ShowBiz

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, who has officially come on board for the sequel of “Tumbbad” in a pivotal role, said that she is looking forward to exploring a character that belongs to a story as rich, mysterious and unforgettable as Tumbbad.

Alia said in a statement: “Tumbbad has stayed with me ever since I first watched it. Very few films create a world that feels this original and immersive, and even fewer continue to grow in people’s imagination years after they’ve released. That’s what makes this opportunity so exciting.”

She added: “To now become a part of that world is incredibly special. I’m looking forward to working with Sohum and Nawaz, two artists I’ve admired for a long time, and to exploring a character that belongs to a story as rich, mysterious and unforgettable as Tumbbad. I can’t wait for audiences to experience what we’re creating together.”

Tumbbad is a rare cinematic phenomenon that redefined the folklore fantasy genre and has only grown in stature since its release. The upcoming film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Alia’s collaboration with actor-producer Sohum Shah, the creative force behind the Tumbbad franchise, alongside the formidable Nawazuddin, promises an exciting new chapter for the much-loved universe.

Sohum Shah, “Having Alia Bhatt come on board for Tumbbad 2 is truly delightful for all of us. She is undoubtedly one of the most talented actresses of this generation, and I am sure the audience will get to witness something unique with her in the film.”

“We have all witnessed her incredible performances on screen right from her debut. This is my first collaboration with her, and I am genuinely looking forward to working together.”

Producer Dr. Jayantilal Gada said, "Alia Bhatt is undoubtedly one of the finest actresses in our industry, and her joining Tumbbad 2 is truly incredible. This also marks our third collaboration with Alia after the phenomenal success of Gangubai Kathiawadi and RRR, making it even more special for us.”

“She is the perfect choice for this film, and the audience will see her in a way like never before. She is a remarkably accomplished actor who immediately understood our ambition behind the project. Having her on board will elevate both the film."

Tumbbad 2 is being spearheaded by actor-producer Sohum Shah under his banner Sohum Shah Films, in collaboration with Pen Studios, headed by veteran producer Dr. Jayantilal Gada.

The film is directed by Adesh Prasad, who is helming the highly anticipated next chapter of the Tumbbad universe.

Tumbbad 2 is slated to release in cinemas on December 3, 2027.

--IANS

dc/

Chennai, July 14 (IANS) Pointing out that her grandmother, the legendary playback singer S Janaki amma, had taught her to understand that love does not end when a life does, Apsara Vydyula, the grand daughter of the iconic singer has asked people not to measure her love for her grandmother by the tears they did or did not see.

Taking to her Instagram page to pen a heartfelt post about how some people were judging her over the past few days, the great singer's granddaughter wrote, "My grandmother’s favourite person in the world was my elder sister, Varsha. They were so alike. They understood each other in a way that words could never fully explain. They were, in every sense, made for each other."

She went on to say, "I don’t want the world to forget that Varsha is the one who should have been standing where I am today, taking care of our grandmother and doing everything that now falls upon me. She passed away in August 2023, and our family will never truly recover from that loss. Grief doesn’t disappear. It simply becomes something you learn to carry for the rest of your life. The only comfort I find is knowing that they are together again."

Apsara then said, "Over the past few days, I have seen people question my grief because they do not see tears in my eyes. Please don’t measure my love for my grandmother by the tears you do or do not see. We were taught, especially by her, to understand death from a deeply spiritual place. She taught us that love does not end when a life does. My experiences have made me stronger than I ever wished I had to be. Grief is not always loud. Sometimes it is quiet, steady and deeply personal."

Stating that being in the public eye often meant living with rumours, speculation and stories that others created about one's life, Apsara said, "It can be painful to watch people form opinions about a family they have never truly known. I want people to know who my grandmother really was. She was gentle, kind, deeply humble and completely free of judgement. She saw the good in everyone. Varsha was exactly the same."

She added, "What they shared, more than anything else, was an infectious childlike spirit. They carried wonder into every room they entered, and almost everyone who met them loved them instantly. They are together now.And somehow, that thought brings me peace."

--IANS

mkr/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has urged "every genuine film lover" to watch “Rao Bahadur”, calling it a rare cinematic experience that deserves time, patience and applause.

Vanga shared a note on X, formerly Twitter, in which he spoke about the psychological drama written, directed, and edited by Venkatesh Maha.

He wrote: “Just watched RAO BAHADUR. This is one of those rare, rich films that reminds you why we fell in love with cinema in the first place. I have one request to every genuine film lover... give this film three hours of your life. It deserves your attention, your patience, and your applause.”

“Venkatesh Maha has crafted it so precisely within the financial metrics and it requires guts & absolute conviction. SatyaDEV is sensational. No noise. No shortcuts. Just pure filmmaking.Congratulations to the entire team. Films like these deserve to be celebrated.”

The film stars Satyadev in the titular role alongside Vikas Muppala and Deepa Thomas. It is set against the backdrop of a fading aristocracy that blends elements of suspense, dark comedy, and magical realism.

The film follows Ramappa Rao Bahadur, a fading aristocrat diagnosed with terminal cancer. Set between 1968 and 1991, the film explores themes of guilt, lineage, and social conditioning as the protagonist navigates a deteriorating mind and a family legacy.

Talking about Vanga, his next is 'Spirit' which will release in March 2027. The film stars Prabhas and Triptii Dimri as the lead pair.

Announcing the release date for his next, Prabhas wrote on his Instagram handle, "#Spirit is set for a World release on March 5, 2027. @sandeepreddy.vanga (sic)".

Meanwhile, the maker unveiled the first look poster for "Spirit" at midnight on January 1.

Posting the primary look of "Spirit" on social media, Sandeep Reddy Vanga penned, "INDIAN CINEMA.... witness your AJANUBAHUDU / AJANUBAHU Happy New Year 2026."

The shoot for "Spirit" commenced in November 2025. The Mahurat ceremony of the action entertainer was graced by many bigwigs from the entertainment industry. Mega star Chiranjeevi also attended the event as a special guest.

The drama will also see Prakash Raj, Vivek Oberoi, and Kanchana as the supporting cast, along with others.

While "Spirit" marks Sandeep Reddy Vanga's primary professional association with Prabhas, the director has already worked with Triptii in the 2023 release "Animal", co-starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Filmmaker and producer Boney Kapoor shared an emotional note after daughter Anshula Kapoor tied the knot with her longtime partner Rohan Thakkar.

Reflecting on the joyous occasion, the proud father described the celebration as ‘a memory he will carry forever.’ Boney recently took o his Instagram handle and posted several pictures from the wedding celebrations. The happy group pictures showed the doting father posing with his daughter alongside other family members. One monochrome candid shot featured Boney Kapoor posing with his hands placed on his daughter’s shoulder.

Another picture captured the father-daughter duo sharing a heartfelt moment, with Anshula holding her father’s hand while posing. Some of the pictures also featured Bollywood celebrities such as Madhuri Dixit with her husband Shriram Nene, veteran actress Hema Malini, Anupam Kher, Javed Akhtar, Akshaye Khanna, Bobby Deol, among others, posing with the newlywed couple.

For the caption, the filmmaker simply wrote, “Watching my genius beta Anshula geeting married to Rohan ls a Memory l'll Carry Forever.”

Anshula Kapoor tied the knot with her longtime partner, screenwriter Rohan Thakkar, on July 6 in an intimate wedding ceremony held. The special occasion was attended by close family members, friends, and the Kapoor family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his wishes to the newlyweds through a heartfelt congratulatory letter.

The wedding celebrations began with a traditional Mata Ki Chowki, followed by a star-studded reception graced by several Bollywood personalities, including Ranveer Singh and Sonam Kapoor. Anshula looked stunning in a specially designed Tarun Tahiliani outfit that featured her late mother Mona Shourie Kapoor’s 42-year-old gold tissue and zardozi dupatta. In a touching tribute to her mother, she also wore a custom-made perfume inspired by her memory.

Anshula shared the emotional significance behind her bridal look through a heartfelt post, where she revealed the inspiration and memories attached to her wedding ensemble. “There was only one thing I knew I wanted to carry with me when I became a bride - my mom’s 42-year-old gold tissue & zardozi dupatta. Everything else was built around it. On a day that marked the beginning of a new family, it felt right to be wrapped in the one that raised me first.”

“Together with @taruntahiliani, and with the incredible vision of @mohitrai and @ruchikrishnastyles, every detail was imagined around the heirloom that meant the most to me. A bridal ensemble that brought together crafts from across India: intricate Kashida embroidery layered with rich zari work, a bandhini ghar chola dupatta as a nod to the family I am marrying into, all in a palette of antique rose, blush and muted gold, finished with delicate Phulkari borders as a tribute to my Punjabi roots. Thank you, Tarun, for bringing this vision to life and creating a bridal ensemble that felt timeless, deeply personal, and so incredibly me.”

--IANS

ps/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Actor-writer Adivi Sesh has shared his thoughts on the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, stating that the dream should be to create films that belong to the country, not just one language market

Sesh feels that the focus should shift from language labels to storytelling.

Speaking about the subject, Sesh said in a statement: “I find it interesting that we still call films ‘Hindi films’, ‘Telugu films’, ‘Tamil films’, and then separately use the term ‘pan-India film.’"

"If a film can emotionally connect with audiences across the country, why should language restrict its identity in the first place? The moment we stop looking at stories through linguistic boundaries and start embracing them as Indian stories, that’s when pan-India cinema will truly exist.”

Sesh talked about how the continued categorisation of films based on language reflects an invisible barrier that Indian cinema has yet to overcome.

He added: “Language should be a medium of expression, not a limitation. Audiences today are far more open than ever before. They are watching great stories regardless of where they come from. I think the industry needs to catch up with the audience mindset.”

“As creators, our responsibility is to tell authentic stories and make them accessible to everyone. The dream should be to create films that belong to the entire country, not just one language market.”

Sesh’s latest is Dacoit: A Love Story, a romantic action drama film directed by Shaneil Deo in his directorial debut. The film also stars Mrunal Thakur in the lead roles, with Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, Sunil, Zayn Marie Khan, and Atul Kulkarni in supporting roles.

He will next be seen in G2, a spy action thriller film directed by Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to Goodachari , with Sesh reprising his role. The film also stars Emraan Hashmi, Wamiqa Gabbi and Madhu Shalini.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) In the recent episode of reality show, 'Lock Upp Season 2' contestant Akanksha Chamola was seen giving fellow contestant Pamela a warm back massage.

This seemed to have caught Ram Kapoor's attention who was surprised seeing the act.

In the latest episode, Pamela was seen lying comfortably on her bed while Akanksha sat on her back, giving her a soothing head and back massage.

To make the massage easier, Pamela adjusted her camisole slightly to expose her upper back, allowing Akanksha to continue the massage comfortably.

As the two continued chatting and laughing during the massage session, Ram Kapoor happened to walk past them. The actor paused for a moment after noticing the scene and jokingly remarked, "Jesus Christ, look what's happening here. I can stand here all day and watch this. Heaven."

His playful comment left the contestants laughing before he walked away, while Akanksha continued massaging Pamela.

The moment comes amid Ram Kapoor's eventful stint on the reality show, where many of his comments have sparked conversations on social media.

In one of the recent episode on the show, Ram opened up about a painful chapter from his childhood. He had revealed that he was sexually molested while studying in school and spoke about the long-lasting emotional impact of the experience.

He also shared that the same individual who molested him later played a role in helping him process and heal from the trauma.

Talking about Akanksha Chamola, the actress while on the show admitted of being bisexual. She also admitted of staying seperately from husband Gaurav Khanna and heading towards a divorce.

–IANS

rd/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Actress Shilpa Shinde and Shreya Kalra were seen mimicking Shivangi Joshi to entertain themselves in the reality show, Lock Upp Season 2.

In the recent episode of the reality show, Lock Upp Season 2, the two mimicking fellow contestant Shivangi Joshi, including a remark about her virginity by Shilpa.

In the clip, Shilpa is seen imitating Shivangi. Mimicking Shivangi, she is heard saying, "Oh man, mere paas toh koi secret hi nahi hai. Kitna act karun? Main bahut innocent hoon. Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye. Main virgin hoon. Main shaadi ke baad hi karungi."

(Oh Man! I don't have any secret. How much do I act. I am very innocent. I don't want anything. I am virgin. Will do it only after marriage)

Shreya then jokingly enacted Harshad, saying, "Shivangi, tum kya soch rahi ho?" before mimicking Shivangi's reply, "Pata nahi. Lekin jab yeh secret reveal hoga na, tab main bahut hasungi. Kyunki isme tha hi kuch nahi."

The mimicking and voice over session between both the girls started when they saw Shivangi and Harshad Chopda standing at a distance, apparently engaged in a conversation.

Earlier, Shilpa was seen instructing Shivangi to speak less with Harshad Chopda which netizens felt was an act of bullying.

Many netizens also expressed disappointment that Shivangi did not respond to the remarks more firmly, with some commenting that she should have stood up for herself instead of remaining silent.

The second season of the reality show has been stirring headlines for its controversies and ugly fights amongst contestants.

The show has Ram Kapoor, Dheeraj Dhoopar, Shilpa Shinde, Shivangi Joshi, Shreya Kalra, Akanksha Chamola and many others as contestants.

–IANS

rd/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Bollywood’s “Shahenshah” Amitabh Bachchan has given a peek into his humor-filled day off, saying that even a single day of rest makes the "entire system revolt” and quipped that instead of relaxing, he spent the day as the "greatest makkhi maar in the business."

The icon, who is an avid writer on his blog, wrote about his day off and said that his body needs to manoeuvre in “any more.”

“A day of rest and the entire system revolts... body needs mobility in any form... I tried today ... the greatest makkhi mar in the business... (sic),” he wrote as the caption.

“makkhi maar > makkhi maar, fly swapper in the business My love (sic).” he added.

The megastar then shared a picture of himself on X, formerly called Twitter, where he shared a light-hearted behind-the-scenes moment, holding up a bright orange fly swatter and looking at it intently.

“Relaxation! It's a waste of time! Swatting flies all day,” he wrote as the caption.

Amitabh’s message on his body revolting after a day of relaxation comes a day after he

expressed his happiness over the three-day break in the FIFA World Cup 2026 before the semi-finals and shared that he needed “respite” too.

The icon had written about the short break from the matches.

“.. respite from WC 2026 .. a 3 day break .. I need one too .. so short ans very sweet (sic),” Amitabh wrote.

The three-day break comes after eight matches in the quarterfinals between 16 teams. Now, the four teams, France, Spain, Argentina, and England, will battle it out in the semi-finals starting from July 15 at midnight. The grand finale will take place at midnight on July 19.

Talking about work, Amitabh, the octogenarian, is currently keeping busy with the “Kalki 2898 AD” sequel, helmed by Nag Ashwin. The film is an epic mythological science fiction film that also stars Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Reality TV Star Kim Kardashian shared a glimpse of her summer getaway at the lake with her “favourite people”, including her children and her beau, F1 star Lewis Hamilton.

Kim shared a string of images featuring her favourite people, which included her friends, sisters, including her daughters, Chicago, North West,Saint, Psalm and niece True Thompson. The picture also featured her new boyfriend.

In one selfie, Kim, her daughter Chicago, and Hamilton, could be seen posing. The picture confirms the sports star has finally officially met her children.

“Summers at the lake with my favorite people,” she wrote as the caption.

Kim shares all four kids with her former husband Kanye “Ye” West.

The longtime friends were first linked on New Year’s Eve at Kate Hudson’s star-studded celebration in Aspen.

It was in January, when it was reported that Kim jetted to the UK for a romantic weekend with Hamilton. In February, cameras caught them sitting side by side at the Super Bowl in California.

The two were seen in Japan next, where the reality star was on a family vacation with her four children, sister Khloé, and niece True Thompson.

Kim first gained media attention in 2007 following the unauthorized release of a sex tape with American singer Ray J. Afterwards, she and her family began to appear on the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Its success led to the formation of several spin-offs before its revival as The Kardashians, as part of her and her family's multi-year deal with the streaming service.

Kardashian founded her beauty and fragrance company in 2017. She then founded the shaping underwear and foundation garment company in 2019.

Her acting credits include the films Disaster Movie, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, two PAW Patrol films, the twelfth season of the anthology horror series American Horror Story, and the legal drama series All's Fair.

She is the eighth-most-followed individual on Instagram and the thirteenth-most-followed individual on Twitter.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher had come broken his silence over the controversy surrounding his remarks on the theft at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and shared that he said it with “complete honesty.”

Sharing a video on X late in the night, the actor said he stood by every word of his earlier statement, also claimed that his remarks were deliberately twisted to create controversy, adding that he has never been afraid of trolls, influencers, or politicians and will continue to speak what he believes is right.

In the video, Anupam said in Hindi: “A few days ago, I went to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and said what was in my heart. Some people didn't like it. They thought this was against their agenda.

They wanted to create a perspective, a line of action. Anupam Kher said it was wrong. How can we target this? How can we troll this? How can we abuse this? An ecosystem was formed to target me.”

“They said a lot of things. I liked it even more. They worked so hard. They wanted to create a perspective, a line of action. When they didn't have a weapon, when they thought they were playing a punch card game that would destroy their reputation, they uploaded a 6-year-old video of Naseerudin Shah.”

He addressed the old viral video of veteran actor Naseeruddin doing the rounds on social media, where he called Anupam a fake and a sycophant.

“In the actual situation, Naseer and I have hugged each other. We respect each other. They told me to let it go. It's been 8-9 months. But they forgot that I replied to that video. Which I thought at that time. Then some other people started.”

Anupam felt I had become a national issue.

“I have come from the ground. With my own hard work, with my own values, I have come to this point. By the grace of God. By the grace of God. What will you make me afraid of? I have been stuck with my own problems all my life. What scares me with my own shadow? Keep doing it.

I will support the truth. In Ayodhya, you get even more strength. In Ayodhya, in every street, in every corner, there is Lord Ram.”

“Here you feel even more strength. You feel like telling yourself to speak the truth. Speak the truth and you will win. It took 500 years to make Ram Mandir. Right? Some people have found new angles. Keep looking for it. Because when you are telling the truth, you don't have to remember it. Everyone else has to make it. So good luck to all of you.”

I am very happy with the film that we are making. Everything is going on well. And I am enjoying it a lot. Ayodhya is a wonderful city. It feels like every street, every corner, every house in Ayodhya is blessing you. Because so many people have prayed here.”

“So I thought that I should address you all. And tell you that the self-made people are not afraid of anyone. And they are not afraid of curses at all. Because my father used to say that if you don't take the curses that they give you, they go back to them. So enjoy it. May your curses be blessed.”

In the caption section, he wrote: “Sach se logon ko sabse zyada dar tab lagta hai jab woh unke agenda ke anukool nahi hota. Kuch din pehle maine Ram Mandir mein hui chori ke baare mein jo kaha, woh poori imaandari aur zimmedari ke saath kaha tha. Aaj bhi main apne har ek shabd par qayam hoon.”

(People fear the truth the most when it doesn't fit their agenda. A few days ago, whatever I said about the theft at the Ram Mandir, I said with complete honesty and responsibility. Even today, I stand by every single word I spoke.)

“Lekin kuch logon ko sach se zyada ek mudda chahiye hota hai. Unhe behas chahiye, vivaad chahiye, shor chahiye. Isliye meri baat ko tod-marod kar pesh kiya gaya.”

(But for some people, the truth matters less than having an issue to exploit. They want debates, controversy, and noise. That's why my words were twisted and presented out of context.)

“Main sirf itna kehna chahta hoon ki na main pehle kabhi dara hoon, na aaj darta hoon, aur na hi aage kabhi daroonga. Chahe trolls hon, tathakathit influencers hon ya neta, kisi ke shor se meri baat nahi badlegi.”

(I just want to say one thing: I have never been afraid, I am not afraid today, and I never will be. Whether it's trolls, so-called influencers, or politicians, no amount of noise from anyone will make me change my stand.)

“Jo mujhe sahi lagega, main wahi kahunga. Aap sahmat hon ya asahmat, yeh aapka adhikar hai. Lekin sach bolna mera adhikar bhi hai aur mera kartavya bhi. Baaki... jise jo karna hai, woh kare. Main jaisa hoon, waisa hi rahoonga. Jai Shri Ram!”

(I will always say what I believe is right. Whether you agree or disagree is your right. But speaking the truth is both my right and my duty. As for the rest... everyone is free to do what they want. I will remain exactly who I am. Jai Shri Ram!)

Anupam’s remarks on the reported theft of donations linked to Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir created a tizzy on the Internet. He had described the alleged Rs. 2-7 crore fund irregularity as a ‘minor’ issue while comparing it to the destruction and loot during the Mughal era.

--IANS

dc/