Priyanka, Nick are completely doting parents, says Madhu Chopra
Mumbai– Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ mother Madhu Chopra has spoken about smart parenting and heaped praise on her actress-daughter and her son-in-law Nick Jonas by calling them “doting parents” to their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Madhu believes that parents should adopt the approach of smart parenting.
“Smart parents have the ability to discern and wisely choose what lessons to derive from their own upbringing. New parents who possess this discernment can make thoughtful decisions about which values to adopt from their parents. I believe I was one of the smart ones,” Madhu said.
Admiring the seamless parenting partnership between Priyanka and Nick, she added: “Both are completely doting parents; I don’t see a division of line of anything between them. Where Priyanka leaves off, Nick picks up and where he leaves off, she picks up.”
“The conversations are free-flowing. I love this about them,” she said on Coto, a safe online space that encourages women to speak freely.
Sarah Khan: Wanted to play Gulbano as soon as I heard the story
Mumbai– Pakistani actress Sarah Khan, who plays the character of Gulbano in the show ‘Abdullahpur Ka Devdas’ has shared insights into working on a unique script, saying the series is a spin to the idea of love stories in the most heart-breaking but relatable way.
The Urdu drama of 2024 is set to release on Indian TV this month. Directed by Anjum Shahzad and written by Shahid Dogar, this 13-episode show promises a captivating blend of love, friendship, and poetic drama.
Set in a small town, ‘Abdullahpur Ka Devdas’ is the coming-of-age story of Fakhar, played by Bilal Abbas, and Kashif, played by Raza Talish– two best friends unknowingly in love with the same woman, Gulbano, essayed by Sarah.
However, Gulbano’s fantasies have been captured by an anonymous poet named Devdas. As the plot progresses, Kashif reveals himself to be Devdas, becoming the object of Gulbano’s desire. Unbeknown to her, the true Devdas is Fakhar.
Talking about the show, Sarah said: “Abdullahpur Ka Devdas introduces a spin to the idea of love stories in the most heart-breaking but relatable way. It was a wonderful experience working with such talented people on a unique script. I knew I wanted to play Gulbano as soon as I heard the story in the first meeting.”
“Working with Shahzad Nawaz, Saweera Nadeem, Bilal Abbas and the rest of the cast is a dream come true moment for any actor. The director, Anjum Shahzad, worked on every miniscule aspect of the show that made me want to portray Gulbano at the maximum capacity,” added the ‘Wabaal’ actress.
‘Abdullapur Ka Devdas’ is a classic story of love and how a person truly in love can cross all boundaries, even if that means sacrificing their love. This heartfelt story is a power package of love, friendship, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Raza, who plays Kashif, said: “The whole cast and crews belief in the project reflected the immaculately knit story. This made the filming journey both realistic whilst profound. This story makes us yearn for more such stories, and I am glad that I have been a part of this creative piece.”
Director Anjum shared: “Abdullahpur Ka Devdas is more than just a love story, it’s a roller coaster ride of human emotions. Love and Devdas are two sides of the same coin. Whether it’s the classic Devdas or the modern Abdullahpur ka Devdas, true love is at the heart of both stories.”
Talking about Abdullapur Ka Devdas’s release on Zindagi, producer Shailja Kejriwal said: “The story unfolds in a small town Abdullahpur, seamlessly intertwining passion, heartbreak, and unexpected twists, revealing the intricate web of relationships. Abdullahpur Ka Devdas delves into the human heart, showcasing how love’s highs can also bring unexpected turns and deceit.”
It will air from February 26 on Zindagi.
Ananya Panday dives into ‘Superheroes’-inspired collection at Paris Fashion Week
Mumbai– Actress Ananya Panday, who had recently walked the ramp at the Paris Fashion Week, has shared some new pictures from her international runway debut, and spoke about the idea behind the ‘superheroes’ collection that she represented at the show.
The actress had turned showstopper for designer Rahul Mishra at the Paris Haute Couture Week 2024. She became the youngest Bollywood actor to walk the ramp. However, it was her attire that left people talking on the internet.
Taking to Instagram, Ananya shared a bunch of photos, wherein she can be seen dressed in a distinct outfit, a dragonfly top which stood out as extraordinary. She paired it with a velvet black skirt. Her hair is neatly tied and the diva opted for a minimal makeup look.
The post is captioned: “This was such a moment! Walking for @rahulmishra_7 at Paris Couture Week I loved the idea behind his collection ‘SUPERHEROES’ which draws attention to the nuances of sharing life with species of insects and reptiles that inhabit the environment with us.”
“In pursuit of building our lives on the planet, we may have taken over their habitats and driven them to extinction,” she added.
Ananya had also walked the Paris Fashion Week wearing a butterfly-inspired black mini dress. She carried a giant sieve decorated with butterfly motifs. The sieve was seemingly attached to the dress underneath. She rounded up her look with a sleek hair bun and black high heels.
Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress will be next seen in a cyber-thriller ‘Control’, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. She also has ‘Call My Bae’ and Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Shankara’ in the pipeline.
Ananya last featured in the coming-of-age drama ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, co-starring Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Adarsh Gourav.
Rasika Dugal: Working on an improvised film is an actor’s delight
Mumbai– Actress Rasika Dugal, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film ‘Fairy Folk’, feels that working on an improvised film brings absolute delight to an actor as they get to push the envelope of their craft.
‘Fairy Folk’, which is an evocative film about human relationships, garnered a lot of positive response at the Sydney Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival, MAMI Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The film also stars Rasika’s husband, Mukul Chadda, and has been directed by Karan Gour.
Sharing her opinion, the actress said in a statement: “Working on an improvised film is an actor’s delight. This style of shooting gave us the room to explore the many odd things that people do and say when they find themselves in unprecedented situations, the beautiful oddities that sometimes get lost in the need to write a ‘logical’ script. It was so much fun to play off skilled improvisers. This is the kind of film which is a must-have in the life of an actor.”
The makers of the film recently launched a new trailer and poster of the film that delves deep into the complexities of human relationships in a way that blurs the line between the real and the imagined.
For Mukul Chadda, the film is very different from any other film he has worked on. He said: “First, in terms of its narrative which brilliantly uses magical realism to tell a very grounded story of relationships and desire that is both funny and tragic. And second, Karan’s improvised way of filmmaking made it both challenging and fun to work on this. I wish more films are made like this.”
‘Fairy Folk’ probes diverse facets of life with elements of magical realism. It scrutinises the pursuit for identity, explores the reasons humans are drawn to one another and probes the layered nuances of love with a gaze that is both incisive and empathetic.
Karan Gour said: “Whenever I am asked to describe ‘Fairy Folk’, I say that it is a fairytale of sorts but not in a literal sense. While there is an element of magic, it’s grounded in the real world, which I feel gives it a universal appeal. As we prepare for the film’s theatrical release, I do hope people will come in large numbers to experience what we have created.”
Produced collaboratively by Empatheia Films, Annukampa Harsh’s Balawala Cinema, and Timbuktu Films, which is backed by actors Nakuul Mehta, Alekh Sangal, and filmmaker Ajay Singh, ‘Fairy Folk’ is set to have its theatrical release in India on March 1. (IANS)
