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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Punjabi singer Sunanda Sharma celebrated her journey from a small town to the big stage as she shared a special glimpse of her stage performance with her mother on social media.

Taking to Instagram, Sunanda posted a picture featuring her mother alongside her on stage. Through a series of captions, the singer reflected on her journey, confidence and the importance of staying true to oneself. Sharing her images with her mom, she wrote, “Thank God I never listened to anyone who told me to be realistic.”

The photographs feature Sunanda sharing a warm hug with her mother on stage, making for a special mother-daughter moment. The singer also posted several solo pictures from her performance, capturing her confidence and vibrant stage presence.

In another caption, Sunanda expressed her playful side, writing, “He asked why he only gets to see me at night? I said baby cause I’m a STAR.” She also added, “Fan of this crazy gurl.” The singer further celebrated her roots with the Punjabi lines, “Chote pind ton uthke aayi ne, Jitt leya saara jahaan ve,” reflecting on her journey from a small town to achieving recognition.

Emphasizing the importance of individuality, she also wrote, “Never lose yourself for anybody,” followed by, “Her spirit shines without permission.”

Through these pictures and captions, Sunanda offered a glimpse into her journey, celebrating her achievements while sharing a special moment with her mother on stage.

Meanwhile, Sunanda Sharma recently made headlines after an unexpected incident at an event in Jaipur forced her to cut short her performance. The singer was performing on stage when a man from the audience suddenly climbed onto it, leaving her startled. Sunanda screamed in shock as security personnel immediately intervened to handle the situation. She soon walked off the stage, bringing her performance to an abrupt end. Videos capturing the incident later surfaced on social media.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming streaming film ‘Parivarik ManuRanjan’, has shared that actors are fragile by nature because they live so many lives concurrently.

The actor spoke with IANS along with his co-actor Aditi Rao Hydari in the Goregaon east area of Mumbai, and said that currently he is practicing spirituality to understand himself better.

During the conversation, the actor said that spirituality has enabled to not react instantly to the highs and lows of life.

However, being an actor, feeling every emotion to the core is his primary job as an actor, which is exactly the opposite to what he has learned in spirituality. When asked how he manages this contradiction, he said, “In art, it's okay, and is required as a part of the profession. In art, the character is written, and he is supposed to be reactionary. It needs awareness, to know this, to be a witness, I realise that an emotion has come to me, will I react to this emotion or will I respond? Where did this originate from? How does the character think? This is a strange thing that many people don't understand. Why are actors so fragile? Because along with his life, he lives a few more lives, every year”.

He further mentioned, “So, that also has an effect. A common man only faces his own challenges. But an actor, along with himself, faces the challenges of his character. So, because of his life, he becomes delicate. In such cases spirituality becomes more important for the life of an actor. An actor has to realise that the character is overpowering them, an emotional turmoil is happening inside them”.

“Life and acting are two different things. But if you understand life better, you will be able to act better. And to understand life, you don't have to understand acting”, he added.

Meanwhile, ‘Parivarik ManuRanjan’ is set to drop on November 13, 2026 on November 13, 2026 on SonyLIV.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Maninee De opened up about stepping into the role of a widowed single mother in the upcoming short film ‘Raqs.’

==In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, the ‘Krrish’ actress also spoke about emotional demands of the character, the film’s powerful subject, and her experience of working with the director and producer. Talking about her role, she said, “In Raqs I play a widowed single mother to a young boy who is struggling to cope with the loss of her partner. She is trying to navigate her own grief while bringing up her child, taking on the responsibilities of both a mother and a father.”

“She is doing everything in her capacity to provide for him and be a present parent. However, as the story progresses, she finds herself caught in a vicious cycle of self-hatred and helplessness because of what happens to her child while she is out trying to provide for their future. My look is very contemporary, reflecting that of a modern, working woman,” added.

Talking about her take on the short film format, Maninee mentioned, “Personally, I have always loved short-format films. I believe it takes a special skill to communicate something meaningful and impactful within a limited duration. The writing, the visual treatment and the way a story is shot make this format particularly exciting. At the same time, the process is far more challenging in terms of time, budget and scale, making the entire filmmaking experience very different.”

“The subject of Raqs is important to humanity as a whole. It is our battle cry against one of the most heinous crimes committed against any living being, whether human or animal. It represents the complete degradation of human values and a deep-rooted sickness in society. Our endeavour is to create awareness, work towards prevention, encourage more people to join the fight, raise our collective voice, give victims a voice and send a strong warning to perpetrators,” she added.

The ‘Fashion’ actress also shared how she has loved the working with the producer and the director of the film. “It was an absolute joy working with such a talented, empathetic and capable director Iqbaal Rizzvi. As for our producer, Manbeena, she is not just a gifted writer but also a strong, grounded individual who sees beyond the human exterior.”

Maninee De has been part of films such as "Krrish", "Fashion", "Student of the Year", "Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii" and "7 1/2 Phere: More Than a Wedding", among others. She has also appeared in web series such as "Romil & Jugal", "Abhay", "Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala", "Made in Heaven", "The Jengaburu Curse" and "Campus Beats.”

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Veteran actress Neetu Kapoor, who was last seen in ‘Daadi Ki Shaadi’, has shared a trivia about her film ‘Teesri Ankh’.

On Tuesday, the actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and re-shared a post from one of her followers.

The picture features the actress along with Sarika and Zeenat Aman. She wrote on the picture, “Teesri Ankh, 1982 release”.

The original post mentioned, “Trivia: The film was launched in 1977 and it took 5 years to complete. Along with Ganga Meri Maa, Chorni and Raj Mahal this was one of the last releases of Neetu Ji as Heroine”.

The film was directed by Subodh Mukherjee and produced by Subir Mukherjee. It featured an ensemble cast of Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Rakesh Roshan, Amjad Khan and Nirupa Roy. The story revolves around Ashok, an orphan raised by Kailash Nath and his wife.

Earlier, the actress sarcastically spoke about the paparazzi’s obsession with capturing the back of the actress. She was spotted in the city. As she stepped out of an establishment, and walked towards her car, she was asked for a picture of her back by the paparazzi stationed at the venue. She turned around, and told the paparazzi, “Apko ya bada accha lagta hai na, ‘back’”?

The paparazzi replied in negative as the actress sat in her car, and closed the door. Neetu Kapoor is not the first person from the industry to speak about the paparazzi’s unhealthy obsession of clicking the pictures of the actresses’ back.

Prior to this, actress Neha Dhupia called out paparazzi for taking inappropriate “back shots” of actresses, saying the practice is disrespectful and needs to stop. At a Mumbai awards event, she confronted photographers, and said, “Yeh badtameezi se backshot kaun leta hai tum logon mein se? Band karo. (Who is taking these disrespectful back shots? Stop it)”.

She added that she was not asking only for herself, but for all women, saying celebrities had repeatedly asked photographers to stop and were “tired of saying it again and again”.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan also strongly supported Neha Dhupia’s stand.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Ankita Lokhande celebrated Diwali with her husband, Vicky Jain, and family in Bhilaspur.

He shared glimpses of their festive celebrations on social media. Alongside a series of pictures with Vicky, Ankita penned a heartfelt note about the importance of spending festivals with loved ones, saying that the joy of Diwali lies in togetherness rather than grand celebrations.

Sharing photos, the ‘Pavitra Rishta’ actress wrote, “Bhilaspur wali Diwali Apno ke sang kaafi hai. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how grand the celebrations are, but about the people who make every moment special. Family is our first home, our biggest blessing and the one place we can always return to.”

She further expressed gratitude for the little moments, shared laughter, traditions and time spent together, adding, “Some bonds are blessings, some moments become memories, and family will always be home.” The actress also extended Diwali and New Year wishes to her followers through the post.

The photographs show Ankita and Vicky performing aarti together, seeking blessings during the festivities. The couple also posed with their family members. Ankita and Vicky twinned in coordinated festive outfits. Ankita looked elegant in a traditional saree, which she accessorized with green bangles. She completed her festive look with traditional jewellery and a graceful hairstyle. Vicky, meanwhile, complemented her look in ethnic attire.

In another glimpse, the family was seen enjoying the celebrations and bursting firecrackers.

Ankita also shared a video featuring herself and Vicky bursting firecrackers together. Alongside the clip, she penned a romantic note for her husband, writing, “Years from now, I might forget the fireworks. I’ll remember how you looked at me. Happy Diwali from us to all of you.” The video offered another glimpse into the couple’s Diwali celebrations.

Ankita Lokhande tied the knot with businessman Vicky Jain on December 14, 2021. The couple got married in a grand ceremony in Mumbai, attended by their family members and several friends from the entertainment industry.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actor Nitish Bharadwaj, best known for portraying Lord Krishna in B.R. Chopra's ‘Mahabharat’, has expressed strong disappointment with the film ‘Ramayana.’

He said he withdraws his earlier appreciation of the project. In a detailed statement, Nitish emphasized that the Ramayana is not merely a story but an integral part of India's cultural, spiritual and civilisational heritage. He said the characters, their values and their significance in the epic should not be casually reinterpreted.

Explaining his concerns, the actor spoke about the purpose of Lord Ram's incarnation, saying that Mahavishnu took the Ram Avatar to uphold Dharma, preserve tradition and establish Maryada. He objected to what he described as the film's portrayal of Ravan as an exceptionally liberal, socially just and fair figure.

Nitish shared a series of notes, in which he expressed his disappointment with the film. He wrote, “RAMAYAN IS IN THE DNA OF BHARAT The Ramayan is not just a story. It is deeply rooted in the civilizational and spiritual consciousness of Sanatan Bharat. Its heroes, heroine and antagonist are integral to the values and message of this Mahakavya. Their character and significance cannot be casually redefined.”

“THE PURPOSE OF RAM AVATAR Mahavishnu took the Ram Avatar to uphold Dharma, parampara & establish Maryada.By presenting Ravan as an exceptionally liberal, socially just and fair figure, the film, in my view, alters the moral framework of the Ramayan and undermines the very purpose of avatar,” he added.

The post further read, “I WITHDRAW MY INITIAL APPRECIATION I am deeply upset and disappointed with this film. I withdraw my earlier post about it. I cannot find a single good word to say about it. A spectacle of VFX can never substitute for the core values, philosophical depth and spiritual essence of this Mahakavya.”

“OUR CULTURAL LEGACY DESERVES RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATION This film, in my opinion, does not deserve to represent Indian cinema internationally when its narrative misrepresents Bharat's history, heritage and core spiritual values.— Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj.”

Earlier, after watching the trailer, Nitish had praised ‘Ramayana’ and expressed confidence that it had a strong chance of winning an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category. However, after watching the film, he appeared disappointed with its portrayal.

“Ramayana,” directed by Nitesh Tiwari, features Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, and others. The movie was released in theatres on November 5.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Mouni Roy, who was last seen in ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’, has said that faith and sense of surrendering have always added to her strength to brave difficult situations.

On Tuesday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a series of pictures from her Diwali celebrations. In all the portraits, the actress can be seen dressed up in ethnic wear, and busy with festive preparations, and posing with her loved ones.

She also penned a long note in the caption, as she spoke about how faith and surrender have bolstered her strength.

She wrote, “Through every storm, I’ve found my strength in Shraddha and surrender, for where Bhakti takes root, even destiny must bend”.

The actress also shared that she is currently obsessed with braids in the wake of the festive spirit.

“In the stillness of Prarthana, the soul finds its way; and the grace of the Divine turns darkness into day. (Amazing sometimes it’s so difficult to find literal translations of few words in any language) PS: obsessed with chotis at the moment”, she added.

The actress has been busy soaking in the colours of the festival season. Earlier, she reunited with the 'Brahmastra' director Ayan Mukerji as she visited the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai.

Looking pretty in a yellow saree, golden jewellery, and open hair, Mouni was seen posing with Ayan for a memorable click in the pandal. In another picture, these two were joined by Ayan's cousin and actress Tanishaa Mukerji for another wholesome click. The 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' actress was also seen lovingly serving food to the devotees in the pandal.

Mouni captioned the post, "Don’t be afraid, my child. I am always with you. Lay all your sorrows and fears at my feet. May courage be your strength, may faith be your light, and may your world be filled with love”.

“Always remember, you too are a manifestation of divine feminine power (sic)”, she added.

--IANS

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Chennai, Nov 10 (IANS) Heartbroken by the sudden demise of ace cinematographer Shaji Kumar, popular Malayalam actor Siju Wilson on Monday penned a condolence post in which he noted that the industry had lost "a true master of his craft".

Taking to pen a post on Shaji Kumar, with whom he had worked in the critically acclaimed period action drama 'Pathonpathaam Noottandu', Siju Wilson wrote, "Heartbroken by the sudden passing of Shaji chettan. Working alongside him on 'Pathonpathaam Noottandu' is an experience I will always hold close to my heart."

He went on to observe, "Beyond his extraordinary vision and mastery behind the lens, he was one of the most genuine, warm, and pure-hearted souls in our industry. Every day on set was filled with shared laughter, positivity, and a beautiful bond of friendship."

The actor concluded his note saying, "We have lost a true master of his craft and, above all, an exceptional human being. Rest in peace, Shaji chetta. Your presence will be deeply missed. My heartfelt condolences to his entire family during this painful time."

Director Vysakh too penned an emotional post, condoling the demise of the gifted cinematographer.

In a post on Instagram, he said, "Shajichetta… (Heart broken image)I still can’t believe I’m having to write these words about you. Honestly, no words feel enough to express the pain of losing someone like you."

He went on to say, "Chetta, I wouldn’t be the filmmaker I am today if it weren’t for you. You were never just someone I worked with. You were so much more than that. You were my brother, my biggest strength, my constant support and I will forever be grateful for everything you did for me, Chetta."

Stating that he had never imagined that he would have to say goodbye to the cinematographer so soon, Vysakh said, "We still had so much more left to create together. I honestly don’t know how to imagine my journey in cinema without you by my side. A part of me will always be missing you.I may not get to see you or hear your voice again, but every memory we created will stay with me for the rest of my life. You will forever be a part of my story, Chetta. This isn’t goodbye, brother. You will always live on in my heart. Miss you more than words could ever express, Shajichetta."

For the unaware, ace cinematographer Shaji Kumar passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Monday. He was 57. The sudden demise of the ace cinematographer, who was currently working on a film featuring Dileep in the lead, has plunged the entire Malayalam film industry in shock and gloom.

Reports claimed that the cinematographer had, a couple of days before his demise, collapsed on a film set in Alappuzha. He was provided treatment and shifted to a private hospital in Kochi, where his health condition seemed to improve temporarily. However, the cinematographer's health deteriorated thereafter and he passed away on Monday.

The ace cinematographer, who began his career in Malayalam cinema with Uthaman, featuring actor Jayaram in the lead, has so far worked in over 50 films, many of which have gone on to emerge as superhits or blockbusters.

Some of the notable films that Shaji Kumar has worked on include 'Pulimurugan', 'Thudarum', 'Odiyan', 'Pathonpatham Noottandu' and 'Ramaleela'.

Two of the year's most eagerly awaited films, director Tharun Moorthy's 'Athimanoharam', featuring Mohanlal in the lead, and director Mathews Thomas's Ottakomban, featuring Suresh Gopi in the lead, have cinematography by Shaji Kumar.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Alaya F used social media to reflect on her fitness progress over the years. In her latest post on Tuesday, the 'Jawaani Jaaneman' actress shared that back in 2023 she was unable to properly hold a headstand, but after three years of persistent hard work, she can now do a handstand scorpion on canes.

Alaya dropped a video of herself doing the handstand scorpion. The clip opened with glimpses of many of her failed attempts in the last three years, with Alaya finally performing the handstand scorpion perfectly at the end.

"November 2023, I could barely hold a headstand properly. November 2026, I’m doing a handstand scorpion on canes (A smiling face with a bead of sweat emoji) (sic)" read the caption of the post.

She added, "The name of the game is progress (Smiling face and raising hands emoticons)."

The 'Freddy' actor loves to keep her Insta Fam motivated with such inspiring insights into her intense fitness routine.

Back in June, Alaya expressed her excitement as she unlocked a hollowback headstand.

Sharing a glimpse of her latest fitness milestone, Alaya penned, “The balance Gods have been very kind to me lately! Hollowback headstand unlocked, babyyyyy!.”

The clip showed her performing a hollowback headstand, showcasing her flexibility and control.

Talking about her cinematic journey, Alaya stepped into acting in 2020 with the laughter ride 'Jawaani Jaaneman', co-starring Saif Ali Khan and Tabu.

She has also been a part of 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', where she shared screen space with Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Alaya's other projects include 'Freddy (2022)', 'Srikanth (2024)', 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024)'.

Up next, Alaya will be seen playing a crucial role in a high-octane thriller series, 'Storm'. Backed by Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan, the series also stars Parvathy Thiruvothu, Srishti Shrivastava, Rrama Sharma, and Saba Azad in significant roles.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Filmmaker Subhash Ghai recalled music maestro A R Rahman’s contribution to the Indian music industry and shared how he transformed Mumbai's music culture with films such as ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Rang De Basanti.’

Taking to Instagram, the ‘Taal’ hit-maker shared a heartfelt note about the composer, describing him as a “blessed talent.” He also recalled how he first approached him for his 1999 film ‘Taal’. Recounting his initial hesitation, Ghai said he was nervous about offering Rahman the project because the composer was not very familiar with Hindi lyrics or Hindi films at the time. However, his concerns eased when Rahman told him that he used to play the hero flute.

Sharing how he eventually embraced Rahman's distinctive musical style, he recalled their association with ‘Taal’ and praised the composer's ability to adapt to different musical influences.

Posting their picture, Subhash wrote “A blessed talent from our universe. A R RAHMAN. . WHY ? I was really nervous when I offered him my film TAAL to him as he cud hardly knew Hindi lyrics n not too close to Hindi films till he told me that he used to play Hero flute. I was relaxed. N entered into his style of music. N u know TAAL till now.” (sic)

“He changed the music culture in mumbai with lagaan n rang de Basanti or rockstar He won oscar for Hindi song Jai Ho He can learn n turn into any sound of any land n culture in to music He responds to every kind of film n director anywhere. So ARR is a blessed n will go on giving surprises to music lovers n will live for a long. My all blessings to his talent n happiness always,” he added.

Subhash Ghai and A R Rahman have collaborated on three feature films: ‘Taal’ (1999), ‘Kisna: The Warrior Poet’ (2005) and ‘Yuvvraaj’ (2008). Their association began with ‘Taal’, starring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshaye Khanna, which became widely remembered for its music.

--IANS

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