Indian shuttlers Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy have finally got some time to pause and reflect due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they are making the most of it by creating a database to analyse their past performances while waiting for another shot at Olympic qualification. The coronavirus outbreak has left over 1.2 lakh people dead and infected nearly 2 million globally, and brought all sports activities, including badminton, to a halt after countries imposed lockdowns. Ashwini and Sikki are doubles specialists and endured an underwhelming season last year. The time at hand has given them a chace to analyse the past performances.

"We don't have any one to sit and do analysis for us, so now that we have time, I'm doing some analysis of our performance. I am jotting down points, about areas where I can improve. I started with my matches and then other players on tour," Ashwini, who represented India at the London and Rio Olympic Games, told PTI. "You can always watch and analyse and understand the patterns but it is different when you see things on paper. It is more concrete. So trying to set up a complete database. My brother will help me out. He made an app for me in the past." Ashwini and Sikki fell at the first hurdle 13 times in 20 tournaments last year, and exited from the second round thrice.

Ashwini also picked up a calf injury during the Syed Modi International but the duo was still confident of qualifying by performing well in the remaining Olympic qualifiers. But with Badminton World Federation (BWF) cancelling all tournaments due to the coronavirus pandemic, their fate remains uncertain. "The problem is we don't know the new BWF rules regarding the qualification. There is one year left now, you can't take a two year old performance to select for Olympics, it has to be present performance, so we have to wait," said Sikki. "In badminton, there is a ranking cut off, so how will they accommodate the cancelled qualifiers, how will they count the ranking points, everything is too messed up now," she added. Sikki and Ashwini had reached the finals at Hyderabad Open Super 100 and Maldives International Challenge, last year.

The Indian pair is ranked 28th and will need to be inside top 16 on April 29, 2021 -- the new Olympic cut off date. Ashwini said: "Me and Sikki were confident of doing well in the 4-5 tournaments left but now no one knows what would be the criteria of Olympic qualification and BWF can't really say anything with things changing every moment." They are using the coronavirus-forced break to learn cooking, besides doing some wall practice and exercises for physical fitness. Talking about the effects of the lockdown on mental health, Sikki said: "We have been travelling a lot all these years and now for a month, we are at home, it is fine. But what if it is for 2-3 months, then it will get tough to stay away from the game.

"So it is important to stay motivated for once the lockdown is lifted because you will in a comfortable zone in the break and then all of a sudden you will need to push yourself." Ashwini added: "...now that Olympics have been postponed, nothing is certain and it is tough, you have to be really strong." The economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak has hit sports hard and Ashwini said badminton too will be affected. "It will hit in terms of sponsors, in terms of tournaments being conducted because countries need sponsors to host events, and after this, I'm not sure what the economic status of many countries would be. "The way things are, it is will be tough to host tournaments, it will not be easy for countries to have tournaments with many big companies shut and struggling to survive," she signed off.

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Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Monday said pressure of being a big money buy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is felt when you don't perform and people talk about all that moolah going to waste, all the time.

Yuvraj still holds the record of being IPL's most-expensive buy. The 2011 World Cup hero went for a whopping Rs 16 crore to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the 2015 auctions. Yuvraj did not have a good IPL that year, managing 248 runs in 14 matches at 19.07.

"The pressure is felt because of the big money. I won't say it changes a player. Now when you climb the success ladder, people try to drag you down," Yuvraj said during an Instagram Live with former teammate Mohammad Kaif.

"See the point is...pressure is there because when you get out and don't perform they say he is getting so much money and not performing. Negative news sells more and those things affect you. My advice to all youngsters would be to stay away from TV and newspapers," said the 38-year old, regarded as one of the all-time best white-ball batters.

Australian quick Pat Cummins became the second most-expensive buy in the popular T20 league in the 2019 auctions where Kolkata Knight Riders shelled out Rs 15.50 crore for him. The IPL is postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yuvraj also spoke about his fielding and how he became such a great fielder. Yuvraj and Kaif were India's two best fielders during their playing days.

"I was very athletic. I was quick. But fielding i did not have too much idea. In the first Ranji match I was playing, I was 15-16 years. I misfielded and next day article came out Yuvraj Singh 'gateway of India'.

"My father read that. He said now I will see how you don't improve your fielding. Then I started getting better and body also got stronger."

Talking about the famous 2002 NatWest Series final win against England where Yuvraj and Kaif shared a match-winning 121-run stand for the sixth wicket, Yuvraj said: "My lesson from that game was that you can't relax at any time. England had thought they had won the game. You can't give up. You have to keep trying."

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Fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat said that he feels fortunate to have played with former Australian captain Steve Smith and even played under the star batsman early on in his career. Smith was captain of Rising Pune Supergiant when Unadkat had his breakthrough season in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Ever since I have played under him, or for that matter since he has known me, he has backed me to the fullest," said Unadkat in a video interview with his Rajasthan Royals teammate Ish Sodhi on the IPL side's Facebook page.

"I am grateful that this happened to me at that time of my career when I was still trying to make a name for myself. I had confidence in myself but you know how important it is to have the captain's confidence. That happened in the 2017 season. I have been a big fan of his captaincy and obviously of him as a player."

The 28-year-old rejoined Smith at the Rajasthan Royals in the 2018 season where he also shares the dressing room with England trio Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer. Unadkat said that he tries to learn from all of them and spoke about how Stokes tried to motivate him when he was feeling low on confidence.

"These guys are not just good on the field, they are pretty lively even in the dressing room," said Unadkat.

"I have been speaking to Jos and Smithy when he was captain. I've had Ben coming to me and giving a nice piece of advice when I have not been confident about my own game and that has boosted me. Jofra was also of equal help, talking about what his mindset is when I asked him in the nets."

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World Champion PV Sindhu was on Wednesday unveiled as one of the ambassadors for Badminton World Federation (BWF)'s 'i am badminton' awareness campaign. The campaign provides a platform for players to express their love and respect for badminton by advocating and committing to clean and honest play. Sindhu, an Olympic silver medallist, said playing clean and honest is very important in any sport. "This message starts with one voice. If we as ambassadors can highlight this, then I think this will spread to more players," said the 24-year-old Indian.

"You are playing the sport for yourself. You need to be happy about it. You have to play it very clean and that is very important to me." It has been five years since BWF's Integrity Unit was formed and this time the campaign has been at the forefront of the governing body's efforts to communicate its approach towards integrity. Besides Sindhu, other ambassadors include Canada's Michelle Li, Chinese duo of Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong, England's Jack Shephard, Germany's Valeska Knoblauch, Hong Kong's Chan Ho Yuen and Germany's Marc Zwiebler, who is Athletes' Commission Chair. "It's hoped such a concerted effort will not only raise awareness across the entire badminton landscape but encourage players to be active participants in shaping the integrity of the sport," the BWF said in a release.

Former elite players who have fronted the campaign since 2016 include BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer, BWF Para Badminton Athletes' Commission Chair Richard Perot, and superstars such as Saina Nehwal, Viktor Axelsen, Hendra Setiawan, Christinna Pedersen, Chen Long, Misaki Matsutomo and Akaya Takahashi. "Every player has the right to compete in clean and fair sport. Match fixing, match manipulation and doping are contrary to the spirit of sport. As an ambassador, we all play an important role in safeguarding the future of badminton," Høyer said. "Our youth and Para badminton players are perceived to be at greater risk of match manipulation and doping due to their lack of exposure on the international circuit. "The idea of the 'i am badminton' campaign is for us as role models to share our experiences with these target groups so they have a heightened level of awareness on the importance of anti-match manipulation and anti-doping."

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India spinner Kuldeep Yadav says he was "lacking in the basics" last season owing to playing one too many games, leading to an IPL that could have been better than how it turned out. He said he didn't plan enough last time and having learned his lesson, the chinaman bowler was "100 percent sure of success" in IPL 2020 whose fate hangs in balance because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I was fully prepared for this IPL 2020 and I had planned a lot. I was 100 percent sure that this IPL would be a success," Kuldeep was quoted as saying in Kolkata Knight Riders website. Asked about last season, Kuldeep spoke about why he struggled to get going.

"When I came into IPL, I didn't give myself enough time to train. The biggest learning from 2019 was that I did not plan for the season. "There was a lot of cricket in 2019, especially international cricket. I joined the team just three days before the IPL started. So the planning wasn't good. The involvement wasn't good either. And that is very important," he said. "I don't think the last IPL was all that bad for me. I bowled very well. But a leg-spinner's success is based on the number of wickets he picks. I didn't manage to pick many wickets, but my economy was good." The lack of wickets dented his confidence, the spinner said. "When you don't pick wickets your confidence drops a bit. Then there was a game where I went for a lot of runs. So my confidence level dropped," Kuldeep admitted.

"I was lacking in the basics. Playing a lot of cricket affects your basics. "If you are in regular touch with your coach then your basics won't be affected." He heaped praise on former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir and bowling consultant Wasim Akram, saying they had a "big influence" on his career in his early years at the Knight Riders. "Gauti bhai (Gambhir) had a huge influence on me from the start of my stint at KKR. He always spoke to me a lot. Not only during the time he was at KKR, but even after that, over these last two years," Kuldeep said.

"He always kept me motivated. When you get that kind of confidence from your captain, it becomes a huge plus point for any player. It helps you remain confident, and that translates into good performances." The chinaman bowler said former Pakistan captain Akram helped him more with the mental aspect of the game. "Wasim sir used to like me a lot too. He didn't speak much about bowling, but he prepared me a lot in terms of mentally taking on the game. "He prepared me to take on different situations in different ways, and taught me how to react when batsmen put you under pressure," said Kuldeep. "When he was at KKR, I used to sit with him and pick his brain a lot. I used to sit next to him in the dugout during matches and ask questions about real-time situations."

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India and Delhi Capitals batsman Ajinkya Rahane won't mind playing the IPL in empty stadiums if it ensures the safety of the fans. Speaking in an Instagram Live session arranged by Delhi Capitals, Rahane said: "COVID-19 pandemic has taught everyone that unexpected things can happen, therefore we need to be happy about what we are doing, and should value what we have. "As for IPL or any other sport, I feel it could be played without spectators. All of us have played domestic cricket in almost empty stadiums, so that's an experience all cricketers are used to."

"Of course we are nothing without our fans, and that's why their safety is of utmost importance. Even if they get to watch some Live action from home, I am sure that will be an enjoyable experience as well. The safety of fans is key, and if we need to play in empty stadiums for that, we are open to do it," Rahane said. IPL 2020 has been indefinitely postponed due the COVID-19 pandemic but there is a possibility that it is played behind closed doors in September.

peaking on how he has been spending time during the nationwide lockdown, India's Test specialist said he is enjoying bonding with his wife and daughter. "I'm trying to be as positive as possible during this lockdown, and staying at home with my wife and daughter. It's given me an opportunity to bond with them, and I am also able to help my wife in cooking and cleaning.

"I'm also trying to revive my karate skills, something I pursued as a child. It helps in maintaining my agility and fitness, and I am enjoying it a lot," he said. The experienced middle-order batsman was bought by Delhi Capitals last year before the IPL Auction, and says he is really excited about playing for the franchise.

"It is something I've really been eager about, and it has stemmed in because of the things I've heard about the team from the likes of Ishant, Shikhar, and Shreyas. They've told me that it's like a huge family where everyone is always backing each other, and enjoying each other's successes," he said.

Talking about his excitement on playing under head coach Ricky Ponting, Rahane said he has always admired the Australian legend. "My idols growing up were definitely Rahul Sir and Sachin Sir, but I've always admired Ricky Sir also."

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Representational Image

In a shocking case, a teenage girl jumped off a moving train after her mobile phone slipped from her hand and fell on the platform at Khoparkhairane. The girl, a class 11 student has suffered severe head injuries and has been admitted to Mathadi Kamgar hospital in Koparkhairane.

Turbhe RPF’s inspector Lokesh Sagar said, "The incident occurred around 11.45am on platform number 1. The collegian, her friends and some of their teachers were on their way to Nerul for an event. As the group boarded the Nerul-bound train, Tejashri’s mobile slipped from her hand and fell on the platform. By then, the train had picked up speed but still, the girl jumped off to get the phone. Her friends alighted at Turbhe and returned to Koparkhairane to help her but she had already been taken to a hospital."

An RPF constable who was deployed at khoparkhairane station saw the incident and rushed the girl to Mathadi Kamgar hospital near bus depot in an auto, without waiting for an ambulance reported Times of India.

Lokesh Sagar added, "Doctors treating Tejashri said that she was administered eight stitches and is out danger. We handed over her mobile to her family members when they came to the hospital."

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L-R, Radio City's RJ Salil, RJ Archana, Singer Shankar Mahadevan, Mushtaq, Dadarao Bhilorey at Radio City's Kar Mumbaikar initiative at Vashi Toll Naka

Radio City's RJ Salil and RJ Archana filling the potholes in Vashi for the Kar Mumbaikar initiative

Radio City's RJ Salil and RJ Archana along with Singer Shankar Mahadevan filling potholes at Vashi for the Kar Mumbaikar initiative by Radio City

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Shah Rukh Khan is one of the only actors who knows how to keep his fans and followers happy and elated. He has been entertaining everyone for the last 30 years and 2019 was the only year ever since his debut that we didn't see any of his films in the cinemas. His last few films may not have fared the way he and the fans wanted, they are still excited about his next.

In yet another #AskSRK session that he held on Twitter, he spilled the beans on almost everything, even the colour of his toothbrush. Yes! Some of the questions and answers were terrific. One of the first ones was expectedly about how the actor is spending time amid the lockdown. This is what he replied- "Inspite of contributing to the population boom, having three kids to be with is a treat. They r in all shapes and sizes, so the day goes by being with them each for a couple of hours. Then spend rest of the day cleaning up their toys!" (sic)

Have a look right here:

Inspite of contributing to the population boom, having three kids to be with is a treat. They r in all shapes and sizes, so the day goes by being with them each for a couple of hours. Then spend rest of the day cleaning up their toys! https://t.co/WrG0ppqMoL

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 20, 2020

The next one was about his next film and this is something all his fans are desperately waiting for. He tweeted- "It's obvious I will do some films...it's obvious they will be made..and it's obvious you all will know." (sic) Read it right here:

Don’t tire yourself. It’s obvious I will do some films...it’s obvious they will be made..and it’s obvious you all will know. https://t.co/kxUNExGoQJ

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 20, 2020

A fan wrote- "SRK movie a day keeps Corona away." To which he said- " Hope we overcome the virus...faster than the number of movies I have done. Insha Allah." (sic):

Hope we overcome the virus...faster than the number of movies I have done. Insha Allah https://t.co/FYai9ZYx07

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 20, 2020

And lastly, when someone asked him to choose between Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan, the man wrote- "Wow both are awesome and I have met them...but Raju apna sa lagta hai...nahi?" (sic):

Wow both are awesome and I have met them...but Raju apna sa lagta hai...nahi? https://t.co/EuSsrTHtx5

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 20, 2020

Was this an announcement on the sly that his next director could be Rajkumar Hirani? We are waiting for the next session and an official announcement!

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Reminiscing her childhood days, actor Shraddha Kapoor on Monday shared an extremely adorable throwback picture showcasing her bunny teeth. The 33-year-old actor took to Instagram and shared a picture before she got her braces done. In the adorable picture, the 'Saaho' star is seen as a kid looking at an object that she is holding in her hand while flashing a beautiful smile showing her bunny teeth.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

à¤Âœà¤¬ मà¥Â‡à¤°à¥Â‡ à¤Â–रà¤Â—à¥Â‹à¤¶ à¤Âœà¥Âˆà¤¸à¥Â‡ दाà¤Â‚त थà¥Â‡à¥¤ðŸ°ðŸ¦·ðŸ¤Â“ #BeforeBraces

A post shared by Shraddha (@shraddhakapoor) onApr 20, 2020 at 4:51am PDT

The 'Half-Girlfriend' actor captioned it saying: "Jab Mere Khargosh jese daant the" (when I had bunny teeth). The sweet post received more than 7 lakh views and garnered likes by celebrity followers including Vikrant Massey.

Earlier, the 'Ek Villain' star donated to an NGO to help them feed stray animals during the lockdown due to coronavirus spread. The NGO, People For Animals India, took to Twitter to thank Kapoor for her donation. "@ShraddhaKapoor We thank you for your generous donation to the voiceless! PAWSITIVE HEARTS is an initiative launched by PFA in order to overcome the problem of starvation during the lockdown," the NGO tweeted.

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Gurinder Chadha's aunt passed away on Sunday due to Coronavirus complications. The UK-based filmmaker shared the news on social media. "She was my buaji, dad's sister. She survived the Partition and, sadly for us, no one could be with her in person in her final moments. But two nurses in the Surrey hospital held her hand, FaceTimed her children who chanted Sikh prayers. God bless the #NHS heroes who made my dear aunt's passing humane (sic)," wrote the Beecham House (2019) director.

"Today we said goodbye to my dearest bhuaji /aunt from #covid19 complications. She was my dad's little sister," Gurinder wrote alongside a family picture.

 

 

 

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Today we said goodbye to my dearest bhuaji /aunt from #covi̇d19 complications. She was my dads little sister She is the aunt sitting down in these final pictures from #viceroyshouse and doted on me. She survived the Partiton of India and sadly for us, her family no one could be with her in person in her final moments 😢 BUT two nurses in the Surrey hospital held her hand, FaceTimed her children who all chanted Sikh prayers during which her soul departed. God bless the #nhsheroes who made my dear aunts passing humane. 🙏🙏🙏

A post shared by Gurinder Chadha, OBE (@gurinder.chadha) onApr 19, 2020 at 5:10am PDT

"God bless the #nhsheroes who made my dear aunts passing humane," she added.

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Shraddha is definitely one of the finest actress of the industry who can mould herself however needed. One of the most important traits of her is the way the actress is in person, the way she thinks and behaves- is something which is loved by everyone and we have witnessed testimonies of the same quite a few times.

Recently, the actress was asked who about somebody she looks up to, a person who has shaped the way she thinks and behaves. Shraddha replied, "My mom. I look up to her for who she is and how she thinks. In fact, my parents have played a huge role in shaping my perspective."

Shraddha is an actress who has always delivered box office hits and the actress has never looked back and always moved forward and with every project. We have always seen best performances by the actress, which have been loved by one and all.

Shraddha is winning hearts definitely as an actress no doubt, but even as a person. The actress had an amazing 2019 with hits like Saaho and Chhichhore. 2020 being no less, we saw the dancer in Street Dancer 3D and a rebel in Baaghi 3 and the year started with a bang.

Shraddha is currently basking in the success of Baaghi 3 and will be seen alongside Ranbir Kapoor in a Luv Ranjan directorial.

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We love Bollywood throwback photos. They're fun, nostalgic and they give us a priceless glimpse back in history. Sonam Kapoor is the master of throwback pictures and moments. Her social media accounts are a treat for all the Bollywood buffs, especially people who are their fans and admirers.

Continuing the trend, Sonam posted a throwback picture of herself on her Instagram account. In the picture, the Neerja actress seems to channelize her inner Anarkali striking a perfect 'Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya' look. Dressed in a red lehenga with golden dupatta, glass bangles and a big nosering, Sonam looks ethereal dressed exactly like Madhubala. Sharing the picture, she wrote, "Pyaar kiya to darna kya (sic)", with a heart emoji. Take a look:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

Pyaar kiya to darna kya ❤ï¸Â

A post shared by Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamkapoor) onApr 20, 2020 at 11:16pm PDT

Recently, she had shared a throwback picture of her 2018 wedding celebration. Sharing the picture, she wrote that she is missing her girl gang during the lockdown.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

Miss my girlies

A post shared by Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamkapoor) onApr 17, 2020 at 12:11am PDT

Sonam is currently spending her quarantine time in New Delhi with her husband Anand Ahuja and his family. She has been making full use of her free time by sharing adorable pictures of her quarantine time. The actress has been cooking and baking delicious cakes for her family. Recently, the actress shared a glimpse of the chocolate walnut cake she made on Instagram. Reacting to Sonam's post, her mother-in-law replied, "Amazing cakes beta. How to manage weight gain. Everybody is Loving them so much (sic)."

 

 

 

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Made chocolate walnut cake today. I had run out of chocolate and @fortunegourmetindia sent me some amazing quality chocolate. Thanks so much @missdevi for organising. Love you

A post shared by Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamkapoor) onApr 10, 2020 at 5:43am PDT

Before this, Sonam had shared a monochrome picture of herself with husband Anand Ahuja and penned a poetic note saying "every little thing gonna be alright". The 34-year-old actor took to Instagram and shared how she started her morning as she witnessed the rising sun and singing birds with her husband Anand. In the picture accompanying the post, The Zoya Factor star is seen planting a kiss on her hubby's forehead as she expressed her love.

 

 

 

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Rise up this mornin' Smiled with the risin' sun Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin' sweet songs Of melodies pure and true Saying', (this is my message to you) Singing' don't worry 'bout a thing 'Cause every little thing gonna be alright Singing' don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing 'Cause every little thing gonna be alright ðŸÂÂÂÂÂÂŽ¶ #everydayphenomenal #sleepyhungrybaby

A post shared by Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamkapoor) onMar 31, 2020 at 3:51am PDT

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Actor Juhi Chawla on Tuesday shared a tutorial to make masks at home and encouraged people to leave the surgical and N95 masks for the healthcare professionals who need it the most during coronavirus outbreak.

The 52-year-old actor took to Twitter and shared a video where she said, "Friends, I hope you all are safe, healthy and happy in your homes. If you happen to leave your house for essential work then you should wear a mask while leaving, this is a rule now."

Make your own mask! Go creative, maybe write a message or try your hand at painting...let us aim to leave the surgical & N95 masks for our healthcare professionals who need it the most 😇👍Don't forget 💪 Leave the house only when it's necessary 😷👮#ApnaDeshApnaMask @ApnaMask pic.twitter.com/4LGh6Ns4Rl

— Juhi Chawla (@iam_juhi) April 21, 2020

The 'Yes Boss' star continued, "Our Prime Minister has also said to create masks at home and wear them while leaving your house. This is because we should save the surgical and N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health officials, and because they need them the most."

Chawla said that "we should make the masks at our homes. You can easily make a mask by using a saree, handkerchief, or dupatta. She then demonstrated creating a protective mask using a piece of cloth. She folded the square cloth in a triangle and then wrapped in rounds to make a mask"

Juhi then showed the viewers by wearing the home-made mask, and said, "Apna Desh Apna Mask."

The 'Gulaab Gang' star captioned the post as, "Make your own mask! Go creative, maybe write a message or try your hand at painting...let us aim to leave the surgical & N95 masks for our healthcare professionals who need it the most. Don't forget. Leave the house only when it's necessary #ApnaDeshApnaMask @ApnaMask"

Earlier, demonstrated how people can convert their T-shirts into a mask at home to be safe from COVID-19.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases across the country is 18,601, including 14,759 active cases. So far, 3,251 patients have been cured and discharged while 590 deaths have been recorded, as per data provided by the Ministry of Health.

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Taapsee Pannu is missing the usual bustle of a film set. Yesterday, she shared a throwback picture from a shoot and wrote, "This throwback is clearly out of missing the madness we thrive in as actors. The calm we find in the most crazy situations. Need to get back to the chaos soon. By the way, that's a rig being attached to my scooter to test my balancing skills. Both with the weight and emotions in the take (sic)."

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taapsee Pannu (@taapsee) onApr 20, 2020 at 11:14pm PDT

On the professional front, Taapsee Pannu was last seen in Anubhav Sinha's Thappad, along with Dia Mirza and Pavail Gulati. The actress is all set to rule the multiplexes with her multiple releases later this year and 2021 with her projects - Rashmi Rocket, Loop Lapeta, the Mithali Raj biopic, and Haseen Dillruba.

Speaking about her last release, Taapsee shared, "Deepika (Padukone) and Kangana (Ranaut)—whose women-centric films, Chhapaak and Panga, released this year—are big names. We never thought that Thappad would match or surpass their collections, more so since films on acid attack survivors and a mother reviving her career don't divide the audience. It is a huge validation for everyone involved."

Taapsee Pannu concluded, "It's scary when critics declare you are in top form after every film. Where do you go from there? The graph should always keep climbing because once you reach the top, you have nowhere to go except down. Praise can go to your head, though mine is firmly placed on my shoulders."

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Kartik Aaryan's social media post never misses chuckling the internet away, especially during the times of quarantine, as he shares funny videos on social media, many a time featuring his sister Kritika Tiwari. However, his last video attracted much criticism, so much so that the actor had to delete the post.

Shot at the comfort of their homes, Kartik Aaryan enacts the character of a guy who is seen punishing his sister Kritika Tiwari for making bad roti (a type of Indian bread). Unhappy with the rotis given to him, Aaryan in the "funny" video catches her by her pleated hair, spins her around and flings her from the terrace. He captioned the video: "No compromise on quality."

The video did not go out well with the netizens. The skit enacted by Kartik and Kritika was described as domestic violence by many. Filmmaker Onir took to Twitter to write, "Idiotic .. someone should tell him since he is too dumb to understand that a lot of responsible Film industry members have put out a message against domestic violence and this is NOT FUNNY. But then who are we taking to ... [sic]"

He further added, "He is very popular. like his long speech from the film. But unfortunately, misogyny is very often camouflaged as "entertainment" or " real love" [sic]"

Sona Mohapatra, "I have begun to believe that thus is a new PR strategy for many. Put out misogynistic content or even hire a multiple #MeToo accused & then wait for the feminists to speak up & protest & thus amplify? Free ka publicity. Case in point Kabir Singh, Indian Idol & maybe this too? [sic]"

This guy has become a youth idol by consistently ðŸÂŒŸing in misogynistic films &is happy 2extend it to his disgusting #lockdown video. DV in India is skyrocketing many women stuck 24/7 with their https://t.co/EF3ixCUdY6 this out #India.He influences many more millions than Tangoli https://t.co/g6dyLFvnEf

— ShutUpSona (@sonamohapatra) April 21, 2020

Check out the video that Kartik posted:

Earlier, Kartik Aaryan, throughout the lockdown period, made distinctive efforts through social media, be it through his monologue or rapping, to raise awareness among the people about coronavirus and the importance to stay at home.

The effort made by the actor in his 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' inspired monologue, grabbed the attention of many, including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After getting praise and a retweet for his first monologue video by PM Modi, the actor has promised to "keep reminding everyone" about the importance of self-isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.

But, Kartik, this one definitely wasn't entertaining!

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We call this planet Mother Earth since it has given us all. And today the world celebrates Earth Day, what people are calling on social media- Earth Day 2020. It's impossible for Bollywood celebrities not to take to their social media accounts and wish their fans and everyone else on any special occasion so how could they stay away today.

Right from Madhuri Dixit to Sara Ali Khan to Sonakshi Sinha to Kajol, they took to their Twitter and Instagram accounts to write some important and inspiring and even insightful messages to wish each one of us. And none of these messages should be skipped! Let's start with Sara Ali Khan since hers was the most unique post out of them all.

She shared a collage of her pictures against the backdrop of the different weathers and wrote a beautiful caption- "Happy Earth Day. About Mother Nature what to say. Snowflakes in December, Jungles in May, On the beach, where the hair can sway. But for now at home we must stay. And with gratitude and appreciation thank Mother Earth everyday." (sic)

Have a look right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

Happy Earth Day 🌍 🗺 ☮ï¸Ââ™»ï¸Â About Mother Nature what to say 💁🏻‍♀ï¸Â Snowflakes in December, Jungles in May ❄ï¸Ââ›„ï¸ÂðŸŒ³ðŸ¯ 🐅On the beach, where the hair can sway 🏝 🌊 In the mountains, on my sleigh 🏔🛷 In the desert, the camel leads the way 🏜 🌵🐪 But for now at home we must stay 🏠 And with gratitude and appreciation thank Mother Earth everyday 🙏🏻🙌🏻ðŸ¤Â— #stayhome #staysafe #staypositive

A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95) onApr 21, 2020 at 6:57am PDT

Madhuri Dixit shared a boomerang video with her family where they all could be seen cycling this is what she wrote- "This lockdown has shown us how little nature needs for it to revive & thrive. On the 50th #EarthDay let us all pledge to #DoOurBit by switching off appliances when not in use, plant trees, use fuel & water conservatively. Together we can build a better world, one we all are proud of!" (sic):

 

 

 

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This lockdown has shown us how little nature needs for it to revive & thrive. On the 50th #EarthDay let us all pledge to #DoOurBit by switching off appliances when not in use, plant trees, use fuel & water conservatively. Together we can build a better world, one we all are proud of!

A post shared by Madhuri Dixit (@madhuridixitnene) onApr 21, 2020 at 10:22pm PDT

Kajol took to her Twitter and wrote- "The earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to earth. If that has not been proved categorically to us at this time I don't think it ever will be." (sic):

The earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to earth. If that has not been proved categorically to us at this time I don't think it ever will be.
Happy #EarthDay2020 to all the remaining species.

— Kajol (@itsKajolD) April 22, 2020

Next in line was Sonakshi Sinha and she also had some wonderful things to say on this occasion as well. Read it right here:

When you realize “Heart” and Earth are spelt with the same letters, it all starts to make sense! Happy 50th #EarthDay!

#EarthDay2020 #WorldEarthDay2020 #EarthDayAtHome pic.twitter.com/bUs68xpOON

— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) April 22, 2020

Athiya Shetty also extended her wishes on Earth Day 2020 and wrote- "in a time like now, remember, the earth is what we have in common." (sic):

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

in a time like now, remember, the earth is what we have in common 🌸 #EarthDay2020 #EarthRise #VoteEarth

A post shared by Athiya Shetty (@athiyashetty) onApr 21, 2020 at 11:12pm PDT

Tamannaah Bhatia shared a beautiful picture of herself and wrote an inspiring quote that cannot be missed, have a look right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

“The Earth Does Not Belong to Us: We Belong to the Earth.” – Marlee Matlin Climate change is real and currently we are experiencing it first hand. Let pledge to protect our planet and make it green and clean, once again! 🌏 #earthday2020

A post shared by Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) onApr 21, 2020 at 11:40pm PDT

Ileana D'Cruz shared a throwback picture and said- "Grateful, always", have a look at her beautiful picture right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

Grateful, always. 🖤 #earthday

A post shared by Ileana D'Cruz (@ileana_official) onApr 22, 2020 at 1:20am PDT

And lastly, Dia Mirza announced that she would be going live on Instagram to discuss Earth Day on this occasion and we are looking forward. Here's her story:

We hope more and more Bollywood celebrities come out and wish everyone on Earth Day 2020!

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On Earth Day, Richa Chadha made a video encapsulating a few things we can all practice to make a difference to nature. The video was simple and easy to understand for her fans of all ages. Admittedly, she's vegan because of the damage caused to the environment by large scale meat production. Here's hoping everyone can take a cue and learn to make basic changes to their lifestyles, so that the benefits of nature we're enjoying during this lockdown, can extend even when everyone gets back to work.

Richa's minute-long video explains simple tips and tricks to help save earth. It's not always about the larger things, small changes and differences can start at home. Her tips are easy to follow varying from making a small space to grow own basic produce like herbs at home or using recycled bottles of water instead of plastic or even avoid running tap water during brushing or segregating ones home waste or using kitchen scraps as compost for plants.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha) onApr 21, 2020 at 11:06pm PDT

Richa says on her social media, "Made a video today for earth day. These things are simple enough even for a 6-year-old but sometimes we tend to forget even the basics that can help contribute. While everyone is busy sharing videos and images of peacocks on roads, dolphins in the sea, clear blue skies. We shouldn't forget that nature is healing and we must not get back to our old ways when the lockdown is relaxed".

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Alia Bhatt's Gangubai Kathiawadi, a biopic on the fierce madam of the Kamathipura brothels, is among the many Bollywood projects that had to call time on their shoots due to the lockdown. In keeping with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's style of filmmaking, an elaborate set — depicting Kamathipura of the 1960s — had been constructed at Film City. With the set standing unused over the past five weeks, word is that Bhansali has instructed the production team to arrange for its demolition.

The set at Film City

A source says, "In March, Bhansali had cleared the payment for the set maintenance. Even when the shutdown was announced, the team had assumed it would delay the schedule only by a month or so. However, with the situation in Mumbai looking grim, it is unlikely that the shoots will resume soon. After a round of number-crunching, it was seen that recreating the set would probably be a cheaper alternative than keeping it standing in these uncertain circumstances, as the latter entails the daily rent that has to be paid to Film City. So, the team has decided to have the set razed to the ground." When quizzed if shooting in real locations is a possibility, the source added, "The final call will be taken post the lockdown."

mid-day reached out to Bhansali Productions, which did not respond till press time.

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Radhika Madan was heartbroken when Angrezi Medium — a film that she had dedicated the past four months to — ran in theatres for only a day, before the shutdown of cinemas came into effect from March 14. But good things come to those who wait. The Irrfan-starrer was recently released on Disney+Hotstar and has been winning viewers' hearts.

"I feel the movie is getting its due finally," says the actor, relieved that their labour of love has reached the audience. Though producer Dinesh Vijan initially toyed with the idea of releasing the comedy again after the situation returns to normalcy, the makers did a rethink. "We understood that the pandemic and its repercussions were far bigger than our individual interests. As a team, we reflected that we had made the film because we wanted to share the story and make people smile. So, it didn't make sense to delay the digital release. We did not want to wait and re-release the movie because there [is a backlog of] too many films."

Madan believes that viewers are able to identify with the father-daughter story more strongly today because the current scenario has made them value their relationships more than ever before. "People have written to me about the scenes they liked in the film. It was adorable to see fathers and daughters watching the film together and bonding over it. People are re-evaluating their priorities because of the lockdown. Now that I am away from my parents, I value them so much more, and the film highlights that emotion."

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One of the most bankable and pretty actresses currently, Kiara Advani was a cutie as a child. And it seems like the actress was always into Bollywood if this video is any indication. The Good Newwz actress shared a video from her childhood days on Instagram in which she can be seen doing Bharatnatyam to an English song in a cute ballerina dress! Sharing the video, Kiara wrote, "When mom thought I would join the Bolshoi ballet but I chose Bollywood instead #thewonderyears."

 

 

 

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When mom thought I would join the Bolshoi ballet but I chose Bollywood instead💁🏻‍♀ï¸Â #thewonderyears 🌈👯‍♀ï¸ÂðŸ‘§ðŸ¼ðŸ¥°

A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani) onApr 21, 2020 at 11:25pm PDT

We simply can't get over how absolutely adorable Kiara Advani was as a child! The way she throws caution to the wind and dances her heart out is incredible and so innocent. And would you look at her pretty pink ballerina dress?! If this doesn't drive away your quarantine blues, we don't know what will.

Ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra commented on the video and its something you must have thought too when you watched it. He wrote, "Kiara the talent was there since childhood," Neha Dhupia wrote, "Adorable" while Arjun Kapoor commented, "That's a heady mix of class and mass."

What did you think of this video?

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Telly actor Kavita Kaushik's tweet in support of Hrithik Roshan and Adhyayan Suman has created a storm on social media.

Best remembered for her portrayal of Chandramukhi Chautala in FIR, Kaushik spoke her mind when she wrote, "I have gushing emotions of love, respect, empathy and more for Hrithik Roshan. Also, a huge apology is owed to Shekhar Suman and Adhyayan Suman. They are a sweet family and the hate they got from an eager-to-judge, feeding-on-lies-smeared popcorn audiences is so heartbreaking (sic)."

Also, a huge apology is owed to @shekharsuman7 and @AdhyayanSsuman , they are a sweet family and the hate they got from an eager to judge, feeding on lies smeared popcorn audiences is so damn heartbreaking🙏 everyone was so cruel to them at that time cos of the 'woman card' https://t.co/kRZ8kycwJ2

— Kavita (@Iamkavitak) April 19, 2020

Kaushik's tweet came in reply to a user who wrote, "Two sisters are united in thinking India is their grandfather's property. Rangoli wants 2024 elections to be cancelled. Kangana wants a ban on Twitter (sic)."

Adhyayan responded and wrote, "Sometimes it is better to leave things to destiny. Thank you for your kind words, Kavita (sic)." Rangoli's Twitter account has been suspended but she will surely have something to tell Kaushik. We are waiting.

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Actor Ajay Devgn on Wednesday shared a PSA for 'Aarogya Setu' app. The video featured the actor in dual roles, first as a bodyguard that acts as Setu and the second role shows the actor as himself.

The 'Tanhaji' star took to Twitter and shared the video in which he is shown exercising while Ajay who also played the role of a bodyguard and introduces himself to the actor saying, "Sir, I am your new bodyguard, Setu."

Dhanyawad @PMOIndia @narendramodi for creating a personal bodyguard for every Indian to fight COVID-19. #SetuMeraBodyguard hai aur aapka bhi.

Download @SetuAarogya now!

#IndiaFightsCoronahttps://t.co/fU7MfKfDwM pic.twitter.com/MHi7SMSTGD

— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) April 22, 2020

Ajay then says, "But I already have bodyguards." "Sir, I'm a different type of bodyguard. Only Setu can guard you against coronavirus."

"How can this save us from coronavirus," asks Devgn. Setu replies: "I can alarm you in advance about the coronavirus threat, and I also alarm you in advance if coronavirus positive person is around you."

"Sir, I also will let you know if your family has any threat from your family," he added. To which Ajay replies, "Why would my family be threatened of me?"

"Sir, if you unconsciously get in contact with a corona positive patient, I am going to alarm immediately so that you don't pass the disease to your family."

He then announced that the Government of India has recruited me as a personal bodyguard to 130 crore Indians.

At the end of the video, the 'Golmaal' star appeals to download the AarogyaSetup app, and says "Setu is my bodyguard from coronavirus, and yours too! "

Along with the video Devgn wrote, Dhanyawad @PMOIndia@narendramodi for creating a personal bodyguard for every Indian to fight COVID-19. #SetuMeraBodyguard hai aur aapka bhi. Download @SetuAarogya now! #IndiaFightsCorona https://bit.ly/AarogyaSetuAppDownload... "

AarogyaSetu app, that was launched earlier this month in a public-private partnership, enables people to themselves assess the risk for their catching the coronavirus infection. The app makes its calculations based on a person's interaction with others, using Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.

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Adnan Sami has come out in support of Sonu Nigam after he was trolled by a section of netizens over his 2017 tweets on the azaan when he had questioned the use of loudspeakers for it. Nigam is spending lockdown in Dubai. Netizens wondered how he was surviving in Dubai "with the azaan heard everywhere (sic)."

Sonu Nigam has been sharing vlogs with the audience about her quarantine sessions. Here's one of the videos.

 

 

 

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Concept and written by Bharat Kukreti and Sonu Nigam Location : Sundar Niwas, Courtesy Sarina Vaswani Shot on : Samsung Fold

A post shared by Sonu Nigam (@sonunigamofficial) onApr 20, 2020 at 10:44pm PDT

Calling him his 'true brother', Sami posted, "Forget about his singing, which is incredibly beautiful, he has always been by my side and loved me like my own. I know for a fact that he respects all faiths. Kindly leave him alone (sic)."

As far as Sonu Nigam is concerned, forget about his singing which is incredibly beautiful; he is a true brother who has always been by my side & loved me like my own!! I know for a fact, personally, that he respects all faiths!! Kindly leave him alone... #WithYouSonuNigam pic.twitter.com/0NQb6L3f9y

— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) April 21, 2020

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While husband Dharmendra is at their Lonavala farm, Hema Malini is spending lockdown at her Juhu home with pet dogs. The veteran star provided a glimpse of her 'special family members' on Twitter. She shared pictures of Snoopy, the stray she adopted as a puppy. She also has a Golden Retriever called Gypsy "who has now grown old and spends the entire afternoon with me (sic)."

Song of the hills

Jubin Nautiyal is spending lockdown in hometown Dehradun. The Tum hi aana singer is keeping fans entertained through virtual performances from his rooftop. Considering the picturesque backdrop in the hilly terrain, fans have now asked for a virtual concert. He has lined up a show on April 26, which will stream live on his social media handles. Nautiyal will render Bollywood as well as English tracks.

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If you liked Ajay Devgn's 2018 mystery thriller Raid, then you will love this bit of news! It's being reported that Devgn's film will soon get a sequel, as the actor and producer Bhushan Kumar are already said to be working on it. Plus, according to a report, Raid will be turned into a multi-film franchise. Excited yet?

A source close to the development informed Mumbai Mirror, "The franchise seeks to bring into the public eye heroes who work closely with intelligence agencies to track white-collar crimes. To this day, nobody knows the identity of the officer on whom Ajay's Amay was modelled. Raid 2 will also be a tribute to men who don’t wear the uniform."

Bhushan Kumar, who produced the first film, told the publication, "It will be a huge multi-film franchise and Ajay Ji and I, along with Kumar Mangat ji, are looking to take Raid forward. The script of Part 2 is being developed. Since the original was a much-loved film, the sequel is a huge responsibility. After the super success of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, there's a lot of pressure on this collaboration to live up to the expectation. We have always aimed at creating high concept films."

Raid, directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, starred Ajay Devgn an IRS officer, Amay Patnaik. While Devgn and Bhushan Kumar are already collaborating on Bhuj: The Pride Of India, news of them reuniting for the Raid series is much welcome for fans of the film!

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Harsh Gawali is a 24-year-old guy from Pune who kickstarted his career as a freelance model back in 2015. Currently working as a senior marketing operation analyst at one of the leading Edtech companies in India, Harsh has effortlessly balanced his life to dedicate time for his modelling career as well.

In addition to his modelling assignments, Harsh is a huge fitness enthusiast and athlete. Harsh, being a public figure always had to look fresh and fit. From his eating habits to waking up early in the morning and running and doing a proper workout, Harsh has to struggle hard in order to maintain himself.

Harsh Gawali is a former 55 kgs wrestler too and has achieved milestones in climbing some of the hardest pinnacles of Maharashtra. In addition, Harsh is also a trained cadet of Maharashtra Civil force and has served the rescue team lead during flood crises in Sangli and Kolhapur, 8 months ago when he led a team and successfully rescued 200+ people in 6 hours.

Harsh is a profound model and with his intense looks and perfectly shaped physique he has been drooled by many girls and his, Instagram is proof of it. With a well-built physique and great interest in sports, adventures, and fitness, Harsh has been a total inspiration for all the youngsters out there.

Harsh is a fitness phenomenon and pro-level combat athlete, with extensive knowledge about fitness, healthy lifestyle, personality development, and much more.

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Many Bollywood celebrities are seen following the strict rule of lockdown, to fight the deadly virus, COVID-19. Badplapur actor Varun Dhawan is no different! Being a responsible citizen of the country, Varun decided to celebrate his 33rd birthday at home, with his loved ones. Varun has been sharing his celebratory updates on social media.

Varun Dhawan ringed in his 33rd birthday by cutting a home-baked chocolate cake, and it looks absolutely mouth-watering. All elated, the actor also posed with the cake, with his bright smile. Take a look!

Chocolate cake/picture courtesy: Varun Dhawan's Instagram account

Varun Dhawan poses with his birthday cake/picture courtesy: Varun Dhawan's Instagram account

Speaking about his professional journey, Varun Dhawan was last seen in Remo D'Souza's Street Dancer 3D, opposite Shraddha Kapoor. He is all set to share the screen space with Sara Ali Khan is David Dhawan's Coolie No. 1.

For the uninitiated, Coolie No. 1 is the remake of the 1995 blockbuster, Coolie No. 1, which starred Govinda and Karisma Kapoor in the lead. This time, the ensemble has Paresh Rawal, Shikha Talsania, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, and Jaaved Jaaferi. Given the cult classic that film was, it will be exciting to see what new and fresh the makers have infused in the remake.

On the personal front, Varun Dhawan is dating Natasha Dalal, and the duo is said to tie the knot as the year ends. 

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Vidyut Jammwal says he and Commando 3 co-star Adah Sharma are best friends. In a Q&A, a fan asked him, "Are you and Adah just friends (sic)?" The actor responded. "Just friends? Not at all... we are courageous, kind, intuitive, focussed, grateful, open-minded, unassuming, considerate, sharing, happy, calm and best friends (sic)." Phew! The two bond over their love for martial arts.

Speaking about his professional journey, the actor has been a part of actioners like Force, the Commando franchise and Junglee. Vidyut Jammwal, who is known for his high-octane stunts on screen, says his next Khuda Hafiz is a hardcore romantic film.

Directed by Faruk Kabir, the romantic-action-thriller co-stars Shivaleeka Oberoi, who recently made her debut in "Yeh Saali Aashiqui", opposite late Amrish Puri's grandson Vardhan Puri.

The film is produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak and co-produced by Sanjeev Joshi, Aditya Chowksey and Murlidhar Chhatwani. It will be distributed pan-India by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Panorama Films.

"Khuda Hafiz is a romantic movie. It's a true story of a man who is madly in love with his wife and gets married in 2009 during the recession. They go abroad and get a job. (The story is about) how this girl gets picked up and how the guy gets her back. It's a hardcore, true romantic movie with a little action," Vidyut told IANS.

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Yesterday, to mark World Book Day, several stars took to social media to share with fans, which book they are reading. Alia Bhatt is devouring JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sharing a picture of the book on Instagram, she wrote, "I've made a new friend (sic)."

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

I’ve made a new friend 🤍 #worldbookday #currentlyreading

A post shared by Alia Bhatt ☀️ (@aliaabhatt) onApr 23, 2020 at 3:38am PDT

Shraddha Kapoor also shared a list of books she has read during the lockdown. It included The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy, Conscious Collective by Joseph Kauffman, Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Kapoor is now reading IC Robledo's The Secret Principles Of Genius, which has been gifted by Chhichhore (2019) co-star Sushant Singh Rajput. Kapoor also said that she would like to read the Mahabharat and Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.

 

 

 

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📖📚🙃💜 Thank you for this @sushantsinghrajput #BookDay #CurrentRead

A post shared by Shraddha (@shraddhakapoor) onApr 23, 2020 at 4:06am PDT

Madhuri Dixit Nene shared a photo of her bookshelf. She posted, "Books not only teach us a lot but at times they become a source of inspiration and a place to find solace in. Sometimes they can even help you rediscover yourself (sic)." Lots of bookworms in B-Town.

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Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan's daughter, Suhana, may not have yet entered Bollywood, but she still is a well-known star kid who has a huge fan following already. Suhana Khan recently made her acting debut in a short film titled The Grey Part Of Blue, written and directed by Theodore Gimeno. In the film, Suhana is cast as a happy young girl.

Now, in a series of BTS photos and videos shared by Gimeno on Instagram, you can see that Suhana Khan had a lot of fun while shooting for her debut acting venture. She can be seen laughing and just having a good time with her co-star and crew.

Sharing the BTS footage, Gimeno wrote, "I just released the BEHIND THE SCENES video to my short film The Grey Part of Blue. You guys highly requested it so here it is! It is live now!"

 

 

 

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I just released the BEHIND THE SCENES video to my short film The Grey Part of Blue. You guys highly requested it so here it is! It is live now! (LINK IN BIO) Here are some teasers btw! This video is super special to me as I now finally share how we made The Grey Part of Blue. The real thing! So yeah, rush to my bio. Show as much love as you want, share it around! Everything! And maybe you’ll want to watch the short film again 🙃 Love you guys, take care during these weird times! Big love to the whole crew, the team, the friends❤️ #thegreypartofblue

A post shared by Theodore Gimeno (@theodoregimeno) onApr 22, 2020 at 9:11am PDT

The Grey Part Of Blue is about a couple, played by Suhana and her co-star Robin Gonella, who set out on a two-day road trip to meet Suhana's parents. During the trip, certain situations force them to face truths about life, love and their relationship. The 10.05-minute fiction film was released on YouTube.

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Varun Dhawan turned 33 on April 24, 2020, and the actor has been spending a lot of time celebrating with his near and dear ones. As the clock struck 12, the actor cut a homemade chocolate cake. He shared the sweet pictures as his Instagram story and people couldn't stop but shower him with wishes and blessings. The actor decided to celebrate a low-key birthday at home due to the current lockdown situation in the country.

How can his BFF Arjun Kapoor stay away from cracking a joke on the birthday boy! Known for playing pranks on his co-stars and friends, this time too, Arjun left no stone unturned to leave the followers in splits. The actor wished the birthday boy on social media, and it looks hilarious! Check this out.

 

 

 

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Bad (haircuts in this case) Boys 4 Life. Happy birthday @varundvn the content maker par excellence, the new rapper in town & the natkhat balak forever !!! #vdin4d #hairytales #swamitypeka #brotherfromanothermother #facecreamernumber1

A post shared by Arjun Kapoor (@arjunkapoor) onApr 23, 2020 at 12:46pm PDT

It wasn't just only Kapoor who wished the 'Street Dancer,' Varun Sharma also posted, "Happpyyy Happyyy B'day Bhaii @varundvn [sic]"

 

 

 

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Happpyyy Happyyy B’day Bhaii @varundvn ❤️ ✨ तू जैसा है बस वैसा ही रहीयो हमेशा!! Biiggg Hug Bhaiii Love you!!🤗😘 Rab mehar kare!!

A post shared by Varun Sharma (@fukravarun) onApr 23, 2020 at 12:05pm PDT

Speaking of Street Dancer 3D, co-star Nora Fatehi also shared an Instagram story wishing Varun.

Happy birthday, Varun Dhawan!

On the professional front, Varun Dhawan will be next seen in Coolie No. 1, opposite Sara Ali Khan. Directed by father David Dhawan, this will be the first time Varun will share the screen space with Sara.

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Actress Anushka Sharma gave Instagram's viral 'Guess The Gibberish' filter a shot, but she failed to come up with the right word.

Guess The Gibberish filter works by showing you seemingly meaningless words until you can crack it and arrive at the correct phrase. A user gets 10 seconds to figure out the right words. The filer was created by a user named @gu_christopher, and has caught on.

Anushka posted a video on Instagram story, where she is seen participating in the guessing game.

Her Gibberish filter read: "Stir Range Earth Inks".

In the video, she is seen repeating the sentence and finally decides the correct answer to be "Strange Things", but the reply is actually "Stranger Things".

Seeing her guess is wrong, Anushka calls herself "Bewakoof ladki".

On the work front, Anushka is all set to come up with a new web series as a producer on Amazon Prime Video web series, bankrolled by her production house Clean Slate Company.

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The giant tub of popcorn has been replaced by a humble bag of chips, and the big screen by our 14-inch laptop screens — there's no denying that the lockdown has changed the way we watch movies. It appears there may be a further shift in cinema viewing pattern. Even as many filmmakers have decided to wait out the period and release their offerings on the big screen, the key players of digital entertainment have initiated dialogues with studios about releasing their films directly on the Internet. Amongst the first superstars to consider taking the leap is Akshay Kumar. Sources said Disney+Hotstar is in talks with the actor to procure the release rights of Laxmmi Bomb, which was slated to hit theatres on May 22.

A source reveals, "Akshay, director Raghava Lawrence and the producers are discussing the offer. There's a lot of post-production work left on the movie, including editing, background music, mixing and VFX. Since the team is working from home, the process is taking longer than usual. However, the makers are hoping to have the film ready by June. Although currently, the lockdown is on till May 3, theatres may continue to remain closed to ensure social distancing. In such a scenario, the team may consider having a direct-to-web release."

Akshay Kumar. Picture courtesy/ PTI

As a producer with sharp business acumen, Kumar had understood the potential of digital entertainment early on, and hence, decided to foray into it with the in-the-works series, The End. He is contemplating if releasing the horror comedy — a remake of the Tamil hit, Muni 2: Kanchana (2011) — online will be a wise move. "Akshay wants to make sure none of the invested parties make losses, and that the movie reaches a wide audience. While Disney+Hotstar ensures a worldwide reach, making the film available across small towns in India will be a concern for them."

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Gorgeous Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar, who is set to debut in Akshay Kumar's Prithviraj, has always championed the cause of women. She backs Project Shakti, a non-profit programme, that has joined hands with local women across India and has empowered them to make a living by educating them to make biodegradable sanitary pads. The initiative works towards raising the awareness on menstrual hygiene among women in the local communities of these women.

Manushi lauds the government's decision to include sanitary pads as essential commodity amid coronavirus crisis. However, she explains that underprivileged women have become prone to severe risks due to shortage of funds in the hands of daily wage earners because of SARS-CoV-2 – the terminology now being used by medical fraternity to describe coronavirus globally. Manushi has an appeal to make to the all the government authorities.

"I'm hugely thankful that sanitary pads have been listed as an essential commodity by the government of India during SARS-CoV-2 crisis. However, we need to focus on how women, especially from the economically handicapped strata, can get pads free of cost. I also urge the governments of various states to kindly look into distributing sanitary pads along with daily rations to the underprivileged," she says.

Manushi adds, "The issue is that due to the shortage of funds, particularly among the daily wage earners, most would be looking to spend their money on just food and women's sanitation might not be a top priority for many families. This would increase the health hazard for millions of women in India as sanitary pads come at a certain cost and the financial crisis is definitely going to push women to be at risk. I have spoken to organizations who are working non-stop in ensuring pads are distributed free of cost but it would be great if administration, from a district level to city to state-level comes forward to help the needy."

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One of the most stunning actresses of the 90s, Divya Bharti married filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala in 1992. The couple got secretly married at Nadiadwala's Versova apartment. Divya Bharti converted to Islam and reportedly also changed her name to Sanah Nadiadwala. Unfortunately, on April 5, 1993, Divya fell off the balcony of the fifth storey apartment.

Sajid Nadiadwala then tied the knot with Warda Khan in 2000 and the couple has two kids together, Sufyan and Subhan. And even after 20 years of marriage, Warda Khan Nadiadwala still gets trolled and compared with Divya Bharti.

In a candid chat with Bollywood Hungama, Warda opened up about the same saying, "I know people keep throwing these questions sometimes. Sometimes they think I am being trolled. Divya is still very much a part of our lives. Her family, her dad, her brother Kunal, they are like our family, they are a part of each celebration."

She added, "So when you guys try to troll me, please know that I am not getting trolled. On her anniversaries and birthdays, we speak to each other. When my children watch her movies, they call her 'Badi Mummy'. So, guys, she is still a very, very beautiful part of our lives."

Wards also spoke about how husband Sajid is still extremely close to Divya Bharti's father and brother. "Sajid is so close, Sajid is like a son to dad, after mumma (Divya's mother) passed. You can't even imagine how close dad and Sajid are. And Kunal and Sajid too. They talk just like brothers would. And I have not tried to replace her ever. I have made my own place. She is a part of my life. Sometimes people say, 'Divya Bharti bahot acchi thi'. Of course, bahot acchi thi yaar. We love her."

Divya Bharti kickstarted her career down south in 1990 with the Telugu film Bobbili Raja. She soon took the Hindi film industry by storm with her performances in Shola Aur Shabnam, Deewana and Balwan.

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Shraddha Kapoor is an actress who has a penchant for having the ability to adapt to various characters on-screen. In 2020, we saw the actress enticing the audience of the Indian film industry with her dance moves in Street Dancer 3D and we also saw her as a rebel in the action-packed movie Baaghi 3. In both the movies she had a dazzling look and an impressive physique, due to that many have pondered over how she controls her diet to maintain her physique and the answer will certainly astound the audience!

Recently, when Shraddha was in an interview with a magazine she was asked if she was mindful of her diet and if yes, then did she have any tips and tricks to maintaining a healthy physique, she said, "I am not rigid with my diet because I love food. However, I do try to keep a balance between junk food and eating healthy."

The actress describes to the audience how she is a foodie and just regulates her diet by balancing between junk food and eating healthy. She is truly a source of inspiration. Shraddha Kapoor is definitely captivating the hearts of the audience as an actress and even as a person. The actress had an amazing 2019 with hits like Saaho and Chhichhore. She is emerging glorious due to the success of Baaghi 3 and will be seen alongside Ranbir Kapoor in a Luv Ranjan directorial.

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