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Los Angeles, April 3 (IANS) Hollywood actor James McAvoy has shared that California Schemin' was a demanding film, and it took a toll on him while making the film.

The actor said that directing California Schemin' was "a nightmare (he) wouldn't wish on (his) worst enemy", reports ‘Female First UK’.

The 46-year-old actor has stepped behind the camera for the first time for the new movie, which tells the true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N' Brains who pretended they were American to get their big break in the music industry, and confessed that he was shocked with the workload that came with juggling filmmaking with an acting role in the flick.

Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Claudia Winkleman Show’, James said, "I knew I wanted to make films about people from low-income backgrounds, council estates or schemes as we call them in Scotland. I wouldn't wish directing and acting on my worst enemy... it was a nightmare".

As per Female First UK’, the actor explained how he was often concentrating on instructing the cast when he was informed of problems such as a lack of Portaloos for the production crew.

The actor said, "You'd literally be sitting there trying to go, 'I need more love' or 'I need more comedy', and somebody is whispering your ear, 'We can't get the Portaloos for tomorrow’”.

The Atonement star previously discussed how California Schemin' was the ideal picture to make his directorial debut on because it centres on characters who have a similar "background" to him.

He told ‘Empire’ magazine, "I wanted to tell a story about people from a background like mine, that I recognised and understood. People with limited opportunities, near horizons and a kind of in-built humility. But I also wanted to (make) a film that was entertaining, still had emotional impact and still confronted the obstacles and the realities that people from that kind of low-income background face”.

He further mentioned, “Also, it's a film (in which) you have two people who have to confront this thing that Scottish people do quite a lot, which is the reaction we get – from people who are not from Scotland, when the noise that comes out of our mouth lands in the other person's ears. I'm totally aware that, as a white, Northern European male, that discrimination isn't necessarily the worst discrimination in the world. But it is something that people in Scotland face. Like, my accent is so f****** mellow now. I do not sound how I sounded when I lived on a council estate in Glasgow. And I still get people that go like, 'I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Would you slow down?'".

Despite the stress involved, James revealed that he ultimately enjoyed the experience of directing a film.

"It was incredibly stressful. The most stressful experience of my life, and I did it at my midlife-crisis time of life as well. Am I directing a film because I'm having a midlife crisis? Maybe. But I love doing it”, he added.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, April 3 (IANS) Telugu star Sai Durgha Tej's next film is to be directed by director duo Sujith and Sandeep, best known for having directed the fantasy thriller 'KA'.

The film, which is being tentatively referred to as #SDT19, is to be produced by Sahu Garapati, under the banner of Shine Screens, a production house that has consistently delivered successful and impactful films.

On Friday, Shine Screens took to its social media timelines to make the announcement. It wrote, "Secrets of the ages…Power beyond imagination. A new mythic force rises. Proudly presenting #SDT19. Starring Mega Supreme Hero @IamSaiDharamTej, directed by visionary duo @Dir_Sujith & @Dir_SandeepM. #CosmicChronicles."

Actor Sai Durgha Tej too took to his X timeline on Friday to announce the project. He wrote, "Secrets of the Ages… Power beyond imagination. Stepping into something truly powerful… Excited to be part of this journey with the dynamic directors @Dir_Sujith & @Dir_SandeepM and Passionate Producer @Sahugarapati7 anna.#SDT19 #CosmicChronicles @Shine_Screens @VijayaDurgaProd."

Headlined by Mega Supreme Hero Sai Durgha Tej, the film, which is tentatively being referred to as #SDT19, marks a powerful and promising phase in his career. Known for exploring unique and rooted concepts, the actor now steps into a world that promises secrets of the ages and power beyond imagination, as teased by the first poster.

Sources close to the unit say that with #SDT19, directors Sujith and Sandeep have scaled up their vision significantly and are now looking to venture into a space that blends mythic sci-fi and high-octane storytelling.

The announcement poster itself reflects an ambitious cinematic world, suggesting a film that aims to deliver both visual grandeur and immersive narrative depth.

The poster, featuring a lone warrior standing before a massive celestial formation, hints at a story that is both epic in scale and rich in imagination. Sources claim that with a strong creative vision, a powerhouse performer at the forefront, and a proven production house backing it, #SDT19 is shaping up to be a high-concept cinematic experience.

--IANS

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Los Angeles, April 2 (IANS) Actress-singer Keke Palmer has said that she "knew something was wrong" when a stranger proposed because she could see the ring was "expensive".

The ‘Nope’ actress was sitting on a ‘Baby, This Is Keke Palmer Live’ panel at the SXSW Festival last month when a man from the audience got down on one knee to ask her to marry him and she could quickly tell it wasn't just a prank, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Speaking on the Decisions, Decisions podcast, she explained, "This is how I knew that something was wrong because the ring was nice. It wasn't like no Cracker Jack ring. "I'm serious, the ring looked expensive. It looked expensive”.

She further mentioned, “That's when I knew something was up. That's when I was like 'is this a joke' because it was so sincere. I could see in his eyes that we've had romance. We had a lifetime in this man's eyes”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, Keke thought the man genuinely believed it was finally time to propose, even though they didn't know each other.

She said, "So then I was like, 'Okay, sir, no, I cannot marry you, I cannot marry you, sir’. And then that's when I knew when he started looking back to the people and he was like, 'She wants to say yes. Help her say yes’. And I was just like, 'Oh, no'”.

The ‘Nope’ actress focused on being "careful" about how she rejected the man, who she said looked like a "pretty together guy", and only got nervous about the fact it could have been a dangerous situation afterwards.

She said, "This is nothing to play with. And that's why I just started feeling sad because I was thinking to myself, 'man, this guy is in a really bad way, man’”.

Despite Keke's public profile, she hopes people can understand she is "only human".

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Actress Ssara Khan, who predominantly works in television, has shared that she got the idea for her special song ‘Qubool Hai se Sath Phere Tak’ through a hashtag.

With ‘Qubool Hai se Sath Phere Tak’, she brings a very unique and personal concept to life. Instead of a typical music video, Ssara and her husband Krishh turned their real wedding moments into a heartfelt musical journey, beautifully capturing love, emotions, traditions, and memories.

Talking about the song, Ssara said, “The idea of this beautiful song came to us through a hashtag. While we were posting our wedding pictures and reels, we created the hashtag ‘Qubool Hai se Sath Phere Tak’. Right then and there, I decided to create the entire song around it, and I made this. The composition is also a feeling, it just came out naturally. The lyrics, each and every word, I truly mean for Krishh. As much as I have seen his love for me, whatever I have felt from him, I tried to write it down in this song. This song is very special and equally important for us. This song is a new beginning of my life. I have started a new phase through this, from ‘Qubool Hai se Sath Phere Tak’. This will always be the most special and closest-to-my-heart song”.

Every detail, from the composition to the lyrics, reflects real emotions and her personal experience. The song highlights the beauty of two cultures coming together, showing how love grows stronger with acceptance and understanding.

She further mentioned, “I have very special memories of traditions and different rituals. Observing everything and converting those feelings into words is a difficult task, but you have to go into a different zone for it. Writers can relate to this. During our wedding, I was observing all the little things, and that’s how I curated the entire song. The hook line ‘Qubool Hai se Sath Phere Tak’ is the emotion of this song. These moments can’t really be explained in words, but this beautiful song can surely bring smiles. For both of us, it was a win as our families wholeheartedly accepted us. We both were happy, and we never stopped any rituals. Whatever they wanted for their kids, we respected it”.

“We both carried our roles perfectly. These moments are very special in weddings. All the lines and the whole song are close to our hearts. Love is love, and adapting to all cultures and traditions is beautiful”, she added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Actor Rajpal Yadav says he has marked a special milestone in his career, completing a “half-century” of collaborations with filmmakers Ram Gopal Varma, David Dhawan and Priyadarshan.

Rajpal was seen speaking to filmmaker Farah Khan’s Youtube Vlog, where they were seen discussing about films and gorging on mixed veg rice.

Farah first shared that Rajpal is doing a film titled 100 with her brother Sajid Khan

Rajpal said: “And the best part is that many times our shoots almost happened together but didn’t, yet we’ve been friends for so many years. Your show had gone to Birmingham in 1997–98… my association with Sajid and Suresh Menon dates back to then.”

Farah then shared that Rajpal and her first worked together in the 1999 film “Mast”, which marked the debut of Aftab Shivdasani.

“We did our first song in Ram Gopal Varma’s Mast. In Mast, he was playing a waiter. And he used to get scolded the most,” Farah said.

To which Rajpal said that getting scolded by Farah Khan is auspicious, as people become stars after it.

“I did my first song with you, and I had never even thought of doing songs. That was truly an amazing time,” Rajpal added.

Farah recalled that they worked together next in the Salman Khan-starrer “Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya”.

Rajpal responed saying that in that too she made him dance with crutches on.

Asked if he agrees he is Ram Gopal Varma’s discovery, to which he said: “100 percent”.

“Ramu has also discovered such gems,” added Farah.

“Ramu brought me out of the ‘villain jungle’… Just think, on one side, Hrithik was receiving the Best Actor award for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, and Rakesh Roshan was getting Best Director, while on the other side, Rajpal was receiving Best Negative Character.”

He added: “Since then, the industry has given me so much that even if I had 500 births, it wouldn’t be enough to repay it. With every new release, I feel grateful.”

Farah asked if he has done 100 films with Priyadarshan.

“Now, I’ve completed a half-century with these three—Ram Gopal Varma, David Dhawan and Priyadarshan.”

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) The teaser of the Gujarati film, ‘Dhabkaaro’ was unveiled on Friday. It gives a glimpse into the film’s world, introducing Aarjav Trivedi and Deven Bhojani in their characters. While Aarjav brings a grounded presence, Deven’s character stands out with a layered portrayal that hints at two contrasting sides.

The teaser keeps things intriguing, offering just enough to spark curiosity about the story and its emotional depth.

The film is directed by the National Award-winning filmmaker Abhishek Shah, who is known for ‘Hellaro’ and ‘Umbarro'. ‘Dhabkaaro’ promises a rooted, relatable, and emotionally engaging story that promises to connect with audiences across regions.

The film marks the first Gujarati film for Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment on their journey of 75 years.

Produced by Yatin Panchasara, Kandisa Panchasara, Amar Desai, Jayminn Patell, Aayush Patel, Abhishek Shah, Mit Jani, and Prateek Gupta, with Dipti Dinesh Jindal serving as the associate producer. The film is written and directed by Abhishek Shah.

The film is set to release in theatres on Gujarat Divas on May 1, 2026.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Shah, the director of the film, gained widespread recognition for his debut feature ‘Hellaro’, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 66th National Film Awards. The film, set against the backdrop of rural Kutch, explored themes of patriarchy, gender roles, and female expression through the folk dance Garba. It was noted for its ensemble cast, rooted storytelling, and strong cultural context. Before entering feature filmmaking, Shah was involved in theatre and advertising, which contributed to his narrative style and visual sensibility.

‘Hellaro’ was also recognized for reviving interest in Gujarati cinema on a national scale, bringing regional storytelling into mainstream discussion. The film’s critical and commercial reception helped position Shah as a significant voice in contemporary regional filmmaking.

His work reflects an emphasis on authenticity, ensemble performances, and locally rooted narratives rather than formula-driven storytelling. His National Award win established him early as a filmmaker of credibility and influence within India’s regional film landscape.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Hollywood star Daniel Radcliffe doesn't think his younger self would recognise the person he is today because of the happiness he has found.

Speaking on a panel discussion with Project Healthy Minds after a performance of his Broadway play Every Brilliant Thing, the 36-year-old actor, said: "There have been times in my life when I have been deeply unhappy, particularly when I was much younger.

"I spent today with my 3-year-old son walking along the street, with him just holding my hand and being gorgeous and fun and silly — and I'm so happy. If you showed (current photos) to me when I was 20, I would not have recognised myself.

“There is such potential for profound happiness in the future, even if it's not where you are right now. It's always worth giving the future a chance to prove you wrong.”

Every Brilliant Thing centres on depression and mental health struggles, and Daniel feels privileged to be part of the production, particularly because of its interaction with the audience, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

He said: “It's the most profound, meaningful show I have ever done. The chance to connect with people about (mental health] is really rare. As a performer in this show, you get such an amazing view of how brilliant and kind people can be.

“It's so special and unique. I get to meet a bunch of people before we even start, have a little chat, and then come back to those people throughout the show. I think being able to care about an audience in this way is something I'll never get again.”

Daniel previously admitted his son had been a big incentive for him to quit smoking.

He told Vulture: "I have just quit smoking — not 'just' anymore, but I'm going to talk about it, because I would like to mention this book to anybody who's interested in quitting smoking.

"I smoked for 20 years pretty heavily, and I was never even thinking about quitting, and then shortly after having my son, the intrusive thoughts of my own death really helped as an incentive to quit.

"I was given this book that I had been told about many, many years ago called The Easy Way to Quit Smoking, by Alan Carr. It may not work for everybody, but it really worked for me."

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 3 (IANS) Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor gave fans a glimpse into an adorable celebration as she marked the 15th birthday of her pet dog Shyloh.

The actress shared a series of adorable pictures on her social media account.

The first picture shows a specially made cake placed in a box, decorated with colourful sprinkles and a “Happy Birthday” topper, with “Shyloh” written across it.

Her furry black canine is seen curiously peeking up at the cake from below.

Another picture captures Shraddha sharing an endearing moment with Shyloh, as the dog affectionately licks her cheek while she smiles.

In a similar frame, the actress leans in close to her pet, highlighting their bond.

In another picture, her other pet dogs are seen gathered around the cake.

The last picture from the series of clicks, captures Shraddha feeding small bites of the treat to the pets, with the caption “Bacha party,” indicating that it was a mini celebration for all her furry companions.

On the professional front, Shraddha Kapoor made her Bollywood debut with Teen Patti and rose to fame with Aashiqui 2.

The actress went on to star in many successful films including Ek Villain, ABCD 2, Baaghi, Stree, and Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar.

She was last seen in Stree 2. The actress is now geared up for her upcoming projects including Naagin and Eetha.

A few weeks ago, Shraddha Kapoor and actor Randeep Hooda concluded the shoot for the Pune schedule of their upcoming film “Eetha”.

The end of the Pune leg was marked with a celebratory cake-cutting on set, attended by the cast and crew.

Director Laxman Utekar was seen present along with members of the production team as filming for this portion concluded.

A video of the celebratory moment was captured on the sets of the film.

Talking about the movie Eetha, it is based on the life of one of India’s earliest Tamasha/Lavni dancers, bringing to the fore a powerful, culturally rooted story.

–IANS

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Chennai, April 3 (IANS) The makers of director D D Balachandran's upcoming film 'Lenin Pandiyan', which incidentally also happens to be the debut film of Dhaarshan, a grandson of the legendary Tamil actor Sivaji Ganeshan, on Friday revealed that actress Shrrita Rao plays the female lead and that her character in the film is called Priya.

Taking to their social media timelines, the makers released the first look poster of the actress and wrote, "Shrrita as Priya, heroine of Lenin Pandiyan. #லெனின்பாண்டியன் #LeninPandiyan. An Isaignani @ilaiyaraaja Musical. Written & Directed by @ddb2411."

The film has caught the attention of film buffs and critics for a number of reasons.

Firstly, Sivaji Ganesan's grandson Daarshan is to make his acting debut with this film. Sources claim that Daarshan plays a police officer in the film, which will also feature actor and music director Ganga Amaran as one of the leads. Incidentally, Gangai Amaran is also Ilaiyaraaja's younger brother.

The film will also feature actress Roja, who will be making a return to the big screen after several years. Sources point out that shooting for the film has been completed and that the film is gearing up for release.

The film has triggered huge interest among fans as it is being produced by Sathya Jyothi Films, one of the most respected production houses in Tamil cinema.

In fact, 'Lenin Pandiyan' will mark the reunion of veteran producer T G Thyagarajan and music director Ilaiyaraaja after a gap of almost 32 years. The duo have together delivered several superhits and blockbusters in the past, including some of those films that are considered cult classics in Tamil cinema.

Sources close to the unit say that Ilaiyaraaja has worked in at least 20 films produced by Thyagarajan in the past including the classics 'Moondram Pirai', 'Thanga Magan', 'Kakki Sattai', 'Pagal Nilavu', 'Kadhal Parisu', 'Kizhakku Vasal', 'Panakkaran' and 'Idhayam'.

With the successful duo coming together again for Lenin Pandiyan, expectations from the film have shot up.

Sources say that the film will be a compelling story that will look to showcase the lifestyle of our villages and shine the light on the social realities prevalent there.

On the technical front, Lenin Pandiyan will have cinematography by A Edwin Sakai and art direction by Adhuri Jayakumar. Editing for the film will be by Nagooran Ramachandran and stunts in the film have been choreographed by Thalapathy Dinesh.

--IANS

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Chennai, April 3 (IANS) Dennis Manjunath, the director of 'Manithan Deivamagalam', has now disclosed how ace director Selvaraghavan, who plays the lead in his film, chose to continue shooting for a sequence in the film, despite running a high temperature.

Participating in the trailer launch event of the film, director Dennis Manjunath chose to narrate an incident that had happened on the sets of the film to highlight the level of dedication Selvaraghavan had shown towards the film.

He said, "I would like to share a small incident that happened on the sets of the film. We were shooting an important scene at night with a big setup. The shot would have Selvaraghavan sir searching, holding a torch. Shooting was supposed to happen from 6 to 2 AM. Selvaraghavan sir was already running a temperature. The weather was very cold, and the duration of the shoot kept increasing. It became 3 in the morning and then went onto 4 AM. By then, he was unable to work."

The director continued,"Selvaraghavan sir said, 'We'll complete this later' and walked a few steps. However, I don't know what he thought, but he returned within a minute and said, 'Let us finish this scene and then leave.' He probably didn't want the flow of the scene to be disturbed or cause any inconvenience to the producer. He completed the scene then and there. That moment taught me a lot about dedication and what it means to be a true artiste."

The director went on to thank his entire cast and crew for their support to him during the making of the film. He said, "My sincere thanks go to every single person who worked on this film. While writing this story, I kept thinking, usually a film has a hero and a villain. But in life, everything has an opposite: day and night, shadow and reality, joy and pain. I wanted to bring all these dimensions into one story. So, for the role of the protagonist, I chose Selvaraghavan sir, and for the strong antagonist role, I chose Mime Gopi sir. When I narrated the story, Mime Gopi sir said, ‘I will do anything for you.’ I am truly grateful for that trust and affection. I believe this role will be a new experience for him."

--IANS

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