Bollywood Roundup: Urvashi Rautela, Shilpa Shetty, Esha Deol, and more…

Urvashi Rautela Says ‘Inspector Avinash’ Demands Realism Over Glamour

MUMBAI, India — Urvashi Rautela says the new season of “Inspector Avinash” pushed her to move beyond glamour and focus on emotional honesty.

The actress, who is set to return as Poonam Mishra in the series, said the role required restraint and realism rather than visual perfection.

“Absolutely. I think every actor who genuinely wants to grow has to unlearn a certain level of performance vanity at some point. With glamour-oriented public perception, people often expect perfection in every frame, every expression, every moment,” Rautela said.

“But projects like Inspector Avinash demand emotional honesty more than visual perfection,” she added.

Rautela said she focused on being present in the role rather than trying to make every scene look polished.

“Real people in intense situations are not thinking about how they appear they are reacting, surviving, processing emotions. That realism was very important for me to understand as an actor,” she said.

She added that restraint can be harder than a more dramatic performance.

“I think restraint is actually far more difficult than dramatic performance. Silence, stillness, controlled emotions — they require a different kind of confidence. Sometimes doing less truthfully is much harder than doing more dramatically,” Rautela said.

The actress said the role was liberating because it allowed her to show vulnerability without constantly maintaining an image.

“Inspector Avinash,” led by Randeep Hooda, first aired in 2023. The series is based on true events and the life of Uttar Pradesh police officer Avinash Mishra, who was tasked with taking on crime in the state.

Rautela was last seen on the big screen in “Daaku Maharaaj.”

Shilpa Shetty Urges Women To Avoid Inverted Yoga Poses During Menstruation

MUMBAI, India — Shilpa Shetty is using her social media platform to promote mindful fitness, cautioning women to avoid certain yoga poses during menstruation.

The actress and fitness enthusiast shared a workout video in which she performed an advanced inverted yoga pose on a pink yoga mat. She said the posture can help improve flexibility, circulation and core strength, but also warned that it is not suitable for everyone.

“One pose closer to flexibility… physically and mentally,” Shetty wrote.

She said the pose may boost blood circulation to the brain, stimulate the thyroid and parathyroid glands, strengthen the neck, shoulders and core, help relieve stress and anxiety, improve digestion and support a natural facial glow.

Shetty also urged people to avoid the pose if they have high blood pressure, heart conditions, glaucoma, neck pain or a slipped disc. She added that women should avoid the practice during menstruation.

The “Dhadkan” actress, dressed in black activewear, demonstrated the move with control and precision.

Shetty recently marked National Exercise Day by sharing a workout montage featuring yoga, strength training and Pilates. In that post, she encouraged followers to stay consistent even when exercising feels difficult.

“Showing up doesn’t always look the same. Some days it’s easy, some days it’s the last thing you want to do… but it still counts..On National Exercise Day, just a small reminder to keep going. #SwasthRahoMastRaho #FitIndia,” she wrote.

Shetty has long promoted healthy eating, fitness and wellness through her public platform.

Esha Deol Says Her Favorite Room Includes Treadmill, Workspace and Photo of Dharmendra

MUMBAI, India — Esha Deol says her favorite corner of her home is a multi-purpose room where she works, meditates and spends time near a photograph of her father, Dharmendra.

The actress, who has recently moved into designing luxury spaces, spoke about her home during a media interaction.

“There is a room in my house. I call it the multi-purpose room. I have my treadmill there; I meditate. I also have a little desk there, where I work. It also has a huge photograph of dad (Dharmendra). So I spend a lot of time there,” Deol said.

The “Dhoom” and “No Entry” actress also said Dharmendra had a strong interest in design and landscapes, and that his encouragement helped shape her creative pursuits.

“Papa and I would spend hours, you know, discussing different landscapes, simple spaces and he would always say, ‘Lage raho bete, karte raho (keep going, give it your all), and those words I carry even today with me, which guide me. It was his faith in my creativity that gave me the courage to wholeheartedly pursue it today,” she said.

Deol said the logo for her newly launched brand also carries a personal connection to her father.

“The lantern in my logo was actually personally handcrafted by Papa. It was a gift he had given me. Yes, he loved doing all this. So, you know, it’s not just a symbol, it is his light that I carry forward,” she said.

Dharmendra, long known as Bollywood’s “He-Man,” died in November at age 89.

Kriti Kharbanda Injured During Vacation

MUMBAI, India — Kriti Kharbanda has revealed that she was injured while on vacation after tripping during her trip.

The actress shared the update on Instagram Stories, posting a photo of her bandaged leg. In another post, she showed an injured finger and wrote, “Everyone: How goes your holiday?..Me…”

Kharbanda did not disclose where she is vacationing or how serious the injuries are.

The “Pagalpanti” actress frequently shares personal updates on social media and is often seen supporting her husband, actor Pulkit Samrat.

Recently, she posted a video of herself hugging Samrat and wrote, “The most wonderful boy, Deserves the tightest hugs!”

Samrat reshared the post and wrote, “This hug calms the storms within!”

Kharbanda and Samrat met while working on the 2019 film “Pagalpanti.” They later began dating and married March 15, 2024, in an intimate ceremony in Manesar, Haryana.

Kharbanda also recently praised Samrat for his work in “Glory,” saying his preparation showed her the discipline required to play a sportsperson on screen.

Aishwarya Sakhuja Says Living With Type 1 Diabetes Is a Daily Battle

MUMBAI, India — Television actress Aishwarya Sakhuja has opened up about the challenges of living with type 1 diabetes, saying the condition requires constant discipline, planning and emotional strength.

Sakhuja shared a detailed note on social media about the realities of managing diabetes, stressing that it is far more complicated than avoiding sugar or taking insulin.

“Living with diabetes is not just about ‘avoiding sugar’ or taking insulin on time. It is a full time, invisible balancing act that most people never truly see. Every meal becomes a calculation. Every outing needs planning. Every low blood sugar feels urgent. Every high feels exhausting. Sleep gets interrupted, moods fluctuate, energy crashes happen, and sometimes your body feels like a science experiment you’re constantly trying to stabilize. And yet, people with diabetes wake up every single day and do it all over again,” she wrote.

The actress said insulin management is a demanding part of daily life for people with diabetes.

“Insulin is one of the most powerful and important hormones in the human body. It quite literally helps keep us alive by regulating how our cells use energy. Managing it manually through injections, pumps, carb counting, corrections, monitoring, and constant awareness is not a small task. It requires discipline, resilience, patience, and mental strength every single day. There are no days off from diabetes,” Sakhuja wrote.

She also urged people living with diabetes to give themselves credit for what they manage every day.

“So if you are someone managing diabetes, give yourself credit… Managing diabetes is not weakness. Managing insulin is not ‘just a routine.’ It is an act of survival, courage, and commitment to yourself every single day,” she wrote.

Sakhuja, a Miss India finalist in 2006, is known for television shows including “Saas Bina Sasural,” “Main Naa Bhoolungi,” “Trideviyaan,” “Rishta.com,” “Yeh Hai Chahatein” and “Zyada Mat Udd.” She has also appeared on “Nach Baliye 7” and “Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7.”

She was last seen on the film front in the 2019 comedy “Ujda Chaman.”

Arjun Kapoor Marks 14 Years in Bollywood With ‘Ishaqzaade’

MUMBAI, India — Arjun Kapoor is marking 14 years in Bollywood as his debut film, “Ishaqzaade,” completed another year since its release.

The actor shared sketches of some of his memorable scenes from the film on Instagram and said his character Parma still feels like the beginning of his journey in cinema.

“14 years later, Parma still feels like the beginning of everything. #Ishaqzaade was the start of my journey as an actor, in cinema and with all of you…And it continues,” Kapoor wrote.

Directed by Habib Faisal and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, “Ishaqzaade” starred Kapoor opposite Parineeti Chopra. The cast also included Gauahar Khan, Natasha Rastogi, Anil Rastogi and Shashank Khaitan.

Set in the fictional town of Almor in Uttar Pradesh, the romantic action drama followed Parma Chauhan and Zoya Qureshi, members of rival political families whose romance challenges deep social and religious divides.

The film marked Kapoor’s first major big-screen role and was Chopra’s second film after “Ladies vs Ricky Bahl.”

Kapoor was last seen in the romantic comedy “Mere Husband Ki Biwi,” alongside Rakul Preet Singh and Bhumi Pednekar. He also appeared as the main antagonist in Rohit Shetty’s “Singham Again,” a performance that drew praise.

Kubbra Sait Says Salman Khan’s Idea Helped Make Her ‘Ready’ Role Stand Out

MUMBAI, India — Kubbra Sait says a suggestion from Salman Khan helped turn her small role in “Ready” into a memorable part of her film career.

The actress, known for “Sacred Games,” “Gully Boy” and “Ready,” shared a video on Instagram in which she recalled auditioning for her first film, the Anees Bazmee-directed comedy starring Khan.

Sait said she had auditioned in a short black dress and waited nervously for Bazmee’s approval. She was cast as a maid and initially had no lines, but Khan suggested giving the character a comic touch by having her speak broken English.

“This audition is the audition where I wore, like, a short black dress and waited for Anees Bazmee to walk into the office and give me a nod of approval. This was an audition where I was now going to be playing a maid in the film ‘Ready’, and I am so excited about this,” Sait said.

She said the film was a new experience because she had never acted in a movie before and did not originally have dialogue.

“Also, did not actually have any lines in the film at all, but then, Salman Khan was like, ‘Why don’t you make her the maid who talks in broken language, like in broken English?’. And Anees sir really liked the idea and that’s why I have lines in the film,” she said.

Sait said people questioned her decision to take the role, but she believes it helped lead to bigger opportunities, including her breakout role as Kuku in “Sacred Games.”

“Every person told me I was mad, I was mental, and I was impatient for doing the role in ‘Ready’. But if I had not done ‘Ready’, if I were not mad enough to do ‘Ready’, I would have never been Kuku. Never say never. And there are no small roles. There are only small actors. One learning for the rest of your life,” she said.

Ananya Panday Shares Mother’s Day Moments With Bhavana Pandey

MUMBAI, India — Ananya Panday gave fans a playful look at her bond with her mother, Bhavana Pandey, while marking Mother’s Day.

The actress shared a series of photos from a family outing in New York City, featuring Bhavana, her father Chunky Pandey and her sister Rysa Panday.

“Mommy’s day everyday last photo is how I sit on my moms head 24/7,” Panday wrote.

Bhavana responded in the comments, writing, “Love you.”

The final image in the post showed a quirky New York street scene in which a dog was sitting on its owner’s head, a joke Ananya used to describe her own closeness with her mother.

Other photos showed Ananya posing outdoors with her mother and sister, lighting candles with Bhavana in what appeared to be a prayer space, and enjoying a dessert spread that included cookies, ice cream and pastries.

Panday made her Bollywood debut in “Student of the Year 2” and has since appeared in “Pati Patni Aur Woh,” “Gehraiyaan,” “Dream Girl 2” and “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.”

She will next be seen opposite Lakshya in “Chand Mera Dil,” backed by Karan Johar. The film is scheduled for release June 5. (Source: IANS)