Category: Entertainment

The Malayalam film industry is in mourning following the passing of one of India’s greatest filmmakers, Sreenivasan, who was regarded as a pivotal creative force in Malayalam cinema.

Tributes from the Industry

Famed actor Prithviraj paid tribute to Sreenivasan on Instagram, stating, “Adieu to one of the greatest ever writer/ director/ actor! Thank you for the laughs and the thoughts! Rest in peace legend!”

Actor Dileep was among the first to express his sorrow. Reflecting on the loss, he lamented that Sreeniyettan was no longer around to offer his loving guidance and engage in friendly debates. “Words fail me at the loss of someone so close to my heart,” Dileep shared, adding that it’s hard to find anyone who excelled so remarkably in the industry. He emphasized the tremendous void left in both his life and in Malayalam cinema, stating, “The emptiness in my life and in Malayalam cinema without Sreeniyettan’s presence will be huge. Rest in peace,” he wrote in Malayalam on Instagram.

Singer K S Chithra also expressed her sorrow on X, saying, “I am deeply saddened to hear about Sreenivasan sir’s passing. I was fortunate enough to sing for so many of his movies. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. #KSChithra #Sreenivasan.”

Legacy of a Legend

Sreenivasan was not just an actor, but also a writer and director, becoming an icon of Malayalam cinema. He passed away at the Trippunithura Taluk Hospital after battling age-related health issues.

Throughout his remarkable 48-year career, Sreenivasan made an indelible mark on Malayalam cinema, known for his sharp humour, social satire, and deeply relatable characters. His versatility as an actor spanned nearly 225 films, where he often portrayed flawed everymen with extraordinary authenticity, excelling both as a comedian and a leading man.

Grammy-winner Ed Sheeran has acknowledged that he led an unhealthy lifestyle during his younger years. However, he is now making a conscious effort to focus on his health, ensuring he’s prepared for the demands of live performances.

The Importance of Post-Show Recovery

In an interview with Men’s Health magazine, Sheeran discussed why he sets aside an hour for a massage after each gig. He explained, “You just want to go to bed or go for a drink with your mates or whatever, but if you don’t do it, you’re just… the next day.”

He added, “I can be a guy who can be led quite easily, and if I finish a gig and my mates are there, I could go out. So actually having to be in my hotel room … I get the massage and, as soon as the massage is done, I need to go to bed. So it’s great for maintaining my voice, maintaining energy, and keeping healthy.”

Reflections on His Past

The “Perfect” hitmaker recently revisited a ten-year-old documentary about his life on tour and noted how significantly his routines have changed. He reflected, “I played three nights in a row and each morning I’m getting interviewed and they’re like, ‘How was last night?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I was out until 6 am doing tequila shots and smoking cigarettes with this person and doing this and that.’ Then I’d play a show, and it was that seven days a week. But when you watch it and you look at me now, I look 40 in that and I look 24 now.”

Finding Balance with Pilates

Sheeran recently revealed that he has discovered reformer pilates as an excellent way to stay healthy while on tour. He mentioned, “Reformer is definitely tied into touring. After the show last night, the last thing I want to do today is bench press and deadlift. So this is a really gentle way to still have the same level of exercise and feel like I’ve burnt calories, but I’ve also stretched.”

Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar recently recreated the iconic Marilyn Monroe flying-skirt pose while posing for the cameras.

Urmila took to Instagram to share her picture, effortlessly striking the classic pose in an icy blue ensemble featuring an asymmetrical hemline. She added a desi touch to this timeless moment while keeping it elegant yet fun. She captioned the post, “Ufff the famous #merlynmonroepose…(sic).”

The Hollywood legend’s iconic flying-skirt pose was famously performed by Monroe in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. This memorable scene, shot on a New York City street above a subway grate, shows Monroe’s dress being blown upwards by a gust of air from the subway below. It has become an enduring symbol of glamour, sex appeal, and pop culture.

Urmila’s 1995 blockbuster Rangeela is set to make a return to the big screen, marking three decades since it graced the Hindi film industry. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the film tells the story of Mili, an aspiring actor whose ambitions face hurdles when both Raj Kamal, a noted actor, and Munna, her childhood friend, fall in love with her. The film also stars Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff.

Urmila began her acting career as a child in the 1977 film Karm. She gained recognition with Masoom, followed by several other notable films. In 1987, as a teenager, Urmila appeared in the acclaimed film Dacait as Sunny Deol’s sister. Her first lead role came in the Malayalam film Chanakyan, and she later starred in Hindi cinema with Narsimha.

Her filmography includes Hindi hits such as Judaai, Satya, Dillagi, Khoobsurat, Jungle, Kaun, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Bhoot, Ek Hasina Thi, Tehzeeb, Pinjar, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, Bas Ek Pal, and Ajoba.

In addition to her film work, Urmila has served as a talent judge on various dance reality shows, including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and DID Super Moms.

As the iconic action thriller “Dhoom 3” completes 12 years since its release, actor Jackie Shroff takes a moment to celebrate this significant milestone.

Jackie Shroff Marks the Occasion

Jackie, who played the father of Aamir Khan’s dual characters in the film, shared a poster of “Dhoom 3” on his Instagram Stories with the message, “Celebrating 12 years of Dhoom 3.”

About Dhoom 3

Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, “Dhoom 3” is the third installment of the popular Dhoom series. The film features Aamir Khan as the anti-hero alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra, who reprise their roles as the protagonists. Jackie Shroff and Katrina Kaif play notable supporting roles.

The storyline focuses on Sahir, a circus entertainer who robs a corrupt bank in Chicago to avenge his father’s death, only to find himself in deeper trouble when Inspector Jai and Ali start suspecting him of the crime.

The Dhoom franchise debuted in 2004, introducing audiences to a mysterious gang of bikers on a robbing spree. A.C.P. Jai Dixit collaborates with Ali, a mechanic, to bring the thieves to justice. The first film also starred John Abraham alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra.

In 2006, the second installment featured A.C.P. Jai Dixit and Ali once again, this time on the trail of an international thief codenamed “Mr. A,” who aims to steal priceless artifacts, targeting Mumbai as his next location. This film introduced Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the antagonists.

Jackie Shroff’s Recent Work

Recently, Jackie Shroff appeared in the comedy thriller “Housefull 5,” which boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, and many others. This murder mystery comedy revolves around multiple impostors claiming to be the son of a recently deceased billionaire, competing for his fortune aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Looking ahead, Jackie will be seen in Ahmed Khan’s upcoming comedy film titled “Welcome To The Jungle.” The film is set to feature a star-studded cast, including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Disha Patani, and many more.

Actress Sunny Leone expressed immense pride for her musician husband, Daniel Weber, celebrating his electrifying stage presence and passion for music.

Excitedly sharing her thoughts on Instagram, Sunny posted a picture of Daniel, who is a member of the rock ’n’ roll band The Disparrows, performing live while playing guitar and singing. She conveyed how watching Daniel do what he loves fills her with happiness, remarking that he looks “so hot” every time he performs.

In her caption, she wrote: “So proud of you @thedanielweber you are so amazing on stage. Every time I see you doing what you love makes me so happy and also you look so HOT!!”

Sunny and Daniel married in 2011. In 2017, the couple adopted their first child from Latur, Maharashtra. Their daughter, Nisha Kaur Weber, was 21 months old at the time of adoption. Additionally, in 2018, they announced the birth of their twin boys, who were born via surrogacy.

Known off-screen as Karenjit Kaur Vohra, Sunny participated in the Indian reality TV series Bigg Boss in 2011 and has hosted the reality show Splitsvilla.

She made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt’s erotic thriller Jism 2 in 2012 and later shifted her focus to mainstream acting. This was followed by films like Jackpot, Ragini MMS 2, Ek Paheli Leela, Tera Intezaar, and the Malayalam movie Madhura Raja in 2019.

Her autobiography, titled “Karenjit Kaur – The Untold Story of Sunny Leone,” is an original web series released in 2018. It chronicles her journey from a middle-class girl in Canada to becoming India’s most googled celebrity, showcasing her childhood as Gogu and her transition from the adult film industry to Bollywood.

Sunny was last seen in “Badass Ravi Kumar,” directed by Keith Gomes. This film is a spin-off of the 2014 movie “The Xposé” and serves as the second installment in The Xposé Universe, with Himesh Reshammiya reprising his role as Ravi Kumar in the lead.

The cast also features Prabhu Deva, Simona J, Kirti Kulhari, Sunny Leone, Saurabh Sachdeva, Sanjay Mishra, Johnny Lever, Manish Wadhwa, Rajesh Sharma, Pawan Malhotra, Mohan Joshi, Sulabha Arya, Navneet Nishan, Raza Murad, and Prashant Narayanan.

Actress Madhuri Dixit, renowned for her remarkable performances over a career spanning nearly four decades, has expressed her interest in exploring direction in the future.

During an exclusive conversation, she shared that while her extensive experience in the industry is invaluable, she does not feel prepared to step into directing just yet.

When asked about her potential plans to become a director, Madhuri said, “Well, a lot of people ask me that because I have been working for 40 years, so that brings with it the kind of experience because you have seen so many directors, worked with them, learned from them, but I think I have to be ready for it, and right now I am not, but at some point maybe.”

Reflecting on the evolution of filmmaking, Madhuri compared her debut movie “Abodh” to her recent work in “Mrs. Deshpande.” She noted that the filmmaking process has become significantly more organized compared to her early days.

She explained, “I think at that time there were only five or six very organized producers, like Yash Chopra, B R Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Rajshri Productions, and a few more, and the rest was pretty unorganized. Today, it is very organized. Back then, we relied more on spontaneity; today, we can prepare for a role. You get a script, along with amenities such as the RVs, where you can chill after every shot or get ready. At that time, we did not have all this; we used to sit under the sun, with an umbrella over our heads.”

Madhuri also highlighted the comfort provided to actors in the current film industry. “There are a lot of things where the comfort of the actor is taken care of, and also because the character is so prepared that you know what you are going to wear, you know what your look is going to be. We do a lot of prep for the roles; we have readings, which never used to happen then,” she added.

Veteran stars Zeenat Aman and Helen reminisced about the golden days of Hindi cinema, discussing romance and crushes on co-stars during their appearance on the singing-based reality show Indian Idol.

Memorable Interactions on Set

During the interaction led by host Aditya Narayan, Helen revealed insights into her romantic co-stars and off-screen dynamics with her usual charm and simplicity. She admitted, “Mera itna interaction nahi hota tha. Main kursi aur kitab leke ek kone mein chup-chaap se ek corner mai baith jaati thi.” (I wasn’t very interactive. I would take a chair and a book and quietly sit in one corner.)

Adding a humorous touch, she reflected on how people perceived her quiet nature, saying, “Log kehte the yeh sabko furniture ke jaise dekhti hai.” (People used to say that she looks at everyone as if they were furniture.)

Zeenat’s Playful Clarification

Zeenat Aman joined the chat, playfully clarifying, “Yeh aap meri personal zindagi ki baat kar rahe ho ya parde par jo romance hota hai uski?” (Are you talking about my personal life, or the romance that happens on screen?)

While showing a picture of the late star Dev Anand, she reminisced about her career, stating, “Of course, maine bhen ke role se shuru kiya lekin baki filmo mai very romantic.” (Of course, I started with a sister’s role, but in my other films, I was very romantic.)

Candid Confessions

The conversation took a candid turn when Aditya Narayan inquired if Zeenat ever had a crush on a co-star.

With sincerity, she replied, “Haan, mujhe apne co-workers par crushes hote the.” (Yes, I did have crushes on my co-workers.) She elaborated, “Agar romantic gaana hota tha, toh gaane ke dauraan chhota sa crush hota tha do teen din ke liye. Phir next movie, next song, next crush.” (If there was a romantic song, I’d develop a little crush during the song—for two or three days. Then it was the next movie, the next song, the next crush.)

Indian Idol airs on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

Actress Shraddha Kapoor has returned home after a long gap of 16 days, and it seems she missed her furry baby the most during her time away.

She took to the Stories section of her official Instagram handle and shared a heartwarming video of her kissing her furry friend incessantly, showcasing her affection in the most adorable manner. Shraddha captioned the clip, “16 days baad 1600 pappis to banti hain (After 16 days, 1600 kisses are allowed).”

For context, Shraddha introduced her new pet to her Instagram family last year following the success of her film “Stree 2.” She shared a few photographs with her new family member, a gift from her dear friend, and wrote, “Mere ghar aayi ek nanhi stree!!! Miliye ‘Small’ se. Humaari nayi family member Meri dildaar dost @fazaa_s6 ne is choti si khushi ko mujhe gift kiya. Ab ye hua na sabse best tareeka jashn manane ka… Woh toh alag baat hai ki is celebration mein ek koi hai jo kaafi na khush hai… Swipe karke dekho woh shaqs kaun hai (sic).”

Shraddha is also a pet parent to another fur baby named Shyloh.

On the professional front, she is set to return to the screen with “Stree 3,” the third installment in the popular franchise, scheduled to be released by August 2027. Additionally, Shraddha has been cast for a biopic on the legendary Marathi folk performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar, titled “Eetha.”

Reports suggest that she has already begun training in Lavani, a traditional Maharashtrian dance form, for this upcoming project. The film will chronicle the journey of dancer Vithabai Narayangaonkar, who was among Maharashtra’s most prominent Tamasha performers of her time.

Actor-filmmaker Jugal Hansraj has officially embraced the festive spirit, sharing an upbeat update on social media, declaring his “festive mode” activated.

On Instagram, the actor, known for his expressive brown eyes, posted a dapper picture of himself in a stylish suit. In his caption, Jugal, who is celebrated for his boy-next-door appeal, wrote: “Festive mode: activated. Happy Holidays.”

At 53, Jugal began his career as a child actor in Shekhar Kapur’s Masoom, which tells the story of a 9-year-old boy facing rejection from his stepmother due to his parents’ past. This film was based on Erich Segal’s novel, Man, Woman and Child. As a child actor, he also appeared in films like Karma and Sultanat.

Jugal made his adult acting debut in Aa Gale Lag Jaa, followed by his breakout role in the 2000 blockbuster Mohabbatein, which starred Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. He further showcased his talent in films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Salaam Namaste.

Beyond acting, Jugal composed the title song for Karan Johar’s debut film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and took on writing and directing responsibilities for the animated feature Roadside Romeo. His second directorial venture was the romantic comedy Pyaar Impossible, which premiered in January 2010 and starred Priyanka Chopra and Uday Chopra. In 2017, Jugal ventured into writing, publishing his first children’s novel titled Cross Connection: The Big Circus Adventure.

His latest project is Nadaaniyan, a teen romantic comedy directed by Shauna Gautam. The film features actors Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Mahima Chaudhry, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, and Jugal Hansraj himself. It narrates the story of a privileged South Delhi school girl who hires a boyfriend to retaliate against her family and classmates.

Actress Isha Koppikar recently shared a delightful social media clip featuring her daughter Rianna, showcasing the joy that runs in their family.

In the video posted on her official Instagram account, the mother-daughter duo transformed a train into their personal dance floor, showcasing their fun moves to the tune of “Fireball” by American rapper Pitbull.

Along with the clip, the ‘Ek Vivaah… Aisa Bhi’ actress wrote, “Proof that happiness runs in the family. #momdaughtervibes #dancebreak (sic).”

Though the exact location of their fun escapade remains a mystery, the charming video suggests they’re off on a vacation.

Followers on Instagram expressed their admiration, with comments like, “Most Cutest & Adorable Mom – Daughter Duo Ever..!!!”, “awww so cute”, and “Ma’am, vacation mode activated.”

Koppikar frequently shares such heartwarming videos with Rianna on her social media. Earlier this month, she also provided a glimpse into her fitness journey. Emphasizing that abs are created in the kitchen, not just in the gym, she shared a video enjoying a balanced, protein-rich meal after her workout.

While explaining the importance of nutrition to her daughter, Koppikar stated, “Your abs are not made in the gym; they are made in the kitchen. So, once you finish your workout, what is more important is your nutrition.” When Rianna inquired, “What does it mean?”, Koppikar elaborated, “It means that for your muscles, for your growth, and for your good health, the most important thing is your nutrition. See my plate — it is a balanced diet of carbs, fat, this is avocado, and this is protein. So, the protein-carbohydrate ratio has to be right. Understood? This is my recharge moment. Time to say thank you to the body. Nourishing yourself — that’s real self-care. If you want to be strong and healthy, it’s not just the gym; you need healthy nutrition too. Thank you.”