Film Industry

Jennifer Garner may need to refile for divorce from Ben Affleck. According to new court documents, the exes — who announced their separation in June 2015 — were warned by a judge in a LA Superior Court that if they can’t settle their case, a judge has the right to call it off. The actress has been stalling since filing in April 2017. “Jen wanted to give Ben the time and opportunity to work on his health and sobriety,” a source told a daily, adding, “She isn’t in a rush. And it’s because of their three children: Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six. Garner wants him to “be the best father he can be.”

Affleck, however, is ready to move on, especially since he’s been dating Lindsay Shookus, 38. 

Emma Stone isn’t on social media because she doesn’t think she can handle it. The La La Land star is impressed by the ease with which some people “handle” posting, commenting and receiving messages on social media, but doesn’t think it’s something she can cope well with. In a recent interview to Jennifer Lawrence for a magazine, she said, “I think it wouldn’t be a positive thing for me. If people can handle that sort of output and input in the social media sphere, power to them.”

She recently turned 30, and she believes her birthday has helped her look back on her life in a clearer way. She said, “My twenties were a really interesting time, and there’s been a lot that has happened in these past 10 years. Instead of just living the dreams that I had in my youth, it’s like, now what do I actively want as an adult?”

Sonakshi Sinha’s character Harpreet aka Happy in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi hails from Amritsar and the makers had to shoot a scene featuring her in a crowded market area in the city. In spite of having organised the shoot to the best of their ability, director Mudassar Aziz’s team was overwhelmed by the kind of crowds that turned up. The situation got uncontrollable and finally Mudassar had to cancel the shot.

Talking about the situation, Mudassar recalls how he had to think on his feet to save Sonakshi from the overzealous crowds. He says, “We had ample amount of security, but the kind of crowd that turned up, made it really difficult for even four to five security personnel to handle the situation. I just had to step in and since I was closest to Sonakshi, I somehow managed to take her safely to the car.” He further elaborates, “There was an over enthusiastic person who was trying to reach out to Sonakshi for a picture and since I was coming in his way, he pressed his elbow on my back, which ached for the next two days.”


The next day, the team found a creative way to shoot the scene. Mudassar kept a camera in a car and escorted Sonakshi to the location in a burkha. She got rid of her burkha in the middle of the road just when the camera was about to roll. The team quickly managed to capture the tricky shot.

Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, presented by Eros International and A Colour Yellow Production, produced by Aanand L Rai and Krishika Lulla releases on August 24.

Everyone has their own style of sporting denim. For actress and pop star Jennifer Lopez, it was her stylish jeans boots, or ‘joots’, that recently got fashion-ville talking. JLo, who is known to always make a sartorial statement, recently rung in her 49th birthday and did just that, again. She donned a pair of denim almost kneehigh boots that made it seem like her pants were worn around the calf and ankles. The boots resembled baggy jeans and had pockets and a belt. The look broke the internet and, of course, the ‘joots’ received mixed reactions online — with Twitterville throwing up memes and comments on her choice of footwear. One even twisted the lines from the famous song These Boots are Made for Walking to read; ‘These Joots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these Joots are gonna walk all over you.’ The If You Had My Love singer is known to take a fashion risk or two, be it with her diamanté studded body-con outfits on the red carpet or her recent, barely-there white monokini that she wore for a yachting adventure in Antibes with beau Alex Rodriguez. Looks like, her latest Insta-worthy style plunge is also going to go down in denim history.

After vowing not to play God again, Himanshu Soni is back as Krishna


Himanshu Soni had sworn not to play ‘God’ again on television, but it looks like destiny has more ‘divine’ plans in store for him. So, after his last show Neeli Chatri Waale wrapped up, the actor is back on TV as a deity once again!

Himanshu has been finalised to play the grown-up Lord Krishna in Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s Radha Krishna. Earlier, he had played Lord Vishnu in Ramayan, the title character in Buddha and a modern Lord Shiva — inspired by Akshay Kumar’s role in OMG! Oh My God — on the TV show, Neeli Chatri Waale.


“Yes, that’s what I had said after my last show wrapped up. However, what prompted me to take up this offer is the fact that Krishna will be seen in a different avatar on this show. So far, we have seen him smiling in all situations, but my Krishna is emotional, who cries as well. Also, the show has a younger Krishna and so, I will get a break from being seen in the same avatar all the time. Finally, as an artiste, you can't be out of sight for too long.”

While he may be playing God once again, it doesn’t mean that the actor doesn’t want to explore any other genre. He shares, “It’s not that I am only offered mythological shows. I get a lot of offers in the historical genre and I am quite inclined towards it, as it gives you a lot of scope to perform. As far as daily soaps are concerned, I want to take up male-centric shows, but sadly, most Indian soaps are women-oriented.”

Himanshu also wants to romance on the small screen now. He says, “I would really like to take up a romantic show on TV, nahin toh raha saha romance bhi khatam ho jayega meri life se. I am not at all romantic in real life and I hope to learn a thing or two on screen and apply those lessons in my real life.”

The actor admits that it took him time to come to terms with the fact that he is married. Himanshu, who has been married to the Buddha producer, Sheetal Singh, for two-and-ahalf years, says, “Since I married at a young age, it took me a lot of time to understand the relationship and its depth. It is a warm feeling; it gives you a sense of family and also responsibility.” Himanshu says that he has already warmed up to the idea of being a father in real life. Ask him whether he is planning to go the family way anytime soon and he replies, “Maybe next year.”

I was never a ghunghat wali bahu in real life: Devoleena Bhattacharjee




Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee is happy that after years, people have started connecting with her as Devoleena and not her screen character, Gopi bahu. She says, “There has been no conscious effort to break the image of Gopi bahu, but now, I am happy that if 10 people in a crowd call me Gopi, the other five would address me as Devoleena. It often happens that when you play a character for many years, people forget that there is a real person behind the character.”

Despite it being a year since Saath Nibhaana Saathiya went off air, Devoleena is yet to take up another long-term project. Neither has she participated in stand-up comedy shows or reality shows. Ask her if she is worried about being ‘out of sight, out of mind’, and she replies, “Yes, it is true that if you are not visible on the screen, you may easily get lost in this big world. However, after a popular show like Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, I did not want to do something that will make my fans look down on me.”


Meanwhile, there were rumours that the actress was in talks to join an ongoing TV show, which revolves around marital infidelity. “That rumour spread like wildfire. Many of my fans even pleaded, saying I should not play the ‘other woman’. I feel that the character of Gopi bahu has left such a strong imprint, it is not easy for people to accept me in a role like that. Having said that, every actress wishes to do something new and experimental. So, I am hoping that I will strike the middle ground and find something interesting very soon.”

While her fans might find it difficult to dissociate her from Gopi bahu, the actress’ social media features photographs of her in Western outfits. So, is she deliberately trying to break away from the image of a sari-clad bahu? “The Devoleena you see on social media is the real me. It’s my personal zone. I was never a ghunghat wali bahu in real life. Tomorrow, even if I accept a role that’s similar to Gopi, I would still wear gowns at a public event. I wonder why people make such a big issue of my modern avatar on social media,” she reasons.

Over the last year, Devoleena has kept herself busy by travelling to the remotest parts of India in Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. She also tried bungee jumping and became a professional scuba diver. She says, “It was important to tick off a few things from my bucket list. When I was doing the show, it was tough to get even a three-day break. So, I used the last one year to explore and travel across the country.”

Talking about her personal life, the actress, who has never been linked with her co-actors, confirms that she is single. “I would love to get married soon, but am looking for someone who is balanced. I am not looking for a workaholic or a Romeo. It’s all about balancing career and personal life,” she signs off.

After creating a buzz in Los Angeles and garnering appreciation in London and Melbourne, Love Sonia is now set to release in India on September 14. The film is a hard-hitting story of a 17-year-old girl, who risks her life to rescue her sister from a vicious human trafficking network across India, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. It has an ensemble cast comprising Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Rajkummar Rao, Sai Tamhankar, Adil Hussain, Demi Moore, Mark Duplass, Freida Pinto and newcomer Mrunal Thakur.

The film, which is being lauded globally for its explosive story around human trafficking, also won the Best Indie Film Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2018.


Tabrez Noorani, who makes his directorial debut with this project, shares, “After the incredible audience reactions in London and Melbourne, I am thrilled that the movie is now releasing in India. I am blessed with a powerful ensemble cast and all of them have contributed in making this film special.” Producer David Womark adds, “I am thankful for the accolades Love Sonia has got so far in London and Melbourne. Tabrez has made a powerful film and I am glad we are now releasing in India.”

Speaking about the film, executive producer Shalini Thackeray shares, “Love Sonia is a brave and moving story. I am proud to be a part of a movie that talks about human trafficking in such a poignant manner. Samraaj Talkies is proud to present a movie featuring a strong ensemble cast.” Co-producer Amar Butala says, “This is India’s most sincere and disturbing film on human trafficking. It’s a potent story that spans from India to Hong Kong all the way to Los Angeles.’’ Love Sonia is presented by Tamasha Talkies and Samraaj Talkies in association with India Take One Productions, Cinemantra & Dynasty Consulting Group. It is produced by Life Of Pi producer David Womark and Tabrez Noorani, co-produced by Amar Butala, with executive producers Shalini Thackeray, Deepak Nayar and Pravesh Sahni.


Tabrez Noorani


Freida Pinto and Manoj Bajpayee in a still from Love Sonia