Even as the controversies surrounding Padmavati continue to flare up instead of dying down, more and more people are coming out in support for either side. Among the celebrities that have come out in support of the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and star Deepika Padukone, are veteran actors like Shabana Azmi and Kamal Hassan, but many prominent names haven’t made their views on the issue public. 

While Bollywood’s major stars, including the Khans may be wary of openly airing their opinion for fear of a backlash, that hasn’t stopped them from reaching out to support Deepika privately.

After opening with an average ratio on Thursday, the musical drama showed good growth on Friday. It now stands with the total business of Rs 31.31 crore. “Secret Superstar day -wise breakdown of the business. Thursday 4.80 cr, Friday 9.30 cr, Saturday 8.71 cr, Sunday 8.50 cr, Total 31.31 cr .

The film rocks in the multiplexes and metro cities. Directed by debutante Advait Chandan, the film revolves around the story of a young Muslim girl from a conservative family named Insia, the girl aspires to be a singer but there was lot of restriction from her father.

She incidentally crosses the path with music director Shakti Kumar, who helps to achieve her dreams.   “Secret Superstar”is expected to cross the Rs 40 crore mark by the end of its opening week.

 Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, apart from directors like Mrinal Sen, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Goutam Ghose are among the Indians invited to be a part of the Oscar Academy’s ‘Class of 2017’.

The announcement was made on Wednesday.

“We’re proud to invite our newest class to the Academy. The entire motion picture community is what we make of it,” Cheryl Boone Isaacs, President of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, was quoted as saying on the official Oscar website.

“It’s up to all of us to ensure that new faces and voices are seen and heard, and to take a shot on the next generation the way someone took a shot on each of us,” Isaacs added.

There are 774 new members from 57 countries — a record-breaking number.

The Oscar Academy has noted not just a 359 per cent increase in women invited to join the Academy from 2015-2017, but also a marked rise in people of colour invited — signifying the diversity it was embracing.

From India, there are also actors Irrfan Khan and Salman Khan, Indian costume designer Arjun Bhasin, directors and writers like Anand Patwardhan and Sooni Taraporevala.

Even India-born Mohit Kallianpur and Mahesh Ramasubramanian, who have worked in animation and visual effects of Hollywood films like “Frozen” and “Shrek” respectively, are a part of the exhaustive list.

Among other international high-profile actors newly invited to the Academy are “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, “Moonlight” Oscar nominee Naomie Harris, Donald Glover, Chris Hemsworth, Riz Ahmed, Adam Driver, Dwayne Johnson, Leslie Jones, Betty White, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Margot Robbie, Channing Tatum, Kristen Stewart, Shailene Woodley, Ruth Negga, and Rupert Grint.

Directors include Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, David Ayer, Theodore Melfi and the Russo brothers.

The new members invited are part of seven branches — actors, casting directors, costume designers, designers, documentary, executives and film editors.

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IANS

Click to Watch:

This is hilarious! Riteish Deshmukh stops at nothing. 

Is there anything left for Riteish Deshmukh to steal after stealing movie posters, movie trailers and interviews of his fellow actors? It turns out that the Bank Chor lead actor was waiting to unveil his last big chori at the very end – Riteish has managed to steal from YRF’s iconic trilogy, Dhoom!

In the last song of the film, Jai Baba Bank Chor, Riteish can be seen dancing along with Dhoom stars Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai, John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra inside the actual footage from the Dhoom series. Coincidentally, managing to pull off this miraculous feat is also the reason behind the title of the song: Jai Baba Bank Chor indeed!

Self-confessedly India’s STUPIDEST comic thriller, Bank Chor, directed by Bumpy and produced by Ashish Patil, is all set to embarrass its makers when it releases in theatres on June 16.

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ollywood star Aamir Khan’s “Dangal” on Thursday surpassed the Rs 1,000 crore-mark of box office collections in China, becoming the first Indian film to achieve the feat, according to a popular Chinese ticketing website.

This is rare as China has a special quota for foreign films where the number of Indian films is too small. Yet, “Dangal” has joined the elite club of some 30 films that have raked up over Rs 1,000 crore.

As per data on ticketing platform Maoyan, the movie raked in 1.067 billion RMB by Thursday.

Among other foreign films, “The Mermaid” is the highest-grossing movie (over 3 million RMB) in China, followed by likes of “Monster Hunt”, “The Fate and Furious” and “Furious 7”.

“Dangal” is about a determined father in a patriarchal society, training his daughters into world class wrestlers.

Aamir is one of the most popular Indian actors in China.

The Chinese media has been writing about the phenomenal success of the movie as it has struck a chord with the Chinese, a male-dominated society.

“It reminds me of my father. He wanted a son. He forced me to be like a son,” a Chinese government official told IANS in a rare personal interaction.

“I felt as if I never was a girl.”

The movie was released on May 5 across around 7,000 screens in China.

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In an interview to IANS, Aamir spoke about how overwhelmed he is with the response to the sports drama.

“While we were hoping that ‘Dangal’ connects with the people of China, not in our wildest dreams we thought that this is the kind of connect we would have. It was unprecedented. We are pleasantly surprised,” said Aamir, whose “PK”, “3 Idiots” and “Dhoom 3” also did well in China.

According to him, the reason it has become so huge is that the Chinese connected on an emotional level with the story, the characters and the moments.

“I have been reading their reactions on social media. They have been saying things like how the movie moved them and how the characters inspired them so much. It made them realise what their parents went through. Many of them called up ther parents and cried. It’s a very emotional reaction. That is what has made the film really work.”

IANS

The logo of the much awaited film “Thugs Of Hindostan” is finally out. 

With this film Yash Raj Films (YRF) has managed a casting coup with megastar Amitabh Bachchan and superstar Aamir Khan. Fireworks are likely at the box office.

YRF is bringing the two stars together on the big screen for the first time.

“Thugs of Hindostan” is directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and stars Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh along with Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan.

Now that the logo is out it seems that the makers of the much-publicised movie have taken inspiration from the hugely popular fantasy series “Game of Thrones” for it.

One can’t overlook the stark resemblance between the font of the film’s logo to that of the show.
At the moment, Aamir is prepping for a ‘big action sequence’ for the movie. The Yash Raj Films’ project promises to have action at sea and a dose of history.

The film will go on the floors on June 5 on specially-built ships. The shooting will begin aboard two massive specially-constructed ships — built over two months — that are currently docked in a Maltese sea port.

The film is set for a Diwali 2018 release.

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IANS

Actor Kamal Haasan on Friday said he does not have to do a show like Aamir Khan’s “Satyamev Jayate” to prove he is socially responsible.

Kamal has come on board as the host of the Tamil version of “Bigg Boss”.

Asked why he chose to host a “Bigg Boss over a show like “Satyamev Jayate” where socially relevant topics are brought to the fore, Kamal told the media here on Friday: “I have been more socially responsible for long than the person who hosted ‘Satyamev Jayate’.”

He was speaking at the trailer launch of the Tamil “Bigg Boss”, which marks his television debut.

Talking about the show, he said it will help him to reach every household and capitalise on the love he has earned so far.

“The show has a very wide reach. I don’t have to don an avatar this time. I can just be me, in my most natural self, and reach every household,” he said.

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A lavish house set on a budget of over Rs 1 crore has been constructed here to host the show.

To go an air on Star Vijay on June 25, the show will feature 14 participants who will battle it out for 100 days.

Kamal said he will visit the show once a week, every Saturday.

IANS

The Indian theatre, film and television world on Thursday morning woke up to the news of the untimely demise of veteran actress Reema Lagoo, one of Bollywood’s favourite on-screen mothers. The industry’s love for her talent and her warm-hearted nature was evident in the outpouring of tributes over social media and during her last rites.

Reema died following a cardiac arrest early on Thursday morning, a family source said. She was 59 and breathed her last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, in Andheri west, where she was rushed shortly after midnight.

Divorced from her husband and actor Vivek Lagoo, she is survived by her daughter, Mrunmayee Lagoo, 35, who is a film and stage actress and theatre director.

Her family members and colleagues from Hindi and Marathi film, stage and television industries turned up to bid a tearful adieu to Reema at her funeral in Oshiwara.

Daughter Mrunmayee accompanied by her husband Vinay Vayakul lit the funeral pyre amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. Many prominent film personalities like Rishi Kapoor, Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Shreyas Talpade, Rakesh Bedi, Raza Murad, Anang Desai, Sulabha Arya, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Mahesh Kothare, Sonali Kulkarni, Vijay Gokhale, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sunil Barve, Ramesh Bhatkar and Ashoke Pandit, looked on in grief.

Mumbai: Actors Kiran Kumar and Rishi Kapoor at the funeral .

Before the last rites, actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao, besides filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, visited Reema’s house.

Mumbai: Aamir Khan along with wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao during the funeral.

Aamir said on an emotional note: “We are all in shock. She had no problems that we knew of. It happened suddenly and is saddening. My first film was with Reema ji — ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. She was a fabulous actor and her heart was so clean. She was also very socially conscious. We only pray that she rests in peace.”

Mumbai: Actress Kajol during the funeral.

Reema was in action till Wednesday night on the set of TV show “Naamkaran”, in which she played antagonist Dayawanti.

“Reema ji wanted to leave early from the set yesterday due to a throat infection. She used to come in to the set at 9 a.m. everyday, but she had said she would come in a little late today (Thursday) around 11 a.m. because she wanted to get herself checked,” a source from the show’s unit told IANS.

Too sudden, too soon — that’s how her colleagues, juniors and associates received the news of Reema’s death.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, among other politicians, paid tribute to her. Modi described her as a versatile actor who left a big impact in the film and TV world, while Sonia Gandhi called her a “household name who portrayed an array of heart-warming characters on screen”.

Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Mahesh Bhatt, Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Renuka Shahane, Ashutosh Gowariker, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Dia Mirza penned heartfelt social media posts in remembrance of the warm, radiant and versatile actress.

Noted for her roles in Hindi movies like “Rangeela”, “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!”, “Aashiqui”, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Hum Saath Saath Hain”, “Vastaav”, “Saajan”, “Kal Ho Na Ho”, Reema became synonymous as Bollywood’s quintessional ‘Maa’ — a middle-aged, modern, but understanding mother. She played on-screen mother to actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Kajol and more.

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Starting her career as Baby Nayan Bhadbhade, a charming schoolgirl in Pune, Reema soon graduated to larger roles on Marathi stage and films, then television and Hindi-Marathi films, besides doing a 10-year long stint with the Union Bank of India banks from 1979.

Recalled former colleague Vishwas Utagi: “She worked in the Fort branch of Union Bank of India for nearly a decade and simultaneously pursued her passion for acting.”

“She was a prominent representative of the UBI in various inter-bank cultural events and bagged many individual and group prizes,” Utagi told IANS.

At that time, she competed with other bankers like Amol Palekar (of Bank of India) and Ashok Saraf (of State Bank of India), among many others, who later went on to become legendary actors, he added.

After working in about 10 Marathi films as a child star, Baby Nayan — who became Reema Lagoo after marriage — later graduated to plum, bigger roles, and after getting a strong foothold in the film industry, she and husband left their banking jobs.

On television, the actress was seen in prominent roles in “Khandaan”, “Shrimaan Shrimati”, “Tu Tu, Main Main,” “Do Aur Do Paanch”, and the ongoing serial “Naamkaran”. In Marathi, she gave notable stage performances in “Ghar Tighanche Have”, “Chal Aatap Lavkar”, “Jhale Mokle Aakash”, “To Ek Kshann”, “Purush Buland” and “Vitho Rakhumai”.

For Marathi showbiz, Reema was ‘Reema tai’. Actress Usha Jadhav said she will be missed, while Renuka Shahane, who famously played her daughter in Hindi movie “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!”, wrote a long and emotional Facebook post on Reema’s inner and outer beauty.

Besides acting, Reema took keen interest in public activities, took part in several banking agitations, sat on a dharna in 2013 to successfully stop demolition of the 80-year-old Bharatmata Cinema hall in Parel, and joined a procession for the welfare of the dishoused millworkers of Mumbai a few years ago.

IANS

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s “Dangal” has zoomed past the Rs 100 crore-mark within four days of its release in China, breaking a record previously set by the actor-producer’s “PK”. He is touched with the love shown towards the film.

“Dangal”, a story of a wrestler who trains his daughters to become world champions in wrestling, released in China as “Shuai Jiao Baba” on May 5 which means “Let’s Wrestle, Dad”. The movie released in around 7,000 screens and minted over Rs 120 crore by Tuesday evening, said a spokesperson of Aamir Khan Productions.

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Reacting to the overwhelming response to the movie, Aamir told IANS over email: “Me and the entire team of ‘Dangal’ are very touched with the love and affection that our film ‘Dangal’ is getting in China. I have been visiting Chinese social media websites and reading translations of the reactions. It is truly moving to see such a strong emotional bond that the Chinese have with our film.

“On behalf of our entire team, I would like to thank our Chinese audience and want them to know that we are all so happy. And I would like to thank our distributors in China for giving our film such a nice release.”

In the past, Aamir’s “3 Idiots” and “PK” did well in China. In fact, “PK” was the first Bollywood film to mint over Rs 100 crore in China — and it had done so in 16 days back in 2015.

A biopic of former Indian wrestler Mahavir Phogat, “Dangal” had also resonated well with the Indian audience, generating over Rs 385 crore ticket sales upon its release in India.

Just a month before the movie’s release, Aamir and “Dangal” director Nitesh Tiwari were in China to promote “Dangal”, which officially opened this year’s edition of the Beijing International Film Festival.

IANS

Superstar Aamir Khan, who is known for avoiding film awards finally broke the rule on Monday night and attended an award function where he was honoured with the Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar Award.

Aamir gave all the credit for this honour to his team of writers and directors.

Imtiaz to finalize title of upcoming film

Imtiaz to finalize title of upcoming film

“This is a huge honor for me, director Nitesh Tiwari and the entire team of ‘Dangal’. I am very thankful to Lata Mangeshkar and Deenanath Mangeshkar Trust and entire Mangeshkar family,” said the actor.

“A film gets its birth from its writer. This film has garnered so much love and support all over India, and its because of Tiwari. He wrote the script of this film and made a brilliant movie out of it.

“Whatever I achieved today in the film Industry is all because of writers and directors who have given me opportunity to be a part of their films and work with them,” he added on Monday while attending 75th Master Deenanath Mangeshkar awards in Mumbai.

Aamir also received Vishesh Puraskar award along with Vyjanthimala and Former Indian cricket team captain Kapil Dev.

The event was organised by Master Dinanath Smruti Pratishthan and Hridayesh Arts.

On work front, Aamir Khan will soon be seen in Vijay Krishna Acharya’s “Thugs of Hindostan” along with Amitabh Bachchan.

IANS