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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Actress Mona Singh has opened up about what she believes makes a relationship truly work, sharing that the foundation of a happy partnership lies in teamwork and growing together.

The actress, who got married in 2019, said that couples need to remember they are on the same side, and not in competition with each other, if they want their bond to stand the test of time.

Asked what, according to her, is the key to a perfect relationship, Mona told IANS: “You have to understand that you’re not against each other. You’re a team, as long as you know that you will keep growing together.”

The actress is currently seen in the second chapter of the series “Kohrra”. It also stars Barun Sobti and Rannvijay Singha. The second season will stream on Netflix starting February 11. In the new season, Barun’s reprising his role as the sharp-witted investigator Amarpal Garundi, who teams up with a new character played by Mona to solve a complex, dark murder mystery of a woman.

Kohrra season 2 is scheduled to premiere on February 11. Created and written by Gunjit Chopra, Diggi Sisodia, and Sudip Sharma, Season 2 brings a fresh case and a new pairing, rooted once again in Punjab’s bleak, wintry terrain where silence often speaks louder than a confession.

A Film Squad Production in Association with Act Three, produced by Saurabh Malhotra, Sudip Sharma, Manuj Mittra, and Tina Tharwani, Season 2 also marks an important creative evolution for the series.

Talking about Mona, she is widely recognised for playing the eponymous heroine in the soap opera Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin. The actress is also known for her work in Kya Huaa Tera Vaada, Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do, and Kavach... Kaali Shaktiyon Se. She made her film debut with a supporting role in Rajkumar Hirani's comedy-drama 3 Idiots in 2009.

--IANS

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Mumbai. Feb 17 (IANS) Actress-producer Richa Chadha has spoken about an episode of professional sabotage early in her career by someone she deeply trusted and said that it was at the early stages of her career that she’d learn that not everyone is “looking out for you.”

Speaking openly about her journey, Richa encouraged indie creators not to hesitate when it comes to reaching out.

“There’s sometimes a consensus that actors like me often shouldn’t be approached by indie filmmakers. There’s an assumption that it’s tough to approach us. But that’s not near the truth.”

The actress added: “Personally for me as an actor, I only care for good scripts, earnest writing, and what the impact or meaning of the story and role is. I always want to be part of the right kind of stories,” she said.

Richa also shared about being undermined during her early years in the industry.

Without naming names, she revealed that someone she trusted implicitly had worked against her interests at a crucial stage.

The actress added, “Given this thought of reservations of filmmakers to approach me. I do recollect very strongly that at the very start of my career i had to learn the hard lesson that everyone isn’t so looking out for you.”

“That was me being naive. So many feel threatened even by a margin and absolutely do not want you to outdo them or take away their shine or spotlight. This very experience was quite disturbing for me. But one has to learn the hard way and learn to guard their own choices,” she shared.

On the work front, the actress is taking on a new venture, a non-fiction series that delves into travel, culture, and the stories that define people and places across India. She says it is coming from a place of curiosity and empathy.

The upcoming series will explore the richness of India’s diverse landscapes, communities, traditions, and lived experiences, offering audiences a vibrant, immersive look at culture through a contemporary lens.

With this non-fiction series, Richa aims to inspire audiences to see familiar places with fresh eyes while discovering lesser-known narratives that celebrate India’s cultural depth and human spirit. Details regarding the format, collaborators, and platform will be announced in due course.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Veteran actor Jackie Shroff is celebrating 41 years of his film Mera Jawab, reminiscing about a chapter from the early phase of his cinematic journey that helped cement his place in Hindi cinema.

Jackie took to his Instagram stories, where he shared the poster of the film, which also features Meenakshi Sheshadri, Parikshit Sahni, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Shiva Rindani and Satyendra Kapoor. The Bollywood actor added the song Mere liye zindagi by Manhar Udhas and Anuradha Paudwal, playing in the background.

For the caption, Jackie simply wrote: “Celebrating 41 years! #41YearsOfMerajawab.”

The film follows the story of Suresh and Poonam, who are a happy couple but things change when Poonam is raped and killed by three goons Danny, Kukoo & Bunty. Now Suresh only motive in life is to find these three and kill them.

Jackie, who is the father of action star Tiger Shroff, is an avid social media user and never misses an opportunity to celebrate milestones from his films or mark the birthdays of industry legends, often sharing heartfelt posts that reflect his warmth and gratitude.

He had also celebrated 25 years of ‘Grahan’ with Manisha Koirala Taking to his Instagram stories section, he shared a video montage featuring him, the film’s poster, and Manisha. He added the song “Kehte Hai Jisko”.

For the caption, he added: “#25yearsofGrahan.”

“Grahan” is directed by Shashilal K. Nair, starring Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala and Raghuvaran. The film follows the story of Parvati, a rape victim who quests for justice, and learns that it is not such a simple task.

It tells the tale of Sanjay, who is accused of rape, and his lawyer Jaggan gets him acquitted. Soon, Jaggan finds out that Sanjay did commit the crime and reopens the case.

Jackie will next be seen in Ahmed Khan’s upcoming comedy film titled “Welcome To The Jungle”.

The film has a huge star cast including names such as Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Mika Singh, Mukesh Tiwari, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Sayaji Shinde.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Bollywood superstar and global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas was seen turning emotional as she addressed students at Harvard Business School during an India Week session. The actress was heard saying how immensely she felt proud to see an auditorium full of young students dressed in sarees and kurtas, further saying that she is excited to know that her daughter Malti Marie has ‘all of them to look upto.’

Sharing her experience on her social media account, Priyanka wrote, “So, this is how my day started. I was supposed to give a fireside keynote address with one of my closest friends and business partner Anjula Acharia, to conclude India week at the prestigious Harvard Business School. The topic was ‘The India we imagine’… no big deal, I thought. You can do this, Priyanka.”

However, the actress further revealed that looking at the audience changed everything for her.

“But looking out into the audience today, I only had one thought - You are the India I imagined. Let me explain,” she added.

Talking at the session whose theme was “The India We Imagine”, Priyanka shed light on her own experience while studying in the US years ago, as a teenager.

Recalling those years, she spoke about feeling like an outsider. “When my 12 year old self landed in a high school in Cedar Rapids Iowa, and subsequently to Newton North High School in Massachusetts in the mid 90s, there were not many looked like me."

Priyanka also expressed her thrill and sheer surprise to see so many Desi faces at an international University. She said she never imagined that decades later she would be addressing a packed hall at Harvard. I would have never imagined in 30 something years, I would be speaking to you, the future of our culture, our world, on this stage, in this iconic chamber, where so many incredible people have not only spoken, but where so many leaders of the world as we know it, were born. The audience was packed… and we were Desi… and Desi allies,” she shared.

“It made me want to cry, because this is not what my teenage experience looked like. But I’m so happy that you get to have it. We all stand on the shoulders of the generations before us. I’m so excited that my daughter will have all of you to look up to.”

Expressing pride at seeing representation at one of the world’s top institutions, she wrote, “To see an auditorium full of students, dressed in sarees and kurtas at the campus of HBS (@harvard) in Boston, Massachusetts, where I grew up… to see so many people from my community at one of the best schools in the world, made my heart burst with pride. You are the future.”

Priyanka concluded by thanking the students for their warmth and also expressed gratitude to her husband Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Marie for their support, calling them her “forever Valentine’s”.

Talking about the actress, on the professional front, is gearing up for her upcoming Hollywood film “The Bluff”, where she will be seen in a power-packed role. She is also set to star in filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s much-anticipated project, Varanasi which also features Mahesh Babu in the lead alongside her.

–IANS

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Los Angeles, Feb 17 (IANS) Hollywood actress Carmen Electra has opened up on her potential next date. The actress has shared that she wants to date an artiste.

The 53-year-old actress is currently single but believes the key to a successful relationship is to enjoy being around a partner because that helps to "keep the spark alive", reports ‘Female First UK’.

She told Fox News Digital, “You definitely wanna keep the spark alive, but you wanna be with someone that you love being with because that’s definitely what’s gonna keep the spark live anyway, right? So someone that, you just love their spirit, you love who they are as a person, someone that’s not a downer. I like artists, like people that are into art, whatever their art may be, all that good stuff”.

The ‘Baywatch’ actress believes the key to being confident in her 50s comes from trying to be the "best person" she can be.

She said, “My confidence, wow, just comes from trying to be the best person I can possibly be. “I’m a Taurus, so I’m very stubborn, but I love life, I love food, I love people, I love love, and I’m very passionate. And I’ll always be that way. So, that’s never going to stop”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, while she shot to fame playing lifeguard Lani McKenzie in Baywatch from 1997 to 1998, Carmen, who reprised the role in ‘Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding’, hasn't been approached to star in the upcoming reboot, though she is open to the idea.

She said, “I have not heard anything yet, but I’m definitely open to discussion”.

Carmen recently credited ex-husband Dave Navarro, who she split from in 2006 after three years of marriage, for teaching her how to be romantic. After the Scary Movie star shared she "don't like liars".

The actress told ‘People’ magazine, "It’s just really nice when you're with someone (who's) just really into you. I have had that before. It obviously didn't last. But once you know what it feels like to really be with someone (who) is so there for you, you can't undo that feeling. You know, it's just beautiful. (I want) somebody that's very romantic. I remember when I was dating Dave, I was so not romantic, and he was teaching me how to be romantic, but now I am”.

"Like the 10th of every month, we would get together, because we met on the 10th, and that was all his idea. Like, we're gonna have a special dinner for the 10th of every month, because we met on this date, cute things like that were really thoughtful”, she added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson penned an emotional note for veteran actor Danny DeVito as the team wrapped up the shoot of their ‘Jumanji’ franchise.

Johnson took to Instagram, where he shared three pictures from the sets featuring him, DeVito and Kevin Hart. In the photograph, DeVito stands in the middle, with Kevin on his left and Johnson on his right. Johnson is seen leaning affectionately towards DeVito and planting a kiss on his head.

The former wrestling star shared a heartfelt message celebrating DeVito, calling it an honour to work and learn from the legendary actor. Referring to the wrap as an “official Jumanji wrap,” the actor expressed gratitude not just for their professional collaboration but also for their friendship.

He wrote: “That’s an official Jumanji wrap on the one and the only, Danny DeVito To work with you, and learn from you has been an honor ~ and to call you my friend, will always be a privilege.”

“Thank you, brother for your anchoring heart and JOY throughout our Jumanji franchise. Let’s tell more stories together ps, please keep smilin’ and please keep exfoliating the top of your head.”

Jumanji is based on the children's book Jumanji and its sequel, Zathura, written by Chris Van Allsburg. The franchise follows the adventures of various people who find themselves imperiled when playing an enchanted game that features a variety of dangerous jungle elements they must survive. Ultimately, the only way to end the disruptions is to finish the game while enduring its dangers.

The franchise includes the films Jumanji, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level and an animated television series which aired from 1996 to 1999.

The first installment stars Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde, and Bebe Neuwirth. The story centers on a supernatural board game that unleashes jungle-based hazards on its players with every turn.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Actress Kritika Kamra and her beau Gaurav Kapur are wrapping up their professional commitments to immerse themselves in their wedding celebrations in March fully.

A source close to the couple shares, “Both Kritika and Gaurav are extremely dedicated to their work, so it was important for them to responsibly close all prior commitments before shifting their focus entirely to their wedding. They don’t want to rush through this special time.”

Kritika, who recently began shooting for an independent genre film, has been committed to completing her schedule seamlessly. The project, filmed on a start-to-finish schedule, is expected to wrap by the first week of March.

The actress has been balancing long shoot hours while simultaneously coordinating personal work.

Gaurav, on the other hand, has been juggling a packed schedule with his hosting commitments for the ongoing World Cup. Post the March celebrations, Gaurav is expected to resume work commitments.

“The idea is to be fully present, not thinking about shoots, scripts, or schedules. Once March begins, they plan to switch into complete bride-and-groom mode and enjoy every moment with family and close friends,” the source added.

The couple is expected to host a modern and minimalistic wedding celebration, reflecting their grounded personalities and shared aesthetics. Opting for intimacy over extravagance, Kritika and Gaurav are said to be personally involved in planning the details, ensuring the celebration feels authentic and meaningful.

A source close to the development of the wedding had told IANS: “It’s going to be a two and half day affair. Kritika family is flying down from Delhi.”

As per the source, the wedding will be intimate but will conclude with a grand reception on the third day.

“There will be a close intimate feel to the first two days and grand reception on the third day. It will happen across venues in Bandra and Lower Parel,” the source told IANS.

It was in December that Kritika made her relationship with Gaurav Kapur, Instagram official.

Kritika kept the caption understated yet playful, as she wrote: “breakfast with…”

Kritika earlier dated her Kitani Mohabbat Hai co-star Karan Kundra. She made her acting debut in 2007, with Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar. In 2009, she played a singer, Arohi in Kitani Mohabbat Hai opposite Karan. She was then seen in Pyaar Ka Bandhan, Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge,

In 2015, Kritika played a reporter, Ananya Kashyap opposite Rajeev Khandelwal, in Reporters. She was then seen as Princess Chandrakanta in Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta.

Kritika made her film debut in 2018, with Mitron. In 2021, she played a college student Sana in the web series Tandav. In 2022, she first played a princess Kamini in Kaun Banegi Shikharwati. Next, she played Dolly, a woman in a troubled marriage in Hush Hush.

The actress played a reporter Vidhi, in the 2023 film Bheed. In the same year, she played Habiba, in Bambai Meri Jaan. Her most recent release, Gyaarah Gyaarah.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Bollywood veteran star Anupam Kher on February 17, paid an emotional tribute to legendary Hollywood star Robert Duvall post his demise, and also remembered him as a ‘master of understated brilliance and profound depth’.

Taking to his social media account, Anupam shared a monochrome image that read “ROBERT DUVALL 1931 – 2026,” mourning the veteran actor’s passing. In his heartfelt note, Anupam further penned a note that reflected on Duvall’s extraordinary craft and the quiet power he brought to the screen.

“IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROBERT DUVALL….

Robert Duvall was the kind of actor who never needed noise to command attention. Quiet, precise, and profoundly truthful, he brought an extraordinary depth to every role he inhabited. For me, he was always one of the favourites — not because he sought the spotlight, but because he never needed to.”

He added, “From the restrained power of Tom Hagen in The Godfather to the haunting intensity of Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, Duvall created characters that linger long after the screen fades to black. His Oscar-winning performance in Tender Mercies revealed a rare vulnerability, while films like The Apostle and Lonesome Dove showed his fearless commitment to complex, deeply human stories.”

“He was brilliant without flamboyance. Powerful without theatrics. A masterclass in understatement. Actors like Robert Duvall don’t just perform — they become. And in doing so, they quietly raise the standard for all of us who love this craft.”

“Rest in grace. Your work will continue to teach, inspire, and endure. Om Shanti!”

Talking about Robert Duvall, the veteran was widely regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation in Hollywood. The actor was widely known for his impeccable performances in cult classics like “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “Tender Mercies,” for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

According to reports, The Oscar winning actor passed away died peacefully at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement sent by his PR agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana.

On his official Facebook account, his wife Luciana Duvall shared a statement that read, “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.”

It further read, “To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.”

She concluded, "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," she said. "His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.”

–IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Actress Karisma Kapoor took to her social media account to share a glimpse from her recent exclusive roundtable attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, further describing the experience as an ‘honour and privilege’.

Karisma took to her social media account to post a group photograph from the private gathering, which saw a select group of successful women from different walks of life for a discussion on women’s empowerment, leadership.

In the picture shared by Karisma, the actress is seen dressed in a soft yellow traditional ensemble, standing alongside Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

Sharing the image, Karisma wrote, “It was an honour and privilege to be part of a private roundtable in the esteemed presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah alongside such inspiring women engaging in heartfelt dialogue on women’s empowerment, leadership and the future.”

She added, “Moments like these are a powerful reminder that when women come together with purpose, honesty and vision they don’t just shape conversations they help shape the future for the next generation. Grateful to have been part of something so meaningful.”

Talking about Karisma Kapoor's Bollywood journey, the actress made her Bollywood debut with “Prem Qaidi” in 1991 and went on to become one of the leading stars of the 90s era of Bollywood. She delivered several hits including “Raja Hindustani”, “Dil To Pagal Hai”, “Biwi No.1”, “Hero No.1”, “Coolie No.1”, “Saajan Chale Sasural” and “Judwaa”.

Apart from commercial projects, Karisma also earned immense critical acclaim for her powerpack performances in “Fiza”, “Zubeidaa” and “Shakti: The Power”. She had also won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Dil To Pagal Hai”.

On the personal front, Karisma married now late businessman Sanjay Kapur in 2003, post which she took a quick sabbatical from work. The couple has two children, daughter Samaira and son Kiaan. After a decade of marriage, Karisma and Sanjay went seperate ways and were granted divorce in 2016.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) 'Aashiqui' actress Anu Aggarwal took to her social media account to explain the significance of Mahashivratri in her own way, and also wished everybody a Happy Valentine's Day.

Sharing a few selfies of herself on her social media account, Anu wrote, “Valentine’s Day celebrated love.

Mahashivaratri dissolved it.

What remains when devotion burns and ego rests?

Presence.

Meditation is not escape.

It’s maintenance.

Like updating your inner software — delete drama, keep awareness.

Love isn’t a person.

It’s a state you carry.

Still. Alert. Unbothered.

Shiva teaches: destroy what is false.

Shakti whispers: build from truth.

I’m not glowing.

I’m grounded.

Back — but from a deeper place.

#anuquotes #meditate #chillyourmind #celebration #lifeisacelebration @anusualanu.”

The actress who rose to fame in the 90s with her superhit movie Aashiqui, went onto rule the era of Bollywood back then.

Anu, a few weeks ago had spoken about her life and career during an exclusive conversation with IANS.

During the interaction, she was asked if she still keeps in touch with Mahesh Bhatt and her other old friends from the industry, "Yes everyone is there. Like I say, an old friend is just a phone call away."

When she was asked about her response to criticism about her recent New York photo, Anu Aggarwal was quoted saying, "Why are we so against controversy? Controversy is a part of life. So, like your appreciation, controversy is also equally a part of one's life. It's okay, everybody has a right to think the way they think and of course sometimes what happens is when you start succeeding too quickly, people start getting jealous of you, so people plant controversies to bring you down. If you read Buddha's story, this used to happen to him a lot. When he became the Buddh, people used to accuse him of various things.

Lastly, the yesteryear diva was questioned if there are any young actors she is interested in working with "Yes, I feel there are a lot of actors both male and female in today's time who are doing good work, but I will remember more on the topic as I dive further into it."

--IANS

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