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Mumbai, June 13 (IANS) When Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan graced "The Kapil Sharma" show together to promote their 2020 laughter ride, "Coolie No. 1", Varun revealed how he first met Sara as a young girl when she was just around 15 years old.

Varun was heard sharing the tale in his own words, saying, "My film 'Student Of The Year' had already been released, and I had gone to the gym. A young specs-clad girl was running everywhere while on her phone. I was entering the lift, and she was exiting it, but then she took a sudden U-turn and came back into the lift. She called someone while staring at me, and laughing at the same time. I don't know exactly what she was trying to do."

Varun recalled thinking, "Who is this girl talking to?", given that there is no network in lifts.

Then Sara started silently following Varun as he came out of the lift.

When host Kapil Sharma asked Sara whom she was talking to, she confessed that she just needed to pretend to do something while she was stalking Varun.

Speaking about "Coolie No. 1", the movie has been made under the direction of David Dhawan with Vashu Bhagnani producing it under his home banner, Pooja Entertainment.

The movie is a reboot of David Dhawan's own 1995 outing of the same name, starring Govinda and Karisma Kapoor.

Interestingly, the film itself was a remake of the 1993 Tamil drama "Chinna Mapillai".

"Coolie No. 1" marked Varun and Sara's first on -screen pairing, and these two have yet to work together on a project since.

Meanwhile, recently, Varun was seen leading another David Dhawan directorial, "Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai", with Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde as the leading ladies.

The film, which is assumed to be David Dhawan's last directorial film before his retirement, reached the movie buffs on June 5 this year.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 13 (IANS) Television actress Rashami Desai went back in time to talk to her younger self as she said that “little Rashmi” never knew where destiny would lead her, she always carried her sparkle.

Rashami, who made her Hindi television debut with Raavan in 2006, shared a string of sepia-hued photographs from her childhood days all dolled up in style.

Expressing gratitude for every lesson, struggle, and blessing along the way, the actress, who shot to fame by playing the character of Tapasya in the 2000s show “Uttaran”, celebrated the experiences that shaped her into who she is today.

“Little Rashmi didn’t know where life would take her, but she carried the sparkle anyway. Grateful for every lesson, every struggle, and every blessing along the way,” wrote Rashami, who got eyeballs glued to the screen with her stint in the reality show “Bigg Boss 13”, in Instagram’s caption section.

She was also seen in shows such as Pari Hoon Main, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 6, Zara Nachke Dikha 2 and Nach Baliye 7, and did a special appearance in the Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg 2.

The 40-year-old actress was last seen in “Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey” based on characters created by cartoonist R. K. Laxman, especially The Common Man, and about the everyday issues experienced by the average middle-class Indian man.

Earlier in May, the actress, who made a name in the world of plays with Mrs Mara Online Che, had spoken to IANS about how theatre talents don’t get their due on time and don’t need “somebody else's validation”.

She said that theatre is the most underrated medium that actors all do.

“A theatre actor works really hard. They don't get their dues on time. And the kind of fun they have, they have a small family, and they're happy with that. They don't need somebody else's validation. They don't need anybody to tell them, ‘Okay, do this, do that,’” Rashami told IANS.

She added: “And if they're making any mistake, if there is any kind of failure, other people are ready to hold their hand and say, ‘Okay, this too shall pass.’ So, yeah, there's always a new beginning, and theatre is the best medium to learn that. But they deserve more respect, and people should know more about theatre and theatre actors.”

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 13 (IANS) Did you know beloved comedian and actor Johnny Lever once pranked Anil Kapoor, leaving the 'Animal' actor absolutely nervous.

During his appearance on "The Kapil Sharma Show", when host Kapil Sharma asked the comedian if he had ever pranked anyone on the phone, he revealed that during the shoot of their movie "Teazab", he once called Anil Kapoor pretending to be veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha.

He said to Anil Kapoor on the call, "Anil, how are you? All good, where are you? Let's meet in the evening. Oh, so you have come to shoot for 'Tezaab', very good, very good. Let's meet in the evening."

Meanwhile, a nervous Anil Kapoor was only replying with, "Yes sir, yes sir".

Seeing the 'Mr India' actor in such a state, Johnny Lever could not help but laugh.

At the end, he finally revealed to Anil Kapoor that he was not speaking to Shatrughan Sinha, but Johnny Lever, leaving the 'Subedaar' actor extremely annoyed.

Made under the direction of N. Chandra, "Tezaab" starred Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in the lead. Additionally, Anupam Kher, Chunky Panday, Aruna Irani, Suparna Anand, Kiran Kumar, Annu Kapoor, Suresh Oberoi, and Tej Sapru also essayed ancillary roles in the drama.

The music for the romantic entertainer has been scored by the acclaimed composer duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal.

Released in the theatres on 11 November 1988, "Tezaab" turned out to be the highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Up next, Anil Kapoor will be seen playing an important role in the eagerly awaited spy thriller "Alpha", co-starring Alia Bhatt, Bobby Deol, and Sharvari. Billed as the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe, the project is being made under the direction of Shiv Rawail.

In addition to "Alpha", Anil Kapoor has also been roped in for Shah Rukh Khan's "King," which will be helmed by Siddharth Anand.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 13 (IANS) Hollywood’s action icon Tom Cruise has expressed gratitude to legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg for the cinematic memories he has created in a career spanning over five decades. He went on to congratulate his "dear friend" Emily Blunt and the entire team behind the latest release, "Disclosure Day.”

Cruise shared two photographs from a packed theatre, which was playing “Disclosure Day”, a science fiction thriller, which also stars Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo.

Cruise wrote in the caption section of Instagram about the film: “Nothing better than a summer Spielberg movie night in a packed theater with friends! Steven thank you for all of the hours of joy that you have given us in the cinema!! It has been a great honor and pleasure to have worked with you and to call you my friend.”

“Congratulations to my dear friend Emily and the entire group of artists that created this movie. You were superb. We all loved Disclosure Day!!”

As per the synopsis, the film follows a meteorologist and a cybersecurity expert, who find themselves at the middle of a movement to expose the government's cover-up of extraterrestrial secrets.

Talking about Cruise, he will next be seen in “Digger,” Alejandro G. Inarritu. He will be seen playing the character of Digger Rockwell, the most powerful man in the world.

Cruise will be seen sharing screenspace with names such as Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed and Emma D’Arcy.

The plot is still under wraps. However, the upcoming film's logline describes Cruise’s character as “the most powerful man in the world” who “embarks on a frantic mission to prove that he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.”

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) Actress Karisma Kapoor remembered her former husband, Sunjay Kapur, on his first death anniversary on Friday with a concise yet meaningful post on social media.

The 'Dil To Pagal Hai' actress took to the Stories section of her official Instagram handle and wrote a simple message. Karisma posted the date, "12/6/2025", along with the words, "Sunjay in our hearts forever (sic)". Her post further included folded hands, a white heart, and a dove emoji.

The post comes amidst the ongoing legal battle between Karisma's children, his widow Priya Sachdev Kapur, his mother Rani Kapur and other members of the Kapur family over the 30,000 crore estate left behind by the businessman.

Meanwhile, Priya Sachdev also shared an emotional post for her late husband on social media that read, “A year has passed since you left, yet your presence continues to guide us every single day. You never believed in standing still. You embraced life with energy, curiosity and conviction, inspiring those around you to dream bigger, work harder and give more of themselves."

"You remain deeply loved and forever remembered in the values you lived by, the lives you touched and the love you gave so generously. Your love remains our strength. Your memory remains our blessing," she added.

Sanjay Kapur passed away in England. He allegedly swallowed a bee while playing polo and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Karisma had attended Sunjay Kapoor’s last rites in Delhi with her children, Samaira and Kiaan. Sister and brother-in-law, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan, had also accompanied her.

Karisma got married to Sunjay Kapur on September 29, 2003, in a Sikh ceremony. However, the couple filed for divorce through mutual consent in 2014, and their divorce was finalised in 2016.

In 2016, Karisma had filed a domestic violence case against Sunjay Kapoor and his mother.

The couple has a daughter, Samaira, and a son, Kiaan.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) Kangana Ranaut fronted "Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata" reached the audience on Friday.

Marking the occasion, Kangana, producer Dr Jayantilal Gada, and Hon’ble CM of Rajasthan, Bhajanlal Sharma, honoured many real-life heroes from Rajasthan with a badge of honour for their relentless work for the country during a special screening in Jaipur.

Expressing her gratitude to the Chief Minister for attending the screening, Kangana said, “On behalf of the cast and crew of Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, I would like to welcome Hon’ble Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy CM Diya Kumari. It is a very special day, today, and I will let my film do the talking."

"There are a lot of unsung and unseen heroes who silently help run this country. Today, we will also be honouring such heroes from Jaipur," added the 'Queen' actress.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajanlal Sharma, also went on to share his views on "Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata," saying “Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata is a film about those unseen heroes who have nothing but love for the country. I am happy that Kangana Ranaut has brought this film about people who dedicate their whole life to serving the country and the people, regardless of the situation."

Reminding everyone of the COVID days, the CM added, "We all believe in our country first, and those who have that love and affection towards the nation, will always continue to serve the society silently. Even when the nation was battling with Covid-19, we all were at home, but the youth and our healthcare warriors were out serving people. The film talks about the same feeling of empathy and compassion and there is a lot that you can learn from Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata.”

Presented by Dr. Jayantilal Gada (PEN Studios), and produced by PEN Studios, Manikarnika Films, and Paramhans Creations, "Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata" also stars Girija Oak, Smita Tambe, Amrutha Namdev, Esha Dey, Priya Berde, Asha Shelar, Suhita Thatte, Rasika Aghase, Aditya Mishra, and Zahid Khan in key roles.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) Veteran actor Anil Kapoor is all set to host Star Plus's latest show "India Ke Top 1%".

On Friday, the makers shared the exciting promo of the upcoming show on social media, along with the caption, "Sirf kitaabi gyaan nahi, tez soch ka bhi hoga kamaal! Ek aisa show jahan aapki knowledge aur intelligence banegi aapki pehchaan. (sic)"

What makes this show a bit different is that, unlike others, it will not test the memory of the contestants, but will focus on their logical reasoning, common sense, and mental agility.

Revealing what made him connect to the "India Ke Top 1%", Anil Kapoor shared, "I have always believed that India is a nation driven by raw instinct, unmatched observation, and incredible street-smartness. Walk down any street in our country, and you will find people who can outsmart anyone under the sun, not because they memorized an encyclopedia, but because their brainpower is sharpened by life experiences."

The 'Animal' actor said that in India, people take a lot of pride in being 'jugadu'.

"It is our ultimate superpower that makes Indians everywhere the top 1% of their fields. That's why when I saw the format of "India ke top 1%", it instantly clicked with me. This isn’t a show that asks you which year so-and-so treaty was signed; it gauges how efficiently your mind can function under pressure using pure logic and common sense. It completely levels the playing field," explained Anil.

He further added, "I am thrilled to host the show on Star Plus. We are giving our people a stage to flaunt the logical prowess that is so unique to India and Indians, and I'm proud to play my part in it."

"India Ke Top 1%" is expected to premiere on Star Plus shortly. However, the makers have not yet announced a release date for the forthcoming show.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) The makers of the forthcoming laughter ride, "Dhamaal 4," unveiled the captivating trailer of the sequel on Friday.

The preview shows the gang coming back together to go on one of the biggest treasure hunts of their lives. However, as expected, their journey is full of hilarious misadventures, unexpected turns, and some massive hurdles. Who among them will be able to overcome all these obstacles, finally getting their hands on the treasure, remains a mystery.

Directed by Indra Kumar, "Dhamaal 4" will retain the core cast of the popular franchise, including Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra, and Jaaved Jaaferi.

We we also get to see some fresh faces such as Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar, and Ravi Kishan joining the mad fun.

Meanwhile, Riteish Deshmukh, who was not present at the trailer launch event, penned a warm note on social media for the movie buffs that read, "For nearly 2 decades, you have showered unprecedented love on the Dhamaal franchise - a journey I have been proud to be an integral part of. Now that the Trailer of Dhamaal 4 launches, you will witness the madness we have been cooking for you all. We have had an absolute blast making it and hope you feel the same while watching it,” he wrote in his social media handle (sic)."

“I will truly miss being there today with my team as we share a peek into our crazy crazy world with you and our friends in the media. Let the Dhamaal begin! #Dhamaal4 #DhamaalTrailer,” he went on to add.

The first instalment in the popular franchise, “Dhamaal”, was released back in 2007. The makers came up with the sequel "Double Dhamaal" in 2011, followed by the third reboot, "Total Dhamaal" in 2019.

Backed by Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Indra Kumar, Anand Pandit, and Kumar Mangat Pathak, "Dhamaal 4" is expected to reach the audience on July 10, this year.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) As one of the most iconic movies from Bollywood, "Lagaan" is all set to complete 25 years of release on June 15 this year, Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan and the director of the highly acclaimed drama, Ashutosh Gowariker, recently reunited with the cast of the movie.

In the video uploaded by Aamir's production house, Aamir Khan Productions, on their official handle on Friday, Aamir and Ashutosh were seen warmly meeting all the cast members. This was followed by what seemed to be a fun chat session among the old 'Lagaan' teammates.

"Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker reunite with the Lagaan cast after 25 years," they captioned the post.

Meanwhile, as a mark of celebration on "Lagaan" clocking 25 years, Aamir and Aamir Khan Productions will be hosting a grand party on Saturday, June 13, with the entire cast and crew of the iconic movie.

Along with "Lagaan", Aamir Khan Productions will also be celebrating its silver jubilee, making it a double celebration.

During the get-together, Aamir will also be hosting the various actors, technicians, and filmmakers who have been a part of this 25-year journey of Aamir Khan Productions.

Refreshing your memory, "Lagaan" was screened at numerous international film festivals back in the day. It was the third Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for 'Best Foreign Language' Film. Not just that, during the 49th National Film Awards, "Lagaan" went on to win eight awards, including the 'Best Popular Film'.

The music for the film scored by the Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman continues to hold a special place in the hearts of movie buffs.

On the personal front, Aamir is all set to tie the knot for the third time with his ladylove, Gauri Spratt.

Going by the source close to Aamir, the couple will be taking the plunge on July 5 this year in a simple registered ceremony at home, in the presence of their family members and a handful of close friends.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, June 12 (IANS) The unit of director Sampath Nandi's explosive action drama, 'Bhogi', featuring actor Sharwanand in the lead, has now begun shooting the film's intense climax sequence on a massive set specially erected for the purpose.

Sources close to the unit of the film say that the team has begun shooting a high-voltage emotional action climax on a massive set specially erected by art director Kiran Kumar Manne.

The sequence is being designed and choreographed by stunt master Dilip Subbarayan in a never-before-seen style, aiming to deliver a gripping theatrical experience.

Sources claim Sharwanand will be seen pushing the envelope with intense, high-risk stunt work in this crucial climax episode. The schedule, sources point out, has been planned for 20 days as the unit is looking to complete this pivotal portion of the film.

Already, the makers of the film have released the first looks of actresses Anupama Parameswaran as Kandula Sulochana Rani and Dimple Hayathi as Mandaram in the film.

Sources had said that Sulochana (the character Anupama plays in the film) will be a spirited person who is deeply rooted in nature. Earning her livelihood by crafting leaf plates from Moduga leaves, the “Flame of the Forest” Sulochana would embody both resilience and quiet strength in the film.

Mandaram (the character Dimple Hayathi plays in the film), the sources had disclosed, will be a bold and powerful character who simply does not care for the world.

The makers had revealed on actor Sharwanand's birthday that he played a character called Ganga in the eagerly awaited action thriller.

Set in the early 1960s, 'Bhogi' is a pulsating period action drama unfolding in a fictional village along the borders of Telangana and Maharashtra.

On the technical front, the project boasts an accomplished crew. Production design is by Kiran Kumar Manne, cinematography is by Kishore Kumar Arokia, and music is by Bheems Ceciroleo.

Planned as a pan-India release, the movie will hit the big screens in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi on August 28, coinciding with the festive occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

--IANS

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