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Sona Mohapatra lashes out at Ram Gopal Varma for his tweet on women buying liquor

The whole nation knows by now that the liquor shops in some parts of the country were reopened as the nation has been partially opened up after being shut down for nearly two months. Long queues and unending wait to buy liquor attracted a lot of attention on social media. One of the people to give his reaction was Ram Gopal Varma.

Taking to his Twitter Account and sharing an image of women standing outside the shop, he wrote- "Look who's in line at the wine shops ..So much for protecting women against drunk men." (sic) This didn't go down very well with Sona and this is what she tweeted in return - "Dear Mr RGV,time for u to get into the line of people who desperately need a real education.1 that lets u understand why this tweet of yours reeks of sexism & misplaced morality.Women have a right to buy & consume alcohol just like men. No one has a right to be drunk & violent." (sic)

Have a look at both the tweets right here:

Varma tweeted back that how she misunderstood the intent behind his tweet and how he was the last person to be judgemental. "Hey I think u misunderstood the intention behind that tweet ..I am the last person to be judgemental ..I meant it for the leaders who falsely presume that only men drink and abuse women in that state," tweeted the filmmaker. Have a look:

Social media debates are here to stay, it seems. Whose side are you on?

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Priyanka Chopra turns into a 'pretty princess' thanks to niece Sky Krishna

The lockdown has proved to be a time when everyone can relax with their families and actually do things with them. While staying indoors is the easiest and most effective way to stay safe amid the coronavirus pandemic, who said being homebound needs to be boring?

Priyanka Chopra, for instance, seems to be having quite a fun time with her favourite niece, Sky Krishna. We all know how much she adores the tiny tot, courtesy her many Insta posts featuring the little girl, and this time, she let herself be transformed into a 'pretty pretty princess' by Sky.

Sharing some photos, PeeCee wrote, "First Monday in May⁣. This year's theme: Pretty Pretty Princess. Glam and creative direction by @sky.krishna @divya_jyoti"

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) onMay 4, 2020 at 5:31pm PDT

Looks like Priyanka Chopra's close friend, Divya Jyoti and her baby girl Sky, are quarantining with PeeCee at her California home. The bunch seems to be making the most of the unexpected free time together.

A couple of days ago, Priyanka had shared a video of her weight training not with weights but with Sky Krishna! Sharing the video, the Quantico actress wrote, "No gym, no problem. @sky.krishna @divya_jyoti."

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

No gym, no problem. @sky.krishna @divya_jyoti

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) onMay 2, 2020 at 12:05pm PDT

On the work front, Priyanka Chopra was last seen in The Sky Is Pink co-starring Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim. She, along with husband Nick Jonas, has donated to several organisations including PM CARES Fund, Goonj, Feeding America and others to combat COVID-19 which has affected over 10 lakh people globally.

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When a casting director asked Ayushmann Khurrana to show his 'tool' to get the role

The casting couch is a dark and depressing reality of the Hindi film industry that has time and again exposed the grime tucked beneath the glamour. Some of the most successful actors and actresses have gone through this horrific process and exposed this brutal truth. The latest one to do the same is someone who's currently going through the best phase of his career - Ayushmann Khurrana.

Talking to Pinkvilla about facing the casting couch during the initial days of his struggles in Bollywood, he made some shocking revelations. He said, "A casting director had told me, 'I'll give you the lead role if you showed me your tool.' I told him I'm straight and I politely refused his offer." He also shed some light on how the process of auditions began to change as years passed by and how it was accompanied by rejections.

He stated, "Initially, there used to be auditions where they would take your solo test. Then suddenly, the number started increasing and there would be 50 people in the same room. When I protested, they asked me to leave. So I have faced rejections. Also, I'm well equipped to handle failure now because of the failures I saw at the very beginning of my career. Had I never witnessed the lows, I don't think I would be able to handle it if it came now."

Today, the actor, who's become a bonafide movie star, has eight consecutive hits in a row and will be now seen in three films very soon, which include Gulabo Sitabo with Amitabh Bachchan, an untitled crime thriller directed by Anubhav Sinha, and a comedy with Alaya F directed by Anurag Kashyap's sister Anubhuti Kashyap.

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Neetu Kapoor thanks Mukesh and Nita Ambani, says, 'You've been our guardian angels'

Rishi Kapoor, the original chocolate hero of Hindi cinema, passed away on April 30, 2020, leaving behind a massive feeling of loss and sorrow in the heart of every Indian. The veteran actor had fans across the world, and was hugely admired for his acting prowess and his charm.

The Chandni actor had been battling cancer for over two years and was in New York for the better part of a year seeking treatment for it. He and wife, veteran actress Neetu Kapoor, returned to India in September 2019, and on April 30, 2020, Rishi Kapoor breathed his last in a hospital in Mumbai.

Now, a few days after his passing, Neetu Kapoor has taken to Instagram to thank Mukesh and Nita Ambani, who gave the Kapoors their utmost support and love during their difficult time. Sharing a photo of them together, Neetu wrote, "From ensuring he was medically attended to, to making frequent, personal visits to the hospital to shower him with love and attention, to even holding our hand and comforting us when WE were scared. To Mukesh Bhai, Nita Bhabhi, Akash, Shloka, Anant and Isha - you have been our guardian angels on this long and trying experience - what we feel for you can not be measured..."

Read the full note here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

For us, as a family, the last two years have been a long journey There were good days, there were a couple of bad days too.. needless to say it was full of high emotion. But it’s a journey we would not have been been able to complete without the immeasurable love and support of the Ambani family. As we’ve gathered our thoughts over the past few days we’ve also tried to find the words to express the gratitude we feel towards the family for the countless ways in which they have seen us safely through this time. Over the last seven months every member of the family has gone above and beyond in every way possible to care for our beloved Rishi and ensure he experienced as little discomfort as possible. From ensuring he was medically attended to, to making frequent, personal visits to the hospital to shower him with love and attention, to even holding our hand and comforting us when WE were scared. To Mukesh Bhai , Nita Bhabhi, Akash, Shloka, Anant and Isha - you have been our guardian angels on this long and trying experience - what we feel for you can not be measured. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your selfless, unending support and attention. We feel truly blessed to count you among our nearest and dearest. Sincerely and with utmost gratitude, Neetu, Riddhima, Ranbir and the entire Kapoor Family.🙏💕

A post shared by neetu Kapoor. Fightingfyt (@neetu54) onMay 4, 2020 at 9:05pm PDT

The Ambanis and Kapoors are closest of friends, and Neetu Kapoor showed utter strength and affection in expressing her gratitude towards them through this post.

In fact, Neetu Kapoor had shared another post in which she thanked the medical staff at Mumbai's HN Reliance Hospital who cared for Rishi Kapoor as their own. 

A comment on this post expresses what we think about Neetu Kapoor at this moment: "Gratitude even in grief. You are pure class and grace. And we all are with you, hamesha," wrote an Instagram user.

Neetu Kapoor has proved once again that a spirit of gratitude goes a long way in making friends and keeping them for life!

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Mahesh Babu stands by the #KillFakeNews agenda, raises his voice against fake websites

Superstar Mahesh Babu is one of the most critically acclaimed actors of the southern film industry and cherishes a humongous fan following throughout India. His social media is popular to spread messages that support certain social causes. The actor and his fans are known to storm social media with their social campaigns.

Recently, Mahesh Babu took to his social media to share a post about wiping away fake news and gossip websites that often spread misinformation and lies about celebrities.

These blogs or gossip websites leech off the actor's popularity and spread misinformation about them to gain views on their respective pages. It is crucial that these websites and rumors be put to a stop so that they can stop spreading fake rumors. Mahesh Babu shared the post on social media under the tag of "#KillFakeNews" against misinformation being spread with the caption.

Have a look at his tweet right here:

It's highly commendable someone has finally spoken against these lies and false news!

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Shah Rukh Khan's next web series as a producer, Betaal, to release on May 24, 2020

If you're wondering what to watch next while being bored during Lockdown 3.0, fret not, we've got just the thing for you. Shah Rukh Khan is all geared up to present his next web series as a producer on Netflix India. The show is titled Betaal, and its teaser on Instagram is giving us the creeps!

The OTT platform shared a clip on its Instagram account and wrote, "They look psyched! Almost as psyched as we are. #Betaal coming soon!"

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

They look psyched! Almost as psyched as we are. #Betaal coming soon!

A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) onMay 4, 2020 at 11:03pm PDT

Betaal is an international collaboration between Netflix, Red Chillies entertainment, Blum House (makers of Paranormal Activity, Insidious) and SK Global (behind Crazy Rich Asians and Delhi Crime).

Betaal is a horror-thriller written and co-directed by Patrick Graham, who has previously directed Ghoul starring Radhika Apte, and also co-written Leila starring Huma Qureshi. Both shows were widely accepted by the audience.

Betaal has been shot extensively in India, especially in Mumbai, Lonavala and Khandala. The series, which revolves around traditional Indian folklore, will definitely be outstanding in terms of the horror content with some incredible VFX and prosthetics work.

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Prasoon Joshi: Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan went pretty young

Celebrated lyricist Prasoon Joshi was in constant touch with late actor Irrfan Khan while he was going through a "really painful" treatment for his rare illness. Joshi says Irrfan's brave fight against the disease is inspiring.

Irrfan, who was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, passed away last week at the age of 54. He was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He succumbed to his ailment in hospital.

"I was in constant touch with Irrfan. I talked to him a lot during this crisis of what he was going through. It was remarkable to see (him fight the illness)," Prasoon told IANS. "His treatment was really painful. He had a rare kind of disease. Despite the painful treatment, he was trying to keep up with his commitments and he fought till the last breath. It is very inspiring," he added.

Prasoon also opened up on the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who died on April 30 after battling leukemia. "I knew him for a long time, and his family too. He was an alive person and he was somebody who would light up the place, wherever he went. It is sad that they went pretty young -- I mean Irrfan has gone really young, and Rishiji, in today's time, also went pretty young," said Prasoon, who added that "even the grief is suffering" referencing to not being able to to pay his last respects to the late stars amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

Recently, on work front, Prasoon joined hands with Oscar and Grammy-winning Indian composer AR Rahman to give a musical tribute to the nation's fight against COVID-19, with song "Hum haar nahi maanenge".

The song has been conceptualised to spread hope, positivity and motivation. The emotional track reminds people that we all are in this together, stating that we will get through it together. The song is composed by Rahman, and the lyrics are penned by Joshi.

The song was released by HDFC Bank last week.

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Bobby Deol's poetic tribute to COVID-19 warriors is simple and powerful

The reticent Bobby Deol is hogging the limelight due to the poem, Chand roz ki baat hai yaaron, which he has recited in a music video. Written by Sanjay Masoomm, it appreciates the efforts of the Corona warriors.

The actor shares, "I was taken in by its simplicity. It resonated with me. It makes me happy to be associated with this positivity, and I appreciate the way this situation has made us all join hands and come together."

According to a report in IANS, Bobby Deol shared, "It makes me very happy to be associated with this positivity, and I appreciate the way this situation has made us all join hands and come together. Who knew that social distancing could bring people together, with all of us checking up on one another and being there for people emotionally, if not in person."

Sanjay Masoomm said, "When I wrote the lines, I wanted someone whose voice will add weight to them. I have worked with Bobby Deol in several films and I know he's not only got a powerful voice but also a heart of gold. He's a very emotional man and his voice will help this ode reach out to more people. Bobby has read it out wonderfully with all the feeling and emotions."

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Ayushmann Khurrana is back to the classroom with an online course on Indian history

Ayushmann Khurrana has enrolled himself for an online course on Indian history. The actor-singer considers learning a life-long process. "I'm a seeker of knowledge," he says. Being a history buff, he decided to make the most of the current time on hand.

"We have a fascinating history; it's rich and diverse. I want to learn more about our past. The session will be an enriching and fulfilling experience," he adds. It will also come in handy if Khurrana is roped in for a historical in the future.

Recently, Ayushmann, accompanied by Virat Kohli, Kriti Sanon and Sara Ali Khan joined hands for a new initiative called 'Mat Kar Forward'. Sharing the same on Instagram, Ayushmann wrote, "No one thought they'd catch it, no one thought it would become a pandemic. But we can change this and the change begins with you. #MatKarForward @indiatiktok"

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) onMay 4, 2020 at 1:25am PDT

The initiative urges people to not share any unverified message, picture or video, on any social networking sites.

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Priyanshu Painyuli joins the cast of Mirzapur 2?

Soaring with each venture, Priyanshu Painyuli is having a terrific April. The actor has lapped up immense praises for his act as the Bangladeshi drug lord in Extraction and if rumours are to be believed, the actor has another big ticket release at some point this year. Priyanshu shot for an extensive schedule for the second season of Mirzapur and will be playing a pivotal part in this instalment.

A source informs, "Given the interest around Mirzapur, the team keeps a strict diktat of not letting character details out because it's important to the show's narrative. But Priyanshu will be a part of Mirzapur this season. It's an elaborate character that spills over to Season 3 as well."

Mirzapur, a gangster drama set in the heartlands, is amongst the biggest shows on Amazon Prime. The story of two brothers Guddu (Ali Fazal) and Bablu (Vikrant Massey), who get caught up in a world of drugs, guns and violence after they meet Munna (Divyendu Sharma), the son of Mafia boss Akhandanand Tripathi (Pankaj Tripathi) who has made millions selling carpets.

The source adds, "The first season ended with the death of many old characters. So the new season inevitably widens its horizons and explores more tracks and subtracts of the larger narrative. Priyanshu shot for the show last August in Benaras. It's a cracker of an ensemble cast and the actor can't wait to speak about it once the final announcement on Season 2 comes in from Amazon."

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Bobby Deol pays a humble tribute to COVID-19 warriors; recites poem for the first time in music video!

With the health crisis in the country, while PM Narendra Modi has extended the lockdown till May 3 and Indians are currently locked up inside their homes, there are several warriors who are fighting the battle for us. Whether it's the police force, doctors, nurses, soldiers or the NGOs feeding the needy ones, these Covid-19 warriors, as they are called, have been relentlessly working for us. Bobby Deol who appreciates their efforts has now paid a humble tribute to them in a music video where he's recited a poem - Chand Roz Ki Baat Hai Yaron - for the first time.

Interestingly, Bobby has never recited a poem on camera ever before but when Sanjay Masoomm came up with idea and approached him for it, he immediately agreed. The 2-minuter has been titled Chand Roz Ki Baat Hai and it not only salutes the bravado of every Indian Covid-19 warrior who are out there, protecting us from the deadly virus but is also a soul-stirring testament of the indomitable human spirit and the unity which binds Indians together. What's more interesting is while the video has been completely shot at home, it's Bobby's younger son Dharam Deol who has filmed him.

Bobby shares, "When Sanjay told me about this poem, I was taken in by the simplicity of his expression of gratitude towards the COVID warriors, i resonated with it. It makes me very happy to be associated with this positivity, and I appreciate the way this situation has made us all join hands and come together. Who knew that social distancing could bring people together, with all of us checking up on one another and being their for people emotionally, if not in person. Although these are tough times faced by everyone around the world, it is heart warming to see how this has brought us together to fight against a common enemy. We can all be a part of this noble fight by just staying at home and being supportive of our frontline warriors."

Sanjay Masoomm who has conceptualised the entire thing shares, "Chand Roz Ki Baat Hai Yaron is just our way of showing respect and lending hope and encouragement to all these Covid warriors who are working day and night to keep us safe, while we stay locked inside our houses. This time of crisis also highlights our biggest strength - unity in diversity - and it was important to underline it. When I wrote the lines, I wanted someone whose voice will add weight to them. I have worked with Bobby Deol in several films and I know he's not only got a powerful voice but also a heart of gold. He's a very emotional man and his voice will help this ode reach out to more people. Bobby has read it out wonderfully with all the feeling and emotions."

Chand Roz Ki Baat Hai Yaron, featuring Bobby Deol and conceptualised by Sanjay Masoomm.

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Jackky Bhagnani says 'safety first', commits to completely sanitized film set

Even as Lockdown 3.0 has been implemented, it is clear that the Govt is keen to get the economy back on track. Jackky Bhagnani commits to a completely sanitized film set to ensure the safety and health of its cast and crew whenever film shoot is allowed by the Govt after the lockdown is completely over.

Veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani believes that the new normal is here to stay and the sooner the fraternity readies itself for change, the better. "The film industry has come to a halt, whether in India or outside. Yes, parts of the world are showing signs of recovery from the virus and while India has done remarkably well to flatten the curve and keep fatalities low, we must now get ready to be back on the set. As and when the lockdown is lifted, we want to be in a position to resume work immediately. But this resumption will be as per health guidelines stipulated by the Govt. We don't want to take any chances."

Some of the ground rules Jackky Bhagnani is mulling include using larger tents with portable ACs for shooting, limiting people on the sets, sanitizing all common areas, making masks and gloves compulsory for all staff, continuously disinfecting equipment, medical assistance on the sets at all times among other things.

Jackky Bhagnani says that it is imperative that stringent measures are put in place. "If there is one thing the lockdown has taught us it is to value human life and our health. Nothing comes before that. Every person on the set will be looked after and given the same attention. We are also mulling closed door studios for those of our films that will go on the floors immediately. While it is available abroad, we need to see if the same can be replicated in India."

Deepshikha Deshmukh adds, "It is only natural that we take care of the team who are our family and ensure their safety while on the sets. I am quite sure we are not alone in realizing the first big lesson from this lockdown - health comes first. Every parameter will be double-checked before the cameras start rolling."

Pooja Entertainment has a slew of movies on its roster. From Coolie No 1 starring Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan which is complete and ready for release; it is also going to go on the floors with Bell Bottom with Akshay Kumar. There are many other projects that the production house is waiting to announce. With so much in store for the production house, prompting a set of guidelines in the current pandemic is not only vital but also judicious. Echoing the words of the Prime Minister, the founder of the ace production house, Vashu Bhagnani says, 'Jaan hai toh Jahan Hai' - perhaps indicating the thought process behind the charter.

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Coronavirus outbreak: Salman Khan supports additional 7,000 daily wage workers

Celebrities supporting social causes is indeed commendable because amidst the current scenario, the world needs empathy, love and financial support at the right time. In this regard, one person who always goes an extra mile; by extending support towards social causes and works for the betterment of indigent is Superstar 'Salman Khan'.

Commencing the financial aid, he was one of the first people who made sure that money was directly transferred into the bank account of 25,000 daily wagers who were in dire need. It did not stop there, he further transferred money into the account of additional 7000 daily wage workers of the film fraternity.

The actor also helped 90 vertically challenged wage workers associated with All India Special Artistes Association (AISAA), a wing of FWICE.

The superstar also arranged for food supplies for thousands of people from varied corners of the state. A video of the same surfaced on the internet recently where truckloads of essentials were sent to the villagers around the farm.

Salman Khan has been carefully watching the situation and extending help in installments to ensure steady flow of income and essentials for the needy in different parts of the country.

Over the years the actor has been involved more into humanitarian work and the great thing about him is that apart from money, he also gives his time and effort. Even in the current situation, he has personally invested himself in providing support to the nation.

Salman Khan is known for his philanthropist activities. Keeping in mind the current situation, he has released several videos where he has voiced his opinions and made personal appeal to his massive fandom and people of the nation and his massive fandom to stay indoors and maintain social distancing.

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STAY IN-TERTAINED | Rakul Preet Singh: Watchmen was delightfully unpredictable

On a regular day, Rakul Preet Singh's Instagram posts could well double-up as tutorials for the average Joe to make the most of the ongoing period of isolation. But when she isn't using her furniture as workout props, busting diet myths, and indulging in play with her family members, Singh recedes to her couch to become more like us — indolent consumers of web shows.

"I have been binge-watching shows that have been recommended by friends. I saw one called Watchmen, which was [beautifully] written and unpredictable. It was Arjun [Kapoor] who had suggested it," says the actor, also adding that the Apple TV series, Loudest Voice, is another noteworthy addition here.

"It is not an over-the-top drama. It has been created interestingly and is based on the manner in which the #MeToo campaign kick-started. I also loved The Morning Show, and another gripping Netflix drama called Caliphate."


American superhero drama series Watchmen (left) continues the 1987 DC Comics series by the same name; Loudest Voice (right) attempts to trace the origins of the #MeToo campaign 

A career as a South Indian film actor implies Singh is also spoilt for choice when it comes to shows in regional languages. "There's a Malayalam film called Charlie starring Dulquer [Salmaan] that I'd recommend. Finally, Super Deluxe is another brilliant offering," she concludes.

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Dongri to Dubai | Avinash Tiwary on playing Dawood Ibrahim: I don't want to sit with this part for too long

As an actor taking his initial steps into Bollywood, Avinash Tiwary knows that his next offering must be significantly noteworthy if he hopes to live up to the acclaim he received for his last film, Laila Majnu. Evidently then, he isn't willing to forgo the toil he put into understanding and acquiring the mindset of Dawood since early November when work on Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Dongri to Dubai first kicked off.

After the shooting was stalled in March when the lockdown was announced, Tiwary says being attuned to the character for the forthcoming leg, is becoming increasingly arduous for him. "I hope we start [shooting] soon so that I can finish it. I don't want to sit with this part for too long. As much as it is liberating to be on the OTT platform, it is suffocating to be in this mould and state of mind. It eventually gets to you because you can't live in that space forever."

It was across several sets in Mumbai that filming for the screen adaptation of Hussain Zaidi's book began, only to come to a halt on March 17. "A lot of portions are still to be shot. Now, we have no idea when we will roll again."

Having an artiste as fine as Kay Kay Menon to share screen space with implies Tiwary has abundant opportunity to grow while working on the offering. "When I started out as an actor in theatre, I would idolise him. I try and learn from everything he does on sets."

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Anupam Kher grows a beard after 37 years

Amid the lockdown, veteran actor Anupam Kher has decided not to shave and let his beard grow. On Tuesday, Kher took to Instagram and shared a picture in which he is seen flaunting his beard. He also revealed that he's sporting a beard after almost 37 years. "The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as it's interpreter." Thanks to the #Lockdown I could grow my beard after 37 years," the actor wrote.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

"The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as it's interpreter." Thanks to the #Lockdown I could grow my beard after 37years. :)

A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) onMay 4, 2020 at 8:47pm PDT

Reacting to Kher's salt and pepper look, a user commented: "Beard suits you". Another one wrote: "Loving your new look sir". On the work front, Kher was last seen in a medical drama, "New Amsterdam".

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Amyra Dastur, Richa Chadha, Kalki Koechlin, and other celebs talk about gender parity during lockdown

Actors like Richa Chadha, Kalki Koechlin, Amyra Dastur, Pulkit Samrat and Adil Hussain are spreading the message of peace and gender parity during the ongoing lockdown.

In a video put together by Women in Films and Television India, the campaign, supported by these celebrities, takes stock of the issues borne out of vulnerable mental health caused by the lockdown.

As videos of celebrities washing dishes, cooking have gone viral in the last few months, here the artistes speak about how they have divided the chores of the house between themselves and their partner. For instance, in her video, Kalki can be seen talking about how she made breakfast while her partner took their dog for a walk. Adil, speaking in his native language Assamese, discusses how he enjoys cooking.

"The agenda of the video was to highlight the emotional stress people are going through and how that often leads to several things including domestic violence. This is a problem across the world and a campaign like this effectively speaks to a wide audience," said Richa.

"Women could possibly be trapped and locked down at home unable to muster the courage to report crimes against them. The elderly could be feeling particularly hopeless in such situation. We urge anyone going through trauma to take to counselling on the helpline numbers available," she added.

Richa feels that since India is a diverse society, if a message has to reach everyone, it has to be done in multiple languages.

"Involving artistes of different states was consciously done to create a larger impact and reach everyone across different cultural and socio-economic strata. People should be able to understand the language to absorb the message," she said.

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Disha's Patani new lockdown look is raising Internet's temperature; have you seen it yet?

Disha Patani is without a doubt; the hottest actress in Bollywood and frequently serves as a fashion inspiration to many. The actress’ wardrobe is filled with elegant and classy attires that one can always be in awe off. The actress has a ginormous following on social media owing it to her sophisticated looks and frequent wonderful posts. When it comes to style Disha Patani has set quite a benchmark and she is sure to be a hoot in any attire she adheres.

Recently, the actress enhanced the audience's day by posting a different blazing hot look and a rejuvenating picture of herself on social media. She was seen wearing a blue and white striped crop top paired with a black leather skirt and blue pendant.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

🌸

A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) onMay 5, 2020 at 2:27am PDT

Disha Patani is always slaying it in every attire. She is style and hotness personified! Going by the humongous craze of Disha, who also crossed over 30 million followers on Instagram, surpassing all her contemporaries (including her senior counterparts), fans are eagerly anticipating Disha's next, Radhe with megastar Salman Khan.

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Farah Khan gets interviewed by her kids, says they're embarrassed by her answers

Filmmaker-producer Farah Khan has been spending a lot of time at home with her husband and three kids - Anya, Diva and Czar - thanks to the coronavirus lockdown. In a recent video that has gone viral on the internet, we can see Farah's kids interviewing her, and it's quite fun!

Farah shared the video on Instagram and wrote, "Tables have turned. My lovely kids are interviewing me! And looks like they are quite embarrassed by answers. Here's a snippet of our #BachFUNMoment and all our masti!"

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Farah Khan Kunder (@farahkhankunder) onMay 4, 2020 at 6:34am PDT

Farah Khan's children ask her about things like if she likes rap songs, to which she says that she likes the song 'Rail Gadi, Rail Gadi'. They also ask her if she liked puppies when she was growing up, and what is the answer to 37 multiplied by 12.

Several of Farah's fans found the video very cute and funny. One Instagram user commented, "soo cute god bless u all" while another said, "Love you Farah... don't tell anyone but you're my favourite" and yet another Insta user wrote, "This is a wonderful way to keep your children entertained. Being a teacher, I know how hard it is to teach online and be with my own kids trying to help them understand school work but nothing beats making time with your own kids and just doing something out of the ordinary..."

Well, seems like Farah Khan sure has got her kids' attention!

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Tahira Kashyap shares a throwback picture with Ayushmann Khurrana from their first year of dating

Ayushmann Khurrana and Tahira Kashyap's love story isn't less than a dream or a Bollywood film. And since the lockdown has completely stopped us from going out, Bollywood celebrities are ensuring they keep their fans entertained by sharing their unseen and throwback pictures.

Taking to her Instagram Account, Tahira Kashyap shared a rather romantic and rare picture with Khurrana when they were in their first year of dating and already strong believers of social distancing.

Have a look right here:

The post attracted a lot of comments and attention from the industry people. Dia Mirza commented with a heart and a laughing emoji. Aparshakti Khurana had six hearts in the form of his comment. Yami Gautam wrote- "Hahaha...this is so sweet." (sic) Ekta Kapoor wrote- "Wowwwwwwwwwwww" (sic), followed by a bunch of hearts. And Bhumi Pednekar also had her heart for the couple.

And of course, Tahira has been keeping all her fans and followers entertained and enlightened by sharing what she calls as The Lockdown Tales, something unique and refreshing to see amid this crisis. Coming to Khurrana, the actor has become a bonafide movie star and has eight consecutive hits in a row, and will be now seen in three films very soon, which include Gulabo Sitabo with Amitabh Bachchan, an untitled crime thriller directed by Anubhav Sinha, and a comedy with Alaya F directed by Anurag Kashyap's sister Anubhuti Kashyap.

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Malaika Arora shares throwback picture with parents, sister Amrita: '50 days and counting, missing you guys'

The coronavirus pandemic has brought cities around the world to a virtual standstill. Many multinationals and IT companies in India have asked employees to work from home until further notice as a precautionary measure. The government has also announced the closure of malls, multiplex, swimming pools and gyms. Due to lockdown, several of them are missing their families back home.

Malaika Arora too is missing her family. She hasn't visited them for the past 50 days. Recently, the 46-year-old actress took to Instagram to post a throwback family picture with her parents and sister Amrita. The black-and-white picture includes Malaika, her mother Joyce, father Anil Arora and sister Amrita Arora. She captioned the picture, "50 days n counting .... miss u guys (sic)". Amrita also poured her heart out and commented "Miss you'll toooo much (sic)".

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

50 days n counting .... miss u guys ♥ï¸Â♥ï¸Â♥ï¸Â

A post shared by Malaika Arora (@malaikaaroraofficial) onMay 4, 2020 at 9:26pm PDT

Recently, Malaika took to her Instagram account to share a beautiful throwback picture with her son Arhaan Khan and asked us not to take life for granted. She has shared a picture of the time when life was normal as compared to the restrictions that have been imposed today. She captioned it, "#throwback to a time where life felt normal compared to all that is restricted today .... (food, travel , hugs, kisses ,work ,friends, family )... don't take life for granted .stay positive n don't wipe that smile of ur face #thistooshallpass #weallinthistogether (sic)".

What was also heart-filled was her selfie she shared recently that was both unkempt and unswerving. She looked breathtaking and gorgeous and wrote- "Another week goes by... wondering wat awaits us." (sic).

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'Jackie' shares the trailer of new mystery with Homecoming Season 2

"Jackie", portrayed by Janelle Monae in the hit series, has taken over Monae's Instagram account and debuted the trailer for the second season. Follow her as her character unravels this new mystery!

The critically-acclaimed series Homecoming returns for its second season with a fresh new mystery and an exciting new star, Janelle Monae. Her character wakes in a rowboat adrift a lake, with no memory of how she got there — or even who she is. Her ensuing search for identity will lead her into the heart of the Geist Group, the unconventional wellness company behind the Homecoming Initiative.

Watch the trailer of Homecoming Season 2 here:

The second season finds Stephan James reprising his role as Walter Cruz, who is trying to build a new life following the traumas of war and the Homecoming Initiative when he begins to realize that there's an even more insidious version of the program underway – if only he can remember. Hong Chau returns as Audrey Temple, an anonymous underling at Geist who finds herself thrust into unexpected positions at the top of the corporate ladder. Joining the cast for season Two are Oscar-winner Chris Cooper as Leonard Geist, the company's eccentric founder; and Emmy-winner Joan Cusack as Francine Bunda, an equally eccentric military woman.

Homecoming's co-showrunners and executive producers are Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, who are also the creators of the Gimlet Media podcast upon which the show is based. All episodes of the second season are directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, who also serves as Executive Producer.

Homecoming is co-produced by Amazon Studios and UCP, a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios, and executive produced by, in addition to those already named: Julia Roberts through her production company Red Om Films, Sam Esmail through his production company Esmail Corp, Chad Hamilton of Anonymous Content, and Chris Giliberti, Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber of Gimlet Media.

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Priyanka Chopra's cousin actress Meera Chopra tweets about her father being robbed at knifepoint

Priyanka Chopra's cousin, Meera Chopra, recently tweeted about her father, Sudesh Chopra, being robbed at knifepoint. The Section 375 actress took to Twitter and tagged CM Arvind Kejriwal and the Delhi Police in her tweet.

Meera Chopra wrote, "@DelhiPolice my dad was taking a walk in #policecolony. 2 guys came in a scooter, showed knife and snatched his phone. This is how safe you claim delhi to be. @ArvindKejriwal @CPDelhi"

She then shared the FIR number in a follow-up tweet. Later, Meera thanked DCP North Delhi for the prompt response and quick action. She wrote, "Thanks @DcpNorthDelhi for such a quick action. Makes me proud when we feel protected by our police department. It's never abt what has been snatched but protecting our elders is most important! Respect @DelhiPolice."

Meera Chopra made her acting debut with the Tamil film Anbe Aaruyire in 2005. She was seen in Hindi films like Gang of Ghosts, 1920 London and Section 375.

Bollywood debut in 2014 with the film Gang of Ghosts. She was later seen in films like 1920 London, Nastik, and Section 375.

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Telugu actor Sivaji Raja admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad following a heart attack

Sivaji Raja, a renowned Telugu actor, was admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad on May 5 after he suffered a heart attack. Times of India reports that the actor complained of severe chest pain and was rushed to the emergency department. He's being treated in the ICU, but his health is currently stable, as reported by the portal.

Talking about the same, PRO Suresh Kondeti said, "I just talked to him now. His BP drastically went down and that resulted in a heart attack. He is expected to get a heart stent."

The actor is known to have acted in as many as 400 Telugu films and his recent ones include some immensely successful titles like MLA and Nela Ticket.

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Priyanka Chopra's pet Gino loves her cuddles

Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Wednesday shared a glimpse from some endearing moments with her pet Gino in lockdown. The 37-year-old actor put out on Instagram an adorable picture cuddling her German Shepherd. In the picture, the 'Quantico' star is bending to hug her beloved pet on a couch.

'The Sky Is Pink' star captioned, saying, "I promise Gino loves my cuddles. @ginothegerman."

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

I promise Gino loves my cuddles. @ginothegerman

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) onMay 5, 2020 at 5:07pm PDT

Lately, Priyanka has been updating fans on her quarantine activities through social media handles. On Monday, the actor posted pictures from her make-up and styling session, with her little niece Krishna. The adorable post on the photo-sharing platform garnered more than four lakh likes. Recently, Chopra, along with husband Nick Jonas, became a part of 'I For India' concert to raise Covid-19 relief funds. She had also pledged USD 100,000 in total to four incredible women who rose above the challenges to make a difference during the coronavirus crises.

Earlier, the couple donated to several organisations including PM CARES Fund, Goonj, Feeding America and others to combat Covid-19 which has affected over 10 lakh people globally. The 'Baywatch' actor took part in WHO's live stream event 'ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME' to raise funds for Covid-19 relief.

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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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Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker express shock over the #BoysLockerRoom controversy

The 'Bois Locker Room' controversy has taken the country by storm. Leaked screenshots of a private Instagram chat group comprising teenage school students from Delhi has shocked people to the core. Many of the boys in the group were allegedly seen sharing photos of underage girls, objectifying them, and planning gang rapes.

Bollywood celebs like Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker and Chandan Roy Sanyal have spoken out about the issue. Here's what Richa tweeted:

Swara Bhasker, too, spoke about the toxic masculinity that still runs rampant in the country. She tweeted:

Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal wrote, "15-year-old School Boys from distinguished Delhi schools talk about raping the girls in their own class. Shocked to the core!!"

Amyra Dastur emphasised that a line had been crossed. She tweeted:

Dastur wrote in another tweet, "The boys don't need sex education. They need to be educated about equality, consent & DECENCY! Education about what RAPE actually is & a new perspective on girls & women! This isn't about Sex Ed, it's about a superiority & misogynistic chain of thought that needs to be broken."

Sonam Kapoor shared on her Insta story a post by model and British actress Jameela Jamil.

According to a report in IANS, the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police has detained a 15-year-old student of a prominent school in South Delhi in connection with the Instagram chat group. Twenty two other boys have also have been identified.

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Anushka Sharma's pet Bruno passes away, actress shares heartbreaking post

In a heartbreaking piece of news, Anushka Sharma's pet Bruno passed away and the actress took to her Instagram account to announce this. It was a throwback picture that had her, Bruno, and Virat Kohli in one frame.

Writing Bruno, RIP, she also commented with three hearts. For all those who have pets at their homes, this news will surely pierce you. Have a look at the post right here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

♥️ Bruno ♥️ RIP ♥️

A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) onMay 5, 2020 at 8:39pm PDT

And the post attracted a lot of celebrity reactions and they all had their hearts for the actress and her pet. Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Sonali Bendre, Diana Penty, and Zoya Akhtar commented with a heart.

Even Kohli, who was very close to Bruno, commented with a heartfelt tribute on his Twitter account and wrote- "Rest in peace my Bruno. Graced our lives with love for 11 years but made a connection of a lifetime. Gone to a better place today. God bless his soul with peace." (sic)

Have a look right here:

As we stated above, for all those who had or have a pet at home, they will surely be left teary-eyed.

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Parineeti Chopra's virtual coffee date will feed 4000 family members of daily wage earners

Parineeti Chopra has stepped forward to do more during the coronavirus crisis that is raging in our country. The sensitive actress has decided to go on a virtual coffee date with people to raise funds that will feed 4000 family members of 1000 daily wage earners of our country!

Millions of poor labourers are struggling to access food and rations during the COVID lockdown, and are unable to keep themselves and their families safe. Parineeti has come on board to help raise funds for GiveIndia's Mission: Ration Kit that aims at delivering food to those most affected by the crisis.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

•FOR THE DAILY WAGE WORKERS• You say coffee, I say WITH ME! @fankindofficial @give_india and I have come together for your chance to go on a virtual coffee date with me! All you have to do is log onto fankind.org/parineeti and help provide ration kits with essential food supplies for daily wage labourer's who are struggling to feed their families. (Link in bio) 5 lucky winners will get a chance to go on a super fun virtual coffee date with me! No one should go to sleep hungry, so let's come together to feed the less privileged. And to make our impact even bigger, A.T.E Chandra foundation will be be adding 25% of the total donation we raise as a matching amount, thereby multiplying our impact. YOU, ME and Latte fun! So donate now! #Fankind #FankindXParineeti #Covid19

A post shared by Parineeti Chopra (@parineetichopra) onMay 6, 2020 at 12:14am PDT

Pari's campaign will see ration kits containing dal, rice, aata, salt, masala, tea, sugar, oil etc, to be able to sustain a family of 4 people. These kits will be distributed to families in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. The A.T.E. Chandra Foundation has also joined hands in this cause and will be adding 25 per cent of the total donation value collected as a matching amount, thereby multiplying the impact!

Parineeti, who is doing this in association with Arjun Kapoor’s sister Anshula's breakthrough charity initiative Fankind, says, "There are millions of unemployed daily wage earners who are struggling to make two ends meet today due to the coronavirus crisis in our country. During the COVID19 national lockdown, they are unable to earn and that is putting them at high risk! Fankind, GiveIndia and I have come together to try and help them and their families by providing them ration kits."

One just needs to log on to fankind.org/Parineeti and donate to be eligible for this virtual date which will aid GiveIndia to reach out to the ones who need our immediate help. The contest will be open for donation for a week, starting 6th May.

Parineeti adds, "No one should go to sleep hungry, so let's do our bit to make a difference and take care of our fellow brothers and sisters of India. This fund raiser is uniquely crafted for me to meet you virtually and have a cup of coffee! This is how I will be saying thank you to 5 lucky winners through a video chat. I am looking forward to chatting with you and getting to know more about you over a piping cup of coffee. Let's join hands and donate for those who are in need."

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Ekta Kapoor shares old family photo, wants to know what dad Jeetendra is thinking

Ace producer Ekta Kapoor shared a close bond with her family - dad Ravi Kapoor, aka Jeetendra, mum Shobha and brother Tusshar. Ekta recently shared a lovely throwback family photo, which features the four in their younger days, but looking awfully distracted!

Sharing the photo on Instagram, Ekta wrote, "Well well! We have come a long way! Guess wat my dad is thinking."

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Well well! We have come a long way! Guess wat my dad is thinking 😹😹😹😆

A post shared by Erk❤️rek (@ektarkapoor) onMay 4, 2020 at 6:28am PDT

Well, can you guess what veteran actor Jeetendra is thinking about in the photo?

Several of Ekta's industry friends and Insta followers commented on the post. Ronit Roy wrote, "Wow! Yes a loooong looooong way," while Akshay Dogra said, "Well all that matters is happiness on point here too!" while Rahul Dev commented, "She's got 'the look'."

While in lockdown, Ekta Kapoor has been entertaining her fans with some throwback memories. She recently shared a video of her dancing with close friends Anita Hassanandani and Krystle D'Souza.

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COVID-19: Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Suniel Shetty collaborate with Dharavi rappers

Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Suniel Shetty have collaborated with Dharavi rappers for a music video to spread the stay-at-home message to help control community spread of the virus.

Rappers MC Altaf, Tony Psyko and Bonz N Ribz have created the song, titled Stay Home Stay Safe, produced by rapper Divine's Gully Gang Entertainment, in Hindi, Marathi and Tamil. Directed and conceptualised by Joel D'Souza, the video also features Atul Kulkarni and Dia Mirza.

Check out the video of the song below:

Divine refers to it as a small effort from the hip-hop community to support the COVID-19 warriors. The song is supported by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the ATE Chandra Foundation, who have been working with the government to ensure food and medical aid in the densely populated regions.

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Leena Yadav: Rishi Kapoor was a natural actor, a happy man

Filmmaker Leena Yadav who directed the late actor Rishi Kapoor in "Rajma Chawal", recalls the actor as a "brutally honest" person driven by his passion for life. "The first time I went to meet him and told him my story idea, he asked me who else is there in the film. Then he started saying that I should make the film with stars so that it can get better mileage. He wasn't one of those actors who would think about just his character. He would think about how the overall story came out. The more he started explaining why he is not the right choice for the film, the more confident I became to make the film with him! Finally, he was like, 'theek hai, story suna hi do'. And he loved the story, so he came on board," Leena told IANS.

According to the director, the actor held the experience of the great Kapoor lineage and at the same time the innocence and mood of a child. "I like people who are brutally honest; especially in an industry where people are mostly nice to each other for a reason. Rishi ji was a happy, delightful man with so much wisdom and he had the nature of an explorer. He would take a walk in the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk and talk to shopkeepers who have owned shops for say, 50 years. He would eat street food and tell all of us to try the same. He loved his food, loved his fans, loved talking about cinema! When you see Rishi Kapoor, you see passion," Leena added.

The late actor had an image of being outspoken in public and that intimated many - at least, that was the overall impression. Leena disagrees. "He was moody but never intimidating. That is why he managed to work with all the newcomers in my film. I, as a film director, never see it as a problem if you come and tell me 'this scene is not going well,' directly. I rather find it easy to have a conversation then, in order to improve!" she said.

By the time the film released, Kapoor was in New York for his cancer treatment. So, he could not join any special screening, including one that took place at BFI London Film Festival. "We used to send him small video clips of audience reactions and how people are talking about the film, so he was with us virtually through the journey of the film," Leena recalled.

Asked how she would like to remember him, Leena replied: "He started his career at a point of time when in mainstream 'natural acting' was almost non-existent. He established that -- it was his style. A style that no one can copy because what he brought to the character was of his interpretation, based on his observation. I want to remember that natural actor, with a lot of passion and warmth in person -- a happy man!"

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COVID-19: Sonali Kulkarni makes an important appeal, says our fight is against the virus and not its victims

Noted actor Sonali Kulkarni known for lending support to social causes has raised her voice against the discrimination against COVID-19 positive patients across Maharashtra, through a video. 

There have been rising cases of COVID-19 positive or even suspected patients facing discrimination. Recently in Mumbai's Lalbaug area a 24-year-old photojournalist working with a Marathi newspaper was ostracised and verbally abused by his neighbours after he returned home from institutional isolation. 

The photojournalist had not even tested positive, however, since he was in close contact with two other photojournalists, who had tested positive, the BMC identified him as their high-risk contact and asked him to go to an isolation center on April 20. COVID-19 positive patients are also facing issues like their videos being circulated or their names being shared on Whatsapp groups.

Health professionals including mental health experts are increasingly expressing concerns over the long-term psychological impact of this on patients and their families. Even Chief Minister Shri Uddhav Thackeray has been urging people to show support towards the COVID-19 patients as well as their families instead of stigmatising them.

The 70-second video has been released by Mumbai based Waatavaran Foundation, and Jhatkaa.org who are working together in Maharashtra to create public awareness on COVID-19. The film has been conceptualised and executed by Goregaon based Geeta Singh and Avinash Kumar Singh of Turtle on a Hammock Films. Through this video, popular actor Sonali Kulkarni is seen encouraging and urging people to treat those suffering from COVID-19 with dignity and respecting their privacy. Have a look right here:

"The unfortunate fact is that being COVID-19 positive seems nothing less than a crime as people think that if a person is tested positive for COVID-19 the person is a criminal. This is wrong and this mentality needs to change," says Sonali Kulkarni in the video. "Our fight is against the pandemic, not the people suffering from it," appeals Kulkarni.

Kulkarni concludes by appealing to the public that, let's not shake hands, instead let's shake off all the myths and stigma that is associated with being COVID 19 positive.

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Delhi High Court declines interim stay on Vir Das' Hasmukh

In a relief to the makers of Vir Das' latest web series "Hasmukh", the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant an interim stay on the streaming of the show on the OTT platform Netflix. The stay had been sought after allegations that the show makes disparaging comments against lawyers, particularly in episode four of season one, titled "Bambai Main Bambu".

"The very essence of democracy is that a creative artist is given the liberty to project the picture of the society in a manner he perceives. One of the prime forms of exposing the ills of the society is by portraying a satirical picture of the same," said a single judge bench of the High Court presided by Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva.

"Stand-up comedians perform that very purpose. In their portrayal they use satire and exaggerate the ills to an extent that it becomes a ridicule. In the humorous portrayal of the ills of the society the stand-up comedians use satire," the bench observed.

While dismissing the application, the court stated that the "plaintiff has not been able to show that the impugned comment in any manner refers to the plaintiff or refers to a definite group of individuals or lawyers out of the entire class of lawyers to which the plaintiff belongs".

The plea filed by Advocate Ashutosh Dubey sought the court's directions to the web series producers, directors and writer to tender unconditional apology online, saying that the web series had "maligned the image of the lawyers' community, which includes judges as they too had been lawyers at one point of time".

The plea further read: "The said remarks have caused utmost damage to legal profession and impugn the image of lawyers in the eyes of millions of viewers/ subscribers who visit the streaming website where the show is being streamed."

The plea also sought deletion or removal of certain objectionable content from the series, especially from season one, episode four.

The plea alleged that in the said episode, the makers have alleged lawyers to be "thieves, scoundrels, goons and have had the indecency to address, lawyers as rapists".

Advocate Priyanka Khimani, who represented defendant in the case, seemed extremely happy and welcomes the court's decision.

"This is a welcome decision that reinforces artistic and cinematic freedom of speech and expression, without which the world of storytelling would not survive. The content universe today thrives on its ability to express and communicate freely, as it rightly should in any free-thinking and free-speaking nation. So this decision is a gentle reminder of the fact that that freedom and ability are still, very much, intact," Khimani said

"Hasmukh" also stars Ranvir Shorey, Manoj Pahwa, Ravi Kishan and Amrita Bagchi.

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Illegal: Akshay Oberoi credits the Suits character Harvey Specter as his inspiration

Actor Akshay Oberoi has been on the stage, done short and feature films, as well as web series. Now, the actor is gearing up for his upcoming web series, Illegal opposite Neha Sharma and Piyush Mishra.

Akshay Oberoi has been inspired by the Suits character Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, for his role in the upcoming web series, Illegal. The actor says he rarely gets cast to play real people. "Illegal is the closest thing to the way I actually look and sound. There are no masks to hide behind," he adds.

Trailer of the web series was released on Tuesday. The trailer suggests that this time, the tension shall be outside the courtroom too, and inside the mind and heart of a lawyer. Illegal seems to be an attempt to gaze at a lawyer's personal life and how he/she battles injustice and the lacunae of the judicial system.

Have a look right here:

Speaking about Oberoi, after making his Bollywood debut with "Isi Life Mein" in 2010, he has managed to be on different platforms. In the past, he did Ekta's web series "The Test Case" and "Hum Tum And Them". In a recent intervew, when he was asked if he had planned his career that way, the "Gurgaon" actor said: "I had planned my career to be an actor. I wanted to be an actor irrespective of the medium. I started acting when I was 16 or 17 in theatre. Then I got my first film."

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Alka Yagnik shares a fun throwback picture with legendary singer Kishore Kumar dressed as an Arab

Who said only Bollywood actors and filmmakers can recall the precious and priceless moments of their lives on social media amid this lockdown? Singers can have their moments of glory and nostalgia too. We are talking about Alka Yagnik, one of the biggest names of the Hindi film industry for the last three decades.

Taking to her Instagram account, she shared a candid and fun moment with the legendary and iconic singer, Kishore Kumar dressed as an Arab. And this is how she has described this classic throwback picture. "V v fond n precious fun moments with my all time Favourite Kishore da... dressed like an Arab here.... upto his antics as always ... Blessed to have sung with n spent time with him... Love u forever Kishore da" (sic)

Have a look right here:

And another singer who has been massively popular for over 25 years is Sonu Nigam, who had a story to tell on this moment. He also shared the same picture on his account and wrote- "This was in Muscat where they had gone with Kishore Kumar ji. Kishore Kumar ji wanted to dress up like an Arab and have Alka ji, Sapna Mukherjee ji and Sadhana Sargam ji as his daasiyan." (sic)

Have a look once again:

Kishore Kumar's contribution to Hindi Cinema can never be forgotten and almost all the singers have been inspired by his journey and success. And as far as the era of the 90s is concerned, it was truly made memorable by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam. They truly don't make like them anymore!

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World Hand Hygiene Day: Hema Malini, Amrita Rao stress on keeping hands clean

On Tuesday, to mark World Hand Hygiene Day, Hema Malini and Amrita Rao raised awareness about hand hygiene. The two were united for the initiative by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

"While everyone is wearing face masks and gloves nowadays, they are not at all sensitive about sanitising their hands," said Rao. Proper handwashing with soap is the topmost measure to prevent the spread of the virus.

"It's high time every effort is made to create awareness, educate and remind people that hand hygiene is crucial. It is important to make handwashing a daily habit. Good handwashing with soap can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. I would be happy if this effort is able to bring a difference in the lives of many people," Rao added.

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Nushrat Bharucha's on point stance on social media is one you cannot afford to ignore

Actress Nushrat Bharucha has been in the industry for quite some time and with lots of films to her credit, the actress was quite applauded for her role in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. While some of her films have done amazingly well at the box office, Nushrat has been working with some really good actors. And not just her acting prowess, Nushrat has also time and again made heads turn on the red carpet and also taken the internet by storm, be it her holiday pictures or the high slit gown picture, the Dream Girl actress has been doling out some amazing goals.

On social media, while we see Nushrat often giving fans a sneak-peek into her simple yet beautiful life, the actress also inspires them in many ways. From posting pictures with her fashion game on point to spending some quality time with her loved ones, Nushrat is undefeated when it comes to doling out fashion and life goals. While the actress often indulges in some fun activities in the virtual space, she totally connects with her fans. And going by her vacation pictures, we can say that she is living one amazing life.

Workwise Nushrat has had a series of hits in her filmography and next she will be seen opposite Rajkummar Rao in the movie Chhalaang and after that, she will also be seen in Hurdang.

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Amitabh Bachchan pens emotional note on granddaughter Navya's graduation day

Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter Navya graduated from college in New York on Wednesday, and the former took to social media to pen a congratulatory message. Big B shared how they celebrated Navya's big day at his Jalsa home since the graduation ceremony has been stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Grand daughter Navya .. the most important day in the life of a young student - Graduation Day .. ! She graduated from College in New York, but ceremony and presence got cancelled because of corona and lockdown.

"She could not go .. we too had all planned to be with her on this important occasion .. but she though wanted to wear that Graduation gown and cap .. so staff stitched her an impromptu gown and cap .. and she wore it and celebrated at home in Jalsa .. So proud of you Navya.. God bless .. such a positive and happy attitude. Love you," Big B wrote.

Along with the post, he shared a video in which Navya is seen wearing a home-made graduation gown and cap.

Earlier in the day, Navya's mother Shweta Bachchan too took to social media to wish her.

"Class of 2020 - Navya finished college today and since she and everyone else graduating this year won't get a ceremony we decided to DIY one. With a chart paper cap and a gown hand stitched from scraps of black tenting. I threw on a Fordham ( her college ) sweatshirt over my PJ's!! Congratulations baby I love you and am proud of you! Go forth and conquer x ( I'm not crying you're crying)," Shweta posted.

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STAY IN-TERTAINED | Konkona Sensharma: Loving regional cinema

"I have been defeated by housework," says Konkona Sensharma, who seems exhausted with the never-ending chores. "Household work is taking up more time than I thought. It's an endless repetition and gets boring," adds Sensharma.

While most are using this time to discover world cinema on OTT platforms, Sensharma has been exposed to it since childhood. "I was introduced to world cinema very early in life. My grandfather had started the culture of film society with Satyajit Ray. So, they had a lot of screenings on the projector. My mum [Aparna Sen] would get a lot of cassettes home to watch it with her friends." Taking a break from noir films, it seems the actor is indulging in mainstream and regional entertainment these days. She says, "I love regional cinema and I will have to recommend Angamaly Diaries." She expresses her love for Jon Hamm's Mad Men. "The series takes you back in time and gives you an understanding of their attitude towards homosexuality and women," she adds, before recommending The Wire for its "tight script".


Stills from Angamaly Diaries and Mad Men

She adds Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag to her list purely for its "wicked and witty narrative". "Usually, female characters are [showcased as] earnest and moralistic. They don't write about them being witty and wicked. I loved the irreverent and irresponsible character," says Sensharma.

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Sachiin Joshi backs Rs 3 crore donation, former employees claim non-payment of dues

As several stars pledged contributions to aid the fight against the Coronavirus, actor-businessman Sachiin Joshi announced a Rs 3 crore programme to distribute food packets to the frontline workers. The move came as a surprise to former employees of Joshi's Viiking Ventures, who have claimed non-payment of dues over past several months.

Taskeen Naik, who had joined as the social media head, and public relations officer to the chairman in August 2018, says she has been waiting for her full and final payment to be cleared since her exit in May 2019. "When I personally reached out to Mr Joshi, he blocked my number. Despite following up [with the HR team] every month, I have yet to be paid," she rues.

This paper is in possession of a document that lists 30 former employees of Viiking Ventures and its communications wing Think Tank, whose salaries have not been cleared since as early as March 2019. The cumulative amount stands at a little over Rs 30 lakh.

Krishna Choudhary, former marketing manager at the company that has verticals across FMCG products, realty and entertainment, reveals that since his joining in October 2018, the salaries would usually be deferred. "On March 26, 2019, Mr Joshi sent an e-mail assuring that the salaries will be timely from April. That month, they cleared all our salaries up to February 2019. But I was not paid a dime after that. I tendered my resignation in June, and have since been pursuing the HR to clear my four months' salary. While my pleas fell on deaf ears, the department sent an e-mail last December citing lack of funds as the reason for delayed payments. How does the company have money for charity, but not to pay our pending salaries?"


A snapshot of the complaint  submitted to the Chief Labour Commissioner by an employee  

When mid-day reached out to Joshi, his spokesperson issued a statement that read, "We hired a particular CEO [now no longer with us] who undertook unlawful practices and fraud, with a bunch of employees. All those people working with the said CEO are now under scrutiny and their payments are being held. The procedure should be completed by end of June 2020. Those who are given a clean chit will get their rightful dues, and the management will take legal action against those found guilty."

However, the former employees in question maintained that they were not informed about being part of an ongoing investigation. Interestingly, another former employee, on condition of anonymity, revealed that he had joined the company in May 2019 — long after the said CEO's departure — and was still subjected to similar fate. "Of my eight-month stint, I have not been paid for three-and-a-half months. I was not allowed inside the office premises when I went to meet Mr Joshi. When he recently went live on Instagram, many [former employees] asked him to clear their dues, in the comments section. I'm contemplating legal action."

Joshi was in the news in 2017 when he bought Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Villa in Goa for Rs 73 crore in a bank auction.

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Made in Heaven co-director Prashant Nair: Busy working on the Uphaar Cinema tragedy

He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Nitya Mehra and Alankrita Shrivastava as he co-directed the much-loved Amazon Prime series, Made In Heaven, last year. However, before the second season goes on floors, Prashant Nair has made a graceful exit from the picture. The Spain-based filmmaker is instead consumed with bringing a real-life story to the screen.


A still from Made in Heaven 

"I am not part of the second season as I am working on a web series based on the Uphaar Cinema tragedy," says Nair, referring to the 1997 fire at the Delhi theatre that had claimed 59 lives and injured over 100 people. "I am the show-runner, director and creator of the series that is being developed with Endemol Shine India. It's currently in the research phase," he adds.


Prashant Nair

It has been a memorable week for the filmmaker, whose latest offering, Tryst with Destiny, won the Best Screenplay award at the Tribeca Film Festival. "The organisers kept the competition section open virtually so that [the jury] can watch the links. When they announced the win, I was in my pyjamas at 2 am, feeling remarkably unglamorous, reading Danny Boyle's lovely feedback on the movie," he laughs. Though glad that the Viineet Kumar Singh-starrer has received acclaim, Nair feels rather disconnected from the win. "I wanted to experience this moment with my cast and crew. And damn, we didn't even get a selfie with Robert De Niro [who is the co-founder of the festival]!"

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Amitabh Bachchan quotes 'Subah hoti hai' sung by Lata Mangeshkar in latest Instagram post

Posting a picture of himself, megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday quoted lyrics of Lata Mangeshkar's famous song 'Subah hoti hai' to describe how time is flying during lockdown.

Bachchan who is quite active on social media took to Instagram and posted the picture. In the picture, he is seen wearing a black coloured sherwani paired with black glasses.

The picture also featured a couple of murals of the superstar in the background. "Subah hoti hai, shaam hoti hai; Umr yunhi tamaam hoti hai!" he wrote in the caption.

The song sung by Lata was originally penned by Munshi Amirullah Tasleem according to Rekhta foundation. Bachchan is one of the most socially active veteran actors of the Bollywood industry. He keeps treating his fans with his pictures and his thoughts on contemporary issues on social media.

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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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Disha Patani's 'quarantine reunion with my favourite boys'

Malang co-stars Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani and Kunal Kemmu on Wednesday had a virtual reunion. Taking to Instagram, Disha posted a screenshot from her video call with the Malang boys. "Positive vibes only... quarantine reunion with my favourite boys," she captioned the image.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Positive vibes only🌸 quarantine reunion with my favourite boys❤ï¸ÂðŸŒ¸

A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) onMay 6, 2020 at 3:52am PDT

In the screen grab, Anil Kapoor is seen flaunting biceps. Disha looks beautiful as she shows off her lustrous hair. Kunal is all smiles while Aditya sports a beard. Reacting to his pose, Anil Kapoor quipped: "Ye haath mujhe dede Thakur."

Directed by Mohit Suri, Malang is a romantic action thriller film that released in February.

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Tiger Shroff shares dynamic stunt rehearsals video from 'Baaghi 1' set

Actor Tiger Shroff, who is widely appreciated as an action hero, took to social media on Wednesday and shared some behind-the-scenes video of his stunt rehearsals from the sets of movie 'Baaghi 1.

The 30-year-old star took to Instagram and shared some clips of the shoots of the 2016 released movie where the actor is seen doing action sequence with stuntmen. There are also stunt shots taken from the streets of Bangkok.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Workshop, on set rehearsal, and action! Busy streets of bangkok❤ï¸Â#baaghi1

A post shared by Tiger Shroff (@tigerjackieshroff) onMay 6, 2020 at 2:52am PDT

Sharing few behind the scenes video, he took it to the captions, and wrote: "Workshop, on set rehearsal, and action! Busy streets of Bangkok[?]#baaghi1."

Last month, Tiger through a special post on Instagram, paid his respect to all the stuntmen who had worked in the action films and addressed these fighters as the 'real heroes.'

Tiger Shroff has grabbed the title of action hero popularly after playing the main lead in the action-thriller franchise 'Baaghi', where he is showcasing his chiseled body performing some daredevil action sequences.

Meanwhile, for the 'I For India' concert that took place online last Sunday, the 'War' actor tried his hands at singing. Tiger crooned the song 'Theher Ja' from Varun Dhawan starrer 2018 flick 'October.'

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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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Sonam Kapoor lauds singer-songwriter Adele's body transformation

As singer Adele made a comeback on social media with a picture of her svelte physique on her birthday, Bollywood's fashion diva Sonam Kapoor lauded the transformation.

Sonam who also had to shed off kilos before making her Bollywood debut with the film 'Saawariya' took to Instagram and shared the latest post of the singer on her story.

"What a transformation...So commendable. Love you @adele cannot wait for your new music," Kapoor wrote along with the picture.

Earlier in the day, the 'Hello' singer made a stunning comeback on social media for marking her 32nd birthday.

She further dedicated the post to the frontline workers who are fighting off COVID-19.

Adele's new music is expected sometime in 2020 and would be her first album since '25', released in 2015, which followed earlier releases '21' and '19'.

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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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Raveena Tandon's funny reply to fan proposing marriage in next birth

Raveena Tandon gave a funny reply to a fan who proposed to marry her in the next birth. On Wednesday, the actress took to Instagram to share throwback photos from a vacation in the mountains. "#throwback When the summer gets to hot to handle... my heart dreaming of snowy vacays , soft ,fresh snowed in slopes and the icy moon.. disclaimer- always in #fauxfur," captioned Raveena.

Commenting on her post, a fan wrote: "Raveena ma'am will you marry me in your next birth?" The actress replied: "Sorry ya booked for 7 already".

Other fans also showered the actress with love and appreciation for her beautiful pictures. One fan commented: "Every time I see you, I fall in love with you once again". Another fan expressed: "You always be a queen, love you."

Raveena Tandon's fan club incidentally includes a celeb admirer -- rapper Badshah! The rapper during a recent question-answer session with his fans on Instagram has revealed that he has a crush on Raveena Tandon.

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Sara Ali Khan's key to stay positive amid lockdown

Actress Sara Ali Khan has shared her mantra to stay positive amid lockdown in the country. Sara took to Instagram where she shared a stunning photograph of herself in an off-shoulder beige dress. She completed the look with her hair tied back and nude make-up.

"Control your mind and free your spirit #stayhome #staysafe #staypositive," she wrote alongside the image.

Recently, she had shared an adorable throwback photograph from her childhood and disclosed that she was always her own "sapno ki rani".

On the work front, Sara was last seen in Imtiaz Ali's "Love Aaj Kal", which also starred Kartik Aaryan. She will be next seen opposite Varun Dhawan in the remake of "Coolie No.1". Sara will also be seen sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar and Dhanush in "Atrangi Re".

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Gulshan Grover gets emotional as he remembers his journey with friend Rishi Kapoor

The Bad Man of Bollywood, Gulshan Grover, who was also a good friend to Rishi Kapoor, shared how his journey in the world of showbiz along with the veteran has been a memorable one! Rishi Kapoor left behind a legacy after passing away.

In an interview with Times Of India, Gulshan Grover got emotional as he remembered his dear friend Rishi Kapoor, who died on April 30, 2020, after battling leukaemia. The actor spoke at large about his early days, how Rishi Kapoor helped him make his place in the industry, and also, how Chintuji will always be a special friend to him.

Gulshan Grover mentioned how Rishi played an important figure in his life. "I worked with him when I was new in the industry. I did a film titled, 'Hawalaat' which starred Rishi Kapoor along with Mithun Chakraborty and Shatrughan Sinha. I knew Mithun Chakraborty from my acting institute days where he was our teacher. He used to teach us acting and a subject called, 'Movement' where we had to express music without dancing through our expressions and without any words. I did not know Rishi Kapoor at all. I was quite intimidated."

Speaking about his generosity, Gulshan Grover shared how Rishi Kapoor didn't charge a single penny for a cameo in his first web feature Bad Man. "When I was doing India's first web feature film called Bad Man, the producers suggested me to ask Rishi Kapoor if he will play a special cameo in the movie where he will be himself. They did not have the budget to get him on board so they asked me to ask him. I called him up and went to meet him. I asked him about the film and he told me to ask the director Soumik Sen to meet him. Later, they both called me up to say that Rishi ji will be doing the part and that too without charging anything. And he shot for it the next day itself in a studio."

Gulshan Grover had also asked Rishi Kapoor to unveil one of the most important chapters of his life, his autobiography, titled The Bad Man. Despite not being in great condition, Rishi Kapoor agreed to help his friend.

Sharing this incident, Gulshan Grover said, "When I was about to release my autobiography in the US in front of the media, I was asked to get Rishi ji to come for it as people there loved him and it would have given me and my book more weightage."

The actor further added, "When I hesitantly asked Rishi ji, he replied by saying 'although I have been advised not to go to public places, for you, my friend, I will do it'. However, on the day of the event, he messaged me saying he had been called to the hospital for a blood transfusion. And he added that he didn't know when they will leave him and what condition he will be in after the process. My heart sank as I had promised everybody and it was all over the media. He told me not to worry and that he shall be there."

Rishi Kapoor is indeed being missed by family, friends and his fans across the world!

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Amyra Dastur on post COVID-19: Cinema will transform, OTT platforms to blow up bigger than ever

Actor Amyra Dastur believes cinema is going to be transformed in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic with the digital space opening up in a big way. Amyra said the lockdown, which has led to the closing of cinemas and a postponement of shoots, also resulted in some of her projects getting pushed.

"I'm excited to see how cinema is going to transform and how the OTT platform is going to blow up bigger than ever. Luckily I'm not a newcomer so getting work isn't a concern. It is about quality and I believe only quality and not a last name will prevail. "Theatres will need a good six-eight months to have full houses again and in that time viewership on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Alt Balaji, Voot among others will grow... Finally, content is going to overshadow the box office, so it's an exciting time at the moment," the actor told PTI.

Before the lockdown was announced in March, the actor had T-Series' murder mystery "Koi Jaane Na" co-starring Kunal Kapoor up for release in June, but that stands pushed. "We wrapped up shoot in the second week of February but that's been postponed due to the lockdown and our inability to get out and promote, as well as the fact that the industry doesn't know when the theatres are going to be able to open up to the public," Amyra said. She was also shooting for Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's production, "Dongri To Dubai", a web series adapted from author Hussain Zaidi's book of the same name and Tamil film "Bagheera" with Prabhudeva, all of which came to a halt. Her other project, filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar's Amazon Prime Original "Tandav" is currently on the editing stage.

The actor said she was supposed to fly to Chennai for a shoot on March 23, but it got postponed as the makers wanted to see what Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement would be a day later. "I'm glad it was postponed because I would have been in lockdown alone in Chennai. But it's ok because these are the two projects I'll go back to shooting for as soon as the lockdown is lifted."

The actor, who has featured in films like "Judgemental Hai Kya" and "Rajma Chawal", said once the lockdown is lifted, all her projects will resume on a priority basis. "It'll be hectic because everyone wants the same dates but we've managed to prioritise each project according to the new deadlines. I was all set to shoot for a new film and was going to announce it in April so that's been postponed as well but not halted," she added.

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Work out, cook, play: A peek into Preity Zinta's quarantine chronicles!

It has been more than 40 days that the country has observed complete lockdown. People are finding various ways to keep themselves entertained and occupied during this time. We all know it isn't easy to keep ourselves calm in this difficult time, but all one can do is be patient.

Speaking about Bollywood celebrities, actors are doing their bit by educating their fans and sharing positivity among their followers. Preity Zinta, who is known for her bubbly persona, has been sharing some motivational posts, which will help you stay positive. Let's take a look at her quarantine chronicles through a series of social media posts.

In this one, Preity Zinta gave us some tips on working out at home and staying fit without hitting the gym. The post read, "A lot of people have been asking me for some simple but effective lower back and hip strengthening exercise.... so here it is. Make sure to keep ur core muscles squeezed and engaged. Squeeze ur butt muscles when u go up and breath. The more u do the better for you. Do 4 sets of 10 to start. Keep doing it till someone stops you like Bruno did to me. Hope this helps. #pzfit #day52 #Quarantine #lowerback #stayhome #staysafe #staystrong #ting [sic]"

Watch the video right away!

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Preity G Zinta (@realpz) onMay 2, 2020 at 11:33pm PDT

It's not just working out that keeps her engaged the entire day. She has also been brushing up on her cooking skills. Her fruit custard turned out to be successful! Check it out.

It seems like no quarantine chronicles are complete without some throwback memories. In one of the posts, Preity Zinta is seen washing a bike. Picture courtesy: Dabboo Ratnani.

That's not it! Preity Zinta proved herself as the queen once again. Confused? The actress became the monopoly queen on one of the lockdown days!

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

It’s good to be Queen 🤩 #monoplyqueen #day42 #boardgames #stayhome #staysafe #family #fun #ting

A post shared by Preity G Zinta (@realpz) onApr 22, 2020 at 8:04pm PDT

An older post shared by the actress had Preity Zinta's mother Nilprabha giving her a much-needed head massage. Do you know what's the highlight of the video? Preity's husband Gene asking, 'saasu maa, what are you doing? (mother-in-law, what are you doing). Isn't that cute?

Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough tied the knot on February 29, 2016, and the duo celebrated their first wedding anniversary on February 29, 2020. Yes, the leap year!

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