ENTERTAINMENT

Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) Director-producer Om Raut, whose production ‘Inspector Zende’ is set to release on OTT next month, feels that the age of Asian Renaissance is just around the corner.

The director-producer recently spoke with IANS at his office in the Khar West area of Mumbai. When asked if the current era is the best time to be an artist, he said, “I think every time is great. I mean, Renaissance was the best time. It was a really, really good time where the art really flourished and went to a different level”.

He told IANS, “I think we all need to keep on finding the Renaissance every time. I personally feel that the way India and the Indian culture and arts is flowing right now, I think we are just about in that space or maybe a little bit pre, but we are definitely entering it. That’s just a personal opinion”.

Renaissance is the period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and surpass the ideas and achievements of classical antiquity. It is associated with great social change in most fields and disciplines, including art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration and science.

“And I think we have something different that is playing out. And trust me, it goes beyond cinema. I think it gets very strongly into new media. It gets very strongly into the digital world. The 3.0 is what we are all calling it. I think it’s cutting very sharp and I’m very sure that not just Indian, but Asian Renaissance is just around the corner”, he added.

‘Inspector Zende’ is set to release on September 5, 2025 on Netflix.

–IANS

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Los Angeles, Aug 21 (IANS) Actress Millie Bobby Brown has embraced motherhood. The actress, 21, and her husband Jake Bongiovi, 23, have been blessed with their first baby.

The couple welcomed their daughter via adoption, announcing the news on Instagram on Thursday, reports ‘People’ magazine.

The new parents wrote in a joint post, “And then there were 3”.

The actress wrote in her post, “This summer we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption. We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy”.

As per ‘People’, the pair, who sparked romance rumors in June 2021 when Bongiovi shared a selfie with the actress, first connected through Instagram.

They “were friends for a bit” before they started dating, the actress told Wired in 2022. The couple then secretly married in May 2024. In October, the couple posted photos on Instagram from their celebration at Villa Cetinale in Italy with family and friends.

“Forever and always, your wife”, the actress captioned the carousel, which featured photos from their nuptials and Brown’s two stunning bridal gowns.

Bongiovi also shared his own set of images on Instagram from the couple’s special day. “Forever and always, your husband”, he captioned photos of the newlyweds. In his carousel, the couple can be seen exchanging vows under white floral arch. In other photos, the pair smiles in front of rows of tall trees. Bongiovi also shared a shot with his dad Jon Bon Jovi.

This past March, the actress opened up about growing her family with Bongiovi while appearing on an episode of the Smartless podcast. At the time, the actress said she’s really looking forward to becoming a mom.

“My mom actually had her first child at 21, and my dad was 19. And you know, it’s been my thing since before I met Jake”, Brown said. “Since I was a baby, I told my mom, like, baby dolls. I wanted to be a mom just like the way my mom was to me”.

And my nan, my grandmother is, she was a huge part of my life. And so, yeah, I mean, Jake knows how important it is to me and, of course, I want to focus on really establishing myself as an actor and as a producer, but I also find it’s so important to start a family for me personally”, she went on. “It’s a huge thing. Jake was like, we cannot do that until we get married. So that was his thing”.

The ‘Electric State’ star went on to say that she and her husband are planning on having a big family since they both come from families with four kids.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21(IANS:) YouTube Fanfest is back, spotlighting popular and emerging creators and artists shaping culture on YouTube. The show that will take place On September 11, 2025 in Mumbai, will see a mix of high-voltage performances, cultural moments, and the enduring connection between creators and their fans.

Farah Khan along with her celebrity cook Dilip, in a quirky video today, took to Instagram to announce the same and the video looks so much fun and interesting. Since its debut in 2014, YouTube Fanfest has been connecting with fandoms, celebrating diversity, and inspiring millions of emerging creators.

YouTube Fanfest has some of India’s beloved creators come together to spotlight new content and trends. This year, creators take center stage across every genre, on every platform, and in every space. From live on-stage acts to intimate off-stage creator sessions and global livestreams, YouTube Fanfest 2025 shall see it all.

At YouTube Fanfest 2025, audiences can expect a vibrant mix of performances and creator moments, with over 20 creators and artists coming together across comedy, music, dance, gaming, beauty, fashion, originals, and new format showcases.

The lineup features celebrated names such as Kusha Kapila, Shakti Mohan aka Nritya Shakti, Lisa Mishra, Sanju Rathod SR, Desiree Saldhana aka Suggahunny, Mayur Jumani, Tanmay Singh aka Scout, Mahesh Keshwala aka Thugesh, Abhishek Kumar, Nirmal Pillai, Raunaq Rajani, Himanshu Dulani, Gurleen Pannu, Alisha Hazal aka Dance with Alisha, Farah Khan, Shakshi Shetty aka Sharkshe S, Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming, and Sarah Sarosh.

The Fanfest will also welcome first-time performers, including rising stars Aaditya Kulshreshth aka Kullu, Anshu Bisht aka GamerFleet, and Karishma Gangwal aka rjkarishma, bringing a fresh wave of energy alongside household names and iconic internet personalities. The mix of creators promises a perfect balance of star power and relatability. It will also love stream on YouTube.

— IANS

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Los Angeles, Aug 21 (IANS) The Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film ‘Wicked 2’, has shed light on the decision of making two big-screen installments.

‘Wicked 2’ marks the origin story of the witches of Oz. It also stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey, reports ‘People’ magazine.

Yeoh spoke about her voice role in the upcoming English-language version of the Chinese blockbuster ‘Ne Zha 2’, told ‘People’, “We shot Wicked and Wicked: For Good at the same time”.

The franchise’s distributor and producer, Universal Pictures, she quips, “was very brave”. Shouting out ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu, producer Marc Platt and costars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey, Yeoh recalls conversations about how to translate Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz’s long-running Broadway musical (itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 revisionist prequel to L. Frank Baum’s Oz) for the screen.

As per ‘People’, splitting the stage show into two movies, she said, “is very much like the musical, you know? You have part one, intermission, part two”.

She said, “I think there was talk, ‘Maybe we should just (squish) it together’”. But ultimately the team decided to spread the story out.

“There’s so many nuances. After you saw ‘Wicked One’, you felt, ‘I saw a complete film, but I want to know more about what’s gonna happen next”, she added.

As for what to expect in ‘Wicked: For Good’ (in theaters November 21), the actress behind the mysterious Madame Morrible can only tease.

Earlier, Yeoh confirmed what Schwartz said at the 2025 ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame’ induction ceremony in June. She said, “I think you’re getting some new songs. I didn’t say that”.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) Farah Khan, the celebrated filmmaker and choreographer, gave Delhiites a surprise recently when she was spotted at the bustling Janpath Market in Delhi, indulging in good old-fashioned street shopping.

After almost 20 years, Farah returned to the iconic market and this time she wasn’t alone. Accompanying her was none other than a celebrity cook, Dilip who is just as famous for his culinary skills as he is for his easy camaraderie with the stars. In refreshing ways, the duo chose to undercover in casual disguises, blending into the crowd of everyday shoppers.

Farah, known for her larger-than-life sets and choreography, was seen sifting through stacks of colourful bedsheets and quirky doormats, proving that even a star with her stature enjoys the thrill of a good bargain.

In the video Farah can be seen saying “I have come here, I think after twenty years in disguise. And look who is here in disguise”. She revealed that Dilip is also with her.

It was heartwarming to see the celebrated director doing what most middle-class families in India do, strolling through lanes, checking fabrics with a keen eye, and probably bargaining a little with the shopkeepers.

Janpath, known for its eclectic mix of affordable treasures, seemed to bring out a side of Farah that was relatable and charming. Farah has always been admired for her no-nonsense wit and her ability to laugh at herself. This candid shopping trip after two decades away from Janpath only adds another layer to her persona that is grounded, practical, and full of life. Farah Khan’s vlogs are currently the biggest hit on YouTube. Especially her cook, Dilip, has become a star overnight and even does a lot of paid brand endorsements. He recently shot an ad with Shah Rukh Khan for an e-commerce company. Kiara Advani was also part of the same ad.

IANS

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Chennai, Aug 21 (IANS) Well known film director Ram Gopal Varma, who has been very vocal on the issue of stray dog menace, has now come up with a list of suggestions which he thinks can help fix the issue.

.Taking to his X timeline on Thursday, Ram Gopal Varma penned lengthy posts on the issue, explaining why he thought that the measures suggested by dog lovers to deal with the issue would not work.

In one particular post, he went on to suggest a combination of both short term and long term measures that must be taken to address the issue.

He wrote,”The “stray dog menace” is one of those problems where emotions, public safety, law, and animal rights all collide. Solutions have to balance compassion with practicality, and they often will vary depending on both the existing infrastructure and local attitudes.

“I don’t pretend to be an expert but just using my common sense observations, I broadly think the solutions fall into short-term controls and long-term structural fixes.”

He then went on to suggest seven steps to deal with the problem. He wrote, “1. Stray dogs to be removed with immediate effect around schools , markets, residential streets and slums no matter the methods or consequences. 2. To create dog squads and make them accountable for tracking aggressive or diseased dogs and any aggressive, rabid, or attacking dogs should be culled immediately, unless some dog lover wants to take them home.”

As the third point, he wrote, “To seriously scale up Animal Birth Control squads like a war operation,and not just for the usual NGO photo-ops nonsense. The squad members can be rewarded based on the numbers they sterilised and vaccinated. 4.If dog lovers must feed, they should register and feed only at designated points after obtaining permission and also in the presence of a government observer.”

As the fifth point, he suggested, “Random roadside feeding should be made illegal and punishable. 6. Encourage adoption of dogs with tax breaks, housing incentives, or municipal fee waivers etc. 7. Initiate campaigns to morally look down upon those dog lovers who prefer foreign breeds (This won’t work because dog lovers won’t touch a ugly , dirty and probably diseased dog ).”

He then went on to put out a separate section titled “The Realistic Mix” under which he wrote, “Immediate capturing and killing the most dangerous, clear high-risk among them. Long term to sterilize and vaccinate systematically, zone by zone and keep a tight check and also massively publicise the progress. That’s the only way I think India can realistically attempt to get out of this stray dog nightmare.”

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) Actress-producer Pallavi Joshi, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film ‘The Bengal Files’, has opened up on the blockade imposed on the trailer of the film, and has called the ruling government of West Bengal for the same.

Pallavi spoke with IANS at her home in Mumbai ahead of the film’s release, and said how the trailer of the film, and a special screening was stopped on the orders of the ruling government of TMC spearheaded by Mamata Banerjee.

The makers of ‘The Bengal Files’ wanted to launch the trailer of the film in Kolkata on August 16, which marks the 79th anniversary of the Direct Action Day, a dark chapter in the history of India when the state of Bengal was rocked by widespread communal riots.

The film is based on the Direct Action Day, and is touted to bring events from the Direct Action Day to light.

Talking about the blockade, Pallavi told IANS, “Well, it was very clearly done by the ruling party, and we are making no bones about it. We knew that we’d get some kind of resistance. But we didn’t know it would be like this, that we won’t be able to show our trailer at all. It was very significant for us to choose Kolkata to release our trailer on August 16, which was the anniversary of Direct Action Day”.

She further mentioned that if something has happened in the past, and if there are some people who are trying to bring that story forward, the government should help in uncovering these stories.

“They should be giving us full support. But I didn’t know that they won’t let us show the trailer, which was a very sad thing because everybody felt a little bad. It’s your work at the end of the day. It does hurt you a bit, but then it’s gone. It’s in the past. There’s a new day today”, she added.

‘The Bengal Files’ stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar. The film is written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and produced by Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri.

Presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal & I Am Buddha, The film is a worldwide release by Zee Studios, and will arrive in theatres on September 5, 2025.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming season of the streaming show ‘Half CA’ was unveiled on Thursday. It offers a peek into the life of Archie and Niraj, who are facing their toughest challenges. It picks up where the first season left off.

The trailer offers a realistic peek into what many aspiring CAs call the most demanding phase of the journey as they balance professional deadlines, exam preparation, and personal sacrifices. While Archie navigates the grind of her articleship, Niraj faces the high-stakes challenge of clearing his final CA exam. For both, it’s a test of endurance, resilience, and self-belief.

Ahsaas Channa, who essays the character of Archie Mehta in the series, shared, “Season 1 will always hold a special place for me because it connected with so many people who saw themselves in Archie’s journey. She’s relatable because she’s real, chasing a dream while wrestling with the everyday chaos that comes with it. In season 2, we dive deeper into the exhaustion, the pressure, the self-doubt, but also that unwavering spark to keep pushing forward. That’s the reality of CA students, showing up, day after day. And I hope this season reminds them that they’re not fighting that battle alone”.

The series also stars Prit Kamani, Gyanendra Tripathi, Aishwarya Ojha, Anmol Kajani, and Rohan Joshi.

Vijay Koshy, President, The Viral Fever, said, “At TVF, we are always focused on telling stories that feel real because they’re rooted in experiences people connect with. The CA world is aspirational, yet it’s rarely shown on screen with this level of honesty. In ‘Half CA’ Season 2, Archie and Niraj are up against higher stakes and tougher choices, making their journeys even more gripping. Partnering with Amazon MX Player allows us to bring this story with millions across India, without putting it behind a paywall”.

Gyanendra Tripathi, returning as Niraj Goyal, said: “Niraj is throwing everything he has at clearing his final attempt, but this season shows that even the most determined people have to deal with emotional roadblocks and unexpected distractions. We wanted to capture not just the academic grind, but the friendships, the loneliness, the self-doubt, and the courage it takes to get back up each time you fall. I believe this season will connect even more strongly with anyone who’s been through an intense personal journey.”

Produced by The Viral Fever, ‘Half CA’ season 2 is written by Tatsat Pandey, Harish Peddinti and Khushbu Baid, and directed by Pratish Mehta.

The 2nd season of ‘Half CA’ is set to drop on August 27, 2025 on Amazon MX Player.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) Bollywood actress, Vaani Kapoor, who marks her birthday on the 23rd of August, seems to have rung in her big day in advance with family and friends together. The actress, who hinted at her celebrations with the caption, “Birthday love came early from the best ones,” on Instagram looks radiant as she is set to welcome another year of success and happiness.

Born on August 23, 1988 in New Delhi, Vaani Kapoor carved her path into the film industry with determination and talent. After studying tourism and working briefly in the corporate sector, she ventured into modelling before landing a big Bollywood break. Her acting debut came in 2013 with Yash Raj film’s Shuddhi Desi Romance opposite Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra. The film became a hit with the youth and Vaani ‘s natural performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She soon made her Tamil debut with Aaha Kalyanam in 2014 and followed it up with daring romantic drama Befikre alongside Ranveer Singh. While the film sparked controversies, it was her bold screen presence and charm that caught the eyes of filmmakers.

After a brief break, Vaani returned with a high-profile film like War, sharing screen with Hrithik Roshan and later displayed her range with Bell Bottom and Shamshera. One of her most acclaimed performances came in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, where she played a transgender woman with sensitivity and depth, winning both appreciation and respect for choosing such a path-breaking role. She recently made her digital debut with OTT series Mandala Murderers. As she celebrates her birthday this year, fans are reminded not just of her elegance and beauty, but of her journey as an actress who constantly reinvents herself.

The actress will now be seen in the movie Abeer Gulaal opposite Fawad Khan. The movie has been surrounded by controversies as it involves a Pakistani artist despite the ban on them in India, and as of yet will not be allowed for an India release.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, Aug 21 (IANS) The makers of director Mahesh Babu P’s upcoming commercial entertainer Andhra King Taluka, featuring actor Ram Pothineni in the lead, on Thursday announced that the eagerly awaited film would release on November 28 this year.

Taking to his X timeline, actor Ram Pothineni wrote, “Dear Mega, Lion, King, Victory, Power, Super, Rebel, Tiger, Megapower, Stylish, Real, Rajini, KH…fans of all the other stars and my dearest fans, Have you ever watched yourself in a movie? Get Ready to Relive Your Life on the BIG Screen this year! #AndhraKingTaluka on 28-11-25”

Ram Pothineni is betting big on this film, which also marks his debut as a lyricist in the Telugu film industry. The actor has penned the lyrics for a song titled ‘Nuvvunte Chaale’ from the film.

The song, which has been set to tune by the talented music director duo of Vivek and Mervin, has lyrics by actor Ram Pothineni himself and has been sung by none other than music director Anirudh Ravichander.

For the unaware, the unit of Andhra King Taluka, which is being directed by Mahesh Babu P, is currently in the midst of its final shooting schedule in Hyderabad.

It may be recalled that sources close to the unit of the film had informed IANS in July that a month-long shooting schedule of the film had commenced in a set erected in the city. During this schedule’s initial phase, romantic sequences featuring the lead pair, Ram and Bhagyashree Borse, were filmed against a night backdrop.

Sources had said then that the team would shift to daytime shoots after the night backdrop sequences. The sources had also added that the unit would film the climax and other key sequences in the film during the latter half of the schedule. The unit is to wind up shooting with this final schedule.

Cinematography for the film is by Siddhartha Nuni while National Award-winning editor Sreekar Prasad has been assigned the responsibility of editing the film.

As announced by the production house, the film is a biopic of a fan called Sagar, played by Ram Pothineni. Actress Bhagyashree Borse, whose popularity graph is soaring north, plays the female lead in the film which will also feature Kannada superstar Upendra. Upendra plays the character of a film superstar called Surya Kumar in the film.

Backed by a highly experienced technical crew, the project promises top-notch cinematic quality. A title teaser released by the unit begins with a ticket issuer in a theatre, earmarking tickets for all the VIPs in the region. That is when Ram Pothineni turns up and demands 50 tickets from the man in the counter. When asked which taluk he represents, he says, “Fans”.

Apart from Ram Pothineni, Bhagyashrii Borse and Upendra, the film will also feature a host of talented actors including Rao Ramesh, Murali Sharma, Satya, Rahul Ramakrishna and V.T.V. Ganesh.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) The upcoming film ‘Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi’ will be seen by the Bombay High Court, and will thereafter decide on Monday on the reasons or objections raised for the rejection of the film communicated by the CBFC to the Petitioner.

The bench while hearing Ravi Kadam, senior advocate, Satatya Anand and Nikhil Aradhe, Advocates for the Petitioner (Smart Cinematics) opined that although an alternate remedy (appeal) under Section 5-C of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, is available, however, it is not an absolute bar on the exercise of jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The bench observed that the CBFC has shown and has taken a rigid approach to reject the certification application filed by the Petitioner for certification of its film. The bench opined that the film will have to be viewed in order to understand the context of the objections and ultimately agreed to watch the movie.

The bench also opined that the movie has to be viewed in its entirety as per the guidelines. The court has reserved Monday for the hearing on the decision on the objections given by the Revising Committee based on which the certification to the film of the Petitioner was refused.

Earlier, the Bombay High Court directed the CBFC to decide the film’s release date. The court allowed the Petitioner’s prayer for screening of the film to complete the screening process as per the Cinematograph Act and Rules framed thereunder and also directed to convey its decision as per the Rules to the Petitioner by Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

Samrat Cinematics, the production house behind ‘Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi’, said, ‘Today’s outcome reaffirms our faith in the judiciary. This film is the sincere creative effort of over 300 industry professionals, and we remain hopeful that it will be allowed to reach the audience it was made for”.

The court also observed that seeing the conduct of CBFC and the erroneous approach adopted earlier without following the due process of law, the court has kept the petition pending for CBFC’s compliance.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) The makers of the horror-comedy universe Maddock Films have joined forces with OTT platform Prime Video for a multi-year licensing collaboration. This venture gives Prime Video worldwide-exclusive streaming rights to eight of the upcoming films from Maddock Films.

The partnership is for the post-theatrical licensing, and will see Prime Video docking the film from horror-comedy universe premiering theatrically between 2025 and 2027. This includes ‘Thama’, in addition to two other titles in this franchise that will be announced soon.

The slate also includes the highly anticipated Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra-starrer ‘Param Sundari’ which is set to release in theatres on August 29, 2025, as well as ‘Shiddat 2’ and ‘Badlapur 2’, expansions of two highly successful franchises.

Dinesh Vijan, CEO & founder, Maddock Films, said in a statement, “We’ve always believed in telling stories that surprise, entertain, and resonate, and in working with partners who share that belief. Prime Video has consistently championed cinema that transcends languages, geographies, and formats”.

“From our horror-comedy universe to our most beloved franchises, our endeavour has always been to create worlds that audiences love to revisit. This strategic long-term post-theatrical licensing deal is a natural extension of our shared vision: to take Indian storytelling to a truly global stage. We’re excited that these films will now continue their journey beyond theatres on Prime Video, reaching an even wider audience across the world”, he added.

The broader licensing collaboration also includes the Sriram Raghavan-directed ‘Ikkis’ starring Agastya Nanda, in addition to several other films to be announced soon.

Manish Menghani, director & head of content licensing, Prime Video, India, said, “We are thrilled to expand our strategic collaboration with Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films to continue delivering on our promise of bringing compelling stories to audiences across the world”.

“This multi-film slate not only builds on the unique and wildly popular horror-comedy universe and franchise sequels but also brings in a distinctive blend of creative originality and fresh storytelling that is synonymous with Maddock. We look forward to entertaining our customers with the post-theatrical premieres of some of India’s most eagerly awaited films. At Prime Video, we have consistently worked towards expanding the reach of Indian movies, not just deep within India but also globally by taking them to geographies much beyond the scope of other mediums”, he added.

–IANS

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