ENTERTAINMENT

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Music composer Amaal Mallik, who has composed the song ‘Yeh Awarapan’ from the upcoming Emraan Hashmi-starrer ‘Awarapan 2’, feels that the rock genre has made a massive comeback after more than a decade.

The composer spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film, and said that a composer should always focus on a good melody, and then retrofit the genre as per the demand of the song.

He told IANS, “I think rock music has already made a comeback. With ‘Yeh Awarapan’, having Arijit Singh croon a rock anthem this year, I think many people will also believe that the genre is back and we should do it. In 2007, early 2000s to 2011, rock music, rock bands were going around the world. Somewhere after that, even music became very electronic”.

He further mentioned, “I have also done a lot of songs like ‘Suraj Dooba Hai’, ‘100 Asmaan’ which were EDM. But never leave the melody quotient. At least for me, in my journey, I have tried to make the sound extravagant, new age, hip-hop, EDM. Your melody should reach the heart. That is my requirement. Take the most upbeat song in my career like ‘Suraj Dooba Hai’, even if you remove all the beats, this is not a club track melody. This is a good melody”.

Earlier, the composer had shared that he didn’t want to make the song very heavy on programming. He said that that the title of the song came with so much depth that he wanted to contrast the poetry with light musical texture.

He earlier told IANS, “When the word is so deep, ‘Aawarapan’, it cannot be defined with one thing. In Aawarapan, there is a lot of happiness in this song. There is a lot of realization, there is introspection, there is a feeling of sitting and talking to yourself in the song. Sometimes it feels like you are telling your story to a friend”.

“There are such words in the song. When you sit with someone, you tell him that I have lost the journey of my life. It sounds like you are narrating your story. So, the lyrics are very conversational but deep”, he added.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Actress Tejasswi Prakash, who is set to join Elvish Yadav and Aarush Bhola in the upcoming season of the gaming reality show ‘Playground’ season 5, has said that she and Elvish Yadav share the sacred bond of friendship, and are extremely loyal to each other as friends.

The actress spoke with IANS along with Elvish Yadav and Aarush Bhola at a 5-star property in the Juhu area of Mumbai during the promotions of the show.

When asked if a competitive show like ‘Playground’ will have any negative impact on their bond, the actress told IANS, “I think we are smart enough. But at the same time, we also know that a lot of people take this show very seriously. So it’s not like we cannot be competitive. We have to be competitive for their sake. But at the same time, we will be the way we are. We are the same”.

The two constantly pull each other’s legs, like BFFs. Tejasswi calls it their love language as friends that drives their bond.

She further mentioned, “I think it’s our love language. But there are times when we have intense conversations about friendship and life. We are loyal to each other as friends. And if something’s hurt him, or if someone has hurt me, If something’s happened, I need to find him to tell him first”.

“And he will come searching for me. So he has to find me first. We keep looking for each other. In a happy moment also, or in a sad moment also. If there’s anything drastic, we look for each other first. Nothing changes like that”, she added.

‘Playground’ season 5 is available to stream on Amazon MX Player.

–IANS

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Chennai, Aug 6 (IANS) One of south India’s fastest rising stars Tovino Thomas and acclaimed Malayalam director Johnpaul George have announced that they will be working together again on another film and that this upcoming film would be “epic”.

Taking to his social media timelines to share a picture of himself with actor Tovino Thomas, director Johnpaul George wrote, “A decade later, we reunite. An epic awaits. @tovinothomas @chethan_j_lal #thesecretoftheemperor.”

Industry insiders say that this new venture that Tovino Thomas and Johnpaul George will be working together on will be the biggest budget project of both their careers. They also say that Chethan Jayalal is set to be part of the project alongside the duo.

Interestingly, the announcement of this new project came even as their critically acclaimed Malayalam film ‘Guppy’ completed ten years. Needless to say, the news got fans excited on social media.

For the unaware, ‘Guppy’ served as a major turning point in Tovino Thomas’s career His portrayal of engineer Thejas Varkey won the hearts of audiences. The film, which also marked the directorial debut of Johnpaul George, went on to establish him as a filmmaker of exceptional promise.

On the occasion of Guppy completing 10 years, director Johnpaul George penned a note of gratitude. He wrote in Malayalam that the film had always been there, somewhere, as a reminder. He penned a brief emotional note at the end of which he expressed gratitude for the film completing 10 years.

Over the last decade, Tovino Thomas has evolved into a prominent pan-Indian star. He has reached new heights in his career with critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as Ennu Ninte Moideen, Theevandi, Godha, Mayanadhi, Minnal Murali, 2018, and Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM).

Meanwhile, Johnpaul George has carved a distinct niche for himself in Malayalam cinema as both a filmmaker and a producer. Following Guppy, he earned widespread acclaim for his directorial venture Ambili. He has also made significant contributions as a producer, most notably backing major box-office successes such as Romancham. Now, with the original team reuniting to celebrate a decade of Guppy, fans and film buffs are eagerly anticipating a cinematic spectacle from the duo.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS) Actor Piyush Mishra took a dig at Bollywood celebs for not supporting Jharkhand students’ peaceful protest.

He shared a video expressing his support for the students protesting in Ranchi, against the alleged paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations.

In the video, the ‘Gulaal’ actor revealed that he feels embarrassed by the fact that no one from Mumbai has become a part of their peaceful movement; however, he plans to join them at the protest site.

Piyush was heard saying in the video, “My name is Piyush Mishra, and I am an artist. I am speaking from Mumbai. I feel a little embarrassed that no one from Mumbai has been part of your movement.”

“I am coming to sit among you. What difference will it make if I come? We will have a few conversations, I will sing a few songs. We will try to the best of our ability to provide you with whatever help you need – whether medical assistance, financial support, food, or mattresses. I have also asked my colleagues to contribute as much as they can,” he went on to add.

Piyush further urged students to continue their agitation in a peaceful manner, keeping it free from abusive language, misconduct, and political interference.

He went on to say, “Keep the movement exactly like this. There should be no misbehaviour, no abuse, and no political interference. You people, are very good, you are the future of the country, and we are with you. The entire Mumbai is not wrong. There are some very good people in Mumbai, and they are with you.”

The students have been protesting in Ranchi since July 29, demanding a CBI and Enforcement Directorate investigation into alleged paper leaks and recruitment irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations.

Before Piyush, other members from the entertainment industry, such as Sonakshi Sinha, Raveena Tandon, Imran Khan, and Bhumi Pednekar also used social media to show their support to the students.

–IANS

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Chennai, Aug 6 (IANS) The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has now cleared director and actor Vishal’s eagerly awaited action entertainer ‘Magudam’ for release with an ‘U/A’ certificate.

Taking to his X timeline to confirm the development, actor Vishal, who is turning director with this film, wrote, “#Magudam Certified U/A. #DirectorVishal #MagudamCertifiedUA #MagudamTrailerFromAug7th #MagudamReleaseOnAug14th #SGF99.”

The film, the shooting of which was wrapped up in June this year, was originally expected to hit screens in July. However, the makers chose to postpone the release to August 14 this year.

In June this year, Vishal had taken to his X timeline to announce the completion of the film’s shoot. He had said, “And it’s a wrap !! Simultaneously post production under way ! Magudam/Makutam worldwide in theatres in July, God Bless. #Magudam #Makutam #SGF99 #DirectorVishal.”

The actor also posted a brief video clip on his timeline in which he appeared in a few of the getups he would be seen in the film. The actor said, ” From today, this character is over. Shooting has been wrapped up. Moving on! Post production in full swing.”

The makers of the film had completed filming a massive climax sequence in November last year.

Taking to his X timeline, the actor, who had shared a video clip that gave glimpse of the humongous amount of work that had gone into shooting the climax, wrote, “Climax Sequence: DONE. 17 days. Non-stop. High-voltage action. #Magudam / #Makutam enters its next phase.”

Vishal Film Factory, the production house of the actor, had released a video clip that gave a glimpse of the unit shooting the intense action sequence.

The production house had also gone on to say, “Vishal’s’ Directoral Debut movie Magudam/Makutam climax goes massive. Intense action at its peak with 100 stuntmen and 800 crew members.”

For the unaware, well known director Ravi Arasu was directing this film in its initial stages. However, a difference of opinion between director Ravi Arasu and actor Vishal resulted in Ravi Arasu opting out of the film half way through and Vishal taking over as director of the film. Vishal while confirming that he had taken over as the director of ‘Magudam’ had said the decision to direct this film was not made out of compulsion but out of responsibility.

-IANS

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Hyderabad, Aug 6 (IANS) The makers of director Srikanth Odela’s eagerly awaited action entertainer ‘The Paradise’, featuring Telugu star Nani in the lead, have now released the much-awaited teaser of the action entertainer, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.

More significantly, the makers have announced that the film will now hit screens on September 24 this year.

‘The Paradise’, which is backed by SLV Cinemas, was originally set for a grand release on March 26, 2026. However, its makers chose to postpone the film’s release to August 21. Now, the makers have chosen to further push the release date to September 24.

Taking to its social media timelines to release the teaser, SLV Cinemas, which is backing the film, wrote, “Jadala Zamana Shuru. #TheParadiseTeaser out now! Grand release worldwide on 24.09.26. Natural Star @NameisNani in an @odela_srikanth cinema. An @anirudhofficial musical.”

The teaser released begins with a voiceover asking, “Henceforth, to whom does this place belong?” Nani then announces his arrival in quite a dramatic manner, performing an acrobatic stunt. Sporting two plaits and drenched in blood, he walks slowly sipping what appears to be a beverage.

We then see Mohan Babu, who plays the antagonist, referring to the people as “My beloved people of Paradise.”

As a series of action sequences follow with blood being spilled quite generously, we hear a woman asking, “Is the government meant for your feudal lords or for the people?”

After this, we hear a man saying, “Our oppressed race must rise in rebellion. The very black they spat on in disgust will be the colour of our flag and the crow will be our emblem. Let’s show them what will happen when the crows they spat on draw their swords!”

Soon cries of “Whose land is this? Ours! Whose country is this? Ours!” are heard. The teaser ends with Nani, soaked in blood and carrying a chain made of blades and sitting on a pile of bodies, wards off the evil eye.

In all, the teaser gives the impression that Paradise will be a grim, intense action thriller that will revolve around Nani leading the oppressed in rebellion against tyranny!

The film has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs and the teaser has only added to the excitement. It is expected to release in eight languages namely Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, English, Spanish, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS) Shreya Kalra, who won the 2nd season of the streaming captive reality show ‘Lock Upp’, has credited her victory to her rivals, who “cornered” her.

She spoke with the media after claiming the title, and said that her rivals in the show, which practically includes everyone except Madhuri Jain Grover and Shilpa Shinde, are at fault for making her the winner.

She told the media, “I was never one versus all, they made it, and that is their fault. I have said this that they have cornered me and made me a finalist and gave me a trophy. That is their fault. They did not want to be friends with me. I have tried so many times. I offered food when I got the chance. I have won tasks for them. When I was becoming a gang leader, I cheered for Shivangi when we had a fight the day before. I have given a premium plate to Shivangi Harshad when I could have eaten it myself”.

She further mentioned, “I have tried to be their friend, but they never tried enough to even know me. They used to sit and tell only about themselves that I have done this, I have done this show, I have done this here, I have had such a journey. You can ask the interviewers how much they know about me”.

Shreya walked away with the coveted trophy and a whopping Rs 1 crore cash prize. Shivangi Joshi finished as the first runner-up, while the other finalists were Ram Kapoor, Shilpa Shinde and Yogesh Rawat. Ahead of the finale, Varun Yadav and Akanksha Chamola were eliminated from the competition. Akanksha was evicted after Yogesh, Shreya and Varun unanimously voted her out when host Riteish Deshmukh asked them to take a collective decision.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS) Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna has said that he learnt the ropes of the cooking business while operating his first venture, a small kitty party catering business from his home in Amritsar.

Vikas graced the latest episode of the chat show ‘Shekhar Tonite’, and reflected on his childhood, and the journey to becoming one of the biggest names in the culinary arts across the world.

Welcoming Vikas Khanna to the show, host Shekhar Suman applauded his incredible achievements and recalled how the celebrated chef has made not just India but the entire world proud. As the conversation unfolded, Shekhar took Vikas back to Amritsar, the city that gave him his roots, dreams and purpose.

Reflecting on his childhood, Vikas Khanna says, “My journey has never been a straightforward one. I was born during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, and doctors told my parents that I might never be able to walk like other children. I spent years undergoing treatment, but my mother always believed in me. She would say, ‘My son wasn’t born to walk, he was born to fly’. Since I couldn’t play sports like other children, I found my world in the kitchen. Looking back, I truly believe that when one door closed for me, another, much bigger one opened, and that has been the story of my life”.

He further mentioned, “Food became my passion at a very young age. My mother and sister encouraged me to follow my love for cooking, and together we even started a small kitty party catering business from our home in Amritsar. Their faith gave me the confidence to dream bigger. Later, when I was introduced to cuisines beyond Punjabi food, I realised there was an entire world waiting to be explored. That moment changed my life and inspired me to dedicate myself completely to cooking, a journey that eventually took me from the streets of Amritsar to kitchens across the world”.

‘Shekhar Tonite’ streams on YouTube.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS) Veteran actor Annu Kapoor celebrated 33 years of the iconic musical show “Antakshari.”

He expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the show a timeless favourite. Sharing a heartfelt note, Annu described “Antakshari” as a journey filled with music, memories, laughter, and the immense love of millions of people. The ‘Ram Lakhan’ actor reflected on how what started as a television programme went on to become an integral part of countless Indian households.

Annu Kapoor shared a video on Instagram, giving a glimpse of the celebration. In the clip, the actor is seen expressing his happiness while holding a bouquet, with a cake placed nearby.

For the caption, he wrote, “33 years of Antakshari A journey of music, memories, laughter and the boundless love of millions of viewers. What began as a television show became a part of countless Indian homes and hearts. I remain deeply grateful to every viewer, every participant, every musician and every member of the team who made this extraordinary journey possible. Thank you for making Antakshari timeless.”

Antakshari, also known as Zee Antakshari, was one of the most popular musical game shows on Indian television. The weekly show aired on Zee TV from 1993 to 2007 and was created by filmmaker Gajendra Singh. The show gained immense popularity for its unique format, where participants competed through songs, making it a memorable part of Indian television history. Annu Kapoor hosted the show from 1994 to 2005 and became synonymous with Antakshari. He was joined by several co-hosts over the years, including Rajeshwari Sachdev, Pallavi Joshi, Durga Jasraj, Renuka Shahane and Shefali Chhaya.

In its later years, the show saw hosts like Himani Kapoor and Sunil Pal, while singer Karan Oberoi also took over hosting duties.

The show also expanded its reach beyond India and was filmed at international locations including Dubai, London and New York.

‘Antakshari’ went on to become a major success and earned a special place among television audiences. Annu Kapoor reportedly sang over 4,000 songs during the show’s run. The game show earned the actor a popular household name.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS) Actor Sunny Deol gave a glimpse of his fun-filled bond with son Karan Deol during a flight journey.

The father-son duo indulged in some playful banter, which Sunny lovingly described as ‘Baap Beta Dialoguebaazi’, showcasing their adorable camaraderie. Taking to Instagram, the ‘Gadar’ actor shared a video from what appears to be a private jet, where he is seen enjoying his coffee and reciting a dialogue from his upcoming film “Batwara 1947.”

In the video, Sunny says, “Yeh mera iraada hai, agar tereko aitraaz hai toh main tereko sorry bulwaunga.” Karan Deol responds, “Tu mere baap ko nahi jaanta, chal sorry bol.”

For the caption, the ‘Ghatak’ actor simply wrote, “Baap Beta Dialoguebaazi Thank you all for showing so much love to our dialogues , socha thodi hawa mein masti karte hain Kaisa laga?.”

Sunny Deol is currently gearing up for promotions of his action thriller “Batwara 1947” with his son Karan Deol.

Recently, the makers unveiled the trailer of “Batwara 1947” and it offered a powerful glimpse into one of the most defining and painful chapters of Indian history — the Partition of India.

Starring Shabana Azmi, Preity G Zinta, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh alongside Sunny Deol, the film follows a family whose lives are forever changed as violence, fear and displacement disrupt communities that once lived together peacefully.

Reportedly banned in Pakistan, the film has generated additional curiosity around its historical narrative. “Batwara 1947” also brings together the acclaimed trio of Aamir Khan, A. R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar, who previously collaborated on the iconic film “Lagaan.” The project marks the much-awaited reunion of filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol after nearly three decades. Produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, “Batwara 1947” is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 14, 2026.

–IANS

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Los Angeles, Aug 6 (IANS) Actress-director Michelle Yeoh has been crowned as the Asian Filmmaker of the Year for the upcoming 31st edition of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

The festival honours an Asian film professional or organization for exceptional contributions to the advancement of Asian cinema, reports ‘Variety’.

Michelle Yeoh made her screen debut in Hong Kong action cinema with ‘Yes, Madam’ in 1985, and followed it up by ‘Police Story 3: Supercop’ in 1992 and ‘Wing Chun’ in 1994, helping redefine what an action heroine could be on screen.

As per ‘Variety’, she had an international breakthrough with ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ in 1997 and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ in 2000, the latter a rare non-English-language title to land both box-office success and critical acclaim worldwide.

She won the Miss Malaysia World contest at the age of 21 in 1983 and went on to represent Malaysia at the Miss World 1983 pageant in London where she finished at the 18th spot amongst 72 delegates from around the world.

After this, the actress started working in television commercials getting her break in a television commercial alongside the legend, Jackie Chan. Yeoh, who has stated that she had a limited proficiency in Cantonese, was informed during her initial Cantonese phone conversation with the production company that she will be working alongside ‘Sing Lung’. It was only after she entered the studio she realised that she will share the frame with Jackie Chan in the commercial and that ‘Sing Lung’ was the Cantonese name of Jackie Chan.

She went on to star in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ and ‘Wicked’, before her turn in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ which fetched her the Academy Award for lead actress, a first for an Asian performer. The awards run also carried her to victories at both the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 6 (IANS) Actor Avinash Wadhawan, who was once seen as a promising name in the Hindi film industry, revealed that he had missed out on several major opportunities.

In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, the ‘Bidaai’ actor shared that he was offered Ajay Devgn’s “Phool Aur Kaante” and Shah Rukh Khan’s “Deewana,” but he turned down the roles due to various reasons. When asked why he could not become the next superstar despite being a part of the same era as Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn, Avinash said that the reasons were a mix of circumstances and destiny.

Avinash also recalled another missed opportunity after his film “Junoon” with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. He shared that he was offered “Sir,” which would have featured him opposite Pooja Bhatt, but he lost the project due to issues involving his secretary.

“There were many reasons and also destiny. I was offered Ajay Devgn’s Phool Aur Kaante, Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Deewana… both these roles I refused due to many reasons. After Mahesh Bhatt’s “Junoon”, I was offered his “Sir,” again opposite Pooja Bhatt, but lost out due to my secretary’s manipulation. I was finalised for Akshaye Khaana’s role in “Border” but I was unceremoniously dropped at the last moment.”

“Yash Chopra ji wanted to cast me as one of the two heroes in Yeh Dillagi & personally called me to his office but somehow I couldn’t reach on that particular day. It was too late by the time I went there.”

Avinash added, “Even though I lost out on these plum projects, I still had some excellent films which did very well at the box-office. They were directed by renowned directors like Mahesh Bhatt, Partho Ghosh, K.C. Bokadia, Lawrence D’Souza, Anil Ganguly, Ashok Gaikwad etc.”

“I was also paired opposite almost all the top heroines of that era right from Pooja Bhatt to Ayesha Jhulka, Bhagyashree, Divya Bharti, Karishma Kapoor, Nagma, Madhoo and many more. Few films did excellent business, few average and few did not work. But the main hurdles in my career were my own personal setbacks, my unsettled marriage which affected me emotionally to such an extent that I lost ambition… didn’t want to be in Mumbai & I started taking reckless & absurd decisions. And, I blame myself for all this fiasco. These are the things in your life which you can’t explain but you can feel.”

Avinash Wadhawan is known for playing lead roles in films like “Aayee Milan ki Raat,” “Meera Ka Mohan,” “Junoon,” “Geet,” “Balmaa,” “Dil Ki Baazi,” “Paapi Gudia” & many more.

Apart from his film career, Avinash Wadhawan has also been a popular face on Indian television and has been part of several popular shows over the years. He appeared in notable series including “Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai,” where he played Indrajeet Rajvansh, and Balika “Vadhu.” He has also featured in shows such as “Maat Pitaah Ke Charnon Mein Swarg,” “Shobha Somnath Ki, Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq,” “C.I.D” and “Doli Armaano Ki,” among others.

–IANS

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