Bollywood Roundup: Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan, Kajol, and more…
Connolly’s debut heroics power Punjab Kings as Preity Zinta hails “dream debut”
MUMBAI– Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta praised Australian debutant Cooper Connolly after his match-winning performance helped the franchise open its IPL 2026 campaign with a victory.
Connolly, 22, scored an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls in his first Indian Premier League appearance on April 1, earning Player of the Match honors and guiding Punjab Kings to a winning start.
Zinta shared her excitement on social media, calling it a standout debut from a rising talent.
“What a night last night turned out to be ! What a game & what a dream debut for 22 year old Cooper Connolly in IPL 2026. It was an impressive match winning knock 44 ball 72 that marked the arrival of this incredible young talent,” she wrote.
She highlighted Connolly’s composure under pressure and ability to read the game as key factors behind his performance.
“What impressed me most about Cooper was not just the big & stylish shots he played, but his ability to read the game in the present, and keep a cool & calm head under pressure. It was truly my pleasure to present the Player of the match trophy to him & yes I couldn’t stop smiling,” Zinta added.
Welcoming him to the team, she said, “Welcome to the IPL and welcome to Punjab Kings Cooper. We are beyond thrilled to have you in Sadda Squad as our young Sher… Keep it up & bring it on. Looking forward to many more games & performances like this.”
Abhishek Bachchan reflects on friendship with Riteish Deshmukh ahead of ‘Raja Shivaji’
MUMBAI — Abhishek Bachchan is looking back at the start of his friendship with Riteish Deshmukh as the two come together for the historical epic “Raja Shivaji,” Bachchan’s first Marathi film.
The film features Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahaji Raje Bhosle, with its teaser showcasing him in a warrior role and highlighting the story’s emotional and historical depth.
Bachchan said the project is especially meaningful because it connects to a friendship that began about 25 years ago.
“It’s my first ever Marathi film. Riteish, who I considered to be my brother, has been dreaming about this from the first time that I ever met him about 25 years ago in Latur. I was shooting there for a film of mine called Zameen. And Riteish was just coming into the film industry, and he came to hang out with Ajay Devgn and me, who were shooting, and that’s where our friendship began. And then we’ve gone on to collaborate on several films,” he said.
He added that the film fulfills a long-held dream of Deshmukh to direct a project on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
“So this is a dream he’s harboured and worked on for several years. Riteish has arguably made the most ambitious Marathi film made till date. I have no doubt about the kind of director that he is… I’m so, so happy for him… I really think it’s going to be a seminal moment for Marathi cinema,” Bachchan added.
“Raja Shivaji,” produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, will release in Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu.
Kajol celebrates Ajay Devgn’s birthday with playful jab
MUMBAI — Kajol marked husband Ajay Devgn’s birthday with a humorous social media post, sharing a photo of the actor with a sarcastic, tired expression.
“At some point the candles on the cake look less like a celebration and more like a fire hazard. I think u have reached that point. Happy birthday anyways. May u always have cake (sic),” she wrote.
Devgn, who debuted with “Phool Aur Kaante,” has remained one of Hindi cinema’s most consistent stars, known for films such as “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” and the “Golmaal” franchise. He has also directed and produced films during his career.
A two-time National Award winner, Devgn continues to balance commercial and content-driven projects. He is next set to appear in “Golmaal 5,” directed by longtime collaborator Rohit Shetty.
Shilpa Shetty shares 90s throwback with nostalgic video
MUMBAI — Shilpa Shetty took a trip down memory lane, sharing a nostalgic video reflecting on her work in the 1990s.
The actress posted a clip on social media featuring scenes from her early films, including “Baazigar,” “Prithvi,” and “Insaaf,” with a prompt that read, “Mom what were you doing in the 90s.”
“You didn’t see this coming… and won’t again. 90s nostalgia ‘hit’ different,” she wrote in the caption.
One of the standout moments in the video revisits “Baazigar,” where Shah Rukh Khan’s character pushes her off a rooftop, a scene from the film that became widely recognized.
Released in the early 1990s, “Baazigar” was a major commercial success and played a key role in Shah Rukh Khan’s rise, with its unconventional negative lead and popular soundtrack.
Shetty, who was among the prominent faces of 90s Bollywood, continues to remain active on social media, often sharing personal moments and throwbacks from her career.
Ranbir Kapoor calls playing Lord Rama a “humbling experience”
MUMBAI — Ranbir Kapoor described portraying Lord Rama in the upcoming epic “Ramayana” as a deeply humbling experience, highlighting the character’s rare sense of purity and simplicity.
“I don’t think I’m here to represent Rama. I’m here to learn from him. There is a simplicity and purity to him that is very rare; and trying to understand and imbibe that has been a deeply humbling experience,” he said.
The first look of Kapoor as Rama was unveiled on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, marking a key moment for the film, which is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra.
Tiwari said the story focuses on emotional depth beyond the traditional good-versus-evil narrative.
“Ramayana’s greatness lies in its emotional richness. At its heart, it is not just about good and evil, but about choices, consequences, and the weight of doing what is right,” he said.
The film, planned as a two-part franchise, also stars Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol, Lara Dutta, and Amitabh Bachchan, with music by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman.
Part one is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, followed by the second installment in 2027. (Source: IANS)
