Khushi Kapoor doesn’t regard herself to be the ‘rage’, is thankful for all kinds of criticism
Mumbai– It was just last year, in 2023 when Khushi Kapoor stepped into the world of Hindi cinema and instantly became a sensation on social media. However, the actress doesn’t see herself as a “rage” and is thankful for the “criticism” coming her way.
Asked how it feels to become a rage with just one project, Khushi told IANS: “I wouldn’t call myself a rage, but I’m really blessed and grateful for the love I’m getting.”
Khushi played Betty Cooper in ‘The Archies’ directed by Zoya Akhtar. It also stars Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan, and Vedang Raina, among others.
The actress, who is the daughter of the late veteran star Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, also expressed gratitude for the criticism as well.
“And I’m thankful for the criticism too. I’m really just taking the time to learn, grow, and focus on myself and my work.”
The younger sister of actress Janhvi Kapoor is more than happy to be in the Hindi film industry.
“It’s nice to finally be out there in the industry, and I’m happy to be starting to find my way,” she said.
However, ‘The Archies’ is not Khushi’s first time in front of the camera. She made her student acting debut in 2016 with the YouTube short film ‘Bhasm Ho: Pyaar Ka Takraar’. Then in 2020, she starred in a student short film ‘Speak Up’.
Talking about her upcoming slate of work, Khushi will be seen in ‘Naadaniyaan’ with Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan, who will be making his debut in Hindi cinema. Then she has a movie with Junaid Khan, whose latest release is ‘Maharaj’.
Sara Ali Khan is in New York, says ‘surreal to be back to the city that housed 96 kgs of me’
Mumbai– Actress Sara Ali Khan finds it surreal to be back in the Big Apple, the city she refers to as the place that housed “96 kilos” of her.
Sara took to her Instagram stories and shared some pictures from New York.
Flaunting her svelte figure in athleisure, the actress can be seen sipping coffee in a white crop top paired with fiery red shorts and sneakers.
“Surreal to be back to the city that housed 96 kgs of me,” Sara wrote as the caption.
The actress was reminiscing about her student days at New York’s Columbia University, where she ended up gaining a lot of weight.
The actress, the daughter of Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, has never shied away from talking about her struggles with Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and obesity.
Sara openly talked about it on the sixth season of ‘Koffee With Karan’.
However, before entering the industry with the 2018 film ‘Kedarnath’ starring the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Sara got into regular workouts such as cardio, pilates, and yoga followed by a simple diet to shed the extra weight.
The 28-year-old granddaughter of the late legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore then starred in ‘Simmba’ alongside Ranveer Singh.
Sara, who was named in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list of 2019, was subsequently seen in films such as ‘Love Aaj Kal’, ‘Coolie No. 1’, ‘Atrangi Re’, ‘Gaslight’, ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’, ‘Murder Mubarak’, and ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’.
The actress will next be seen in ‘Metro… In Dino’ directed by Anurag Basu. Then she has ‘Sky Force’, an action thriller directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani.
The film reportedly also stars Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Nimrat Kaur, Sharad Kelkar, and Suniel Shetty, and is a retelling of India’s retaliatory attack on Sargodha airbase of Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani air war of 1965.
Akshay Kumar joins Mumbai’s tree plantation drive to honour his parents
Mumbai– Actor Akshay Kumar paid tribute to his late parents, Hari Om Bhatia and Aruna Bhatia, by participating in a tree plantation drive in Mumbai.
Akshay said in a statement: “Planting trees is a way to give back to our planet, and doing it in honour of my parents makes it even more special.”
The actor emphasised that this act serves as a tribute to their love and care.
“It’s a tribute to their love and care and a promise to nurture and protect the environment for future generations,” he said.
Akshay led the tree plantation drive along the Western Expressway in Kherwadi, Bandra, on Monday morning.
The actor planted 200 Bahawa trees alongside Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani.
According to a statement, the initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the BMC, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Tree Authority, and the Make Earth Green Again (MEGA) Foundation, marked a pivotal step in restoring Mumbai’s precious green cover, significantly impacted by Cyclone Taukte.
The ‘Accept the Pit of Trees and Become Parents of Nature’ campaign has garnered support from prominent icons such as Anil Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Abhishek Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Bappi Lahiri, Ajay Devgan, Sonu Nigam, Sangram Singh, Ranvir Shorey, Rohit Shetty, Hema Malini, Sonakshi Sinha, and Ayesha Jhulka.
On the work front, Akshay, who was last seen in ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ alongside Tiger Shroff, will next appear in ‘Sarfira’, which traces the journey of Veer Mhatre, portrayed by the actor, who aims to introduce low-cost aviation carriers.
The film is inspired by the life of G. R. Gopinath, the founder of the Indian low-cost airline Simplifly Deccan, with Gopinath’s role originally played by Suriya in the Tamil hit film ‘Soorarai Pottru’.
Besides Akshay, the film features Paresh Rawal, Radhika Madan, R. Sarath Kumar, and Seema Biswas.
‘Sarfira’, produced by Aruna Bhatia of Cape of Good Films, Suriya and Jyotika (2D Entertainment), and Vikram Malhotra (Abundantia Entertainment), is set to land in cinemas on July 12.
‘Matka King’ is both intriguing and deeply rooted in cultural history, reveals Kritika Kamra
Mumbai– Actress Kritika Kamra, who will be starring opposite Vijay Varma in Nagraj Manjule’s ‘Matka King’, said that the crime drama series is not only intriguing but also deeply rooted in cultural history.
‘Matka King’ delves into the Matka gambling phenomenon that swept through India from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The series promises to bring to life the gripping and often perilous world of Matka gambling, with Kritika playing a pivotal role alongside the versatile Vijay.
“I am elated to join the cast of ‘Matka King’ and collaborate with such an incredibly talented team,” Kritika shared.
The actress said that she has admired Vijay, who will be working with Kritika for the first time on screen.
“Working with Vijay Varma, whose work I have long admired, is a thrilling opportunity. Nagraj Manjule’s vision and storytelling are unparalleled, and I am eager to bring my character to life under his direction,” she said.
Kritika, who was last seen in the series ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah’, said that the upcoming show by Manjule is deeply rooted in cultural history.
“The story of ‘Matka King’ is not only intriguing but also deeply rooted in cultural history. It is a privilege to be part of a project that draws inspiration from such a significant aspect of India’s past,” she said.
“I can’t wait for the audience to witness the world of ‘Matka King’ and the intense journey we have crafted,” the actress added.
Kritika made her acting debut on the small screen. She rose to fame with her portrayal of Arohi Sharma in ‘Kitani Mohabbat Hai’. She was then seen in shows such as ‘Kuch Toh Log Kahenge’, ‘Reporters’, and ‘Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta’.
She has also participated in the dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7’ and made her Bollywood debut with the 2018 film ‘Mitron’.
Aamir visits Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram in Sevagram, talks about Bapu’s ‘great influence’ on him
Mumbai– Bollywood’s perfectionist Aamir Khan on Sunday visited Sevagram in Maharashtra for the first time, and said how he has been an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi while also underlining the Father of the Nation’s influence on him.
Sevagram, located in Maharashtra, is the place of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram, and his residence from 1936 till his death in 1948.
After Sabarmati, Sevagram Ashram holds immense importance as it was the residence of Mahatma Gandhi.
Talking to mediapersons, Aamir, said: “I have come for the first time in Sevagram. There is a magical energy over here. I have been a follower of Bapuji, and his thoughts had a great influence on me. I am very happy that I have come to a place where he has spent time and days. The things he had used… seeing them felt great which I can’t express in words. It’s a really wonderful place.”
Aamir, who first appeared on the screen at the age of eight in the 1973 movie ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, marked his leading role opposite Juhi Chawla in the 1988 tragic romance ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’.
He then went on to star in movies like ‘Dil’, ‘Afsana Pyaar Ka’, ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’, ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke’, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’, ‘Raja Hindustani’, ‘Ishq’, ‘Ghulam’, ‘Sarfarosh’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Fanaa’.
Aamir has also delivered more hits, like ‘Dhoom 3’, and ‘PK’. However, his movies like ‘Thugs of Hindostan’, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ received mixed reviews from critics.
The actor recently produced ‘Laapataa Ladies’. The comedy drama is directed by his ex-wife Kiran Rao. It stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan, and tells the story of two young newly-wed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband’s homes.
He next as ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ in the pipeline.
The sports drama is directed by R.S. Prasanna, and produced by Aamir and Kiran.
Tracks that got Sonakshi-Zaheer and their celebrity guests grooving all night
Mumbai– Newlyweds Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, who tied the knot on Sunday night in an intimate ceremony, delighted guests with their dance performances at their star-studded reception.
The couple danced to popular songs such as ‘Tere Mast Mast Do Nain’, ‘Chikni Kamar’, ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’, and ‘Afreen’.
The reception was held at Bastian, a restaurant on Linking Road, Mumbai, known for its Asian-inspired modernist cuisine.
Sonakshi looked stunning in a custom red ‘chand boota’ brocade sari by Raw Mango, while Zaheer, dressed in all white, radiated happiness.
A video from the event shows the couple dancing enthusiastically to ‘Afreen’, ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’, and ‘Chikni Kamar’.
During the cake-cutting ceremony, Sonakshi wore a bright red Anarkali kurta, complete with sindoor and bangles. They also grooved to Sonakshi’s debut film song, ‘Tere Mast Mast Do Nain’ from the film ‘Dabangg’, which starred Salman Khan alongside her.
Singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh, sporting an electric-blue jacket, received joyful exclamations and requests for a performance. He delighted the crowd by performing his track ‘Angrezi Beat’.
The reception was attended by numerous celebrities, including Saira Banu, Rekha, Salman Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi’s ‘Heeramandi’ co-star and fiance, and South Indian star Siddharth.
Other ‘Heeramandi’ actresses at the event included Richa Chadha (with Ali Fazal) and Sanjeeda Shaikh.
Early arrivals included Salman’s brother-in-law, Aayush Sharma, who played Cupid for the newlyweds.
Additional guests included Vidya Balan and her husband Siddharth Roy Kapur, Huma Qureshi and her brother Saqib Saleem, Tabu, Anil Kapoor, Chunky Panday, Raveena Tandon, and Kajol.
Sonakshi and Zaheer, the man she lovingly describes as her ‘personal psycho’, had been dating for the past seven years.
Zaheer made his debut in a Salman Khan-produced film, ‘Notebook’, where he was cast opposite another newbie, Pranutan Bahl, daughter of actor Mohnish Bahl and granddaughter of Nutan.
It is said that Salman introduced Sonakshi to Zaheer on the sets of ‘Notebook’ in 2017. (IANS)
