Big B wishes luck to Ameya Khopkar for Marathi A capella
Mumbai– Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has wished good luck to film producer Ameya Khopkar for an A capella rendition by Marathi celebrities.
Amitabh on Thursday, tweeted a link of the song and captioned: “A first by Marathi film… an Acapella rendition made by AVK Entertrainment, and Ameya Khopkar best wishes to you.”
Titled as “Marathi Celebrity Acappella”, the over five minute number, has 66 artistes and 43 songs.
The video released on the anniversary of first full-length Indian feature film “Raja Harishchandra” on May 2. It is a tribute to all the pillars Of Marathi industry.
It features personalities like Abhijeet Panse, Abhinay Deo, Bharat Jadhav, Charu Desale, Chetan Shashital, Kishori Shahne, Mahesh Manjrekar, Makrand Anaspure, Manasi Naik, Mangesh Desai, Mrunal Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Sanjay Jadhav, Sayali Sanjeev, Sneha Chavan, Sonali Khare, Swapnil Joshi, Vishal Inamdar, Vinod Kamble, and Vikram Phadnis among many others.
Amitabh on the professional front is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming film “102 Not Out”.
The 75-year-old cine icon has requested not to reveal the story of the film.
“A sincere and earnest appeal… Those that have seen the film please please do not reveal the story of the film in particular the ending!” he tweeted.
Couldn’t have made ‘Raazi’ without Alia: Meghna
Mumbai– “Raazi” director Meghna Gulzar says actress Alia Bhatt was the only choice for her to play the protagonist in the movie, and without her perhaps she wouldn’t have made the film.
The film is based on Harinder Sikka’s novel “Calling Sehmat” and is a cross-border spy drama.
Asked what made her cast Alia as Kashmiri girl Sehmat, Meghna told IANS: “From the time I learnt that I have to helm the film, Alia’s face popped up in my mind and that never changed. I am really thankful to Alia for agreeing to do the film. Otherwise I couldn’t have made the film.
“I don’t think anybody else could fit in, with all due respect to the other actresses.”
Meghna was clear from the start that she didn’t want Alia’s character to be like Lara Croft.
“Sehmat is an ordinary, simple 20-year-old girl with an innate strength which we all have in us, and we do things if circumstance demands… that we possibly won’t do otherwise. So, the character needed to remain vulnerable, feminine and fragile; no matter what else was going on around her,” she added.
The film “Raazi”, releasing on May 11, also features Vicky Kaushal, Soni Razdan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Rajit Kapoor.
Vicky is all praise for Alia.
“I think she is one of the versatile, spontaneous and organic actresses we have in the country. Look at the kind of roles she has taken up. She really feels what she performs and that translates on-screen,” the “Masaan” actor told IANS.
He added: “As a human being, she is so easy going, she is a very genuine person, and we bonded really well during the shoot. She is always her real self.”
In the movie, Vicky plays a Pakistani Army officer.
Make Chandigarh honk-free, urges Ayushmann
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says he is honoured to promote an initiative to make Chandigarh honk-free.
Shashank Anand, Superintendent of Police (Traffic and Security), had tweeted to Ayushmann last month if he could promote the campaign in his hometown.
“Hi Ayushmannji – it would be our honour if you could promote the Make Chandigarh Honk Free campaign in your hometown. Hoping for a positive response,” Anand had tweeted.
The “Vicky Donor” actor on Friday apologised for the late response and wrote: “Dear Shashankji, just came across your tweet. Apologies for the delayed response. It will be my honour to promote this initiative. Make Chandigarh Honk Free.”
The 33-year-old actor was born in Chandigarh and did his schooling and college in the city.
On the acting front, Ayushmann has “Shoot the Piano Player” with Radhika Apte in his kitty. The upcoming film is directed by Sriram Raghavan.
Kal Penn bonded with driver over ‘Saath Nibhana Saathiya’
Mumbai– Indian-American actor Kal Penn says he bonded with his cab driver over the Indian TV show “Saath Nibhana Saathiya”.
“Bonded with my Lyft driver over Saath Nibhana Saathiya, so the night is complete,” Penn tweeted on Friday.
The actor is currently in New Jersey for a shoot.
“Filming in NJ today, so had to get some White Castle impossible sliders,” he wrote alongside a photograph of himself and the crew.
Penn is known for films like “The Namesake”, “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”, “Epic Movie” and “Dude, Where’s the Party?” among many others.
‘Mental Hai Kya’ to go on the floors from May 13
Mumbai– Rajkummar Rao and Kangana Ranaut-starrer “Mental Hai Kya” will go on the floors from May 13, says producer Ekta Kapoor.
Ekta is very excited to be working with Rajkummar again after their first outing for the web series “Bose: Dead/Alive”.
She told IANS: “We are starting on May 13. We are all excited about the film. It is neither a comedy nor a psycho thriller. You know, we have really not made a film in this genre… So we were thinking how to categorise our film in one genre… So we released the poster of the film,” she said.
The film amalgamates elements from two different genres. According to Ekta, at best it can be called a “thriller comedy”.
The producer is also planning to make the second season of “Bose: Dead/Alive” after its first successful season.
“We are planning to make the second season of the show, based on another conspiracy theory of the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
“Though we have not sorted the dates of shooting as Rajkummar is busy, I will sit with Hansal (director Hansal Mehta) and we will figure things out,” she added.
I enjoy playing bad guy: Akshay Dogra
Mumbai– Actor Akshay Dogra is set to portray a character with grey shades in the upcoming show “Dil Hi Toh Hai”. He says he likes to play the “bad guy” and feels fortunate to get such roles.
The “Waaris” actor has joined producer Ekta Kapoor’s love saga “Dil Hi Toh Hai”, which also stars actors Bijay Anand and Geetanjali Tikekar.
“I will be playing a prominent part in ‘Dil Hi Toh Hai’. My character in the show is very promising and I am looking forward to do some good work. I enjoy playing a bad guy and fortunately, I am being cast for such roles,” Akshay said in a statement.
“It gives me the freedom to drive the story and it’s fun. Though I had auditioned for a different character, it’s better to be negative than to play a ‘soft’ side actor. Being a part of Ekta’s show after almost a decade is exciting,” he added.
Akshay has featured in shows like “Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?”, “Punar Vivah” and “Mrs. Pammi Pyarelal”.
Sangeita Chauhaan enters ‘Piyaa Albela’
Mumbai– Actor Sangeita Chauhaan will play a cameo role in Rajshri Productions’ “Piyaa Albela”.
“It is a cameo. I am extremely happy to be a part of Sooraj Barjatya’s show again. I earned fame because of my character name — Meghana in the show ‘Swabhimaan’ and once again I will play a role with the same name,” Sangeita said in a statement.
“Meghana was sent to London for further studies. She will now come back. There is a major twist with my entry,” she added.
As per sources, Sangeita will play a blind woman in the show, a character never explored by her. (IANS)
