Bollywood Roundup: Esha Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, Radhika Apte, and more…

Esha Deol Calls Late Father Dharmendra a Perfect Husband and Father

Mumbai — Actress Esha Deol described her late father, Bollywood veteran Dharmendra, as an ideal husband and father, emphasizing the importance of family support during the trailer launch of her upcoming film “Pratap.”

Asked which Bollywood actor she considered a perfect husband, Esha said she had only seen her father in that role.

“So I will say Mr. Dharam ji,” she said.

Reflecting on family relationships, Esha added, “In life, the family that we have, that I believe is God given – our parents, our children. We choose our husbands ourselves, or our parents chose them for us, if it is arranged, but they become a family. So I believe that whatever ups and downs there are in life, it is important to support each other.”

Dharmendra died on November 24, 2025, at age 89.

Esha also discussed her upcoming film “Pratap,” which follows a police officer who finds himself behind bars after spending much of his career putting criminals in prison.

“What I liked about Pratap was that the story isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. There are several layers to the narrative, and as the story unfolds, you begin to see the characters and their circumstances differently,” she said.

Directed by Sachin Saraf, the film stars Amit Sadh alongside Esha, Seema Biswas, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Milind Gunaji. It is scheduled for theatrical release on November 20.

Rashmika Mandanna Defends Relationship With Vijay Deverakonda Amid Online Criticism

Mumbai — Actress Rashmika Mandanna has responded to criticism surrounding her relationship with actor Vijay Deverakonda, saying the couple made a conscious decision to be together after taking time to understand each other.

Following their appearance on “Koffee With Karan” Season 9, Rashmika addressed online speculation about their relationship in an Instagram post, describing some of the backlash as an “angry mob looking for someone to vent at.”

Clarifying reports that she had spent a year proposing to Vijay, Rashmika said neither was seeking a grand romantic gesture.

“The conversation was about him wanting both of us to take the time and space to understand each other, to be sure that despite all the highs and lows, the joys and stresses of life, this was what we wanted and the right time for it. And we did. We chose each other,” she wrote.

The actress also defended Vijay’s role in her life, emphasizing his support during difficult moments.

“When I snap a bone, you aren’t there. He is. When my stomach hurts every month, you aren’t there. He is. When I need to go to the hospital, you aren’t there. He is. When I wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety, you aren’t there. He is,” she wrote.

Rashmika criticized those who targeted her family, arguing that personal attacks should not be confused with feminism.

“Bitch about me all you want. I can take it. But talking about my family without knowing them? That’s not feminism. That’s bullying dressed up as feminism,” she said.

The “Pushpa” actress added that feminism, in her view, means having the freedom to make personal choices without putting others down.

“I took charge of mine and it rewarded me with immense love,” she wrote.

Radhika Apte Calls Notion of Women Clashing on Film Sets Outdated

Mumbai — Actress Radhika Apte has rejected the notion that women are more likely to clash on film sets, calling the stereotype outdated and suggesting that men can be more insecure in professional environments.

Speaking ahead of the release of her crime drama series “Akka,” Apte said workplace relationships depend on individual personalities and camaraderie rather than gender.

“It’s a very ancient, old-school, dated thought that women clash,” she said. “I mean, I find men far more insecure than women. To be honest, it’s not about men and women; it’s about camaraderie. You get along with some people, and you don’t get along with others, you know.”

Apte described her experience filming “Akka” as positive, noting that women were well represented both on screen and behind the camera.

“Our set was actually lovely. We had a fairly equal number of men and women on set. A lot of the cast members were women, and many of the people working behind the scenes were women too. I think there was a nice sense of sisterhood, which definitely made things more comfortable,” she said.

The actress added that maintaining a professional relationship does not require becoming close friends with every colleague.

“Everybody is cordial and nice unless you have major issues with each other, which generally doesn’t happen,” she said.

Starring Apte alongside Keerthy Suresh, “Akka” is set in the fictional kingdom of Pernuru. The series is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 30.

Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan Reunite With ‘Bhediya’ Director Amar Kaushik, Tease Announcement

Mumbai — Actors Kriti Sanon and Varun Dhawan have reunited with “Bhediya” director Amar Kaushik, sparking speculation about a possible sequel to the 2022 horror-comedy.

Kriti shared a short video on Instagram Stories on Monday showing the trio smiling at the camera and howling together, a reference to their film.

“An unexpected reunion that will get you ‘Obsessed’! Stay Tuned !!” read the caption accompanying the video.

Varun also shared the clip on his Instagram account.

Although the actors have not confirmed a new project, the reunion has fueled speculation about a potential “Bhediya 2.”

Kriti and Varun previously appeared together in “Dilwale” (2015) and “Bhediya” (2022).

Directed by Kaushik, “Bhediya” follows Bhaskar, a road construction contractor played by Varun, who begins transforming into a werewolf after being bitten by a wolf in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh.

Kriti portrayed Anika, a veterinarian who knows more about the mysterious events than she initially reveals.

The film was released theatrically in November 2022.

Anushka Ranjan, Surbhi Jyoti Discuss Changing Approaches to Motherhood

Mumbai — Actresses Anushka Ranjan and Surbhi Jyoti have shared their perspectives on modern parenting, saying that while the responsibilities of motherhood remain largely unchanged, women today have greater freedom to approach parenting differently.

“I think moms have changed; motherhood has not changed. The hard work your grandmoms must have done, even today the same hard work is being done. But our way has changed,” Anushka said.

The actress emphasized the importance of adapting to changing times and welcomed the growing number of platforms where women can openly discuss their parenting experiences.

“I am excited that there are different platforms where people are talking about their version of motherhood. So you know that whatever you are feeling is normal,” she added.

Surbhi expressed similar views, saying modern mothers should balance traditional practices with informed decision-making rather than rejecting older approaches entirely.

“We really don’t have to blindly follow what, you know, my grandmother or like, you know, their sisters or, you know, what people of that time followed,” she said. “We can actually look into some logic and reasoning. I think that’s the good part.”

Anushka welcomed twin daughters, Vira Ranjan Seal and Mahi Ranjan Seal, with her husband, actor Aditya Seal, on August 23, 2026.

The “Wedding Pullav” actress has also spoken publicly about her experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the challenges she faced during the process.

Parineeti Chopra Returns as Host of ‘Mom Talks’ for Second Season

Mumbai — Actress Parineeti Chopra is returning as host of “Mom Talks: Maa Ki Baat Maa Ke Jazbaat” for a second season, promising candid conversations about motherhood and the challenges of parenting.

The actress said the show provides a platform for parents to share personal experiences and discuss issues that resonate with families.

“It’s wonderful to see my show Mom Talks: Maa Ki Baat Maa Ke Jazbaat return with Season 2. What makes the show special is the honest, unfiltered conversations around parenting that are deeply relatable and offer meaningful perspectives on motherhood,” Parineeti said.

Production on the second season has begun, with episodes scheduled to stream in November on the BULLET Microdrama app and ZEE5.

The upcoming season will feature celebrity parents, including Aayush Sharma and Arpita Khan, Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya, Surbhi Jyoti and Anushka Ranjan.

Munaf Merchant, head of AVOD and partnerships at BULLET Microdrama, said the new season will combine personal experiences with expert advice to make parenting discussions more accessible.

“With Season 2, we want Mom Talks to make parenting conversations easier to engage with, combining candid, playful chats with practical takeaways for young parents,” Merchant said.

The first season featured conversations with Raghav Chadha, Imran Khan, Neha Dhupia, Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur, focusing on the realities of parenthood through personal stories and expert discussions.

Ranbir Kapoor Says Playing Lord Rama Helped Him Grow as a Father and Person

Mumbai — Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has said portraying Lord Rama in the upcoming epic “Ramayana” has helped him grow as a person and embrace fatherhood with a deeper understanding of life and responsibility.

Speaking during a Diwali special episode of “Kaun Banega Crorepati,” hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, Kapoor revealed that he initially felt intimidated by the responsibility of portraying one of Hinduism’s most revered figures.

“When I was offered this role, I knew that this was not just a role; it was a huge responsibility. My first instinct was fear, the fear of whether I was worthy of it and whether I would be able to do it,” Kapoor said, noting the deep religious significance of Lord Rama to millions of devotees.

However, the actor said his apprehension gradually turned into gratitude as he began preparing for the role.

“At this stage in my life, at this age, I was getting the opportunity to become a good actor, forget being an actor, sir, a chance to become a good human being,” he said.

Kapoor also reflected on becoming a father to his daughter, Raha, during the same period, describing the experience as a blessing that coincided with his exploration of the epic’s teachings.

“I believe it was a gift from God, sir, that I got the opportunity to become a better human being, to understand Ramayana more deeply, and to work with all these people,” he said.

The actor added that while living up to Lord Rama’s example may be impossible, the values associated with the revered figure offer important lessons.

“Becoming like Lord Shri Ram may not be possible, but I think learning something from his ideals is a big thing for all of us,” Kapoor said. (Source: IANS)