ShowBiz

Mumbai Feb 19 (IANS) Actress Ishita Dutta has shared an honest video on her social media account where she has spoken about dealing with toddler meltdowns, further revealing how she handles emotional outbursts of her two-and-a-half-year-old son Vayu.

The actress has suggested that instead of gentle parenting all the time, a more balanced approach is necessary, where parents remain calm while their toddlers are throwing a tantrum and not beat themselves if at all they themselves have a break down at times.

Sharing her experience, she said, “Vayu is two and a half years old and I have seen a big change in his personality. The biggest one is that he wants to do things on his own. It can be simple things like eating by himself, wearing his clothes, putting on his shoes and tying his shoelaces. But he is still small, so he cannot do everything. That makes him irritated and it leads to a meltdown.”

She further explained, “I have tried everything, yelling, being strict, being extremely sweet, even crying with him. But I realised that once the meltdown starts, there’s nothing you can do. You just have to wait. I sit with him and tell him it’s okay, mama is here, and I let it pass.”

She added, “I give him choices. Instead of doing things for him, I ask him if he wants me to feed him or cut his food into small pieces. Instead of opening the cupboard, I take out two options and ask him to choose. That way he feels heard and independent, but I am still guiding the decision. You have to repeat yourself again and again. It may feel like he will never get it, but one day it sinks in. Sometimes it’s okay to give in to a tantrum — not because you’ve lost, but because you can explain it later when they are calm.”

The Drishyam actress added, “There are days when I handle his temper well and days when I don’t. And that’s okay. I hope sharing this helps someone. This phase is difficult not just for the child, but also for the parents.”

Talking about Ishita Dutta, on the personal front, the actress married actor Vatsal Sheth in 2017. The couple welcomed their first child, son Vayu, in 2023 and were blessed with their second child, a daughter in 2025. On the work front, Ishita was last seen in Delhi De Pyaar De 2 alongside Ajay Devgn, Rajul Preet Singh, R Madhavan, Gautami Kapoor and is now all to be seen in the third instalment of the Drishyam franchise.

–IANS

rd/

Los Angeles, Feb 19 (IANS) Actress-singer Hilary Duff, who is preparing to release her long-awaited new album, Luck... or Something, reveals what prompted her to return to making music after a decade-long hiatus.

Duff told Glamour magazine: "I just felt really ready to share. One, I wanted to stretch creatively, and two, I wanted to make something that I could connect with people again on the level of who I am now. I felt like people have definitely gone through some of the similar large strokes that I have in the past 10 to 15 years."

She first found fame playing the lead character in Lizzie McGuire, the hit Disney Channel comedy series. However, the actress shared that, contrary to public perception, she was a "totally normal teenager,” reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She said: "I’ll say that I didn’t ever feel ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ and it was funny that I was flagged as the good girl because of what people saw me doing on TV or that I wasn’t overtly sexual. I was a totally normal teenager doing normal teenager things."

Meanwhile, Duff shared at making a musical comeback in August 2025.

Alongside some throwback photos from her press tour for Metamorphosis, her 2003 album, She wrote on Instagram: "Clearly I had to go digging around the internet for pictures from this time as I’m not sure camera phones even existed. Sadly all my hairstyles ARE very documented."

"I do know this marker of time was a huge change in my being. I was embarking on something I had no idea would make such an impact on peoples lives, and mine. As much as I look back and think this album doesn’t hold the emotional depth I look for today, I know my 14/15 year old self meant every word. It sure as hell also landed on people at the right moment in time and set me off on a pretty epic adventure."

"I remember some of my first shows being in a skate park in San Jose, and very shortly after, stepping out on stage in arenas. Yesterday marked the 22nd anniversary of Metamorphosis… Although these are distant memories for me, thank you for showing up the way that you did. To be continued… (sic)."

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS): Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Thursday took to her social media account to wish her parents on their wedding anniversary and also remembered her late father with an emotional tribute.

Sharing a heartfelt post on her social media, Priyanka wrote, “Happy anniversaryToday and always in my heart @drmadhuakhorichopra”

The picture shared by Priyanka captures a beautiful moment between her parents, late Dr. Ashok Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra. Her father is seen leaning forward towards her mother with a rose in his hand, smiling warmly looking at her while she took reciprocates the same warmth.

On the occasion, Dr. Madhu Chopra also remembered her late husband and shared a series of throwback pictures on her social media account. One picture shows her seated with her husband on seaside rocks with waves rolling in behind them.

Another picture captures them posing near a lighthouse and a beautiful house in the backdrop. A third click shows them smiling in a garden setting, and the last one features them dressed formally at a social gathering. Dr. Madhu Chopra captioned the post as, “miss you, today and everyday.”

For the uninitiated, both of Priyanka’s parents served as medical professionals in the Indian Army. Dr. Ashok Chopra passed away on June 10, 2013, after battling cancer.

Priyanka has often spoken about how close she was to her father all throughout her life. She even has a “Daddy’s lil girl” tattoo inked on her wrist in his handwriting.

During her wedding to Nick Jonas on 2018, she had embroidered her father's name on her wedding gown as a tribute to him and to make him a part of her special day.

In many of her earlier interviews, Priyanka has revealed that her father’s favourite film of hers was “Barfi!” It was shortly after the film’s release that he passed away.

On the professional front, Priyanka is gearing up for her Hollywood flick The Bluff. In India, she has SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated Varanasi that also stars South star Mahesh Babu. It is slated for a January 2027 release.

–IANS

rd/

Los Angeles, Feb 19 (IANS) The friendship between Hollywood actresses Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo is still going strong long after their press tour for ‘Wicked: For Good’.

Ariana Grande, 32, recently took to social media to support her ‘Wicked’ costar’s one-woman play ‘Dracula’, which premiered at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End, reports ‘People’ magazine.

“absolutely @cynthiaerivo”, Ariana Grande wrote in her Instagram Stories under a reposted photo of Erivo in ‘Dracula’. “congratulations my brilliant, unstoppable friend”. Erivo, 39, reposted Grande’s story and replied, “Thank you. I love you”.

As per ‘People’, the ‘Dracula’ star shared a carousel post highlighting sweet moments from the show’s premiere via Instagram on Wednesday, February 17. Among the photos is one of Erivo and Kip Williams, the writer of West End’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s horror classic, side by side.

“OPENING NIGHT for @draculawestend!! So much to say, but for now I’ll just say this”, Erivo wrote in her caption. “Thank you for the love, for all who showed up to support and celebrate our show… See you shortly for another round”.

Erivo’s ‘Dracula’ is a twist on the classic vampire tale, as it’s a one-woman show. The Oscar-nominated actress plays a total of 23 roles, including the titular vampire, alone onstage. “I’m f***** petrified. I really am. I’m very scared”, Cynthia Erivo shared in a new conversation with Jonathan Bailey for Wonderland Magazine. “But I’m also like, I don’t know, is this sadistic of me, but I’m really excited about it as well. It’s absolutely nonsensical and insane”.

The show marks Cynthia Erivo’s return to the theater after leading the 2015 revival of The Color Purple. Her role as Celie Harris took Erivo from London to a Tony Award-winning breakout on Broadway.

“I haven’t been back to stage for such a long time”, she said. “The first time I really did anything that felt like a stage was Jesus Christ Superstar, and that was only three nights (in August)”.

--IANS

aa/

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) Actress Hina Khan shared a heartfelt note as she geared up for Sehri, saying that dedication towards work and faith can beautifully go hand in hand.

With just a couple of hours left for Sehri, the actress took to Instagram stories to reflect on wrapping up a long and hectic work day, while still making time for personal commitments at home.

She revealed that despite her packed schedule, she managed to remove her acrylic nails herself, calling it a small but meaningful win.

She shared a picture of her nails and captioned it: “Sehri in 2 hours. And the hard work finally paid off. Who said work and faith can't go hand in hand. Had a long work day but I still managed to remove acrylics at home. Woh kehte haina, Jahan chaah hal, wahan raah bal...Alhamdullilah #Ramadan Mubarak.”

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, communal prayer, reflection, and community.

Hina Khan is noted for her versatility across genres from family dramas and reality shows to psychological thrillers. One of the highest-paid television actresses in India, she is widely recognised for portraying Akshara Maheshwari Singhania in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

The actress emerged as the runner-up in the eighth and the eleventh seasons of the reality shows Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and Bigg Boss.

She then played the critically acclaimed negative character in the romantic television series Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2 from 2018 to 2019.

She had auditioned for the singing reality show Indian Idol where she managed to be in the top 30 in 2008. In 2024, she revealed that she is suffering from Stage-3 Breast cancer and confirmed that she is undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) Bollywood star of the 80s, Meenakshi Seshadri has credited ace filmmaker Subhash Ghai for shaping her career and potraying her so finely and immaculately in his films.

The actress took to her social media account to share a video montage from their recent appearance on the reality show “Indian Idol,” where Subhash Ghai showered praises on Meenakshi’s acting skills, professionalism and talent.

Expressing her gratitude, Meenakshi wrote, “The words Guruji and my mentor Subhash Ghai said about me were very kind and heartfelt. Those were Subhashji’s personal feelings towards me, and for that, I bow to him first of all.”

She added, “I am not saying that I am a diamond, but he presented me like that as Radha in his films. The way you see me today is because of how he shaped and portrayed me on screen.”

The clips from the video montage show Meenakshi standing on the stage of “Indian Idol,” alongside young contestants as she smiles warmly.

Another throwback image that featured in the video, captures a younger Meenakshi with Subhash Ghai at an award event, holding a trophy. It also features the filmmaker addressing the audience while Meenakshi stands beside him. The actress also added a few more unseen pictures from their professional journey together.

For the uninitiated, Subhash Ghai directed Meenakshi in the 1983 film “Hero,” which marked her Hindi film debut. The film also starred Jackie Shroff and was a major box office success. Meenakshi essayed the role of Radha Mathur in the romantic drama.

The movie revolved around love, redemption and transformation, and went on to become one of the most iconic films of its time.

---IANS

rd/

Los Angeles, Feb 19 (IANS) Hollywood star Margot Robbie says that she makes films for fans, rather than critics.

She told Vogue Australia: "I consider audience always. I’ve never, ever been on set and thought, ‘What are the critics going to think of this?' I’m like, ‘What’s an audience going to feel right now? What’s their emotional response going to be?’

"I just believe you should make movies for the people who are going to buy tickets to see the movies. It’s as simple as that."

The actress observed that Emerald Fennell, her Wuthering Heights director, has a similar approach to filmmaking, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The actress said: "I love working with Emerald, too, because she always prioritises an emotional experience over a heady idea.

"She's very smart and she's got great ideas and all this kind of stuff, but she will let a cool idea fall by the wayside to offer the option that is going to be most exciting for an audience. And I really appreciate that about her."

Meanwhile, Robbie previously claimed that she was "set up for success" with Wuthering Heights.

The actress stars alongside Jacob Elordi in the movie, which is loosely inspired by Emily Bronte's 1847 novel of the same name, and Margot feels fortunate to have worked on the "most amazing screenplay".

The Hollywood star told Extra: "The chemistry between us as Cathy and Heathcliff … We were so set up for success, to be honest.

“Like, we had the most amazing screenplay and we had the most incredible designers designing these shots and these sets and these costumes, and you have Emerald there who's so attuned to what can make someone go and gasp and, you know, it's like we were just given all the ingredients to do something amazing, and all we really needed to do was bring our best as well."

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) Actor Sourabh Raaj Jain is back in different avatars on three different mediums, and he feels he’s back to school, where one is learning different subjects within a similar domain.

The actor is all set for his OTT debut with Rajshri's Sangamarmar, along with his theatrical debut as well with Mere Krishn. Sourabh also is working with a radio station, currently lending his voice to interesting stories.

"I feel blessed to be performing across 3 mediums simultaneously - OTT, Theatre and Radio. Each is so very different as OTT has changed the consumption and creation in entertainment for viewers and makers, while theatre takes us all back to the basics of acting and that too in front of a live audience.”

Sourabh said that radio, on the other is a complete audio medium, “where one doesn't have any visuals to complement or display emotions.”

“Hence, radio is extremely satisfying, because as an actor voice modulation is an extremely powerful tool, and on radio expressing only through one's voice is an exciting challenge.”

“I feel like I'm back to school where one is learning different subjects within a similar domain and I'm loving it. Each medium has a different audience with different nuances and while working across each medium, I feel I'm getting trained on the field in becoming a better performer," he added.

Sourabh, who has been known for his iconic roles in shows like Remix, Uttaran, Mahabharat, Mahakali, will also be seen portraying the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in an upcoming film in making.

The actor also has dabbled with reality shows and was seen last year in Tu Dadhkan Mein Dil.

The actor married Riddhima Jain in 2010, after three years of dating. They have participated together in the show Nach Baliye 9. They have twin children, a girl Hrishika and a boy Hrishivh, born in August 2017.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) Bollywood diva Sonam Kapoor took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as her critically acclaimed film Neerja completed 10 years since its release.

Marking the milestone, the actress reflected on the journey of portraying brave flight attendant Neerja Bhanot and expressed gratitude for the love the film continues to receive a decade later.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Sonam shared scenes from the 2016 film, adding a simple text overlay that read, “10 years of Neerja,” as she marked the milestone.

Ram Madhvani directed Neerja. It also stars Shekhar Ravjiani, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Kavi Shastri, and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles.

The plot is based on a real-life event: the attempted hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan by the Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organization on 5 September 1986. The film is shown from the point of view of the head purser of the flight, Neerja Bhanot, who thwarted the hijack attempt by alerting the pilots, thus grounding the plane.

She died trying to help save the passengers and crew, of whom 359 of the 379 on board survived.

The film won 2 awards at the 64th National Film Awards - Best Feature Film in Hindi and Special Mention.

On the professional front, she was last seen in the film Blind in 2023. Sonam Kapoor, the daughter of Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, began her career as an assistant director on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2005 film Black. She made her acting debut in Bhansali's romantic drama Saawariya in 2007.

The movie also starred Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Rani Mukerji. It also marked the debut of Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor.

Sonam, who is the daughter of actor Anil Kapoor, began her career as an assistant director on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2005 film Black. She made her acting debut in Bhansali's romantic drama Saawariya in 2007.

She was then seen in I Hate Luv Storys and Raanjhanaa. She was also seen in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Sanju, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Neerja, and Veere Di Wedding.

Sonam Kapoor was lined up to headline the film adaptation of Anuja Chauhan’s novel “Battle for Bittora,” but the project has remained stalled for years. Produced by her sister Rhea Kapoor, the film was envisioned as a blend of romance and politics.

--IANS

dc/

Mumbai Feb 19 (IANS) Global icon Priyanka Chopra has slayed yet again by giving the traditional saree a striking modern twist while also paying tribute to the ‘globally growing influence of Indian fashion’.

The actress recently shared pictures of her look on her social media account, wherein se was all set for the premiere of her movie The Bluff.

PeeCee turned heads in a vibrant yellow draped ensemble that blended heritage with high fashion, and gave the Indian saree a modern twist, further making a powerful statement about India’s evolving couture identity on an international stage.

The series of pictures highlights the dramatic trail of Chopra's bright yellow outfit flowing gracefully across the carpet. The soft drape is seen wrapping around her hour glass figure like a contemporary saree, and also flaunts a thigh-high slit.

Sharing the images, Priyanka wrote, “Wearing this is an ode to Ercell Bodden, my character in The Bluff. In the opening of the film she appears with a dupatta over her head, a subtle but meaningful marker of identity and strength.”

She added, “I love a saree. And when I saw this piece walk down the couture runway last month, it felt like a saree with a modern twist. We immediately called Gaurav and asked him to hold it for me.”

“There’s a quiet power in its simplicity. The precision of the tailoring, the way it drapes and moves, felt both rooted and forward looking, and the bright yellow is so synonymous with the colorful palette of India. To me, this piece is a testament to the growing global scope of Indian fashion and how beautifully our heritage continues to evolve,” she concluded.

Talking about The Bluff, Priyanka has been receiving great reviews for the trailer itself.

In the trailer that was released in January this year, Priyanka was seen as a wounded yet resilient woman who battles all odds to protect her child, braving injuries and danger with grit and gumption.

The actress delivers a commanding performance, pulling off intense fight and action sequences that are both gripping and powerful.

Talking about The Bluff, it is set in the late 1800s, and shares the journey of Ercell Bodden (Played by Priyanka Chopra), a former pirate known by the name of “Bloody Mary.”

As she successfully builds a different life for herself after fleeing her ruthless crew, predominantly taking the role of a mother living in the Cayman Islands, her past returns to haunt her.

Her former crew tracks her down, forcing her to face the violent world she was once a part of.

Backed by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO Studios in association with Amazon MGM Studios, "The Bluff" also stars Temuera Morrison as Quartermaster Lee, Captain Connor’s gold-hungry consigliere, along with Ismael Cruz Córdova, Safia Oakley-Green, Zach Morris, David Field, and Vedanten Naidoo in crucial roles.

--IANS

rd/