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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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Los Angeles, Feb 17 (IANS) Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow loves her kitchen throughout the year. The ‘Marty Supreme’ star shared the latest iteration of her “Boyfriend Breakfast”.

In the cooking clip, the actress bakes a gluten-free quiche while the song ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ by Depeche Mode plays in the background, reports ‘People’ magazine.

The actress barefaced and dressed casually in a T-shirt and flowy pants, the typical fashion of her informal culinary videos which often see her wearing her pajamas.

As per ‘People’, the actress whisked several eggs with a cup of almond milk. She chopped and then sauteed broccoli, before cutting to a clip of her dog Gaucho trotting over to her.

She got to work slicing two whole onions on a mandoline, a task that brought her to tears, and then caramelized the vegetable in a pan. On another pan, she cooked sausage crumbles. All the ingredients are scooped into a premade gluten-free pie crust and popped into the oven.

She wrote in the caption, “Valentine’s #boyfriendbreakfast, gluten-free broccoli, onion, and sausage quiche. Extra love”.

Several years ago, the actress had revealed that the social media series started when she would make now-husband Brad Falchuk breakfast every Saturday morning while they were dating.

She told ‘Vogue’, "When we were dating, we started this tradition of me cooking him breakfast every Saturday morning. I would come up with all of these really creative breakfasts. It was something I put time into every week planning. I called them boyfriend breakfasts”.

She explained feeling conflicted about the act of love when friends called it “old-fashioned”. "Can you be a feminist and still like to do domestic things?", she wondered, but ultimately decided yes, because "it feeds me to take care of people and cook as much as I hope it takes care of them”.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) Lyricist Prasoon Joshi, who is also the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, attended a special panel of Motion Picture Association (MPA), in association with FICCI at AI Impact Summit 2026.

After the panel discussion, he spoke with IANS, and shared his thoughts on the AI boom and India’s global stature in the world of AI.

The discussion underscored that while AI is accelerating production capabilities and expanding creative possibilities, storytelling, judgment and value systems remain firmly led by the human beings.

He told IANS, “India is a place of positive thinking. If you look at our country's tradition, like in Jainism, in Jain philosophy, there is anekant vaad. There are different points of views. We call them Sat, Vipraha, Bahuda, Vadanti. That you can see the truth in different ways. So, we believe in bringing different views on one platform. AI is making everything available to everyone. Between you and me. This is in a way like Advaita Vedanta. There will be no difference between you and me. You have the same knowledge. You have it. I have it too. So, according to the order of the universe, it is absolutely correct”.

He further mentioned, “There is no big or small. Everyone has a kind of knowledge. So, in a way, it is connecting. If there is a discussion on this in India, what could be a better place than this? And if someone criticizes India on this, then go and see what India is doing in Silicon Valley. How much progress we have in this area”.

“Our main influence is in this area. Indian culture has the great art of assimilation. So, how does AI connect with humans? And how does AI work for the benefit of humans? There can be no place in the world more suitable for this discussion than India”, he added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 16 (IANS) Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi has shared an update with regards to his health, saying that he is recuperating well after a minor shoulder keyhole surgery.

On Monday, the veteran actor took to his Instagram, and shared a picture of himself wearing an arm-sling.

He also penned a long note in the caption, “Several well-wishers have enquired about my health after noticing the arm sling. It was just a minor shoulder keyhole surgery”.

He further mentioned, “I am recovering well and already getting back to my routine. My heartfelt thanks to Dr. Nithin, one of the finest arthroscopy surgeons, for his care and expertise in making the procedure smooth and comfortable. Grateful for all your love, concern and blessings”.

Earlier, megastar Chiranjeevi announced the names of his newborn grandkids with a special social media post. He shared a picture of Ram Charan and Upasana from the naming ceremony.

The 'Godfather' actor further went on to explain the significance behind these names in the caption that read, "Shiva Ram is a profound confluence of two eternal ideals. “Shiva” is inspired by Shiva Shankara Vara Prasad, reflecting inner strength, spiritual depth and stillness. “Ram” from Ram Charan embodies righteousness, compassion and moral courage. Together, the name signifies the harmony between inner power and responsible action.

Explaining the meaning of Anveera, he shared, "Anveera Devi is a rare and powerful expression of the Divine Feminine. Anveera represents fearlessness, resilience and divine protection, inspired by the blessings of Kanaka Durga Devi. A name that reflects grace, courage and unwavering strength”.

Chiranjeevi ended the post by urging everyone to shower their blessings on the newborns.

--IANS

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Mumbai Feb 16 (IANS) Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan in her YouTube vlogs has revealed that she had once considered casting actress Sameera Reddy for the classic role eventually played by Sushmita Sen in her 2004 directorial debut “Main Hoon Na”.

In a recent conversation with Sameera Reddy on Farah Khan's YouTube channel, the filmmaker recalled that she had first noticed Sameera in her popular music video titled Ahista.

Nobody knows but I had considered you for Main Hoon Na in Sushmita Sen’s role. I had seen your song, ‘Aahista Kijiye Baatein’ and you were dressed in Indian wear,” said Farah.

Responding to Farah’s revelation, a surprised Sameera asked, “Oh My God! I want to know why you didn’t take me.”

To this, Farah replied that circumstances had changed by then. “Because by then you had taken up ‘Maine Dil Tujhko Diya’,” she said, referring to Sameera’s 2002 Bollywood debut opposite Sohail Khan.

Sameera was seen thrilled but pretty disappointed at the same time upon Farah Khan's revelation.

Talking about “Main Hoon Na”, the movie starred Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, and marked Farah Khan’s directorial debut. It went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2004.

Sushmita Sen had essayed the role of Chandni, a college professor known for her saree-clad glamorous look, which went onto become extremely popular.

Talking about Sameera Reddy, the actress who who made her Hindi film debut with “Maine Dil Tujhko Diya”, later appeared in films such as “Darna Mana Hai”, “Musafir”, “No Entry” and “Race” before stepping away from mainstream cinema.

The actress during COVID 19 shifted to Goa along with her family, and continues to travel to Mumbai for work.

--IANS

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Mumbai Feb 16 (IANS) Bollywood star Sunny Deol congratulated his Damini co star and actress Meenakshi Seshadri as she completed 3 million followers on Instagram.

The actor was seen playfully adding that while he knows ‘she is a good dancer, she is still not better than him’.

The light hearted banter was shared by Meenakshi on her social media in a video montage that also featured many of her fun behind the scenes moments from the reels she frequently posts online.

The video montage shared by the Damini actress begins with Meenakshi dancing energetically inside her home, dressed casually in a red top and jeans. In the next video frame, showcases a lush green park, where the actress is seen rehearsing dance steps with a few companions under beautiful trees. In another glimpse, the video captures candid laughter, fun practice sessions and exciting moments.

The caption written by Meenakshi reads, “Don’t Say No… ENJOYING 3 MILLION! …”

Talking about Meenakshi and Sunny Deol’s professional equation goes back to the early 90s. The two had shared screen space in the 1993 courtroom drama Damini, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. Meenakshi essayed the titular role of Damini, a woman fighting for justice, and Sunny portrayed the fiery lawyer Govind. It was this movie where Sunny’s iconic dialogue “Tarikh pe tarikh,” took birth.

Talking about Meenakshi Seshadri, the actress was one of the leading stars of the 1980s and 1990s era, known for films such as Hero, Meri Jung, Shahenshah, Ghayal, Ghatak and Aadmi Khilona Hai. The actress along with an actress, is also a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. Meenakshi quit the industry and shifted to the US post her marriage.

–IANS

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