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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Sandalwood heartthrob Rishab Shetty wished his Instagram family on Diwali with a couple of wholesome festive photos with his wife Pragathi Rishab Shetty, son Ranvit Shetty, and daughter Raadya Shetty. 

In the pics published on Tuesday, all four of them were seen flaunting their sweet smiles as they posed in stunning ethnic attire.

Rishab was seen in a purple kurta with a traditional mundu, while his son Ranvit opted for a blue kurta and white pajama. Pragathi looked gorgeous in a cream silk saree with a red border, and their daughter twinned with her mother in a red lehenga and choli.

"Celebrating Deepavali with beautiful moments, bright lights and lots of love. (Red heart emoji) (sic)," the 'Kantara' actor wrote on his official Instagram handle.

"May this festival bring joy, peace and happiness into every home. Wishing everyone a very happy Deepavali. (Diya, cracker and evil eye emojis)," he added.

In the first pic, the four of them were seen standing in front of their home temple, followed by a couple of pictures of them bursting crackers and enjoying some good time.

From Pragathi performing the puja, to posing with Rishab, her son and her daughter, the album had several precious moments from Diwali 2026.

Work-wise, Rishab has collaborated with producer Bhushan Kumar and producer-director Sandeep Singh for an ambitious two-part historical epic 'The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’. The pre-production work of the project is currently underway, and the film is scheduled to go on the floor by early 2027.

Commemorating the collaboration, Bhushan Kumar presented Rishab with a century-old painting of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Shedding light on the project, Bhushan Kumar said, “Maharashtra and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have given us a legacy to be proud of, and I believe it is our responsibility to honour that legacy through cinema and share it with the world. When Sandeep Singh narrated ‘The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’, I felt a deep sense of responsibility to bring this extraordinary story to the big screen."

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Los Angeles, Nov 10 (IANS) English actress Daisy Edgar-Jones once spoke about her dangerous experience of shooting for a film in close proximity with alligators and cockroaches and mosquitoes.

A clip from ‘The Graham Norton Show’ has resurfaced on the Internet, and it shows the actress recollecting her experience of shooting for the film ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’.

Talking about the same, she told the show host, “I shot for a film called ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, and it's all set in the marshes, so we were filming in the bayous and there were like alligators and cockroaches and mosquitoes, like that big”.

At this point, actor Benedict Cumberbatch chimed in, as he said, “You've got moccasins and snakes there as well”.

Responding to the same, she said, “Yup, snakes, yeah. Black widow spiders, so yeah, lovely place to holiday (laughs)”.

When the show host asked her if, “the production ship in alligators, or did you find them?”, she said, Oh no, no, they were there”.

Benedict Cumberbatch then recollected his story, as he said, “I did a film though, I did ‘12 Years a Slave’, and I went swimming in one of the bayous. I thought it was great, because I saw loads of people going up and down on boats, and they had rings on the back, and I was like, ‘It's fine, we can swim here, it's fine, it's not dangerous’. And I was swimming”.

“Then loads of people started waving at us, and I was like, ‘Hi’. And they were like, get out of the f****** water! And I was like, what, what?’. They went, ‘There are snakes, there are snakes here’”, he added.

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Los Angeles, Nov 10 (IANS) Veteran Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, who has published his memoir ‘One Helluva Ride’, has shared the reason behind him penning the memoir at this stage in his life.

A clip from ‘The Graham Norton Show’ features the veteran actor talking about digging out the content for the memoir from his memories.

The show host asked him, “You must have been asked to write memoirs and books before at this point in time. So why did you cave in?”.

The actor said, “No, I just thought it was probably time I took a break. Dad wrote about 9 books, he wrote a great autobiography. And so I started thinking about legacies, dad and I had together got probably 135 movies and over over eight decades and all of that and all 3 of my kids are actors now, too. But the real reason is my memory, I'd forgotten so much I reached a point in life now where I realized the only thing that matters is your friends, your family and what you remember”.

“So I am doing this whole exercise and process of going back starting in 1944 and finding whatever information I could about the family has been fabulous. So I got a whole bunch of new memories and thoughts to keep in my mind there for at least a day”, he added.

Meanwhile, the veteran actor Michael Douglas also had a reunion with actress-singer Glenn Close on the latest episode of ‘The Graham Norton Show’.

Recently, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a picture of himself with Glenn Close. In the picture, he can be seen blushing while the singer gives him a peck on the cheeks.

He also penned a long note in the caption, as he lauded the actress-singer and cherished their reunion.

He wrote, “One helluva reunion with my ‘Fatal Attraction’ co-star and dear friend @glennclose on The Graham Norton Show! What a treat to be together again while celebrating my book One Helluva Ride! Thank you @grahnort and for one helluva week”.

Michael Douglas and Glenn Close share one of Hollywood's most enduring friendships, forged while working together on the 1987 psychological thriller ‘Fatal Attraction’. In the film, Michael essayed the role of Dan Gallagher, a married attorney, while Close portrayed Alex Forrest, the woman who becomes dangerously obsessed with him after a brief affair.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actor Arjun Rampal, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film ‘The Blind Game’, has shared what makes the film stand out. The film marks the late filmmaker Sangeeth Sivan’s final film and promises a suspense-filled journey of deception, betrayal and unexpected twists.

The actor said that the film builds intrigue through deception, shifting perspectives. It also stars Priyamani in the lead role along with Akash Makhija of ‘Raakh’ fame, Rohit Chandel and others.

Talking about the film, the actor said, “‘The Blind Game’ takes audiences on a gripping journey where nothing is quite as it seems. What appealed to me about the film is the way it builds intrigue through deception, shifting perspectives and the choices the characters make. I’m pleased that the film will now reach a wide audience, giving more viewers the opportunity to watch it”.

The film is set against the backdrop of a mysterious Christmas night, and follows a group of friends whose lives take an unexpected turn after they become entangled in a missing INR 5 crore and the dangerous world of a notorious crime boss. When an IPS officer begins investigating the case, conflicting accounts, hidden secrets and suspicious circumstances surrounding an alleged suicide gradually unfold. As the truth becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from deception, the friends find themselves caught in a gripping game of survival, betrayal and unexpected twists.

Producer duo Kushagra Sharma and Srishti Sharma shared, “‘The Blind Game’ is one of our most ambitious projects, and we are extremely excited to bring this intriguing story to audiences. The film has a compelling narrative, layers of suspense and unexpected twists, brought to life by an exceptionally talented cast led by Arjun Rampal and Priyamani. We believe its engaging storytelling and thrilling elements will resonate with a wide spectrum of viewers, including Gen Z and audiences across the globe”.

Produced by Srishti Sharma, Kushagra Sharma, Deepak Mukut and Hunar Mukut under the banners of ThunderSky Entertainment and Soham Rockstar Entertainment, the film is set to premiere on November 11, 2026, on ZEE5.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Samridhii Shukla has opened up about completing three years as Abhira in the popular television show "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai" (YRKKH).

Reflecting on her journey, the actress shared that initially it was quite hard for her to step into Abhira’s shoes because she is an introvert. She also spoke about the challenges and experiences that have shaped her journey with the show. Looking back at her journey, Samridhii said, “I would call this journey beautiful because it has taught me so much. It has helped me grow as not just an actor but as a human being.”

“When you look at three years of working almost every day, you realize the kind of commitment it takes. This journey has made me more strong, dedicated and hardworking. To be honest, it is hard to put the whole experience into words, because it has been so fulfilling. I come to work every day and it feels like a game. The entire team is wonderful and each day is a blessing. I really believe this is a very blessed show and I feel blessed to be a part of it,” she added.

Samridhii went on to state, “Initially, it was quite hard for me to step into Abhira’s shoes because I am an introvert. I was a person who would probably not even ask for a glass of water at a guest’s or relative’s house even if I was thirsty. And then I had to play Abhira who cannot stop talking! So it was a very interesting and challenging transition for me.”

Samridhii Shukla plays the lead role of Abhira Sharma Poddar, an advocate, in the long-running television drama "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai". She is paired opposite Rohit Purohit, who portrays Armaan Poddar. The show is produced by Rajan Shahi under the banner of Director's Kut Productions and airs on StarPlus.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Punjabi singer Sunanda Sharma celebrated her journey from a small town to the big stage as she shared a special glimpse of her stage performance with her mother on social media.

Taking to Instagram, Sunanda posted a picture featuring her mother alongside her on stage. Through a series of captions, the singer reflected on her journey, confidence and the importance of staying true to oneself. Sharing her images with her mom, she wrote, “Thank God I never listened to anyone who told me to be realistic.”

The photographs feature Sunanda sharing a warm hug with her mother on stage, making for a special mother-daughter moment. The singer also posted several solo pictures from her performance, capturing her confidence and vibrant stage presence.

In another caption, Sunanda expressed her playful side, writing, “He asked why he only gets to see me at night? I said baby cause I’m a STAR.” She also added, “Fan of this crazy gurl.” The singer further celebrated her roots with the Punjabi lines, “Chote pind ton uthke aayi ne, Jitt leya saara jahaan ve,” reflecting on her journey from a small town to achieving recognition.

Emphasizing the importance of individuality, she also wrote, “Never lose yourself for anybody,” followed by, “Her spirit shines without permission.”

Through these pictures and captions, Sunanda offered a glimpse into her journey, celebrating her achievements while sharing a special moment with her mother on stage.

Meanwhile, Sunanda Sharma recently made headlines after an unexpected incident at an event in Jaipur forced her to cut short her performance. The singer was performing on stage when a man from the audience suddenly climbed onto it, leaving her startled. Sunanda screamed in shock as security personnel immediately intervened to handle the situation. She soon walked off the stage, bringing her performance to an abrupt end. Videos capturing the incident later surfaced on social media.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming streaming film ‘Parivarik ManuRanjan’, has shared that actors are fragile by nature because they live so many lives concurrently.

The actor spoke with IANS along with his co-actor Aditi Rao Hydari in the Goregaon east area of Mumbai, and said that currently he is practicing spirituality to understand himself better.

During the conversation, the actor said that spirituality has enabled to not react instantly to the highs and lows of life.

However, being an actor, feeling every emotion to the core is his primary job as an actor, which is exactly the opposite to what he has learned in spirituality. When asked how he manages this contradiction, he said, “In art, it's okay, and is required as a part of the profession. In art, the character is written, and he is supposed to be reactionary. It needs awareness, to know this, to be a witness, I realise that an emotion has come to me, will I react to this emotion or will I respond? Where did this originate from? How does the character think? This is a strange thing that many people don't understand. Why are actors so fragile? Because along with his life, he lives a few more lives, every year”.

He further mentioned, “So, that also has an effect. A common man only faces his own challenges. But an actor, along with himself, faces the challenges of his character. So, because of his life, he becomes delicate. In such cases spirituality becomes more important for the life of an actor. An actor has to realise that the character is overpowering them, an emotional turmoil is happening inside them”.

“Life and acting are two different things. But if you understand life better, you will be able to act better. And to understand life, you don't have to understand acting”, he added.

Meanwhile, ‘Parivarik ManuRanjan’ is set to drop on November 13, 2026 on November 13, 2026 on SonyLIV.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Maninee De opened up about stepping into the role of a widowed single mother in the upcoming short film ‘Raqs.’

==In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, the ‘Krrish’ actress also spoke about emotional demands of the character, the film’s powerful subject, and her experience of working with the director and producer. Talking about her role, she said, “In Raqs I play a widowed single mother to a young boy who is struggling to cope with the loss of her partner. She is trying to navigate her own grief while bringing up her child, taking on the responsibilities of both a mother and a father.”

“She is doing everything in her capacity to provide for him and be a present parent. However, as the story progresses, she finds herself caught in a vicious cycle of self-hatred and helplessness because of what happens to her child while she is out trying to provide for their future. My look is very contemporary, reflecting that of a modern, working woman,” added.

Talking about her take on the short film format, Maninee mentioned, “Personally, I have always loved short-format films. I believe it takes a special skill to communicate something meaningful and impactful within a limited duration. The writing, the visual treatment and the way a story is shot make this format particularly exciting. At the same time, the process is far more challenging in terms of time, budget and scale, making the entire filmmaking experience very different.”

“The subject of Raqs is important to humanity as a whole. It is our battle cry against one of the most heinous crimes committed against any living being, whether human or animal. It represents the complete degradation of human values and a deep-rooted sickness in society. Our endeavour is to create awareness, work towards prevention, encourage more people to join the fight, raise our collective voice, give victims a voice and send a strong warning to perpetrators,” she added.

The ‘Fashion’ actress also shared how she has loved the working with the producer and the director of the film. “It was an absolute joy working with such a talented, empathetic and capable director Iqbaal Rizzvi. As for our producer, Manbeena, she is not just a gifted writer but also a strong, grounded individual who sees beyond the human exterior.”

Maninee De has been part of films such as "Krrish", "Fashion", "Student of the Year", "Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii" and "7 1/2 Phere: More Than a Wedding", among others. She has also appeared in web series such as "Romil & Jugal", "Abhay", "Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala", "Made in Heaven", "The Jengaburu Curse" and "Campus Beats.”

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Veteran actress Neetu Kapoor, who was last seen in ‘Daadi Ki Shaadi’, has shared a trivia about her film ‘Teesri Ankh’.

On Tuesday, the actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and re-shared a post from one of her followers.

The picture features the actress along with Sarika and Zeenat Aman. She wrote on the picture, “Teesri Ankh, 1982 release”.

The original post mentioned, “Trivia: The film was launched in 1977 and it took 5 years to complete. Along with Ganga Meri Maa, Chorni and Raj Mahal this was one of the last releases of Neetu Ji as Heroine”.

The film was directed by Subodh Mukherjee and produced by Subir Mukherjee. It featured an ensemble cast of Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Rakesh Roshan, Amjad Khan and Nirupa Roy. The story revolves around Ashok, an orphan raised by Kailash Nath and his wife.

Earlier, the actress sarcastically spoke about the paparazzi’s obsession with capturing the back of the actress. She was spotted in the city. As she stepped out of an establishment, and walked towards her car, she was asked for a picture of her back by the paparazzi stationed at the venue. She turned around, and told the paparazzi, “Apko ya bada accha lagta hai na, ‘back’”?

The paparazzi replied in negative as the actress sat in her car, and closed the door. Neetu Kapoor is not the first person from the industry to speak about the paparazzi’s unhealthy obsession of clicking the pictures of the actresses’ back.

Prior to this, actress Neha Dhupia called out paparazzi for taking inappropriate “back shots” of actresses, saying the practice is disrespectful and needs to stop. At a Mumbai awards event, she confronted photographers, and said, “Yeh badtameezi se backshot kaun leta hai tum logon mein se? Band karo. (Who is taking these disrespectful back shots? Stop it)”.

She added that she was not asking only for herself, but for all women, saying celebrities had repeatedly asked photographers to stop and were “tired of saying it again and again”.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan also strongly supported Neha Dhupia’s stand.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress Ankita Lokhande celebrated Diwali with her husband, Vicky Jain, and family in Bhilaspur.

He shared glimpses of their festive celebrations on social media. Alongside a series of pictures with Vicky, Ankita penned a heartfelt note about the importance of spending festivals with loved ones, saying that the joy of Diwali lies in togetherness rather than grand celebrations.

Sharing photos, the ‘Pavitra Rishta’ actress wrote, “Bhilaspur wali Diwali Apno ke sang kaafi hai. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how grand the celebrations are, but about the people who make every moment special. Family is our first home, our biggest blessing and the one place we can always return to.”

She further expressed gratitude for the little moments, shared laughter, traditions and time spent together, adding, “Some bonds are blessings, some moments become memories, and family will always be home.” The actress also extended Diwali and New Year wishes to her followers through the post.

The photographs show Ankita and Vicky performing aarti together, seeking blessings during the festivities. The couple also posed with their family members. Ankita and Vicky twinned in coordinated festive outfits. Ankita looked elegant in a traditional saree, which she accessorized with green bangles. She completed her festive look with traditional jewellery and a graceful hairstyle. Vicky, meanwhile, complemented her look in ethnic attire.

In another glimpse, the family was seen enjoying the celebrations and bursting firecrackers.

Ankita also shared a video featuring herself and Vicky bursting firecrackers together. Alongside the clip, she penned a romantic note for her husband, writing, “Years from now, I might forget the fireworks. I’ll remember how you looked at me. Happy Diwali from us to all of you.” The video offered another glimpse into the couple’s Diwali celebrations.

Ankita Lokhande tied the knot with businessman Vicky Jain on December 14, 2021. The couple got married in a grand ceremony in Mumbai, attended by their family members and several friends from the entertainment industry.

--IANS

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