Mrunal Thakur on working with Vijay Devarakonda: ‘He brings a great spark on screen’
Mumbai– Actress Mrunal Thakur, who is gearing up for her next ‘Hey Ninna’, is now looking forward to working with Vijay Devarakonda in the tentatively titled film ‘VD 13’. Praising her co-star, she said that with each passing film, the ‘Arjun Reddy’ star has given memorable characters.
Recently, she announced her next Telugu movie opposite Vijay. She has worked with Nani and Dulquer Salman from the South.
Mrunal said that it is a surreal feeling to have gotten a chance to work with such diverse actors.
She said: “Right from the start when I began working on Sita Ramam, I was instantly welcomed with extreme warmth and love from the people from the south film industry. The industry has some of the finest actors in the country and I am grateful that I am getting a chance to share screen space with them.”
“Whether it’s Dulquar, Nani and now Vijay, they are such different actors with very different fan bases, it’s never a dull day for me on the set. The love I got for Sita Ramam, I hope I receive the same love for my upcoming movies– Hi Naana and #VD13.”
Speaking of Vijay, she said: “I’m looking forward to work with Vijay as I do know that we can learn together and from each other as actors. Currently we have started prep and the shoot of the film will start soon, and sharing screen space with Vijay is something I’m excited about.”
“Whatever roles he does on screen, he has this great ability to bring this great spark on screen when he’s in front of the camera. With each passing film, he’s given such memorable characters which have become etched into our memories be it Dr. Arjun Reddy Deshmukh in Arjun Reddy or Vijay Anthony in Mahanati.”
The team of #VD13 is going to start shooting soon. The project marks the reunion of Vijay and director Parasuram after Geetha Govindam.
Sonu Sood announces free law education for students in his CLAT programme
Mumbai– Actor Sonu Sood has announced free law education to aspirants in his law entrance coaching programme.
As the founder of the Sood Charity Foundation (SCF), Sonu is dedicated to making a lasting impact and bringing about positive change in society. Sankalp is a transformative Free Law Entrance Coaching programme that empowers to pursue a professional legal education and secure a coveted spot in National Law Universities (NLUs).
Speaking about ‘Sankalp’, Sonu said: “It gives me immense pleasure to see that God has chosen me to be the catalyst in the path of enlightenment of the people who want to choose law as their career. I’m sure that, our country will be in safe and able hands.”
The programme will give free training for CLAT, AILET, and other law entrance exams exclusively for deserving students. Priority given to those who have faced loss during the challenging Covid wave/s or come from economically weaker sections (EWS).
Sonu has worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films.
The actor made his acting debut in 1999 with ‘Kallazhagar’. He is known for his work in films such as ‘Dabangg’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Athadu’ (2005), ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne’ (2005), ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ (2008), ‘Kandireega’ (2011), ‘Dookudu’ (2011), ‘Shootout at Wadala’ (2013), ‘R… Rajkumar’ (2013), ‘Happy New Year’ (2014), ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ (2017) and ‘Simmba’ (2018).
In July 2016, he established the production house Shakti Sagar Productions, which is named after his father, Shakti Sagar Sood.
In September 2020, Sood was chosen for the ‘SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award’ by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for his humanitarian works during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In June 2022, he launched his social media app called Explurger.
He will next be seen in ‘Fateh’.
Bollywood demands justice for Manipur horror
Mumbai– The recently surfaced video of two women belonging to the Kuki-Zomi community being paraded naked and being assaulted by a mob of men, has sent shockwaves across India. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and director Vivek Agnihotri have strongly reacted to the video, condemning the “shameful” act.
Akshay Kumar took to his Twitter and shared a note saying that he feels shaken and disgusted to see such unspeakable cruelty being meted out to the women.
He tweeted: “Shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur. I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again.”
Vivek Agnihotri, who is known for ‘The Kashmir Files’, took to his Instagram and shared a heartfelt note saying how the nation has failed as a society.
He wrote in his Instagram post: “MANIPUR: Moplah, Direct Action Day, Noakhali, Bangladesh, Punjab, Kashmir, Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Bastar and now Manipur. Every time our innocent mothers and sisters become the ultimate victims of inhuman, barbarian acts. As a Bharatiya, as a man, as a human being, I am shattered each time. I am ashamed.”
He further mentioned that he feels guilty for being helpless in such a situation and also wrote that there is “no right to life in free India.”
He continued: “I am so guilty for my helplessness. O Manipur, I tried… I tried… but I failed. All I can do now is tell their tragic stories through my work. But it’s too late by then. We are all victims of selective and hyper- competitive electoral politics. We are victims of hyper-religion. We are victims of dangerous media. We, the people of Bharat, are victims. There is no #RightToLife in free India. And we can’t do anything about it.”
“This is not the freedom I want. This is not the kind of democracy I want. It’s worth nothing if it makes us bay for each other’s blood. We are a failed society. I am sorry, my sisters. I am sorry, my mothers. I am sorry, Bharat Mata,” he added.
Soni Razdan wrote in her Instagram Story: “I really want to know what the government is going, and why primetime news is not flooded with news about Manipur and most important of all, where is the Army?”
Kiara Advani tweeted: “The video of violence against women in Manipur is horrifying and has shaken me to the core. I pray the women get justice at the earliest. Those responsible must face the most SEVERE punishment they deserve.”
Sanjay Dutt also took to his Twitter and wrote: “The video portraying violence against women in Manipur was shocking and sickening. My utmost hope is for the culprits to be punished with the utmost severity, sending a clear message that such despicable actions will not be tolerated in any circumstance.”
Actor Riteish Deshmukh too wrote on his Twitter: “Deeply disturbed with the visuals of the atrocities against the women in Manipur… I am seething with anger… no man should go unpunished for such crime. Attack on the dignity of a woman is an attack on humanity itself (sic).”
Actor-comedian Vir Das shared a series of tweet holding the government and the officials responsible for the shameful and the delay in bringing justice to the victims.
He wrote: “When horrific incidents occur make no mistake, through the system, our leaders are IMMEDIATELY aware. When months later videos go viral, twitter is aware. If leaders only then respond, it’s to twitter, not horrific incidents. They care about online outrage, not real people.”
He continued in his tweets: “People outrage as and when they become aware or are allowed to. It takes a specific kind of creepy man to invalidate a crime against a woman by offsetting it against the comparative outrage for another crime against another woman. It’s Masterful whataboutery. Don’t fall for it.”
“Grateful to see our leadership speak up and take action for the viral people of India,” he added.
The video shows two women, one in her 20s and the other in her 40s, being made to walk naked down a road and towards a field by a mob of men. Some of the men can be seen dragging the two women towards a field and sexually assaulting them.
Though the said incident took place on May 4 as per the police, the video emerged on July 19 sparking massive outrage across the country.
Ajay, Kajol’s son Yug makes rare appearance at airport
Mumbai– Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and Kajol’s son Yug was seen making his rare appearance at the airport on Thursday.
The 13-year-old boy was seen making his way out of the airport along with his bodyguard, while his parents were not present with him.
Yug was seen wearing an all black outfit, t-shirt, joggers and sport shoes. He was carrying a backpack with his phone in one hand.
The little boy can be seen having a fun conversation with his bodyguard, while navigating his way through the paparazzi. Yug was also seen screaming ‘Mumbai’, while caressing his hair.
On the work front, Kajol was last seen in gritty courtroom drama ‘The Trial’ as Noyonika Sengupta. She next has ‘Do Patti’ and ‘Sarzameen’ in her kitty.
Ajay has ‘Maidaan’, ‘Singham Again’, and ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’ in the pipeline. (IANS)
