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Mumbai, May 02 (IANS) Actress Gauahar Khan penned a special birthday wish for sister Nigaar Khan as she turned a year older on Saturday.

An emotional Gauahar revealed that she misses all the fun she used to have with Nigaar during their time together in Mumbai.

Posting a video montage of some unseen moments with Nigaar, the 'Bigg Boss 7' contestant wrote on her Insta handle, "My darling Nix !!! I don’t know how I survive in mumbai without you around me . Every time I drive , I think of our chichora gedi rides , every time I eat pani puri , it’s you I imagine next to me , every time I fight with someone I think of how u deal with it like a cold cutter , n get inspired , hahahaha every time I shop I think of what my plus one would shop from there , every time I eat in a restaurant I think about how we fight for who will pay , hahahaha , I can’t imagine how in our teens we were clashing all the time , n after ,how I couldn’t imagine my life without u being by my side. (sic)"

Showering some more love on her elder sister, she added, "I love you so much , I’m crying while I type this because my heart just fills up with so much emotion when I think about u . I have the bestest siblings Alhamdulillah , but who wouldve imagined you would be the farthest from me in geography. Happiest birthday to my go getter sister , for who nothing in life is impossible. I’m so proud of you . May Allah keep in aafiyah and hifaazaa always . Ameen . Just imagine my voice singing happy birthday to you all day around in the American breeze ."

For the unversed, Nigaar has been a prominent name in the television industry, known for shows like "Main Naa Bhoolungi", "Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai", and "Ek Ladki Anjaani Si", to name just a few.

In 2015, she married her long-time boyfriend and Pakistani businessman Khayyam Sheikh and shifted to Dubai.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, May 2 (IANS) Ukrainian actress Maria Riabhoshapka, who is now a part of both the Tamil and Telugu film industries, has expressed the hope that people treat animals with kindness and respect.

Taking to her Instagram page to pen her thoughts on the topic, Maria wrote, "Since childhood, I have always loved animals. They are such gentle and loving creatures, especially horses. Horses feel like giant friends, with their beautiful eyes and incredible intelligence. And horse riding has always been one of my greatest passions."

She went on to say, "Deep in my heart, I truly hope people will treat animals with kindness and respect. We should choose to be compassionate and wise beings in this world, not violent ones. Animals give us so much love and trust, and they deserve the same care in return."

On the work front, Maria will next be seen playing the female lead opposite Manchu Manoj in director Hanuma Reddy Yakkanti's eagerly awaited period action drama 'David Reddy.

The makers have already disclosed that Maria Riabhoshapka plays a character called Clara Whitmore in the film.

Director Hanuma Reddy, while welcoming Maria Riabhoshapka on board the film, had shared her poster in the film on his Instagram page and said, "Her love isn’t soft… it’s ruthless. Welcome to the Brutal Era."

Actor Manchu Manoj, who plays the lead in the film, had accorded a warm welcome to Maria Riabhoshapka. Taking to his Instagram page to pen a welcome post, he had said, "The intense world of #DavidReddy welcomes its leading lady - Maria Riabhoshapka on board as Clara Whitmore. Her love is War. Excited to see her bring this character to life with grace, depth, and fire. A grand Pan Indian historical action drama where valor meets destiny, and every character carries the weight of epic storytelling. @maria_riaboshapka #DavidReddy #MariaRyaboshapka."

It may be recalled that Manchu Manoj had announced the title of this film as 'David Reddy' in August last year on the occasion of completing 21 years in the film industry. The actor had disclosed that this film would be a historical action drama.

--IANS

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Chennai, May 2 (IANS) Director Sajeev Pazhoor's yet-to-be-released film 'Enna Vilai', featuring actors Karunas and Nimisha Sajayan in the lead, has now won the Award for Best Screenplay at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival.

The honour has helped the film, which is being presented by Kalamaya Films Githesh V, build strong momentum ahead of its theatrical release.

For the unaware, Sajeev Pazhoor's 'Enna Vilai' is a socio-political family thriller that blends an emotionally engaging story with gripping moments and a rooted cinematic treatment.

The makers say that while the award is a proud milestone, the film is designed as a complete theatrical experience, crafted to connect with a wide range of audiences.

Producer Githesh V says, “Winning the Best Screenplay award at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival is a proud moment for all of us. It validates the strength of our story and the effort the team has put in. At the same time, ‘Enna Vilai’ is a film made for the big screen. It’s engaging, emotional, and has all the elements that will connect with a wide audience. We’re excited for audiences to experience it in theatres.”

Director Sajeev Pazhoor says, “For me, the story of ‘Enna Vilai’ comes from a very rooted and real space. Receiving this recognition for the screenplay at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival is truly special. But beyond the award, we have crafted this film as a gripping and immersive experience. It’s a story that unfolds with intensity and emotion, and I believe audiences will feel deeply connected to it on the big screen.”

The film stars Karunaas and Nimisha Sajayan in lead roles, supported by a strong ensemble cast that includes Y Gee Mahendran, Poornima Bhagyaraj, Mohan Ram, Lollu Sabha Swaminathan, Kavithayala Krishna, Deepa Shankar, Mottai Rajendran and Nakkalites Kavi.

'Enna Vilai' has been extensively shot across 56 locations including Rameswaram, Chennai, Pondicherry, and Kochi over multiple schedules. Sources say that release details of the film will be announced soon.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 02 (IANS) Actor Sharib Hashmi shared a fond memory associated with the musical legend, Michael Jackson, with his Instagram family.

He took to his official Instagram account and dropped a sketch of Michael Jackson made by him at the age of 12 back in 1988. He had even adorably signed the sketch.

Proving that the love for the legend spreads across generations, Sharib revealed that now his 12-year-old daughter is also a hardcore Michael Jackson fan.

'The Family Man' actor also posted a picture with his daughter from 2022 at Madame Tussauds in New York.

Sharib wrote on the photo-sharing app, "I made this #MichaelJackson sketch when I was 12 .. aur aaj meri 12 saal ki beti bhi uski deewani ho gayi hai!! The love for this man goes beyond generations (red heart emoji) Bole toh Bhai allag level hai (red heart emoji) (sic)."

"Pic 1 : 1988...Pic 2 : 2022 ( Madame Tussauds NYC ) [ Michael, Michael Jackson, King Of Pop, MJ, Legend, Icon, Madame Tussauds, Jaafar Jackson ]," he concluded.

For those who do not know, the biopic inspired by the life of the late 'King Of Pops' titled "Michael" reached the audience on April 24, this year.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie chronicles the journey of the American singer from his time in the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to the 1980s Bad tour.

Michael Jackson has been played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the biopic, which also features Nia Long, Juliano Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo in significant roles, along with others.

Recently, veteran actor Anupam Kher recalled his memorable meeting with Michael Jackson back in 1996 during his visit to India.

In his post, Kher confessed that as he shook hands with the late King of Pop, the fanboy in him took over completely.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 02 (IANS) Actor Randeep Hooda, who brought to life the character of Sarabjit Singh on the screen in Omung Kumar's 2016 biographical drama, "Sarabjit" used social media to pen a heartfelt note for him on his death anniversary.

Hooda shared that playing Sarabjit, an Indian national wrongfully convicted of terrorism and spying, taught him the actual meaning of freedom, loss, and the strength of the family.

He wrote on the photo-sharing app, "Dear Sarabjit, Your story changed me. What began as preparing for a film, became something much deeper. Through you, I felt pain, silence, courage, and hope. Being you taught me the true meaning of freedom, loss, and the strength of a family that never stopped believing. (sic)"

Remembering Sarabjit's late sister, Dalbir Kaur, who untiringly fought for her brother and Sarabjit's better half, Sukhpreet Kaur, Hooda went on to write, "Since then, we have also lost, the sister who fought for you with the world, Dalbir Kaur ji and your wife, Sukhpreet ji. But your legacy lives on through your wonderful daughters, Swapandeep and Poonam, who today have families of their own and are living full, settled lives. In that, perhaps, there is a quiet kind of peace, something every family that has endured pain deserves."

Remembering Sarabjit on his death anniversary with a heavy heart, he concluded, saying, "Years have passed, but your story still stays with me. Some characters leave when the film ends. You never did.

Remembering you today with respect and a heavy heart. You will never be forgotten."

Hooda ended the emotional post with "Om Shanti", followed by a folded hand emoji.

Backed by Pooja Entertainment, in collaboration with T-Series Films and Legend Studios Pvt. Ltd, the project saw Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur and Richa Chadda as his wife, Sukhpreet Kaur.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) Bollywood actor Vijay Varma has given a peek into his funny yet relatable moment when the sudden nationwide disaster alert startled him.

Vijay posted a video clip, where he’s seen casually scrolling on his mobile phone, with a dog sitting right beside him. In a perfectly timed moment, the dog taps his paw on the phone, causing the actor to fumble and drop it to the ground.

The actor added a text overlay, which read: “The alert hit us like!!”

He wrote in the caption: “It’s all fine the world is not ending yet.”

On Saturday, the government tested indigenous mobile emergency alert system nationwide to safeguard its citizens when nature strikes. The system, called ‘Cell Broadcast Alert’, is currently under pan-India testing, in the form of a flash SMS message from the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority).

“NDMA will test Cell Broadcast Alerts on 2 May 2026 in your area. On receiving the message on your mobile phone, no action is required. Please do not panic,” the notification read.

When the emergency alert arrived on Saturday, it made the phone ring rather loudly with a sharp alarm tone and a flashing message.

The system aims to deliver disaster and emergency-related alerts in situations such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and man-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards via SMS to mobile users within the targeted areas.

On the acting front,Vijay was recently seen in Matka King, which also stars Kritika Kamra. It tells the story of Mumbai in the 1960s, where an enterprising cotton trader who craves legitimacy and respect, starts a new gambling game dubbed 'Matka'.

Vijay, who graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), rose to fame with the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer crime drama Pink in 2016. He was then seen in Middle Class Abbayi, Gully Boy and Baaghi 3.

--IANS

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Chennai, May 2 (IANS) Ace director Lokesh Kanakaraj has now launched the title look of director Raja Karuppasamy's upcoming film, featuring actors Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in the lead.

The film, which has been titled 'Modha Rathiri', is being produced by well known production house Mythri Movie Makers. Interestingly, this is the third Tamil film that is being produced by the popular Telugu production house.

Lokesh Kanakaraj, who took to his social media timelines to launch the title look poster, wrote, "Elated to launch the title look of #MythriTamil03 - #ModhaRathiri. My hearty wishes to the entire cast and crew of the team for this film to be a huge success."

The film, directed by Raja Karuppasamy, stars Rishikanth alongside Anishma Anilkumar, who gained attention with her performance in 'Sirai' and 'Youth'.

Sources say that at the core of 'Modha Rathiri' lies a gripping and intriguing premise: An unusual wedding takes place. In one night, too many surprises unfold and several lies are told. What begins as a new life spirals into chaos. It turns into a night that changes everything.

Producer Naveen Yerneni of Mythri Movie Makers says, “At Mythri Movie Makers, we have always been associated with large-scale entertainers. At the same time, we strongly believe in telling powerful, content-driven stories that connect with audiences across all sections and age groups. We have always been keen on collaborating with fresh and promising talents, and this project reflects that intent. When director Raja Karuppasamy narrated the script of ‘Modha Rathiri’, we instantly felt it was the kind of engaging and unique story we wanted to bring to the screen. We are excited to be working with a vibrant team of young actors and technicians, and we look forward to delivering a thoroughly enjoyable theatrical experience for audiences.”

Director Raja Karuppasamy says, “Making my directorial debut itself is a big challenge, and to do it under a prestigious banner like Mythri Movie Makers makes it even more special. Their belief in fresh ideas and new talents has given me great confidence and responsibility. I express my gratitude to the producers for giving me creative freedom, especially allowing me to work with technician I am comfortable to work. With ‘Modha Rathiri’, we are creating a story that is both engaging and emotionally rooted, while offering a fresh and fresh experience. I sincerely thank producers Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar for trusting me with this opportunity.”

The film features a vibrant ensemble cast including Rishikanth, Anishma Anilkumar, Chetan, A. Venkatesh, Bucks, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L., Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan, Velan, and Kowshik Kabilan among others.

Backed by a strong technical team, the film has Surendran Paranjothi as cinematographer, Ashok Arjunan as editor, and Bharath Sankar composing the music. The crew also includes Poornima Ramaswamy as Costume Designer and A Balumahendra as Art Director.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) As she’s currently holidaying with the “loves” of her life Sidharth Malhotra and daughter Saraayah, actress Kiara Advani shared a glimpse into her “sun-kissed days” during her Maldivian holiday.

Kiara shared a handful of pictures featuring her, Sidharth, and a peek at Saraayah’s tiny hands. The photographs included glimpses of Saraayah’s holiday outfits, Kiara looking every bit gorgeous in swimsuits, and the actress reading a book on sea animals to her daughter.

A few videos showed the actress swimming in the ocean and dancing with Sidharth.

“Sun-kissed days, salty hair, and a heart full of peace with the loves of my life,” she wrote as the caption.

Sidharth and Kiara fell in love with each other on the sets of their movie Shershaah in 2021. They tied the knot in February 2023 in a grand yet intimate ceremony in Rajasthan after dating for a few years. They welcomed their firstborn, a baby girl in June 2025.

The couple had announced the pregnancy earlier in 2025 with a joint social media post showing their hands holding baby socks.

On the work front, Kiara has been associated with the much-anticipated film Toxic, whose release was earlier slated for June 5 but has now been pushed to a later, unannounced date.

She was last seen in War 2. The film is the sixth instalment in the YRF Spy Universe and a sequel to the 2019 film War. It stars Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. in the lead roles, alongside Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor in pivotal roles.

Sidharth’s latest release was Param Sundari with Janhvi Kapoor. The story follows Param, a North Indian boy from Delhi, who searches for his soulmate through an AI app, which leads him to Sundari, a South Indian girl from Kerala.

He will next be seen in Vvan – Force of the Forrest with actress Tamannaah Bhatia. The film is set to explore the cultural folklore genre.

‘Vvan’ is written by Arunabh Kumar, directed by Deepak Mishra and Arunabh Kumar, with DOP and Visual Director Manu Anand; and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Arunabh Kumar and Niraj Kothari. ‘Vvan’ is set to release in theatres this year.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) Bathed in warm sunlight, Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Khan flaunted her natural glow as she embraced the rustic vibe of Haryana while holidaying at the Pataudi Palace.

Kareena, who is currently in Harayana enjoying a vacation at the Pataudi Palace, shared a string of images of herself with windswept hair and a sun-kissed look.

The actress captioned “Haryana ki dhoop”.

The picture was taken at the Pataudi Palace, an ancestral estate in Haryana, owned by her husband and actor Saif Ali Khan, whom the actress married in 2021. The couple welcomed their first son, Taimur, in December 2016 and their second son, Jeh, in February 2021.

On May 1, the actress had shared a glimpse into her “lazy old-school mornings” as she shared family moments featuring her sons, Taimur and Jeh from the Pataudi Palace.

In the slew of pictures, Kareena captured a beautiful corridor featuring white pillars, vintage-style chairs, and an open sunlit seating area that give classy and royal retreat vibes.

In another picture, Taimur and Jeh could be seen enjoying the morning outdoors, standing together in the middle of the open courtyard, having their own little sibling time.

Kareena wrote, “Lazy old school mornings” followed by another story that read, “Goodmorning.”

On the acting front, Kareena will soon be seen in the upcoming film “Daayra,” a gripping investigative crime thriller that explores how a diabolical act can trigger equal and opposite reactions, fracturing opinions across society.

Set against the complex world of crime and justice, Daayra positions its lead pair in roles that harness their full dramatic prowess. Prithviraj steps into the shoes of a police inspector, while Kareena embodies a fierce, enigmatic character whose presence adds a striking edge to the narrative.

The actress was last seen in Singham Again directed by Rohit Shetty. It stars Ajay Devgn in the title role, alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Jackie Shroff, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Tiger Shroff.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) ‘Stranger Things’ star Gaten Matarazzo has shared his secret to a successful long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Yu.

While on an episode of Chelsea Handler's podcast Dear Chelsea, the ‘Stranger Things’ star shared what he thinks has made his eight-year relationship with his high school sweetheart work, reports people.com.

The pair started dating in 2018, when they were just 15 years old. In the years following, the couple has gone through high school, embarked on their individual acting careers and have experienced long distance.

“I can't believe you've survived this long with your relationship from that young age,” Handler told the 23-year-old.

To which he replied, “Survive is a funny word.”

Handler said: “You've managed to stay together for eight years, I mean that's very unusual. Let's discuss how that works for you.”

Matarazzo went on to explain that he and Yu “communicate really, really well” and have learned how to be apart as they travel for work, reports people.com.

“A big key to it is thriving through distance,” he said.

“That's kind of what we were thrust into early on. I was working on the show and was also simultaneously pursuing and starting her own career in the same industry.”

“So much of our work has to do with us leaving the city and being able to communicate through that and do it very well was kind of a tell-tale sign that this was working pretty well,” Matarazzo said. “It's very rare, I think, that it can feel good.”

He continued, “A lot of times, long-distance relationships usually fizzle out because it's so hard not being in the same city as your person. And what's great is that our home base is the same. So anytime we go and travel for work, we know we're coming back to each other here in the city.”

The actor clarified that he and Yu don't live together but live “very close to each other.” To which Handler quipped, “Okay, well, that might be another reason why it's working out so well.”

Matarazzo and Yu started dating a few months after Stranger Things season 2 premiere on Netflix. Around the same time, Yu began auditioning for acting roles, and later made her acting debut in the 2022 film Somewhere in Queens, directed by Ray Romano.

--IANS

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