Bollywood Roundup: Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shraddha Kapoor, and more…
Aamir Khan Celebrates First Karwa Chauth With Wife Gauri Spratt
MUMBAI–Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan celebrated his first Karwa Chauth with wife Gauri Spratt, joining several celebrities at Sunita Kapoor’s annual festivities in Mumbai.
The couple, who married in an intimate ceremony at Khan’s Bandra residence on July 5, arrived hand in hand at the celebration hosted at the Kapoor family’s Juhu home.
Khan wore a black-and-blue kurta set, while Spratt chose a royal blue Banarasi suit with minimal accessories.
The star-studded gathering included Sonam Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Farah Khan, Mira Rajput, Tahira Kashyap, Natasha Dalal, Neelam Kothari, Padmini Kolhapure and several other Bollywood personalities.
Sonam Kapoor attended in a rust-maroon outfit, while Shilpa Shetty wore a pink sari with a green blouse. Mira Rajput opted for a champagne-gold sari.
Anshula Kapoor, sister of actor Arjun Kapoor, also marked her first Karwa Chauth following her marriage to Rohan Thakkar earlier this year.
The annual celebration brought together members of Bollywood’s film fraternity for an evening of traditional festivities.
Amitabh Bachchan Recalls Childhood Diwali Traditions on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’
MUMBAI–Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan took a nostalgic trip down memory lane during a special episode of the television quiz show “Kaun Banega Crorepati,” recalling traditional Diwali celebrations from his younger days.
Bachchan, who hosts the popular show, described how families would preserve and reuse earthen lamps, known as diyas, as part of their annual Diwali preparations.
“Many festivals are tied to memories, Diwali, for instance. We belong to an older generation, back then, when Diwali approached, we would carefully preserve the earthen lamps (diyas) from the previous year,” he said.
He recalled soaking the lamps in water, allowing them to dry and filling them with mustard oil before lighting their wicks to begin the festivities.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor also previously shared childhood memories of celebrating Diwali at the iconic R.K. Studio, where his family performed Lakshmi Puja before visiting his grandmother, Krishna Kapoor, for sweets and gifts.
Kapoor recalled that his family would later return home for prayers, fireworks and dinner together.
“Kaun Banega Crorepati” airs on Sony Entertainment Television.
Shraddha Kapoor Portrays Legendary Folk Dancer in ‘Eetha’ Trailer
MUMBAI–Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor takes on the role of a legendary Marathi folk dancer in the upcoming film “Eetha,” whose trailer was released Friday.
Inspired by the life of celebrated Lavani dancer and Tamasha performer Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar, the film follows a performer overcoming personal struggles and self-doubt to achieve recognition through traditional dance.
The trailer features energetic dance sequences accompanied by music from composer duo Ajay-Atul, highlighting Kapoor’s portrayal of the renowned performer.
Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Maddock Films, the film also stars Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Nana Patekar, Randeep Hooda and Anant Joshi.
Vithabai, popularly known as the “Empress of Tamasha,” became one of Maharashtra’s most celebrated folk artists. Despite personal and financial hardships, she dedicated her life to preserving traditional Marathi performing arts.
In recognition of her contributions, the Maharashtra government established the Vithabai Narayangaonkar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
“Eetha” is scheduled for theatrical release on December 4, 2026.
Shweta Opens Up About Fertility Struggles and Pressure to Have Children
MUMBAI–Bollywood actress Shweta has spoken candidly about the emotional impact of learning that her fertility levels were low, saying the discovery left her upset because she wanted to make her own decisions about motherhood.
Appearing on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast “All About Her,” Shweta discussed changing attitudes toward marriage, parenthood and the expectations placed on women.
“I remember I was really upset because I was like, I wanted the choice to be mine. Like I don’t want somebody else telling me that, oh, you can’t have a child. Even if let’s say that time I was thinking I don’t know if I want to have a child or not,” she said.
Shweta also acknowledged the challenges of motherhood, praising women for the strength, courage and sacrifices involved in raising children.
Reflecting on societal expectations, she said she frequently faced questions about marriage before marrying at 33. However, she credited her family for respecting her decisions about having children.
“Luckily, both my families have been very supportive. They obviously wanted to become grandparents and masi and everything, but they were never pushy. They never made me feel uncomfortable,” she said.
Despite her family’s support, Shweta recalled facing questions from others about when she would announce a pregnancy.
The conversation is featured on Soha Ali Khan’s “All About Her,” which streams on YouTube.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Shares Workout Video as She Enters Ninth Month of Pregnancy
MUMBAI–Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has shared a glimpse of her fitness routine as she enters the ninth month of pregnancy, describing the final stage of her journey as “The final lap.”
The actress posted a video on social media showing her workouts throughout her pregnancy, from the first month to the ninth. The latest footage features her performing weighted squats while holding a dumbbell.
“#9. The final lap,” she captioned the video.
Actress Kriti Kharbanda responded with a message of support, writing, “Sending all 3 of you so much love!”
Prabhu previously discussed how pregnancy had changed her approach to exercise, emphasizing the importance of adjusting her routine.
“Training looks a little different these days. Less about pushing harder. More about listening better,” she wrote in an earlier post.
Prabhu and her husband, filmmaker Raj Nidimoru, are expecting their first child together. The couple recently celebrated a traditional baby shower, known as Seemantham, at the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore.
They married in December 2025 at the Linga Bhairavi Temple within the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.
Priyanka Chopra Joins Oscar-Qualified Indian Short Film ‘We Were Here’ as Executive Producer
MUMBAI–Actress and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas has joined the Oscar-qualified Indian short film “We Were Here” as an executive producer, praising its humorous approach to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on employment.
“This film offers a refreshing, witty take on a subject that feels very timely,” Chopra Jonas said in a statement.
Written and directed by Pranav Bhasin, the mockumentary follows three retired men in a small Indian town who believe machines are replacing human workers. They stage an unusual protest by pretending to be household appliances, only to face an unexpected development when one of their children joins an AI company.
The film has received recognition at several international festivals, including South by Southwest, Palm Springs International ShortFest and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, where it premiered.
An award at Palm Springs secured the film’s eligibility for Academy Award consideration.
“We Were Here started as a small, silly idea about three uncles trying to stop the spread of Al, and somewhere along the way, I fell in love with them, their friendships, and their stubborn resilience,” Bhasin said.
The filmmaker expressed excitement about the film’s Oscar campaign and the support of executive producers including Chopra Jonas and actor Andrew Scott.
The team now hopes to bring the film to a wider international audience. (Source: IANS)
