ISHAAN AND JANHVI GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR DHADAK

The adaptation of the Marathi film Sairat, Dhadak, marks the debut of Janhvi and Ishaan in Hindi cinema. The film is directed by Shashank Khaitan. Quiz the filmmaker on his inspiration to adapt the film for Hindi audiences and he reveals, “When I saw Sairat it resonated with me. The film had a strong impact on me and I wanted to tell the story in my style. Sairat is a Marathi film and a lot of people in India had not been exposed to the film. I felt that if I made the film in Hindi, its essence would reach far and wide. The subject of the film was potent and relevant. Incidents that were showcased in Sairat happen every other day in our country and I felt the story needed to be told repeatedly.” Coincidentally, the first ever look test for the film happened on July 20, 2017, exactly one year before the release date of the film.

Ishaan plays the role of a Rajasthani boy, Madhu, who hopelessly falls in love with Janhvi’s character in the film. Not only did he learn the the Rajasthan dialect for his role, he even took up intense tasks like eating chillies. Even though it was suggested that


he consume chilies coated with sugar, Ishaan ate them without the sugar coating to ensure that his reactions looked real. Talking about his film’s comparison with the Marathi original, Ishaan says, “We didn’t make Dhadak to outdo Sairat. The idea is to present a story that will reach a larger audience. Sairat was a phenomenal film because besides being engaging, entertaining and artistic, it also had a socially relevant message. However, Dhadak is not its copy or made under its shadow. Sairat has inspired us to do something of our own.” In fact, the actor also had to jump into a pond with snakes and fish, without a harness for a scene. That’s not all, the actor also had a number shots where he was showcased chasing trams and jeeps.

Janhvi who plays Parthavi also had to pick up the local dialect to do justice to her role and she also learned to ride a bike. Talking about her debut, she says, “Dhadak is the biggest blessing of my life. I am so fortunate to also have Shashank Khaitan as my first director, as he creates such great energy on the set. I had to train in Kathak for my role in the film. The thing that I like the most about Karan (Johar, producer) is that, there is a personal involvement and he makes me feel at home. I know that I can count on him and he has this wonderful ability to make you feel like you are the most important person in the world.” Like Ishaan, she also had to consume chilies for the film’s title track and she ate almost 15 of them. Even though she suffered injuries during chase sequences, the actress being a thorough professional continued with the shoot.

The catchy tunes of the film have been composed by music directors, Ajay-Atul and the lyrics have been penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Talking about the film’s music composer Ajay Gogavale says, “We’ve tried to adapt the Hindi version of Zingaat to the new Rajasthani setting in Dhadak. There’s a new Rajasthani style chorus in the song, but we have still retained the original word Zingaat and that’s the best part of this song. That’s been our approach to the entire Dhadak album, too. We’ve tried to create a new experience with our original compositions. The new treatment, visuals and choreography have given the songs a new flavour.”

Produced by Karan Johar, Zee Studios, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Dhadak is slated to release on July 20.

Priyanka kicks off birthday celebrations with beau Nick

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have got the world hooked on their whirlwind romance. The duo has fans and media buzzing, every time they set out on a date night around town. On Priyanka’s 36th birthday, Nick kicked off celebrations with an intimate dinner at a sought-after restaurant in London. The actress wore a black top and polka-dotted palazzos for the night while Nick was in a grey T-shirt and military green pants.

Taking to Instagram, Priyanka shared a picture of a dessert plate with ‘Happy Birthday Priyanka’ written in chocolate, and captioned it saying, “And it starts!! Yay!”

Pre-birthday celebrations reportedly began on Monday night, when Priyanka and Nick were joined by Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas and his fiance Sophie Turner.

It was a toss-up between Wimbledon and the World Cup. I sacrificed football for Federer: Saiyami Kher

Saiyami Kher has been an ardent sports enthusiast and a diehard Roger Federer fan, and she prefers to catch sporting events during her vacations. The actress never misses an opportunity to watch her favourite tennis legend play live. No wonder then, that she chose Wimbledon over the just concluded FIFA World Cup. An ecstatic Saiyami shared from London, “It was a toss-up between Wimbledon and the football World Cup. I sacrificed football for Federer as I can watch the WC after four years but Federer may not continue playing till then, given the fact that he could possibly retire in the near future. I watched him play so no regrets. Of course, I was gutted to see him bow out in the quarter-final but (cricketer) Ajinkya Rahane and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him play at the Wimbledon and I will be here next year to watch him win. Rohan Bopanna, Javed (Akhtar) uncle and I watched the spectacular Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic semi-final, which was one of the best tennis games ever.”

To ensure, she doesn’t miss out on the football final, which partially overlapped with tennis, the actress watched it at the Wimbledon lounge! “As soon as the men’s Wimbledon final got over, we ran towards the lounge to see Croatia play against France”, she added. If football and tennis wasn’t enough, Saiyami also watched India-England’s 2nd cricket ODI (One Day International) at Lord’s. She concluded, “My holidays are always sports oriented. I will also participate in a half marathon in Berlin soon.”

The real hero is the one who rises above obstacles: Diljit Dosanjh

Portraying a hockey captain on screen with conviction is no mean feat, and it becomes even more difficult when the role is essayed by someone who has never followed any sport off screen. Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, who played Sandeep Singh, the former captain of India’s hockey team, in the sports biopic Soorma, would agree.

He says, “I have never followed any sport in my life, I was always into music. So, portraying Sandeep Singh was challenging for me. Initially, I was hesitant to accept the role, because I was worried if I would get the body language right. But, now, after seeing people appreciate the film, I feel that good content is always liked by the masses.”


Ask Diljit what exactly about Sandeep Singh resonated with him and he replies, “The story was more about how he overcame a difficult situation (of being shot in a freak incident) and made a comeback into the game. I think we all face situations in life, where we are not sure if we will be able to make it. I have been through such experiences and for me, the real hero is the one who rises above obstacles. That’s what connected me with the character.”

Even as he is enjoying the accolades he is receiving from every quarter, the actor has another reason to celebrate. After Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and many other prominent celebs, Diljit’s statue is all set to be installed at Madame Tussauds in Delhi, making him the first Sikh artiste to be honoured so. He says, “It’s a proud moment for me. I had never imagined that one day, my statue would be installed at Madame Tussauds. Now, my Delhi fans can ‘see’ me whenever they want (laughs!).”

On a parting note, we ask him about his future plans and he says, “I am what I am today because of my music. I got roles in Bollywood only because I sang well. I am not competing with anyone, I just want to focus on good music, content-driven films and do well in life.”

EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE HAS BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT. THIS IS WHERE I BELONG: JANHVI

She comes from great stock, growing up in a family that’s flourished in Indian cinema for generations. The fact that Sridevi and Boney Kapoor’s gorgeous girl Janhvi brings a lot of promise is unquestionable. She has that rawness and spark that’s attractive; and even with all the hoopla around her debut, the girl has her head on her shoulders and her feet firm on the ground. With the whole Kapoor khandaan, along with ardent Sridevi fans rooting for her, you would imagine that this 21-year-old debutante would be a bundle of nerves. But she is evidently not. With her grand launch, Dhadak, starring Ishaan and directed by Shashank Khaitan, coming up for release this week, the poised and pretty Janhvi who is boarding her flight to stardom, tells us that, “Cinema is the only thing that I know and it is the only thing that I’ve been exposed to my whole life.” Open your heart out and welcome her on board…

The spotlight has been on you for a while now; you have been posing for the paps and the camera follows you almost everywhere you go.But with Dhadak,you are engaging with the media for the first time. How has that experience been? Was this also a part of your debut prep?


It has been fun, and during the course of the promotions, sometimes you meet interesting people, and engage in some conversations that make you think. Of course, I don’t think I am very good at all this, and I don’t have much to say at this point beyond telling people to watch my film. If people like my work, then I will earn the right to talk about myself. There was no real prep that I went through to interact with the media. However, I would like to say that I want to portray who I am in front of them. Yes, at times I am not comfortable at media interactions, but it is human to let that show. I am not perfect and I think it is fine being that way. I am trying to be myself and I want to be as real as I can.

Being in the limelight is something you have grown up with, like attending events and parties with your parents (Sridevi and Boney Kapoor). Did that help you ease into this space?

It was about the way we were as a family; Khushi and I would always attend events with mom and dad. If mom was performing or getting an award somewhere, or dad was shooting, we would make it a family affair. I happened to be with my parents on these occasions, hence, I was exposed to the media. People thought that my parents were pushing me into the limelight, but it was nothing like that. If Manish Malhotra was having a fashion show, I just wanted to go and see it. The purpose was just that.


JANHVI KAPOOR

‘I FEEL CLOSER TO MOM WHEN I AM ON A FILM SET, BUT IT’S ALSO THE PLACE WHERE I DON’T NEED HER TO BE AROUND’

Your understanding of the industry must be deeper and probably more practical and realistic, right? Your mom was a superstar, who had her own fascinating journey and your dad is a producer of high credibility, hence, you have closely seen two different aspects of the film business...

I am very thankful for the environment that I have grown up in and I have so much to learn from it. My mom was such a fine actress and I think my dad is one of the most creative producers. He doesn’t just think business, instead, he works with a lot of heart. Through the years, I have seen the kind of stress and struggle producers have to go through, and it has given me a perspective. It made me understand how to behave and what not to do. There is huge value to being professional in this industry. For me, normal life is talking about cinema and art. Cinema is the only thing that I know and it is the only thing that I have been exposed to my whole life.

I am assuming that cinema was a huge part of conversations at home? Do you all have different tastes in the kind of movies you like to watch as an audience?

As a family, we all have had different tastes in cinema. Mom and Khushi would love watching animated movies all the time. After school, our evenings were always reserved for the three of us to watch movies. We would fight, as I would want to watch some old classic, while Khushi wanted to watch Hollywood movies like Tarzan. I feel like I was born in the wrong era, as I am fascinated with classics, Indian and Hollywood. Some of our Indian classics have such a different charm, they are films, which are progressive and ahead of their times. Recently, I was watching Mr & Mrs 55 (1955) starring Madhubala and Guru Dutt, and in that era, the film talks about feminism. Of course, that apart, I think Madhubala is pure magic, and I am so obsessed with whatever she does that I think I could marry her. Even films like Mother India (1957), Pakeezah (1972) and Chaalbaaz (1989) were ahead of their time. Interestingly, these movies never had the tag of women-centric films, they were just known as good films. I hope we can get to that place in today’s times. As for mom, she has done so many films and she truly admired some great films, but when it came to watching movies, she loved fantasy films, animation and thrillers. In that sense, she was a child at heart.

Did you always aspire to be an actress? In your head, did you often play out that moment of your life when you would see yourself on the big screen?

As a child, I didn’t think of being an actor, even my mom didn’t want me to. However, I think in my head I already thought that I was an actor. In my school days, people would think that I was schizophrenic, because I would make up these wack stories. I remember, calling up my friend and saying that I am a secret agent and that I need to spy on someone in school. They would believe me. Once I told my friends that Shakira has flown down to Mumbai to personally teach me belly dancing, so now, I can teach all of you. My friends’ parents called up mom and asked, ‘You got Shakira down? How is she? That’s so cool, could you send Janhvi home so she can teach my daughter’. My mom would be amused by all my stories. I was like this comedy character at home.

So, tell us about your first shot, and your first day on the set of Dhadak.That moment must have extremely special and unforgettable, right?

On our first day, we shot smaller scenes, but I think that by the time we were there, we were all raring to go. Being in front of the camera was a euphoric feeling. It felt like everything in my life has brought me to this moment. And all that I have done has added up to this. On my first day on the set, I felt… this is where I belong.

Did your mom and dad drop in on the sets often?

They were there on the first day. I was comfortable around everyone; I would only get nervous around mom. So, I told her that I can’t have you around here. Khushi dropped by for two days in Jaipur, and mom came during the shoot of the song Zingaat again. Even Anshula didi came for one day. I wanted to be by myself while shooting for Dhadak. I have been handheld by my family through most things in life, for this one, I wanted to be on my own. This (acting) is the only thing I know how to do without my mom. However, ironic that might sound. The (movie) set life, is the only thing that I don’t associate with her. Yes, I feel closer to her when I am on a film set, but it’s also the place where I feel that I don’t need her to be around.

When you have someone like Karan Johar taking you under his wing and mentoring you, I’m sure that gives you a sense of security and confidence, right?

The thing that I like the most about Karan is that, there is a personal involvement and he makes me feel at home. I know that I can count on him and he has this wonderful ability to make you feel like you are the most important person in the world. Dhadak is the biggest blessing of my life. I am so fortunate to also have Shashank Khaitan as my first director, as he creates such great energy on the set.

Your co-star Ishaan is one film old, but he comes across as super confident. Did he help you ease in to your character?

Well, he is comforting in a lot of ways and he brings such great energy on the set that it feels amazing. Ishaan is so unbelievably talented. I have seen his first film about three-four times and I think it is unheard of for an actor to give such a brilliant performance in his first film.

Your mom was very concerned about the fact that you will be compared to her. In an interview with BT, she said, “When Janhvi does her first film, she will be raw, so we have to give her that kind of space. People should judge her as an individual, instead of comparing her with me. My journey has been long. So, it will be unfair to compare a girl who is just starting out her career to someone with a huge body of work.” Your reaction?

Earlier I didn’t think much about it, but now, I am being constantly asked about it. I am fully aware that whatever mom has achieved is untouchable. Well, 300 films isn’t a joke. I think each film is a lifetime of experience, so imagine how many lifetimes that is. She has got so much love and given so much back, so I really want to make all her fans happy. I want to make my parents proud and I am also absolutely in love with what I am doing. Acting is not a selfish profession, you can love it as much as you want, but eventually, other people need to love your acting. I just hope that they do. The only thing that I can promise to do is, work honestly and give it all that I have.

In your family, who is the most anxious about your launch?

Mom was very anxious, but papa is very chilled out and so is Arjun bhaiyya. Anshula didi and Khushi are the two people that I go to if I need a reality check or if I need to calm down. They are very honest and blunt, and they tell me things as they are.

Talking about family, it is great to see how the entire family has come together; all of you (Arjun, Anshula, Khushi, dad and you) have become a solid support system for each other.

Touchwood! My family gives me strength and courage. (Pauses)… I get emotional when I talk about them. Khushi and I are very different. I am the kid in our family, and everyone treats her as the more responsible and independent one. I am the one that needs to be babied, and my mom shared that equation with me. She liked to baby me, as she knew that Khushi was too independent. I would tell her… mamma khana chahiye, mamma ni-ni nahin aa rahi hai. I am still like that, and now Khushi and papa have stepped into that role. My whole family has supported me so much; I want to really make them proud.

Taylor Swift enjoys a private beach vacation with beau Joe Alwyn

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn are enjoying their vacation in Turks and Caicos. Instead of her typical starstudded holiday festivities in Rhode Island, the songstress and her British beau were spotted soaking up the sun and ocean blue water while vacationing on the island.

“They were very quiet and low-key their entire stay. It was just the two of them; they were always together,” an eyewitness informed a daily.


The Bad Blood singer is keeping her relationship private this time, thanks to her significant other, Joe Alwyn. “Joe has really showed her a different lifestyle and the value of privacy,” a source informed a daily, adding, “She’s the happiest she’s ever been.” The couple have, according to the source, “vowed to keep their relationship to themselves. They’ve done everything they can to keep it that way.” 

Set the mood for romance with the love ballad Paniyon Sa

After the popular Dilbar song, the makers of Satyameva Jayate are set to release the second track from the album called Paniyon Sa. This romantic number, which features John Abraham and Aisha Sharma, has been composed by Rochak Kohli with lyrics penned by Kumaar.

Says producer Nikkhil Advani, “I love watching the reaction of people when they hear and watch Paniyon Sa for the first time. The song makes you smile and feel all warm inside. Atif Aslam and Tulsi Kumar have elevated this very special number that Rochak and Kumaar have crafted for us. In my opinion, it’s everything that a love ballad should be.” Producer Bhushan Kumar explains how the composition stands out in this highon-action movie. He adds, “Paniyon Sa is like a calm in the action storm. Rochak has made a beautiful composition, with Atif and Tulsi’s voices and Kumaar’s lyrics. It’s turned out to be a melodious track. In the song, director Milap Zaveri has established the love story between John and Aisha’s characters beautifully.”

Hollywood actress Amanda Seyfried was bullied for her looks

American actress Amanda Seyfried recently revealed that she was bullied as a child for being pale and ugly. In an interview, the Mean Girls star, who began her career as a model, says she was attracted to the ‘glamour’ of posing for the camera. “(I modelled) just because it was glamorous and because people let me. I was made fun of at school for being pale and ugly,” Seyfried said.

The 32-year-old, who has a 15-month-old daughter with husband Thomas Sadoski, has previously spoken of her struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks.

‘Mumbai is the land of opportunities, there’s nothing that you cannot do here’

Their eyes twinkle bright with dreams of having made it big as dancers. Shakti and Mukti Mohan, who shifted base to Mumbai almost 13 years ago, believe that Maximum City has made everything happen for them.

No matter where her work takes her, it is Mumbai where Shakti likes to come back to at the end of the day. “I have so much admiration for this place. This gorgeous city has made my career and given me everything I ever imagined,”


she says, adding that she loves the phrase ‘flirt with the city’.

“Dance and Mumbai go hand-inhand,” she points out, and adds that it was the city that fuelled her desire to pursue dance as a career.


Mumbai gave me the confidence to give dancing a shot: Shakti Mohan

I miss dancing on the streets during Ganpati visarjan: Mukti Mohan

“Before I moved here, I had no desire to become a dancer. But when I saw the dance schools in the city and the massive opportunities, I decided to give it a shot. Mumbai being a land of unlimited possibilities gave me the confidence to go for it. Besides, my love for dance is an integral part of who I am,” explains Shakti, who also choreographs for films.

Adding to what her big sister has already said, dancer and actress Mukti asserts, “Zinda-Dilness! This is something that I understood and experienced in my first year of living here. I was stuck near St Xavier’s, my college, during the 2005 deluge, and a friend and her family took care of me. Later, I learnt it was just not me, but anyone who got stuck in the rains at the time, received help. One family gave shelter to my father, who was stuck in Santacruz. This says a lot about the humility of the city dwellers out here.”

FONDEST DANCE MEMORY IN THE CITY

This one’s easy for Shakti to answer, and she says, “My most memorable dance has been at the Andheri Sports Complex for the Dance India Dance finale, where I performed in front of my family, teachers and 25,000 people in the stadium. I won the show at the national level and that is my most unforgettable experience in Mumbai.”

Mukti, on the other hand, reminisces the day she got to be Madhuri Dixit. “I was 19, when I was informed about a dance audition at my college. I competed against 290 girls and won. This not only gave me an opportunity to dance like my idol Madhuri Dixit, but also get choreographed by Saroj Khan in a video. The song, Humko Aajkal Hai, was picturised on me; it was not only surreal, but the most alive I’ve ever felt on any set. A private phone call from Madhuri herself made it even more special. Such dreams only get fulfilled in Mumbai.”

THINGS THEY MISS DOING NOW

Before fame came knocking at her door, Mukti liked to dance her heart out on the streets, during Ganpati visarjan; a yearly ritual she now misses thoroughly. “Honestly, I miss doing the Ganpati dance on the road. When I was in college, I used to go to my friend’s house and dance on the road during visarjan. Come what may — rain, wind, traffic — we used to dance till we bid Bappa goodbye for the final time. I truly miss that now.”

Being in the limelight has its own downsides and Shakti knows it all too well. There are certain things that the dancer misses doing freely now — like enjoying roadside bhel puri, a ride in auto rickshaws and those crazy days of catching the local train and fighting for a spot to sit in the overcrowded ladies compartment.

THEIR FAVOURITE SPOTS

When asked to name her favourite places in the city, Shakti says, “I love to spend time in my studio. In fact, anyone who visits the studio finds it hard to believe that there can be a serene and peaceful space like that right in the middle of the city. Another place I like to visit is Bandra, it has amazing places to eat and hang out. Whenever I have outstation visitors outside, I take them to Bandstand and the Carter Road Promenade for a walk.”

A ‘pakki Mumbaikar’ at heart, Mukti likes to spend hours in places where street food and art are available in abundance. “My favourite places are Prithvi Cafe in Juhu and The Cuckoo Club in Bandra. Being active in the theatre circle for the last three years, I discovered some amazing interactive and self-learning spaces, that also offer great food. I have not only hogged and watched performances at these places, but have also performed there as well. There is so much to do at these places — from learning dance and rehearsing for a new theatrical piece to watching stand-up acts and eating tasty street food. I love that kind of energy exchange,” she signs off.

Bollywood studio & online streaming platform partner for Sacred Games

Original series Sacred Games gets a positive response from the audience

On Friday, the global streaming service Netflix premiered its first Indian original thriller series, Sacred Games, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap. The gritty crime drama is based on Vikram Chandra’s novel and stars Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte. The eightepisode series, produced by Anil D Ambani-led Reliance Entertainment’s Phantom Films, is already being appreciated by the audience.

Talking about the collaboration, Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, Vice Chairman of Reliance Entertainment, says, “We are privileged to partner with Netflix in launching their first ever original Indian mini-series. The streaming platform has demolished physical boundaries across the globe, and we are delighted to showcase Indian creative talent to their everincreasing worldwide viewership base through the creative genius of our partners, Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap of Phantom Films.” Erik Barmack, Vice President of international original series at Netflix, shares, “We are delighted with our partnership with Reliance Entertainment’s Phantom Films, to bring Vikram Chandra’s epic novel to life in our first Indian original series. We know that the more incredibly authentically local our shows are, the more people around the world will discover and love them. We are thrilled to work with some of the world’s best talent, writers, producers and directors to bring great stories to life for India and the world.”


Sacred Games is set in Mumbai, the metropolis, which has been a muse for the director duo of Motwane and Kashyap, and is their ultimate ode to the city. Says Anurag Kashyap, “The series is actually the story of how Bombay became Mumbai. When you watch it, you will get a sense of the city, where it came from and where it is today.” On his part, Motwane adds, “In the early stages of scripting, we took a call to set the series in the present, unlike the book, which is set at the dawn of the new millennium.”



Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in

Sacred Games



Vikramaditya Motwane adds, “This choice, along with the liberty we took to push the boundaries on a streaming platform as filmmakers without the shackles of censorship, has enabled us to provide a hard dose of reality and a layer of pulsating urgency to the entire narrative.”

Spread across eight one-hour episodes in Season One, the series follows Inspector Sartaj Singh’s pursuit of the most-wanted gangster, Ganesh Gaitonde, and an expose on the nexus between the underworld, police, politicians and Bollywood. When Singh receives an anonymous tip-off on the whereabouts of Gaitonde, a notorious crime lord who has been missing for 16 years, it sets the wheels in motion for a chain of events that unearths India’s dark underworld. Sacred Games will be streamed by Netflix not just in India, but across 190 countries, in all major markets in Asia, US, Latin America and Europe.


Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte in the series

Cheryl slams rumours of her mom being involved in split with Liam

Cheryl has spoken out following her split from Liam Payne. The 35-yearold singer and television personality took to Twitter to address rumours that her mother was involved in the couple’s breakup. “I hate responding to stuff, esp at such difficult times, but I cannot sit here and listen to such nasty, false articles regarding my mam (sic),” Cheryl wrote.

She added, “I don’t know why they involve her in stories about me. I can assure you she has absolutely nothing to do with any of it. I am a grown woman who is capable of dealing with my own life. She is a soft and kind woman who doesn’t deserve to be dragged into something that has nothing whatsoever to do with her.” Cheryl and Liam announced their split after over two years of dating. They share oneyear-old son Bear.

Joan Smalls opens up about racism struggle

Joan Smalls says she has been ‘refused opportunities’ because of the colour of her skin. The model admits her Puerto Rican heritage has made it tough for her in the fashion industry but she refuses to let it hold her down. She said, “Yes, I have been refused opportunities for the colour of my skin and that’s unfortunate and very narrow-minded. But I never let that hold me down. I’ve surrounded myself with creative individuals who see beauty for what it is.”

She added, “Your race, colour or creed is what’s beautiful and being inclusive of all. It is an uphill battle that people do not see behind closed doors, emails and when brands just think of filling a stereotype or using a model as a convenient marketing strategy. It’s about pushing through all the negative noise.”

It’s party time for Sunny Leone at Jim Corbett

Sometimes, a small gesture can go a long way in making someone feel special. Ask the nanny who looks after Sunny Leone’s twin boys — Asher and Noah — and daughter Nisha Kaur Webber. The actress has been stationed at Jim Corbett National Park for the last few weeks, shooting for an upcoming project. The doting mommy that she is, Sunny made it a point to have her kids by her side, and also took their nanny along.

A few days ago, it was the nanny’s birthday, and to make the occasion special for her employee, Sunny decided to host an impromptu bash on the set. A cake was brought in and decorations were made, but that was not all. Sunny also flew in the nanny’s little daughters, who were staying with their father in Mumbai. The actress told BT, “The nanny is a part of our family and she has been away from her daughters for a while. Nothing beats the joy of celebrating your birthday with your children. So, we flew her daughters in and she was mighty happy.”

AR Rahman’s music is pure and soulful: Candice Redding

Music producer and deejay, Candice Redding is of French-Canadian descent, who was born and raised in South Africa. She, however, insists that she has found her ‘home’ on Indian soil. Confusing, isn’t it? Well, not to her. The deejay has been travelling in and out of the country since 2008 and is currently touring different Indian cities. Ranked as one of the top 50 deejays in the world on FDJ list, Candice has worked with various F&B companies, played at different music festivals and even worked with top guns like Martin Garrix and Sean Paul, among others. In a chat with BT, Candice, who was recently in the city for a gig, shares a little secret about her brief stint at the coveted football event. “In 2010, when the FIFA World Cup happened in South Africa, I was a part of the contingent that led all the entertainment happening in my hometown Johannesburg. So well, it’d be a great experience to go solo and perform at the World Cup because I really know the adrenaline that rushes through your body when you’ve to entertain the thousands and thousands of people that come to attend the World Cup,” she shares.

Candice was recently roped in for a project that primarily dealt with Hindi songs. Talking about the experience, she says, “The original series — The Remix — was my first encounter with any form of Hindi music. I flew down and got on the 3-4 months journey of being in the studio and shooting literally 24/7. It was really challenging at first, but became a lot of fun when I really started getting great feedback from Sunidhi Chauhan, Amit Trivedi and Nucleya for all my songs. It turned out to be a unique experience because I also got to rap to live audiences. It really inspired me to work with more musicians from different genres.”


Candice is a big fan of AR Rahman and has often said in her interviews that his music resonates with her. "Pure and soulful — these are two words that describe the elements from Rahman’s music that resonates with me,” she specifies, adding, “It would definitely be a dream come true to be working with him in any capacity.”

Richa Chadha and Mrunal Thakur set BFF goals in London

Catfights and cut-throat competition are a thing of the past. Best friends forever is the new mantra among actresses, and Richa Chadha’s bond with her co-star Mrunal Thakur is proof of that. The two shared a great rapport during their stint in London, while they were attending a film festival.

Richa and Mrunal, who had worked together in Love Sonia, hadn’t been able to catch up with each other after the film’s wrap-up a few months ago. So, when they met in London, they made the most of the opportunity by spending their free time together. Richa shares, “Mrunal and I had a great time before and after the screenings. We had not had a chance to connect after our shoot concluded, but London helped us reconnect and strengthen our bond.”


On her part, Mrunal, who has acted in TV shows and films, shares, “Richa is a lovely person and it is fun to be around her. I really look up to her... she’s actually my hero. It was amazing catching up with her after a very long time. We recalled our experiences during the shoot of Love Sonia and all the memories came gushing back.”

Kriti Kharbanda takes up pole dancing to stay fit

Kriti Kharbanda, who was last seen in Veerey Ki Wedding, has been roped in for Sajid Khan’s Housefull 4, the fourth instalment in the Housefull franchise. While she played a serious civil services officer in Veerey..., her next outing will see her in a totally different avatar.

BT has it that the role requires her to be at her fittest best. And, in order to get into shape, the actress will not just be following a fitness regimen, but also a strict diet for the next one month.


Kriti has also started taking dance classes and is training in various styles, including Bollywood and contemporary. That’s not all, pole dancing has also caught her fancy. Ask her what made her want to explore this dance form and the actress quickly replies, “Pole dancing is a great way to enhance one’s fitness level and also hone one’s dancing abilities. It is something I haven’t done before, but I’m really enjoying the process.”

Looks like Kriti has taken a page out of Jacqueline Fernandez’s book. Jackie is also known for her ability to work a pole like a pro.

Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne

It’s over: Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole announce that they are done
Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole have announced that they are breaking up. The couple – who have a one-year-old son, Bear together – posted separate statements on their social media accounts regarding their split.

“We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together,” Cheryl, 35, wrote.

Liam, 24, said on his page, “Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways.”

Shailene is interested in a political career

Shailene Woodley has expressed her interest in pursuing a political career. The Adrift actress is known for her strong opinions and admitted that she will “never say never” to the possibility of running for office one day. Asked if she’d run for office, she said, “It’s not something I’ll do this year, but who knows. Never say never. I don’t think I can ever be only doing one thing. It’s just a matter of deciding where to put your priority and that’s so exciting for me.”

Sandiip Sikcand returns to theatre after a decade

After staying away from the limelight for a long time, Sandiip Sikcand is now making a comeback on stage with a comedy, The Play That Goes Wrong.

Ask him about missing in action for a decade and he replies, “I have been doing plays — acting, producing and directing — since 1999. However, the last time I acted in a play was in 2008. I’m excited about this one; I essay the character of Perkins, a butler. As the title suggests, this is a play within a play and it goes terribly wrong when I forget my lines. I end up giving my co-actors the wrong cues and the entire play becomes a hilarious roller-coaster ride.”


After working in all three mediums — television, films and theatre — he says that stage is his first love. “Each medium has its own fun, but if I have to pick one, it’s stage. The instant feedback from the audience, the preparedness of an actor to be ready with improvisations — all these factors make this medium so fantastic. Stage is like riyaaz for acting,” he says.

I prefer playing mother to a son than a daughter: Gurdip Punjj

Many actresses might have reservations about playing mothers on screen, but not Gurdip Punjj, who was last seen on Sethji. Having played mom in her previous shows, she doesn’t mind repeating the act on TV. She says, “I can’t keep waiting for a mature love story to come my way. Roles should be written for senior actresses as well.”

Gurdip is all set to make her debut in the historical genre with Anirudh Pathak’s TV adaptation of Mughal-EAzam, in which she will play queen Jodha.


The actress will be playing mom to Shaheer Sheikh,who is just a few years younger to her. Ask her if she was apprehensive about playing mother to a grown-up actor and she replies, “Not at all. I have no such qualms. Though the age difference isn’t much, I have worked for more years than Shaheer. People have seen me mature as an actor, so they offer me roles keeping that in mind. Also, this is a historical show and we know that women would get married at an early age back then. It’s a strong character and I am too excited to play the part. I am a mother of two in real life and so, maternal love comes naturally to me. That makes it easier to portray my character with conviction.”

Interestingly, Gurdip prefers playing mother to a son on screen. She explains, “I prefer playing mother to a son than a daughter. That’s because a mom’s track often ends abruptly on shows after the daughter’s marriage. I think about all these aspects before taking up a role.”

JASWIR KAUR BLESSED WITH A BABY GIRL

Actress Jaswir Kaur and hubby Vishal Madlani were blessed with a girl on June 26. The actress, last seen on Waaris, says, “We are on cloud nine. Vishal was with me throughout and I remember the moment we heard our baby cry as she came into this world, we had tears in our eyes. There cannot be a better feeling than this.”

The couple is planning to name their child Nyra. “Vishal came up with the name. It signifies the beauty of Goddess Saraswati,” the proud mother signs off.

Karan Johar launches loyalty program for fans

Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is launching an industry-first exclusive loyalty program for its fans. In partnership with Paytm, the program will reward their most loyal fan family with exciting offers, experiences and tempting discounts. The production house kick-started 2018 with the blockbuster Raazi, and has splendid releases lined up for the rest of the year. Joining the program will grant fans first access to all Dharma movies, and they will also be eligible for exclusive rewards, including trips to movie sets and locations where their films have been shot. Talking about the loyalty program, Karan says, “We have received unconditional love from our fans over the years and this has indeed been a blessed journey so far. This offering is our way of thanking them.”

I don’t believe in asking my ex-girlfriend out for coffee, what’s over is over - VIPUL ROY

I don’t believe in asking my ex-girlfriend out for coffee, what’s over is over

Relationships are no cakewalk, says Vipul Roy, who is currently seen on the TV show, Partners — Trouble Ho Gayi Double. The actor, who was in a relationship with Yuvika Choudhary for almost a decade, admits that life often takes an unexpected turn.

He says, “Yuvika is engaged to another guy (Prince Narula), and I wish her all the best. Yes, she was one of my best friends and we were in a relationship for a long time, but destiny had other plans and we decided to part ways.”


Ask Vipul if he and Yuvika are friends now and he replies, “I don’t believe in asking my exgirlfriend out for a coffee. What’s over is over and it’s better left behind. I don’t want to prove to anyone that I am great friends with my ex and I am cool about it. Yuvika was a great friend, someone who I could depend on in those early days. The girl is getting married and she deserves all the happiness.”

While he may not be keen to ask his ex out for coffee, Vipul points out how stepping out with any girl sets tongues wagging, these days. “If you are friends with a girl and hang out with her, people will invariably link you up. Since we are actors, we are recognised easily and social media, too, adds to the buzz.”

Does he mean to say that his friendship with Vahbiz Dorabjee got blown out of proportion after she split with her husband, Vivian Dsena? Vipul explains, “I was friends with both Vivian and Vahbiz before problems surfaced in their relationship. However, after they split, Vivian chose isolation unlike Vahbiz. Also, she was a friend before I became close to Vivian and so, our camaraderie continued. In fact, even after their split, I kept consoling both their families, saying that they would get back together. However, people just assumed that I was responsible for trouble in their marriage. And it’s not just Vahbiz, people like to link me up with most of my coactors and friends.”

The actor also denies being in a long-distance relationship with a girl in US. “I am good friends with her, but I am not sure long-distance relationships work. Friendship is different, you can be friends with people across the world.”

The actor, who insists that he is single, is quite clear about what he is looking for in a relationship. “I appreciate that women are breaking stereotypes, but in a relationship, both man and woman will have to switch their roles between being a leader and a follower, depending on the situation. Compatibility, friendship and mutual understanding are crucial for any relationship. As of now, I am enjoying my single status. However, I want to settle down now, and I feel that I am more mature to handle a relationship.” ”