Boney Kapoor recently took to his official Instagram handle and dropped a black and white picture of himself from his younger days, along with a picture of his son Arjun Kapoor. The photograph shows us the uncanny resemblance between Boney Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. The filmmaker captioned his latest social media post, "Hairy Son with Hairy Father". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Boney.kapoor (@boney.kapoor) Jumping on a chance to comment on the post, one of the Insta users wrote, "Love this. He gets his good looks from you and offocurse lots of hair". Another one penned, "Fabulous". The third comment read, "Nice". A couple of days back, Boney Kapoor dropped another Instagram post, sharing throwback photographs with his late wife Sridevi from their trip to Alaska. The producer shared an old picture of the couple where he can be seen hugging the late superstar. In the other two photos posted by Boney Kapoor, he and Sridevi are seen being all lovey-dovey amidst a beautiful backdrop. He captioned the Insta post, "Romancing in Alaska amongst the glaciers & the fall season which arrives early September there," along with three heart emojis. Meanwhile, on the professional front, Arjun Kapoor is presently working on his upcoming romantic entertainer, "Mere Husband Ki Biwi". Made under the direction of Mudassar Aziz, he will be seen sharing screen space with Bhumi Pednekar and Rakul Preet Singh in his next. Recently, an unfortunate mishap took place on the sets of "Mere Husband Ki Biwi" when a ceiling collapsed on the set in parts. It happened as the team was shooting a song at Imperial Palace, Royal Palms, in Mumbai. The collapse left Arjun Kapoor, producer Jackie Bhagnani, and director Mudassar Aziz injured. Additionally, a camera attendant reportedly suffered a spine injury, while the director of photography (DOP) fractured his thumb. Choreographer Vijay Ganguly also reportedly sustained injuries to his elbow and head. However, none of the actors or crew members were seriously hurt. 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
24 January,2025 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times by an intruder at his Mumbai home on January 16. Ever since the incident, multiple versions of the incident has been out on the internet. Now, Saif Ali Khan has narrated his version of the incident to the Mumbai police in his official statement. The actor revealed that he was with his wife actress Kareena Kapoor on the 11th floor of the Satguru Sharan building when they heard their son Jehangir's nanny screaming. Saif Ali Khan narrates events of January 16 In his statement, Saif reportedly said that he and Kareena were woken up by Jeh's nanny- Eliyama Philips's scream. Upon tracking the scream, the couple found the intruder in Jeh's room. The couple were welcomed by the site of a screaming nanny, crying Jeh and an intruder. Saif tried to overpower the accused identified as Shariful Islam but in the tussle got stabbed multiple times on his back, neck and hand. Despite being injured, the actor pushed the intruder inside the room as Ms Philips ran away with Jeh and locked him in, they added. Was Saif Ali Khan brought to the hospital by friend Afsar Zaidi? The actor's medical report gives detailed information about the injuries on his body. According to the actor's medical report, Saif has suffered a 0.5 to 1 cm injury on the left side of his back, and an injury of 5 to 10 cm was reported on the left wrist. Additionally, an injury of 10-15 cm was found on the right side of Saif's neck, while an injury of 3-5 cm was found on the right shoulder. The grave injury suffered by the actor is on his right elbow which ranged from five centimetres. The medical report sent to Bandra Police suggested that Saif was possibly brought to the Lilavati hospital by his manager and close friend, Afsar Zaidi, who runs a celebrity management company. His home was just 10-15 minutes away from the hospital. It is mentioned in the report that it was Zaidi who had taken Saif to the hospital on January 16 night and had admitted the actor at 4:11 a.m. on January 17. In the medical report sent to the police from Lilavati Hospital, Zaidi's name is mentioned in the friend column. Earlier it was reported that Khan was accompanied to the hospital by his six-year-old son Taimur Ali Khan which was what the doctors at the hospital also claimed. However, the medical report mentions name of Afsar Zaidi. Talking about the same to India Today, Zaidi denied reports of bringing Saif to the hospital. He said that he received the call from the family at 3.30 am after whcih he reached the hospital. Zaidi reached the hospital at around 4 am and completed the admission formalities for the treatment of Saif by filling up a mandatory form, at the behest of the Pataudi family.
24 January,2025 08:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor women tomorrow Aditya Seal has pledged to sponsor the education of five underprivileged girls, furthering his commitment to empowering girls. Inspired by the work of his actor-wife Anushka Ranjan’s NGO, the Beti Foundation, Aditya aims to see the girls graduate and achieve their dreams. “Education is the greatest gift one can give, and I want to be a part of shaping brighter futures for these young girls. Watching them succeed and graduate will be one of the proudest moments of my life,” shared Aditya. On the work front, he will next be seen in a film with Kajol. Marking my entry Director-writer Shashank Khaitan is set to make his web series debut with the slice-of-life family entertainer, Single Papa. The Netflix series revolves around the titular character, played by Kunal Kemmu, navigating the challenges and joys of single parenthood with humour and heart. Known for his knack for storytelling, Shashank aims to create a sitcom that resonates with audiences at home. Casting is underway to put together an ensemble of talented actors with strong comic timing. Production is set to begin in the summer of 2025, following the release of Shashank’s film, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. New face of FICCI Frames Ayushmann Khurrana has been announced as the brand ambassador for FICCI Frames during its 25th anniversary this year. Talking about the honour, Ayushmann said, “It is a huge honour for me to be the first brand ambassador for FICCI Frames in its silver jubilee year. As someone who arrived in Mumbai from Chandigarh with nothing but dreams in my eyes, I could never have imagined this incredible journey, one where my work has not only touched lives but also become a part of India’s rich pop culture tapestry. In my new role, I am committed to championing disruption, celebrating innovation, and highlighting the excellence our industry delivers.” Back to acting? One of actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani’s earlier films, F.A.L.T.U (2011), is set to have a sequel. “I am looking for a good and exciting story for F.A.L.T.U-2. Once we find something unique and appealing, we will definitely make the sequel,” says Jackky, who may return to the franchise as an actor. While it is not clear if Remo D’Souza will return to helm the film, Jackky has hinted that the sequel will include plenty of laughs, twists, and relatable elements for the youth. His last film as an actor was Mitron (2018). It is also unclear if Puja Gupta, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Angad Bedi, Riteish Deshmukh, and Arshad Warsi will return to the franchise.
24 January,2025 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamA period film demands authenticity, and Sky Force is no different, says Darshan Yewalekar. The celebrity hairstylist was roped in to create the looks of Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, and some supporting actors in the aerial actioner that offers a retelling of India’s airstrike on Pakistan during the 1965 war. Director duo Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur’s brief to him was simple—stay as true as possible to the era it is set in. “For inspiration, I went through material from the period, studied aviators and the style of clothing [popular then]. There were very few photographic references. Since we were depicting Air Force officers, we had to work within a few boundaries. So, I created a lookbook that never crossed those boundaries,” says Yewalekar. Darshan Yewalekar In Sky Force, Pahariya’s character is based on squadron leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Yewalekar says they tried multiple looks before zeroing in on the moustache that makes him resemble the late war hero. “Veer made notes to register every detail that was discussed to bring his character to life. We did multiple changes before achieving the moustache style,” he recalls. With the film playing out over 15 years, hair played a significant role in depicting the transformation of Kumar’s character. Yewalekar points out that the superstar flaunts a salt-and-pepper look in the second half. He says, “Akshay sir helped us achieve the look with his suggestions. The hair transition was a great idea. The film has multiple looks, but there were a bunch that needed special attention.”
24 January,2025 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuOne would think Ananth Mahadevan would be happy that his directorial venture, The Storyteller, is set to drop on Disney+ Hotstar on January 28. But the director has mixed feelings about his Paresh Rawal-starrer skipping the theatrical route. “It was Jio’s decision to release it on the platform and not have a theatrical release. With the response films are getting in the theatres these days, it’s a question of taking a chance. I would’ve liked it to have a limited release,” says Mahadevan.Also starring Adil Hussain and Revathy, the film is based on Satyajit Ray’s short story, Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro. It revolves around an elderly man, known for spinning grand tales. Despite having the foundation of one of Ray’s best stories, Mahadevan says making the film was challenging, with some producers not even knowing of the legendary filmmaker-writer. “It was heartbreaking. Nobody believed in a film on Ray in his centenary year. Producers wanted drama and high-pitched films. One producer didn’t even know who Ray was. I paraded the script in front of six producers over three years till Suchanda Chatterjee came on board. Any other actor would’ve given up, but Paresh stood behind me steadfast.” Ananth Mahadevan and Satyajit Ray In 2022, The Storyteller premièred at the Busan International Film Festival. It was also screened at the Kerala Film Festival 2022, International Film Festival of India 2022, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2023. Encouraged by the positive response at the film galas, Mahadevan was hopeful that it could be India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2024. Recalling submitting the movie to the Film Federation of India, Mahadevan says, “We tried our best to send it to the 2024 Oscars as I thought it would be a fitting entry. But I was told by a jury member that we missed it by a whisker. That year, a film on the Kerala floods [the Malayalam film, 2018] went for the Oscars because it highlighted an ecological issue. If this is the kind of judgment they have of Oscar entries, then they are sitting on the wrong chairs. The Storyteller was [based] on Ray’s story, it won accolades everywhere. Yet they didn’t send it. It was shattering. It didn’t even feature in the National Awards.”
24 January,2025 06:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRSky ForceDir: Abhishek Anil Kapur, Sandeep KewlaniCast: Akshay Kumar, Veer PahariyaRating: 4/5 Stepping out of the Sky Force screening, one heard, “Were the expectations low, or was the film actually good?” The answer to which is both. A new patriotic film has arrived in cinemas. A fatigue for the genre has set in over time. And not unfairly so. So, one enters the press show of the Akshay Kumar-starrer expecting too little and nothing new. What one gets is a pleasant surprise. Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani’s directorial venture has a decent emotional beat, and thrilling aerial action sequences, and also brings its hero back in full form. Based on India’s retaliatory attack on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Sky Force centres on two Air Force pilots, KO Ahuja (Kumar) and T Vijaya (Veer Pahariya in his acting debut). In Ahuja, Vijaya finds a mentor, while for the senior, this team member reminds him of his late younger brother, a fearless pilot who was madly in love with his country. Vijaya goes missing during the airstrike, and there begins Ahuja’s fight to find him and regain his lost glory. It’s the first half that holds most of the film’s action, both in the air and on the ground. From the pilots’ training, to the two heroes doing a recce of the border, and the airstrike, there’s plenty of mid-air action to look forward to, all of which has been fabulously shot to evoke a sense of thrill and tension. Behind the action, we see Vijaya’s pregnant wife Geeta (Sara Ali Khan) worry for his safety, while Ahuja’s partner, Priya (Nimrat Kaur), manages to treat his job matter-of-factly. Patriotic films, in the recent past, have seemed like a joke. Sky Force, however, is an anomaly. It appears sincere, even though a share of dialogues promoting chest-thumping patriotism (“Ghar mein ghuske maarenge”), and scenes that mock a Gandhi-led India’s belief in non-violence and tolerance were avoidable. Yet, they do not take away from the storytelling. An element of decency is made evident as the narrative acknowledges—even if it does so only towards the end of the film—the empathy that a soldier on the other side of the border harbours. Sincere is also how one can describe Kumar’s turn. While the character doesn’t offer something new when pitted against Kumar’s other patriotic acts, there’s a fine balance of maturity and restraint with which he has played Ahuja, managing to lift an otherwise forgettable character. In fact, both Kumar and Kaur (fantastic, even though she’s primarily seen reacting to situations) do well holding the film’s emotional reins. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said about the debutant and his co-star. Pahariya gets a lot of crowd-cheering dialogues, and his delivery is not a problem. But, he fails to serve them with the emotional depth that may be required for a film of this nature. It’s hard to connect with his character, given that he puts up a performance that may seem empty. As for Khan, she simply seems unable to become the character. Her interpretation of Geeta seems restricted to an actor placed in costumes belonging to an era gone by as she aims to imitate how people from the time may have behaved. It seems artificial, especially the dramatic bits. Sky Force does leave a lot to be desired. The writing, especially in the second half of the film, is dull and uninspiring. Rather than building suspense around a lost Air Force officer, it kills it. The narrative is too convenient and superficial. The writers, Kewlani, Ameel Keeyan Khan, and Niren Bhatt, are also unable to flesh out characters that don’t seem like prototypes. Despite all that’s good about Sky Force, one wishes the film industry could take a break from churning out patriotic offerings. Distance makes the heart grow fonder—let there be distance so that there is love, again.
24 January,2025 06:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaNext week, Deva will arrive in cinemas. But if things had gone according to filmmaker Subhash Ghai’s plans, a Deva would have already been in theatres about forty years ago. Siddharth Roy Kapur, who has produced Shahid Kapoor’s upcoming action thriller, reveals that the title originally rested with Ghai. “The film’s team is so honoured and grateful to Subhash-ji for entrusting us with the title, Deva,” says Roy Kapur. It turns out Ghai, who celebrates his 80th birthday today, had envisioned Deva as a big-scale action film with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1980s. The project, however, did not materialise. In late 2023, as Roy Kapur and director Rosshan Andrrews began work on their cop caper, they felt Deva would be the perfect title for the narrative and the angry cop protagonist, Dev Ambre, played by Kapoor. So, the producer called Ghai, who was happy to relinquish the title he had registered in 1987. The veteran filmmaker only had one condition—that they get Bachchan’s nod as well. Siddharth Roy Kapur; Subhash Ghai and Amitabh Bachchan “Over just one call, Subhash-ji agreed to relinquish the title with the blessings of Mr Bachchan, who was also kind enough to give us the go-ahead. Deva is a title that carries immense legacy and weight, having been envisioned by Subhash-ji for a grand project with Mr Bachchan in the 1980s. His passing this torch to us speaks volumes about his generosity,” shares Roy Kapur. Deva, which also stars Pooja Hegde, marks the Hindi debut of Malayalam director Andrrews.
24 January,2025 06:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaEarlier in the morning, it was reported that singer Monali Thakur, known for songs like Sawaar Loon, Moh Moh Ke Dhaage, and Laila Majnu, experienced breathlessness on stage during a live performance and was immediately rushed to the hospital. Now, the ace singer has taken to Instagram to dismiss all such claims, putting out a clarification stating that she is not facing any breathing problems and is not hospitalized. Monali Thakur clarified she isn’t hospitalised In a long clarification that Monali had put out she wrote, "Dear media and everyone concerned for my health, I hope you're doing well. I'm writing this to request that no unverified news about my health be shared. I truly appreciate all the love and concern, but I want to make it clear that I am not dealing with any breathing issues and I was not admitted to any hospital. That's false information." Further while giving an update on her health Monali wrote, "I was feeling unwell recently due to not getting enough time to recover from a viral infection/flu causing it to relapse and cause a slightly severe sinus and migraine discomfort and pain in flights. That's all there is to it. I'm now back in Mumbai, getting treatment, resting, and recovering. I'll be absolutely fine in no time!" "Let's not make this bigger than it is, especially when there are much more important things to focus on. Thank you so much for your love and support. Take care and lots of Love!" Monali concluded Monali Thakur's Varanasi concert fiasco Meanwhile, a couple weeks back, Thakur had penned a long note slamming the poor infrastructural management at her Varanasi concert which she abandoned 70 minutes into the show. She called out the event management for mistreating vendors and exploiting them. The singer took to her Instagram account on Monday where she shared details about the alleged mismanagement, and mistreatment against her and her team by the event organizers. "I had hoped not to end 2024 or begin the new year 2025 by addressing the horrific and negative incident my team and I faced in Varanasi. However, after much reflection, I feel it is important to share these unfortunate truths-not only to raise awareness but also to call for reforms in how such matters are handled. Attached is a confession and apology letter issued by the founder of the event-organizing company. Hope this letter is sufficient to clear any confusion anyone might have had about the credibility of any of the false defamatory accusations made against my team and me, as well as the treacherous and unethical conduct of the organizers," wrote Monali.
23 January,2025 07:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Rohman Shawl, who recently made his debut as the antagonist in the Sai Pallavi and Shivakarthikeyan-starrer Amaran, has impressed audiences with his performance as Asif Wani, a terrorist. Rohman was praised for his performance, action sequences, and emotional storytelling. Amaran has emerged as one of the biggest successes of 2024, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy. After receiving appreciation for his role as an antagonist, Rohman is seen playing a police officer from Jammu & Kashmir in his next project. Azaadi garners critical acclaim To celebrate the 76th Republic Day and to honor the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police officers, the actor presents his next short film titled Azaadi, based on real incidents. The film has already received awards at the Jammu Film Festival and Jharkhand Film Festival. Presented by Kara Studios, the movie also stars Mir Sarwar in a pivotal role, with Abhimanyu Tomar making a guest appearance. Film's tribute to the brave hearts of Kashmir In Azaadi, Rohman Shawl plays the character of Adnan, a dedicated Indian police officer who is captured by militants during a family visit. As he faces unimaginable brutality, his unwavering love for his country and family drives him to fight for survival. With intense action, emotional depth, and an inspiring portrayal of heroism, the film sheds light on the untold stories of Indian police officers in Kashmir. Rohman's year of diverse roles Reflecting on his journey, Rohman says, "The back-to-back release of Amaran and Azaadi has been nothing short of life-changing for me. In the span of two films, I've traversed the spectrum of humanity, from protector to destroyer. It's been both a test and a triumph, and as a Kashmiri, these roles carry the weight of my roots as well as the universal struggles they reflect. Looking back, I consider 2024 a year of transformation. It's the year that truly defined me as an actor. In Azaadi, I play Adnan, an honest police officer wrestling with the moral and emotional chaos of conflict, while in Amaran, I portrayed a terrorist driven by darkness and desperation." In terms of personal matters, Rohan Shawl, who was previously dating Sushmita Sen, is still occasionally spotted with her, although they announced their breakup in 2021.
23 January,2025 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilm: Sky ForceDirector: Sandeep Kewlani, Abhishek Anil KapurCast: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat KaurRuntime: 125 minutes Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan's film Sky Force, which marks Veer Pahariya's debut, is based on true events that unfolded during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. The film tells the story of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya. The plot In 1965, on the night of September 6, Pakistan attacked several Indian air bases, including Pathankot, Halwara, and Adampur. This was a shocker for the country, and India decided to give it back to them. We attacked Sargodha, one of Pakistan's most protected and strongest air bases at the time. During this mission, one of our fighters, Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, went missing in action. After several attempts to find him, he was announced dead and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra in 1988, 23 years after the operation. The story of Sky Force is about how the country struck back at Pakistan with their not-so-well-equipped fighter jets, destroyed the advanced fighter jets the neighbouring country got from the USA, and how Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya sacrificed himself. Who plays what in Sky Force Akshay Kumar plays the role of Group Captain OP Taneja, leader of the 13-aircraft contingent, in Sky Force. His name in the Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani directorial has been changed to KO Ahuja. Meanwhile, Veer, who has been named T Vijaya in the film, portrays the role of Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya. The movie also stars Sara Ali Khan in a pivotal role that of Veer Pahariya's wife. Performance analysis Akshay Kumar is known for signing films that are inspired by true events, and there was a time when he was just doing such films. After taking a short break from his favourite genre, Akshay is back at it, but at what cost? The first half of the film features Akshay delivering dialogues that ooze patriotism, but were they convincing? It felt like he had a teleprompter to read the dialogues from. It is high time that Akshay started dedicating more than 40 days to a film and delivered one good movie before the audience lost faith in him. Sara Ali Khan was fairly okay, and a little extra, as she is in all her films. She didn't have much scope to show her work, but whatever she did, she delivered nicely. Nimrat Kaur, on the other hand, played Akshay's wife - a totally avoidable character in the movie. A surprise entry in the movie was by Sharad Kelkar. He played a Pakistani fighter pilot and prisoner of war. He has time and again proved how talented an actor he is, and we still hope to see him in a film where he isn’t making a surprise entry or doing a cameo. Kelkar deserves a full-fledged movie starring him in the lead. Background music & technical aspects Coming to the action - hands down, amazing. Any part of the movie that has no dialogue is the best part of Sky Force. Be it the training session, the war sequence, the air strike, or the fighter pilots saluting T Vijaya's wife as she receives the Maha Vir Chakra on his behalf, all these scenes gave goosebumps and were beautifully crafted. The movie lags behind in the music department. Veer and Sara's song didn't make it to the final cut, and B Praak screaming at the top of his voice didn’t leave any impact. Final verdict Will you cry in those two hours? Possibly, but that could only be because of the story of Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya and not because of how the makers have executed a well-written story. After delivering blockbuster films with their horror universe and impressing the audience with the Chhaava teaser, coming up with a patriotic drama just before Republic Day is an amazing move by Maddock. However, only if they had a better cast on board, this would have been another blockbuster for them.
23 January,2025 06:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Shachi ChaturvediFilmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been reportedly arrested and sentenced to three months of imprisonment in a cheque bounce case. The Andheri Magistrate Court in Mumbai, after hearing the case for seven years, announced the verdict and reportedly issued a non-bailable warrant in RGV's name. Ram Gopal Varma sentenced to three months of imprisonment As per a report in Telangana Today, RGV was found guilty under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which penalizes cheque dishonour due to insufficient funds or exceeding the account’s arranged amount. The director has also been ordered to pay a sum of Rs 3.75 lakh as compensation to the complainant. The court further ordered that if he fails to pay the amount decided by the court within the next three months, he will be subjected to an additional three months of imprisonment. Ram Gopal Varma reacts to the cheque bounce case In 2018, a cheque bounce case was filed by a company named Shree, through Maheshchandra Mishra, against RGV’s firm. The filmmaker received bail after providing a personal bond and a Rs 5000 security deposit in 2022. Though it has been reported that RGV was not present at the hearing, and a detailed judgment is awaited, he has reacted to the news on his X account, writing, "With regard to the news about me and Andheri court, I want to clarify that it is related to a 7-year-old case of Rs 2 lakh 38 thousand, involving my ex-employee. My advocates are attending to it, and since the matter is in court, I cannot say anything further.” More about Rama Gopal Varma Ram Gopal Varma has been in a reflective mood ever since the re-release of his cult classic film Satya, which starred Manoj Bajpayee and Urmila Matondkar. Since its re-release in theatres on January 17, the filmmaker has been looking back at the making of Satya, what it meant to his career in the movie business, and what transpired afterward. He has been posting his thoughts on social media, calling it his confession notes on Satya. In a latest update, the filmmaker has announced his next titled Syndicate, a crime drama, with the claim of making the biggest film ever.
23 January,2025 03:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
