Category: Entertainment

As his short film “Holy Curse” did not make it to the Oscars shortlist this year, actor Anup Soni responded gracefully, thanking everyone for their “warmth and encouragement.”

Anup took to Instagram to share a series of stills from the short film and emphasized that the journey has been as significant as the destination. He wrote: “Our short film, Holy Curse, couldn’t make it to the Oscars shortlist this time. Nevertheless, thanks so much for the warmth and encouragement. Thank you my director @kapoorsnig for this one. And guys if you haven’t seen it yet, pls watch it on The New Yorker YouTube channel.”

About Holy Curse

Directed by Snigdha Kapoor, Holy Curse follows 11-year-old Radha, who, during a visit to India, grapples with their gender identity as their family subjects them to manipulative orthodox rituals, believing these will dispel an alleged ancestral curse affecting Radha’s thoughts. The film also stars Shardul Bharadwaj, Suhas Deshpande, and Adithi Kalkunte.

Anup Soni’s Career Journey

Anup, who is married to actress Juhi Babbar, began his career with roles in television serials such as Sea Hawks and Saaya. He later transitioned to cinema, appearing in the 2003 films Kharaashein: Scars From Riots, Hum Pyar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe, and Hathyar.

In 2004, he featured in Ashoke Pandit’s film Sheen, but soon returned to television with CID: Special Bureau. Anup continues to work in both films and television, having previously been part of the series Crime Patrol.

Most recently, he was seen in the series Saare Jahan Se Accha, which follows a resilient Indian spy who must outsmart his counterpart across the border in Pakistan to sabotage its nuclear program. Anup also made a cameo appearance in the film The Great Shamsuddin Family, directed by Anusha Rizvi, alongside an ensemble cast including Kritika Kamra, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sheeba Chaddha, Farida Jalal, and Purab Kohli.

Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai expressed his love and blessings for his daughter Muskaan Ghai as she celebrated her 24th birthday.

Ghai shared a group photo of Muskaan with her friends on his official Instagram account. He praised her friends, whom he described as full of substance and righteousness. In his heartfelt message, Ghai wrote, “God chooses your family…You choose your friends…Which influence your life…So glad to see your beautiful friends with substance n righteousness…On your 24th happy birthday with lots of our blessings n my special love as a father. Stay happy. Stay good…Love u… Muskaan S. Ghai…Guess where is she in this team? In white? SG. (sic)”

Interestingly, Ghai was absent from the photo.

In a separate post, he uploaded a picture of Muskaan and conveyed, “Happy birthday dearest to all Muskaan Ghai…With lots of love n blessings from your big family. Ghai family…Bahri family…Farooqui family…Bindra family…Stay blessed always…stay happy healthy n good (sic).”

Last week, Ghai took a moment to remember his mother on her birthday with a nostalgic social media tribute. He thanked her for being a guiding force during his struggling phase, recalling her spiritual lectures and inspiring letters.

Sharing a picture of his mother, Ghai noted, “U can forget Anything in life but never your own mother who gave you birth with nontransactional love n deepest pray for your growth n happiness. (sic) Today I m looking at her picture of my mom Mrs. Subhadhra Ghai – an educated woman of substance of the 1940s. My all credits go to her spiritual lectures n inspiring letters to me in my young struggling days. A big thank you MAA N Happy birthday today. U r still with us.”

Actress Ameesha Patel recently shared her thoughts on the upcoming film “Humraaz 2,” expressing her confidence in the sequel.

Excitement for “Humraaz 2”

In an exclusive conversation, the ‘Gadar’ actress highlighted how the original film’s strong recall value has sparked curiosity and excitement among audiences. Ameesha noted that the continued popularity of “Humraaz” bodes well for the sequel, positioning “Humraaz 2” with a solid foundation and strong box office potential.

She stated, “I think, more than me, more than Bobby, and more than Akshay, of course, this film has been worked upon. The sequel is already a drastic mark, so it will do good business because the audience already loves it and they are excited for it. But I think more than us, the producers, you know, they are excited about it. Because their film is the most popular for another franchise, so that’s great.”

Legacy of “Humraaz”

Originally directed by the acclaimed duo Abbas–Mustan, “Humraaz” featured Bobby Deol, Akshaye Khanna, and Ameesha Patel in lead roles. This romantic thriller marked the third collaboration between Deol and the directors. The film was loosely inspired by the 1998 American thriller “A Perfect Murder,” a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder” (1954), which itself was based on Frederick Knott’s 1952 stage play. “Humraaz” was also remade in Tamil as “Girivalam.” The film’s soundtrack, composed by Himesh Reshammiya, became one of the highest-selling Bollywood albums of the year, with its release on 5 July 2002.

Nostalgia Surrounding the Sequel

In July, fans expressed their excitement for “Humraaz 2” when Ameesha Patel shared a throwback photograph from the film’s promotional campaign over two decades ago. The nostalgic post featured her co-stars Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna, rekindling memories and generating renewed buzz around the sequel.

Television actress Munmun Dutta, well known for her role as Babita Krishnan Iyer in “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah,” is currently embracing the festive spirit far from home this Christmas. She is celebrating the season in Budapest, fulfilling a cherished dream from her bucket list.

Capturing the Festive Moments

Munmun has taken to Instagram to share glimpses of her holiday, expressing her longtime desire to celebrate Christmas in Europe. In the pictures, the actress is seen amidst twinkling lights at a vibrant Christmas market. She posted a series of images dressed warmly in a faux fur beige overcoat and earmuffs.

For her caption, she wrote, “And it’s Christmas in Budapest. My favourite time of the year. It was a long cherished dream to celebrate Christmas in Europe amongst beautiful lights, mulled wine, marzipans and of course biting cold weather.” She added, “And I got to do that before this year ends. I could not be any more grateful and happy. #munmundutta #christmasishere #budapest #hungary.”

About Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah

Discussing her well-loved show, “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah” is based on the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma by Tarak Mehta for the magazine Chitralekha. Produced by Asit Kumarr Modi, it stands as one of the longest-running television series in India, having premiered on 28 July 2008.

Set in Mumbai, the show highlights the lives of the residents of Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society, depicting a diverse community representing various cultural and regional backgrounds.

The storylines often revolve around an individual or a family, and at times, the entire society, as they navigate and resolve different challenges. The characters frequently come together to support one another and celebrate festivals, showcasing their strong communal bond.

A central theme features Jethalal Champaklal Gada, who finds himself in amusing troubles, experiencing brief moments of relief before facing new challenges.

Actress Pooja Ruparel recently experienced a wave of nostalgia when she met filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, over three decades after their collaboration on the 1993 film “King Uncle.”

On Instagram, Pooja, who portrayed the orphaned girl Munna in the film, shared a collection of throwback photos with Rakesh. The images included behind-the-scenes moments from “King Uncle,” which features stars like Jackie Shroff, Shah Rukh Khan, Anu Aggarwal, Nagma, Paresh Rawal, Sushmita Mukherjee, Pooja Ruparel, and Deven Verma.

In her post, the text overlay on the pictures read: “33 years later… I met my first director… life changing… The Real ‘King’ Uncle… My Rakesh uncle.”

She reflected on their meeting, writing, “Christmas Time Serendipity!!! Met Rakesh Uncle after we wrapped shooting for King Uncle 33 years ago. Such warm and wonderful memories.”

“King Uncle” was inspired by the 1982 English film “Annie,” which starred Aileen Quinn and Albert Finney, and is based on the 1924 comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” by Harold Gray. The film enjoyed moderate box office success and has achieved cult status, resonating well with families and children.

The story revolves around Ashok Bansal, an industrialist whose stern demeanor estranges his brother and sister. However, the arrival of young orphan Munna begins to soften his icy exterior.

Pooja began her acting career as a child artist in 1993. Following her role in “King Uncle,” she gained nationwide recognition as “Chutki” in the iconic film “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.”

Since then, Pooja has acted in several movies and television series, including “Amit Sahni Ki List,” “X: Past Is Present,” the TV series “24,” and “Zabaan Sambhalke.”

Actress Priyanka Chopra praised her husband Nick Jonas as the Jonas Brothers concluded the North American leg of their “Greetings From Your Hometown” tour.

Showering love and admiration on the American singer and actor, Priyanka took to Instagram to say, “And it’s a wrap on the North American leg of the Greetings From Your Hometown tour. Congratulations @nickjonas I’m always so in awe of all you do. You deserve this and so much more. We love you. (love kissed emoji) @joejonas. (sic)”

Included in her post was a fun group photo featuring Priyanka, Nick, and his brothers Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas, along with Joe’s wife, Danielle Jonas.

The post also showcased a few backstage glimpses of Nick performing alongside his brothers. Moments captured ranged from Nick and Priyanka enjoying a lovely couple’s photo to little Malti sharing a warm hug with her mother, and a group picture of everyone involved in the tour.

Priyanka was seen lovingly holding little Malti, with both of them smiling at each other, while the final picture featured Priyanka facing the camera, with Nick affectionately holding her from behind.

In another update, Priyanka recently appeared as a guest on the inaugural episode of the celebrity chat show “The Great Indian Kapil Show season 4.” During her appearance, she shared that her daughter Malti has a huge fascination with the concept of being an ‘Indian Princess.’

“Whenever she wears Ghagra Choli, she calls herself an Indian princess. She loves her bindi, bangles, and accessories,” Priyanka revealed.

Reacting to this, Navjyot Singh Sidhu humorously remarked, “A queen’s daughter will obviously call herself a princess,” referring to Priyanka as the queen.

She also shared a sweet memory of Nick taking her in his plane over the clouds so she could see the moon and break her fast on the eve of Karva Chauth.

Actor Ali Fazal is currently immersed in the shooting of the much-anticipated movie adaptation of his hit crime thriller, “Mirzapur.” As fans eagerly await the return of Guddu Bhaiya on screen, Fazal has been sharing exciting snippets from their shoot diaries in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.

The ‘Fukrey’ star recently took to his Instagram, sharing a video of himself showcasing his signature swagger as Guddu Bhaiya on set.

Gratitude for Rajasthan

Thanking Jaisalmer and Jodhpur for their warm hospitality, Fazal expressed his appreciation on Instagram: “MIRZAPUR THE FILM. Shooting now. Rajasthan Schedule. Thank you Jaisalmer and Jodhpur for the immense love and hospitality that knows no bounds. Aapne humein apna samjha… To all the hotels that made us feel at home while we were toiling away from our own homes.”

He added, “Khammaghani!! And I have to introduce you to everyone. The entire gang is playing.”

Behind the Scenes Fun

Fazal has been actively sharing various insights from the shoot diaries of “Mirzapur: The Movie” on social media. In November, the team completed the Jodhpur segment of their schedule, and Fazal marked the occasion with a few sneak peeks from a small celebration.

The post featured moments from a cake-cutting ceremony, along with candid photographs capturing the fun evening spent with cast and crew. He wrote, “And it’s a SCHEDULE WRAP for MIRZAPUR (film). Thank you Jodhpur for showering us with sooooo much love and hospitality (THE FOOD WAS AWESOME). Thank you Veer for hosting us tonight.”

Fazal humorously noted, “This is the worst set of photos and video I could collect on our last day here (Face Savoring Food emojis).. enjoy. Onto our next stop – ANY GUESSES? Oh also sorry guys – we all collectively are blurred. To many more 5 am wakeup calls.. #MTF #M.”

Fans can expect more updates as the filming progresses!

Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet isn’t backing down. The actor has defended his behavior during the Marty Supreme press tour.

The 29-year-old has been using interviews to discuss his performance as table tennis player Marty Mauser in the upcoming movie. He emphasized that his comments are meant to channel the “spirit” of his alter ego.

Timothée told IndieWire, “This is the spirit of Marty, and I feel like this is ultimately an original film at a time when original movies aren’t really put out. It’s a movie about the pursuit of a dream.”

He added, “I’m leaving it on the field. Whether it’s the merch or the Zoom or the media appearances, I’m trying to get this out in the biggest way possible. In the spirit of Marty Mauser.”

However, the actor faced criticism for an interview where he suggested that Marty Supreme is his best acting role yet, after delivering “top-of-the-line performances” for the last “seven, eight” years.

The ‘Dune’ star stated, “I don’t want people to take it for granted. I don’t want to take it for granted. This is really some top-level s***.”

Timothée also made ambiguous comments on Good Morning America, which some interpreted as a prediction that he will win an Oscar next year for his role in the movie.

He said, “I want the movie to succeed. I want everything to win. The real truth is that Marty Supreme, I feel confident to the degree that by next summer. I’m confident I know what it’s gonna be by next summer.”

Recently, the actor revealed that he spent seven years mastering table tennis before production began on the film.

He shared with the BBC, “I got approached with this project in 2018, so that basically gave me six, seven years to prepare on and off. In all my downtime, I would train as much as possible.”

The ‘Wonka’ star even practiced table tennis while filming other movies. He recounted, “Certainly, by the time ‘The French Dispatch’ was coming out (in 2021), I have a video, at risk of being unrelatable, I was in a beautiful Airbnb on a cliffside for the Cannes Film Festival. And I had a table with me. So I have a video of training with friends. It’s like a gorgeous sunset.”

Actress Divya Seth Shah recently took to her social media account to celebrate her veteran actress mother, Sushma Seth, on her remarkable 90th birthday.

In a heartfelt carousel post, she shared pictures featuring her mother alongside herself, her late daughter Mihika, and various family and friends. “Today and every day we celebrate you, Mum. Your Integrity Your Talent Your Empathy Your insight Your love in every lifetime – may we be yours. 90,” she wrote, accompanied by a flexed arm emoticon. Sushma Seth has been a prominent figure in the Bollywood industry for several decades.

She is fondly remembered for her roles, particularly as Shah Rukh Khan’s grandmother, Rahul, in the iconic film Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, and as Laajo in Kal Ho Na Ho.

Recently, Divya resumed work and returned to the sets a few days ago. She documented her first day of shooting after the passing of her daughter. Sharing a video on social media, she showcased her preparations for the shoot.

In her caption, Divya expressed her emotions, saying, “I approached my first shoot day after you left with much trepidation. What if I couldn’t bear it? What if I dissolved into tears? What if you were right there, holding my hand, cheering me on, just not at the door to see me off at 4:00 am or asking me when I had returned if I had eaten? But I will soldier on. It’s the only way I know how to survive.”

For those unfamiliar, Divya Seth Shah’s daughter Mihika Shah, aged 23, tragically passed away on August 5, 2024, in Mumbai, following a brief illness that included a high-grade fever and a seizure. Her passing left the family and the film and television community in profound mourning.

On the professional front, Divya began her career in the late 1980s and gained popularity through television, particularly with the pioneering sitcom Hum Log. She has also appeared in successful films such as Dil Dhadakne Do, English Vinglish, Jab We Met, and Haider.

Television star couple Dipika Kakar and Shoaib Ibrahim recently shared a romance-filled video on their social media account, captivating their fans.

In the video, Dipika is seen dressed in a beautiful Indian salwar kameez paired with a winter coat, appearing lost in thought. Shoaib, in the latter half of the clip, holds her hands, their fingers intertwined, as she rests her head on his shoulder. The background song features the classic hit “Tera Mera Pyaar Amar,” while Dipika captioned the post with “Mera Sukoon.”

For those who may not know, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar first crossed paths on the set of their successful show Sasural Simar Ka a decade ago, where they portrayed a husband-and-wife duo. Their on-screen chemistry blossomed into a real-life romance shortly after. After dating for nearly five years, the couple tied the knot in a Nikah ceremony on February 22, 2018, in Shoaib’s hometown, Maudaha, near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Post-marriage, Dipika converted to Islam, adopting the name Faiza. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Rohan, on June 21, 2023. They joyfully announced the news on social media, expressing their immense gratitude, particularly as Rohan is their firstborn after five years of marriage.

Despite public discussions surrounding her conversion, the couple has maintained that they remain unaffected by trolls, emphasizing that their relationship is founded on mutual respect and understanding. Shoaib and Dipika are regarded as one of television’s most beloved couples. Their regular YouTube vlogs provide a glimpse into their personal lives and have garnered massive popularity, boasting millions of subscribers.

They frequently share videos featuring their two-and-a-half-year-old son, Ruhaan, offering fans insights into their daily lives.