Bollywood Roundup: Ileana D’Cruz, Saif Ali Khan, Rubina Dilaik, and more…
Ileana D’Cruz Shares Candid Look at Motherhood
MUMBAI, India — Ileana D’Cruz is giving fans another honest glimpse into life as a mother.
The actress shared a monochrome video on social media showing her seated on the floor during a breastfeeding moment with her baby, with toys and baby essentials scattered nearby. She captioned the post, “We are in whatever the heck this phase is of breastfeeding.”
D’Cruz has often used social media to share relatable moments from motherhood, including a recent post about enjoying a fresh blowout before her young son playfully took over the spotlight.
D’Cruz married Michael Dolan in 2023. The couple welcomed their first son, Koa Phoenix Dolan, that year, and their second son, Keanu Rafe Dolan, in 2025.
The 39-year-old actress made her screen debut in the 2006 Telugu film Devadasu and later appeared in films including Pokiri, Jalsa, Kick, Julayi and the Tamil film Nanban. In Bollywood, she is known for roles in Barfi!, Rustom, Main Tera Hero and Raid.
Saif Ali Khan Says He Was Once Told Not to Play a Cop
MUMBAI, India — Saif Ali Khan says he once received blunt advice from a director: never play a police officer seriously on screen.
Speaking at the trailer launch for his upcoming streaming film Kartavya, Khan recalled being told early in his career that he lacked the “gravitas” to play a cop.
“The first time I wore a uniform was in Main Khiladi Tu Anari ka climax,” Khan said. “Akshay Bhai was the main tough cop and I was this guy in the film who was trying to learn. My director told me at the time, ‘Don’t play a cop ever seriously in your life because you can’t do it. You don’t have the gravitas or you don’t have the power or the strength to do it. It’ll look like a comedy. Never do it’.”
Khan said years of work helped change that perception, pointing to Sacred Games as an important learning experience.
In Kartavya, Khan plays a police officer, a role he said carries pride, responsibility and power once the uniform goes on.
Directed by Pulkit and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment, Kartavya is scheduled to stream May 15, 2026, on Netflix.
Rubina Dilaik Calls Motherhood an Emotional Rebirth
MUMBAI, India — Rubina Dilaik says becoming a mother has been one of the most transformative experiences of her life.
The television actress, who is set to make her hosting debut with the upcoming reality show The Ward, said motherhood is both beautiful and overwhelming.
“Becoming a mother has been the most transformative and emotional journey of my life — it’s beautiful, but also overwhelming in ways no one truly prepares you for,” Dilaik said. “Motherhood feels like an emotional rebirth; it changes you in ways you can only understand once you live it.”
The Ward follows 10 pregnant women living together for 10 days as they prepare for motherhood. The show explores their personal stories, including family expectations, gender bias, careers and changing relationships.
Dilaik said she connected with the show as a new mother and described it as an emotional experience that reflects feelings many women often keep to themselves.
Produced by Moving Image Studios, created by Anirban Bhattacharjee and directed by Tushar Joshi, The Ward is scheduled to premiere May 15 on The Little Adda Company’s YouTube channel.
Aditi Bhatia Says The Kerala Story 2 Made Her Reflect on Online Validation
MUMBAI, India — Aditi Bhatia says her role in The Kerala Story 2 made her think more deeply about social media validation and its impact on young people.
Bhatia, who plays aspiring influencer Divya Paliwal in the film, said the character’s search for acceptance felt especially relevant in today’s online culture.
“Even as someone who has grown up in the public eye and on social media, it made me reflect on how easy it is for young people to seek acceptance externally,” Bhatia said. “The film reminded me how important self-awareness and emotional grounding really are.”
Bhatia said she connected with Divya’s innocence, ambition and passion for dance, adding that those qualities made the character’s vulnerability more difficult to portray.
The actress said taking on the role also felt emotional because she had spent years working on sets as a child actor and was returning to film as an adult performer.
The Kerala Story 2 is streaming on ZEE5.
Nia Sharma and Ankita Lokhande Credit Their Mothers for Strength
MUMBAI, India — Nia Sharma and Ankita Lokhande are reflecting on the strength and support they receive from their mothers ahead of Mother’s Day.
Sharma, who appears on Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment, said her confidence comes directly from her mother’s resilience.
“My strength is a direct inheritance from my mother,” Sharma said. “I watched her navigate life with an incredible resilience that grew into the confidence I carry today.”
She also recalled a family trip when her mother accidentally got separated from the group on a hop-on, hop-off bus, only to be found later on the roof of the bus calmly filming the city while everyone else panicked.
Sharma said this year felt especially meaningful because she got to film Laughter Chefs with her mother and cook alongside her.
Lokhande, who also appears on the show, said she feels blessed to have the support of both her mother and mother-in-law.
“One gave me life, and the other — my mother-in-law embraced me as her own, giving me strength, warmth, and another home filled with unconditional love,” Lokhande said.
Mother’s Day falls on May 8. (Source: IANS)
