Category: Entertainment

The singing reality show Indian Idol Season 16 is gearing up for a touching and emotional moment.

A Heartfelt Reunion

Superstar singer and judge Shreya Ghoshal made a remarkable gesture by surprising contestant Abhishek Kumar with his father’s appearance on set. This unexpected reunion filled the atmosphere with emotion, visibly affecting the judges, contestants, and audience alike.

As Shreya invited Abhishek’s father on stage, the entire mood shifted to a powerful, heartfelt scene, showcasing the show’s ability to create lasting memories beyond just music. Abhishek was overwhelmed with emotion as he watched his father walk in. The young singer has frequently expressed gratitude for his father’s sacrifices and unwavering support.

A Meaningful Experience

The recollection of Abhishek’s heartfelt words added to the significance of the moment for everyone present. Judge Vishal Dadlani showed empathy by inviting Abhishek’s father to take his seat, symbolically allowing him to witness his son’s special performance from an optimal view.

This kind gesture elicited a huge round of applause from the audience, underscoring the show’s commitment to celebrating not just talent but also the individuals behind that talent. As Abhishek performed, emotions in the studio continued to soar.

Guest Appearance

Special guest Raveena Tandon, appearing for the show’s Yaadon Ki Playlist segment, was visibly touched by Abhishek’s heartfelt singing and the poignant father-son moment that unfolded. She was seen wiping away tears, praising Abhishek’s sincerity and depth in connecting with his music.

Raveena added a fun element to the episode as she joined singer and rapper Badshah, who is also a judge on the show, to make parathas together.

Actress and theatre artist Juhi Babbar, the elder daughter of veteran actor Raj Babbar, recently expressed her heartfelt wishes to her parents on their 50th wedding anniversary through her social media account.

Golden Anniversary Celebrations

Juhi shared a nostalgic photograph of Raj and Nadira Babbar from their younger days, accompanied by a touching caption: “… AND (NOT) just like that, they turned 50. Happy Golden Anniversary, Mummy Papa.”

Earlier in the day, her younger brother and actor Arya Babbar also took to social media to congratulate Raj and Nadira on their golden jubilee. He reflected on their 50 years of love, togetherness, and cherished moments, sharing heartfelt memories and celebrating their enduring romance.

In his post, Arya wrote, “Cheers to 50 years of love, laughter, and forever. Happy Anniversary, Mumma & Pappa. #happyanniversary #nadirababbar #aaryababbar #rajbabbar.” He shared a black-and-white photograph featuring a young Raj Babbar and Nadira Babbar, giving a glimpse into their beautiful journey together.

Family Moments Captured

Another photo showed the couple with their children, Arya and Juhi Babbar, while yet another image depicted the entire family smiling together at a recent event.

For context, Raj Babbar married Nadira in 1975. After their separation, he later married actress Smita Patil in 1983. Following Smita’s untimely death in 1986, Raj reunited with Nadira.

Coming from different religious backgrounds—Raj being Hindu and Nadira Muslim—the couple initially faced significant pressure from Raj’s family, who wished for Nadira to convert to Hinduism.

Raj has a son, Prateik Babbar, from his marriage with the late Smita Patil. Like his parents, Prateik is also pursuing a career in the Bollywood industry.

The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2025) will pay tribute to the nation’s cinematic heritage with the presentation of 18 meticulously restored classics. These films have been brought back to life under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) by the NFDC–National Film Archive of India (NFAI).

A Diverse Selection of Indian Cinema

Curated as part of the Indian Panorama Special Package, this selection features a rich variety of Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi cinema. It reflects a vast spectrum of artistic expression that has been preserved with rigorous archival standards and deep respect for each film’s original creative intent. This year’s program carries significant historical resonance.

It celebrates 125 years of V. Shantaram and pays centenary tributes to renowned filmmakers and artists, including Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, Bhupen Hazarika, P. Bhanumati, Salil Choudhury, and K. Vaikunth. The festival also marks 50 years of NFDC, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping modern Indian cinema. A dedicated showcase of Shyam Benegal’s Susman further honors the visionary filmmaker’s enduring contribution.

Rigorous Restoration Process

The Indian restored titles presented at IFFI 2025 exemplify the project’s commitment to meticulous restoration, which includes painstaking frame-by-frame digital restoration and color grading. This process is often undertaken in collaboration with filmmakers, cinematographers, or their associates whenever possible.

Launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in November 2016, the National Film Heritage Mission stands as one of India’s most ambitious preservation initiatives. Its mandate encompasses the preservation, conservation, digitization, and restoration of India’s film heritage, which includes camera negatives, release prints, and rare archival materials sourced from rights holders, collectors, and international institutions.

Highlights of the Festival

Among the highlights is Ritwik Ghatak’s Subarnarekha, restored from the 35mm master positive in the NFDC–NFAI collection, with final color grading supervised by cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay. Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan has been restored from a preserved 35mm release print after the original negative deteriorated irreversibly, with Ali personally supervising the grading to maintain the film’s unique chromatic elegance. His earlier milestone, Gaman, returns in a newly restored version, with missing footage reconstructed from a subtitled archival print.

Equally notable are the restorations of Kalpana Lajmi’s Rudaali and B.N. Reddi’s Malleswari. Each of these films has been restored meticulously while preserving their textual and visual authenticity. The program also celebrates timeless classics such as Raj Khosla’s C.I.D., Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa, and V. Shantaram’s Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, restored from surviving prints or dupe negatives after original materials were lost or damaged.

Modern-era films—including Ek Doctor Ki Maut, Ek Hota Vidushak, Kireedam (featuring Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee Mohanlal), and Musafir—also form part of the lineup.

A Unique Sensory Experience

One of the program’s rare treasures is Baburao Painter’s Muraliwala (1927), one of the few surviving Indian silent films. This film will be presented with a specially curated live musical accompaniment by composer Rahul Ranade, offering audiences a sensory experience reminiscent of early 20th-century film exhibitions, alongside the presence of Baburao Painter’s two surviving daughters.

Films such as Ramesh Saigal’s Shaheed (1948) and Mani Ratnam’s Gitanjali illustrate the varied eras and narrative traditions represented in this restoration slate, with each title presenting unique technical and archival challenges.

Together, these restorations showcased at IFFI 2025 celebrate the contributions of India’s most influential cinematic personalities. They reaffirm India’s commitment to safeguarding its moving image heritage, ensuring that the artistic, historical, and cultural memories embedded in these works continue to resonate with new generations.

Bollywood singer Palak Muchhal is thrilled as her brother, Palaash Muchhal, prepares to marry Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana on November 23rd.

Palak recently shared several pictures from the Haldi ceremony held today. In one emotional moment captured, she was seen applying wedding haldi on the groom-to-be, Palaash. Another picture featured her alongside her husband, lyricist Mithoon.

On this joyous occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent heartfelt wishes to the couple through an official letter from the PM’s office. The letter expressed delight over the upcoming wedding, stating, “It is delightful to learn about the wedding of Sou. Smriti and Chi. Palaash, which is to be held on 23rd November 2025. Heartiest congratulations and greetings to the Mandhana and Muchhal families on the auspicious and joyous occasion.”

The letter further conveyed hopes for the couple’s future, emphasizing the importance of mutual support: “Walking hand in hand through every season of life, may the couple find strength in each other’s presence, and may their hearts, minds, and souls be in harmony. May their dreams intertwine and grow together, guiding them toward a future filled with joy and deep understanding.”

It also wished for a life rooted in trust: “May Smriti and Palaash build a shared life rooted in trust, standing by each other always, embracing responsibilities with love and growing together through each other’s strengths and imperfections.” PM Modi added his hopes for the couple’s future, noting, “As they start a new, beautiful life together, the grace of Smriti’s cover drive meets the lilting musical symphony of Palaash in a wonderful partnership.”

In a playful touch, the letter mentioned a Celebration Cricket Match scheduled between Team Groom and Team Bride: “May both these teams win in the game of life. I send my blessings to the couple for the momentous occasion.”

For those unfamiliar, Smriti Mandhana is one of India’s most celebrated women cricketers, while Palaash Muchhal is a prominent music composer associated with various Bollywood projects.

Actress Sherlyn Chopra has recently made headlines following her decision to remove her breast implants. In a detailed press conference, she shared the reasons behind this significant choice.

Sherlyn’s Journey

During the press conference, Sherlyn Chopra stated, “Today I am going to talk about why I chose to remove the implants. I had always thought that I was strong and always had a notion fixed in my head of ‘Bigger The Better’ (Bade Achhe Lagte Hain).”

Holding up the silicon implants that were recently taken out, she revealed, “From 2021 until November 10, I was continuously struggling with chronic pain—neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, brain fog, and more. After undergoing numerous medical investigations, it was discovered that the root cause was my heavy breast implants. You won’t believe it, but after having these heavy implants removed, I lost two kilograms. You can imagine the relief I felt. Not only did I get relief from the pain, but I also got rid of the artificial burden.”

A Call for Self-Acceptance

Sherlyn continued, “In the pursuit of social media advice and views, we put our lives at risk by taking such irrational decisions. But now I don’t want to involve my body in any of this. Enough is enough.”

She also discussed societal perceptions of beauty, questioning, “The definition of ‘sex bomb’ or ‘bombshell’ has been set in today’s society. The statistics of a 36-24-36 figure body have been set in mind. But who has set them? Why do we believe that statistics represent an hourglass figure? And that anything other than that number is not perfect?”

Her plea for authenticity was clear as she remarked, “Who decides what is a perfect figure and what is not? Enough is enough. It is high time that we start embracing our authenticity, our realness. We should take pride in who we really are and how far we have come. Maybe my breasts are small. Maybe my nose is small. But I am a creation of God, and He loves me the way He has made me.”

For those who may not know, Sherlyn Chopra recently had her breast implants removed and urged everyone to love themselves just as they are.

Bollywood star Shraddha Kapoor’s brother, actor Siddhanth Kapoor, has been summoned by the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Cell in connection with a Rs 252 crore drug case.

Interrogation Details

Siddhanth’s name came up during the questioning of Mohammed Salim Mohammed Suhail Shaikh, a key accused in the Rs 252 crore mephedrone seizure. The actor has been asked to appear for questioning at the Ghatkopar unit on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

Understanding Mephedrone

Mephedrone, or 4-methylephedrone, is a prohibited psychotropic substance that was officially notified under the NDPS Act in February 2015.

Previous Incidents

This is not Siddhanth’s first encounter with drug-related issues. In June 2022, he was arrested in Bengaluru after testing positive for MDMA (ecstasy) and marijuana following a hotel party raid. He was booked under Sections 22A, 22B, and 27B of the NDPS Act. Siddhanth claimed that his drinks and cigarettes had been laced with drugs without his knowledge. He was later released on station bail, as police classified the incident as a consumption case rather than a commercial trafficking case.

Denial of Allegations

Siddhanth has denied any significant involvement in trafficking, and his father, Shakti Kapoor, has publicly refuted the allegations.

Orry’s Summons

In addition, social media influencer Orry has received a second summons, requiring him to appear at the ANC Ghatkopar unit on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, to record his statement in connection with the case.

Orry, whose real name is Orhan Awatramani, has become a pop-culture phenomenon without claiming a conventional profession. He is friends with many new-generation Bollywood actors and is known for his vibrant social media presence. Positioned between a socialite, influencer, and Gen-Z performance artist, Orry has built a persona characterized by his visibility, connections, and unapologetic flamboyance. He is the son of Suraj K. Awatramani, a businessman involved in real estate, hospitality, and beverage manufacturing.

Actress Sahher Bamba, who recently rose to fame with her show The Ba***ds of Bollywood, is all set to collaborate with the global pop sensation King for a pop-dance track.

Shoot and team
The song has been shot in Kochi and directed by Lendrick Kumar. Talking about the collaboration, Sahher Bambba said, “Working on this song has been such a refreshing experience for me.
The team, especially Lendrick, created a playful, supportive space that really allowed the performance to breathe. And with King’s easy, infectious energy on set, everything flowed even better. I’m truly thrilled with what we’ve created together.”

About the song
The upcoming song of the global pop force – King – behind record-shattering hits like Maan Meri Jaan and Tu Jaana Na Piya, has been titled ‘Kamaal Hai’. It is said to be an explosive pop-dance track in collaboration with Warner Music India. The track kickstarts a daring new chapter in King’s artistry and is the first single from his sixth studio album, dropping early next year. Composed by King and Aditya Dev, with lyrics by King himself, Kamaal Hai will deliver pure pop adrenaline, complete with a standout hook step and high-energy choreography built for screens big and small. The music video matches the song’s scale and madness.

Visuals and cast
The cinematic action-comedy spectacle that stars King and Sahher Bambba, along with the legendary Lilliput (M.M. Faruqui), drops viewers into a hyper-stylised gangster universe of vintage cars, sleek suits, guns, swagger and total chaos. On the launch of the song, King shared, “Kamaal Hai marks the beginning of a new era for me, and I wanted the visuals to feel just as explosive as the song.
Working with Sahher Bambba and Lilliput, sir, was an absolute joy. They brought so much charm, timing, and personality to the world we were building.” He added, “Most importantly, collaborating with Lendrick Kumar on the video was an incredible experience, as his vision, pace, and treatment turned the track into this larger-than-life ride filled with dance, action, and humour. It’s the kind of madness I’ve always wanted to put on screen, and I’m glad we got to create it together.”

King’s next steps
King, a global hitmaker, continues to expand his footprint with chart-topping singles, massive collaborations, and electrifying live performances worldwide. Next up, he is all set for the Music Head Festival, Itanagar, on November 22, with more shows across India lined up. Kamaal Hai, released under Warner Music India, is now streaming on all major platforms.

rd/

Manoj Bajpayee recently revealed during his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati how Amitabh Bachchan had almost got him ‘killed’.

Sharing the ‘funny’ incident from over 26 years ago, Manoj revealed how he has had vertigo all his life and how Amitabh had then tricked him into pulling off a stunt that required him to face his fears of heights.

Manoj said, “Amitji once almost got me killed. I have vertigo, intense vertigo. The action director and the director of my then movie, everyone, came to me and asked me to jump from the waterfall that was about 150–200 feet high. They said that they would put a harness on me too.”

Talking about himself, Manoj said, “The man who can’t even stand 20 feet above the ground was being told to go up 150 feet! I refused completely. I said, “I’ll die. I’ll get a heart attack. When no one could convince me, they all went to Amitabh Bachchan to convince me.” Manoj stated how Big B tried to convince him.

The actor said, “Amitji said, “Look, Manoj, I’m here. We’ll only go up to 50 feet. I’ve already told them I can’t take you higher—it could be dangerous because he’s scared.” They put a harness on us, and don’t look down. Look straight.” Manoj added, “But I realised we were rising far beyond 50 feet. I shouted, “Sir! Sir! We’re going up 100 feet!””

To which Amit Sir calmly replied, “Listen… if anything happens, tell Jaya that I love her very much.” This revelation made host Amitabh Bachchan, actor Jaideep Ahlawat and the audiences laugh out loud. Manoj Bajpayee and Jaideep Ahlawat were seen on the KBC sets to promote their web series The Family Man 3, which goes on air on November 21.

rd/

Superstar Rajinikanth on Friday released the title teaser of ‘With Love’, the film being produced by his daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth along with producer Magesh Raj Pasilian, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.

TEASER RELEASE
The film, which is being directed by Madhan, features ‘Tourist Family’ director Abishan Jeevinth and Anaswara Rajan in the lead.

Taking to his X timeline to release the title teaser, Superstar Rajinikanth wrote, “Wishing my daughter @soundaryaarajni and the entire team of the film #WithLove all the very best. God bless. @mageshraj”

Soundarya Rajinikanth, for her part, responded to her dad saying, “Biggest blessing ever. Thank you so much appa. You are my life !”

INSIDE THE TEASER
The title teaser opens with Abishan Jeevinth, who plays a character called Sathya, calling a friend over phone in the presence of Anaswara Rajan who plays a character called Monisha in the film. Sathya blows a fuse as his friend answers the call. Monisha, however, calmly asks the person at the other end if he has the contact of a person called Anisha. The person at the other end asks her who she is to which, Sathya in a fit of rage, screams “She’s my fiancee. You shut up and speak!”

The next sequence shows Monisha explaining to Sathya that suspicion is different from possessiveness and that his possessiveness must not be expressed directly but discreetly through his actions. Poor Sathya is completely at sea and begs her not to expect anything on those lines from him. The teaser gives the impression that both these individuals have contrasting natures.

PRODUCTION, SHOOTING AND POST-PRODUCTION
For the unaware, the film’s makers have already announced that shooting for the film had been wrapped up.

Sources close to the unit of the film say that the entire film has been shot in Chennai and Trichy. They also add that with shooting having been completed, post production work is now on at a brisk pace.

CASTING, BACKGROUND AND BOX-OFFICE NOTE
The film, which was initially being tentatively referred to as #PRNO4, has been garnering attention ever since it was announced as it will mark the debut of director Abishan Jeevinth as an actor. Young Abishan Jeevinth was the director of the superhit film ‘Tourist Family’, which featured actors Sasikumar and Simran in the lead. The film, which was made on a modest budget and which was released earlier this year, went on to make over a 90 crores at the box office, pleasantly surprising both critics and fans.

‘With Love’ is being jointly produced by Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Zion Pictures and Magesh Raj Pasilian’s MRP Entertainment.

TECHNICAL TEAM
The upcoming film has an excellent technical team working on it. It has one of the Tamil film industry’s top music directors Sean Roldan scoring music for it. Cinematography for the film is by cameraman Shreyaas Krishna and editing is by Suresh Kumar. Art direction for the film is by Raj Kamal and Costumes have been designed by Priya Ravi.

mkr/

The singing reality show Indian Idol Season 16 continues to be unlocking its ‘Yaadon Ki Playlist’ segment.

Raveena Tandon brings ’90s nostalgia

This week, the episode promises to be an unforgettable celebration of the ‘90s as Bollywood’s ultimate diva and the OG “Tip Tip” girl, Raveena Tandon, graces the stage in a stunning yellow saree.

Sharing her excitement, Raveena Tandon said, “Stepping onto the Indian Idol stage feels like walking into a live concert, which transports me back into a musical. The theme Yaadon Ki Playlist is pure nostalgia, as it brings alive all those unforgettable ’90s songs we grew up with, danced to, and performed to. I’m genuinely thrilled to be part of the show, to relive those iconic melodies through these incredible young singers, and to celebrate old memories while creating brand-new ones.”

Raveena not only brings a wave of nostalgia but also a fun-filled celebration for Badshah’s birthday, with her evergreen charm perfectly syncing with the episode’s theme. She also took the moment to another level, sharing the stage with the birthday boy while cooking parathas.

During the cooking challenge, Badshah was seen quipping, “Raveena ji, maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki mujhe aapke saath paratha banane ka mauka milega!” (Raveena ji, I had never thought I would get an opportunity ever to make parathas with you.) In all her warmth, Raveena not only helped him make the perfect paratha but even sweetly fed him a bite, creating an OG moment that fans will replay again and again.

Talking more about the segment, the Indian Idol 16 contestants will be seen setting the stage on fire with some of Raveena’s most iconic hits, from ‘Hungama Ho Gaya’ to ‘Akhiyon Se Goli Maare’, and many more chartbusters that continue to rule the playlist.

Earlier this week, actress Karisma Kapoor graced the show for the Yaadon Ki Playlist segment.

rd/