Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was seen arriving back to Mumbai from Alibaug on Monday morning. The actress was travelling alone as she arrived to the city in a speed boat. The actress was seen dressed in a casual wear as she got papped at Gateway of India. Anushka Sharma was seen in a simple black t-shirt and white pajamas as she got papped at the Gateway of India on her way back to the city. She walked across the street and headed into the Taj Hotel in Colaba. She did not interact much with the paps but was seen cautioning them to be careful of the incoming traffic as they crossed the road. The actress said, "Guys, bus a raha hai," pointing towards a bus coming from behind during the photographers to be careful. On Sunday, Anushka Sharma and her husband cricketer Virat Kohli were seen together as they headed for Alibaug from Gateway of India. However, upon return Anushka was seen arriving solo. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Anushka Sharma & Virat Kohli's visit to Vrindavan Ahead of India’s upcoming white-ball series against England, Kohli took some time off with his family to visit the ashram of Premanand Ji Maharaj. This is not the first time the couple has showcased their spiritual side. The couple are dedicated followers of Lord Krishna and often visit ashrams of famed pandits seeking a spiritual experience. They have also been seen at events and prayer meets of Lord Krishna. They also conversed with the priest. Anushka said, "Pichli baar jab hum aaye the to mann mein kuch sawaal the. Mujeh laga ki puchungi lekin jo bhi baitha tha wahan pe, un sab ne kuch na kuch waisa sawaal kar liya tha. Jab yahan pe aane ki baat kar rahe the, main aapse mann hi mann baat kar rahi thi. Agle din main Kanti Vartalap kholti thi aur koi na koi wo sawaal puch raha hota tha. Aap bas mujhe prem bhakti de do. (The last time I came, I had a few questions in my heart. I wanted to ask those questions, but someone else more or less covered it. When I was thinking about coming here, I was talking to you inside my mind. The next day, I would open ‘Kanti Vartalap’ and those questions would’ve been asked by someone. Now, all I want is your blessings.)" Seeing the devotion of the couple, Maharaj got emotional and said, "These guys are very brave. To devote yourself to God after achieving such fame in the world is quite a difficult thing. We think that your (Anushka’s) devotion towards God would have an impact on him (Kohli) as well." Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj also said, "Ye (Virat Kohli) pure Bharat ko prasannata dete hain, Ye agar vijay hote hain to poora Bharat khushiyon manata hai. Inke saath poora Bharat juda hua hai. (Virat Kohli gives happiness to the whole of India. If he wins, then all of India celebrates, and the whole of India is connected to him.)"
13 January,2025 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActors Madhuri Dixit, Amrita Rao, and Bollywood producer Gauri Khan are among celebrities who bought shares of travel tech platform OYO over the past few months. Gauri Khan bought 2.4 million shares of OYO during the recent Series G funding round concluded in August 2024 where the company raised over Rs 1,400 crore from a consortium of investors, sources told PTI. An email to Khan's team seeking a comment remained unanswered. Of late, there is a growing trend of actors and celebrities diversifying their investment bets into high-growth startups aiming for handsome returns once these companies go public. "Madhuri Dixit, her husband Dr Sriram Nene, along with Dr Ritesh Malik, the clinician doctor, founder of flex space company Innov8, founding member of Plaksha University, and angel investor have bought 2 million shares of OYO at an undisclosed valuation", the company said in a statement. Another Indian celebrity couple Amrita Rao and her husband Anmol Sood, a popular radio jockey, also bought OYO shares in the secondary market, the company shared. PTI had reported that Nuvama Wealth recently acquired shares worth Rs 100 crore in the travel major at Rs 53 per share on behalf of its investors, a clutch of family offices, through a secondary transaction. This translates into a valuation of USD 4.6 bn for the company. While the valuation has been on the upswing, it is still a far cry from the USD 10 billion OYO commanded at its peak. 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
13 January,2025 07:44 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIProducer Boney Kapoor often shares throwback moments of his late wife, legendary actress Sridevi. Boney on Sunday, posted a beautiful throwback picture of the couple and expressed how much he misses her. The picture showed the two smiling at each other. Along with the picture, Boney added a caption that read, "True love cannot be hidden." The post quickly went viral. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Boney.kapoor (@boney.kapoor) Soon after Boney dropped the picture, fans flooded the comment section. One of the fans wrote, "My favourite queen, Sridevi ma'am," while another called them "the best couple." Recently, Boney also shared another throwback picture of Sridevi, where she looked stunning in a black gown, smiling gracefully. Remembering her, he wrote, "Elegance & Grace of a true Queen." In October last year, Boney Kapoor along with his daughter inaugurated a chowk in Mumbai on Saturday as a tribute to late actor Sridevi. The event was attended by political leaders and members from the industry. Veteran actor Shabana Azmi also attended the launch. Sridevi was born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in 1963. She's known for her iconic roles in Hindi movies like 'Chandni', 'Lamhe', 'Mr India', 'Chaalbaaz', 'Nagina', 'Sadma' and 'English Vinglish', among others. The Padma Shri awardee also made a mark with her extraordinary performances in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films. Her last film was 'Mom', for which she also received the Best Actress National Award, posthumously. Sridevi breathed her last on February 24, 2018, in Dubai, where she had gone to attend a family function. 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
13 January,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIBollywood actor Varun Dhawan, who is gearing up for his upcoming film 'Border 2', was spotted at the airport on Sunday with a fresh look. In videos shared by paparazzi, Varun was seen in a casual yet cool outfit. The 'Bhediya' actor wore blue jeans, which he paired with a white T-shirt and a black leather jacket. The actor, who rocked a moustache and light stubble, completed the look with a cool pair of sunglasses. Varun Dhawan is one of the newest additions to the star-studded cast of 'Border 2', which also features Sunny Deol reprising his iconic role, along with Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. The original film, helmed by JP Dutta, was a landmark in Indian cinema, depicting the 1971 India-Pakistan war, and introduced audiences to unforgettable characters like Suniel Shetty's portrayal of BSF officer Bhairav Singh. Besides 'Border 2', Varun has a busy year ahead. The actor is set to star in 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' alongside Janhvi Kapoor. 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari' is written and directed by Shashank Khaitan. The film features an ensemble cast, including Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor in leading roles, alongside Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul, and Akshay Oberoi. Produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan, the movie is slated to hit theatres on April 18. The actor also has the sequel to 'Bhediya' in his lineup. The film also stars Kriti Sanon in the lead role. As per the announcement by Maddock Films, Bhediya 2 will be released on August 14 next year. 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
13 January,2025 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIFilmmaker Karan Johar, who never misses a chance to entertain fans with his humour, recently gave a hilarious spin to his relationship status by claiming he is "dating Instagram." On Sunday, Karan posted a humorous Story on the platform where he shared how Instagram supports him and even "pays his bills." "I am dating Instagram! It listens to me... makes me follow my dreams and even pays some bills! What's not to love?" read Karan's hilarious post. Karan has often spoken about finding a life partner. Last Diwali, he opened up about feeling lonely despite being surrounded by people. Taking to his Instagram account, Karan wrote, "Diwali ki raate, itni mulakaate, itni saari baatein, bheed mein fir bhi tanhai, single status se kab hogi judaai (Diwali nights, so many meetups, so many conversations, yet loneliness in the crowd--when will I finally part ways with my single status)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) The filmmaker recently made a stunning appearance at the Ajio Luxe Wkend gala in Mumbai. He walked alongside actor Sidharth Malhotra, dressed in an all-white outfit that included a satin shirt and trousers paired with a blazer trench. He accessorized with a diamond necklace and emerald brooch, perfectly complementing the event's theme, "The Gilded Hour." On the professional front, Karan is gearing up for his next directorial venture. The untitled Netflix series is expected to begin production soon. 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
13 January,2025 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Ananya Panday recently gave fans a glimpse of a friend's wedding in Delhi. The 'CTRL' actor took to her Instagram Stories to share a series of pictures Among the images, one caught everyone's attention as it featured Janhvi Kapoor and Shikhar Pahariya posing alongside Ananya and their group of friends. In one of the photos, Ananya can be seen casually dressed in blue denim and a green sweatshirt, smiling for the camera. Meanwhile, Janhvi Kapoor stood out in a stunning bright red saree, while Shikhar Pahariya kept it classic in a white-and-black outfit. Captioning one of the posts, Ananya wrote, "Here for Nikki and Kochi." On the work front, Ananya Panday will be next seen in the upcoming romantic drama 'Chand Mera Dil', in which she stars alongside Lakshya. Directed by Vivek Soni, the film is scheduled for release in 2025. In her most recent Netflix project, 'CTRL', Ananya portrayed Nella Awasthi, an influencer who turns to Artificial Intelligence (AI) after a difficult breakup. Speaking to ANI in a recent interview, Ananya's mother, Bhavana Pandey, expressed her pride in her daughter's journey. Reflecting on Ananya's hard work and the challenges she overcame in her career, Bhavana said, "I'm very grateful. I know she's worked hard and everyone does. She's worked hard. But the idea is to put your head down and work hard and take the important, necessary criticism in your stride and work even harder. And the rest is noise." 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
13 January,2025 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamInspired by National Award-winning director Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s Bengali period drama Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has decided to come onboard as presenter. The Jodha Akbar (2008) filmmaker, who caught Mukherjee’s film at a private screening in Mumbai, says he was egged on to give a boost to the kind of regional cinema that the latter was crafting. Asserting that presenting stories from across India benefits individuals of every generation, Gowariker says, “Bringing to the big screen the magic of what transpired in Bengal’s theatres during their golden era is beneficial for every generation. Ram Kamal Mukherjee needs to be praised. His direction is poignant and adds depth and sensitivity to theatre thespian Binodini Dasi’s remarkable life. I’m glad that Ram Kamal did not succumb to what the market dictates while narrating this epic. It is pure.” Heaping praise on actor Rukmini Maitra’s portrayal of Binodini, he calls the film a “heartfelt tribute to the legacy of Indian theatre and its unsung heroes.” Mukherjee is grateful for Gowariker’s unwavering support and adds that as presenter, the latter may host a “special screening in Mumbai after the national release of the film on January 24.” Backed by Bengal actor Dev Adhikari and Prateek Chakravorty, the movie also stars Rahul Bose and Chandan Roy Sanyal. It tells the story of Binodini Dasi, a young girl from Kolkata’s red light area, who achieves immense fame as a theatre artiste.
13 January,2025 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBROften referred to as the king of recreations, Tanishk Bagchi is certain that the album of Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force will compel filmmakers to see him in a new light. While fans have celebrated his original hits, including Raataan lambiyan and Bolna, the songs have often been dissociated with his name given the spate of rehashed numbers he has served music aficionados. Akshay Kumar in a still from Sky Force But Dinesh Vijan’s Sky Force, he says, is set to put his best work on display. “Imagine an album that has Rata lambiya, Ve mahi, Bolna, and Badri ki dulhaniya, all in one album,” he says of the film that has five songs crafted by him. In this interview, he reveals how he charted his career to facilitate this transition. Edited excerpts of the interview. What was the discussion you had with the makers with regards to the music of this album? I used to create a lot of songs for Dinesh sir, but it would be one song in the entire soundtrack. I’ve also done a lot of recreations. Dino [Vijan] had praised my skills as a composer. Nobody understood that I have the potential [to helm] a solo film. Dinesh sir told me about this film that he was working on, and told me to make the entire soundtrack. That is where we began. He spoke to me about the situations the songs were to be placed in, but left the work to me. He didn’t share any references and allowed me to decide the genres. Because this is a patriotic film, we’ve tried to retain honesty in the emotions. I can’t take references from other tracks. I’m proud of this album because these are the songs that I’ve always wanted to make. I knew that if I ever got an entire film to work on, I could design the soundscape as I desired. When I’d see [composers like] Sachin-Jigar, Vishal Dadlani, or Pritam, I’d always wonder why I couldn’t get an entire soundtrack [like they do], and was only entrusted with promotional numbers. That was, in a sense, a struggle for me. So, this film marks a new journey. I have been known as the person who did recreations, so this breaks the barrier for me. All the songs are original, and have been composed by me. The credit goes to Dinesh sir. Were there any active steps you took to make this transition?It began with saying no to a lot of [offers]. I turned down offers to back recreations. The last remix I did was for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and I did that only because I had worked on the second part as well. Even then, I tried to treat that number like an original song and added a new sound. I no longer wish to do any recreations. As much as I can, I will decline those offers. I’ve done what I had to do; I’ve established a trend. Now, I want to focus on my original music. Is there a genre of music you’ve employed here that you feel you have dominance over?When I compose, my music reflects a lot of the emotions that I encounter. Because I belong to Bengal, I’ve been inspired by folk melodies. I always wanted them to be reflected in my music. For Sky Force, I put all my skills to use, including using all the genres I know. Everything was scattered, but I created this package that brought it all together. This album includes one of the best tracks I believe I have ever composed. There’s another romantic song that, I am certain, will be liked by people. There’s also a number that adds emotional depth to the situation is was made for. Imagine having an album that has songs like Rata lambiya, Ve mahi, Bolna, Aankh maare, and Badri ki dulhaniya, all in one album. I think, this is that.
13 January,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaWhat other than a dancing number featuring him could be a better calling card for a Shahid Kapoor-starrer? Well aware that the actor’s suave moves are enough to lure viewers to cinema halls, the team of Kapoor’s upcoming actioner Deva has been playing to his strengths. Released last week, the first track, titled Bhasad macha, showed a spirited Kapoor grooving to Bosco Martis’s choreography that aimed to present a character who was “erratic and dominating.” Martis says it was Kapoor who encouraged him to design a sequence that put his character to the forefront. Bosco Martis “There was a defined body language that he had manicured, and that’s what we dwelled upon. We created dance moves that could suit his character. The free-spirited sequence allowed him to be this person with free-flowing energy,” says Martis, who has previously choreographed Kapoor’s dance sequences in films like Jab We Met (2007), R... Rajkumar (2013), Phata Poster Nikhla Hero (2013), and Udta Punjab (2016). Owing to their multiple collaborations, the actor-choreographer duo has a fine understanding of one another’s working methods. Martis credits Kapoor for putting his trust in him, a move that, he says, has contributed to the success of their past works. Since Kapoor is a trained dancer, his technical skills are sound. So, Martis has—when the song demands—encouraged him to not rehearse too much before shooting the number, lest his act look inauthentic. “During the shoot of Agal bagal [Phata Poster Nikhla Hero], I told him not to keep rehearsing the steps. The beauty [of the song] was that the choreography looked natural. I was confident that Shahid would execute it,” he says of the song that was celebrated as much for its music as it was for its dance sequence. Kapoor stands tall among the best dancing stars in the Hindi film industry, including, but not restricted to, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal. Ask Martis what makes him unique, and he points to his evolution as a dancer. “He is technically sound. He has always pulled off choreography with all his energy but has now begun controlling it as well. That’s beautiful. Earlier, he would dance to [showcase his] energy, but now he has got his bearings right. Now, he dances like a superstar. When you see him dancing, you celebrate with him.”
13 January,2025 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaAfter multiple reports of the edits demanded by the Central Board of Film Certification for the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer film Punjab 95 hit headlines, the wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra—on whom the film is based—was evidently irate. Paramjit Kaur Khalra had condemned the censor board’s demand for 120 cuts, stating that the biopic on her husband’s life was made with the family’s consent, and should be released without changes. Now, mid-day hears that the film on the social activist is finally headed to screens sans any cuts, following a string of measures taken by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). In December, the SGPC brought together historians who were best suited to study the film for accuracy. Gurcharan Singh Grewal, General Secretary, SGPC, told mid-day, “I have watched the film, and it doesn’t target anyone at all. It shows the truth of Punjab in an unadulterated fashion. It’s a heart-wrenching movie. When I watched it, I had tears in my eyes.” Directed by Honey Trehan, Punjab 95 delves into the life of Khalra, who uncovered mass human rights violations during the s’90s, ultimately sacrificing his life for justice. When midday contacted Navkiran Khalra, the daughter of Jaswant Singh, she said she was “thrilled” that the film will finally make its way to cinema halls. “It’s a story that needs to be told, and we’re grateful. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the film releases this time.” Trehan’s woes commenced two years ago when the movie that was to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival was pulled down after the makers refused to entertain the 25 cuts that were then demanded. It is after a long fight that the film is likely to test its fate at the box office with a February release, with Dosanjh confirming in an online comment that it will release without amends.
13 January,2025 07:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuBollywood actor Imran Khan, who has been rumoured to make his Bollywood comeback for a while now, celebrates his birthday on January 13. Imran made his foray into acting with the hit film 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na' in 2008. The audience was crazy about him and he had a lot of female fans in the late 2000s and early 2010s -- all thanks to his charming looks. A few years ago, he was in the news for his marriage with Avantika hitting a rough patch. The two are parents to daughter Imara. In 2024, he confirmed his divorce as well as finding love once again with Lekha Washington. Imran Khan on his divorce from Avantika Malik In an interview with India Today, Imran Khan said, "Without going too much into that part, because I'm hesitant to add a lot of fuel to the gossip fire, but as I was dealing with all of this baggage and my internal struggle, I did find that my marriage and my relationship were not helping any of that." He added, "In an ideal, healthy dynamic between two people, you are both making each other better, healthier, stronger, and supporting each other to be the healthiest, best, strongest version. We were not in that place." Imran Khan on Lekha being labelled a 'homewrecker' Speaking to Vogue, Imran said, The speculation that I’m romantically involved with Lekha Washington is true. I’m divorced and have been separated since February 2019. There’s this narrative of Lekha being a homewrecker, which infuriates me because not only is it misogynistic but it also takes away my agency as an individual." “Lekha and I grew close during the lockdown, a year and a half after I had been separated from Avantika and almost a year after she had separated from her partner, not husband as it has been widely reported," the actor added. Imran Khan’s acting journey so far After featuring in films like 'Kidnap, 'Luck', ' Delhi Belly', 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', 'Ekk Main Aur Ekk Tu', 'Break ke Baad', ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara’, and 'I Hate Love Storys' among others, Imran disappeared from the public eye and quit acting. His last release was ‘Katti Batti’ in 2015.
12 January,2025 09:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
