KhuranaBollywood actor Varun Dhawan, who awaits the release of his upcoming film Baby John, recently attended the ‘Agenda Aaj Tak, 2024’ summit where he interacted with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He asked Shah the difference between Ram and Ravan and also called him the Hanuman of our country. Difference between Ram and Ravan Varun Dhawan asked Amit Shah, “I wanted to know what's the biggest difference between Lord Ram and Ravan?”, to which the HM replied, “Some people determine their interests by their dharma (duties)…whether or not they should pursue those duties. For others, their self-interests are determined by their duties. This is the difference between Ram and Ravan. Ram's life was based on his dharma, while Ravan tried to alter his duties as per his own definitions and thoughts.” Varun Dhawan praises HM Shah, HM Shah calls him a talented guy.... And that answer by HM Shah was really beautiful... pic.twitter.com/ubXUN09lxy — Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) December 14, 2024 ‘Hanuman of our country’ Impressed by Amit Shah’s answer, Varun Dhawan said, “People call him (Shah) the Chanakya (strategist) of politics, but I would like to call him the Hanuman of our country, who serves the nation selflessly.” He added that even actors cannot say such dialogues without clarity despite memorising. Varun Dhawan’s work front Meanwhile, on the work front, Varun was last seen in the web series Citadel: Honey Bunny alongside Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Written by Sita R Menon and directed by Raj & DK (Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK), it is the Indian installment of the global Citadel franchise. The series is set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1990s. He will be next seen in Baby John. It is directed by A Kaleeswaran. The film will also star Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, and Rajpal Yadav in key roles. It also has a cameo by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The film will hit the big screens on Christmas. In a press note, Varun Dhawan expressed his excitement for the film, saying, "I'm beyond thrilled to be a part of Baby John. This film is a deeply emotional and powerful journey, and it's been an incredible experience bringing this character to life. The trailer offers just a glimpse of the intensity and heart this story carries, and I can't wait for the audience to witness it on the big screen."
15 December,2024 01:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRecently the Kapoor family met the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and in no time, the pics went viral. This meet and greet was the talk of both, the tinsel town and the Parliament. Prime Minister Modi met the filmy family to celebrate Raj Kapoor's birth centenary. Apart from Saif, other members of the Kapoor family were present too including Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Neetu Singh, Aadar, and Armaan Jain. Raj Kapoor's 100th birth anniversary Raj Kapoor was born on December 14, 1924, and to commemorate 100 years of his legacy, several of his films were re-released in cinemas and a lot of events were held to honour the cinematic prodigy. Saif had expressed his happiness in being a part of this wonderful celebration. He thanked Kareena, Karishma, and Ranbir Kapoor and called it an honour to have a stamp of the legend Raj Kapoor to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary. Kareena Kapoor Khan shared pictures from their meet and greet with PM Narendra Modi on her Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) Saif Ali Khan's conversation with PM Narendra Modi Saif Ali Khan also met PM Modi and in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, he shared some snippets from his conversation with the head of the country. Saif Ali Khan said, “He arrived after a day in Parliament, so I was wondering if he would be tired. But he put on a warm smile and was attentive and charming to us all!” Saif revealed that PM Narendra Modi was eager to meet my sons and thought I would bring Taimur and Jeh with me. He further asked me individually about both his parents, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer late Mansoon Ali Khan Pataudi. Saif also shared that PM Modi signed a paper for both my sons that Kareena had asked him to. Lastly, the Sacred Games actor shared that he had asked Shri Narendra Modi about how much rest he has got. Saif said, "To me, he looked like he was working very hard running the country, and still taking time to connect on this level. I asked him how much rest he got and he said about three hours a night." Saif mentioned, it was a special day for them and they all felt honoured as the PM had taken out valuable time from his schedule to specially meet them.
15 December,2024 12:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Divya KhuranaAP Dhillon's Brownprint India Tour, presented by White Fox India, maintained its electrifying momentum with a capacity crowd at Delhi's IG Stadium on December 14th, 2024. Building upon the highly successful Mumbai launch, which featured surprise guest Malaika Arora, the Delhi leg of the tour delivered an unforgettable spectacle, fostering a palpable sense of community and collaborative spirit amongst the audience. This second show established a benchmark of excellence for the tour's continued progression. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AP DHILLON (@apdhillon) AP Dhillon’s Delhi concert The concert commenced with a dynamic opening set by viral sensation Josh Brar, skilfully generating an electric atmosphere that primed the audience for the evening's main event. The Punjabi hitmaker then took to the stage, delivering a high-voltage two-hour performance that captivated a sea of over 20,000 attendees. The crowd's enthusiastic engagement was palpable, evident in their fervent participation throughout his 25-track setlist, which seamlessly blended established favorites like ‘Dil Nu’, ‘Desires’, ‘Insane’ and ‘Excuses’ with newer hits such as ‘Bora Bora’, ‘After Midnight’, ‘Sweet Flower’ and ‘Old Money’. Dhillon demonstrated exceptional vocal talent and a commanding stage presence throughout his set. His affection for his fanbase was evident when he brought fans onstage to participate in his performance of 'Brown Munde'. Jazzy B, Honey Singh, and AP Dhillon sing ‘Dil Luteya’ AP Dhillon's performance was amplified by a stunning production design. A 360° stage, coupled with confetti, pyrotechnics, sparklers, star-shaped confetti, streamers, LED ball drop, Xylo bands, CO2 jets, and flames, created a truly immersive experience delivering every fan an unrestricted view. However, the evening's true zenith arrived with the unexpected appearance of Punjabi music legends Honey Singh and Jazzy B, who joined AP Dhillon and Shinda Kahlon onstage for a collaborative presentation that transcended a simple guest appearance. Their impassioned performance on ‘Millionaire’, ‘This Party Getting Hot’, ‘Dil Luteya’ and ‘315’ created an unparalleled ambiance of nostalgic energy, marking a significant and electrifying moment in Punjabi music history, harkening back to the vibrant soundscape of the 1990s. AP Dhillon thanks his fans AP Dhillon states, “Coming back to India after three years felt surreal. To see so many people singing along to my songs, was truly humbling and a moment I'll never forget. Thank you to everyone who made this night possible." The Delhi leg of the tour proved to be another phenomenal success for the Brownprint India Tour, demonstrating AP Dhillon’s immense popularity and his ability to craft memorable experiences for his fans. The tour moves to Chandigarh as the final pit stop.
15 December,2024 10:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Eijaz Khan, who has successfully transitioned from television to cinema and OTT platforms, shared his experiences and key takeaways from Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan, in which he played a significant role. Speaking to ANI, the Tanu Weds Manu actor expressed how working on the Atlee-directed Jawan has set a new benchmark for him. "The film has spoilt me, and now I always strive to do something better and better," he remarked. The film featured Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, with an ensemble cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Nayanthara, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Ridhi Dogra, Lehar Khan, Girija Oak, and Sanchari Bhattacharya in prominent roles. Eijaz Khan portrayed 'Manish Gaikwad', the brother of Vijay Sethupathi's character. Reflecting on the movie's success, Eijaz said, "I was a part of history. Everything felt unbelievable, like a dream. It spoilt me. Voh karne ke baad (after doing that), you always strive to do something better and better." Sharing his key takeaways from the film, Eijaz noted, "One thing I learned from the film is that even if you are supremely talented, the people who truly succeed in touching the hearts of millions are those who never settle for the fame and fortune they have. They keep working harder and harder." He elaborated, "Their efforts are continuous (unki mehnat jaari rehti hai). With each success, they feel an even greater responsibility to work harder and produce better work." Eijaz Khan's recent performance was in the OTT film Zabt, alongside Rahul Dev and Manoj Joshi. The movie is available for streaming on Prasar Bharati's OTT platform, Waves. The story follows Eijaz Khan's character, a smart and ambitious man who moves to Mumbai. To acquire real estate, he borrows money from an underworld don but gets robbed. The film delves into the mysteries of his past and his quest to recover the lost money. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 09:18 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIADVERTISEMENT
