Kareena knocks off 16 kilos in three months





Kareena Kapoor Khan is getting back in shape after her son Taimur's birth. Our source informs that she has lost nearly 16 kilos in the last three months. The actress hit the gym about 12 weeks post her delivery last December. Apart from following a strict diet, she has been a regular with her workout, pilates and yoga sessions as well. On Friday , at a gym close to her Bandra residence, Bebo was spotted working out with friend Amrita Arora Ladak, Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira.
An evening before, she made an appearance at Tusshar's son Lakkshya's first birthday party in Juhu, where she looked every bit her svelte self. Kareena had apparently gained nearly 18 kilos during her pregnancy . We hear, her target is to knock off 19 kilos before she begins filming Veere Di Wedding. With 16 kilos gone, she is almost there.

I don't have roots, only wings. I live on a plane. But you know what, I am okay with that: PeeCee






In less than two years, Priyanka Chopra has man aged to storm her way into Hollywood. First, it was the TV show that made America sit up and take notice of her. Now, with the role of the antagonist, Victoria Leeds, in Baywatch, it looks like she has managed her big Hollywood debut on her own terms. But will her Hollywood sojourn be better than that of any of the Indian actors who have ven tured into the territory? Taking on questions like this and many more, the actress holds forth in a chat with BT. Excerpts...
The popular TV series, Baywatch, catered to the male gaze. Why did you choose the big-screen adaptation of the TV series as your Hollywood debut?

The film is about lifeguards and swimsuits and glamour, but Seth (Gordon, director) has maintained equality and you will see objectification of the boys, too. With Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson, Baywatch clearly caters to the female gaze as well. As for me choosing it as my Hollywood debut, I was clear that I didn't want to do anything that would get me stereotyped. I knew that whatever work I do -big or small -just like my career in India, I would choose something that broke the mould a little bit.

For example, what I did in Kaminey (2009). I just had eight scenes, but it broke the stereotype of the girl's role in a boy's film. In Baywatch, the role was written for a man and the film was supposed to feature a male villain. It's high time that in films, women play central and empowered parts. To me, that was the most exciting bit. I get to take on Dwayne `The Rock' Johnson, Zac Efron and all the lifeguards. It was an interesting way of introducing myself in mainstream American cinema.That was the idea behind choosing this film.

The TV series you headline propelled you into Hollywood royalty. How do you think Baywatch will help you leverage your position in the West?

I am realistic about these things.I am not someone who expects my first film in Hollywood to catapult me into becoming the biggest star in the country .Talking about leveraging my position, I experienced an incredible welcome even before Baywatch -whether it was presenting at the most prestigious award shows, gracing the covers of innumerable magazines or being on talk shows. All this happened because of Quantico.

While Dwayne and you lock horns on screen, clearly you shared a great camaraderie otherwise, considering the fact that he nicknamed you `sizzler'...

He comes up with various nicknames. In fact, when you watch the film, you will see that he has a different name for Zac in every other scene. In real life too, he had a name for me every time we met. Dwayne is one of the nicest guys I know. I have had the good fortune of working with many incredible and gigantic movie stars in India who have experienced the kind of fandom that Dwayne has. I have always maintained that the bigger the star, the more hum ble and nicer he or she is. He knew that I didn't know anyone there and every time he saw me doing a cover shoot or an interview, he was encouraging.

When you give your nod to a project in the West, do you also consider if it would appeal to your fans in India? Or do you feel that as an international star, your choices cannot be governed by what your Indian fans expect?

That's a very tricky thing. It's something that I have been dealing with in my own head. We live in 2017 and modern India has access to entertainment from all over the world. I don't discredit the Indian audience that watches Hindi films and expect them not to understand the fact that I am doing an English film. I am an actor and I work in various kinds of films. I am not worried about it when I am choosing roles. My choice of films has always been very personal. If a role resonates with me, I do it. That's why at times it works and at times, it doesn't.

While many Indian actors have tried to make a mark in Hollywood, you have done it in the true sense of the word. Would you agree?

South Asians are one-fifth of the world's population. So, we need to have representation in global entertainment. I am glad that I have been able to make a dent, it encourages people to not look at South Asians through a singular prism.Hopefully, people will not see us as exotic princesses now. Having said that, I am not someone who will harp on something that I have achieved because there is so much more to do. We have many other incredible actors from India who have worked in global entertainment and are doing exactly the same thing.

They are taking on roles which break the rules, including Anil Kapoor. We need people to come in and demand good roles. We will not get it all the time. I have faced it myself. So many times (in the West), I have been told that I am too Indian for a main stream part. I don't know what that means. That's what we need to change.

Will we see you taking up more films in Hollywood and Bollywood?

I don't know. My TV show has been picked for a shorter season because I really want to do both films and TV . Earlier, I wasn't able to do too many films. I shot for Bajirao Mastani and Baywatch while working on Quantico. Now, with a shorter season which will last only four or five months, I will be able to take on more films. I am in talks for film projects in America and India. I know I am coming back to India for my father's barsi.

I will be home for about a week.

I don't have roots, only wings. I live on a plane. But you know what, I am okay with that.

Pankhuri Gidwani scores 97.25% in ISC







Despite having very little time to study, Pankhuri Gidwani (fbb Femina Miss Grand India 2016) has passed her Class XII board examinations with flying colours. “I have scored 97.25% in my ISC Boards,“ says an excited Pankhuri, who appeared for her exams in her home town Lucknow . She adds, “I put in my best during these exams and had left everything -movies, TV and even mobile phone -for three months as I wanted to score really well in my boards. When the results were about to be announced, I was so tense that I went out for a drive with my friend. I was getting really anxious and so my friend and I went to Bandra Bandstand to get some fresh air. I messaged the ISC helpline number to find out how I had fared. I got an SMS and was thrilled when I found out that I'd scored mostly in 90s in all subjects. I was so happy and the feeling was awesome!“ While Pankhuri was in Mumbai when the results were announced, her family has been celebrating her achievement back home in Lucknow . “My mom, dad and my brother have been celebrating in Lucknow. They went out for dinner and have been busy shopping.My brother has been partying on my behalf. But I too partied really hard here with my friends,“ she says.
Pankhuri, who had dropped out from her Board exams in 2016 to participate in the Miss India pageant, is now filling forms and preparing for college entrance exams. “I have got through Christ University in Bengaluru, but I want to be in Mumbai,“ shares Pankhuri, adding, “I have filled forms for St Xavier's College, for which I had my entrance test last week. I am also trying my luck in Jai Hind College and Mithibai College. I plan to pursue Bachelors in Mass Me dia. I want to enjoy regular college life.I want to go to college, study and do what a normal collegegoer of my age would do. Of course, I will also be working, and will request college authorities to let me pursue a career in modelling and Bollywood. I am hopeful that they will support me.“

Sushant Singh Rajput

`I DON'T LET ANYTHING GET TOO CLOSE TO ME, BE IT TANGIBLE OR INTANGIBLE'





What's passion? Ask Sushant Singh Rajput.
The actor eats, drinks and breathes cinema. When he dropped out of engineering college many years ago to pursue acting, he made sure that he didn't have a back-up plan. “I didn't want to have an option that I could fall back on. Plan B was always to go back to Plan A,“ he tells us. Sushant has made the difficult transition from television to films, but he refuses to be swayed by the trappings of fame and success. In a candid chat, a few days before the release of his film Raabta, directed by Dinesh Vijan, he speaks to BT about passion, relationships and why he doesn't let anything, tangible or intangible, get too close to him.Excerpts:

When you came to Mumbai in 2006 to be an actor, did you ever imagine that you would come this far?

When I was pursuing engineering in Delhi, acting was on my mind. Right in the first semester, I started training in dance and theatre with Shiamak Davar and Barry John, respectively . I still remember what an amazing feel ing it was being on stage, probably because I didn't know that was what I had wanted all my life. As a child, I was an introvert and was very pampered at home, but I didn't know how to get the same kind of attention from people when I stepped out.

They wouldn't give me that kind of attention and I felt that it's better not to talk so that I don't get judged. Still, I wanted some sort of recognition and I thought excelling in studies would help me get it.

During my college days, when I was performing, either dancing or doing a play , I felt great. I could see hundreds of strangers look at me and get affected by what I was doing. That was so powerful, so magical; I felt, `Wow! I can make them laugh, I can make them cry . They are paying to listen to me'. That's when I knew that this is what I have to do for the rest of my life, no matter how much I get paid for it. But the fact was that I was in a prestigious college and I could have gone to a Bschool or Stanford. At that point, I said to myself, `One day , I'll own a big place in Bandra and have plenty of cars'. This was my way of convincing myself to drop out of college. It was third year and I could have stayed on for another year and got myself a degree, but I dropped out so that I didn't have a back-up plan if I failed as an actor. I didn't want to think that if I don't make it big here, I have something to fall back on. Plan B for me was to go back to Plan A.

What were your initial days of struggle like?

The moment I came to Mumbai, I was thrilled because I knew that I had the licence to pursue my dream. I enjoyed that entire phase; I remember I used to stay in Versova with six guys in one single room-kitchen. I was very, very happy . Today, even with the success of my films, insane amount of money and acknowledgement, I can only be at par with that happiness.

Your TV show Pavitra Rishta became a huge success and you enjoyed instant fame. Did that turn things around for you very quickly?

I have always lived a very subjective life and done things that I have wanted to. No logic, no reference! I do whatever suits me at that point in time. So, I started doing TV and the show became huge. That was an important juncture in my life because two things happened -I started making money and people had begun to recognise me. I come from a middle-class family and while it was not like we didn't have money , it was always a big differentiator. Since I was an introvert, when people started recognising me on the roads or at malls, it was trippy for two to three months, and then I got used to it. So, I felt that this is the lie that the society and our education system tells us -that one day , you will become rich and will be acknowledged and that is success; post that, everything will be sorted. That's not the case because in reality, it is actually the beginning. You will get used to it and you will come back to the same frame of mind as you were when you didn't have these things. And if you are doing something you don't like, but are doing it just for money and fame, then you are screwed all your life because you are not enjoying it and now you are used to all of that. I was saved because I would never think of how much I was getting paid; acting is something I would pay to do. What I have realised about money and fame is that when you don't have it, it is very important; but when you have it, after a point, it doesn't matter.

But a career like this brings along a lot of insecurities, too. For instance, the struggle to constantly stay relevant and be at the top your game...

If you are doing what you like doing, you are not thinking about anything else. You are not thinking about the future, so there is no insecurity . I went to IIT a few days ago and they actually understood what I was saying, even though it was completely contrary to what we are taught. I explained to them how when I was studying, I was given an-hour-and-a-half, between 4 and 5.30 pm, to play . I would wait for 4 pm and I felt within five minutes, it would be 5.30 pm. When you enjoy what you are doing, you have no idea how much time has passed. Hard work, talent, risk-taking ability , perseverance are just by-products. I told the students that since 2006, I have been living the 4 to 5.30 pm life; it doesn't feel like work, I would pay and do this, just like I would have paid then to play between 4 and UE 5.30 pm. So, the point is that there is no room to be obsessed about the future and hence, inse future and hence, inse curity never kicks in.

Do you feel accepted by the industry or are there still some people who look at you as the TV star-turned-film actor?

I have done five films and Raabta is the sixth one. I did each of these films after refusing an average of five to six films. The movies that I have done are the ones that I really wanted to do, not because I was short of options. I cannot complain.

What was the clincher when it came to Raabta?

Generally , I have a problem with scripts that I don't believe in. Reincarnation is something that I don't believe in, but this script was so well-written that I wanted to believe in it and tell the story. If you watch Interstellar, nobody has ever seen wormholes, but they are dealing with wormholes and you will accept it because the narrative is so good. In Jungle Book, animals talk to each other. It is not what we believe in, but it is how you tell a story . Secondly, it was the challenge of convincing the audience that I am two different characters, within a span of 120 minutes.

Do you think one of the high points of Raabta is your chemistry with Kriti Sanon?

It was there right from the first day . I remember before she came to shoot, I was discussing with Dinoo (Vijan) how these days actors don't listen while doing a scene.

They just know their lines, their cues.

They'll pretend, but they are not listening.

When Kriti came in, I did an improvisation which was not in the script and she reacted to it. And then, she came up with another and I looked at Dinoo and he smiled. Like I said, the chemistry between Kriti and me was always there.

There are rumours that Kriti and you are a couple. Is it the off screen chemistry that translates on to the screen?

I don't think anything that you are in normal life would translate in front of the camera if you are not a good actor. It's just prepara tion. People frequently get confused and say that some are method actors and some are spontaneous. It's bull shit! There is always a method to spon taneity .

So, are you saying that Kriti and you are no more than just good friends?

I'll tell you why she is important. I don't have many friends. Kriti and I have a lot of things in common. She did her engineering, too...

But she didn't drop out...

(Laughs) No. She completed her engineering and makes it a point to remind me that I didn't! Kriti and I are also both big foodies.She is completely transparent, never puts up a charade and is a keen listener. When you listen and somebody else listens to you as well, it is a very good relationship. She is like one of my five-six friends, so she is spe cial but that's about it.

You were very open about your rela tionship with Ankita Lokhande.

Have you now gone the other extreme in life where you'd pre fer being tight-lipped about your relationships?
I have nothing to prove to any one. It's not like I think I will be the No. 1 star tomorrow and then I'll reveal it all to the world. I don't think about the future. I don't have the time and the energy to wonder what people think about me, because thanks to my profession, I am doing something very interesting in life. If some one asks me a question, I will be honest because there is nothing to protect, there is no reputation to build.

In a break-up, often one per son gets affected more than the other. In such a case, do you think two people can really be friends?
I have seen people being friends, it's pos sible. But then, I have seen many people have many friends, too. I don't have many friends (laughs).

Are Ankita and you cordial? What about recent reports that the two of you went out for coffee?

These are completely fictional stories.They ask me for my quote, but I don't want to make a statement that involves somebody else without their permission.

Have you thought about marriage?
As I said, I just don't think about the future.It can happen anytime... or it might not happen also! Has the fact that you've been raised in a women-dominated home shaped your thought process to a large extent?

Yes, of course. I have four sisters, my mother passed away while I was still studying.My eldest sister is a topper; she is like my mother, almost 10 years older than me. I got drawn into science only because of her. My second sister would play cricket; she taught me how to ride bikes, cars and how to dress up. She was almost like an elder brother.My other two sisters and I are more like my friends. My mother never differentiated between any of us. She emphasised a lot on education and always said it largely shapes the way you think. I am very close to my sisters and my dad, but the kind of relationship I had with my mother was different. It just happened so suddenly , she was not there one day . I was in a state of shock, I didn't know how to deal with it. I was not crying; in fact, I didn't cry for the longest time. It was such a denial and deep down, I still haven't resolved it. I think somewhere because of that, I don't get very close to people emotionally .The understanding that there could be a time when someone very close to me will not be there scared me. So now, nothing is very important. I don't mean that in a negative sense, but yes, I don't let anything get too close to me, be it tangible or intangible.

Your tweets tend to reflect your philosophical side quite a bit.

It's not philosophy . I was always a science student and was never into anything that had nothing to do with certainty . Science is all about certainty , about laws and it doesn't deal with a subjective point of view. I was wired like that. Once I started reading different kinds of books, which were also to do with science, it changed the way I thought.There's this forum where the best guys from different disciplines -Astrophysics, Quantum Physics, Behavioural Economics, Cognitive Science come together and discuss ome together and discuss their experiences. If you read books on that, you realise that scientists are now saying that everything is just approximations, not certainties. So, what ever I write is not philosophy , it's sci ence because science tells you that there is nothing right, nothing wrong. It's just your opinion, my opinion. Or it's your way of looking at things or my way of looking at things.

POKHRAN'S `EXPLOSIVE' STORY TO COME ALIVE ON SCREEN




The story of world's greatest nuclear espionage accomplished by India at -Pokhran -will soon be told on screen.
Titled Parmanu ­ The Story of Pokhran, the film, starring John Abraham and Diana Penty in the lead along with Boman Irani in a pivotal role, is being directed by Abhishek Sharma. The filmmaker has also written it along with the Saiwyn Quadros and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh (the writers of Neerja). Zee Music has tied up for the movie that has Sachin-Jigar composing the soundtrack. The second venture between Zee Studios and KriArj Entertainment, the project went on floors on May 31.

John enthuses, “Our film will take the audience on a journey to showcase the greatest nuclear espi onage the world witnessed in 1998. A mission where the Indian Army, scientists, engineers and satellite experts came together to pull off the greatest covert operation of their times. It made the country proud and declare itself as a nuclear state.“

Arjun N. Kapoor of KriArj Entertainment (which he founded along with Prernaa Arora) says, “India has taken giant leaps in terms of scientific achievements since then.The Pokhran nuclear test takes the centre stage in our history . For us, this is not just a film; it's a dedication to all our soldiers and scientists.“

Ajay Kapoor (of Kyta Productions) adds, “We are sharing their story with the world and we are very proud of it. It's a film that every Indian will surely be proud of.“

Parmanu ­ The Story of Pokhran, produced by KriArj Entertainment , JA Entertainment , Kyta Productions and Zee Studios, releases on December 8, 2017 worldwide.

Kritika Kamra

I have learnt a lot from my past two relationships, but I'm not cynical about marriage: Kritika Kamra


Kritika Kamra, who has completed a decade in the TV industry, believes in calling a spade a spade. BT recently caught up with the actress for an exclusive chat on sets of her show, and as the conversation unfolded, Kritika got candid about her failed relationships, TV actors' gruelling work schedules and costume dramas on television. Excerpts...
While you are already playing Chandrakanta, Ekta Kapoor is coming up with a new show on the warrior princess on another channel. What do you feel about that?

We will continue to do our work for Prem Ya Paheli --Chandrakanta. People keep asking me why I did not work with Ekta Kapoor on her show, but this one was offered to me first. Obviously , nobody waits when a good offer comes along. Also, if one show works, that plot and subject set a trend for the rest of the shows. That's how TV works.

There are already many costume dramas on television...

Unlike India, in the West, costume dramas are shot in seasons.Unfortunately , we don't work like that.The TV industry is dictated by ratings and a show changes its course according to the weekly feedback that the makers receive. If the script is ready right from the beginning, we can shoot episodes in advance. Even the quality of computer graphics will be better then. But sadly, we shoot till the eleventh hour, which makes it difficult for everyone.

Your previous shows, Reporters and Kuch Toh log Kahenge, didn't work too well in terms of ratings...

Kuch Toh Log Kahenge was an adaptation of a Pakistani show. What do you expect when you stretch a 15-17 episode show into a 100-150 episode drama? Obviously , the quality will suffer. I gave my best to both the shows.

We have heard that unlike other actors, you take a weekly off. How did you manage that?

Last month, I shot for around 25 days.TV is a gruelling medium with long working hours. Even today , my shift timings are from 9 am to 9.30 pm and I reach home by 10.30 pm. I am a single woman living in Mumbai and I need time to do my banking, groceries and basically , manage the house. Even if I choose to delegate my household chores to a domestic help, she can't do everything. Forget chilling and leisure, I think it is a human need to have at least one weekly off in any profession. I am now 10 years old in the industry , so yes, I have worked out a weekly off with my producer. But newcomers don't have that luxury. What if one falls sick? I have also decided to take a break after every show. I need to live my life.

Personally, are you ready for marriage? While you spoke about Karan (Kundra) when you broke up a few years ago, you chose to keep quiet when your second relationship (with a corporate professional) didn't work out...

There is nothing wrong if two relationships in my life didn't work out. I learnt a lot, there is clarity of thought and I am not cynical about marriage.

I agree that it is a tough decision to make. There is so much stress in urban life that you are not able to juggle both -marriage and work life. I believe in marriage and when I get married, I will leave my work. It's impossible to be in a relationship otherwise. I was dating Karan when I was 18 and at that time, I didn't have any issues in admitting to my relationship. Even after we broke up, I found it cool to ride a bike with him and put it out on social media. But after that, I learnt my lesson. After Karan, I never admitted that I was in a relationship, so where is the question of having a break-up? It is better to keep it that way. I don't mind living in with a guy or getting married, but right now, there is no relationship to talk about.

Ishaan Khattar and Janvi Kapoor the remake of the Marathi film Sairat

They have been instructed to get comfortable with each other before the shoot of their debut film begins in December


Shahid Kapoor's brother Ishaan Khattar and Sridevi and Boney Kapoor's daughter Janvi Kapoor have been signed by Karan Johar for his production - the remake of the Marathi film Sairat. The film is being directed by Shashank Khaitan and shooting begins in December.

The young actors have been told to spend time with each other and get to know each other well as they have to play lovers in the film. The makers want the newbies to get comfortable with each other as they want that to translate on the screen. The source adds that Sridevi wanted her daughter to make her debut with an established actor and a successful director, but she is not protesting as they are keen that Janvi is launched by Dharma Productions. “It was Sridevi who called Karan last year and said she wanted him to give as big a launch to Janvi as he had given Alia Bhatt.” A Bollywood insider informs, “Janvi is reserved like her mom and has not opened up to Ishaan, who has a fun vibe. The duo have been told to go out in public together and gain visibility as a pair. On the few occasions that they went out, Janvi did not make an effort to interact with Ishaan. At the movie screening that they attended together - a special trial of Baywatch - friends of the two newbies say, Janvi didn't even say hello to Ishaan. One feels bad for Ishaan as he comes with his friends and she with hers and both stick to separate corners at the movie halls and parties. He has tried to break ice, but Janvi is taking time to open up.”

‘Five grown-ups being creative is very tough'


Manchester bombing was the trigger for their new video he Disparrows' latest music video, Set Me Free, shows images of the way the refugee situation has been handled over the past one year across the world. The single is the first song the LA-based rock-and-roll band has put out from their upcoming third album Wasting Time. With two studio albums to their credit, the band of five including Daniel Weber, Stephen Tecci, Grant Loosvelt, Jaydon Bean and Julian Tomarin kick off their US tour from tomorrow, starting from Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Singer and guitarist Daniel Weber tells us more... What was the trigger for a song like Set me Free, that highlights the issue of refugees? The song was written a year ago, so I can't really recall what probably started the writing process. But I can tell you what triggered the video. It was definitely Manchester. It affected us all personally. Do you often speak about political or social issues in your songs? Generally, it's not like that. I never write about political things or something which is very definitive. I usually like to write about general things, so that it sort of applies to everybody and everybody can relate to it. Mackelmore had put out a song called F**k Donald Trump. Would you ever put out such a strong political statement out there? Every human being has the right to say what they want. But let people form their own opinions. For you to come out and say F**k Donald Trump, okay, that's your opinion. I get that. But to go and put it out as music, I don't think that's correct to do. You're not helping any situation, not being constructive about it. So, does my song say that I love Donald Trump or hate him? No, what it does is it brings to light all of these problems that all these world leaders have caused or are causing. We are saying there is something we can do. India is a great example. India shifted from Congress to BJP, which is a massive change and people wanted it. Do you think musicians just pay lip service when they sing about social issues? Yes, I do and I say this all the time. It's very easy to talk and say f**k this person or that person or re-tweet something. This video that we put out was not intended to be the first single, but it's so powerful that we thought, this is a really strange time. Maybe the world is in a really strange place right now and needs a little bit of help understanding what's happening. So we said, you know what, let's just put this song out. Will it do anything? No, but what I hope it does, is show people the reality of the last one year in three minutes. That's the reality my generation has created and I hope that this is not the reality we're handing to the next generation. The third album was supposed to be out last year. Why is it taking so long? It was completed last year in November itself but we chose not to release it, until we ended up getting our tour dates together and everybody was happy with how the promotions will be. These things take time. Every time you try something, you want more and better. Tell us about the music producer you worked with for this album.

We worked with Anthony Parks, who has produced music for everybody from Aerosmith to Beautiful Creatures. I can honestly say that he's gotten out of us more than I could get out of myself and my band. I would write in India, and every four weeks I would fly to LA. We would all get in the studio for five days straight and work on the material. I did that back and forth for a year and it was an amazing experience. Was it tough doing this back and forth? Technology would have helped...

We tried doing that, sending each other stuff but I am a hands on person and so is the rest of the band. It's different if you're a solo artist. When you're working with five individuals in a band and everybody has creative ideas, you bounce stuff off each other. By the end of the day you hate each other and next morning you love each other. Five grown ups being creative is always very tough, everybody's idea is the best! (laughs) You'd said earlier that the sound of this album is completely different from the last two. In what way? We knew the album was special. After we sent the album to our management team for distribution and touring, everybody said you guys have finally grown up as a band and this is your first mature album, which is radio friendly, pop-friendly and people friendly.

Varun watches The Rock's film before others



While all of India, fans of Baywatch, Dwayne Johnson and Priyanka Chopra - in that order - had to wait till Thursday evening, Varun Dhawan was given the special privilege of watching Baywatch days before the rest of India. And with good reason. According to sources in the know, Dwayne Jonhson personally intervened to ensure Varun watched the movie in advance.

“Everyone knows Varun is a huge fan of The Rock(Dwayne Johnson). Dwayne knows it too. Some time ago Dwayne had tweeted his thanks to Varun who had praised the Dwayne-starrer San Andreas. Varun had also done an impersonation video of Dwayne which Dwayne had appreciated on Twitter. Hence when Dwayne got to know that Varun wants to see Baywatch he immediately swung into action.” Special permission was granted by the film's producers to have just one special screening of the film ahead of its release date in India. Varun saw the film with his close friends.

Avalanche of films this week threaten to choke theatres




Stifling movie theatres with two big Hollywood franchise films and a barrage of experimental, semi-experimental Hindi films most of them directed by debutants, the movie business promises to get very hot this week. What with the sultry Priyanka Chopra in Baywatch competing with Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman.

The foreign press has already declared Baywatch a dud. But the film's Indian distributors are undeterred. They plan a series of paid previews on Thursday evening while Wonder Woman chooses a straightforward Friday release.

“We are very confident about our product. Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman are international phenonema. They don't need that extra push,” says a source from production house.

But no extra push will help the torrent of Hindi releases this Friday. There are seven Hindi releases toplined by Prawaal Raman's Oculus remake Dobaara, debutant director Sunaina Bhatnagar's Dear Maya starring Manisha Koirala, Ruchi Narain's cheeky revisionist animation version of mythology in Hanuman Da' Damdaar, which features Salman Khan's voice as older Hanuman.

If you like horror, there is Sunil Sanjan's Flat 211 and Vijit Sharma's US-based psycho-thriller Mirror Game: Ab Khel Shuru. And vying for some affection in this melee of releases is a kids' film called Bachche Kachche Sachche directed by debutant Ravi Sadasiv. Then there's Konkona Sensharma's debut directorial A Death In The Gunj.

Reacting to the storm of films this week trade analyst Atul Mohan says, “Is this the last Friday of 2017? Why this mass suicide? But you can't blame the producers also. The phenomenal success of Baahubali 2 has reshuffled many release dates. For how long can they hold back their investments? Crowded week will only lead to less visibility and poor showcasing at the box-office. Only good content with good word-of-mouth may sail through, but for that one has to come to the cinema halls first. With exorbitant ticket prices and lack of face value even that looks bleak. We can only wish them good luck.”

Harshvardhan Kapoor on how he landed Bhavesh Joshi, why he's doing unconventional roles

Harshvardhan Kapoor on how he landed Bhavesh Joshi, why he's doing unconventional roles and who he considers competition

Harshvardhan Kapoor's just one film old and his debut film might not have set cash registers ablaze, but when it comes to making interesting choices, the actor is a step ahead. He has just wrapped up the shooting of his second film - Bhavesh Joshi, Vikramaditya Motwane's upcoming vigilante drama, due for release sometime later this year. Here, he talks about his sophomore effort, the reasons behind his unconventional choices...

Nervous about your second release?
 Extremely nervous. Honestly, I've given a lot to Bhavesh and I really hope my work reaches people. It's an important film - one made with a lot of heart while fighting obstacles every day. They say that most hit debuts are flukes, so actors have to think harder about their second release. You signed your second even before the first one released...

I first auditioned for Bhavesh Joshi as a 22-year-old even before I signed Mirzya. Vikram (Motwane) turned me down at the time because he felt I was too young and too inexperienced for the kind of film Bhavesh was. I was in love with the script and every time it didn't work out with another actor, I would reach out to Vikram again and again. Eventually, after we had shot Mirzya, Vikram went over to Rakeysh Mehra sir's office who showed him the rushes unedited. After that, Vikram called my agent and said that he wants to reopen the Bhavesh discussion. It was one of the happiest days of my life. From there, after a few months of talking and readings, we decided to make the film. What can you tell us about your various looks in the film? I can't tell you much about the looks but there are quite a few different ones in this film. I've changed my body language and physical appearance within the film for the different phases. That's all I can share for now.

What drew you towards the film? Do you like vigilante films in general? Which is your favourite vigilante film? 
Bhavesh Joshi has an amazing script. I think it's Vikram's best script so far with a great connect. There's a lot of action as well. And yes, I liked the idea of a vigilante on the streets of Mumbai. My favourite vigilante film would be V For Vendetta. You missed the 60th birthday party of your mom because you had work in Mumbai. You flew back from London a day before. Could you have stayed back, given people flew in for the party? The last schedule of Bhavesh was coming up and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I needed to come back and re-read my scenes and get back in shape. Those were scenes you can only shoot once and they last forever. I wanted to put my 100 per cent into it.

Do you follow Ranbir Kapoor's pattern? 
He too was averse to commercial films in the beginning. He ultimately gave in and did commercial films that got him the numbers...

I don't follow anyone's patterns. I'm more interested in creating my own path. I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow evening, let alone follow someone else's career choices.

Baywatch sequel in the works



Baywatch might have received quite the beating from film critics and audiences alike, but that hasn't stopped the production team from mapping out a whole new story for a sequel already. The entire cast is expected to return, though there's not word yet on whether director Seth Gordon will be involved again.

According to one producer, they've already brought back the screenwriters from the first movie and are quite sure they'll be able to get the cast back on board too, who include Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach and Priyanka Chopra.

“We have an amazing story already,” producer Beau Flynn revealed to Variety on the red carpet at the New York screening of the film. ‘We're bringing back (Damian) Shannon and (Mark) Swift who wrote on the first one and I know Dwayne would be in, I know Zac and all the girls would be in.” In fact, Kelly and Alexandra confirmed that they would definitely be up for round two. “I couldn't have asked for a better cast on my first film,” said Kelly. “These guys are awesome. They're hilarious, they're loving, they're generous. We really were a family and I think that comes though on the screen, as well.” Alexandra added, “I would love to. I think it's very cool to be part of a franchise, and I think it helps get other work. It's fun. You get to travel the world and work with these amazing people, and you get to make people laugh, so I'm completely down for it.” This new tale could see the lifeguard team head to Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro. “We just have this really cool idea to put them on this whole new world,” Beau continued. “We would take it overseas and maybe Rio as part of the story, we'll have to see.”

Pierce Brosnan: Roger Moore was my hero



Pierce Brosnan has hailed Sir Roger Moore his “hero''. In an essay penned for Variety magazine, he wrote, “Only on reflection do I see how much of an influence Roger Moore had on me as a young Irish immigrant lad from the banks of the River Boyne. I guess the combination of Bond and the Saint ignited a flame for fame in my heart of innocent wonder. I wanted to be up there. Roger as the Saint made me believe in his world. And before I knew it, the man who was the Saint transformed into James Bond, an even greater hero to me as a boy.'' He added, “Having by now fully immersed myself in the magic of movies, and with my appetite for more informed and character-driven work in films, I guess I slowly dreamt of being an actor as I watched their work, which never really seemed like work to me. Of course, I was only 12 years old. Only now after 40 years as an actor do I know the hard road it takes to be one. It's only now, after all these years, that I know he was a hero.”

Showbiz pals reach out to Olivia Newton-John



Olivia Newton-John's showbiz pals have taken to social media to reach out to the star after she revealed her breast cancer has returned. The 68-year-old actress-and-singer postponed her planned performances next month in the US and Canada after learning the life-threatening disease had spread to her back on Tuesday. Drag Queen RuPaul, 68, wrote on Twitter, “Let's all send Olivia healing love energy @olivianj (sic).” Pop star Sara Bareilles hailed the Grease star “the bravest'' for opening up about her battle with cancer for the second time. The 37-year-old singer wrote on the micro-blogging site, “My heart and prayers are with you @olivianj. You are the bravest and the strongest!! (sic)'' And Dolly Parton's sister Stella, wrote, “Will be praying you make a speedy recover. Sending lots of love. You are stronger than you know. (sic.)'' A source has told PEOPLE magazine that the Physical hitmaker's family have high hopes that she should be back on the road in August. They said, “She plans to be touring in August. They're all very positive.'' She has vowed to fight the disease with the help of her own Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre based in Melbourne, Australia. The actress will be helped by natural therapists, though she will have to undergo a “short'' course of radiation therapy.

On her treatment plan, she said, “I decided on my direction of therapies after consultation with my doctors and natural therapists and the medical team at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia.'' Olivia has promised she will reschedule her shows. A statement posted on the star's Facebook page read, “Olivia Newton-John is reluctantly postponing her June US and Canadian concert tour dates. The back pain that initially caused her to postpone the first half of her concert tour, has turned out to be breast cancer that has metastasized to the sacrum. In addition to natural wellness therapies, Olivia will complete a short course of photon radiation therapy and is confident she will be back later in the year, better than ever, to celebrate her shows.''

Lebanon aiming to ban Wonder Woman




According to some reports, Lebanon is seeking to ban the upcoming Warner Bros. superhero movie Wonder Woman from the country on the grounds that its lead actress, Gal Gadot, is Israeli. The state of Lebanon is at war with Israel, and has a law that boycotts all Israeli products and prevents its citizens from having any kind of contact with Israelis and from travelling there.

Arab News reports that a local source says the ministry of economy in Lebanon is seeking to “take the necessary measures” to prevent the DC Universe film from being screened there.

Digital billboards and posters for the film have been spotted in the capital city of Beirut. Furthermore, a representative of a Lebanese cinema chain has stated that the Wonder Woman premiere is going ahead as originally planned on Wednesday. A security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said that the ban would require a recommendation from a six-person committee of the ministry of economy, but that the process for this had not begun yet.

In fact, Gadot has appeared in reprisals of the Fast and Furious, none of them were banned in Lebanon.

But this could change as a group called Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon has spearheaded the effort to get Wonder Woman banned, saying that Gadot, who has served as an enlisted soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat trainer, expressed support for Israel as it conducted a campaign against Hezbollah three years ago.

Warner Bros. has so far not commented on the reports.

Justin, Katy and Miley to join Ariana's Manchester Tribute Concert




Ariana Grande is to be joined by some of the very biggest names in pop music as she performs at a tribute concert held in honour of the Manchester bombing victims this coming weekend, including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Coldplay. The pop megastars will share the bill at the One Love Manchester tribute show that will take place at the 50,000-capacity Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday (June 4), which is being held to commemorate and raise funds for the victims of the terrorist bombing that took place at Grande's concert at the city's MEN Arena less than two weeks before.

Other performers will include Pharrell Williams, Usher, former One Direction star Niall Horan and Manchester's own Take That. The BBC is to broadcast the event, which begins at 7.15pm, on television and radio.

All proceeds are to go to the We Love Manchester emergency fund, set up by Manchester City Council and the British Red Cross.