Twinkle Khanna ‘chokes’ at 30,000 feet

Mumbai– Entrepreneur, producer and author Twinkle Khanna was “choking” at 30,000 feet in a flight when she was forced to inhale the smell of “dead toads” from a fellow passenger’s socks.

“Polite way of telling fellow passenger about the two dead toads in his socks, chemical weapons capable of decimating nations? Choking at 30,000 feet,” Twinkle tweeted on Sunday.

Twinkle said she later complained about it to the air hostess.

“I did and she sniffed around, sympathetically nodded and when he fell asleep she surreptitiously sprayed his smelly feet with perfume!”

Twinkle is producing “Padman”, which stars her husband and National Award-winner Akshay Kumar. The film also features Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in a pivotal role.

Shabana Azmi shares photograph with Rama Bhanot

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has shared a photograph of herself with late Rama Bhanot, the mother of Neerja Bhanot.

Neerja was a flight purser and lost her life trying to save passengers on Pan Am Flight 73, which was hijacked by terrorists during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, in September 1986.

Shabana said she was honoured to play Neerja’s mother Rama in the film, “Neerja”, which was directed by Ram Madhvani.

“With the late Rama Bhanot whom I had the honour of playing in ‘Neerja’,” Shabana captioned the photograph.

On the acting front, Shabana was last seen in “Sonata”, helmed by actor-filmmaker Aparna Sen.

Sen’s directorial venture is adapted from the play “Sonata” by playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar.

The film talks about the life of three unmarried women friends — Aruna Chaturvedi (professor), Dolon Sen (banker) and Subhadra Parekh (journalist) played by Sen, Shabana and Lillete Dubey, respectively — facing mid-life crises.

Playing double-role isn’t easy, says Arjun Kapoor

New Delhi–Actor Arjun Kapoor will be seen playing a double-role for the second time in his five-year-old acting career in upcoming “Mubarakan”. He says it’s difficult to play a twin role in films.

The 32-year-old previously essayed a double-role in the 2013 film “Aurangzeb”.

Asked how easy or difficult it is for an actor to essay a double-role on screen, Arjun told IANS: “It’s definitely not easy. It is difficult. But, it’s a challenge you look forward to as an actor. That’s what excites you, makes you nervous and work harder because you are not just playing, but two and specially with comedy… With ‘Mubarakan’ being a comedy there is a definite new situation for me.”

The “2 States” actor says he has not done comedy before, but his films have had a dose of humour.

“I have never done an out-an-out entertainer. Of course, there is a certain amount of nerves that come into prepare… but then you have a good director like Anees Bazmee, who is the king of comedy and king of double roles… You know he will walk you though it. That challenge was very exciting because I had Anees sir,” Arjun added.

Directed by Anees Bazmee, “Mubarakan”, which also features Anil Kapoor, Ileana D’Cruz and Athiya Shetty, is slated for release on July 28.

Parmanu is based on true story: John Abraham

Mumbai–Actor-producer John Abraham, who is coming up with a film “Parmanu – The Story Of Pokhran”, says that it’s entertaining but based on a true story.

“Parmanu – The Story Of Pokhran” is based on the nuclear test conducted at Pokhran in 1998 when BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.

Asked if this film is somewhere a tribute to the leader, John said: “I think it is an interesting film. Atal Ji was one of the greatest Prime Ministers we had, but this is film and it has to be entertaining. Neither we are political nor are we showing anything in the film which is overtly political. We have just tried to make an entertaining film.”

He added: ” ‘Parmanu – The Story Of Pokhran’ is a very entertaining film but a true story which happened in India.”

How did subject came to him?

“This subject had come to Prerna and Arjun (Of KriArj Entertainment). When they came to me with this subject I liked it and then we developed it in-house. We were very fortunate as the script finally shaped up really well,” said John.

The 44-year-old actor said “we are very careful in selecting only good script, because audience in today’s date looks for only good content.”

Asked to comment on the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, John said: “He was a visionary, he had the great vision and if we can talk about India shining, it’s only because of him. We want to give credit to our army personals and scientists who are responsible for the Super power that India is today.”

The film also features Diana Penty and Boman Irani in lead roles.

Lipstick …creating new success economics: Anubhav Sinha

Mumbai– Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha has lauded director Alankrita Shrivastavas new film “Lipstick Under My Burkha”, stating that the movie will create a new success economics in Bollywood.

“Lipstick Under My Burkha”, which struggled for certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) earlier this year over its sexual scenes and abusive words, released on Friday.

“Films like ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ will create a new success economics which will not be about Fridays and over-hyped paid success cacophony,” Sinha tweeted on Sunday.

According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, “Lipstick Under My Burkha” has raked in Rs 3.39 crore in two days.

“‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ witnesses growth on Saturday. Friday – Rs 1.22 crore, Saturday – Rs 2.17 crore. Total: Rs 3.39 crore (400 screens). India business,” Adarsh tweeted.

The film features Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur in the lead.