Bollywood Roundup: Parineeti Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, and more…
Parineeti Chopra calls brother her ‘first baby’ in emotional birthday post
MUMBAI, India — Parineeti Chopra melted hearts online as she poured out an emotional birthday message for her brother Sahaj Chopra, calling him her “first baby” in a deeply personal tribute.
The actress shared a series of cozy family photos and travel moments, including snapshots by London’s River Thames with husband Raghav Chaddha, a restaurant outing, and candid train rides with her brother.
But it was her caption that stole the spotlight.
“How do you say something, about your everything? Happy bday my everything! God blessed me with you. My first baby, my brother, my mentor, my friend, my life’s crutch. I am, because you are. Chal ab milne aa stoopid boiiiiiii. @thisissahajchopra,” she wrote.
Parineeti has often spoken about how central Sahaj is to her life, leaning on him for major decisions and support through the years.
The actress married Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chaddha in September 2023 in Udaipur.
On the work front, she was last seen in the biographical drama “Amar Singh Chamkila,” directed by Imtiaz Ali and co-starring Diljit Dosanjh, where she played Amarjot Kaur.
Parineeti has since stepped back from work after welcoming her son, Neer, in October last year.
Hrithik Roshan turns to Karan Johar for producer tips, gets career reality check
MUMBAI, India — Hrithik Roshan had a full-circle moment on stage as he turned to Karan Johar for production advice — only to get a reminder that he’s been groomed for it his entire life.
At Prime Video’s Play event, where Hrithik launched his upcoming shows “Mess” and “Storm,” the superstar called Johar “the best producer” he’s worked with before asking for guidance on stepping into production.
KJo didn’t hold back.
“Let’s get some facts right, you’ve grown up on film sets. You’re the son of Rakesh Roshan, the prolific filmmaker then you were an assistant director for many years before you launched yourself into the biggest silver screen debut there ever was. I think you’ve been training through your life to join the producers’ club,” he said.
Hrithik laughed it off, replying, “I feel a lot better now, thank you for reminding me.”
The actor unveiled two projects at the event. “Mess” follows a chaotic night where a group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD — only to realize they may not make it out alive. “Storm” centers on five women caught in a dangerous web of secrets tied to a housing scam.
Earlier, Hrithik also paid tribute to veteran filmmaker M M Baig, who recently passed away at 70, crediting him for shaping his early career and helping him overcome speech challenges.
Alia Bhatt vows to launch outsiders, Karan Johar says ‘I’m so proud’
MUMBAI, India — Alia Bhatt is shaking up Bollywood’s playbook — and doing it with her mentor watching closely.
At the Prime Video Play event, the actress revealed she plans to launch outsiders through her upcoming production “Don’t Be Shy,” sparking a cheeky and telling exchange with Karan Johar.
“You’ve truly mastered the art of being a season producer already, Alia because your answers seem beautifully independent of my questions for some reason,” KJo joked on stage.
Alia fired back, “Yes Karan because there is a way to launch actors”.
KJo couldn’t resist the dig at himself. “And clearly I wouldn’t know that, would I? I’ve never done something like that,” he quipped, referencing her debut in his film “Student of the Year”.
Alia added, “Well, what can I say? We’ve learnt from the best. And the best have always taught us that there is a timing for everything”.
Then came the big question.
“Are they outsiders?” KJo asked.
“Yes,” Alia replied.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said.
“Don’t Be Shy” follows Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old whose carefully planned life spirals out of control after an unexpected twist.
The film is produced by Eternal Sunshine Production and Chalkboard Entertainment.
Up next, Alia will star in “Alpha” alongside Sharvari — the first female-led action film in the YRF spy universe.
Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal reunite at ‘Dhurandhar 2’ screening, fans get ‘Dil Hai Tumharaa’ throwback
MUMBAI, India — It was a nostalgia-packed night in Mumbai as Preity Zinta and Arjun Rampal reunited at the screening of “Dhurandhar 2,” sending fans straight back to their “Dil Hai Tumharaa” days.
The former co-stars were spotted catching up warmly at the event, with Preity later gushing over the film and its cast in a high-energy social media post.
“Watched Dhurandhar 2 last night & all I wanna say is ‘Revenge ho toh Dhurandhar jaisa ho warna na ho.’ Direction, acting, music, editing, story, casting & every other department is mindblowing,” she wrote.
“The first thing mom said after watching the movie was that she wanted to see it again in the theater with her friends & I feel exactly the same,” she added.
Preity didn’t hold back her praise, shouting out the team and performances.
“@adityadharfilms you have turned me into a fan girl & I love it. Thank you for this incredibly immersive experience. Your skill, your talent and most of all your heart is in the right place. @ranveersingh You have my heart. What a stunning performance. What range, what depth, what sincerity I still need to process everything before I can articulate my thoughts.”
“@actormaddy you know how I felt about your flawless performance earlier & to be honest that goes for the entire cast. @therakeshbedi what timing, @duttsanjay what swag, so much sweetness & sincerity @saraarjunn & last but not the least @rampal72 you have hit it out of the park again.”
She added, “A very special mention of @shashwatology for taking this film to another level with the music. @castingchhabra how do u do this every time? If I forgot anyone I’m sorry I’m so excited. Finally I wanna say #JaiHind 🇮🇳 to every unknown man & woman out there. Don’t miss this folks !”
Preity and Arjun famously starred together in the 2002 film “Dil Hai Tumhaaraa,” which remains a fan favorite years later.
The actress, once one of Bollywood’s biggest stars in the late ’90s and early 2000s, now splits her time between India and the United States after marrying Gene Goodenough in 2016.
Ileana D’Cruz melts hearts with baby, kitten and sweet treats: “Simple things make big joy”
MUMBAI, India — Ileana D’Cruz is keeping it real — and adorable — with a peek into the little moments that make her happiest.
The actress dropped a cozy photo dump on social media, featuring everything from a fluffy kitten getting a chin scratch to precious snaps of her baby cuddling a soft toy.
“Simple things make for such big joy #grateful,” she wrote.
The carousel also included a tray of cream-filled bombolinis, a black-and-white shot of her baby in a stroller, and a serene snowy landscape — a mix of comfort, family, and quiet beauty.
The post quickly struck a chord, with fans loving her focus on everyday happiness.
Ileana, who made her debut with the Telugu film “Devadasu” in 2006, later broke into Bollywood with “Barfi!” alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra — a performance still considered one of her best.
She has since appeared in films like “Rustom,” “Raid,” and “Main Tera Hero.”
On the personal front, Ileana married Michael Dolan in 2023, and the couple now share two children.
Nora Fatehi hits back amid song controversy: “At the end of the day I have to work”
MUMBAI, India — Nora Fatehi is pushing back after actor Shardul Pandit questioned her claim that artists have limited power in Bollywood — and she’s making it clear she’s playing by the industry’s rules.
The actress-dancer responded directly in the comments after facing backlash over her controversial song “Sarke Chunar,” which has been criticized for alleged vulgarity.
“Hey! I hear you! And i appreciate ur take on this! Yes we have the power only to a certain extent. U had the power by not playing the song and i had the power by not promoting it on my platform! Thats it,” she wrote.
“But no an artist like me dont have that power with filmmakers in the industry and it’s almost setting me up for a loss by even suggesting that. At the end of the day i have to work and live in this industry so theres only so much push back i can do (sic).”
She added, “I respect your view but we have to be practical. Take it up with the singer, lyricist and director producer of the project if you guys truly want a change.”
The clash comes after Shardul posted a video saying he didn’t “buy” the idea that actors lack influence, even as he clarified he wasn’t targeting Nora personally.
“We are not against you- We are against the song,” he said, while criticizing the track for promoting “misogyny, vulgarity and disrespect.”
The controversy erupted after Nora admitted she had warned makers about the lyrics potentially hurting her career — but went ahead with the project anyway.
The song, featuring Nora alongside Sanjay Dutt, has reportedly been pulled from several platforms following the backlash. (Source: IANS)
