Bollywood Roundup: Krithi Shetty, Kriti Sanon, Parineeti Chopra, and more…
Krithi Shetty to Make Bollywood Debut in Rohit Shetty-Backed Romantic Film
Mumbai — Actress Krithi Shetty is set to make her Bollywood debut in the upcoming romantic film “Hum Tere Pyaar Mein,” presented by filmmaker Rohit Shetty and AVS Studios in association with Tudip Entertainment.
The film marks the directorial debut of Vidhi Ghodgaonkar, who has worked with Rohit Shetty for 17 years. She previously served as an assistant director on films including “Golmaal 3,” “Singham,” “Chennai Express,” “Dilwale” and “Golmaal Again.”
Rohit Shetty announced the start of filming Wednesday on Instagram, sharing a photograph of the film’s clapperboard and wishing Ghodgaonkar success in her directorial debut.
The romantic drama is produced by Abhishek S. Vyas under AVS Studios, with Priyanka Chaudhary serving as co-producer.
Krithi Shetty made her acting debut in the 2021 Telugu film “Uppena,” which established her as a rising star in South Indian cinema. She subsequently appeared in films including “Bangarraju,” “The Warriorr,” “Custody,” “Manamey” and “A.R.M.”
She is also set to appear in Anil Ravipudi’s upcoming film “January 12 Vidudala.”
Kriti Sanon to Star in New Horror Film Produced by Maddock Films
Mumbai — Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon is set to headline an untitled horror film produced by Maddock Films, marking her ninth collaboration with the production company.
The upcoming project will reportedly be a large-scale horror production, departing from Maddock’s successful horror-comedy franchise.
“She’s always been keen to explore different genres, and this time, she’s stepping into the world of pure horror with a large-scale film produced by Maddock which she will be headlining,” a source familiar with the project said.
The film will also mark Sanon’s second solo lead with Maddock Films following “Mimi,” which earned her a National Film Award for Best Actress.
Unlike the studio’s previous horror-comedy productions, the new film will focus entirely on horror. Additional details, including the director, cast and release date, have not been announced.
Sanon recently appeared in “Cocktail 2,” directed by Homi Adajania and co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. The film reportedly surpassed 100 crore rupees worldwide within six days of its release, although its box-office performance slowed afterward.
Parineeti Chopra Shares Simple Makeup Tip for Poor Hotel Room Lighting
Mumbai — Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra has shared a simple makeup trick for dealing with poor lighting in hotel rooms, offering a practical solution for travelers and makeup artists.
In a video shared with fans, Chopra demonstrated how redirecting a light toward a mirror instead of facing it directly can improve visibility while applying makeup.
“When you are doing your makeup in a hotel room, where the light is not so great, and I know makeup artists and actors face this all the time,” she said, explaining that harsh lighting can make makeup application difficult.
“Instead of the light looking at you, face it into the mirror on your reflection. And you have this amazing light on your face. Perfect to do makeup,” she added.
On the professional front, Chopra earned praise for her performance alongside Diljit Dosanjh in Imtiaz Ali’s 2024 film “Amar Singh Chamkila,” in which she portrayed Amarjot Kaur, the wife and musical collaborator of Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila.
She also made her web series debut with Netflix’s mystery thriller “Shaque: Trust No One” and appeared in the investigative thriller “Reporting Live.”
Chopra married politician Raghav Chadha in September 2023. The couple welcomed their son, Neer, in October 2025.
Pooja Gor to Host Documentary Series Exploring India’s Universities
Mumbai — Actress Pooja Gor is returning to nonfiction television as the host of “Journey of Legacy,” a documentary series exploring the people and stories behind India’s educational institutions.
Created and produced by Manish KR, founder and CEO of Tanza Talks, the series examines the experiences of university founders, educators and students, highlighting leadership, perseverance and the evolution of higher education.
“What stayed with me while making the show wasn’t just the scale of these universities, but the small, human moments behind them,” Gor said. “A conversation with a student, a story from a teacher, or hearing a founder speak about a challenge they once faced can tell you more about a university than any number ever could.”
Gor said each institution featured in the series offered a distinct perspective.
“Every university we visited had its own personality, its own journey and its own people who shaped it,” she said.
The first season was filmed at several institutions across India, including DIT University in Dehradun, Bennett University in Greater Noida, SAGE University and LNCT in Bhopal, Quantum University in Roorkee and VGU in Jaipur.
Each episode focuses on an institution’s history and development, examining the challenges faced by its leaders and the aspirations of its students.
Gor said the series goes beyond institutional achievements to explore the personal stories that contribute to their lasting legacies.
Farah Khan Shares Playful Birthday Wish for Cousin Zoya Akhtar
Mumbai — Filmmaker Farah Khan marked her cousin Zoya Akhtar’s birthday Wednesday with a humorous Instagram tribute, joking that Zoya’s brother, actor-director Farhan Akhtar, had prompted her to post the greeting.
Farah first shared a photograph with Farhan on Instagram Stories, writing, “Fru…please wish your sister a Happy Birthday.”
She followed it with a picture of herself and Zoya, adding, “Chal…I will do it myself. Happy birthday Zoya. (Farhan made me do it).”
Farah, Zoya and Farhan are first cousins. Farah’s mother, Menaka Irani, and Zoya and Farhan’s mother, Honey Irani, were sisters.
Zoya made her directorial debut with “Luck by Chance” in 2009 and went on to direct films including “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” “Dil Dhadakne Do” and “Gully Boy.”
Her most recent directorial project was Netflix’s 2023 film “The Archies,” featuring Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor and Suhana Khan.
In August, Zoya confirmed she was exploring a sequel to “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” although she said the project would move forward only if the filmmakers found the right story.
Farah, known for directing “Main Hoon Na,” “Om Shanti Om” and “Happy New Year,” is currently focused on her YouTube channel, where she frequently appears alongside her cook, Dilip.
Rashmika Mandanna Pledges Support for 400 Families, Inspired by ‘Ranabaali’ Character
Mumbai — Actress Rashmika Mandanna has announced an initiative to support 400 families for three months, saying her character Jayamma in the upcoming film “Ranabaali” reflects her own commitment to helping others.
Mandanna shared the announcement on social media, explaining that she had previously kept her charitable activities private but decided to speak publicly in hopes of encouraging others to contribute.
“I’ve adopted 400 families today.. and I want to just help 400 families at a time for 3 months each and continue this for the next one year,” she wrote.
The actress said the initiative aims to cover grocery expenses, allowing families to save money and better plan for their futures.
Mandanna also drew parallels between herself and Jayamma, the character she portrays in “Ranabaali.”
“There is something in the characters you play that influence you,” she wrote, adding that her character’s compassion reflects her own values.
“Even a small act of kindness can change a person’s life and it doesn’t have to be big.. let’s all start with something small!!” she added.
The announcement comes ahead of the release of “Ranabaali,” a period action drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan.
Set against the backdrop of the Madras famine of 1876–1878, the film stars Vijay Deverakonda as Ranabaali, a warrior fighting British rule, while Mandanna plays his wife, Jayamma.
Sara Ali Khan Recalls Weighing Nearly 100 Kg When She Decided to Pursue Acting
Mumbai — Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan has revealed that she weighed nearly 100 kilograms when she rediscovered her childhood ambition of becoming an actress while studying at Columbia University.
Speaking with Anil Kapoor on his show “India Ke Top 1%,” Khan said she initially planned to pursue a law degree but changed her mind after taking a theater course.
“I always wanted to become an actor since my childhood. But then I used to enjoy academics a lot,” she said. “I went to Columbia. I was studying history there. I thought I will do my law degree there.”
Khan said performing on stage rekindled her passion for acting.
“When I went on stage and performed, the desire of my childhood which I had kept out of my mind started arising again. So I thought I have to do this. I have to try,” she recalled, adding that she weighed almost 100 kilograms at the time.
The episode also featured actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who appeared to promote his upcoming film “Udta Teer.”
Khurrana credited his father with encouraging him to pursue the performing arts despite growing up in a traditional family in a smaller city.
“I was probably one of the few kids in the school whose parents used to encourage towards arts, performing arts,” he said.
Khurrana also credited his grandmother, who sang at a gurdwara and performed mimicry, for inspiring his artistic interests.
“I got my art from there. But I got my encouragement from my father,” he said. (Source: IANS)
