Bollywood Roundup: Huma Qureshi, Salman Khan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and more…
Huma Qureshi Says Modern Indian Womanhood Is About Authorship, Not Perfection
MUMBAI, India — Huma Qureshi says being a modern Indian woman is not about appearing flawless, but about taking ownership of one’s story.
The Bollywood actress shared the reflection on Instagram while posting photos from her visit to the Cannes Film Festival, which is scheduled to end May 23. Qureshi said her time at the French Riviera reminded her of the importance of carrying her roots into global spaces without losing authenticity.
“To me, being a modern Indian woman is not about perfection. It is about authorship. Building yourself in public. Brick by brick,” she wrote.
Qureshi added that it means “carrying your roots into global spaces without diluting them,” while turning “survival into elegance” and “ambition into art.”
“And walking every carpet knowing you did not arrive by accident. Intentionally authentic… And somehow, every arrival feels a little more unforgettable …. especially stepping out of a BMW. Until the next, au revoir, Cannes,” she wrote.
During her Cannes visit, Qureshi also attended the Red Sea Film Foundation’s “Women in Cinema” event, where she was seen with Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek. The event celebrated women’s contributions to cinema and drew several international film figures, including Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Tara Sutaria, Genevieve Nnaji and others.
Salman Khan Says He Is Not Lonely After Social Media Post Sparks Concern
MUMBAI, India — Salman Khan says fans should not worry about him after a recent social media post about being alone and lonely prompted speculation about his well-being.
The Bollywood star clarified Monday on X that he was not speaking about himself personally and said he remains surrounded by family, friends and fans.
“Arre yaar Mai apne bare mai nahi baat kar raha tha. How can I be alone when I have such a large amazing family n friends n how can I be lonely when I have u guys,your wishes n Duas, I would be the biggest na shukra ever,” Khan wrote.
He said he sometimes needs time away from people when his “social battery” runs out.
“Kabhi Kabhi logon ke saath reh kar pak jaata hun, isliye some me time, Buss… Iss baar koi photo nahi breaking news bana diya, Mummy pooch rahi hai, Kya hua Beta? Chill maro yaar,” he added.
The clarification came after Khan posted a shirtless photo on Instagram and reflected on the difference between being alone and being lonely. He wrote that being alone is a choice, while being lonely is when “nobody wants to be with u.”
On the work front, Khan is next expected to appear in “Maatrubhumi.”
Nushrratt Bharuccha Marks 40th Birthday With Friends, Reunites With Ishita Raj
MUMBAI, India — Nushrratt Bharuccha celebrated her 40th birthday with an intimate party attended by friends from the film industry.
The actress, who turned 40 on May 17, shared photos and videos from the celebration on social media. The party also featured a reunion with her “Pyaar Ka Punchnama” co-star Ishita Raj, with the two seen posing and dancing together.
Bharuccha wore a bright pink strappy gown and was seen dancing barefoot during the celebration. Jacqueline Fernandez, Mrunal Thakur, Jackky Bhagnani, Rakul Preet Singh and others were among the guests.
In one photo, Bharuccha danced with Thakur, while another video showed her enjoying the celebration with Raj.
“Inn photos mein ek ladki ki jhalak dikhegi.. bas uss ladki ko, woh jaisi hai waisi rakhne ki koshish karti hoon. Happy Birthday to Me,” Bharuccha wrote.
Bharuccha made her Bollywood debut in “Jai Santoshi Maa” opposite Raqesh Bapat and later appeared in “Akaash Vani” with Kartik Aaryan. Her breakthrough came with “Pyaar Ka Punchnama,” also starring Aaryan.
She has since appeared in films including “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety,” “Dream Girl,” “Chhorii,” “Ram Setu,” “Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2” and “Akelli.”
Shikhar Pahariya Praises Janhvi Kapoor After “Peddi” Trailer Release
MUMBAI, India — Shikhar Pahariya praised Janhvi Kapoor after the trailer for her upcoming film “Peddi” was released Monday.
Pahariya shared the trailer on social media and called Kapoor a “lady don” both on screen and off.
“@janhvikapoor Lady Don in reel life and real life,” he wrote, adding heart and lovestruck emojis. He also tagged Ram Charan and wrote, “@alwaysramcharan too good brother mass can’t wait!”
Kapoor later reshared Pahariya’s post and responded with emotional and heart emojis.
Kapoor and Pahariya have often drawn attention for their rumored relationship. While they have not publicly confirmed that they are dating, they have frequently been seen together at vacations, temple visits, family gatherings and other events.
Reports have said the two dated years earlier, split and later rekindled their relationship.
Pahariya has also been seen with Kapoor’s family at major occasions. During Anshula Kapoor’s Gor Dhana ceremony in October, the two posed together in a family photo. Earlier this year, Pahariya’s family attended the premiere of Kapoor’s Oscar-nominated film “Homebound,” where Kapoor was seen greeting his grandparents, including former Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
Rhea Chakraborty Takes Social Media Break, Says She Is “Missing Myself a Little”
MUMBAI, India — Rhea Chakraborty says she is stepping away from social media for a while to reconnect with herself and spend more time living in the moment.
The actress shared the update Tuesday, saying the constant pressure of scrolling, posting and keeping up had begun to feel overwhelming.
“Lately, I’ve been missing myself a little. The constant noise, the scrolling, the keeping up – it’s all started to feel heavier than I expected. I miss being present without thinking about capturing the moment. I miss quiet. I miss simply being. So, I’m taking a step back for a while – to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and reconnect with what feels real. Choosing lived moments over posted ones, for now. See you soon,” Chakraborty wrote.
On the work front, Chakraborty is set to appear in “Family Business,” a Netflix drama directed by Hansal Mehta. The series also stars Anil Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Neha Dhupia and Dhruv Sehgal.
The project marks Chakraborty’s return to acting after a seven-year gap. Reflecting on the comeback, she recently wrote that she is still “the same girl who came to Bombay at 17 with a dream to be an actor.”
Chakraborty was last seen on screen in the 2021 mystery thriller “Chehre,” starring Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi.
Akanksha Puri Says “Inspector Avinash 2” Let Her Try Something Fearless
MUMBAI, India — Akanksha Puri says her role in “Inspector Avinash 2” gave her a chance to move outside her comfort zone and take on a more intense character.
The actress plays Meetu Punjaban, a dancer-turned-informer, in the Randeep Hooda-led series.
“I wanted to do something fearless and different. This role allowed me to step away from my comfort zone and explore a much stronger and emotionally intense side of myself as an actor,” Puri said.
She said the role required confidence and emotional understanding, and helped her explore a different side of her acting range.
Puri also praised Hooda’s approach to his work.
“Randeep brings so much honesty into every scene. Working with him was a great experience because you naturally become more focused and involved as a performer,” she said.
Director Neerraj Pathak previously praised Hooda’s work ethic and compared the experience of working with him to working with Irrfan Khan. Pathak said Hooda’s dedication had “spoiled” him as a director because it raised his expectations for future collaborators.
“Inspector Avinash 2” premiered May 15 on JioHotstar.
Pooja Batra Celebrates Cannes Moment After Short Film Screening
MUMBAI, India — Actress-producer Pooja Batra reflected on her time at Cannes after her short film “Echoes of Us” screened at the festival.
Batra shared photos from the balcony of the Hotel Martinez, showing her during golden hour on the French Riviera.
“Golden hour in Cannes feels like a standing ovation,” she wrote.
“Echoes of Us” explores love, loss and human connection. The short film stars Deepak Tijori and Spanish actress Alessandra Whelan Merediz, and was written and directed by Joe Rajan.
The film is produced by Glowbellinc, the Los Angeles-based production house led by Batra.
Batra previously shared photos from Cannes with Iulia Vantur and Tijori, thanking the festival and Marché du Film for the experience.
Batra rose to prominence after being crowned Miss India International in 1993. She made her Bollywood debut in “Virasat” in 1997 and later appeared in films including “Bhai,” “Haseena Maan Jayegi,” “Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye,” “Nayak: The Real Hero” and “Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story,” which was showcased at Cannes in 2004.
She was last seen on screen in the 2021 action thriller “Squad.”
Soha Ali Khan Shares Daughter Inaaya’s Handwritten Story About Grandparents
MUMBAI, India — Soha Ali Khan shared a sweet note written by her daughter, Inaaya Naumi Kemmu, about her grandparents Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
The actress posted a photo of the handwritten story on social media, calling it one of the “delightful things” she finds in her work notebook.
“Just one of the delightful things I find in my work notebook,” Soha wrote. She also joked about Inaaya referring to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi as “Mansur Tagore” and describing Saba Ali Khan as a “girl daughter.”
In the note, 7-year-old Inaaya wrote about Sharmila and Mansoor having three children: Saif Ali Khan, Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan. She described Soha as “the smallest, and kindest baby of all.”
Inaaya is the daughter of Soha Ali Khan and actor Kunal Kemmu. The couple married in January 2015 and welcomed Inaaya in September 2017.
Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi married in 1968. Pataudi, known as Tiger Pataudi, was one of India’s most celebrated cricketers and continued to captain the national team after losing vision in one eye following a car accident.
Their family includes children Saif, Saba and Soha, and grandchildren Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Taimur Ali Khan, Jeh Ali Khan and Inaaya Naumi Kemmu. (Source: IANS)
