Bollywood Roundup: Shilpa Shetty, Neena Gupta, Lara Dutta, and more…

Shilpa Shetty shares glimpse of Ram Navami ‘halwa puri’ tradition

MUMBAI — Shilpa Shetty gave fans a glimpse into her Ram Navami celebrations at home, sharing a photo of traditional festive food on social media.

Captioning the post “Halwa Puri #Tradition Happy Ram Navami,” the actress showcased a classic festive spread featuring chana, suji halwa, potato sabzi, and a plate of freshly made puris — staples of the occasion.

The image highlighted the rich culinary tradition associated with the festival, with each dish prepared in keeping with customary Ram Navami offerings.

Known for her strong connection to Indian traditions, Shilpa often celebrates festivals such as Navratri, Diwali, Ganpati, and Ram Navami with enthusiasm and devotion, frequently sharing moments from her celebrations with fans.

In recent months, she also visited the Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur, posting a photo of herself in a yellow saree holding a decorated offering plate. She had captioned the image, “#kolhapurlaxmitemple #blessed.”

The actress had earlier welcomed Sai Baba’s sacred Kafni and Paduka into her home as well, describing the moment as one of gratitude and divine grace.

Neena Gupta says younger co-stars help her stay updated on trends

MUMBAI — Veteran actress Neena Gupta said working with younger actors has helped her stay in touch with social media, fashion, language, and current music trends.

Sharing a video, she said, “I am working with young girls in a series and I get to learn so much from them. I get to know about today’s music, what is going on, things I don’t even know. What is fashion, what kind of language people use, how they think, how to use social media, I get to learn so much.”

She added that interacting with the younger generation has opened her up to new perspectives and helped her stay relevant in a constantly evolving industry.

Recalling advice from her late friend Mr Talwar, she said, “My friend Mr Talwar, who is no longer with us, once told me that when he was young, he lived with older people and learned from them. And when he grew older, he chose to live with the youth to learn from them. I realised how true that is.”

Gupta said the lesson stayed with her, and she now consciously embraces learning from younger people around her.

Known for her candid personality, the actress had earlier made headlines when she openly asked for work on social media, writing, “I live in Mumbai and am working, I am a good actor looking for good parts to play.” The post resonated widely, drawing praise for her honesty.

Neena Gupta is known for her performances in films such as “Badhaai Ho,” “Mulk,” and “Uunchai.” On the personal front, she is the mother of fashion designer Masaba Gupta and has often spoken about raising her as a single parent.

Lara Dutta logs 20,000 steps daily on Japan family trip

MUMBAI — Lara Dutta shared a glimpse of her recent family vacation to Japan, revealing that she, husband Mahesh Bhupathi, and their daughter walked around 20,000 steps each day during the trip.

Posting a video montage on social media, she wrote, “Did buy some Japani jootas for the 20k steps we did everyday! #japan.”

The montage opens with a bustling view of Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing at night, capturing the energy of the iconic intersection. Other clips show Lara with her family on neon-lit streets, along with candid moments crossing the famous junction, often described as the busiest in the world.

She also shared snapshots of desserts, including matcha soft serve, chocolate-drizzled ice cream, and green tea treats topped with red beans, highlighting the indulgent side of the trip. A serene shot of a traditional Japanese temple and cozy indoor family moments were also featured. The montage ends with Lara and her daughter smiling together.

On the personal front, Lara married former tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi in 2011, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Saira, in 2012.

Professionally, the former Miss Universe 2000 has appeared in films such as “No Entry,” “Partner,” “Bhagam Bhag,” and “Housefull.”

Twinkle Khanna shares how she spends downtime on shoots

MUMBAI — Twinkle Khanna gave fans a peek into how she uses her time between takes, sharing a mix of workouts, relaxation, and practical hacks on set.

Posting a video on social media, she showed herself using a staircase for exercise, practicing Bhramari breathing, singing, and even smoothing wrinkles from her clothes with a hairdryer.

“Things I do while I wait for a shoot to start: use the staircase as my gym, practice aggressive Bhramari, sing, scratch out lines, and use my hairdryer to remove creases from my clothes. What do you do when you are bored?” she wrote.

Twinkle, who is married to actor Akshay Kumar, met him during a magazine photo shoot. The couple married in 2001 and have two children, Aarav and Nitara.

On the film front, Akshay Kumar is preparing for the release of “Bhooth Bangla,” a horror comedy directed by Priyadarshan. The film also stars Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, and Mithila Palkar, and is set for release on April 10.

Akshay Kumar speaks out on menstrual awareness, urges men to be more understanding

MUMBAI — Akshay Kumar used his appearance on a quiz reality show to highlight the importance of menstrual awareness and encourage greater understanding and support for women.

Responding to a contestant’s comments about periods, the actor stressed the need for both men and women to be informed about menstrual health. Referring to his film “Pad Man,” he said that while the movie achieved its purpose, its message remains relevant and should continue to reach people.

He urged audiences of all ages to watch the film and understand menstrual hygiene, adding that it is especially important for men and young boys to recognize what women go through.

“Yeh samajhna bahut zaroori hai ki ek mahila un dinon mein kya sehti hai. Ladkiyon se zyada, aadmiyon ko yeh samajhna chahiye ki unhe unka khayal kaise rakhna hai,” he said.

The discussion began when a contestant spoke about the stigma surrounding menstruation in society, noting that the film helped reduce shame by bringing the topic into the mainstream.

“Sir, yeh aasaan nahi tha, kyunki hamare samaj mein isko lekar bahut sharam hoti hai. Aapne jab Pad Man kiya, tab bahut sharam kam hui, kyunki India ka sabse bada superstar aisi baatein openly kar raha hai. Is par film bani, jo gaon-gaon tak pahunchegi, toh yeh sharam bilkul khatam ho jaati hai. Aur hum chahte hain ki purush, mahilaon se zyada, is baat ko samjhein,” the contestant said.

In “Pad Man,” Akshay portrayed a progressive villager determined to improve menstrual hygiene for women, inspired by the challenges faced by his wife and others. The film also starred Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor. (Source: IANS)