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Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Actor Harsh Chhaya believes Indian television underwent a massive transformation after the arrival of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

He further stated that there has been a clear distinction between the kind of content that was being made before 2000 and what followed after the iconic family drama which changed the landscape of Indian TV.

In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Harsh reflected on the changing content and receptiveness of television in the context of storytelling.

He said, “There is a very distinct change in what was happening before 2000 and what started happening after the first episode of ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’. There is a clear difference between the two.”

Elaborating on his observations, recalling a recently watched sequence on a popular TV show, Harsh said how he was left dumbfounded by the whole idea and look of the particular scene.

The actor said, “By chance, I was watching a scene from a daily soap while scrolling, and I saw family members standing in a balcony, worried about something, while the hero and heroine were hanging from a kite flying in the air. The heroine was scared she might fall or die, and the hero was trying to hold on with one hand. And you could clearly see the aluminium support holding them. So what more do I say?”

He further recalled another scene he had been offered. “I was playing a doctor. Someone falls sick, I bring him home, everyone is panicking, and suddenly I put my hand on his stomach, open his eyes and say, ‘He has taken a drug.’ Then I open my bag, take out an antidote and give it to him. I was thinking, how do I know what drug he took? Why am I carrying its antidote with me? How did I figure out the drug just by opening his eyes and without any tests”

Expressing frustration over the creative process today, Harsh added, “Earlier, if you had doubts about a scene, you could speak to the director and make changes. Today, there’s someone on set whose only job is to finish 22 minutes of content. You ask questions, and the answer is always, ‘Sir, we don’t have time.’”

Despite his criticism, the veteran star maintained his love for the medium. “Having said that, for a matter of fact, I love television. Whatever identity I have today, it has come through television,” he said.

For the uninitiated, Harsh, with a career spanning over three decades, has been part of acclaimed shows like Hasratein, Tara, and Koshish – Ek Aashaa, and continues to be appreciated for his work across television, films, and OTT.

He was recently seen in the OTT show Undekhi for which he received great reviews.

The show also starred Varun Badola, Gautam Rode.

–IANS

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Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol showered love on his actor-brother Bobby Deol, whom he lovingly called “Lord Bobby” for his work in the upcoming film “Bandar”, while nephew Karan joined in the admiration club as he said, “Bobby chacha, you look phenomenal.”

Sunny took to Instagram, where he shared the teaser of “Bandar”, which was unveiled on Thursday, and wrote: “Loooking sooo gooood my Lord Bobby (sic).”

Responding to his brother in the comment section, Bobby replied with a string of heart emojis.

Bobby’s nephew and Sunny’s son Karan Deol too shared the teaser on his Instagram and wrote: “Woah!! So looking forward to #Bandar. Bobby chacha you look phenomenal.”

Talking about the teaser, Bobby is seen in a retro avatar bringing back the disco era as he’s seen grooving to a reimagined version of the popular 1970s track ‘Come On Baby, Dil Kisko Dogi’.

Penned by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, who have also written Paatal Lok, Kohra, and Udta Punjab, the film also stars Sanya Malhotra, Raj B Shetty, Sapna Pabbi, Saba Azad, Riddhi Sen, Jitendra Joshi, Indrajeet, and Nagesh Bhonsle.

“Bandar” marks Bobby’s return to the silver screen as a solo lead hero after 17 years. He was last seen in Ba***ds of Bollywood. The movie is set to release in cinemas worldwide on June 5.

The actor also has Alpha, an action thriller directed by Shiv Rawail, in the pipeline. The film also stars Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, and R. Madhavan. The film has been described as the first female-led film and also the seventh installment in the YRF Spy Universe.

He will also be seen in Jana Nayagan, a political action thriller film, starring TVK Chief Vijay. The upcoming film also stars Pooja Hegde, Mamitha Baiju, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, and Priyamani.

--IANS

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Chennai, May 8 (IANS) Director M R Bharathi, who is best known for having directed 'Azhiyadha Kolangal 2', has now disclosed that his upcoming film, 'Cycle Gap', will be a musical triangle love story in which music will form the emotional bridge between the characters.

Giving out more details, Bharathi said, “Music has always had the power to express emotions that words cannot.'Cycle Gap' is a relationship drama where music becomes the emotional bridge between the characters. We wanted the film to feel contemporary in presentation while retaining the soul of classic musical romances.”

For the unaware, M R Bharathi has consistently explored emotionally layered narratives through his films. His critically appreciated 'Azhiyadha Kolangal 2' earned recognition for its mature emotional storytelling, while his recent outing 'Dream Girl' drew attention for its unconventional exploration of love, dreams, and memory.

Continuing his artistic journey, Bharathi now presents 'Cycle Gap', a youthful romantic musical designed to resonate with today’s generation through emotionally driven storytelling and a strong musical backbone.

Talking about the film, the film's producer and lead actor Nawaz said, “As someone passionate about cinema, I have always admired how musical love stories stay with audiences for years. 'Cycle Gap' has been designed with that emotional intent. Bharathi sir’s storytelling carries realism, poetry, and strong emotional depth. Through Tube Light Productions, we wanted to create a film that feels youthful, visually fresh, and musically memorable.”

Produced by Tube Light Productions, 'Cycle Gap' will feature Nawaz and newcomer Sherry Agarwal in the lead. The film will also feature Prabhu Shasta in a pivotal role, shaping the film’s layered romantic narrative.

The film features music composed by debutant Sathish Padmanabhan, with vocals by Naresh Iyer, Srinisha Jayaseelan, and Kaushik Shridharan, positioning it as a strong music-led cinematic experience. The project is spearheaded by Executive Producer Suja Suriya Nila, with cinematography by Solomon Boaz DS, editing by Saravana Edayagnanam, and dialogues by Hemanth Selvaraj.

--IANS

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4 Stars (****)

The film revolves around Kapil, who is navigating an arranged marriage setup when he meets Sadia Khateeb, his prospective match. Just when things begin to settle into a traditional roka, the situation takes an unexpected turn, Sadia’s daadi announces her own decision to get married, completely shifting the emotional and social dynamics of the family.

The story moves to Shimla, where the daadi (Neetu Kapoor) lives alone. Her two sons and daughter rush to Shimla after reading online about her decision to remarry at this age, especially as her phone is switched off, leaving them worried and unable to reach her.

Caught in the middle of this chaos is Kapil, who is deeply in love with Sadia Khateeb. Even after his own roka is called off under the belief that his union cannot continue if the daadi is remarrying, he chooses to stay connected to Sadia. He eventually joins the family’s chaotic mission, though with a very different intent: to stop the daadi’s wedding and salvage his own love story in the process.

What unfolds is a mix of emotional clashes, comedic misunderstandings, and generational conflict, eventually building towards a surprisingly heartfelt resolution that touches upon family, acceptance, and letting go.

Performances:

Neetu Kapoor is the undeniable anchor of the film, delivering a graceful yet fearless performance as the daadi. She brings warmth, dignity, and emotional unpredictability, making her character both endearing and impactful.

Kapil Sharma balances humour and emotion with ease. His performance feels natural, especially as his character transitions from a hopeful groom to someone emotionally entangled in a much larger family conflict.

Sadia Khateeb lends quiet strength to her role, portraying confusion, affection, and emotional restraint with sincerity. She remains the emotional bridge between the chaotic family dynamics.

The supporting cast, playing the daadi’s children, effectively drives the central conflict, bringing in frustration, humour, and generational resistance that fuels the narrative.

Direction and Writing:

The film stands out for its emotional clarity and grounded storytelling, leaning into relatable family dynamics and human reactions. The writing is on point and effective, allowing situations to unfold naturally rather than forcefully.

Ashish R Mohan’s direction is confident and patient, often letting silence, reactions, and awkward family exchanges carry as much weight as dialogue. This gives the film its authenticity and emotional depth.

Music and Visuals:

The music complements the narrative without overwhelming it, subtly enhancing emotional and light-hearted moments. Visually, the film maintains a warm, accessible tone, making the world feel familiar and lived-in.

Verdict:

A heartfelt, well-crafted family entertainer that blends generational conflict, humour, and emotion into a cohesive experience. It works because of its sincerity and its ability to find humour within emotional chaos.

Final Word:

Warm, chaotic, and deeply human, this is family cinema done right.

Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Actor Babil Khan, who has resumed shooting and is amid a demanding schedule for his upcoming project, revealed that he turns to music between work as it’s his way of spending time with himself.

Babil has been juggling long hours on the set and spends his downtime in his vanity van with his guitar, making the most of quiet moments between shots.

“Whenever I get some time in between work, I naturally gravitate towards music. Playing the guitar and singing has always been something I genuinely enjoy, it’s fun, calming, and just my way of spending time with myself,” said the son of the late acclaimed star Irrfan Khan.

In March, the actor commenced shooting for his next in Bhopal. He had also posted a video from his vanity van and mentioned, “Back to the grind, time to make you proud again.”

A source close to the development had then shared, “Babil has been excited to be back on set. Acting is something that grounds him, and being in front of the camera again feels very natural to him. The message shared is from the sets of his next project, which he just began shooting for in Bhopal”.

He was also training in the martial art form Muay Thai.

A source close to IANS had then shared that Babil took various classes to learn the MMA form that originates in Thailand.

Speaking of Babil, the 27-year-old started as a camera assistant on the Bollywood film Qarib Qarib Single. In 2022, he made his acting debut with Anvita Dutt's psychological drama Qala alongside Triptii Dimri.

In 2023, he was seen playing Juhi Chawla's son Siddharth Menon in Friday Night Plan. He was then seen in the web series The Railway Men, a story on Bhopal Gas Tragedy, alongside Divyendu Sharma, Kay Kay Menon and R. Madhavan.

In May 2025, Babil deleted his Instagram profile, after he shared a video (later deleted) in which he appeared visibly upset and in tears.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Actress and author Soha Ali Khan Khan recently was seen talking about a difficult time of her life when her mother and veteran star Sharmila Tagore was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer.

The actress through a Mother's Day special segment on her podcast All About Her featuring Neetu Kapoor and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, spoke about how that tough phase brought her closer and to be more expressive with her mother.

She said, “My mother and I were never the kind to say ‘I love you’ to each other on the phone. In fact, when she told me she had been diagnosed with stage one lung cancer, she said it was because we don’t express ourselves enough, and that we must communicate more as a family.”

Soha added, “She had read a book that spoke about the importance of expressing emotions. We were never very demonstrative, you know, like some families are”

Opening up about emotional expression within families, Soha Ali Khan shared, “People from that generation also didn’t really know how to express their love. Perhaps people back then were not as expressive.”

Talking about Soha Ali Khan, the actress has been a part of Bollywood for almost two decades.

She has delivered many hits like Rang De Basanti, Tum Mile, Khoya Khoya Chaand, Dhoondte Reh Jaoge and others.

On the personal front, Soha Ali Khan is married to actor Kunal Kemmu.

The couple is blessed with a daughter Inaaya Kemmu.

Soha is also the sister of Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan and sister-in-law of Kareena Kapoor Khan.

For the uninitiated, Soha also hosts podcasts and shares a lot of informative content on her social media accounts.

The actress through her podcasts, All About Her, is often seen speaking about women’s health, lifestyle changes, and different aspects of womanhood.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Actor Sudesh Berry took a trip down memory lane and reminisced about his character Officer Vidhan from the iconic police procedural television series “CID”.

Sudesh shared a picture of himself on the photo-sharing application Instagram from the show. In the image, the actor is seen sporting a moustache and wearing sunglasses.

For the caption, the actor, who played the character from 2003 to 2004, simply wrote: “CID Officer Vidhan.”

CID first premiered in January 1998. It was created by B. P. Singh. It features Shivaji Satam as ACP Pradyuman, Aditya Srivastava as Sr. Inspector Abhijeet, Dayanand Shetty as Sr. Inspector Daya, Dinesh Phadnis as Inspector Fredricks, and Narendra Gupta as Dr. Salunkhe.

The series is one of the longest-running television series in India. The second season also started streaming simultaneously on Netflix in 2025.

Talking about Sudesh, he has been in the industry since 1988. The actor has showcased his prowess in a wide range of roles across films and TV shows in his journey in showbiz.

The 65-year-old actor began his acting career in Hindi cinema in 1988 with the film Khatron Ke Khiladi, starring Dharmendra, Sanjay Dutt, Chunky Panday, Madhuri Dixit, and Neelam.

In the same year, he made his small-screen debut in the epic series Mahabharat, where he portrayed Maharaj Vichitraviya.

It was in 1990, when he was recognised for his efforts in the film Ghayal, starring Sunny Deol.

He was then seen in a slew of films, including Vansh, Veergati, Border, Refugee, LOC: Kargil, Tango Charlie, 99 and Sanam Teri Kasam.

The actor was last seen in a special role in the recently released “Border 2”, a sequel to his 1997 film Border. Border 2 is set in India–Pakistan war of 1971. It also stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, May 8 (IANS) The makers of writer-turned-director Krishna Chaitanya's upcoming film 'Powerpeta' have now released a 'Glimpse' video of the film as part of the birthday celebrations of actor Sundeep Kishan, who plays the lead in the film.

Taking to its X timeline, 70mm Entertainments, the acclaimed banner headed by Vijay Chilla and Shashi Devireddy, wrote,"Fire. Fury. And the rise of SENAPATHI RAVI. Team #POWERPETA wishes @SundeepKishan a very Happy Birthday. Glimpse Out Now. #HBDSundeepKishan."

The glimpse opens on a high-voltage note- crowds erupting inside a theatre on first day, first show frenzy. Amid the chaos, the protagonist makes a fiery entry, smoking a cigarette and delivering a commanding dialogue about a lion. He goes on to define the essence of the land and the forces that shape its power. In a whistle-worthy moment, he sets the atmosphere ablaze by hurling crackers at the theatre screen.

Sundeep Kishan appears in a rugged period avatar- stylish shades, vibrant attire, and an intimidating aura. The reveal of his character name, Senapathi Ravi, adds weight, hinting at the dominance and intensity the role carries. His screen presence is explosive, matched by punchy dialogue delivery and raw attitude.

Director Krishna Chaitanya showcases his command in crafting a fierce, larger-than-life character. The elevations hit hard, and the dialogues reinforce his strength as a writer.

Cinematographer Madhie captures the period setting with precision, while Mani Sharma’s intense background score amplifies every frame. National Award-winning editor Sreekar Prasad handles the cuts, with production design by Ramakrishna and Monika, and sound design by Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan shaping the film’s sonic landscape.

Sources say that shooting for the film, which has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs, is currently on at a brisk pace. The sources have pointed out that the team has already successfully wrapped up its first schedule.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Actor Wil Wheaton, who played nemesis to Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper, travelled back in time to “The Big Bang Theory” days as he reminisced about spending time with the “kindest” veteran actor Mark Hamill on the sets.

Wil shared a collage featuring him and Hamill. The picture was from the season 11 finale, where the veteran Hollywood star officially officiated the wedding of Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler.

In the caption section on Instagram, Wheaton wrote: “@markhamill is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. He is exactly who you hope he will be. These #throwbackthursday pictures are from the set of Big Bang Theory, when we worked together on Amy and Sheldon's wedding.”

Wheaton revealed that everyone backstage “just geeked out” after seeing Hamill in front of the camera of the season finale.

He said: “Literally every single person on Stage 25 was just as geeked out as everyone in the cast and crew of Eureka were when Stan Lee came to visit Global Dynamics. Just like Stan, Mark handled it with such kindness and grace.”

Wheaton concluded: “He made time for everyone, and was just the most lovely man. That's who Mark Hammill is, contrary to what you may have heard from the dumbest person in your life. #tbt.”

In the show, Sheldon made Wheaton his archenemy because the actor had failed to appear at a 1995 Dixie Star Trek Convention. A 15-year-old Sheldon was devastated as he had traveled a long distance to meet him.

Wheaton is known for playing Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He is also known for playing Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me, Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers, and Bennett Hoenicker in Flubber.

Talking about Hamill, he starred as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise. The actor voiced the Joker, beginning with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 and continuing across many other installments.

The Big Bang Theory was based on five characters living in Pasadena, California: Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, both physicists at Caltech, Penny, a waitress and aspiring actress, aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz, and astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali.

--IANS

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Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) Actress Munmun Dutta took to her social media account to mourn the loss of her stray fur baby and poured her heart out in a post.

The actress revealed that she lost her stray pet dog whom she lovingly called her “oldest baby.” Sharing an emotional carousel of photos and videos, the actress expressed her heartbreak, saying her pet did not deserve such a painful end.

In the carousel, Munmun was seen spending tender moments with the stray dog. From petting her, holding her close, to cuddling showering her with affection, the post featured all of their adorable moments.

In another video, the furry companion was seen cuddling up to the actress.

One of the pictures also captured Munmun gently holding the dog’s face probably talking to her with love.

Expressing her heartbreak, Munmun wrote,

“This has hit me the hardest.

My heart is broken She was my sweetest, calm soul who was also my oldest baby.

I would go miles to take care of her.

I knew she would leave one day but I always thought I would be around and she would leave peacefully.

Talking about her fur baby's demise, Munmun wrote, “Never in my wildest dream had I imagined her being killed this mercilessly and torn into pieces and that her body being dragged far away. I cannot erase the vision of her tortured, mutilated lifeless body. SHE DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE THIS WAY.”

She further wrote, “I am shattered, my core is shaken and I wonder why would such an innocent sweet soul meet such a cruel end.”

Talking about the actress, Munmun is an absolute advocate of healthy environment and is an ardent animal lover as well.

Recently, Munmun had shared an adorable glimpse of her morning routine as she introduced her newest rescue kitten.

Taking to her social media account, the actress had posted a clip showing the tiny kitten sitting on her lap as she began her make-up routine. The curious little kitty kept looking around and observing every move.

The actress, for the uninitiated, frequently uses her platform to highlight animal welfare and the importance of caring for strays.

On the professional front, Munmun has been a part of the entertainment industry for over two decades and currently is best known for her portrayal of Babita Iyer in

the Hindi sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.

–IANS

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