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Anushka Sharma-backed Paatal Lok was shot in 110 locations across six Indian cities

Sudip Sharma's Paatal Lok, which is produced by Anushka Sharma and will drop on Amazon Prime Video on May 15, was shot in 110 locations across six Indian cities. "We wanted to explore different cultures, and perspectives, and [narrate] tales from various regions of India. The idea was to present to the audience what they possibly didn't know, or at least, in a manner they weren't familiar with. It is set in parts of Delhi and Punjab," says Sharma of the nine-part investigative crime drama that follows an inspector chasing four suspects nabbed in the assassination of a renowned journalist, and the subsequent dangerous fate he is met with.


Anushka Sharma

"I have spent a lot of time in Delhi, Punjab, Bundelkhand, and UP while researching for previous projects. Delhi is also the apex of Indian politics, and where the power centres lie. That most media channels operate out of Delhi was another reason to set the series there. The city is fascinating owing to its location too. It has the feel of a frontier town, bordering certain lawless parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan."

Gurgaon, and parts of Haryana, particularly Rohtak, were the primary areas where the Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi, and Gul Panag starrer was filmed.


Sudip Sharma

"While 70 per cent of the show has been shot at actual locations, the rest was done in Mumbai, where we recreated certain areas. We researched on various aspects, like what a cop station actually looks like, and the design and aesthetics of a Delhi policeman's home, and [integrated] that into the show to make it authentic," says Sharma, who filmed in Delhi, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Chitrakoot, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.

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Swara Bhasker: Happily indulging in midnight feasts

With shutters across city gyms pulled down, Bollywood's top brass has returned to its nutrition manual to micromanage each calorie consumed, apart from attempting every iteration of body-weight workouts that can be fancied. But, Swara Bhasker has been unperturbed about weighing scale fluctuations as she happily indulges in copious amounts of carbs.

"I have been utilising this time unproductively," she laughs, adding that the weight gain could well aid her for her next film, the Krishna Sen biopic, which sees her impersonate a woman who weds at least two women under the guise of being a man. "I have been eating carbs and sugar, and am taking to midnight junk-food indulgences. More than kilos, I must focus on adding muscle mass around my torso, shoulders, and arms. However, no one knows how long this lockdown will last. I suppose we'll start work by the end of this year."

An array of developments led to filming being deferred from the close of 2019, when it was to initially set to roll. "First, our director was busy with projects. Then, we needed to spend time to crack a good script that we were satisfied with. And finally, I had to wrap up my acting commitments before jumping into this," says Bhasker, who is also co-producing the project.

Unwilling to join the bandwagon, Bhasker isn't considering a direct-to-OTT release just yet. "We don't know what the world will look like after this pandemic ends. So let's wait and watch," she says, addressing the decision taken by several filmmakers to take the digital route.

In the meantime, she is neck deep in work, trying to create a noteworthy script of a story that has piqued her interest. "I've been trying to crack this since a year," she says, without revealing details.

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Maskaba: Here's how Masaba Gupta is helping the police personnel during coronavirus pandemic

She may have dressed up the biggest Bollywood names in her unique designs but nothing has given Masaba Gupta as much joy as making face masks for frontline warriors. She has created a line of non-surgical reusable masks, Maskaba, for police personnel in appreciation for working tirelessly for the well-being of citizens during the pandemic. The rest can shop from the Maskaba collection, online. For every mask sold, the designer will donate one to charity. We like.

The designer has dished out an initiative called Maskaba in the most stylish manner. While the pandemic has brought all operations at House of Masaba at a halt, the designer and actress is keeping her business ship afloat in these testing times quite creatively.

Sharing details of the same on Instagram, Masaba also stated that while executing this idea all hygiene and safety standards are being kept in mind. These stylish masks are being made from fabric that was meant for garments, and are washable and reusable. A team of three workers who are staying at the same production facility are making these masks.

Apart from this, Masaba is also posting motivational content on her Instagram handle. 

Masaba also shared a collage of the women working for House of Masaba. In the picture, nine women can be seen standing with placards that reads: We're all in this together. Let's flatten the curve. Although Masaba didn't feature in the post, she captioned it: Some of the incredible women at House of Masaba - reminding us that the only way to stick together right now...is to stay apart.

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Kareena Kapoor Khan shares a vintage picture of Rishi Kapoor, describes him as irreplaceable!

April 30 will be marked as one of the darkest days in Hindi Cinema when we lost one of the greatest actors and celebrated performers, Rishi Kapoor. The legendary star passed away on April 30 in hospital after a two-year battle with leukaemia. Ever since then, his family members have been sharing his unseen and old pictures to keep him alive.

He can never fade away, his films can never be forgotten, and his songs can never get old or stale. Kapoor's was a persona that we describe as contagious and his contribution to Cinema is evergreen. Coming to evergreen, Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a priceless picture of the star who had the company of Randhir Kapoor, Babita Kapoor, and the legendary music composer, R.D. Burman.

She hasn't written a long post, only used one word to describe the man- Irreplaceable. And she's truly right! Neetu Kapoor and Riddhima Kapoor had their hearts on the post, and again, rightly so. Have a look right here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Irreplaceable ❤ï¸Â

A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) onMay 6, 2020 at 10:44pm PDT

Rishi Kapoor made his debut in 1970 with his father Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker and rose to fame with Bobby in 1973, also directed by Raj Kapoor. For 25 years, he was the epitome of romance and charm. And as years passed by, he began displaying his unseen side that had a versatile performer. With films like Agneepath, Kapoor & Sons, Aurangzeb, Do Dooni Chaar, and Luck By Chance, he began what was one of the finest phases of his career. He went away too soon!

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Rakul Preet Singh: Mom and Dad were more comfortable with the idea of me wearing a bikini than I was

It has been a long yet fulfilling journey for Rakul Preet Singh, who has dabbled with both the South and the Hindi film industry successfully. After the success of De De Pyaar De and Marjaavaan in 2019, she now has a film with Arjun Kapoor coming up that's supposedly a cross-border rom-com, produced by John Abraham and Nikkhil Advani.

Now let's talk about her Instagram posts, which are also very gorgeous. She has often channelled her bold avatar on social media and now, recently in an interview with Pinkvilla, spoke about her journey as an actor, and also the beautiful days of Miss India. When asked about wearing a bikini and her parents' reaction to it, she answered very candidly and her reply will truly win your heart.

She said, "My mom and my dad were more comfortable than I was with the idea of wearing a bikini. In fact, when we were going to shop for the bikinis, my dad kept telling us to buy vibrant coloured bikinis and not the dull ones." And did you know Rakul's mother was the one who asked her to wear a bikini when she was preparing for her Miss India contest?

Rini Singh, her mother, who was also a part of the interview, spilled the beans and said, "I kept telling her that you need to wear a bikini for Miss India. She said she was not prepared for that. But I was confident. I said, 'You'll prepare for it, isme kya hai?' Well, this is truly a candid confession from the mother-daughter duo!

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Saif Ali Khan recalls the time he was thrown out of a film for allegedly not showing enough interest

Saif Ali Khan may be a big name in the film industry today, but as a newcomer, he too had to experience rejection and struggle to get where he is today. Today, he is one of the most bankable stars in Bollywood, but when he first started out, he was kicked out of what could have been his first film! Don't believe us? Here's what Khan has to say!

In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Saif recalled how he was thrown out of a film, Bekhudi, and how it was quite difficult to find his footing in the industry as a newbie who was just out of boarding school. He shared, "I have a vague memory of my first day on a film set. I was shooting a song for Bekhudi, with Rahul Rawail (director) and Kajol (co-star). I had to tear through fake cobwebs and emerge, singing a line that went, 'Chaahat Ki Raahon Mein, Kyun Itna Darti Hai'. I might just about pull it off today, but, back then, straight out of a boarding school in England, I was petrified."

Saying that he must have performed badly, Saif added, "Soon after, Rahul Rawail threw me out of the film, complaining I wasn't showing enough interest. That shot, I have to admit, was particularly appalling."

While Saif lost Bekhudi to Kamal Sadanah, he landed another project, a film titled Parampara. Speaking about technicalities in a film and how he is much better at the smaller details now than he was back then, Saif said, "I was pretty bad in Parampara, too, and my voice didn't help. Fortunately, there were several big names in the film, so either I must have stood out like a sore thumb or simply gone unnoticed. I still don't know which."

Well, it's hard to believe that Saif, the star that he is today, was quite the anxious newcomer back then! On the work front, the Laal Kaptaan actor was last seen in the comedy Jawaani Jaaneman, co-starring Alaya F and Tabu. The film did good business at the box office.

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Karan Johar's son Yash calls his father's closet as 'washing machine', KJo gives a hilarious reply

With things being serious and upsetting with the number of coronavirus cases on the rise in the country, it's nice to have a tiny bit of respite from it all. It may come in the form of listening to your favourite music, watching a good web show, or just scrolling through Instagram for some cute videos.

And for your daily dose of cuteness, all you have to do is log on to Karan Johar's Instagram account for videos of his babies, Roohi and Yash! To say that Roohi and Yash are aww-dorable would be the understatement of the year. Now, a video has gone viral of his son Yash discovering Karan's well-hidden locker behind a sliding door. In the video, Yash declares the closet as a "washing machine". Upon being asked by Karan for the location, Yash slides a wooden door with a locker behind it. The filmmakers then says that it is a tijori, but would have been more useful during lockdown if it was actually a washing machine.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Well we are now back in the closet but this time with a twist #lockdownwiththejohars

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) onMay 6, 2020 at 11:08pm PDT

Just a day before, Karan had shared a sweet video of his babies giving their father a reality check about his bathroom. Roohi declares that bathtub is "useless", to which Karan replies, "It is rather useless. I have to say because I have never used it ever". He moves his attention towards Yash who goes about fiddling with one of the taps to the tub. Karan asks him what he is doing to which Yash answers, "I am washing dadda".

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Now in the bathroom! We have moved from the closet #lockdownwiththejohars

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) onMay 5, 2020 at 11:30pm PDT

Earlier, the filmmaker had shared a video of his kids calling him a "bad dancer".  Sharing the video on Instagram Karan wrote, "Ok I have had enough!!!!!!!! I want to weep into my blanket! I am the Talentless MR JOHAR according to my children! #lockdownwiththejohars (sic)."

In another video that he shared, the kids were seeing body shaming their father. "I have been body-shamed!!!! #lockdownwiththejohars #toodles (sic)", he wrote.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

I have been body shamed!!!! #lockdownwiththejohars #toodles

A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar) onApr 6, 2020 at 11:56pm PDT

There are a lot of other videos that you all must see to cheer yourselves in case you have a bad day!

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Throwback Thursday: Katrina Kaif smirks as she gorges on something yummy

Katrina Kaif was indeed an adorable kid, and her childhood pictures are proof enough. Though the actress hasn't shared much of her throwback photos during the lockdown period, as the trend suggests, we came across one snap of the actress, which shares a different story altogether.

Looking at this one, it seems like the actress, who is known for her jovial behaviour, is having a fun gorging on something yummy. But, Katrina Kaif smiling from ear to ear will steal your heart for real. Katrina Kaif's fan club shared a picture, and we can't get enough of it! Take a look.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kay (@katrinakaifgallery16) onMay 6, 2020 at 4:37pm PDT

On the professional front, Katrina Kaif will be next seen in Rohit Shetty's film Sooryavanshi, a cop drama. The film stars Akshay Kumar in a pivotal role. Due to the Coronavirus scare, her film Sooryavanshi has been postponed indefinitely, keeping in mind the sensitive atmosphere. A majority of the states across the country have decided to shut their cinema halls and this is why the Rohit Shetty directorial was also pushed. For all of us, our safety comes first.

But apart from this, Kaif also has a horror-comedy with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khatter.

Amid coronavirus outbreak, the actress is currently under lockdown along with sister Isabelle Kaif at their Bandra pad. The sister duo has been working out, cooking, cleaning, and on top of everything, spreading positivity in this difficult period.

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Adah Sharma on casting couch: Production of couches exists universally

Actress Adah Sharma, who has worked in both southern cinema and Bollywood, says that the casting couch exists everywhere. Several Bollywood personalities have previously spoken out about their horrific casting couch experience in southern cinema.

"Casting couch isn't something that just exists in the South or the North. I think it is something that has been spoken about worldwide. The production of couches exists universally," Adah told IANS.

Adah, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries apart from Bollywood, says there is always a choice. "I think you always have a choice of whether you want to sit on it, lay on it, stand on it or not do anything on the couch. You can sit on the floor," quipped the actress.

On the acting front, Adah, who was last seen on screen in Bypass Road, will next be seen in the film Man To Man. The film revolves around actor Naveen Kasturia's character falling in love with and marrying Sharma's character, only to realise she was biologically a man who became a woman after surgery.

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Esha Gupta: I am doing my digital debut with REJCTX2 as a cop

Actress Esha Gupta will be making her digital debut with the role of a police officer in REJCTX2, and she says it is unlike any other character that she has ever portrayed. "The REJCTX2 poster is finally out and all the actors look really glamorous and fierce like they mean business. I am doing my digital debut with REJCTX2 as a cop, Officer Rene who is glamourous, yet strong, but has a secret which will be revealed later in the show," Esha said.

"Though I have played the character of a police officer before, this one is going to be completely different. From a while now, I've been planning to join the amazing world of digital, and REJCTX2 just felt right for it. I hope my fans catch up with Season 1 and are as thrilled as I am for Season 2, which will premiere on May 14," she added.

Esha will be playing the role of a Singaporean police officer. The second season of the series, directed and produced by Goldie Behl, promises to be high on action and drama. The show will also feature Masi Wali, Anisha Victor, Saadhika Syal, Ayush Khurana, Ridhi Khakhar, Prabhneet Singh, Pooja Shetty and Tanvi Shinde besides Esha and Sumeet Vyas. It will stream on ZEE5.




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Neena Gupta does a happy dance as she crosses 5 lakh followers on Instagram

Neena Gupta is on a spree lately! After taking Instagram by storm with her quirky and cute photos and videos, the veteran actress has also taken over cinema halls with her latest flicks. From asking for work on the 'gram to modelling her daughter ace fashion designer Masaba Gupta's outfits, Neena Gupta is unstoppable.

Recently, the actress shared a video of herself doing a happy dance and thanking her Instagram followers as she crossed 5 lakh followers on the photo-sharing app! Check out the fun video below:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Thank you thank you

A post shared by Neena Gupta (@neena_gupta) onMay 7, 2020 at 7:46am PDT

We can't get over how adorable Neena Gupta is in the video! And the dance is kind of cute, too, don't you think?

Neena Gupta has been spending her lockdown her home in Uttarakhand and sharing pictures from the scenic locales. She shared a video showing off the beauty of the place, writing, "Good morning from Mukhteshwar Uttarakhand."

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Good morning from Mukhteshwar Uttarakhand

A post shared by Neena Gupta (@neena_gupta) onMay 6, 2020 at 6:15pm PDT

On the work front, Neena will be seen sharing screen space with her daughter Masaba in her Netflix show Masaba Masaba. The actress was last seen in the hit comedy film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana.

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Four More Shots Please! greenlit for the third season

Within days of receiving immense praise, love and appreciation for the second season, Amazon Prime Video has announced today that fans can look forward to a third season of the Amazon Original Series Four More Shots Please!

Created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and produced by Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd., Season 2 was directed by Nupur Asthana and headlined by Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo. Prime members in more than 200 countries and territories can currently binge-watch both, season 1 and 2, of the much-loved Amazon Original Series Four More Shots Please! on Amazon Prime Video.

“The response to Four More Shots Please! has been phenomenal; it has already become the most-watched show from India this year. The first season was one of the top 3 most-watched Amazon Original Series from India in 2019, and season two has set yet another benchmark”, said Aparna Purohit, Head of Amazon Originals, Amazon Prime Video India. “We are thrilled to be associated with Pritish Nandy Communications and are looking forward to another groundbreaking season.”

“In the new season, the unapologetically flawed girls will face even greater challenges and stereotypes thrown at them but all the while their friendship will be their driving force”, said Pritish Nandy, Chairman, Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd.

“After the unconditional love received over two seasons not only by women but men as well, together with Amazon Prime Video we are pleased to bring our viewers a third season. The third season will pick up from where the four girls are left at the end of season two and will take forward their stories as they journey ahead in their career, relationships, love and, most importantly, the passion and beauty of their friendship!”
Devika Bhagat who wrote season 1 and 2, returns to write season 3.

Tannishtha Chatterjee, a revered actor, writer and director, will direct all episodes of the new season while dialogue will continue to be penned by Ishita Moitra.

Both seasons of the Amazon Original Series Four More Shots Please! are part of the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and Bollywood in the Prime Video catalogue, including various acclaimed Indian produced Amazon Original series.

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Geeta Basra maintains a lockdown diary; jots down her thoughts and reactions to happenings

Geeta Basra has been maintaining a lockdown diary. She has been jotting down her thoughts and reactions daily to happenings. Moved by the struggles of those hit hard in the present scenario, she says one should be grateful for what we have in these unprecedented times. The actor is keen that her three-year-old daughter Hinaya read these notes some years later to understand that nothing in life can be taken for granted.

On the professional front, Geeta Basra was seen in The Train and Dil Diya Hai. In an interview, Geeta shared, "My relationship started with Harbhajan the moment The Train had released, I had met him. And, I think, I had entered the industry at a very different time for a girl. For me, at that time, my priority lied in my relationship."

She added, "I did Zila Ghaziabad after Lock (Punjabi film) and Second Hand Husband, but then we got married and I decided that my focus was our relationship, our family, and that became the priority. So, I let go of a couple of good projects and I had to shift base also because after I got married, we shifted to Punjab for a while. We just returned like a year back to Mumbai."

Geeta and Harbhajan tied the knot on October 29, 2015, and were blessed with a beautiful baby girl Hinaya Heer Plaha on July 27, 2016.

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Aamir Khan: Budding scriptwriters should continue writing with more enthusiasm

What started as a passion project for Aamir Khan in 2017, has grown into an initiative that is changing the landscape for budding writers in the Indian film industry. The second edition of Cinestaan India's Storytellers Script Contest, a nationwide hunt for scripts where the five winners take home a total cash prize of Rs 50 lakh, was launched this February. Over the past three months, the four-member jury — consisting of Khan, Anjum Rajabali, Juhi Chaturvedi and Rajkumar Hirani — sifted through numerous entries to choose five compelling stories that can be taken to the screen. While the on-ground event to announce the winners has been cancelled due to the current scenario, the superstar will unveil the new talent on social media today.

Excited to be part of an endeavour that celebrates screenwriting — an aspect he considers the backbone of every successful film — Khan urges budding writers to not let the prevailing situation dampen their creativity. "Budding scriptwriters should continue writing with more enthusiasm, especially during these times. Every filmmaker needs a good script," says the actor.

California-based NRI Sejal Pachisia has bagged the top prize of a whopping Rs 25 lakh for her story, On the Boundary. The second and third prizes have been won by Digant Patil and Soumil Shukla for Guilt and Laakh Maavla respectively. The prize is financed by Cinestaan Digital, an internet media firm focussed on building cinema-related products for Indian audiences. The chosen scripts will become part of its story incubator programme.


Screenwriters Anjum Rajabali and Juhi Chaturvedi

Rajabali, jury chairperson, says the contest was designed to provide a platform to new talent, thus helping deserving outsiders to gain a toehold in the industry.

"It's important that we raise the standard of our scriptwriting so that the quality of our cinema improves," he states.

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Ali Abbas Zafar: Pressured to release Saif Ali Khan's Dilli, but don't want to rush

Several showrunners are speeding up the post-production work to release their digital offerings during the lockdown. Though the idea of having all eyes glued to his show sounds tempting, director Ali Abbas Zafar is in no hurry to reach the finish line. The director — whose political drama, tentatively titled Dilli, is currently in post-production — says he would rather revel in the satisfaction of a series made well than join the rat race.

"On Twitter and Instagram, people have been asking us to release the show now. So, there has been pressure, but we don't want to rush the process. Our series was supposed to drop in the last quarter of 2020, and we will stick to that deadline. If the show was ready, we would have released it now because it is an ideal time to grab eyeballs," says Zafar, happy that the Saif Ali Khan-starrer has piqued the audience's interest.

When it comes to developing an offering for the global audience, the post-production is a long-drawn process. "Once you deliver your project, it has to be dubbed in nine languages. So, the post-production takes three to four months, longer than the shoot itself."


Ali Abbas Zafar

As his team gives the finishing touches to the project, Zafar, nestled in his hometown Dehradun, has begun writing the sophomore season. "[The top brass of] Amazon Prime have seen the rushes, and basis that, they have decided to sanction the second edition," he says, beaming with pride.

Point out to him that the drama has found its way into the second instalment, but has yet to find an apt title, and he laughs at the irony of the situation. While the working title was Tandav, the makers rechristened it Dilli, only to have a change of heart later. "We are struggling with the name. That's why Amazon has not been able to make an official announcement."

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Varun Dhawan wishes girlfriend Natasha Dalal in the most affectionate way!

On Friday, Varun Dhawan's girlfriend Natasha Dalal turned a year older. He shared a picture from one of their vacations and wished her. The actor referred to her as Nata (that's what he calls her) and wrote a romantic yet quirky message.

"Happy birthday nata. I choose you over the ufc," Varun wrote along with the picture.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Happy birthday 🥳 nata. I choose you over the ufc 💙

A post shared by Varun Dhawan (@varundvn) onMay 7, 2020 at 11:38pm PDT

The childhood sweethearts, who have been in a relationship for a while now, were planning to get hitched in Thailand. But as soon as the pandemic broke out, they abandoned their plans. Dhawan's Coolie No 1 was to release on May 1. Now, marriage and movie are on hold till better times.

Varun's uncle, actor Anil Dhawan was quoted by a leading daily about his nephew's wedding plans. When prodded if the big day will be this year, the veteran actor said, "It should ideally happen this year. It's high time Varun got married. We all want it (to happen)."

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Rakul Preet Singh takes on trolls who assumed she was out buying alcohol

On Thursday, Rakul Preet Singh was spotted at Pali Naka, Bandra. She made sure to wear a mask while stepping out to head to a chemist in the vicinity. A video of the De De Pyaar De (2019) actor's outing has gone viral.

Some netizens thought she was Deepika Padukone and still others felt she had gone to buy alcohol. Responding to the speculation, she tweeted, "Oh wow! I wasn't aware that medical stores are selling alcohol."

Singh informs that she had picked up some stuff from the chemist and the video shows her exiting. She wondered why people chose to speculate. Blame it on the University of WhatsApp, perhaps.

Rakul Preet recently spoke about her Miss India days and how she wasn't entirely comfortable wearing a bikini for the pageant. Her parents, however, were more comfortable with the idea than her! She shared, "My mom and my dad were more comfortable than I was with the idea of wearing a bikini. In fact, when we were going to shop for the bikinis, my dad kept telling us to buy vibrant coloured bikinis and not the dull ones."

Well, now that's a cool set of parents right there!

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Deepika Padukone shares a video of her playing tennis with Irrfan; says 'please come back'

There may not be a single soul who didn't like Irrfan Khan for some quality or the other. Be it his acting prowess, his expressive eyes, the magic in his voice, or for simply the kind of person he was, Irrfan was loved and admired by people across the world. 

When he left us on April 29, 2020, it felt like one of the darkest days Hindi cinema had seen. Messages of condolence and sorrow came in from the most unexpected corners of the world, further proving that Irrfan Khan was indeed a global icon.

Deepika Padukone and Irrfan shared screen space in the much-loved film Piku, which starred Amitabh Bachchan as well. The actress recently shared a video that shows her playing tennis with Irrfan, possibly on the sets of Piku. She remembered Irrfan with a broken heart emoji and wrote, "Please come back!"

 
 
 
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please come back!💔 #irrfankhan

A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) onMay 8, 2020 at 8:27pm PDT

Dippy and Irrfan shared a close camaraderie, which was apparent in the effortless way they shared the screen in Piku, which released on May 8, 2015. And on the fifth anniversary of their film, Deepika shared a quaint photo of herself and Irrfan in one frame laughing their hearts out.

 
 
 
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लम्हे गुज़र गये चेहरे बदल गये हम थे अंजानी राहो में पल में रुला दिया पल में हसा के फिर रह गये हम जी राहो में थोड़ा सा पानी है रंग है थोड़ी सी छावो है चुभती है आँखो में धूप ये खुली दिशाओ में और दर्द भी मीठा लगे सब फ़ासले ये कम हुए ख्वाबो से रस्ते सजाने तो दो यादो को दिल में बसाने तो दो लम्हे गुज़र गये चेहरे बदल गये हम थे अंजानी राहो में थोड़ी सी बेरूख़ी जाने दो थोड़ी सी ज़िंदगी लाखो स्वालो में ढूंधू क्या थक गयी ये ज़मीन है जो मिल गया ये आस्मा तो आस्मा से मांगू क्या ख्वाबो से रस्ते सजाने तो दो यादो को दिल में बसाने तो दो -Piku Rest in Peace my Dear Friend...💔 #rana #piku #bhaskor @shoojitsircar @juhic3 #5yearsofpiku

A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) onMay 8, 2020 at 1:45am PDT

Irrfan Khan will be missed for years to come, and will surely be never forgotten.

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Emraan Hashmi: Not the kind of actor who will go and watch the monitor

Sanjay Gupta has been making sure that his work doesn't stop due to the ongoing lockdown and has been constantly working on the post-production of the film along with his editor remotely. "I've been continuously working. My editor Bunty Negi sends me the material every evening. Early morning I make my notes, I send them back to him.This is something I've been doing in the past because if I'm shooting, the edits go on. He sends it to me on laptop and I just send him my notes."

Sanjay also sends in some important sequences to John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi to have a look at and give their approval and involves them in the editing process, he stated in a recent interview with him and Emraan.

Talking about it, Emraan added, "Sanjay has shown me a bit, but I get too scared, I don't watch till the last bit till it's completed. I'm the kind of actor who doesn't really go and watch the monitor," he ends.

Mumbai Saga is produced by T-Series and White Feather Films. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Sangiita Ahir, and Anuradha Gupta.

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Tammanna Bhatia on Hrithik Roshan's Super 30: Was completely surprised to see him do a character like this

Last year was indeed owned by Hrithik Roshan for his remarkable performances in War and Super 30. All good actors are capable of externalizing emotion and they have an innate charisma to bring their characters to life on the celluloid. Hrithik is the rare star who seeps into the skin of the character and makes it his most powerful asset.

It is because of this trait of delivering exemplary work, that Hrithik's fandom is multiplying amongst the film fraternity. Actress Tammanna Bhatia who has always been in awe of Hrithik, recently shared she was moved and inspired by his phenomenal acting in Super 30. She said, "I am a huge Hrithik fan for anyone who doesn't know. If I do a film,I'll probably be standing there and just be in awe. I love all the kind of work he has done. Even recently, Super 30 was a film that I really liked and I was like completely surprised to see him do a character like this and he did it so beautifully. So I really really loved Super 30. Apart from the fact that his dance skills and everything that we have already seen, this was such a pleasant surprise, such a get away from everything he has done."

The portrayal of the character of Anand Kumar not only earned rave reviews and critical appreciation but also won Hrithik many best actor awards. Hrithik's acting chops need no superlatives as we have seen him deliver many incredible performances before and with Super 30, he does the same.

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Shashank Vyas: I choose not to make my personal life public

Shashank Vyas is not a social media addict. He says he chose not to make his personal life public by posting pictures or tweeting private details. "All this time I have been accused of not being on social media by my fans. I don't take social media seriously. It is a fun thing and I only use it to reach out to my fans, that too once in a month," said the young actor.

"One has a choice of being on it or not being on it. I choose not to make my personal life public by posting pictures or tweeting private details. It is an individual choice at the end of the day. Posting everything online and then complaining of invasion of privacy is a hypocritical thing to do," he added.

He feels that just like having a million followers won't affect his craft, similarly having fewer followers won't affect his "dream, my health, and my craft". "Through social media, one only wants to seek social validation or adulation to feel good about themselves. In other words, it is all illusionary space. The key to happiness is in my pocket and not in someone else's hand," he said.

Meanwhile, Shashank said that he has always tried to concentrate on his work and agrees that there might not be too many great roles out there. "Any seasoned actor who in the real sense is passionate about acting, will not pick up a role casually. There is a huge scarcity of good writers. Right now, only supernatural shows are getting made, which does not offer much to an actor in terms of creative satisfaction," he said.

"Many fantastic actors say no owing to the lack of good scripts. A script has to be so compelling that you hear it once and you know you would like to be a part of it. If the role is well-written on paper then an actor has to be physically and mentally present and everything will turn out good. The part where an actor is not convinced is the logic bit. The audience today is spoilt for choice with the vast amount of shows to choose from and they will not accept just about anything. The content has to be compelling," added the "Balika Vadhu" actor.

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Karishma Tanna on her Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi audition: It was very bad

Allow us to say this but if Hrithik Roshan had a staggering debut with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai in 2000, Karishma Tanna made her debut with an equally successful piece of work- Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Ekta Kapoor more or less revolutionised the television industry by introducing a concept that was never heard of until it became a dying genre as times passed by.

Talking about Tanna, she didn't have it easy at all, and which actor has. In a chat with Pinkvilla, she candidly spoke about her audition for this iconic show and how it was bad, very bad. "My audition for Balaji was horrible (laughs). I'm generally a good student when learning lines, but in front of the camera, things go haywire. I have fumbled multiple times and it was a very 'ganda' (bad) audition."

She added, "But still, I got chosen. Ekta (Kapoor) ma'am does not see dialogues, she wants the actor to fit in the role, acting is then taken care of. So, I guess I fit the role and that is how I got it." And today, thanks to her success and even the social media sensation, she's known by one and all. She was also seen in Sanju in a special appearance.

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Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Sonalika Joshi's building gets sealed due to Coronavirus

The lockdown was supposed to end tomorrow on April 14, but given the extent to which the Coronavirus pandemic has spread, it seems things will take time to get back to normal. Not only that, but the cases are also only rising and this has led to buildings being sealed. One of the recent ones being the residency of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actress Sonalika Joshi.

Speaking to SpotBoyE, she confirmed that it had indeed happened. She said the building has been sealed since March 27. She resides in the Kandivli area of Mumbai. Another actor from the same show whose building was sealed is Tanmay Vekaria, who stays in the same area as Joshi. Tanmoy also confirmed this news to the same portal.

We wish that everyone stays safe and the pandemic is eradicated soon!

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From Aasif Sheikh to Gracy Singh, this is how celebrities will bring in the Ambedkar Jayanti

Every year, April 14 is observed as Ambedkar Jayanti, to celebrate the birth of one of most exceptional leaders in Indian history, who rallied a revolution and became a voice to reckon with – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Reverently called 'Babasaheb', his life and legacy have been an inspiration for many. This Ambedkar Jayanti, &TV launches the Ek Desh Ek Awaaz initiative, to pay a special tribute to Babasaheb and his vision of a unified India. As a part of this initiative, the channel urges everyone to come together for Bheem Vandana and pay special homage to Babasaheb on April 14 at 8:00 pm only on &TV.

Considered as the architect of the Indian constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a leader par excellence and whose legacy is unparalleled. He believed that the only way India could foster national unity and stability was through instating a unified code of One Nation One Constitution.

Here's what television artists had to say about the great man who charted the course of the country, to become a nation unified by one constitution.

Prasad Jawade says "Dr B.R. Ambedkar laid the foundation of a unified India by bringing millions of Indians under the ambit of one nation and one constitution. His teachings and philosophy still resonate with the Indians across the country, even today. As we celebrate the 129th birth anniversary of Babasaheb on April 14th, I urge everyone to come forward and join us in paying a special tribute to him at 8:00 pm on &TV.'

Neha Joshi says "Babasaheb truly was a visionary leader. Today, the way our nation has progressed, a lot of credit goes to him. He not only brought people together but also got them to take collective action towards all forms of suppression. On Ambedkar Jayanti, let us all come together to pay our respect to Babasaheb at 8:00 pm on April 14th on &TV."

Jagannath Nivangune says, "Dr Ambedkar was truly a leader par excellence. His work has touched and impacted the lives of all Indians. On Ambedkar Jayanti, I urge everyone to join us at &TV to pay a special tribute to Babasaheb at 8:00 pm."

Sneha Wagh says, "Babasaheb has been an inspiration to many. His ability to challenge and mobilize a revolution that redefined the democracy for the Indian soil made him one of the greatest leaders of our times. Let us collectively come together to pay a special homage to him - Dr B.R. Ambedkar at 8:00 pm on &TV on Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14th."

Rohitashv Gour says, "Dr B. R. Ambedkar was a great visionary leader. His only dream was to make our country as one unified nation through various social and economic reforms and of course through the writing of the Indian constitution. On Ambedkar Jayanti, I urge all the citizens to come together at 8:00 pm on April 14th on &TV to pay a special tribute to this prolific leader and social reformer – Dr B.R. Ambedkar."

Aasif Sheikh says, "I have grown up reading stories of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and his fight for equality has had a great influence on me. Dr Ambedkar has been the most powerful advocate of equality and fraternity in modern India. On Babasaheb's birth anniversary, I request all my fans and viewers to join us at 8:00 pm on &TV to pay a special tribute to Babasaheb for his immense contribution to this nation."

Gracy Singh says, "Babasaheb is one of the most prominent voices in Indian history. Be it his fight for equality, women empowerment, or his involvement in the reformation of education; he has impacted the lives of every Indian. As we honour Babasaheb through our special tribute at 8:00 pm on &TV, I urge everyone to join me in this initiative to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti."

Yogesh Tripathi says, "Dr Ambedkar envisaged our society as one based on liberty, equality and fraternity. It takes great vision and belief to bring about social and economic reforms that touched so many lives. Few other leaders could unite the nation the way Babasaheb did. Let all of us collectively come together to pay a special tribute to this great leader at 8:00 pm on &TV on Ambedkar Jayanti."

So, let us unite to pay a special tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar through Ek Desh Ek Awaaz initiative at 8:00 pm to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti only on &TV.

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Arti Singh: Yoga has positively affected me

Bigg Boss 13 contestant Arti Singh urges people to practice yoga during these times of COVID-19 stress. The quarantine has given a chance to people to do the things that they didn't otherwise get time for, owing to their busy work schedules.

Apart from doing daily household chores, cooking and catching up on films and web-series, Arti has also been practicing yoga. "I used to practice yoga daily when I was in Lucknow but I lost touch in between. Now that we are all home and have time in our hands, I have got back to doing it daily. Usually, I try to do it as soon as I wake up or in the evenings, depending upon how I am feeling that day," she said.

"Yoga has positively affected me as it helps calm down my mind. I encourage everyone to do a short session of yoga every day, as these are testing times we are all facing. Yoga will essentially keep you calm and patient," she added.

 
 
 
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Hey Abbie..(abs ) Finally now I can see you little little... you are surely on the way and coming very very soon! Till then for everyone here’s the first photo which was taken on the 15th of march and the other one was today..! I just want to say that I know it's not the best but slowly and steadily I will get there soon. I have shed 5 kgs from the 15th of march till now. Aur aisa nahi hai ki koi pathhar tode! I am into 50 minutes of yoga and 40 minutes of brisk walking every alternate day. And definitely the biggest fight between all the exercises has been the late night cravings. Every night I feel like hogging maybe because of the boredom and also the stressful situation right now. And as you all might know, I am an emotional eater and that's why I had put on 8 kgs inside the big boss house. Like everyone one I also have #CheatDay and you all won’t believe that on my birthday I ate so much, including chinese food that I was craving for. I dont kill myself by not eating what I want, so I do hog once a week. I actually salute people who are consistent with their diet! I wish I was like that but nevertheless I'm still getting there slowly. Thoda jyada time lagega... maybe one month more then all the people who are disciplined, but well that's me and that’s fine. This is the time where you can actually try to improve yourself physically and mentally as well as also emotionally! Because zindagi ki daud se thoda aaram milega kuch logon ko isse!#MyFitnessStory

A post shared by Arti Singh (@artisingh5) onApr 12, 2020 at 5:26am PDT

 

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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




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Gajendra Chauhan: Even Mahabharat has given a message to people to stay at home

The return of Mahabharat and Ramayan on television has really pleased all the people across the nation. As reported, the views have been record-breaking and unheard of in a long time. And speaking about its return on television is veteran actor Gajendra Chauhan, who essayed the role of Yudhishthir in the show.

Talking to Koimoi, he said, "When the show came on TV for the first time, people used to just watch it. It used to come weekly. Now, 2 episodes are aired daily. Currently, people are watching it to learn something out of it. The show teaches a lot in terms of boundaries and India's culture and tradition, the duties of the king and the citizens." His choices of words suggested he was really elated by the fact that he and the entire nation were getting the opportunity to visit and revisit such a classic piece of work.

That's not all, he also spoke about how Mahabharat taught us to stay at home safe and sound. "In the show, Vidur says a few lines to Yudhisthir that are relatable today. The lines are – Vann ki akhir kaun prachit rehta hai? Wahi prachit rehta hai jo ghar mein hota hai'. Even Mahabharat has given a message to people to stay at home."

And lastly, he also shed light on his experience of visiting a school where the children were being shown an episode of the show. "A few years ago, I went to a school in Delhi and they had a lecture on Mahabharat where they would show 45 mins episode from the show. Every year, they used to have one test based on it. These are good steps taken to make sure our future generation is well aware of India's culture. There are a lot of Indians staying abroad who make sure their kids know about Ramayan and Mahabharat through whatever medium is available to them."

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Telly tattle: Amid the lockdown, Sayantani Ghosh is training herself as a singer

Between cooking and watching TV, Sayantani Ghosh is making time to train herself in singing. "I could always sing, but I want to take it more seriously since I have the time. I have been checking online classes too," she says. Just like a lot of Bollywood and Television celebrities who are trying out new stuff, she is honing her singing skills.

Spreading love

Amid the grim situation, Aalisha Panwar hopes to spread some positivity among her fans. She says, "I want to bring a smile on their faces, so I have started an interactive session, Friday Fan Love to spend some time with my fans."

Slambook

Kunal Thakur

One superpower you wish to possess?
The power of teleportation.

Your last fantasy?
Penélope Cruz.

The last nightmare you had?
That I fell out of a window while trying to take a picture of the sunset.

One thing on your wishlist.
To buy a high-end motorbike and go on a road trip.

Your worst project?
A film that I backed out of because it didn't go as expected.

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Renuka Shahane on Circus co-star Shah Rukh Khan: He was a heartthrob; have seen him getting mobbed by fans

Circus was one of the most popular and beloved TV shows back then, and it still continues to enjoy a huge place in people's hearts. Starring brilliant actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Renuka Shahane, Ashutosh Gowariker, Makrand Deshpande and many others.

Recently, in an interview with Mirror Online, Renuka Shahane opened up about working with Shah Rukh Khan and how she thinks he's a workaholic. She shared, "Shah Rukh had a huge craze even at that time because his previous show Fauji had done so well. He was like a heartthrob even then. At that time when he was not even a film star, I've seen him getting mobbed by fans and a crowd of around 20,000 people gathering there just to see Shah Rukh Khan."

Shahane, who was 24 when she portrayed Maria in Circus, shared how SRK was and continues to be a workaholic. "He was a workaholic. He would have worked for 36 hours at a stretch if he was asked to. That kind of energy was very infectious. Plus, all of us were already excited to work with him. I definitely was, because I had loved Fauji!"

Sharing an incident from the sets of Circus, Renuka Shahane recalled, "There was one song which we had to shoot with a wild bear. The trainer had warned us beforehand that we should not come in its way, but even though we tried to avoid it, the bear ended up chasing us! So if you watch the episode carefully, you'll see that we were terrified and were running for our lives, but still had to look calm because the camera was rolling."

Admitting that she has not watched the re-telecast of her show during the coronavirus lockdown, Renuka Shahane said, "I am not watching it again but I am glad that people are -- especially today's generation. I am very pleased to get a new audience for my old show."

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Has TV couple Asha Negi and Rithvik Dhanjani parted ways?

TV couple Asha Negi and Rithvik Dhanjani, who met on the sets of the TV show Pavitra Rishta, have parted ways, according to reports. Negi and Dhanjani were together for over six years, and now the buzz is that they have called it quits.

Asha Negi and Rithvik Dhanjani never shied away from confessing their love for each other even in front of the media. They even participated in the popular dance reality show Nach Baliye 6 together and won the season. Speaking about the win, Negi had said, "It was difficult for me. I am very lazy and that's why I didn't want to be a part of this show as I had to go for my serial shoot. But Rithvik encouraged me and we took part in it."

Sources close to the development informed ETimes that the couple has broken up. The report further states that their close friends have known about it for a month now. Apparently, Asha and Rithvik were living together, and now, the latter has moved out of the house.

Earlier, when Asha Negi was asked about their marriage plans, the actress had said, "We are not thinking of marriage anytime soon. Not after three-four years. We want to be settled professionally first. We only think about our careers only at this point in time."

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Office Office re-run: Asawari Joshi aka Ushaji recalls how her co-stars would play pranks on her

The popular sitcom Office Office is back on television, and actress Asawari Joshi, who played the role of Usha ji in the show, went down memory lane recalling how her co-stars would play pranks on her on the set, and added how she learnt many things from her veteran co-star Pankaj Kapur.

Kapur plays a retired schoolmaster named Mussaddi Lal Tripathi, and the evergreen show narrates his struggles to get work done in corrupt offices in a satirical manner.

"The most mischievous one on the set was Sanjay Mishra, who was the master of quick comebacks. He played pranks on me every day. I was always the prime target of all pranks, and one day everyone decided to play a prank on me while we were in the middle of a reading session.

"They made me scream in the middle of the session by making me think that a mouse was under my chair!" she recalled.

Asawari also shared that she was called "production ka eklauta damaad" (the sole son-in-law of the production guys) on the sets.

"Being the only woman in the cast, all the men used to pull my leg and called me 'production ka eklauta damaad', because I had all the perks -- such as an individual room and a personal stylist -- like a pampered son-in-law. While Sanjay, Manoj (Pahwa) and Hemant (Pandey) were the notorious gang who played pranks on me, they also became really good friends. Deven (Bhojani) was fairly quiet on the set and very sincere towards his work. I feel we all learned the most from Pankaj ji, and during the entire journey of 'Office Office', I witnessed his immense dedication towards work," she reminisced.

The show is currently re-running on Sony SAB. The decision to bring back the show came in the wake of the good response that the re-telecast of several old popular TV shows among new-age audiences has seen during the coronavirus lockdown.

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Shefali Jariwala: Always wanted to adopt a baby, was moved by Sunny Leone's decision

There are a lot of actors that have gone for adoption to embrace parenthood. Sushmita Sen immediately comes to mind. And another name that comes to mind is Sunny Leone, who adopted a baby girl from Latur, Nisha Kaur Weber. And Leone seems to have inspired Shefali Jariwala, who has spoken to Times of India about how Leone's story moved her.

She said, "I discussed adopting a baby with Hindustani Bhau inside the Bigg Boss 13 house. I was actually moved by Sunny Leone's decision when she adopted a girl child. I always wanted to adopt a baby girl and after I got married to Parag when we were discussing about starting a family." She added, "I shared my views with him and he is a very supportive husband."

Highlighting the importance of adoption, the actress said, "There are a lot of children in the world who need home and I think I am in a position where I can give them a secure, good life then why not. I want to give that child a good home, education and a good life because God has given me everything!"

And if all goes well, there might be a new little member in the house very soon. "I have been blessed with all this so I want to share my blessings with that child. But the adoption process in this country is a little tedious. There's a lot of paperwork involved and there's a lot of waiting also. So we are currently in the middle of the process and if God is kind and your wishes are with us, my dream to bring my child home will come true. I'll become a mother and bring a lovely girl home," said Jariwala.

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Rishina Kandhari and Paras Chhabra take care of animals during lockdown

Animal lover Rishina Kandhari has rescued a stray cat and named it Sophia. The feline is the latest addition to her pets at home. The Tenali Rama actor is spending the lockdown by being with the cat.

Rishina has also been sharing information about coronavirus and how animals, especially pets, can't spread it. Calling on pet owners to not abandon their pets, she wrote, "The World Health Organization has Announced that Pets cannot contract #covid_19. Those lil ones won't give u #corona but humans will... social distancing, self-quarantine is the need of the hour. Please don't abandon your pets."

 
 
 
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A post shared by Rishina Kandhari (@rishinakandhari) onMar 20, 2020 at 9:10am PDT

Bigg Boss 13 contestant Paras Chhabra has also been feeding stray dogs near his Malad residential complex. He says, "In these times of adversity, it is important to feed strays as they are hit hard and left without food."

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Shakti Mohan: Level of film dance has gone up due to reality shows

"Dance India Dance 2" winner Shakti Mohan says dance-based reality shows have given opportunities to many dancers and choreographers to dream big. She feels that due to these shows, the level of dancing has gone up in films, too.

It's been about a decade that she was announced as the winner of "Dance India Dance 2". Since then a lot of dance-based shows have emerged.

Talking about the rise of dance reality shows, Shakti told IANS: "It's unbelievable how much it has grown in last 10 years. I feel it has given opportunities to so many dancers and choreographers to dream big. I feel the way India has loved and supported dancers is incredible."

"All channels today have big reality shows around dance that feature industry's biggest names as judges on the panel. To have these shows is the only way for dancers to showcase their talent to the world. Thanks to these reality shows, the level of dancing has gone higher in films as well. Even Bollywood actors are picking up tough routines for songs these days," she added.

On the differences between then and now shows, she shared: "Back then when I started off, I did not expect anything at all from myself. I just knew I wanted to dance. At that time there were no reality shows, we did not have platforms like YouTube where we could learn from."

"Nowadays dancers are very particular about what style they want to do. Kids today are learning from the best in the world and following them right from the time they start their journey. Back then we did almost everything. I used to watch Bollywood songs and learn choreographies from there."

Nevertheless, Shakti loves her journey. "I love doing it and I am very proud to call myself a dancer," she said. "Dance India Dance season 2" is back on Zee TV to get the viewers nostalgic.

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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




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Arjun Bijlani: Worried about mom as she is diabetic

Television actor Arjun Bijlani's mornings begin with a call to mother Shakti, the first of many times he dials her number throughout the day. His anxiety is not unfounded — last week, the highrise near Infiniti mall in Malad west, where his mother resides, was sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after a resident tested positive for COVID-19.

"The lockdown is not easy, especially if you have ageing parents. It's unbelievable that I am not able to meet my mother," says Bijlani, who lives with wife Neha Swami and son Ayaan in Lokhandwala, Andheri.


Arjun Bijlani

Even though he understands that the lockdown is a necessary measure to contain the spread of the virus, the Ishq Mein Marjawan actor notes that it poses difficulty for senior citizens. "I am worried for my mother because she is diabetic. Despite suffering from chronic back pain, she has no option but to do the household chores at the moment. My younger brother Niranjan and I are trying to help her in every way we can. [We are ordering the essentials online], which are then being delivered at the gate of the complex," he says.

Bijlani is trying to maintain an optimistic stance and be her emotional anchor in these trying times. He adds, "When I was talking to her recently, my eyes welled up as I listened to how she is running the house. After my father passed away, I have been her pillar of support. But, I feel helpless at this point as I can't rush to her."

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COVID-19: Devoleena Bhattacharjee adopts two families, will take care of their basic needs

A lot of Bollywood and Television celebrities came forward to contribute to the PM-CARES Fund and did their best to help people financially. Bigg Boss fame Devoleena Bhattacharjee has done something beyond. She not only contributed to the fund but has now adopted two families and will be looking after their needs and necessities amid the Coronavirus outbreak.

Taking to Twitter, one of the fan-clubs of the actor even thanked her for this wonderful gesture and move that should inspire everyone. And in case you also happen to be a fan of the actress, this tweet is for you:

Have a look right here:

To shed some more light, these two families are the families of the wage workers since these are the people that are affected the most during this lockdown. Their earnings have gone for a toss and so has their livelihood. And in case you forgot, she and her fans also helped a pregnant lady reach the hospital on time during this lockdown period. Way to go!

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#FraudArhaanKhan trends on Twitter; Fans allege that Khan took 15 lakh from Rashami Desai's account

On Monday evening, the hashtag #FraudArhaanKhan started trending on Twitter following claims by netizens that actor and "Bigg Boss 13" contestant Arhaan Khan has taken Rs 15 lakh from his former girlfriend Rashami Desai's account, and is allegedly threatening her. Arhaan withdrew the money when Rashami was still inside the "Bigg Boss" house, it has been claimed.

The accusations have mostly been levelled on Twitter by netizens who claim to Rashami's fans. They also shared screenshots of bank statements of monetary transactions from an account with the name Shivani Ajay Kumar Desai.

A user tweeted in Hindi claiming Arhaan Khan has taken Rs 15 Lakh from the actress' account in 15 days.

Another user alleged that Arhaan has even taken money for subscribing to a popular OTT platform.

A Fanclub of Rashami Desai tweeted: "We need justice for @TheRashamiDesai. She has earned money with lot of her hardwork and #FraudArhaanKhan misused her money. What a shame to society."

Calling Arhaan a "gold digger," Rashamians, as Rashami's fans like to call themselves claimed in a tweet: "This is a call to all fandoms - any and everyone who is sane enough to see the wrong in this situation- keep aside your Bigg boss grudges for once and please help us expose and shame a gold digger. #FraudArhaanKhan."

However, there has been no substantial basis to any such claim on the part of fans.

During her stay in the "Bigg Boss" house in the latest season, Rashami Desai was heartbroken after learning about Arhaan Khan's child and former wife. The two eventually parted ways. It seems a bigger shock is waiting for the "Naagin 4" actress if allegations made by her fans come true!

While this season of the reality show is already over long back, Rashami Desai continues to remain a favourite with her fans.

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COVID-19: Don't have a mask? Ronit Roy teaches you to make it out of your T-Shirt!

Actor Ronit Bose Roy has come up with an interesting way to make masks at home amid the Coronavirus lockdown.

Taking to social media, Ronit posted a video that shows him making a mask out of an old T-shirt, without the need for stitching.

"No mask, tension nahi lene ka! simple hai," he captioned the video. Have a look right here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ronit Bose Roy (@ronitboseroy) onApr 19, 2020 at 10:01pm PDT

The Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi fame artiste even tested the effectiveness of the mask by blowing the fire from a lighter through the mask.

Before this, actress Vidya Balan was seen making a mask at home out of her blouse using two hair bands.

"Masks play an important part in preventing corona. However, the problem is that there is a shortage of masks not only in our country but across the world. But there is an easy solution to this. Just as our Prime Minister has said that we can make masks at home. Take any piece of cloth, it can be a dupatta, scarf, old saree anything. And you will need two bands. Rubber bands will also do," Vidya had said.

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Telly tattle: Meghna Naidu turns life coach; Arhaan Khan's best asset

Besides being an actor, Meghna Naidu is now turning life coach. "I have always been keen to be a certified life coach to help people find their self-worth. By professionally counselling someone, I am hoping to guide them to a better path," says Naidu after wrapping up her course.

Slambook

Arhaan Khan

One superpower you wish to possess?
The power of X-ray vision.

Your guilty pleasure movie?
Hum Hayeen Ganwaar (Bhojpuri, 2017).

The last nightmare you had?
That my phone bill went up by R100 every time I pressed the snooze button on my alarm.

Your best asset?
My butt.

Which same sex actor are you crushing on?
Always Salman Khan.

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Karan Kundra: Just because Anusha and I are living separately, people have assumed we have parted ways

Rumours about link-ups and break-ups are common in Tinsel Town and it can take a toll on the couples a lot of times. The latest couple that became a victim of the same is Karan Kundra and Anusha Dandekar. A lot has been written and is being written about them over the last few days and news about their split also surfaced on social media.

And now, talking to the Times of India, Kundra has cleared the air once and for all as to what the actual truth is. He said, "First of all, Anusha and I don't live together. We have our own pads and we stay together for a few days, whenever our schedules permit. I was shooting in Haryana and returned to Mumbai just before the lockdown was announced. I didn't want to risk anyone else's health and hence, chose to stay at my home."

He added, "Just because we are living separately, people have assumed that we have parted ways. Let me tell you, we are still together. The rumour could also have been fuelled by the fact that I haven't posted much on my social media handles. Well, that's because I am on a digital detox now." And as stated above, these rumours and stories can affect the people involved, but does it affect the actor?

Responding to the question, he said, "I don't get affected by these rumours, but Anusha does. She is more emotional and it was she who brought the break-up rumour to my notice." Well, it seems the couple is indeed together and going strong. And taking to her Instagram Account, Anusha posted a rather bold and beautiful post about love that will truly hook you, have a look:

Now let's see when we get to see another picture of these two together!

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FWICE's president BN Tiwari: JD Majethia has sent a wrong message to the daily wagers

On Monday, JD Majethia, chairman of the TV wing of the Indian Film and TV Producers' Council (IFTPC), stated that he intends to approach the government to seek permission to resume shoots of television shows with small crews from May 4. The move has sent the daily-wage workers of the television industry into a tizzy as they have been relentlessly calling the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to enquire whether they can report to work post-May 3.

BN Tiwari, president, FWICE, says, "[With his statement], JD Majethia has sent a wrong message to the daily wagers who now feel that producers are willing to work, but the FWICE is imposing unnecessary restrictions. That is not the case. Maharashtra is at high risk, and we are only concerned about our workers' safety. We have issued a letter to Majethia, asking him not to make such statements."


BN Tiwari

On March 15, various cine bodies had unanimously decided to suspend all shoots in the wake of the pandemic. "Similarly, the decision to resume work will have to be collectively taken by IFTDA, FWICE, Producers' Guild, and other associations," insists Tiwari.

Majethia was keen to propose the resumption of shoots as it would bring relief to the daily wagers. However, Tiwari points out that the associations are standing by those in need. "The industry — including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Rohit Shetty and Yash Raj Films — has come together to help the workers. Even if the lockdown is lifted on May 3, we may not begin work until May 25. In case the stay-at-home orders are extended to June, we will continue to take care of our workers."

When mid-day reached out to Majethia, he agreed that the recommencement of shoots will be "a collective decision of the industry" with the approval of the government. "It is not as if we have already taken a call. We will start shooting only when it is safe for everyone, but we must start planning for it in advance."

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Coronavirus lockdown: Kasamh Se actress Jaya Bhattacharya goes bald for this reason!

Since the lockdown began in March, we have seen umpteen videos of celebrities working out, cooking, eating healthy, playing with their pets, gardening, and pursuing their many hobbies. Now, with a video that actress Jaya Bhattacharya has shared on social media, we will see the actress going bald on camera!

Sharing how she has wanted to do this for ages, Jaya Bhattacharya compiled a post of five videos telling us why she finally decided to take the plunge, the reasons that compelled her to do so, and also that she thinks vanity isn't something she cares much about.

Jaya Bhattacharya wrote, "#surprise wanted to do this since ages but never had enough motivation.
This helps me work more freely and better."

Jaya shared her motivation to go bald and said, "Every time I come back home, I've been feeding dogs, sharing ration... Be it day or night, I and everyone in my home make it a point to soak our clothes in soap and piping hot water, and we take a bath from head to toe. It's getting difficult for me to maintain my hair..."

As the videos go on, we realise that the real motivation for the actress is helping others during the COVID-19 lockdown, and her desire to do it freely. She further said, "I actually never cared for my looks. The acting mattered to me, my other work mattered to me." After having all her hair chopped off, she asks for it to be kept carefully as she will use them to get wigs made for cancer patients.

Well, that's one bold move and more power to you!

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Here's how successful casting director Parag Rawool's journey has been in the entertainment industry

Parag Rawool is a well know reality show casting director in the Indian Television industry who started his career as an event planner and floor manager for many media events back in 2007.

Parag is an Engineering student who grew fondness towards events and reality shows which led him to aspire his dreams in the entertainment industry, who's now a Talent head for most of the prominent channels in India like Starplus, Zee Tv, Colors, History TV 18 etc. With an interesting journey of more than 12 years, Parag has successfully worked on television and reality shows which have gone ahead to become audiences favourite.

Parag Rawool has a track record of having done more than 100 promotional events across India and a bunch of ad shoots in addition. This young lad has worked as a senior talent producer on some of the top-rated shows like Dance +, Saregamapa Lil champs, Master dance, Rising star and many more.

This young talented casting director has not only worked for television reality shows but has also been part of movies like Ye Re Ye Re Paisa as a production manager and an assistant location manager for Ferrari Ki Sawari. After successfully working for 12 consecutive years, Parag started his own agency named Team Aspiring, a 360-degree media and entertainment agency which consists of media professionals from every department and strata of the industry.

The casting director is currently working on his upcoming projects which are currently in the pipeline.

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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.




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Rashami Desai: Why did Arhaan transfer my money into his account?

Bigg Boss 13 still continues to be in the limelight and so does its contestants. One of them is Rashami Desai. You all must be aware of the '15 lakh' controversy that happened between her and Arhaan and a screenshot of the same was also shared on Twitter. And now, speaking to Times of India, Rashami broke her silence and slammed Arhaan.

She said, "These transactions were made in my absence, and that too, without my knowledge when I was inside the BB house. When I came out and learnt about it, I shared the screenshots of my personal documents and these transactions with my accounting staff and a few others. Why did Arhaan transfer my money into his account? Also, I don't know the people he has further transferred those funds to."

She added, "Apart from the 15 lakh that Arhaan has to pay me, as can be seen in the screenshots, he owes me more money, which he is refusing to return. Talking about the screenshots, I have no clue who has leaked them on social media. If I had to leak anything, I wouldn't have waited for two months after BB. I don't want anything to do with Arhaan. The whole incident is disturbing and it has taken a toll on me, emotionally."

Arhaan too broke his silence and commented on the entire controversy and clarified his side of the story. He said, "Half the transactions involving huge amounts aren't mine. Rashami had set up a production house, which I had joined as a partner. I have invested equally, both financially and emotionally. Any transfer of funds is either my rightful profit or return of debt. Also, before making such allegations, it is to be noted that transfer of funds wouldn't have been possible had Rashami not given me signed cheques."

He continued, "She had asked me to transfer money to certain people in her absence. It was work-related. She was fully aware of the transactions and I have bills to prove my claim. I strongly believe that this is a curated plan to malign me, as I had received messages, warning me against adversities post April 15. It's unfortunate that our relationship has reached a point of no return."

Will the matter escalate or subsidise as time passes by? Will a legal battle ensue?

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Hero- Gayab Mode On: The teaser of the show leaves you asking for more

Is there any greater form of justice than vigilante justice? This genre has found great success both in India and abroad, but we seldom saw it on television. But it seems we are all set to see one in the form of Hero- Gayab Mode On, the new show that's all set to arrive on Sony SAB.

The teaser reminds you of all the films where the protagonist made invisibility his strength and fought his enemies, of course, the most iconic and memorable one being Anil Kapoor's Mr. India. And the teaser will surely leave you excited.

Have a look right here:

This fantasy fiction will be a significant addition to an already illustrious set of fantasy characters such as Baalveer and Aladdin that have been entertaining the viewers of the channel.

Committed to providing values-driven light-hearted entertainment that is cherished by the entire family, Sony SAB is all set to widen its slate of shows with this latest brand-new fantasy offering.

Stay tuned to Sony SAB to catch Hero in action!

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Rashami Desai bares her heart on Twitter; says, 'Got into something I thought was love'

It has been a long and tedious road for Naagin 4 actress Rashami Desai ever since she dealt with her relationship woes on national television on the 13th season of Bigg Boss. Her then-boyfriend, model-actor Arhaan Khan, hid a number of things from her, including the fact that he was married and had a child. 

After a series of allegations and insults thrown at each other, the latest one being Rashami insinuating that Arhaan transferred a large amount of money from her account to his, the actress has taken to Twitter to bare it all.

In one of her tweets, Rashami talks about being a self-made woman who got into something she thought was love. She writes, "Done and Dusted! I don't need to give anyone any explanation I’m a self-made woman got myself into something I thought was love but thank god to all the positive energy’s around me who saved me and made me learn so much more..."

Sharing a quote, this is what Rashami tweeted next:

The actress then emphasised on all the hard work she's put in to be where she is. She wrote, "#Damn I feel so light! So goodbye to all those so-called sources wale articles and also to my hard-earned money which I lost shall work more hard to earn it all over again because unlike others I don’t use people... #MehnatKartiHoon"

Rashami Desai had also claimed previously that Arhaan Khan had used her emotionally. 

On the work front, before Bigg Boss 13, Rashami participated in Comedy Circus, Zara Nachke Dikha, Khatron Ke Khiladi, and Kitchen Champion season two.

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Tellly Tattle: Here's how Kamna Pathak is utilising her time amid the lockdown to pursue her passion

Kamna Pathak, who plays Rajesh in the sitcom Happu Ki Ultan Paltan—a spin-off of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain—is brushing up on her singing. She practices every morning with her guru, Pankaj Dixit, who belongs to the Gwalior gharana, through video calling. "While shooting, I wouldn't get time for riyaaz. I  enjoy singing ghazals and reciting poetry. I am utilising the lockdown to pursue my passion," she says.

Ode to dad

Rajeev Khandelwal sought inspiration from father, CL Khandelwal, to play an Army captain in the teleplay, Court Martial. His dad is a retired colonel. "I've seen my father and brother proudly don their uniforms. I also had aspirations to join the Army. My role is an ode to my father," says Khandelwal. We have often seen actors sourcing inspiration for their characters from other actors or other movie characters, this is possibly the first time that he has been inspired by his own father.

For the uninitiated, the Aamir actor recently played an Army Officer in the Zee5 movie, Ateet, which is now streaming online.  

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Arjun Feroz Khan: Mahabharat was a game-changer for Indian television, it impacted people's lives

There cannot be a greater feeling for any actor when he's known by the name of the characters he has essayed on the big screen or even the small screen. If Amjad Khan was Gabbar Singh, Amrish Puri was Mogambo, Shah Rukh Khan was Raj and Rahul, Feroz Khan was Arjun. Yes, the Arjun from Mahabharat.

Such was the popularity of the role and such was the impact on people that he was rechristened as Arjun Feroz Khan. You may know him as the villain from a lot of Bollywood films of the 90s but it was this iconic television show that shaped his career and made him a household name. Speaking to Hindustan Times about being selected for the show and how it made history, he spilled the beans on everything.

He said, "It's a proud moment to watch Mahabharat with the present generation. It's a good opportunity for them to know more about their culture. It was a game-changer for Indian television. It impacted people's lives. Due to the lockdown, everyone is at home and they're glued to their television sets to watch epics like Mahabharat and Ramayan. Even my grandchildren are watching it and they're amused to see me shooting arrows."

History isn't made easily so expectedly, getting such a fascinating role wasn't easy for the actor either. He recalls the day when he went for the audition. "I went in and saw actors like Deepak Parashar, Raj Babbar and Govinda, among others there. The auditions for Mahabharat were going on and Govinda told me to give it a shot. I was given two pages of dialogues in Hindi. I told him to read out the lines in Hindi so that I could rewrite them in English."

He added, "A week after when I didn't get a call back, I went to his office. I was asked to wear my costumes and a moustache. I went up to Chopra Saab's cabin in the first floor and he was sitting their along with our writers, Dr Rahi Masoom Raza and Pandit Narendra Sharma and they told me that I've been locked to play Arjun." And as they say, the rest is history! He was addressed as Arjun by everyone, even his mother. What greater validation can an actor ask for?

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Paras Chhabra on his baldness: Salman Khan supported me, asked me to meet a doctor

Pre-mature balding is something a lot of actors have dealt with in Bollywood, Television, and even the ordinary people. But given an actor is supposed to sell his face on the screen and is expected to look handsome and gorgeous all the time, he is often under the radar of the media and the social media. So when Bigg Boss fame Paras Chhabra began losing his hair, he wasn't sulking but accepted the truth.

Talking about it to Times of India in a recent interview, he said, "You cannot run away from reality. I spoke about my hair patches and stammering myself because there was nothing to hide. I have been doing modelling for many years now and because of the harsh lights, your hair actually get scanty. I felt that it didn't look nice especially for the kind of roles I was doing."

He added, "I was playing Duryodhan and the mukut was very heavy and due to this I started going through hair loss. And at times being an actor when you want to get a good physique and want to see faster results, you take steroids too as a result there can be scanty hair." He also spoke about how Salman Khan came out in his support and what advice he gave him at that time.

Speaking about the actor, Paras said, "Salman Khan sir supported me and he also said that he will give me a number and asked me to go and meet a doctor. On the final day of Bigg Boss, he also told me that the patch is hardly visible. Salman Khan sir has supported me in this too. He had asked me to wait and not rush. A few doctors in my family have asked me to go for hair weaving but I don't want to go under the knife right now."

This is truly inspiring how an actor is comfortable about his body and refuses to change the truth about him. Hope others take notes!

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Watch video: Roadies fame Ashutosh Kaushik gets married to fiance Arpita on his terrace, amid lockdown

Who says love in the time of quarantine is tough enough for two? Bigg Boss and Roadies winner Ashutosh Kaushik tied the knot with his fiance Arpita on April 26 in Noida during the lockdown. While reports suggest that the couple had already decided marriage way before the lockdown, they didn't want to delay it, clearly. The marriage took place on the terrace, in the presence of the couple's family members.

Interestingly, while the bride and the groom did not really follow the basic lockdown rule - wear a mask - their pandit seemed to be wiser as he was seen wearing a mask while chanting the mantras.

Check out the video of Ashutosh Kaushik's wedding ceremony here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ashutosh Kaushik (@ashutoshkaushik_bigg_boss_2) onApr 27, 2020 at 9:49pm PDT

According to reports, Ashutosh donated the money collected during his wedding to the PM-CARES coronavirus fund.

Ashutosh was the winner of the fifth season of Roadies in 2007 and the second season of Bigg Boss in 2008. He was also seen in films such as Zila Ghaziabad and Kismat Love Paisa Dilli.

A few weeks ago, TV actress Puja Banerjee got married to Kunal Verma. In a post on Instagram, Puja announced, "Today was supposed to be our wedding but the situation is such that we have cancelled all our ceremonies although we had registered our marriage before a month so we are officially married and together forever now. With the blessing of our parents and grandparents, we starting our new life need all of ur best wishes. Our family is happy and so are we."

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Irrfan Khan passes away: Television fraternity grieves actor's death

Today, the world woke up to the sad news of superstar Irrfan Khan passing away. The actor, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, was admitted to the hospital recently as he had a colon infection. His passing away has left the industry in shock.

Arjun Bijlani: Last night, I saw Angrezi Medium I Tweeted also because Radhika Madan is also there and she is a good friend of mine. Suddenly this news came today and I am not able to understand what happened. My mind is disturbed and I am broken, it is too shocking. I was a huge fan and he was an actor who was everybody’s inspiration for the roles that he played. It is disturbing to hear that he is gone away especially in this lockdown because in this situation fans can’t even go to pay their last respects. So it’s a sad day and I am sure many actors are going to grieve this for a very long time.

Aniruddh Dave: It was shocking to wake up to this news today morning. He was an artist par excellence. I still can't get over it. He is from my hometown Jaipur. It is a sad day for me. From Piku to Hindi Medium to Angrezi Medium and TV show Banegi Apni Baat will never fade in my memories.

Shashank Vyas: I feel like I have lost someone in my family. it is a very bad day and I became very emotional when I got to know. I understand the acting. I have posted a scene on Instagram which was given by my acting guru and the scene was of Irrfan Khan only from the film Rog. In the scene, you will feel that the lines he said he didn’t say from mouth, he said from his eyes. My favorite films of his are Paan Singh Tomar, Angrezi medium, Hindi Medium. He was so natural on screen. I learnt so much just looking at him.

Jasmin Bhasin: It is sad to know of the sudden death news of Irrfan khan. I have watched all his films including Angrezi medium. He is a fine actor. He is irreplaceable in Bollywood.

Amal Sehrawat: Sir, thanks a lot for teaching us that the biggest achievement in life is to accept ourselves, you never portrayed any image, you never flaunted anything, you inspired all actors to be honest in front of the camera, your life journey is inspiring and gives immense power to everyone to fight bravely and live optimistically. Hasil, Maqbool, Yeh Saali Zindagi, Paan Singh Tomar, Hindi Medium are some of my favourite films.

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