Author: Ankita Singh

Actress Nyrraa Banerji has candidly addressed the demanding work culture prevalent in the television industry.

In an exclusive interview, she illuminated the effects of long shooting hours on actors’ health, sleep, and performance. Emphasizing the necessity for balance, Nyrraa highlighted the importance of weekly breaks and personal time to preserve both well-being and professional efficiency.

Concerns About Long Working Hours

When discussing the often-criticized issue of exhausting TV work schedules, Nyrraa shared, “I completely agree. We often work fifteen hours a day, which affects health, sleep, and performance. Without proper rest, actors cannot look fresh or deliver emotions with full energy. That’s why whenever I take up a show, I insist on at least one holiday a week or half-days. We need time for ourselves, our families, and our personal responsibilities. Otherwise, it becomes unhealthy.”

Considering Future Projects

When asked if she would take on a TV show at this point in her career, Nyrraa replied, “Yes, but only on my terms. If I get a good role, a convenient location like Film City, a strong director, a reputable channel, and fair pay, then I will definitely consider it.”

Her Diverse Journey in the Industry

Reflecting on her journey, Banerji stated, “I think I am very lucky. There’s a norm in the industry that actors get typecast, but fortunately, I have worked across every platform at the same time. That is why I was never labelled as just a South Indian actress, or a TV actress, or a web actor. I have been part of all mediums, and I know how to adapt to each one.”

Having started her career at a very young age, Nyrraa understands storytelling and audience expectations. “Whatever excites me as an actor, I take it up. I can do a Bollywood film, a TV show, or a web series—because every platform has its own audience. While there is a mixed audience, each medium has its core viewers too, and I want my work to reach all kinds of people,” she explained.

Actress Rasika Dugal’s upcoming black comedy film “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli,” directed by Anshuman Jha, is set to release in theaters on October 10.

A Unique Filming Experience

Shot entirely on a single lens, this film marks the directorial debut of actor Anshuman Jha. The cast features Arjun Mathur, Tanmay Dhanania, and Paresh Pahuja in leading roles.

Rasika expressed her excitement, stating, “I am thrilled that Lord Curzon Ki Haveli is releasing in the theatres. The film had premiered at Melbourne and, subsequently, travelled to other festivals where it was much appreciated by audiences.” She particularly enjoyed watching the film with an audience at the Chicago festival, saying, “The humour (and the darkness that follows) is best experienced with other people. I had the opportunity to witness the response of an international audience. Now I am eagerly waiting to see how it’s received here.”

The Film’s Journey

Filmed entirely in the UK, this Hitchcockian chamber drama promises an edgy, international appeal, blending suspense, wit, and biting commentary about identity within a mysterious evening. Reports indicate it faced delays with Indian censors for over six months.

Debut director Anshuman commented, “When Bikas Mishra and I dreamt up this risqué black comedy thriller, we always envisioned it for the big screen. ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ is my humble homage to Alfred Hitchcock.” He added, “Making my directorial debut with this feels just as electric as the day I first stepped into the movies with my acting debut in Love Sex Aur Dhoka.”

Actor Arjun Mathur shared his excitement for the project, emphasizing his love for surprising stories. “’Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ is unlike anything I’ve had the opportunity to be part of before. It’s quirky, unpredictable, deliciously dark, and funny. I’m thrilled that audiences are going to get to experience this in theatres,” he stated.

Production Details

The film is produced by Golden Ratio Films and First Ray Films and presented by MAX Marketing Limited.

Tempers are running high between housemates Baseer Ali and Gaurav Khanna, who are set to engage in a heated exchange in the upcoming episode of “Bigg Boss 19.”

In a promo shared on Instagram, the video features Baseer and Gaurav arguing in the kitchen. Baseer kicks off the confrontation by saying, “GK sir, you play with words like the knife my G.” Gaurav responds, claiming he is just speaking normally and that it’s Baseer who is getting “triggered” without cause.

Baseer presses Gaurav, asking why he can’t provide straightforward answers. He challenges him, stating, “Direct question ke answers aap galiyon main kiyun ghumate ho?” Gaurav counters that he does not believe in skirting around issues.

An irritated Baseer reacts, “Aap main dum hi nahi hai,” to which Gaurav agrees, adding, “Ek dum nahi hai.” The conversation escalates as Baseer tells Gaurav that wherever there’s an opportunity to show off, he will, and wherever he needs to dominate, he will do so. He expressed this sentiment in Hindi, saying, “Jahan muscle dikhana hai wahan muscle dikhayengay and jahan masalna hai waha masal denge.”

Gaurav retorts that “Bigg Boss” is not just about physical strength; it’s about strategy and using one’s brain. He remarks, “4 hafton main appka yeh roop nahi dekha tha aaj nikla hai,” prompting Gaurav to snap back, “Yeh hi roop hai.”

The promo is captioned: “Gaurav aur Baseer ki hui aisi argument, kya ho paayegi inke beech settlement? Dekhiye #BiggBoss19 ka naya episode, har roz raat 9 baje #JioHotstar par aur 10:30 baje @colorstv par.”

Following the surprising double eviction of Natalia Janoszek and Nagma Mirajkar last week, the contestants currently in the ‘Bigg Boss’ house include Gaurav Khanna, Amaal Mallik, Awez Darbar, Ashnoor Kaur, Mridul Tiwari, Kunickaa Sadanand, Baseer Ali, Abhishek Bajaj, Tanya Mittal, Zeishan Quadri, Nehal Chudasama, Pranit More, Farhana Bhatt, and Neelam Giri.

The show is available on JioHotstar and Colors.

Actress Pooja Hegde recently shared some interesting airport stories, including one involving a unique “boat ride.”

In her Instagram stories, Pooja was seen navigating water-logged roads in Chennai on her way to the airport. She posted a video from the backseat of her car, showcasing the flooded conditions. Her caption read, “A quick boat ride to the airport… I have some interesting airport stories lately,” and included a geotag for Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

On the professional front, Pooja was recently featured in the song “Monica” from the newly released film “Coolie.”

“Coolie” is an Indian Tamil-language action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, starring an ensemble cast that includes Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, Reba Monica John, Junior MGR, Monisha Blessy, and Kaali Venkat. Notably, “Coolie” marks the reunion of Sathyaraj and Rajinikanth on-screen after nearly 38 years. Their last collaboration was in the acclaimed Tamil film “Mr. Bharath,” released in 1986, where Sathyaraj portrayed Rajinikanth’s father. Interestingly, Sathyaraj had previously declined roles in some of Rajinikanth’s films, such as “Enthiran” and “Sivaji.”

“Coolie,” which is Rajinikanth’s 171st film, revolves around the theme of gold smuggling. Director Lokesh Kanagaraj has clarified that this film is a standalone project and is not connected to his Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU).

Looking ahead, Pooja will appear in “Jana Nayagan,” a political action thriller directed by H. Vinoth. This film features Vijay, Pooja Hegde, and Bobby Deol in lead roles, alongside Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, and Priyamani. It is expected to be Vijay’s last film appearance before he transitions into politics and marks KVN’s first Tamil-language production.

The film was officially announced in September 2024 under the tentative title “Thalapathy 69,” correlating with Vijay’s 69th film as a lead actor, and the official title came out in January 2025.

Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon recently discussed her exit from the 2014 thriller film “Gone Girl,” a role that ultimately went to Rosamund Pike.

In a podcast interview, Witherspoon shared her insights on the film during its development phase. Initially, she was set to portray Amy Elliott Dunne, earning the approval of author Gillian Flynn and managing the project through her production company.

However, once director David Fincher joined the project, he made the decision not to cast her in the role. “David sat me down — and this is not on David — but David’s like, ‘You’re totally wrong for this part, and I’m not putting you in it,’” Witherspoon recounted on the “Las Culturistas” podcast.

She continued, “I had all these conversations with the writer Gillian Flynn, and she was like, ‘No, I’d really like you to do it.’ … But (Fincher) was like, ‘You’re wrong.’”

The thriller, featuring Ben Affleck alongside Pike, marked a significant milestone for Pike, as she earned her first Academy Award nomination for best actress for her performance.

Witherspoon reflected on her conversation with Fincher, stating, “That was, first of all, an ego check for me. It was like, ‘No, you’re not right for everything.’ And he was right. He was totally right. … Fincher just killed it. And Rosamund Pike is so diabolical and Ben Affleck is sort of the rube on the other side of it.”

“Gone Girl” tells the story of Nick Dunne, who finds himself under intense media scrutiny when his wife, Amy Dunne, mysteriously vanishes on their fifth wedding anniversary.

Despite her exit from “Gone Girl,” Witherspoon received an Oscar nomination for best actress that same year for her lead role in the biopic “Wild,” directed by her soon-to-be “Big Little Lies” collaborator Jean-Marc Vallée.

Currently, Witherspoon is starring in the fourth season of “The Morning Show,” and she produced both “Wild” and “Gone Girl.”

Popular television actress Rupali Ganguly has shared a hilarious birthday note for her co-star and friend Alpana Buch, describing her as a “weird person with extreme levels of OCD.”

Taking to Instagram, Rupali posted a reel featuring herself and Alpana, along with a heartfelt caption. She wrote: “Happy Happy Birthday u wierd person with extreme levels of OCD!!! What would I do without u? Love u @alpanabuch19 #happybirthday #friends #rupaliganguly #jaimatadi #jaimahakal.”

An avid social media user, Rupali frequently shares videos and photographs on Instagram. On September 18, she posted a stunning picture of herself in a red silk saree adorned with golden work, which she paired with a matching red blouse embellished with gold.

Her accessories included beautiful golden jhumkas, matching bangles, and a mangalsutra. For makeup, Rupali opted for a red-toned lip color and blush, enhanced with pink and golden eyeshadow. In the photos, she elegantly posed with a peacock feather and captioned them, “Draped in tradition, wrapped in gratitude,” along with a red heart and folded hands emoji.

Rupali Ganguly is among the highest-paid television actresses in India, renowned for her roles as Monisha Singh Sarabhai in the iconic sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, and Anupamaa Joshi in the popular drama Anupamaa.

She began her acting career at the age of seven in her father’s directorial film Saaheb in 1985 and later starred opposite Tapas Paul in the successful Bengali film Balidan. Rupali’s breakthrough came with her role as Dr. Simran Chopra in the medical drama series Sanjivani: A Medical Boon, and she participated in Bigg Boss 1 in 2006.

Following that, she appeared in several hit television series like Ek Packet Umeed and Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi. After taking a seven-year break from acting, she made a strong return with Anupamaa.

Actor Divyenndu, known for his captivating role as Munna Bhaiya in the “Mirzapur” franchise, recently shared that his latest track, “Julmi Sawariya,” has rekindled his love for dancing.

Behind the Scenes on Instagram

Sharing a series of snapshots from the sets on Instagram, the actor showcased his experience while shooting for this Navratri special. In his caption, he expressed: “Actor + Camera = Julmi Sawariya. Had such a gala time shooting for this track!! Thank you for giving sooooo much love to our song.. loving the compliments u guys showered on me, big hug for that!! Also this made me realise that I love dancing but all this couldn’t have been possible without this absolutely gem of a team.. (Sic).”

Praise for the Team

Divyenndu highlighted the “fun vibe” brought by the song’s composer, Amit Trivedi. He noted, “It was a no brainer @bhoomitrivediofficial your vocals are just magical. My producers, @hitendrakapopara, who also designed the costumes, and @piyuushj9, you guys promised a vision and you delivered it, my respect for that. Many more collabs to come!!!”

He also recognized his co-star, stating, “My co-star @charmeezaveri did everything absolutely effortlessly. Well done, girl!” He extended his gratitude to the director and choreographer, @vijayganguly, and his team, saying, “You designed the song so brilliantly; loved the steps af!”

Production Highlights

“Julmi Sawariya,” produced by Vibha Films and Hitendra Kapopara, co-produced by Piyush Jain, is released under the Saregama label. Directed and choreographed by Vijay Ganguly, the video features sparkling chemistry between Divyenndu and Charmee Zaveri, alongside 100 dancers. The lyrics are penned by the talented Kumaar.

In his heartfelt conclusion, Divyenndu expressed love for his supportive team, mentioning @srishtishetty, his manager, @jitendras16, his personal assistant, @jatin_veerkar for makeup, and @hairplaywitshabby for hair, saying, “You know I love you guys.”

Singer Neha Kakkar made an appearance as a guest on the popular reality show “Pati Patni Aur Panga.”

On Thursday, Neha shared a fun behind-the-scenes video from the show, featuring Abhishek Kumar humorously singing her latest track “Tu Pyaasa Hai.” He was later joined by Milind Chandwani, and the two grooved along to the song. When Neha attempted to correct the lyrics, Abhishek playfully asserted that this was their unique version of the track.

As Isha Malviya stepped in to help Neha, Milind and Abhishek challenged her to sing “Tu Pyaasa Hai.” The video concluded with Abhishek belting out the song enthusiastically.

Neha posted the BTS clip on her official Instagram account, captioning it: “With the Cutest and Naughtiest (love eyes and laughing with tears emoji) @aebyborntoshine @isha__malviya and @milindchandwani and don’t miss @realsudeshlehri ji behind! Celebrating #TuPyaasaHai at #PatiPatniAurPanga.”

Meanwhile, the wedding celebrations of actress Avika Gor, known for her role in ‘Balika Vadhu,’ and Milind Chandwani have kicked off on “Pati Patni Aur Panga.” The show’s team revealed that the celebrations began on September 16 and unveiled the couple’s wedding invitation.

In July, Avika announced her plans to marry longtime partner Milind during the grand premiere of “Pati Patni Aur Panga.” She confirmed in the premiere episode that she would be tying the knot with him.

Avika expressed her excitement, stating, “There’s something incredibly poetic about going back to the place where it all began with gratitude, nostalgia, and a sense of purpose. Balika Vadhu taught me and so many people out there the power of choice and the courage it takes to rewrite your destiny. Years later, I return to Colors not as Anandi the Balika, but as Avika Gor the woman, ready to make the choice of a lifetime.”

In news that has plunged the Tamil film industry into grief, well-known actor and comedian Robo Shankar, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital, passed away. He was just 46 years old.

Robo Shankar is survived by his wife, Priyanka, and his daughter, Indraja, who starred alongside actor Vijay in the blockbuster film ‘Bigil’.

Best known for his stellar performances in films like Dhanush’s ‘Maari’, Vishal’s ‘Irumbu Thirai’, and Vishnu Vishal’s ‘Vellainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran’, Robo Shankar suddenly fainted on the sets during a shoot on Wednesday. Team members rushed him to a private hospital, where he received treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be saved and is believed to have passed away around 8:30 pm on Thursday evening.

Sources indicate that his body will be taken from the hospital to his residence, where it will be kept for loved ones to pay their last respects on Friday.

Many actors and directors from the Tamil film industry have expressed shock and sorrow upon learning of his demise.

Actor Kamal Haasan, among the first to react, paid tribute to Robo Shankar through a Tamil poem. In a heartfelt message, he noted that ‘Robo’ is merely a pseudonym and expressed that he regarded Robo Shankar as his younger brother. “Just because you have gone doesn’t mean you have left me,” he wrote, emphasizing that while Robo Shankar had completed his journey, his own was still in progress. He concluded the poem with the sentiment, “As you have left tomorrow for me, tomorrow is ours.”

Director Venkat Prabhu also shared his condolences on X, stating, “#RIProboshankar gone too soon my friend. Deepest condolences to family and friends.”

The makers of director Nanda Kishore’s eagerly awaited bilingual epic Vrusshabha, featuring Mohanlal in the lead role, have unveiled a gripping teaser that has thrilled fans and film enthusiasts alike.

Mohanlal, sharing the teaser link on his social media, expressed, “The wait ends here, a film that’s very close to my heart. Welcome to the World of #Vrusshabha. Releasing in theatres worldwide this Diwali!”

Teaser Highlights

The stunning teaser showcases Mohanlal in dual roles, portraying a king in the past and a father in the present. This marks Mohanlal’s first portrayal of a king in a bilingual epic, generating immense interest among audiences.

Crafted with the vision of writer-director Nanda Kishore, Vrusshabha boasts stellar performances from Mohanlal, Ragini Dwivedi, and the promising Samarjit Lankesh. Each frame of the film resonates with passion and purpose.

Visuals and Music

The film’s powerful storytelling is complemented by breathtaking visuals from cinematographer Antony Samson, seamless edits by KM Prakash, and soul-stirring music composed by Sam CS. Additionally, the immersive soundscape, created by Academy Award-winner Resul Pookutty, further enhances the cinematic experience.

Sources indicate that the film promises a grand visual spectacle while remaining deeply rooted in emotional resonance.

Action and Dialogues

Vrusshabha features impactful dialogues from SRK, Janardhan Maharshi, and Karthik. Its adrenaline-pumping action sequences have been choreographed by acclaimed action directors Peter Hein, Stunt Silva, and Nikhil.

Producer Ektaa R Kapoor stated, “At Balaji, we’ve always believed in powerful storytelling, and Vrusshabha is a project that excites us immensely. It’s not just a film, but an epic saga of relationships, revenge, and redemption. We are thrilled to collaborate with incredible talent to present this cinematic experience.”

Director’s Vision

Director Nanda Kishore commented, “Vrusshabha is not just a film; it’s an emotion. Working with the legendary Mohanlal has been an absolute honour; his presence elevates every frame and brings unmatched gravitas to the story. Playing the son is Samarjit, a young talent with incredible potential and charm. Ultimately, Vrusshabha is the powerful story of a father and son, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it on the big screen.”

Production Details

Presented by Connekkt Media and Balaji Telefilms, in association with Abishek S Vyas Studios, Vrusshabha is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, C.K. Padma Kumar, Varun Mathur, Saurabh Mishra, Abishek S Vyas, Praveer Singh, Vishal Gurnani, and Juhi Parekh Mehta.

The film has been shot simultaneously in Malayalam and Telugu and is also set to release in Hindi and Kannada this Diwali.