WWI students interact with Sairat makers

The students of Whistling Woods International (WWI) on Tuesday, July 26 interacted with director Nagraj Manjule and producer, Nittin Keni, the men behind the record-breaking Marathi film Sairat. The film was also screened followed by an interactive session. Nagraj narrated an incident from his school days when he was abused by a fellow student. Fandry as he was abusively referred to became the title of his debut movie.

Chairman and Founder, WWI, Subhash Ghai, said that he was glad to have the producer and the director at Whistling Woods International. "I saw Sairat with my friends and I said to my friends that this would be a blockbuster and it was."

The interactive session was on various nuances and technicalities involved in the filming process and also touched upon issues like casteism, gender equality and honour killing as highlighted in the film.
Ghai also felicitated the guests with a token of love and appreciation and also congratulated the team on their success.

Sonakshi lends her voice for a song in Akira

She has earlier crooned for a music video Aaj mood ishqaholic hai. And now actress Sonakshi Sinha turns singer once again for her forthcoming Akira.

The song Hai ranjishein tere mere is part of the promotional video of the film directed by AR Murugadoss.

A Fox star studios production, Akira also stars Anurag Kashyap and Konkona Sen Sharma. The film is slated to release on September 2.

Here's the poster of Ajay's Sons of Sardaar

The epic Battle of Saragarhi (12, August, 1897) is being brought to screen by actor-director-producer Ajay Devgn who has launched the poster of his film Sons of Sardaar, The Battle of Saragarhi.

As per reports, the film will be made on a massive scale with an international cast and crew. The battle was fought between The British Indian Army including more than 20 Sikh fighters of the 36th Sikhs and the Afghan Orakzai tribes. Saragarhi now in Pakistan was a small village in Kohat district on the Samana Range.

The film is set to hit the floors soon after the finalisation of the rest of the cast.

Dilli: So near yet so far for Mamata Banerjee

So the lady from Kalighat, Kolkata holds parleys with the people who matter when it comes to policy making in India. As usual, she ensures that she is the cynosure of media attention when she is in New Delhi.

She visits the Parliament and lures the media in the company of her MPs. The strive towards getting global publicity earns her some footage in the National Capital and she leaves no stones unturned to bag that. She talks about a Federal Front (anti-BJP and 'so far' anti-Congress) and she dons the role of a behind-the-scene skipper to write the future of a team that will challenge BJP and Congress, as the Indian citizen gets ready to vote in 2019.

She has an open mind. She claims to shirk Constitutional Posts at least at the National level, but she doesn't shy away from taking the message right across to the people of the country. And once again, she makes it a point to showcase her skills to be a force to reckon with beyond the Hooghly river. She is slated to visit Germany soon. She will also be part of the canonisation of Mother Teresa in September.

Too much on the table for her, yet innocence is taken for a ride back home at a South Kolkata locality and her cops hardly take the bull by its horns. Despite her over-the-top appeal to fight The Syndicate Raj in her home state, the common man continues to be a victim of the nefarious designs of some of her party soldiers.

A resounding mandate is all that she capitalises on. Bigger ambitions embolden her to 'tell' one of her MPs in Lok Sabha to back a Punjab-based MP who creates a furore by posting a video on Facebook that puts the security of the Indian Parliament at stake.

Well in the process, she tends to forget the humiliation she was meted out to before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when she was left to handle an almost-empty Ram Lila Maidan, Delhi. Yet, she nurtures big ambitions and hardly does anyone in her party dare to apprise her of the ground reality.

If she looks around, there are too many aspirants to eye 7, Race Course Road. The current occupant of the prestigious bungalow is too cunning to give up. And then the lady from 10, Janpath is unlikely to be taken casually. Then there are the likes of regional leaders who won't compromise an inch to address the Nation on August 15.

So, before we go ga-ga over a revolutionary Bengali leader all set to call the shots in New Delhi, let's be practical Bengalis. There's a gap between the cup and the sip.

If you think an IIT alumnus or a media-hyped Chief Minister next door is going to let you hog the limelight, you are living in a fool's paradise. And then Amma from Chennai too has ambitions. Naveen Patnaik from Odisha is already taking on his counterpart from Chattisgarh on the barrages over the Mahanadi river. And then you have Netaji from Uttar Pradesh and the ever-ebullient Laluji from Bihar to cope up with (leaders hoping to make it big).

Madame M, even if you put your Prime Ministerial dreams on the back burner, the road ahead isn't that smooth. 211 seats in your own state and more due to your maneuvring power may have placed you in an unchallenged position in your home state, but DIDI, Dilli abhi bhi door hai (Delhi is still far).

Take a flight from Kolkata to Delhi and it takes you a bit above two hours to reach Palam. But to define political equations nationally, a lot needs to be taken a note of beyond the couple-of-hour journey.

Another hard-hitting drama set for release

Bollywood has an audience that swears by real-life stories. Director Sunil Shah's Moods of Crime that releases on August 5 is one such film. The trailer of the film was launched on Tuesday, July 26. 

Starring TV actors Ayaaz Ahmed (Jai Santoshi Maa) and Upekkha Jain (Sath Nibhana Saathiya) in the lead, the film is produced by Bhumii Creations. Says the director, “I am sure that the hard-hitting climax of the film will shock the audience in the same way as the trailer has evoked some sense of curiosity. Moods of Crime showcases various stages of a human mind behind committing a crime and the feelings post that.”

Game for some scary moments? Wait for November 11

This November is going to get extra thrilling as the horror film Saansein-The Last Breath will give you some eerie feelings. The flick is slated to release on November 11 and has in the lead Rajniesh Duggall (of 1920 fame) and Sonarika Bhadoria.

The film also stars Hiten Tejwani, Neetha Shetty, Sachi Ruia, Amir Dalvi and Vishal Malhotra. Shot in Mauritius, it is directed by Rajiv S Ruia who also helmed My Friend Ganesha.

Is something burning somewhere Naseer Sir?

Respected Naseer Saab,
At the very outset, let me apologise to you for daring to write this letter to a legend of your stature. As an actor, you are an example. As a celebrity, you stand apart. This writer is extra-ordinarily ordinary to even mention your name. But living in a democratic country, he is a bit tempted to exercise his right to freedom of speech.

In a recent interview to a leading English daily, you have taken swipes at the first-ever superstar in Hindi films, Rajesh Khanna. Going by your comment, it's evident that you don't take him seriously as an actor. Fair enough! You are an accomplished actor and you have the right to voice your opinion.

But this is not the first time that you have had reservations towards Matinee Idols. I remember an interview on TV where you compared Amitabh Bachchan with Dilip Kumar and eventually preferred the latter. There were even stories in the media that you wanted equal footage with Big B in a film that was conceived with the two of you in mind.

Let me rewind a bit and focus on another interview you gave on TV where you took the three Khans for a ride. Time and again, you have not refrained from running your colleagues down. Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and so on, your aversion to anything to do with stardom is explicitly expressed. But being a legend and an inspiration, do you really set the right trend of having respect for colleagues?

Sir, even yours truly doesn't hold Kaka aka Rajesh Khanna in high esteem as an actor, but to deliver hits after hits within a period of 5-6 years takes a lot. Similarly, the tall and lanky lad who completed his graduation from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University braved all odds to be reckoned as the Shahenshah of the industry. The three Khans (Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh) still are bankable stars which you can't refute.

A look at your career, you have given us so many memorable films (Aakrosh, Chakra, Mandi, Katha, Ijaazat, Paar, Masoom and so on). At the same time audiences had to endure your unsuccessful attempt to be a star in films like Hero Heeralal, Jalwa and Malamaal. Let's not ignore the fact that you even agreed to play the villain at one point of time in films that had 'inferior' actors as heroes. Tirchi topiwaale from Tridev where you showed your 'powerful' dancing skills has given you a number to be associated with.

You have played second fiddle to poor actors in Mohra, Sarfarosh, Tridev, Viswatma, Krrish, Main Hoon Na, to mention a few. There was a time in the '90s when you decided to work in masala movies despite your high-nosed attitude to anything mainstream.

As an actor you have had your share of success. But as a motivator, you have eaten a humble pie. Just because you have a stature of your own, it doesn't 'permit' you to denigrate LEGENDS who have achieved much more than what you have.

But it's not your fault! Commercial success has always eluded you or to elaborate, you have had to ride on the shoulders of credible stars to earn box-office glory.

It isn't a shock that Rajesh Khanna's daughter Twinkle has got back at your somewhat derogatory statement on her father. And for the first time ever, you have got rid of your ego by apologising. Hopefully, it's the beginning of a journey that will only earn you more bouquets than brickbats.

Sir, you yourself are a STAR. Please don't exude an air of negativity by expressing your frustration for not being considered under the category of SUPERSTARS.

Everyone has limitations. And not being an exception, you too have. Just to remind you, hardly does anybody remember Michael starring you, whereas Te3N with Big B in the lead and the same director Ribhu Dasgupta calling the shots earned critical acclaims.

To reiterate, Sorry Sir for showing the courage to be firm on my stance vis-a-vis a NASEERUDDIN SHAH. Needless to say, you are versatile and as a citizen of  a democratic country like India, you are well within your rights to opine.

But, when you 'shy' away from giving your seniors, contemporaries and juniors their due, don't blame those who read between the lines. "Kuch toh jal raha hai (Something is burning)," one may say.

Warm regards
A fan of yours

Perfect tribute to Lokmanya Tilak on his birth anniversary

Saturday, July 23 happens to be the 160th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak. To commemorate the occasion, www.mintageworld.com an online museum for vintage coins, stamps and currency notes launched a docudrama on on the history of stamps and coins introduced to celebrate his life, struggle and triumph of the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Looking back, there have been numerous launches of coins and stamps as a tribute to the legendary freedom fighter. To give you a lowdown, on the eve of his 1st birth centenary in 1956, Indian Post launched a 2-anna stamp. On Tilak’s 150th birth anniversary in 2007 a unique Re. 1 stamp was issued by the Indian Post. 

To celebrate the 40th Independence Day on August 15, 1987, a painting by Late MF Hussain was
converted to a 60 paisa stamp. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued issued coins of Rs. 5 and Rs. 100 in 2007. Both have an image of Tilak on the reverse with the inscription “150th Birth Anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak” in English and “Lokmanya Tilak ki 150 vi Jayanti” in Hindi.


The docudrama can be caught on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NImRPtUTy7g 

Priyanka's sizzling photo shoot for Flaunt

Check these gorgeous pictures of Priyanka Chopra from a photo shoot with acclaimed photographer Frederic Auerbach for the cover of Flaunt Magazine.

The actress sports brands like Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu and others and looks ravishing yet again.

Forget political differences, UNITE India

Pakistan observes July 20 as Black Day as a 'tribute' to the victims of atrocities in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaz Aziz, a committed India-baiter lodges a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against India. The international media is 'appalled' at the way the demarcation between civilians and terrorists has been bitten to the dust in J&K.

But, what we do on the floor of the Parliament is just indulge in a mud-slinging game that only shows the world's largest democracy in poor light. If Omar Abdullah of National Conference (NC) boycotts the all-party meeting called by Mehbooba Mufti (Chief Minister of J&K), then a veteran Congress leader of the stature of P Chidambaram tries to find loopholes in the J&K policy as followed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The monsoon session of the Parliament has witnessed a lot of blame game with both the government and its opposition parties taking jibes at each other. Fair enough! But at the end of the day, it's the blurred approach toward J&K that's pushing India to the receiving end on various global fora.

If  Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani is worshipped as a martyr by Pakistan, then we need to find out as to why global sympathy for him is actually denigrating India. There's an urgency to explore why even a certain section of the Indian media is not quite excited enough to endorse our government's J&K policy.

And when Chidambaram is quoted in the media saying, " We ignored the grand bargain under which J&K acceded to India... we broke our promises, we broke our faith and we paid a price for 40 years... Turn the clock back all the way to 1947 and the original terms of accession to the extent that is today possible," we can't afford to take his words casually.

Now the question is: Are we really united? Do we truly live up to the values of unity despite diversity? We don't. If Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh regrets the use of pellets, one appreciates his view because pellets have garnered a negative response all over. But how long will we make a joke of ourselves by constantly playing politics over a massacre? When will our leaders put aside political differences in the larger interest of humanity and nationalism?

When separatists in Kashmir rub shoulders with our enemies across the border, we react mildly by putting the former under house arrest. Our respectable Prime Minister hardly has a word or two for the vulnerable situation we find ourselves under.

Time is running out! India is becoming another Israel, China and Pakistan, countries that have been lambasted for suppressing free voice. Instead of entering the ring and wrestling it out for political gains, let's set a trend. Let's have a concern for the Kashmiris and assuage the acrimony they have for India.

Yes, Kashmir is an internal matter of India. But if it's so, let's play straight. Put aside political differences. Don't make statements that only expose narrow-mindedness with an eye to make political capital.

We are letting our foes to cash in on the J&K ruckus to embarrass India. It's time we looked beyond petty interests and assembled under one roof.

This is an advice that may not reach the ears of the mighty and powerful. But, you better don't kick it into the dustbin.

Jai Hind!

Even the rains were not an obstacle

Despite the rains, there was no dearth of enthusiasm at the music launch of Manish Jha's The Legend of Michael Mishra in Mumbai. Present at the launch were actors Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi and Kayoze Irani (Boman's son), composers Meet Bros and singer Kanika Kapoor among others.

Kanika charmed all with a track from the film while Meet Bros grooved to the wedding song Luv Letter from the movie.  The Legend of Michael starring Arshad, Aditi Rao Hydari, Boman and Kayoze releases on August 5.

For God's sake, give her a break please

If you are a regular on various social media platforms, then you keep yourself abreast of what's happening around. That's fair enough! But if you try to misuse the liberty you have been given you are 'worthy' enough to face the heat.

We are talking about trolling which is a common term in social media. Anushka Sharma, Smriti Irani, Donald Trump and Fardeen Khan belong to the bygone era. The latest victim is Harsaali Malhotra (9) who played the mute Pakistani girl in Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan starring Salman Bhai Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Harshaali's fault is that she called Katrina Kaif, "Katrina Aunty," while wishing the Bollywood star on her birthday. And heavens fell as social media commoners didn't even spare the little girl. One comment after another which ultimately forced Harshaali's mother Kajal to come to her daughter's rescue.

Now a fervent appeal to Facebook and Twitter users! Just because you are given a space to express your views, it doesn't mean you can exploit it. Well, the Indian Constitution does give you the right to voice your opinion, but on humanitarian grounds you should refrain from being too assertive.

Spare this little girl yaar! She has only committed a 'mistake' by playing her age and you guys latch onto her post so that Google mentions you. Isn't that cheap?

Just look into yourself and realise how harsh you guys have been on an innocent soul. You guys spare nobody even if it means you are crossing the line. But remember, you too can be at the receiving end!
Next time, you tweet or post a comment on Facebook, introspect and ask your conscience whether you are on the right track. Stop making fun of famous people who mean no harm to you.

Don't institutionalise  trolling. It sets a bad precedent!

All about sex in Y-Films' latest web series

Condom manufacturer Durex and one of India's biggest production houses Y-Films have joined hands to introduce a five-part web series Sex Chat with Pappu & Papa. The series will be launched in 15 languages and will be dubbed in 6 Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali and also subtitled in 10 International languages like English, Chinese, French, Dutch, Spanish, German, Bahasa, Malay and Thai. 

The series stars Anand Tiwari, Kabir Sajid, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Alka Amin and  Sachin Pilgaonkar, it also marks the directorial debut of Ashish Patil, Head of Y-Films. “At Y-Films we like to push the envelope with the stories we tell. Pappu & Papa is something that’s going to tear up that envelope and eat the shreds. It’s incredible how still in the 2nd most populous country in the world; sex is such a taboo topic," says Ashish.

So, sex isn't a taboo!!

Meet Rajinikanth, the superstar next door

There are stars, there are superstars and there are also megastars. But there is only one Rajinikanth. The excitement over his next Kabali that hits the theatres this Friday is already at its zenith and one wonders what the post-release effect would be.

Talk of stardom, probably no other actor in the country has the fan following this conductor-turned-actor has and that cuts across regions. With due respect to the Khans, Amitabh Bachchan and looking back Rajesh Khanna and Dilip Kumar, Rajini Sir is at a different level.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, several companies down south have issued a holiday on Friday, so that their employees can catch their icon on screen. Can you imagine? Mumbai's Aurora Theatre will have shows of Kabali starting from 3 am and will have its last show at 9 pm on the day of its release. This is perhaps unheard of. There's always something special about southern stars- Sivaji Ganesan, MGR, NTR, Kamal Hassan, Mammootty, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and others who are literally treated like Gods. But, Rajinikanth's popularity has redefined stardom. And if you think his charm is confined to the Nilgiris, wait a moment.

For the last one month, the national media is going ga-ga over Kabali, where the superstar has gone for an image makeover and plays his age. Give us one instance of a regional film (ignoring the fact that Kabali is also dubbed in Hindi) garnering so much of attention before with the exception of a Rajinikanth release.

Let's not forget, Rajinikanth is not getting any younger. He is in his 60s and one would say is he is past his prime. But he still is the safest box-office bet in the south even in the presence of hordes of younger stars. Not the best looking man around, Rajinikanth still is more saleable than the Suryas and Mahesh Babus.

What makes him click with the classes as well as the masses is his honesty. Rajinikanth is not a born Tamil (he is a Marathi whose real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad), but when you gauge his stardom despite being an outsider, it's unparalleled. Here's one star who doesn't sport a wig off screen and is back to his own self after shooting is over. It's not for nothing that actresses from Mumbai right from Aishwarya Rai to Sonakshi Sinha die to share screen space with him and that also as his leading lady. Kabali for sure will be a stepping stone in Bollywood actress Radhika Apte's career.

Even to somebody who is not much into southern films, the name Rajinikanth spells magic. There could be question marks on his acting skills (critics don't rate him high as an actor), but who cares when the whole nation salutes his star power? Be it as a scientist in Robot or a crusader in Sivaji, Thalaivar (Boss) as Rajinikanth is fondly referred to, is acceptable in any avatar.

Talk to any film buff from Chennai and the tone of reverence in his voice vis-a-vis Rajini Sir is loud and clear. Many would say that the actor should have done more Hindi films. One still fails to fathom why Rajinikanth preferred to focus on regional cinema despite being a superstar in Bollywood as well --- Andha Kanoon, Bhagwann Dada, Hum, Chaalbaaz and Geraftaar are some of his memorable films. He held his own in the '80s even when Bachchan was at his peak and actors like Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakraborty, Anil Kapoor, Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff were making their presence felt.

Recall his death sequence in Geraftaar? Or his hide-and-seek game with his on-screen sister Hema Malini in Andha Kanoon? His smoking style was a craze among the youth in the '80s. Have a look at the posters of Andha Kanoon where Rajinikanth is not overshadowed by Big B. Doesn't it say it all? A southern star who can be held in the league of Bollywood's Shahenshah has to be special. When Shah Rukh Khan pays tribute to him in Chennai Express, it speaks volumes of the respect Rajini Sir gets beyond Chennai. And to say Salman Khan's record-breaking Sultan faces a threat from Kabali starring a 64-year-old actor only proves Rajinikanth's star power. 

For any wannabe actor, Rajinikanth will be the perfect example of how to handle stardom despite being grounded. Here's an outsider who is more popular than Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa. Here's an outsider whose voice matters to crores and can also influence voters. Here's a MEGASTAR who doesn't crib when a photo showing him wearing a lungi goes viral. Didn't we say he remains grounded? The million-dollar smile on his face only endears him to millions all across the globe.

Cut the cheap Rajinikanth jokes. It takes a lot to be a Rajinikanth. And to say he is DIFFERENT won't be an exaggeration. He is the Thalaivar who doesn't throw attitude and starry tantrums. "When I first went up to meet him, during the initial photo shoot for the first look posters, he was waiting outside his caravan to welcome me. Which star would do that?" says his Kabali co-star Radhika in an interview to Firstpost. Do you need any more proof of his humbleness?

Trailer of A Flying Jatt launched

The trailer launch of choreographer-turned-filmmaker Remo D'souza's forthcoming A Fying Jatt was held at a popular mall in Mumbai recently. Present at the event were the lead pair Tiger Shroff and Jacqueline Fernandez, international actor Nathan Jones, producer Ekta Kapoor and the director himself.

The high point of the show was when the team entered the mall's amusement zone Planet Infiniti for a fun ride with some school children. It seemed they were revisiting their childhood. While Jacqueline was seen super thrilled like a kid, Nathan stood aside and screamed as the rides upped the mood in the zone.

The film will release on August 25.

Legends grace WWI's convocation

Whistling Woods International (WWI) celebrated its 9th Annual Convocation of its 16th and 17th graduating batches at St. Andrews auditorium, Mumbai  on July 18. The programme saw legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and veteran actor Vinod Khanna gracing the occasion.

Lataji and Khanna were conferred with the ‘Whistling Woods Maestro Award,’ for their contribution to Indian cinema. Ajay Bijli, Managing Director and Chairman, PVR Ltd, addressed the students with an inspiring speech.

Aishwarya Majmudar of Kaanchi and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo fame impressed singing some classic Lata numbers. Also present were film-maker Amol Gupte, Chairman, Adlabs, Manmohan Shetty and producer Rajkumar Barjatya, among others.

“With this graduating batch, we have accomplished ten successful years. It gives me immense pleasure to share that we have delivered on what we committed when we set out to start the institute in 2006. I wish that legendary personalities like Lataji, Vinod Khanna and industry stalwarts like Ajay Bijli, continue to inspire us to create more well-honed industry-ready professionals," said, producer-director Subhash Ghai, Founder & Chairman, WWI.

It's all about millions for Salman and Katrina

Call them rumoured ex-lovers or a jodi that was scintillating both on and off-screen, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have one thing in common at this point of time. They are in the million club.

Salman's Sultan that released on July 6 has already grossed $ 75 million (Rs 500 crore) worldwide in just 12 days. And Katrina who launched her official Facebook page on her 33rd birthday on July 16 recorded 4 million followers in one single day.

Call it a co-incidence, the enormous popularity of these two stars has grabbed headlines. Sultan produced by Yash Raj Films also stars Anushka Sharma opposite Salman. To delve deep into the Yash Raj angle in Salman and Katrina's careers, it's the same production house that gave the two Ek Tha Tiger which at one point of time was Salman's biggest hit.

So, can we hope to see the two coming together on screen courtesy Yash Raj Films again?

Salman's big leap from masses to classes

A person with a strong elite background hailing from an upmarket locality like Salt Lake in Kolkata WhatsApps his friend, "Dude, go and watch Sultan! Salman has set the screen on fire." And his Facebook status says he is watching the film again which he himself doesn't believe.

A civil engineer by profession who has never ever uttered the name of Salman Khan before comes to his thek (a place for chat in Bengali terms) and sings, Jag Suneya. And he's unstoppable. A woman, part of the corporate world while working out in the gymnasium plays the title song of Sultan over and over again.

A superstar till a year ago whose stardom never mattered to the classy ones has made that leap from masses to classes. Drop by a multiplex in Kolkata and you come across a modern day youth with a smartphone standing in the queue to get a ticket to watch Sultan.

What started with Bajrangi Bhaijaan last year, continues with Sultan and let's get it straight, a phenomenal expansion of the fan base of Salman is on the cards.

Rewind and a Salman Khan film never really appealed to the so-called middle and upper-middle classes. "He's brainless and stand nowhere near Aamir and Shah Rukh," said a retired bureaucrat a couple of years ago. He gave a damn to the unprecedented box-office success that Salman's films were achieving. The former civil servant's wife despite having a soft corner for that innocent smile that the Bad Boy of Bollywood is known to carry, never dared to praise the actor before her hubby.

But post Sultan, she breaks free. "There's something in him that makes him a megastar," she says much to the exasperation of her husband. Her brother-in-law, a resident of one of the plushest localities in Delhi comes to Kolkata and says, "The film is going to break all records."

Forget the statistics, if Salman Khan has anything to take home post Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan, it's the respect he has earned from the stubborn sophisticated spectrum of the society. That's been his biggest victory. Or shall we say an underrated actor has finally come of age after spending 27 years in the industry?

What unfortunately Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Veergati and Tere Naam couldn't do to his career, Bajrangi... and Sultan have --- acknowledgement from critics and fans that this superstar from Bandra, Mumbai can act too.

Hopefully, there are many more accolades to come!

Qandeel's murder not just a case of honour killing, claims Indian filmmaker

Indian filmmaker and photographer Maneesh Singh who spoke to slain Pakistani social media sensation Qandeel Baloch two days before her murder by her own brother Waseem, claims there's a much larger conspiracy behind her death. He has demanded a probe saying that it is not just a case of honour killing. Some clerics and religious fanatics backed  by a prominent terrorist group are behind the murder, alleges Maneesh who knew Qandeel whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, for almost two years.

Qandeel's brother strangulated her to death on Friday in Multan in what is suspected to be an honour killing. Says a stunned Maneesh who wanted to cast her in a film based on the true story of a Pakistani actress, "I spoke to her recently. We used to speak on phone 2-3 times a month. She seemed very worried and wanted to come to India and settle down in Mumbai or some other city. She felt her life was under threat. She was also having some financial problems. She had asked me for money on a couple of occasions in the last two months."

Maneesh also informed that he had advised her to look for opportunities on the small screen. "She desperately wanted to do Bigg Boss  like another Pakistani actress Veena Malik and kept asking me to speak to Colors and Endemol on her behalf. The earlier news about her entry into Bigg Boss 10 was a publicity stunt masterminded by her. I told her not to do it, but she would not listen," elaborates the director.

"I do not know how she afforded such a lavish lifestyle. She had bought a house and spent a lot on her own grooming. It seems she had a rich boyfriend in Dubai, but I am not sure. But she was desperate to leave  Pakistan. She knew that her days were numbered if she stayed back. She told me that some religious fanatics had issued a supari or fatwa against her," says Maneesh.

What is more shocking to Maneesh is a statement by Mufti Abdul Qavi who was recently suspended from the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee membership after his provocative selfies with Qandeel. Mufti said that the murder of the model was a lesson for others. "No one should make mockery of the Ulema. This is a lesson for all," reacted Mufti.

Qandeel's family is not financially well-off. "I won't be surprised if her brother was "paid" by some fanatic forces in Pakistan to kill his sister," says the director currently busy with two Tamil films.

Qandeel has been in the news after videos of her twerking to a song were deemed objectionable. Few days ago, a man called Aashiq Hussain claiming to be her husband alleged that she had taken money from him and abandoned their son in his care and had been married previously. The late model said that the marriage with Aashiq was troubled and her first marriage was held when she was only 17 without her consent.
Meanwhile a Peshawar-based tailor named Shahid Baloch told Dunya News that he too was married to her.

When Valentine's Day was declared to be against Pakistani culture and people were warned against its celebration, Qandeel had donned a red dress and posted a V-Day message for her social media followers. "Even at that time, I told her to be careful. Pakistan is not India or the West, I had said, but she only laughed out loudly. She claimed that she knew some influential people and politicians in Pakistan. 'They all want to meet me privately', she told me. I just asked her to be careful," reveals Maneesh.

As per media reports, Qandeel left for an undisclosed location in Multan and was keen on leaving the country with her parents once things calmed down. But destiny had something else written for her.

BJP needs to announce its CM candidate for UP soon

Will it be Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh or former HRD minister now shifted to the Textiles ministry, Smriti Irani? If you are wondering what is being talked about, read on.

Who will be the Chief Ministerial candidate for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Assembly Polls in Uttar Pradesh slated for next year? Congress already has named ex-Delhi CM Sheila Dixit as the one who will take oath as the Chief Minister if the party is elected to serve the people of the state. Samajwadi Party (SP) has the current incumbent Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) need not look beyond party supremo Mayawati.

But what's preventing BJP from choosing its CM candidate especially at a time when its political opponents have taken one step ahead on this front? Probably BJP is spoilt for choice. One is inquisitive to know if there are too many players in the reckonings that's making the selection an arduous process. Or is the party complacent knowing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is efficient enough to win the hearts of voters?

If the latter is the case, then BJP needs to do some rethinking. The drubbing the party received at the hands of the Mahagatbandhan involving Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United) in Bihar where it preferred to ride on the Modi wave, should be a learning experience. Perhaps, BJP also looks to its president Amit Shah (who as the man in charge for UP fought all odds to win 71 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from the state) to see it through.

If that is so, then the ruling party in the centre may not have read the writings on the wall. Assembly Elections are fought on regional issues with charismatic regional leaders leading the campaign. The pattern of voting in state polls is different from that in Parliamentary Elections and the results show: Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), J Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu), Nitish Kumar (Bihar) and Naveen Patnaik (Odisha), to mention a few.

Congress's choice of Sheila Dixit (78) may raise questions as the outsider tag will haunt her. Her age might also be negative factor. But being the daughter-in-law of Late Uma Shankar Dixit, a popular Brahmin leader from UP and somebody who contested her first elections from the state, the former Delhi CM has enough weapons in her kitty to make political inroads despite attempts to scuttle her efforts. She also has the backing of the Gandhi family and actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar who heads the party in the state.

Elaborating on the regional factors, in Assam BJP got the calculations right by projecting Sarbananda Sonowal as the CM candidate. And the decision paid the party rich dividends when it wrested power from Congress. If one thinks that it's Modi who played an influential role in throwing the Tarun Gogoi-government out of power, he is highly mistaken. Regional factors play a big role and that can only be underscored by a local leader.

Riding solely on Modi's shoulders can boomerang when you look at the results in Delhi and Bihar. Even in West Bengal, BJP could have gained more seats had there been a CM face.

The ball that was set rolling by the BJP president cannot be stopped at this point of time. There's no doubt that it was BJP which kick-started the campaign in UP much before Congress, SP and BSP. But surprisingly, the party seems to have been left behind by its rivals at this point of time.

It's time BJP steals the momentum from its opponents by declaring a CM candidate and taking the attack right into the enemy's camp. Agreed, there are too many equations that need to be addressed and among them the caste card is crucial enough. But time is running out.

Given a choice, Rajnath looks to be the best bet. Himself a former UP Chief Minister and a Brahmin politician with an impeccable record, he has all the credentials to lead BJP's Mission UP. But the question is whether he will agree to relinquish his responsibilities in Delhi and cede ground to Modi and Shah. Despite being at the helm of affairs in the party and playing a crucial role in promoting Modi as the PM aspirant before the Lok Sabha elections two years ago, Rajnath is not known to be a committed Modi supporter.
So, there are lots on the table for the decision makers in the party. And on top of it, the watchful eyes of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSP) cannot be overlooked.

But to reiterate, there's paucity of time. Hope the message reaches BJP's headquarters, 11, Ashoka Road, New Delhi.        

It's time to celebrate the success of Sultan

Ali Abbas Zafar is elated. And why shouldn't he be? His Salman Khan-starrer Sultan is breaking records after records at the box-office. The film has already got the distinction of being the fastest to reach the Rs. 200-crore mark in the history of Bollywood. And it seems there are many more milestones awaiting.

The filmmaker along with his lead cast Salman and Anushka Sharma decided to celebrate the success of the Yash Raj Films' venture in their own way.

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/P8zfKIMKGLg

Check it out!

Happy is on the run, guess the reason

Born to an ordinary family in Amritsar, Harpreet Kaur aka Happy is meant for things that are irregular, abnormal and extra-ordinary.

In life’s worst crises, Happy finds her own solutions, most of which are irrational and driven by emotions but they look perfectly logical to her.

Then why is Happy running away, that too in a wedding outfit? All the fun, chaos and drama unfold on August 19, when Mudassar Aziz's Happy Bhag Jayegi  starring Diana Penty, Abhay Deol, Jimmy Shergill and Ali Fazal releases.

Watch this space for more.

The Suits star is keen to work with Priyanka in Bollywood

While the rest of the world may know her as the actress who shot to fame with the popular TV show Suits, Priyanka Chopra knows Meghan Markle as a friend and one she enjoys hanging out with and tasting the best of Indian delicacies.

Meghan admits that working with Priyanka in a Bollywood film is a dream. She says, "I would love to work with her on a film one day. I told her specifically that my dream is to work with her on a Bollywood film because I think it would be so much fun.”

Priyanka on the other hand reciprocated by advising her to go for it.  "Priyanka is unbelievable, she has become a really good friend. ELLE Magazine in the US hosted a dinner celebrating Women in TV (Priyanka was on one of their covers) and we met that night,” Meghan adds.

Talking about how the two instantly connected Meghan says, "And you know when you meet someone and you just ‘click’… It was just an easy, natural progression. We’ve managed to keep in touch via email and text and try to see each other whenever we’re both in the same town.”

Evelyn reveals her story in a video

Actress Evelyn Sharma best known for her performances in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani and Yaariyan has released a video through her channel on YouTube a couple of days ago where she explains her journey from Germany to Bollywood.

The actress, who is a degree holder in Foreign Language Correspondence and Business studies says she earlier had no plans of joining the film industry. However, Evelyn incidentally tumbled upon an opportunity and got a chance to play a cameo in a British film Turn Left.

Well, luck played its game since then and the actress was flooded with offers - modelling, commercials and movies. The actress also expresses her gratitude for Ayushmann Khurrana and Ranbir Kapoor who helped her in this journey to stardom. She explains how Ayushmann brought her back to her Punjabi genes by teaching her to eat with hands. Ranbir gave her the life lessons of being grounded in this field of glamour.

Aditi debuts as an item girl

For the first time in her career Aditi Rao Hydari does an item number. The song Love Letter sung by Kanika Kapoor and Meet Bros features Aditi for the film The Legend of Michael Mishra directed by Manish Jha. 

A quirky comedy also starring Boman Irani and his son Kayoze Irani, Arshad Warsi and others, the film will see the light of the day on August 5.

Age is just a number and thanks Misbah for proving it

Age is just a number! The Khans in the Hindi film industry rule the roost, don’t they? A 40-something tennis legend like Leander Paes still aspires to win a medal for India in the Olympics. And looking beyond the borders Pakistani Test skipper Misbah-ul-Huq still has the perseverance to become the oldest Test centurion in 82 years when he reaches the three-figure mark at Lord’s.

Let’s narrow it down to the 22-yards on the sub-continent! When Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and even Sachin Tendulkar are in their mid-thirties, speculations start building up. Sports journalists are given a space to write their obituaries despite these stalwarts delivering for their country.

Contrast this to Pakistan when Imran Khan in 1992 leads his side to a World Cup victory. Wasim Akram in his late thirties opens the bowling for his nation in the 2003 World Cup. And the most glaring example of it all, Misbah is still trusted to lead his country in the extended version of the game.

Forget celebrities like Misbah and Leander! The moment you approach middle-age, you encounter kids calling you “Uncle.” Even when you are in the midst of a chat in your locality, a youngster butts in and makes a sarcastic comment on the fact that you are ageing. One such guy who thrives on the pseudo notion of Communism asserts his presence riding on the shoulders of people who ‘use’ him to alleviate their boredom after office at a posh locality in The City of Joy.

Welcome to 2016! Respect is a word that’s lost its way into oblivion. Najma Heptulla is advised to put in her papers as a minister in the Indian cabinet because she is old. LK Advani is no longer a force to reckon with in Indian politics. Yes, Sheila Dixit (78) is the Congress party's Chief Ministerial face in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. But that's an exception since Congress has no other choice.

On the contrary a Sartaz Aziz in Pakistan is given ample freedom to guide Pakistan’s Prime Minister on foreign affairs. His archaic views and tendency to grab headlines ignored, open a newspaper and the ‘old’ man has his point of view.

When my father says, “It’s a different era,” I retaliate. But given my own experiences, I have no other choice than endorsing my father’s view. When my cricket coach Whatsapps me, I take my own time to reply. The reason is simple: There could be messages that hold more relevance in my life. Even I have the same notion.

Thanking Misbah for braving all odds to come to the rescue of your team against England, once again one develops this realisation that old is gold.

What veterans like me expect is respect as per their age. A sarcastic attitude towards our grey hair can be a source of laughter briefly, but guys you too will reach the same place after a certain point of time.  

One more feather in Pernia's cap

The Indian edition of the popular women’s fashion and celebrity gossip magazine Grazia, in its latest July 2016 edition has featured the list of 100 Most Influential in Fashion.

Fashion entrepreneur Pernia Qureshi has made it to the most envious list that also includes Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Nita Ambani, Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla, Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal and Virat Kohli among others.

Says Pernia, "I being born to the sexiest woman alive had already given me an early brush with fashion, so when I started Pernia's Pop-Up Shop, it paid off well."

Sonakshi inspires college students to train in self-defence

It's the age of innovative film promotions. If Aamir Khan showed the way, the rest followed. Sonakshi Sinha who stars in the title role of AR Murugudoss's Akira kick-started a self-defence class in NM College, Mumbai. The college has also decided to run a self-defence workshop on its campus.

Sonakshi chatted with students on the importance of self-defence training. She exchanged some tips and basic training programmes, which should be included in the workshops.

Over to Sonakshi, "It is so cool that NM college has decided introduce a self defence workshop. It’s one small step for us and a big step for everybody. I am thrilled that my film Akira has been able to make a difference and urged them in this direction.”

Adds an N M College professor, “The fact that Sonakshi is portrayed as a strong woman who stands up for herself in Akira has served as an inspiration for many of our students. We are very happy to announce that we have decided to start self-defence workshops very soon and we are excited that we were able to get Sonakshi Akira Sinha to start this campaign.”

Gujarat and Punjab bond on screen

Veteran actors Rishi Kapoor and Paresh Rawal's romantic comedy Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi is all set to release this November. The two actors incidentally play samdhis in the film directed by Sanjay Chhel.

The shooting of the film ended recently.  It's a funny cross-cultural take on a Punjabi boy played by Vir Das and a Gujarati girl played by Payal Ghosh. Rishi  plays Vir's father while Paresh essays the role of Payal's papa.

The film also has Prem Chopra, Jinal Belani, Divya Seth, Bharati Achrekar and Tiku Talsania in pivotal roles.

Title song of Y-Films' Sex Chat...is launched

After a positive response to the trailer of Sex Chat with Pappu & Papa that clocked close to 700,000 views within a week of release, Y-Films launches the title song for the series composed by Superbia (Gourov Dasgupta, Roshin Balu and Shaan) and sung by Shaan with Kabir Sajid (7) who also plays the lead character of Pappu in the series. The lyrics is by Sunil Sirvaiya. 

Gourov says, “When Ashish Patil, head of Y-Films and director of Sex Chat with Pappu & Papa shared the concept and told us to work on a  title track we were initially taken aback and scratched our heads as to how we could crack this one. It had to be emotional, innocent, cute and outrageous at the same time. I guess we all went back to our childhood and picked up the missing pieces before starting to compose it and it all fell into place while the team had a blast." 

A five-part fiction series, it attempts to demystify sex and themes around sex in a simple, clean and honest manner. Starring Anand Tiwari, Kabir Sajid, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Alka Amin and Sachin Pilgaonkar, the series marks the directorial debut of Ashish Patil.

Here's one lady who doesn't want Salman to apologise

"I always thought Bollywood stays silent during Salman Khan controversies because they are scared of his stature. But this opinion changed when I met him at IIFA this year," says actress and fashionista Rupali Suri. "I realised that people do not fear him, they respect him."

Talking about her interview with Salman for her IIFA green carpet assignment, the Gladrags MegaModel winner recounts, "There was a lot of chirpy frenzy around, but as soon as Salman walked in and stood before me for the interview, all of a sudden, the atmosphere changed. Everyone was quiet, as if waiting for him to begin."

"After the interview Salman was still around and being cordial with people. There and then it struck me that it was not fear, but immense respect that drove them to silence for the few minutes I conducted the interview," she says.

"Now I understand why Salman did not go about town explaining his stance to the media or making a show of an apology, when they dragged him in the rape comment controversy. He is so above all such drama."
Rupali is also thrilled with her interactions with Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Shiamak Davar, Gulshan Grover, Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "Hrithik turned out to be a super emotional guy who cares so much for his family, especially his kids."

Rupali will soon be making her big screen debut in director Arun Frank's film Dad... Hold My Hand.

Sonam leaves the rest behind in a poll

Fans and cine-goers from across the country have voted for Sonam Kapoor as the best actress for the first half of 2016, as per a poll conducted by a leading website. Sonam elbowed out her contemporaries and emerged on the Numero Uno spot.

While the list included several noteworthy performances of the year, audiences across the country seem to think that it's Sonam's sensitive performance in Neerja that made the biggest impact.

Arunachal verdict, wake-up call for BJP

When a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson says that Congress should introspect and enquire why the latter’s MLAs are looking for other options, as an unbiased follower of Indian politics, the first thing that strikes you is, “Shame! Shame!”

Without naming the BJP loyalist, his statement after the Supreme Court verdict that rules the reinstatement of the Nabam Tuki-led-Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh only signifies the utter confusion that Narendra Modi’s party is suffering from. True, the SC verdict is a jolt to BJP’s ambition to engineer defection in states that are not ruled by the party.

One setback after another: Uttarakhand and now Arunachal Pradesh, BJP under the captaincy of our ‘beloved’ Prime Minister Modi and his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah should find itself on a sticky wicket. But as brave soldiers who never give up despite all odds, the Modi-Shah team has entrusted its spokespersons to put up a brave front at a time when the apex court has given a big blow to Modi and Shah.

It’s all about being over ambitious. Buoyed by the victory in Assam and a commendable show in West Bengal and Kerala, if BJP thinks it can actually spread its wings all across the country by hook or crook, it’s probably living in a fool’s paradise.

BJP is in a hurry. With assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab round the corner, the Modi-Shah jodi is bent on stamping its authority all over the country. Little do they realise that such a rush only smacks of political immaturity. Meanwhile, there’s an attempt to even dislodge Congress governments in Manipur and Meghalaya.

Some people don’t learn and BJP won’t. But given a scenario with state elections in two important states in north India slated for next year, opposition parties have got a shot in the arm courtesy the SC verdict.

How the Gujarati brothers face the challenge coming up will be interesting to observe. One trip after the other abroad and Modi bhai has already made a mark globally. But with Jammu & Kashmir boiling and threat from ISIS looming large, there should be larger concerns for the government.

But who bothers? A Prime Minister who has no answer as to why China is making inroads into India’s domination of the railway tracks in Africa, should focus on issues of grave concern to the nation instead of targeting non-BJP governments.

The killing of Burhan Wani and the rise of Zakir Naik as a messiah for Muslim youth should keep the BJP government in Delhi on its toes. Lest should it further aggravate the crisis, it’s time for BJP to prioritise. The international community isn’t taking light of the situation in J&K and Pakistan is going the whole hog to put India under pressure over the developments.

Dear Modi bhai, the SC verdict should be a warning. Better you pay heed to it.