Sangeeta Ahir

A week is left for the arrival of the horror comedy Thamma and the intense romantic saga Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat in cinemas on the occasion of Diwali. This is the time when regional films typically refrain from releasing their films. But this year is going to be an exception. Both the Hindi Diwali releases will face competition from Marathi, Gujarati and Punjabi films. Bollywoods Diwali releases, Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, to face TOUGH fight from regional films; exhibitors gear up for screen sharing issues Premachi Goshta 2 , the sequel to the much-loved 2013 Marathi film Premachi Goshta , starring Atul Kulkarni and Sagarika Ghatge, will release in cinemas on October 21. The second part features Swapnil Joshi, Lalit Prabhakar, Rucha Vaidya and Ridhima Pandit. The trailer has been well-received due to its humorous moments and a novel twist in the story. It will be released by PVR Inox Pictures. Interestingly, there was one more film, Punha Shivajiraje Bhosale , directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, which was all set to hit screens on the Festival of Lights. However, the mass-appealing film has now been shifted to October 31. Gujarati cinema will present Chaniya Toli.It is backed by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and stars Yash Soni, Ragi Jani, Nikita Sharma, Netri Trivedi, Heena Jaikishan, Sohni Bhatt and others with Janki Bodiwala of Shaitaan (2024) fame in a special appearance. The film is about a group of village women robbing a bank, leading to madness and chaos. The trailer of the Gujarati Money Heist has got a huge response and exhibitors in Gujarat expect the film to surprise. Finally, the Punjabi film Godday Godday Chaa 2 , backed by Zee Studios, will also release on Diwali. It is the second part of Godday Godday Chaa (2023) and stars Ammy Virk, Tania, Gurjazz, Gitaj Bindrakhia, Nikeet Dhillon and others. Both parts of this series are directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, who recently helmed Son Of Sardaar 2.Trade circles and exhibitors foresee an intense battle for screen space this Diwali. A trade expert observed, Screen clashes are common when two major Hindi films release together. We just saw that happen with Kantara and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari last week. This festive season, a similar tussle is expected, with Thamma and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat vying for prime slots. What makes matters trickier is the strong regional lineup; Marathi, Gujarati and Punjabi films are arriving with big backers and built-in audiences. Their presence will amplify the competition in their respective territories, and exhibitors may have to strike a delicate balance while allocating shows. A single-screen exhibitor from Maharashtra noted, Marathi films have been released on Diwali in the past. Mumbai Pune Mumbai 2 , which is directed by Premachi Goshta 2 director Satish Rajawade, came on Diwali 2015 along with Katyar Kaljat Ghusali , despite the biggie Prem Ratan Dhan Payo being scheduled for a release on the same day. Yet, everything was managed well. This time, too, I dont see it as a problem, though I dont deny that things have changed a lot in terms of screen-sharing tactics in these last 10 years.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 21 : Taapsee Pannu, who believes in strongly presenting her opinions, said that actors sometimes refrain from expressing their political views as it may create problems for them.In an exclusive conversation with ANI, she said, "We have our own politics of sorts. It doesn't always have to be related to a particular type of politics. People want to stay quiet because they feel that way or this way there will be a problem."Taapsee has openly spoken about nepotism and other issues. The ace actor said that people have created a perception about stars."Actors are believed to have low IQ and people think that they hardly know anything especially if it is a woman then they think, 'how dare you have an opinion'. But anyway, it is a double-edged sword, I feel. If you have an opinion, then also it's a problem. You don't have an opinion, then also it is a problem."The 'Baby' star, who has played sports personalities several times on-screen, also shared her opinion on the gender eligibility controversy involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics 2024.Taapsee talked about the issue and how her critically acclaimed film 'Rashmi Rocket' also deals with the subject of gender testing in sports. In the film, Taapsee was seen essaying the role of a professional runner."I played a role on that subject. I did a film called 'Rashmi Rocket' which was about a female athlete being banned because she was detected with a high level of testosterone. So, I played this role. I mean we presented our views and that's why you know I think the beauty of the kind of films I get is sometimes I get my films to talk about the muddas (issues) that I personally believe in without making a statement outside."Set in Kutch, 'Rashmi Rocket' is about a young girl from a small village who wins accolades for the country as a professional runner. However, her life takes a turn when she's called in for a gender verification test.Directed by Akarsh Khurana, the film also stars Supriya Pathak and Abhishek Banerjee.Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya, 'Rashmi Rocket' has been written by Nanda Periyasamy, Aniruddha Guha and Kanika Dhillon.She said her role in 'Rashmi Rocket' touched on this issue and questioned the disqualification criteria on the basis of a higher level of testosterone. "That was a film that I spoke about where I played the athlete. And it is not in my control what my hormones are. It's not like I've taken supplements. It's not like I've injected any hormones. It's just I was born with it. Our argument in the film was that there are so many athletes who are born with an edge over others. Like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, all these people are also born with a certain biological edge over others. Why are they not banned? And why only someone who has a higher level of testosterone is banned?"Taapsee continued, "If she has taken injections for this particular competition, then, of course, it should be illegal and she should be banned. But if she is not, then by something that is not in her control, you've banned her. So that's the character that I played in the film as well. So that was my statement."Taapsee is known for her powerful performances in movies such as 'Pink', 'Thappad', 'Rashmi Rocket', 'Shabaash Mithu', among others. Although she made her Bollywood debut with 'Chashme Baddoor' in 2013, she gained a lot of prominence with her movies such as 'Baby' and 'Pink'.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 20 : As the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections took place today, Mumbai saw an influx of celebrity voters showcasing their inked fingers as a mark of their civic participation.After casting her vote, Kajol took to Instagram, where she shared a picture of herself from the car. In the picture, the actress can be seen wearing a white outfit and bright red lips as she told the world that she has cast her vote."Choosing our own government is a right we fought for years to get. Use ur power now. Vote ! muNbiikr lvkr vote-kar," the actress wrote in the caption.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol)Earlier in the day, veteran star Dharmendra was spotted casting his vote at the Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu.Other stars, Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Rajkumar Rao, and Janhvi Kapoor, were also seen at various polling booths across the city.The fifth phase of the elections covers six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai: Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central. Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi, and Thane are also goiing to the polls in this phase.Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest state in terms of parliamentary constituencies after Uttar Pradesh.The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, being held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, have seen key contests across states. The final results are scheduled to be announced on June 4.Prominent leaders who are contesting the fifth phase include Rajnath Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, Chirag Paswan, Omar Abdullah and Rohini Acharya.The Election Commission has deployed extensive security measures, including 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams. These teams are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance across 94,732 polling stations to ensure a smooth and secure voting process.

Naveen Kasturia shared his experience of shooting for the second season of 'Aspirants'.With Naveen KasturiaSunny HindujaShivankit Singh PariharAbhilash Thapliyal and Namita Dubey reprising their popular roles, Apoorv Singh Karki returns as the director for this slice-of-life drama. 'Aspirants' is a show that touched the hearts and minds of millions of Indians, who saw glimpses of their own journeys in the compelling characters. A TVF original drama, the first season of Aspirants was the talk of the town with its rooted storyline, relatable characters and stories that felt like a reflection of the life and aspirations of an ordinary individual. As Abhilash, Guri and SK's 'tripod' friendship and Sandeep Bhaiyya's profound pieces of advice became part of the pop culture, fans waited for a new season with bated breaths. And with the new season finally here.Recently, Kasturia talked about how teamwork from the star cast and dedication from director Apurva Singh Karki played a vital role in the show's unparalleled success. He said, " Everyone understands that if actors don't do well, the show won't do well. We all followed the same approach, believing that each one of us should excel in our respective characters. There was never a moment during the shoot of the series, when if one person was done with their shot and the camera shifted to the other; the first one would stop giving their best. Because we knew that everyone's performance is equally important in a scene. In the world of competitive exams depicted in Aspirants, the actors mirrored the aspirants themselves, bound by their shared goal, supporting each other to create a masterpiece.Crediting the director for the camaraderie that his co-stars share, Naveen added, "The reason why all of us bonded so well on sets was our director. He is a straightforward man who doesn't put on any airs. If our director himself is such a grounded person, we all managed to mix up well. It was essential for our performances, and because of Apurva, we all wanted to do that."Aspirants seasons one and two are now streaming on Prime Video.

Ivor McCray in Mumbai on Thursday.At their wedding, the groom, Ivor delivered a special dance performance on the Hindi version of the Oscar-winning song 'Naacho Naacho' from the film 'RRR'.Taking to Instagram, singer Kanika Kapoor shared a video on her stories, in which Ivor could be seen performing the famed hook step of the song.For his performance, the American film director and photographer opted for a white shirt paired with black pants and black shoes. He completed his look with a black bow tie.At the wedding, Ivor made a dashing entry on a 'ghodi' and his friends danced as a part of the 'Baraat'. On her part, Alanna dressed in a beautiful ivory lehenga, looked like the happiest bride there is! Ivor also looked exquisitely handsome in a 'sherwani' that matched Alanna's lehenga.Alanna, the daughter of Chunky's brother Chikki Panday and his wife Deanne Pandayis a model and social media influencer.Alanna and Ivor had got in 2021.They have a YouTube channel together and live in Los Angeles, USA. They also have a great number of followers on Instagram and keep making videos to keep their fans in the loop and entertained.Speaking of 'Naatu Naatu', it was the first Telugu song to be nominated in the 'Original Song' category at the Oscars.It won the prestegious award trumping big names such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava and composer along with director SS Rajamouli and lead actors Jr NTR and Ram Charan were also present at the big event.The lyrical composition by MM Keeravani, high energy rendition by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, unique choreography by Prem Rakshith, and lyrics by Chandrabose are all the elements that make this 'RRR' mass anthem a perfect dance craze.The song competed against 'Applause' from the film 'Tell It Like A Woman,' 'Hold My Hand' from the movie 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 'Lift me Up' from 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' and 'This Is Life,' from 'Everything, Everywhere All At Once'.

"Finding funds for my shaadi ka lehenga," Hansika captioned the post, leaving netizens in splits.View this post on InstagramShared post on Timeukvee.com.hr"Hahhaha epic," a social media user commented."Crazy Hansu," another one wrote.Earlier this month, Hansika shared a string of images of her beau Sohael proposing to her in front of the Eiffel Tower ."Now and Forever (black heart emoji)," Hansika captioned the post. Sohail commented, "I love you my life (red heart emoji)."View this post on InstagramShared post on Timeukvee.com.hrFor the occasion, Hansika wore a white dress and heels. Sohail opted for a white shirt under a black jacket and pants and wore white shoes.If reports are to be believed, Hansika and Sohael have been best friends for a while. Sohael is a Mumbai-based entrepreneur.The couple will reportedly tie the knot in December 2022 in Rajasthan.

Lakme Fashion Week is currently ongoing! While there are many designers this time, showcasing their new collections, silhouettes and creativity. There is one such designer who has brought a slice of sustainable fashion to the ramp.Pratyush Kumar, who won the R|Elan Circular Design Challenge in Partnership with United Nations in India, at the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI during the March 2022 edition showcased his new collection 'Pieux' on Day 2 of the Lakme Fashion Week. The event took place at the Jio World Convention Centre.Bollywood diva Warina Hussain, who turned showstopper for 'PIEUX', donned a jacket with elements of both ethnic and western fashion as well as a co-ord set that was more minimal in design. Warina's stunning ensemble consisted of an upcycled bralette top with a deep neckline, matching loose leggings, and a long-sleeved jacket with a similar pattern.Inspired by the incredible world of life under the microscope, 'Pieux' showcased the theme Illusion in their collection at the event. For creating an illusion in pleats they worked on the concept of lenticular print. The collection captures the details and intricacies under the microscope through techniques like pleating, weaving, eco-friendly digital printing and 3D printing.Pratyush Kumar, Creative Head and Founder 'Pieux' said, "Our collection ILLUSION was successfully depicted with the help of pleats and prints for our athleisure pieces. The association with CDC has been amazing. It gave me the recognition as a circular label. Winning CDC also helped me procure the future of fabric, R|Elan. The exposure that I got because of the Circular Design Challenge has been brilliant. It also provided me with a platform to showcase my work which is nothing less than a dream."Fashion that is faithful and concerned about the environment has a lasting effect on the trend charts and the "Illusion" collection by Pieux was the ideal offering for buyers whose thoughts are on the right sustainable path.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by RajKummar Rao (@rajkummar_rao)Right after Rao dropped the poster, fans bombed his comment section expressing their eagerness to watch the film.An Instagram user wrote, "it's gonna be awesome".Another user wrote, "Waiting eagerly...best wishes Sir..."Rajkummar Rao plays the role of a cop, Vikram. Sanya Malhotra essays the role of the female lead in the film.Directed by Sailesh Kolanu, the upcoming thriller is the Hindi remake of the Telugu film of the same name. The film is set to hit the theatres on July 15.Apart from 'Hit-the first case', Rajkumar will be seen in a bunch of movies. He is shooting for 'Mr And Mrs Mahi' opposite Janhvi Kapoor. The film is helmed by 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl' director Sharan Sharma.Rajkumar is also a part of Anubhav Sinha's 'Bheed', the sequel to his hit film 'Stree', Abhishek Jain's 'Second Innings', Shrikanth Bolla Biopic, Hansal Mehta's 'Swagat Hai,' and Anurag Basu's 'Life in a metro' sequel.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Sanaya Irani (@sanayairani)Talking about her character, Sanaya said, "For me, essaying the role of a cybersecurity expert in the series was an enriching experience altogether. Ananya Saini is a Cyber expert. I am thrilled to be a part of Cyber Vaar which throws light on the rising threat of cybercrimes. While digital is proliferating at a rapid pace, this kind of web series is relevant to the audience."She added," Especially for vulnerable people, it is important to be alert, proactive and informed in the world of the internet."Mohit is essaying the role of ACP Akash Malik in the show."Stepping into the shoes of ACP Akash Malik was a terrific learning process. I have personally been a victim of cybercrime when my account was hacked, and I had to pay a visit to the cyber cell. Trust me, the operations there were so smooth. It was a truly hassle-free experience and they solved my case," he shared.Directed by Ankush Bhatt and produced by Tanveer Bookwala, this crime thriller series will be out on Voot on June 10.

Brahma Kumari's campaigns, has shared photos from the event. Shehnaaz is dressed in an all-white Anarkali suit with a turquoise blue coloured dupatta.Posing with Brahma Kumari Shivani, she wrote, "soulsisters" and dropped some heart emoticons.Fans and admirers poured in with heart and fire emoticons, expressing their appreciation for both of them, and one social media user even added, "Two strong women in one frame."Shehnaaz's close friend and late actor Sidharth Shukla, who was also a disciple of the spiritual organization, was the one who introduced her to it.