ShowBiz

Chennai, Aug 31 (IANS) Actor Santhanam's upcoming film which is being directed by well-known Kannada director Prasanthraj has been titled 'Kick', its makers announced on Wednesday.

Taking to Twitter, actor Santhanam, tweeting the First Look poster of the film, said: "Happy Vinayakar Chathurthi everyone. Here is the first look of my next #SANTA15, titled 'Kick'."

The film, the shooting of which began in Bangalore a few months back, continued in full swing in Chennai. The final schedule, which happened in Bangkok for 15 days, was wrapped up recently.

Produced by Naveen Raj under his banner Fortune Films, the film will mark the directorial debut of Prasanthraj in Tamil.

Actress Tanya Hope, who acted in the hit film 'Dharala Prabhu', has played the female lead in this film, which also features Thambi Ramaiah, Brahmanandam, Senthil, Kovai Sarala, Mansoor Ali Khan, Manobala, Y.G. Mahendran and Mottai Rajendran among others.

Sources say that Santhanam plays a person who works in an advertising firm and that he expects to get a 'kick' out of everything he does.

The story revolves around the hero and the heroine who work in rival advertising companies and the cat and mouse fight that takes place between them due to the rivalry.

Sources also add that the director has made this film as a full-length comedy. Interestingly, as many as 12 different kinds of sets were erected to shoot just two songs in the film.

--IANS
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Los Angeles, Aug 31 (IANS) Hollywood star Ben Kingsley is poised to reprise the role of Trevor Slattery in the upcoming 'Wonder Man' series from Marvel Studios at Disney+.

The show was first revealed to be in the works back in June. It will focus on the Marvel character Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, reports Variety.

In the comics, Williams is the son of a wealthy industrialist whose company falls on hard times due to competition from Tony Stark's Stark Industries. Williams then accepts an offer from villain Baron Zemo that gives him ionic superpowers including super strength and durability. After fighting the Avengers several times, Wonder Man ultimately joined their ranks.

Kingsley returning as Slattery lends credence to reports that the show is intended to be a Hollywood satire, as it has been established that Slattery is a failed actor and Wonder Man has been an actor and a stuntman in the comics.

Exactly how Kingsley would factor into the plot of the series and how many episodes he would appear in is being kept under wraps, but sources say that he will play a major role.

Kingsley first portrayed Slattery in 'Iron Man 3'.

In that film, Slattery has been hired to portray a terrorist leader known as The Mandarin, but his true identity is revealed in the end and he is arrested. He then appeared in the short film "All Hail the King," which shows Slattery in prison before he is broken out by someone working for the real Mandarin.

Most recently, Kingsley played Slattery in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'.

He was taken prisoner by The Mandarin, Shang-Chi's father Xu Wenwu, who kept him alive as a sort of court jester. Shang-Chi and his friends eventually help him escape and he in turn helps them defeat Wenwu.

Kingsley is one of the most celebrated actors of modern times, known for roles in films like 'Gandhi', 'Sexy Beast', 'House of Sand and Fog', 'Bugsy' and 'Schindler's List'.

He earned Academy Award nominations for the first four of the aforementioned films, winning the award for best actor for 'Gandhi'.

He is also a four-time Emmy nominee and has starred in recent shows like the Epix neo-noir series 'Perpetual Grace Ltd'. and the Netflix miniseries version of 'Watership Down'.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS) Even after almost a year of its release the Allu Arjun-starrer 'Pushpa: The Rise' continues to make waves. This time the film has created noise on the international stage as it was recently screened at Moscow Film Festival.

The film has been screened under the category of 'Block Busters' around the world at the film festival. Taking to Instagram, the Embassy of India in Moscow shared Allu Arjun's poster and wrote: "We gladly announce that the film 'Pushpa - The Rise: Part 1' has been selected by the Moscow International Film Festival under the category of 'Block Buster hits around the world'".

"The film 'Pushpa - The Rise: Part 1' starring Allu Arjun, Fahad Faasil, Rashmika Mandanna directed by Sukumar Bandreddi has created sensation all over the world and has stood as the highest grosser in India for the year 2021", the embassy further mentioned in their Insta post.

From Allu Arjun's popular dance number 'Srivalli' to his heroic screen presence in 'Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava' along with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Pushpa has been a box-office phenomenon and can make well for a case study for a film that broke records at the box-office with practically no marketing and promotions before the theatrical release.

The film went to theatres with just a cold poster launch and limited digital engagement and gave stiff competition to 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', and effectively decimated the multi-starrer sports drama '83'. Pushpa's digital premier further took the film's popularity to places unheard of.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS) Bollywood actor Kunal Kemmu is someone whom the audience has seen growing up on celluloid. The actor, who started his career as a child artiste in films like 'Zakhm', 'Raja Hindustani' and 'Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke', and headlined films like 'Kalyug', 'Go Goa Gone', 'Dhol' and several others as a grown up actor, is set to make his directorial debut with the film 'Madgaon Express'.

Kunal took to Twitter on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and shared the news of his directorial debut with his fans as he put up the film's announcement poster. He wrote: "Ganpati Bappa moriya. As all good things begin with his name I can't think of a better day to share this with all of you."

Piecing together the film's journey from a thought in his mind to becoming a feature, he further wrote: "It started with a thought in my head which grew into a dream which flowed out through my fingers into words on my laptop and now it is becoming a reality on its way to the silver screen."

He also expressed his gratitude towards producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar of Excel Entertainment.

He mentioned: "A big thank you to Ritesh, Farhan and Rucha at excel entertainment for believing in my script and my vision and partnering with me on this exciting journey in the world of cinema. With joined hands and a bowed head I seek all of your blessings and the blessings of Ganpati Bappa. Introducing 'Madgaon Express'".

The plot and release date details of the film are currently under the wraps.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS) Bollywood action star Tiger Shroff says he is single and has always been infatuated by actress and his 'Baaghi' co-star Shradha Kapoor.

The ninth episode of 'Koffee With Karan' Season 7 will feature - Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon.

The actor finally reveals his relationship status.

"I am single. I think so at least and I am currently looking around," said the star.

However, the star did not just stop at the mere acceptance of his singlehood. He also went ahead to manifest a name that very few have linked with him.

"I have always been infatuated by Shradha Kapoor. I think she is great!" the star said.

On the acting front, Tiger, who made his acting debut in 2014 with 'Heropanti', will next be seen in 'Ganapath', an action thriller film directed by Vikas Bahl. It also stars Kriti Sanon and will have Amitabh Bachchan in a cameo appearance.

'Koffee With Karan' airs on Disney+ Hotstar.

--IANS
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Los Angeles, Aug 31 (IANS) Actor Ewan McGregor thought he was too "urban grunge" to star in 'Star Wars'.

Playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy of the sci-fi franchise, the 51-year-old star revealed that he nearly turned down the part as he wanted more indie roles following his success in 'Trainspotting', reports aceshowbiz.com.

"I was like, 'I am Danny Boyle's actor'," the actor quipped. "I am f****** urban grunge. I am the Oasis of the British movie industry, and then when 'Star Wars' came around, I felt, 'I don't know if I want to do this. This isn't me'."

"I was so into being this sort of antihero. I felt like an indie British actor. I felt like that defined me."

McGregor said that it was a childhood love of the franchise that ultimately persuaded him to take the part.

The 'Moulin Rouge' star recalled: "In the end, it just got closer and closer. By that time, I was just so attached to the idea of it from where I was a kid. To get a chance to be that character and play the younger Alec Guinness was pretty awesome.

"I was almost grateful to be involved in something that big and to be part of the legend of it, because I loved it. When I was a kid, I loved those films. I was six or seven when the first one came out. It's in me somehow."

Ewan, who reprised his role as the Jedi for the Disney+ spin-off series 'Obi-Wan Kenobi', says that making the sci-fi films was hugely different from featuring in indie projects.

"It's a different process. Those prequels, it was very much the challenge of trying to be believable in front of a blue curtain for four months."

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) A Delhi court has issued a fresh summon to filmmaker Leena Manimekalai in a suit filed against the depiction of Hindu goddess Kaali in the poster of her controversial film by the same name, video and tweet "in a very uncalled way".

Civil Judge Abhishek Kumar of Tis Hazari Courts, in an order dated August 29, noted the submissions of plaintiff Adv Raj Gaurav, in which it was stated that an application filed by him on the previous date is pending for adjudication.

He also sought to serve the notice to the defendants (Manimekalai and others) through e­-mail as well as WhatsApp.

"In view of the submissions, let summons be issued afresh through all modes including service through e-­mail as well as Whatsapp," the judge ordered.

The matter will be next heard on November 1.

Earlier in July, the court had issued summons to Manimekalai.

The plea moved by advocate Raj Gaurav contended that the poster of the film depicts the goddess smoking, which not only hurts the religious sentiments of common Hindus but is also against the basics of morality and decency.

Apart from the filmmaker, notices and summons were also issued to her company, Touring Talkies Media Private Limited.

The controversy had escalated after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had said that she had every right as an individual to imagine goddess Kaali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity, as each person has his or her unique way of offering prayers.

--IANS
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Chennai, Aug 30 (IANS) Noted South Indian actor Amala Paul has filed a case of cheating and threatening against her estranged friend, Bhavninder Singh Dhatt for allegedly cheating her. The actor in her complaint lodged with the Villupuram police said that she was cheated in a business deal and Dhatt was threatening her that he would upload their photographs on social media sites.

Police arrested Singh on the complaint of the actor. The Villupuram police told IANS that the actor and Dhatt had started a film production company in 2018 and had shifted to Periyamudaliyar Chavadi near Auroville in the district.

The actress had invested heavily in the production company and had produced her latest movie, "Cadaver".

Police officials said that Dhatt had manufactured forged documents and removed Amala Paul as a director of the production company. After the police received the complaint, they filed various cases against him including forgery, cheating, intimidation and harassment, and arrested him. Senior police officers said that they are questioning him.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal, who was last seen as the antagonist in the Kangana Ranaut-starrer 'Dhaakad', will have a cameo appearance in the upcoming thriller film, 'Nikita Roy and Book of Darkness'. The film recently went on floors in London and will be shot in Britain's capital and other parts of the UK.

Talking about joining the cast, Arjun says, "It was a real pleasure to do a cameo in this film, as it reunited me with Paresh Rawal, who I adore, Nicky Vicky who I have seen as kids and now as producers. Also I am very fond of the Sinha family and so delighted to see Kush at work doing so well and Sonakshi in a totally different avatar."

"'Nikita Roy and Book of Darkness' will be a film to look out for and I wish the whole team my best wishes for it, as I had a blast working with them," the actor added.

The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Suhail Nayyar in pivotal roles and marks the directorial debut of Sonakshi Sinha's brother Kussh S Sinha.

'Nikita Roy and The Book of Darkness' is produced by Nicky Bhagnani, Vicky Bhagnani and Ankur Takrani of Nick Vicky Bhagnani Film, Kratos Entertainment, Kinjal Ghone of Nikita Pai Films and Dinesh Gupta. The film is expected to release in 2023.

--IANS
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By Narendra Puppala
Hyderabad, Aug 30 (IANS) 'It came, it saw, it conquered, and continues to conquer' is a phrase that aptly describes the box office journey of 'Kartikeya 2' the latest Tollywood offering to capture the country's imagination. Starring young actor Nikhil Siddhartha, the Chandoo Mondeti directorial has entered the Rs 100 crore club and shows no signs of flagging anytime soon.


The well-crafted socio-mythological thriller revolving around Lord Krishna and Krishna-tattva or philosophy, has been attracting people to theatres in droves without resorting to the high-blitz promotion campaigns that are the staple of most Bollywood releases.

From a low-key entry in about 50 theatres, 'Kartikeya 2' soon spread like wildfire across theatres in Hindi markets. At last count more than 3000 screens were showing the movie even on weekdays.

"It's the word of mouth that is taking the movie forward. There's nothing bigger than word of mouth and it went viral and was discussed a lot on social media. So I feel the conventional forms of promotion which I feel are definitely important but for this movie it was the guerrilla marketing that helped and the content took it over."

"Overseas too it is my first movie which crossed 1.5 million dollars," an ecstatic Nikhil Siddhartha told IANS.

Made on a modest budget of Rs 15-20 crore, 'Kartikeya 2' collections have crossed the 100 crore mark. "We have crossed the Rs 25 cr nett barrier in Hindi which is huge," Nikhil exclaims.

In contrast, it's predecessor 'Kartikeya' was made at a cost of Rs 5 crore and registered around Rs 20 crore at the box office. Nikhil says it was a conscious plan to make the sequel a pan-India project.

"We thought we'll have a Hindi release because it talks about our Indian culture as a whole and how we have to get back to our roots. We have some very important aspects of Lord Krishna, which many people do not know. So what happened after the Mahabharat, what happened after the end of Lord Sri Krishna's avatar. This was the point that we picked up and we thought this should reach maximum people."

Although dubbed in Tamil and Malayalam, the makers haven't gone for theatrical releases in those languages. They now plan for an OTT release in these languages, Nikhil said.

Meanwhile, Nikhil Siddhartha is busy criss-crossing the country to promote 'Kartikeya 2'.

While some quarters are describing 'Kartikeya 2' as the latest flag bearer of southern cinema in Bollywood, Nikhil Siddharth modestly attributes it all to the movie's content and Lord Sri Krishna. "There are no South-North barriers now," he signs off.

--IANS
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