Bollywood Roundup: Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, and more…

Deepika Padukone Praises ICC’s Maternity Return Guidelines

Mumbai — Actress Deepika Padukone has praised the International Cricket Council’s new maternity return guidelines for women cricketers, calling them a “landmark moment for women in sport.”

The framework offers players returning after childbirth medical and psychological support, personalized recovery plans, flexible training schedules and childcare assistance.

Padukone shared a report about the policy on Instagram Stories on Tuesday. She has previously spoken in support of mental health awareness and an eight-hour workday to promote work-life balance.

Padukone and her husband, actor Ranveer Singh, announced in April that they are expecting their second child. The couple married in Italy in November 2018.

She will next appear with Shah Rukh Khan in Siddharth Anand’s “King.”

Shahid Kapoor Says ‘Farzi 2’ Expected to Premiere Next Year

Mumbai — Shahid Kapoor has shared an update on the second season of his popular crime thriller series “Farzi,” saying the new installment is nearly complete and is expected to premiere next year.

“It is a work in progress. We are almost done. I think it should be out next year,” Kapoor said during an Instagram question-and-answer session Tuesday.

Kapoor began filming “Farzi 2” in March and marked the first day of production with a black-and-white photo featuring the show’s creators. He had confirmed the sequel a month earlier with a social media post announcing that “the fakers are back at it.”

Created, produced and directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., known as Raj & DK, the series stars Kapoor as Sunny, a small-time artist who becomes involved in the counterfeit currency trade.

The cast also includes Vijay Sethupathi, Raashii Khanna, Kay Kay Menon, Bhuvan Arora, Regina Cassandra and Amol Palekar.

The eight-episode first season premiered on Amazon Prime Video in February 2023 and followed Sunny as he tried to pull off the perfect con while becoming increasingly entangled in the criminal underworld.

Arjun Kapoor Celebrates Sister Anshula’s Upcoming Wedding

Mumbai — Arjun Kapoor has shared his excitement as his younger sister Anshula Kapoor prepares to marry her fiancé, Rohan Thakkar.

The actor posted photos and videos from the couple’s engagement celebrations on Instagram on Tuesday, along with an affectionate message for his sister.

“Ansh, we’re just getting started !!! One evening in & I already know this time is going to fly by way too fast, so excited & happy for the both of you !!! I can’t wait for the celebrations to begin (sic),” he wrote.

The couple’s wedding festivities recently began with a Mata Ki Chowki hosted by Thakkar’s family. Anshula shared glimpses of the ceremony and said wearing a traditional Phulkari dupatta made the occasion especially meaningful.

“Deeply rooted in Punjabi tradition, it is a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and blessings passed down through generations of women,” she wrote. “I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to begin this new chapter with Ro.”

Family members attending the ceremony included Arjun Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor and Maheep Kapoor.

Sara Ali Khan Shares London Memories With Sharmila Tagore and Amrita Singh

Mumbai — Sara Ali Khan has shared photos from a family trip to London with her grandmother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, and her mother, Amrita Singh.

The actress posted a series of pictures on Instagram and reflected on the lasting memories created during the visit.

“London for a minute, moments forever,” Sara wrote.

The photos show Sara posing with Tagore and Singh, as well as enjoying the city’s scenery. She also shared images from a theater outing with the two actresses.

“Theatre time with my OG legends Play toh accha tha but best actors toh mere bagal mein hi hai,” Sara wrote, joking that although the play was good, the best actors were sitting beside her.

Amrita Singh was married to Sharmila Tagore’s son, actor Saif Ali Khan, from 1991 until their separation in 2004. They have two children, Sara and actor Ibrahim Ali Khan.

Saif married Kareena Kapoor Khan in 2012, and they have two sons, Taimur and Jehangir. Sara and Ibrahim are frequently seen with Saif, Kareena and their children at family gatherings and celebrations.

Mona Singh Reflects on Career and Self-Made Success

Mumbai — Mona Singh has reflected on her journey in the entertainment industry, crediting discipline, passion and persistence for her success.

“I have always felt that if you have the right intention, have passion for your work, love your craft more, be disciplined, then you will definitely get the work. I have always watched their movies since childhood, and now I meet them, I am working with them, they know me, I just feel very happy and proud that I have achieved all this myself with hard work,” Singh said.

The actress has recently appeared in projects including “Happy Patel,” “Border 2,” “Kohraa Season 2,” “Subedaar” and “Maa Ka Sum.”

She will next be seen in the comedy-drama series “Pritam and Pedro,” which is scheduled to premiere July 3 on JioHotstar. Created and produced by Rajkumar Hirani and directed by Avinash Arun, the series stars Arshad Warsi and Vir Hirani, along with Vikrant Massey, Boman Irani and Singh.

“What excited me most about this story was the relationship at its heart. Pritam and Pedro come from completely different worlds and see life very differently, but they are forced into a journey together,” Hirani said. “I’ve always been drawn to stories about people, their contradictions, their vulnerabilities, and the unexpected relationships they form along the way. This series allowed us to explore all of that while having a lot of fun with the world and characters.”

Diana Penty Shares Glimpses of Peaceful Road Journey

Mumbai — Diana Penty gave fans a glimpse of how she spends her time while traveling, sharing photos of herself meditating, reading and performing yoga-like stretches in the backseat of a car.

The actress posted the pictures on social media with the caption, “En route…”

In one image, Penty is seated cross-legged with her hands resting on her knees in a meditative pose. Other photos show her reading a book, taking in the scenery outside and capturing the city’s early morning rain.

Penty wore a white embroidered top with loose dark trousers for the journey. She also included a close-up selfie in the series.

The actress made her Bollywood debut in the 2012 romantic comedy “Cocktail,” starring alongside Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Her performance as the reserved and traditional Meera received widespread praise.

She later appeared in films including “Happy Bhag Jayegi,” “Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi,” “Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran,” “Shiddat,” “Selfiee” and “Bloody Daddy.”

Penty has recently returned to the spotlight following the release of “Cocktail 2,” with social media users revisiting the original film and praising her portrayal of Meera. Some viewers have also compared her character with Rashmika Mandanna’s role in the new installment. (Source: IANS)