Bollywood Roundup: Preity Zinta, Ektaa R. Kapoor, Kamal Haasan, and more…
Preity Zinta Teases ‘Brand New Vibe’ Ahead of Upcoming Film
Mumbai — Preity Zinta is stepping into a “brand new Vibe” as she gears up for her upcoming action-comedy of the same name.
The actress shared a selfie on Instagram, sporting chunky sunglasses and an oversized black T-shirt while reflecting on the next chapter.
“A moment to hold, a moment to reflect, a moment to take in life, as I dive into a brand new Vibe. Ting!” she wrote.
Written and directed by Kunal Kemmu, “Vibe” also stars Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava and debutant Vanshika Dhir. The film follows two close friends whose ordinary lives spiral into a wild adventure that tests their friendship and survival instincts.
Produced by Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under Drongo Films, “Vibe” is scheduled to hit screens on September 18.
Zinta also recently returned to films with the Partition-era drama “Batwara 1947,” directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and co-starring Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal.
Govinda’s Son Yashvardhan Ahuja to Make Bollywood Debut in ‘Hero Ki Horrorine’
Mumbai — Govinda’s son Yashvardhan Ahuja is set to make his Bollywood debut with the horror-comedy “Hero Ki Horrorine,” which will hit theaters on January 7, 2027.
Produced by Ektaa R. Kapoor, the film also marks director Sajid Khan’s return to the big screen after a 12-year absence.
Yashvardhan stars opposite “Laapataa Ladies” actress Nitanshi Goel, with Sunita Ahuja, Jamie Lever, Chunky Pandey, Brijendra Kala and Simrat Kaur Randhawa also joining the cast.
“Hero Ki Horrorine” mixes horror, romance and comedy, centering on a supernatural story with a humorous twist.
The film is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R. Kapoor and Amar Butala, whose previous credits include “Bajrangi Bhaijaan,” “Kesari” and “Mission Majnu.” It is a Jai Ho Media Ventures production presented by Balaji Telefilms Ltd.
The movie also brings Sajid Khan back to directing following years away from films. During India’s #MeToo movement in 2018, several women accused Khan of sexual harassment. The Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association subsequently suspended him from directing, with the ban lifted in December 2019.
Kamal Haasan Mourns Sowcar Janaki, Calls Her a ‘Mother Figure’
Mumbai — Kamal Haasan paid an emotional tribute to veteran actress Sowcar Janaki following her death at age 94, remembering her as a “mother figure” and an irreplaceable presence in South Indian cinema.
Haasan took to X on Friday to recall their decades of working together and praised Janaki’s long career alongside many of the leading stars of her era.
“She was the mother, I the child,” Haasan wrote, adding that her death felt like the loss of a maternal presence. He also noted that Janaki was a favorite of his mentor, filmmaker K. Balachander.
Jr NTR, Vishnu Manchu and Prabhu Deva were among the other film personalities who paid tribute to the veteran actress.
Janaki had been hospitalized in Chennai with age-related health problems before her death.
Born in 1931, she began acting in the 1940s and went on to appear in more than 300 films across Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema, becoming one of the most recognizable actresses of her generation.
Divya Dutta Makes Emotional Plea for Stray Dogs After Heartwarming Set Encounter
Mumbai — Divya Dutta is urging people to show more compassion toward stray dogs after an emotional encounter with a hungry animal on a film set.
The actress shared a photo on Instagram showing the stray sitting beside her in her makeup room. Dutta said she had watched the dog wander around the set searching for food while often being ignored or shooed away.
When the dog peeked through the makeup-room door, Dutta invited her inside and offered her food and milk.
“She was starving. She finished it in no time,” Dutta wrote, adding that the dog then simply sat quietly in the room, where she appeared to feel safe.
The “Veer-Zaara” actress said the encounter made her think about the treatment of stray animals, arguing that they have as much right to coexist with people as any other living creature.
“All they need is food and compassion,” she wrote, adding that she once feared stray dogs but has increasingly tried to reach out to them after seeing how often they are targeted or mistreated.
Dutta, who has previously spoken about her love for animals and her own pets, ended her message by wishing the stray dog a safe future and hoping others would also show her kindness.
Kiara Advani Calls ‘Toxic’ a ‘Peculiar Alchemy’ as She Teases Gangster Epic
Mumbai — Kiara Advani is offering another glimpse behind the scenes of “Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups,” describing the making of the film as a “peculiar alchemy” of creative talent.
The actress shared a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram and said the movie’s fairy-tale element extends beyond its story.
“A fairy tale isn’t just what this film is. It’s also what making it was,” Kiara wrote, adding that talent from across the production came together to create what director Geetu Mohandas calls a “peculiar alchemy.”
Kiara recently revealed that working on “Toxic” pushed her outside her comfort zone and taught her to embrace unfamiliar challenges.
“This one taught me to be comfortable with the unfamiliar, to stay curious, to keep learning and to find joy in the adventure of it all,” she wrote earlier this week.
“Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups” stars Yash alongside Kiara, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth.
The gangster drama centers on Raya, a ruthless underworld figure whose violent rise and eventual downfall come back to haunt him when he faces his estranged son. (Source: IANS)
