Proud that awareness on menstruation has evolved into movement: Akshay Kumar
Mumbai– Actor Akshay Kumar, who started an open conversation on menstrual hygiene with his film “PadMan”, says he is proud to see how talks have transformed into a grassroot-level movement.
The actor invited all ‘Pad Heroes’ across India to join him and the Niine Movement for a nationwide running event Run4Niine on March 8, which is observed as International Women’s Day.
“It has already been more than a year since the release of ‘PadMan’, and I am proud to see how it has evolved into a phenomenal grassroot-level movement,” Akshay said in a statement.
He is proud to partner with the Niine Movement again to encourage an open and unashamed discussion on menstruation with fellow citizens, pad heroes, change makers and path breakers.
“Each one of us that takes part in it helps to create an unstoppable force that will beat the stigma around periods,” added the actor.
The initiative has been taken with the aim to set a record as India’s largest nationwide run for menstrual hygiene awareness.
Ali Fazal’s ‘Milan Talkies’ to be released on March 15
Mumbai– Unveiling the first look of film “Milan Talkies” here on Tuesday Ali Fazal announced that it will be released on March 15. Ali uploaded the film’s first offical poster on Twitter.
“What really hit me was that this boy works at a projection room that is the hub of communication to the outside world in a small city like Allahabad and yet he is unable to communicate his love to girlfriend. It is a story revolving around them in the period when the single screen were making the big shift to the multiplex. It is an unconventional love story,” he said in a statement.
Tigmanshu Dhulia-directed “Milan Talkies” also features actress Shraddha Srinath. Dhulia described it as a “beautiful desi romantic love story” set in Uttar Pradesh.
In the film, Ali will be seen playing a filmmaker from Allahabad, while Shraddha will portray his love interest.
“Ali and Shraddha have done a brilliant job. I am really looking forward to showing the film to the audience. I hope they will like it,” Dhulia said.
For his role, Ali cut his weight by 10 kg. “It felt so good to know I could look both buff and lean if I put my heart to it. But I am a lean guy and I am most comfortable in this avatar. It takes a lot of focus and will to do it, especially the diet part,” he had earlier said of his preparation for the film.
Would like to explore all avenues of film making: Arjun Rampal
Mumbai– Actor Arjun Rampal, who is also set to make his debut on a digital platform with a web series titled “The Final Call”, said that he would like to explore all the avenues of film making.
“If I find a good story I would like to direct a film. I would like to explore all avenues of film-making because I love filmmaking and I love films,” Arjun said while interacting with the media to promote his upcoming web series, here on Monday.
Arjun begun his career as a model and then forayed into Bollywood as an actor. He has recently turned producer with the film “Daddy”.
Arjun will essay the role of a pilot with a dark past in his forthcoming show, a psychological thriller that talks about mental illnesses, spirituality, and destiny.
The show is based on Priya Kumar’s novel “I Will Go With You: The Flight of a Lifetime”.
“The Final Call” also features actors like Javed Jaffrey, Anupriya Goenka, Neeraj Kabi, Sakshi Tanwar, Bipin Sharma and Pradeep Rawat in pivotal roles.
It will start streaming on ZEE5 from February 22.
Shemaroo launches OTT platform for Bollywood fans
Mumbai– Shemaroo Entertainment Limited has come out with OTT platform ShemarooMe. Actor Tiger Shroff says it is a fitting tribute to the “asli Bollywood fan”.
The over-the-top platform (OTT) is a comprehensive app for the Indian market with a diverse and exclusive content offering for an audience looking for Indian video content across Bollywood, Gujarati, devotion, Punjabi and children to cater to the needs of all age groups.
“Shemaroo has been an indispensable part of my childhood and growing years. As a child, I remember watching the movies I’ve loved watching over and over again. Today, I am happy that Shemaroo now gives me the opportunity to watch my all-time favourite Bollywood movies,” Tiger said.
“I am a true-blue Bollywood fan and ShemarooMe is a tribute to the asli fan across India. Shemaroo has a grip on the pulse of the Indian consumers and can cater to the demands of every generation with its never-ending list of rich content and I am super excited to be present here,” added the actor, who joined the launch of the platform.
Rajesh Tailang to star in Apoorva Lakhia’s web series
New Delhi– “Shootout at Lokhandwala” director Apoorva Lakhia is making a web series around terrorism and it will star Rajesh Tailang, says the “Selection Day” actor.
Lakhia and Rajesh had worked together in the 2017 biographical crime film “Haseena Parkar”. They are reuniting for another project.
“I will be doing a web series with Apoorva Lakhia. The shooting is expected to begin by end of March. It is about terrorism,” Rajesh told IANS in a telephonic interview.
He said he took up the project because of the director.
“I had done ‘Haseena Parkar’ with him. He has always been supportive and very dear to me,” he added.
The “Omerta” actor has three more web series lined up.
“I have ‘Mirzapur 2’, ‘Selection Day 2’ and ‘Delhi Crime Story’,” he shared.
Rajesh has acted in many films, including “Mangal Pandey: The Rising” and “Phantom”, but it was his role of a strict father in last year’s series “Selection Day” that brought him into the limelight.
Censor Board banned 793 films in 16 years: RTI
Lucknow– The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) banned a total of 793 films in 16 years, an RTI response has revealed.
Nutan Thakur, a city-based activist, has been told that between January 1, 2000 and March 31, 2016, the censor board refused to “grant certificate for exhibition to 793 films”. These include 586 Indian films and 207 foreign film titles, Thakur told IANS on Tuesday.
As many as 231 Hindi films were refused certificate, followed by 96 in Tamil, 53 in Telugu, 39 in Kannada, 23 in Malayalam and 17 in Punjabi. Twelve films each in Bengali and Marathi, apart from projects in other languages, were also banned during this period.
A maximum number of 153 films were banned during 2015-16, followed by 152 films in 2014-15, 119 in 2013-14 and 82 films in 2012-13, the RTI query revealed.
Some of the films banned had sex and crime suggestive related titles like “Adamkhor Hasina”, “Qatil Shikari”, “Pyasi Chandani”, “Madhura Swapnam”, “Khooni Raat”, “Shamshan Ghaat”, “Manchali Padosan” and “Sex Vigyan”.
Some notable films banned during this period include “Parzania” (English 2005), “Asatoma Sadgamaya” (Tamil 2012) and “Mohalla Assi” (Hindi 2015).
“Mohalla Assi” ultimately released last year. (IANS)
