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Chennai, June 10 (IANS) Superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday joined scores of others in paying homage to his friend and one of Tamil cinema's iconic directors Bharathiraja, saying the late pioneer's name would continue to remain in the hearts of the Tamil people forever.

Talking to the media soon after paying homage to the late director, Rajinikanth said, "He has been a friend for 50 years. Everybody knows about his talent, his achievements. He introduced several actors, actresses, techinicians to the film industry and he made the film industry live. Not just that, he was among those who first raised his voice for anybody -- be it producers, directors or anyone who had a problem. No matter how many years pass, his creations will not be forgotten. His name will continue to remain in the hearts of the Tamil people forever."

The actor, on a personal note, revealed that the six time National Award winning director was innocent like a child. "Whatever he felt, he would openly speak. If he liked, he'd say he liked. Else, he'd say no. He has even told me 'I like you but I don't like your acting'," Rajinikanth disclosed.

The Superstar went on to say that when one was with Bharathiraja, one would feel so happy.

"Nobody will be as open as he was was when it came to speaking his mind. That was why he was close to everybody including former Chief Ministers MGR, Dr Kalignar, and Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan. He had so much love and friendship that he could walk into anybody's home at any time of the day," Rajinikanth shared.

Pointing out that Bharthiraja's demise was not sudden, Rajinikanth said he had wanted to meet the director when he was alive but that he had been told that he could meet him once the director became well.

"But then, I couldn't meet him at all. He will continue to remain in my thoughts always and with me. May his soul rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his family members," Rajinikanth said.

Actor, producer and Parliamentarian Kamal Haasan and one of India's greatest music composers Ilaiyaraaja too came to the residence of the late director and paid homage.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) Author and chat show host Twinkle Khanna has shared a very unique perspective on parenting through her latest social media post.

The 'Mela' actress believes the babies should come with an instruction manual, which parents can access via a QR code.

Twinkle pointed out that right now, we are all going with the flow, trying to the best of our ability to love our kids, keep them fed, and also as clean as possible.

She added that despite our best efforts, more often than not, kids grow to complain about their parents to their therapist.

Sharing a video of herself from the Biennale, where she was seen trying to change a diaper, Twinkle posted on her official Instagram handle, "At the Biennale, while there was a deeper layer to this exhibition, it also struck me that all babies should come with a QR code like this that takes us straight to an instruction manual. (sic)"

"Right now, we are simply making it up as we go along. We do our best, love them fiercely, keep them fed and reasonably clean, and then they grow up, go to therapy, and blame us anyway. If your child came with an instruction manual, what’s the first page you’d turn to?," she went on to add.

Twinkle is someone known to speak her mind, whether on social media or during any of her public appearances.

Earlier this month, she advised all to travel light this year and get rid of excess baggage.

She wrote on the photo-sharing app, “We all carry baggage, and like airline counters, the heavier the bags, the greater the penalty. We may never get rid of it all, but with enough practice and perhaps even the right therapist, we can learn to downsize our baggage so it’s small enough to stow in the overhead compartment”.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) Hema Malini has acknowledged the recognition extended to her by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) as she celebrates an extraordinary milestone of completing 60 years in the film industry.

Marking a remarkable journey spanning six decades, the veteran actress reflected on her long-standing career and expressed gratitude for the honor. On the completion of 60 years of Hema Malini’s illustrious film career, she was honored through The Dream Girl’s Diamond Jubilee Concert. The event, organized in collaboration with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), was held on July 10 at Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion, Mumbai.

At the ceremony, it was highlighted that the event would go beyond a musical celebration and offer a nostalgic journey through Hema Malini’s six decades in cinema. The evening featured performances by Padmini Kolhapure; music director Anu Malik; and singers Kavita Krishnamurthy, Purnima, Sudesh Bhosle, Suresh Wadkar, Vijayta Pandit, Anup Jalota, and Shabbir Kumar, along with several other artists.

As part of the program, Hema Malini also shared personal memories and stories from her life and career.

Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy shared insights into what made Hema Malini stand out even among the leading male stars of her era in films like “Seeta Aur Geeta” and “Sholay.” Speaking exclusively to IANS, he highlighted that her remarkable on-screen charisma played a key role in making these characters truly unforgettable. When asked about writing strong women-centric roles at a time when such narratives were uncommon, Ramesh Sippy reflected on how Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay were conceived with Hema Malini in mind. He noted that despite the presence of powerful male leads, her characters were given equal strength and impact, which helped them stand out and become memorable.

“The filmmaker stated, 'Why don't we say that she was so good that she was able to overshadow them? The spark inside an artist reflects on the screen. She did a phenomenal job.”

Ramesh Sippy spoke during a concert organized to commemorate 60 years of ‘Dream Girl’ Hema Malini’s illustrious career.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) Choreographer Rajit Dev, who has choreographed the official FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem ‘Siir Siir’ featuring Nora Fatehi, has spoken up about representing India on the global map.

The music video of the song is set to be played at the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony. The music video of the song is directed by Moroccan filmmaker Abderafia across Morocco’s vibrant cities, including Casablanca and the iconic Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Rajit Dev has worked with some of Bollywood’s biggest stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Ayushmann Khurrana.

Talking about the song. Rajit Dev said, “For two decades I’ve been dancing, watching International artistes perform and dreaming big. To now having choreographed the FIFA 2026 Official Anthem starring Nora Fatehi and French artist Vegedream and music producer Sanjoy, a song the entire world will see, choreographed by an Indian, that gives me immense pride. It’s a full-circle moment. The boy from Mumbai, India who started dancing, wanting to choreograph and direct is now representing India on one of the biggest global stages, with Team RDX, my dancers, right there in the video with me. FIFA has opened doors for me in the West and beyond, and my goal stays the same, take Indian dance, infuse it with my signature style, and show the world our rhythm belongs everywhere”.

He added, “Right now I’m directing and choreographing multiple music videos and also working as associate choreographer to Vaibhavi Merchant on one of India’s biggest films, lots of music, lots of movement, and many more stories I want to tell through dance”.

Rajit’s body of work includes hit songs such as ‘Aye Haye’, ‘Payal’, ‘Morni’ by Badshah, ‘Zaalim’ by Nora Fatehi & Badshah, ‘Bijlee Bijlee’ by Harrdy Sandhu, and the FIFA anthem ‘Light The Sky’.

He has also directed and choreographed some of the biggest global stage spectacles, including the FIFA Fan Festival Qatar 2022, ICC World Cup Opening Ceremony 2026, Untold Festival Dubai 2025, Shillong Music Festival.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) TV actress Shubhangi Atre has opened up about her journey in the entertainment industry and the gradual way she experienced public recognition over the years.

Reflecting on her career growth, the ‘Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain’ actress shared how consistent effort, dedication to her craft, and meaningful character portrayals eventually led to audiences connecting with her both on-screen and off-screen. Shubhangi told IANS, “When you give your 100%, when you play a character with utmost dedication that forces the audience to connect with you, things start happening on their own. For me, it started with people calling out my character’s name. That's how it starts for everyone.”

“However, when they have built a deeper connection with you, they like to know you personally. That's when today’s social media pages come into play, and people get to know your name and the real you. And slowly, people start calling you by your real name and then appreciate you for the character. That's when you realize you have truly made it,” she added.

The actress also shared that this kind of recognition can be both exciting and overwhelming. “There is a certain responsibility that comes with people knowing you. People look at you with so much love and appreciation, and you need to reciprocate that love. "You can't dismiss that love, because thanks to that love, it has made you what you are.”

Shubhangi Atre further said that when an actor begins their journey, the primary focus should be on honing their craft and continuously improving their performance. She explained that fame naturally follows those who remain honest and dedicated to their profession.

Professionally, Shubhangi Atre rose to fame with her portrayal of Angoori in the Hindi sitcom “Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain,” which ranks among the longest-running Indian comedy sitcoms.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming streaming series ‘Raakh’ was unveiled on Wednesday, and it promises a gripping fictional investigative thriller set in the late 1970s.

It traces a crime that sends shockwaves across the nation, and leads to a nationwide manhunt that explores the collision between crime and justice. The series seems to be heavily inspired by the Ranga-Billa case of kidnapping and extortion of siblings.

The trailer opens with a close-up of a pair of eyes and a maniacal laugh that sets the tone for what follows. It is packed with fast-paced and intense visuals, and pulls viewers into the world of Babu (played by Akash Makhija) and Rajjo (played by Ramandeep Yadav). Through sharp flashes of the crimes they’ve committed, the trailer gives us a glimpse into their troubled pasts, peeling back the layers of their twisted minds, revealing the forces that shaped them.

Talking about the series, creators, writers, and co-directors Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket said, “At the end of the day, what stays with you from great crime stories is rarely just the crime or the investigation. You remember the deeply human emotions. With Raakh, we wanted audiences to explore emotional spaces they wouldn’t expect from a crime thriller, because crime is not the only thing that happens in a crime story, it’s also about everything else it leaves in its wake. From the very beginning, we weren't interested in building a world that revolved solely around the mystery”.

The series stars Sonali Bendre, Ali Fazal, and Aamir Bashir in lead roles, along with Akash Makhija, Ramandeep Yadav, Divya Sharma, Vivaan Sharma, Anshul Chauhan, Rakesh Bedi, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya in pivotal roles.

“We wanted to create a holistic emotional landscape around it, one that explored grief, guilt, love, anger, and the ways in which a single act can ripple through the lives of everyone it touches. For us, the most compelling question wasn't just 'Who did it?', but 'What does this do to the people left behind?'”, they added.

The series is directed and executive produced by Prosit Roy, and created, written and co-directed by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket along with dialogues by Ayush Trivedi.

The series is set to premiere on Prime Video on June 12.

--IANS

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Chennai, June 10 (IANS) Actor Mohanlal on Wednesday paid rich tributes to legendary Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja, calling the late pioneer "a director who found poetry in the soil, truth in silence, and soul in every frame."

Taking to his X timeline to pen his condolences, Mohanlal wrote, "A director who found poetry in the soil, truth in silence, and soul in every frame. Sharing screen space with Bharathiraja Sir in 'Thudarum' was an honour I will cherish forever. Rest in peace, Sir. Your legacy will continue to inspire generations, and your presence will be deeply missed."

Tharun Moorthy, the director of the blockbuster Malayalam film 'Thudarum' too, penned his tribute on social media. Taking to his Instagram page to share pictures of himself with Bharathiraja, he wrote, "Thank you, Master. Memories #Thudarum forever."

Condolence messages are pouring in from across the country, with several stalwarts expressing their grief and sorrow over the demise of the iconic filmmaker.

Megastar Chiranjeevi, in his condolence message, wrote, "Indian cinema has lost one of its greatest storytellers, #Bharathiraja garu. He transformed the fragrance of village soil, the beauty of human relationships, the innocence of love, and the emotions of ordinary people into timeless cinematic poetry. His films touched millions of hearts and inspired generations of filmmakers."

Chiranjeevi went on to say, "A recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri and several National Film Awards, Bharathiraja garu’s contribution to Indian cinema is immeasurable. I was fortunate to work under his direction as ’𝓟𝓾𝓵𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓳𝓾’ in 𝓐𝓻𝓪𝓭𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓪. His passion for cinema, simplicity and dedication to his craft left a lasting impression on me. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on forever through his remarkable films. Rest in peace, “Iyakkunar Imayam” Bharathiraja garu. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti."

One of Tamil cinema's iconic directors, Bharathiraja, passed away in Chennai in the early hours of Wednesday. He was 84. The veteran director, who is a Padma Shri Awardee and who is considered to be a trendsetter in Tamil and Indian cinema, had been battling health issues for sometime now.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay was among the first to pay homage to the late director at his residence in Neelangarai on Wednesday. Several other celebrities too have expressed grief over the demise of the veteran director, who has won six National Awards, and delivered several films considered to be cult-classics in Tamil.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) Amid the heated chatter about Janhvi Kapoor’s sexualised character in “Peddi”, veteran actress Anu Aggarwal has talked about the portrayal of women in films, questioning whether female characters are treated as complete human beings with their own voices, choices and journeys, or merely reduced to objects of visual consumption.

Anu wrote on Instagram: “When we talk about the objectification of women in cinema, what are we really talking about? For me, the question is simple. Are we seeing a female character as a complete human being? Or are we seeing her primarily as an object of visual consumption? Does she have a voice?”

She added: “Does she have a personality? Does she make choices? Does she have a journey of her own? And perhaps the simplest question of all: If a particular scene were removed, would the story lose something essential?”

“Or was it there merely to draw attention to her body? Respect recognizes the whole person. Objectification reduces the character to something less.What do you think?”

Peddi is receiving backlash over the portrayal of the female lead, Janhvi Kapoor, with many accusing the makers of objectifying her. However, later the film’s director Buchi Babu Sana responded to the ongoing controversy and said they will make changes to the relevant portion based on feedback.

Talking about Anu, after her debut in 1990, Anu appeared in a string of Hindi films, including Ghazab Tamasha, King Uncle, Khal-Naaikaa, The Cloud Door, Janam Kundli, and Ram Shastra.

Her last release was Return of Jewel Thief, which was released in 1996. Directed by Ashok Tyagi, the film was a sequel to the 1967 film Jewel Thief, which starred Ashok Kumar and Dev Anand, who reprise their roles in this film. The film's cast also includes Dharmendra, Jackie Shroff, Shilpa Shirodkar, and Madhoo.

The actress in 1999 was injured in a serious car accident. After which, she was in a coma for almost 29 days, which left her with no memory of her earlier life.

--IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) The makers of ‘Dhamaal 4’ have officially announced the theatrical release date of the much-awaited comedy entertainer.

Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn on Wednesday, shared a brand-new poster from the film, revealing that the latest installment of the popular ‘Dhamaal’ franchise will arrive in cinemas on July 10, 2026.

Earlier on Tuesday Ajay had shared another poster that featured Ajay Devgn himself and veteran actor Sanjay Mishra hanging precariously from a rocky cliff as they appear to be on a treasure hunt.

Sharing the poster on, Ajay wrote, "Inn dono ka hai ek hi goal, to get their hands on gold."

Directed by Indra Kumar, Dhamaal 4 will bring back the franchise's signature blend of slapstick humour, treasure hunts and larger-than-life comic situations.

The film stars Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Jaaved Jaaferi and Sanjay Mishra in key roles.

The ensemble cast also includes Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar and Ravi Kishan.

For the uninitiated, Dhamaal franchise began with the 2007 hit Dhamaal, followed by Double Dhamaal in 2011 and Total Dhamaal in 2019.

Produced by Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Indra Kumar, Anand Pandit and Kumar Mangat Pathak, Dhamaal 4 is presented by T-Series in association with Devgn Films, Maruti International and Panorama Studios.

Earlier, Riteish Deshmukh had also unveiled a quirky new character poster from the upcoming comedy entertainer. The poster showed Riteish hanging precariously from a cliff edge in the middle of a dense jungle while a frightened Anjali Anand is seen struggling to hold on to him. Adding to the chaos, a monkey is seen swinging nearby and a snake is wrapped around his leg.

Sharing the poster, Riteish wrote, "Get ready to join the most unplanned and unstoppable treasure hunt ever".

–IANS

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Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) Khushi Kapoor, on Wednesday, took to social media to share a light-hearted “sorry” moment.

Taking to Instagram, she shared candid pictures with her friends Aaliyah Kashyap and others, giving a glimpse of their casual and fun moments together. Alongside the video, she wrote, “Sorry to everyone who heard our dinner table conversations.” In the images, she is seen striking poses alongside her friends for the camera. Khushi exudes stylish vibes in a short top and skirt.

Reacting to her images, Khushi’s close friend Orhan Awatramani commented, “Sorry to everyone who dint also.” Aaliyah wrote, “Legit.”

A few days ago, the actress had posted her stylish photos and captioned them as "Was a converse kinda day.”

Last month, Khushi Kapoor made headlines as she remembered her late mother and legendary actress Sridevi on Mother’s Day. She shared a black-and-white collage featuring cherished memories with her mother. In one of the pictures, a young Khushi was seen embracing Sridevi, while another showed baby Khushi with the 'Mr. India’ actress.

For the unversed, Sridevi married producer Boney Kapoor in 1996. Prior to his marriage with Sridevi, Boney was married to Mona Kapoor, with whom he has two children, Arjun Kapoor and Anshula Kapoor. After his separation from Mona, Boney Kapoor tied the knot with Sridevi, and the couple welcomed two daughters, Janhvi and Khushi, both of whom are now active in the film industry.

Sridevi passed away in 2018 in Dubai at the age of 54 due to an accidental drowning.

On the work front, Khushi Kapoor is reportedly set to star in the sequel to Sridevi’s 2017 film Mom. She will be seen sharing screen space with Karishma Tanna, marking their first collaboration together. Directed by Girish Kohli, the project is being produced by Boney Kapoor.

She made her feature film debut as Betty Cooper in “The Archies.” Since then, she has appeared in the romantic comedies “Loveyapa” and "Nadaaniyan," which received a lukewarm response.

--IANS

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