Deepika Padukone’s new obsession is running
Mumbai– Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has accepted a fitness challenge by Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu, and says her new obsession is running.
Deepika on Friday took to Twitter and shared a video of her running in her gym gear.
“I am extremely passionate about fitness and my new obsession. Running! Thank You P.V. Sindhu! Challenge accepted,” Deepika tweeted.
The actress later challenged sportsman Mithali Raj, Rani Rampal and Aditi Ashok.
The #HumFitTohIndiaFit is a challenge first started by Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who has appealed to people to get fitter.
To keep the fitness campaign going, the Olympian shooter and politician challenged Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, cricketer Virat Kohli and badminton player Saina Nehwal to post their respective fitness mantras on the social media.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was challenged by Kohli, said he will post a personal fitness video soon. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan too has accepted the challenge.
It’s a sugar-free birthday party for Shilpa’s son
Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s son Viaan turned 6 on May 21, but the actress-entrepreneur-author is throwing a sugar-free birthday party for him on Friday.
Shilpa, who is known for being fit and for promoting fitness through videos and books, aims to inculcate healthy eating habits by having a celebration free of refined sugar.
The doting mother has organised a cake made in coconut sugar, fruit lollies and yakult with stevia among other healthy treats.
Shilpa said in a statement: “I’m doing a no refined sugar birthday party this year. I’ve imported the lollipops all the way from London which are only pure fruit and no refined sugar. We’ve used coconut sugar and honey in the dessert.
“I think that’s a good start to show kids that they can have fun the healthy way. Pooja Dhingra made the cup cakes with all the coconut sugar I got her from London. It tastes the same.”
Karan Johar celebrates 46th birthday in New York
Mumbai– In New York for his 46th birthday on Friday, filmmaker Karan Johar ensured his style quotient was up to the mark as he decked up in a black and white jacket for a terrace party he hosted for some friends. Back home, his brigade of Bollywood friends wished him love, joy and happiness.
Karan made his directorial debut with “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” in 1998. He later went on to direct “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…”, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna”, “My Name Is Khan”, “Student of the Year” and “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”.
The filmmaker, known for his quick wit, is currently involved with several films such as “Dhadak”, “Student of the Year 2”, “Simmba”, “Kesari”, “Kalank” and “Brahmastra”.
Here’s what the celebrities had to say:
Anil Kapoor: The best, dancer, director and friend that this industry has! Our lives would be really boring without your wit and charm! Happy Birthday Karan Johar!
Alia Bhatt: Happy birthday my father, my friend, my life teacher, my selfie-teacher! I must have done something right in my last life to deserve an all in one relationship with a beautiful soul like you. Love you to the moon and back Karan. Thank you for being you. Miss you.
Vicky Kaushal: Happy Birthday Karan Johar! What an honour and delight it has been to know you and to have worked with you. A master director and a gem of a human being who is always full of love and affection towards people around. May you always continue to be “The life of the party”. Stay blessed!
Nimrat Kaur: Happy happy birthday Karan Johar! Have the most amazing, brilliant year ahead! Big hug and all my love always.
An actor is never totally satisfied: Ram Kapoor
Mumbai– Actor Ram Kapoor has impressed many through his work in TV shows, web series and films, but he says an actor always wants to do more work.
“An actor is never really totally satisfied. He always wants more. So that is there in me. I always want to keep growing and doing more work…. But I fully understand how lucky I am because I know how hard it is to make a career in show business,” Ram told the media here.
“I know there are many people who come to Mumbai. They try and don’t succeed. I think the success rate is about two per cent. So I know that I am very lucky that I have had such a long career but I don’t think I will ever be satisfied,” added the actor, who has completed almost 20 years in the industry.
Would he want his and wife Gautami Kapoor’s two children to follow in their footsteps?
“If they want to. They have told us that they also want to try (their hand at acting) but they are children. We don’t know if they are serious or not. So both me and my wife have told them that ‘Look, we both first finished our education then we entered showbiz’.
“So they have to finish their education. After that, if they are really serious about this, we will not stop them.”
He believes that every actor has to have a lot of successes and failures.
“Failures teach you a lot about yourself. So I embrace them,” he said.
Ram will soon be seen as the host of Sony Entertainment Television’s show “Zindagi Ke Crossroads”. It will present a new narrative in every episode and the crossroads faced by the protagonists will be open for discussion to a unique set of studio audience.
He will also feature in “Loveratri”, backed by superstar Salman Khan.
My ups and downs have taught me about life: Anupam Kher
Mumbai– Actor Anupam Kher, who on Friday completed 34 years in Bollywood, says he learnt about life and showbiz with his “ups and downs”.
His first film was “Saaransh”. The actor, a National School of Drama alumnus, was only 28 when he took on the role of a retired middle class Maharashtrian man who had lost his son, in the drama directed by Mahesh Bhatt.
“I complete 34 years in movies. ‘Saaransh’, my first film was released on May 25, 1984. It has been an amazing journey so far,” Anupam tweeted.
“My ups and downs have taught me so much about people, life and entertainment business. Thank you Mahesh Bhatt saab,” he added.
Anupam won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance, and the film was also chosen as India’s official entry for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film.
In a short clip shared on Twitter, the actor said: “I was 28 when I played role of a father. Everyone said that this might be the worst decision of my life. As an actor who was almost homeless and on the streets. I was scared. It was a defining moment of (my) life. Today after 34 years and 515 films, I can proudly say that my first film ‘Saaransh’ became my Saaransh.
“Thank you everyone for love and support. Please continue it for the next 34 years.”
Bhatt took to Twitter to congratulate him.
“You still retain the same madness and passion I saw in your eyes the very first time I saw you. You make me proud,” he tweeted.
I’m incapable of giving advice: Amitabh Bachchan
Mumbai– Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has shared screen space with his daughter Shweta for an ad, feels he is incapable of giving advice.
Shweta will be seen in a jewellery ad with her father. She is making her on-screen debut with Kalyan Jewellers’ latest campaign.
Did he give her any advice to face the camera?
Amitabh said in a statement: “When we are in front of the camera enacting a particular scene, then we are in a character. Just like with any other artiste on the set, you want to exchange views and points or sometimes just like keep telling her… She is facing the camera for the first time so I can say a few things to make her feel comfortable or an advice. I don’t know whether she has taken some advice. I am incapable of giving advice.”
The 75-year-old actor says Shweta was very comfortable in front of the camera.
He feels that while the family has four actors — including wife Jaya, son Abhishek and daughter Aishwarya Rai Bachchan — “the true actress is Shweta”.
“I know she won’t admit it but she is very good. She does fantastic mimicry. Anywhere we go, some incident happens, she will mimic everybody exactly to the point. She is a good actress,” he added.
Does Shweta plan to explore a career in acting?
“No. I don’t plan on taking acting as a career… It’s not a career. The only reason I am doing this is for Kalyan Jewellers. I think most women enjoy wearing jewellery and as a designer I also enjoy the process of designing it… and I enjoyed myself on the sets. It was great spending an entire day with my father.”
Jacqueline Fernandez to endorse wrist watches
New Delhi– Actress Jacqueline Fernandez has been announced as the brand ambassador for Casio’s womens range of wrist watches — Sheen, Baby-G and Enticer.
The partnership is a combination of the brand’s ideology with Jacqueline’s fashion and fitness forward attitude.
“I have always admired and connected with Casio’s modern, efficient and extraordinary designs across its wide collection of women’s watches. I am thrilled to be a part of its journey in India, a brand that has such a rich legacy of designing iconic timepieces,” Jacqueline said in a statement.
Kulbhushan Seth, Vice-President, Casio India, said: “Jacqueline is a fashion maven recognised for her distinct and vibrant choices. Her natural inclination towards lifestyle and fitness works as a perfect alignment with our extensive selection of women’s watches.
“We have multiple ladies brands in our portfolio like Sheen, Baby-G and Enticer. While we were looking at brand association, we realised that Jacqueline fits pretty well to communicate the philosophy of all our brands.”
Telugu actor Ram Charan wants to work with Rajkumar Hirani
Mumbai– Telugu actor-producer Ram Charan says he is ready to explore Bollywood and wishes to work with Rajkumar Hirani.
While “Baahubali” fame actor Prabhas and Malayalam movie star Dulquer Salmaan are working in Bollywood films like “Saaho” and “Karwaan” respectively, asked if he has any favourite director in Bollywood, Ram said: “I am a huge fan of Rajkumar Hirani sir and would love to work with him.
“He is one of those filmmakers who is balancing the art and commerce rightly in his films. I so wish to work with him. I have also watched a few films of Vishal Bhardwaj and he makes some amazing pieces of cinema. Working with him would be such a pleasure.”
Ram has already worked in Bollywood as he featured in “Zanjeer” in 2013.
Asked if there’s a criteria he has for a Bollywood project, he said: “Yes, I tried it earlier and it did not do so well. But if I am getting something interesting, why not? I will surely give that a try. But this time, I will be looking at a few factors like the director, story, production… When I am targeting an audience out of my comfort zone, I have to be very careful.”
Khalid Siddiqui, Rukhsar Rehman turn Urdu teachers
Mumbai– Actors Khalid Siddiqui and Rukhsar Rehman gave Urdu lessons to their co-stars Priyanka Kandwal and Sheena Bajaj for their show “Mariam Khan – Reporting Live”.
The actors were shooting in Bhopal for the show.
“We had a lot of time to kill in Bhopal due to different venues and this gave us a lot of time to bond as co-actors and on-screen family.
“Me and Rukhsar, being pros in Urdu, decided to give Priyanka and Sheena Urdu lessons and taught them many words and phrases to pronounce, from the epiglottis,” Khalid said in a statement.
“Mariam Khan – Reporting Live” is aired on Star Plus.
My focus is on my new venture: Aashka
New Delhi– Actress Aashka Goradia says she is focussed on her latest venture, Renee by Aashka, but the “Naagin” actress is also keen on doing an action-packed role in a TV show.
“My focus is definitely on my new venture now but I want to do an action-packed role on television. My body, my mind and my acting skills are ready and aching to be a part of an action series irrespective of the platform.
“I have done historical, mythological, I have played a girl next door and also a vamp, I have done it all,” the “Kkusum” actress told IANS.
She has been working on Renee by Aashka for a while now, but she said she hasn’t given up acting.
“I haven’t quit acting, not happening anytime soon. It was always a dream to start something of my own but it took some time to figure, it had to be something I’m passionate about to have my heart and mind in place,” she said.
“This (acting) industry introduced me to make-up and I fancied the art. This brand is my baby. When you are starting out, there are many risks you take, an effort to stand out of the clutter…patience as everything takes longer than planned. But in the end, it is the most satisfying job and you get a good night’s sleep.” (IANS)
