NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Director Suman Ghosh’s Bengali film ‘Kabuliwala’, based on a timeless story written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has been selected for the Washington DC International Film Festival.

The filmmaker said that 'Kabuliwala', starring Mithun Chakraborty in the role of an Afghan money lender living hundreds of miles away from his little daughter in Afghanistan, will be screened in the World View Section of the festival, which is considered one of the most prestigious ones in North America.

''It will be screened alongside films by masters such as British director Ken Loach and Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchhi,'' he said.

Loach’s ‘The Old Oak’ and Hamaguchi’s ‘Evil Does Not Exist’ will be shown in the World View Section along with films from Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, Spain, France, and Chile.

''We are humbled to be an official selection at the Washington DC International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in North America. Kabuliwala will be shown at the World View Section…..,'' Ghosh said on Facebook.

The festival will be held from April 18-28, he said.

Nearly six decades after filmmaker Tapan Sinha dished out the cult movie 'Kabuliwala', based on a story written by Rabindranath Tagore, Ghosh made the Bengali film.

Kabuliwala, written in 1892, showcases the fatherly love of a middle-aged Afghan man named Rahmat for Mini, a little girl from Kolkata. Rahmat, who comes to the then capital of the British Indian empire to sell dry fruits and enter the money lending business, bonds with the five-year-old daughter of one of his patrons. The little girl reminds him of his child back home.

Bengali actors Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar essayed the roles of Mini’s parents in the movie directed by Ghosh, which was released last Christmas and got audience backing for consecutive weeks.

Sinha had first brought the story to the celluloid in 1957, keeping the original name, which also earned a cult status.

The story also inspired Hindi projects.

In 1961, a film directed by Hemen Gupta was made, featuring Balraj Sahani in the lead role. Another one was ‘Bioscopewala’ starring Danny Dengzongpa. The 2018 movie was directed by Deb Medhekar.
 

NOHRON [Maha Media]: Strawberry, the sweet and juicy delicious fruit of Meghalaya attracts everyone. Tourists also want to see strawberry cultivation. The juicy strawberries here are famous throughout the country for their sweetness. 

With the aim of promoting the popularity of Meghalaya’s strawberry, Strawberry Festival will be celebrated in the state from April 5 to 13.

The state tourism, agriculture and farmers welfare departments are organizing it. During ‘Strawberry Mahotsav’, programs will be organized to motivate farmers to take up strawberry horticulture. 
 
It is worth noting that the Directorate of Horticulture has planted strawberry plants in Meghalaya on a large scale under various central and state programmes. On the other hand, the strawberry harvest season has also started in the state. 
 
The festival will be organized near strawberry fields in Sintung and Nohron in East Khasi Hills district, Umkatih and Sohlia in Rebhoi district, Baladinggre, Darechikgre, Durkantragre villages in West Garo Hills district. During the event, music and cultural programs will also be organized along with teaching strawberry picking, wine making and jam making in the fields. Strawberry plants will also be on display and available for sale.

Such events in rural areas will not only boost agri-tourism and local business centers but will also motivate a large number of farmers to cultivate strawberries.'
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has taken action, in coordination with various intermediaries, to block 18 OTT platforms publishing "obscene," "vulgar," and, in some instances, "pornographic content". 19 websites, 10 apps (7 on the Google Play Store and 3 on the Apple App Store), and 57 social media accounts associated with these platforms have been disabled for public access in India, an official statement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on Thursday.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur has repeatedly emphasized the responsibility of the platforms to not propagate obscenity, vulgarity and abuse under the guise of 'creative expression'. On March 12, Thakur announced that 18 OTT platforms publishing obscene and vulgar content had been taken down, the release said. The statement further added that the recent decision was taken under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in consultation with other ministries of the Government of India, and domain experts specializing in media and entertainment, women's rights, and child rights.

"A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and portrayed women in a demeaning manner. It depicted nudity and sexual acts in various inappropriate contexts, such as relationships between teachers and students, incestuous family relationships, etc. The content included sexual innuendos and, in some instances, prolonged segments of pornographic and sexually explicit scenes devoid of any thematic or societal relevance," the statement added. The content was determined to be prima facie in violation of Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the IPC, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, the release said.

One of the OTT apps amassed more than 1 crore downloads, while two others had over 50 lakh downloads on the Google Play Store. Additionally, these OTT platforms extensively utilize social media to disseminate trailers, specific scenes, and external links aimed at attracting audiences to their websites and apps. The social media accounts of the concerned OTT platforms had a cumulative followership of over 32 lakh users, it said. The Ministry of I&B consistently conducts sensitization efforts with OTT platforms and their self-regulatory bodies established under the IT Rules, 2021 through meetings, webinars, workshops, etc, the statement said.

The Government of India remains committed to fostering the growth and development of the OTT industry. Several measures have been undertaken in this regard, including the introduction of the Inaugural OTT Award for Web Series at the 54th International Film Festival of India, collaboration with OTT platforms in the media and entertainment sector, and the establishment of a light touch regulatory framework with an emphasis on self-regulation under the IT Rules, 2021, the release said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Twenty four writers, including English author Neelum Saran Gaur and Hindi novelist Sanjeev, received the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2023 here on Tuesday.

The award ceremony coincided with the 70th anniversary celebrations of the National Academy of Letters at the 'Sahityotsav'.

The awards were given for literary works including nine books of poetry, six novels, five of short stories, three essays and one literary study.

Sanjeev for his novel ''Mujhe Pehchaano'' and Gaur for her book ''Requiem in Raga Janki'' received the prestigious award.

Sadiqua Nawab Saher received the award for her book ''Rajdev Ki Amrai'' in Urdu, while Swarnjit Savi was awarded for his book of poetry ''Mann Di Chip'' in Punjabi.

Other recipients of the awards in poetry include Vijay Verma (Dogri), Vinod Joshi (Gujarati), Manshoor Banihali (Kashmiri), Sorokkhaibam Gambhini (Manipuri), Ashutosh Parida (Odia), Gaje Singh Rajpurohit (Rajasthani), Arun Ranjan Mishra (Sanskrit) and Vinod Asudani (Sindhi).

Apart from Gaur, Sanjeev and Saher, writers such as Swapnamay Chakrabarti (Bengali), Krushnat Khot (Marathi), and Rajasekaran Devibharathi (Tamil) have been awarded for their novels.

For short stories, Pranavjyoti Deka (Assamese), Nandeswar Daiman (Bodo), Prakash S Parienkar (Konkani), Taraceen Baskey (Turia Chand Baskey) (Santali) and T Patanjali Sastry (Telugu) got the award.

Lakshmisha Tolpadi (Kannada), Basukinath Jha (Maithili) and Judhabir Rana (Nepali) received the prize for their essays, while EV Ramakrishnan was awarded for his literary study in Malayalam.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Jnanpith winner Odia writer Pratibha Ray said that ''without the progress of language, no culture can survive for long''.

''Literature connects everyone. Literature never divides. Therefore, writing is always universal and does not lose its lustre even in times of various changes. All Indian languages give us strength and also prepare us to speak the language of love,'' she said.

The event was also attended by Sahitya Akademi president Madhav Kaushik, vice president Kumud Sharma and secretary K Sreenivasarao.

Kaushik lauded writers and litterateurs for ''preserving humanity'' through their works.

''It is true that it has never been convenient to create literature at any point of time in history. A litterateur has always walked on hot coals so that they can be the spokesperson of the common man.

''They can hear the voice of the voiceless, they are the eyes of those who cannot see. They feel the pain of one who steps on a thorn,'' Kaushik said.

The awards are selected on the basis of unanimous selections made by the jurors or the selection made on the basis of a majority vote.

The awards relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of the award, i.e. between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021.

The authors and poets received the award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and an amount of Rs 1 lakh.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: R-rated biographical drama ''Oppenheimer'' dominated the 96th edition of the Oscars, winning seven awards out of 13 nominations including top honours of best picture and director for Christopher Nolan, his first.

It was also a night of firsts for other members of the ''Oppenheimer'' team with Cillian Murphy (best actor), Robert Downey Jr (best supporting actor), Hoyte van Hoytema (best cinematography), and Jennifer Lame (best film editing) bagging their maiden Oscars.

The Academy Award for best actress went to Emma Stone for ''Poor Things'' as she bested frontrunner Lily Gladstone of ''Killers of the Flower Moon''. This is Stone's second best actress Oscar after her 2017 win for ''La La Land''.

Here's the complete list of winners: Best Picture: ''Oppenheimer'', Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan Best Director: Christopher Nolan, ''Oppenheimer'' Best Actor: Cillian Murphy, ''Oppenheimer'' Best Actress: Emma Stone, ''Poor Things'' Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr., ''Oppenheimer'' Best Supporting Actress: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, ''The Holdovers'' Best International Feature Film: ''The Zone of Interest'' (United Kingdom) Best Original Screenplay: ''Anatomy of a Fall'', Justine Triet and Arthur Harari Best Adapted Screenplay: ''American Fiction'', Cord Jefferson Best Documentary Short Film: ''The Last Repair Shop'' Best Documentary Feature: ''20 Days in Mariupol'' Best Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema, ''Oppenheimer'' Best Live Action Short Film: ''The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar'' Best Animated Short Film: ''WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko'' Best Animated Film: ''The Boy and the Heron'' Best Makeup and Hairstyling: ''Poor Things'', Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and 
Josh Weston Best Production Design: ''Poor Things'', James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek Best Costume Design: ''Poor Things'', Holly Waddington Best Visual Effects: ''Godzilla Minus One'' Best Film Editing: ''Oppenheimer'', Jennifer Lame Best Sound: ''The Zone of Interest'', Tarn Willers, Johnnie Burn Best Original Score: Ludwig Goransson, ''Oppenheimer'' Best Original Song: Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, ''What Was I Made For?'' from ''Barbie''
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot has revealed that she has given birth to her fourth child with husband Jaron Versano.

The Israeli actor, who resides in Los Angeles, made the announcement on her Instagram account on Wednesday. It was not widely known that Gadot was pregnant.

It is the fourth girl for the couple, who are already parents to Alma (12) Maya (six) and Daniella (two).

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Kanpur's Vaibhav Gupta has won singing reality show ''Indian Idol 14'' after besting co-contestants Subhadeep Das Chowdhary from Kolkata and Rajasthan's Piyush Panwar.

Gupta, 19, was awarded with a cheque of Rs 25 Lakh from Sony Entertainment Television and a Brezza from co-sponsors Maruti Suzuki India Ltd in a ceremony last night. The singer says he wants to pursue a career in playback singing. ''When I was a kid, I usually said idol (Indian Idol) is my dream and today it has come true for me. I am very happy and feel very proud that I have made my father happy. I thought if I work hard for long enough, one day I will get it (The idol trophy) and today I have become the winner of Idol 14,'' Gupta told PTI.

The young singer wants to build his own music studio to kickstart his musical journey with the cash prize he won.

"I will make my dream studio. I will make new songs in the studio and will try my best to reach you with my voice and good music," he said.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Bollywood star couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Thursday announced they are expecting their first child.

The news comes days after reports of Padukone's pregnancy were doing social media rounds when the actor was photographed covering her midsection at the 77th BAFTA awards which she attended as a presenter. The couple shared the news in an Instagram post.

''September 2024,'' read the picture embossed with baby shoes and clothing.

Deepika and Ranveer, both 38, tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in 2018 at Lake Como, Italy.

On the work front, both Deepika and Ranveer will next be seen in a special appearance in the Rohit Shetty-directed ''Singham Again'', headlined by Ajay Devgn. As frequent collaborators, the couple has worked together in films such as ''Ram-Leela'', ''Bajirao Mastani'' and ''83''.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The world of music has been bereaved. The legendary ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas is no more. The Padmashri-awardee Pankaj Udhas has died after suffering from a prolonged illness. The news of his death has put people everywhere in a shock. He was just 72.

The news of his demise was confirmed by his daughter Nayaab Udhas. She took to social media to share a statement. It read as, “With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th february 2024 due to a prolonged illness (sic).”

Pankaj Udhas rose to prominence as of the best ghazal singers of the country. He was popular for his unique renditions which were not just soulful but even were able to connect deeply with the audiences thanks to their meaningful lyrics. In the 1980s and 1990s, he grew on to become so popular that the movies that had his songs became popular solely for its music. Songs like ‘Chitthi Aayi Hai’, ‘Aur Aahista Kijiye Baatein’, ‘Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera’, and ‘Na Kajre Ki Dhar’ were some of his most popular songs. These songs are so popular that they’ve not aged at all. Even today’s generation can be heard listening to these songs quite often.

Pankaj Udhas was conferred the Padmashri, which is one of India’s highest civilian awards in 2006. His achievements in the field of art, entertainment and music were unparalleled. He shall be sorely missed by people from all generations.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the departed. May his soul rest in peace.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Ameen Sayani, the famous voice behind the popular “Binaca Geet Mala” programme, has died at the age of 91, his son Rajil Sayani said on Wednesday.

Sayani suffered a heart attack on Tuesday night and was taken to a hospital but could not be saved.

''He passed away at around 7.00pm of heart attack at the HN Reliance hospital,'' Rajil told PTI.

Sayani, whose introduction ‘Namaskar bhaiyon aur behno, main aapka dost Ameen Sayani bol raha hoon’ on Radio Ceylon still evokes strong nostalgia, was born in Mumbai in a multilingual family on December 21, 1932.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Khajuraho Dance Festival is starting today in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.  This is the 50th year of celebration of this prestigious dance festival. The festival will be inaugurated today by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. 

In the Khajuraho Dance Festival, various classical dances like Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kuchipudi will be performed by the renowned artists of the country till the 26th of this month. With the aim of promoting tourism in the state, on the first day of this dance festival, more than 1500 artists will try to create a world record by performing Kathak in Kathak Kumbh.  This annual cultural festival will take place in the picturesque backdrop of the Khajuraho Temple Group.  The festival is being organised by the Culture Department of the Madhya Pradesh Government in collaboration with Ustad Alauddin Khan Academy of Music and Arts.   
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Suhani Bhatnagar, who played young Babita Phogat in Aamir Khan-starrer wresting drama "Dangal", has died at the age of 19.

"She died at AIIMS yesterday. She was 19," a close relative of the actor told PTI, confirming her death.

He did not elaborate on what led to the young actor's death but media reports suggested she suffered medical complications after a leg fracture and was later admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The 'Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film' and the 'Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration' have been retitled with the names of the late prime minister and legendary actor being dropped as part of a raft of changes for the National Film Awards, according to a notification.

The 'Regulations of the 70th National Film Awards 2022' reflects the changes suggested by a committee set up by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to rationalise the honours given in different categories. The changes include an upward revision in the cash rewards, including for the Dadasaheb Phalke award, and several awards being fused.

''The committee deliberated on the changes during the pandemic. The decision to make these changes was ultimately unanimous,'' a member of the committee told the news agency on condition of anonymity.

Filmmaker Priyadarshan, who is also a member of the panel, told PTI he gave his final recommendations in December. ''I have made a few recommendations in the technical department like sound,'' he added. Entries for the National Awards for 2022 closed on January 30. The awards are running a year late because of the pandemic with the National Awards for 2021 being given in 2023.

In accordance with the changes suggested by the committee, and included in the 'Regulations', the 'Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film of a Director' has been renamed 'Best debut film of a Director'. The prize money, which was earlier split between the producer and the director, will now only go to the director.

Similarly, the 'Nargis Dutt Award for a best feature film on national integration' will now be called the 'Best feature film promoting national, social and environmental values'. This category also merges award sections for social issues and environment conservation into one.

The rationalisation committee was headed by Neerja Sekhar, additional secretary in the I&B ministry. It included filmmakers Priyadarshan, Vipul Shah, Haobam Paban Kumar, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi, cinematographer S Nallamuthu as well as I&B joint secretary Prithul Kumar and the ministry's director (finance) Kamlesh Kumar Sinha.
 

BHOPAL [Maha Media]: The 50th International Khajuraho Dance Festival is being organised from February 20 to 26 in Khajuraho. The festival is held annually in Khajuraho by the Culture Department, Ustad Alauddin Khan Music and Arts Academy, Madhya Pradesh Culture Council, in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department and the Department of Archaeology.

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Religious Trust and Endowment Dharmendra Singh Lodhi announced on Thursday that the illuminating celebration of the country’s rich cultural heritage and legacy will take place at the Khajuraho. The Khajuraho Dance Festival, which began in 1975, is commemorating its golden anniversary this year.

To make this achievement special and memorable the Culture Department is organising the Kathak Kumbh, aiming to establish a world record by presenting a collective dance performance titled ‘Kathak Kumbh’ with 1500 to 2k artistes on the first day of the festival.

Apart from the world record, there will be a Layshala for the first time in the festival, where there will be a confluence of students with best gurus of Indian dance styles and workshops. Various thrilling activities will be held by MP Tourism Board. For adventure lovers, activities like skydiving, camping, water adventure, speed boat, shikara ride, rafting, village tours and e-bike tours, among others, will be organised.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Pyarelal Sharma, one half of the iconic composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, has been felicitated with the Lakshminarayana International Award. The award was presented to the 'My Name Is Lakhan' composer by musicians L Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam as part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival.

Recently, Pyarelal was announced as a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour, on the eve of Republic Day. Pyarelal is one of the most successful music composers in Hindi cinema in his career spanning over eight decades. The legendary musician has given iconic songs in collaboration with music maestro Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar. The duo- Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed evergreen songs including 'Dosti', 'Hum Sab Ustad Hain', Aaye Din Bahar Ke, 'Mere Hamdam Mere Dost', 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh', 'Bobby', 'Roti' 'Kapda Aur Makaan', 'Amar Akbar Anthony, Aasha, Prem Rog, 'Meri Jung', 'Ram Lakhan', among others.

The duo's soundtracks had an unbelievable range, spread across many genres, moods, styles and situations.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Ustad Zakir Hussain has bagged three awards at the 66th Grammy Awards, presented in the US on Monday. The tabla player and music composer picked up the coveted award in 'Best Global Music Performance' category for 'Pashto'.

In his acceptance speech for 'Pashto' on behalf of Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia- his fellow musicians- the 72-year-old Mumbai born percussionist said, "Thanks to the Academy, thanks to all these great musicians for giving us beautiful music...our deepest thanks to our families...without them, we are nothing... without love, without music, without harmony, we are nothing." 'As We Speak' in which the tabla maveick has collaborated with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia won the Grammy for the 'Best Contemporary Instrumental Album' category.

Announcing the win, Academy on X wrote, "Congrats Best Contemporary Instrumental Album winner - 'As We Speak' @belafleckbanjo, @zakirhtabla, @edgarmeyerjrft, @rakeshflute. #GRAMMYs." Hussain, is also part of the Jazz group 'Shakti', won 'The best Global Music album award for its latest album 'This Moment'.

The album 'This Moment' features eight songs created by John McLaughlin (guitar synth), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Shankar Mahadevan (vocalist), V Selvaganesh (percussionist), and Ganesh Rajagopalan (violinist). They were nominated for the Grammys with other artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido. Zakir Hussain's Grammy victory has enthused Indian fans, who celberated the wins on social media.

In a post on X, music composer, Ricky Kej, who attended the ceremony, hailed Zakir Hussain and other artistes. "Ustad Zakhir Hussain, the living legend creates history by winning 3 Grammys in one night!!! Rakesh Chaurasia wins 2!! .. and I am blessed to witness it," he wrote. Hussain and his collaborators, however, lost out in the 'Best Instrumental Composition' for which John Williams - Helena's Theme picked up the Grammy. He along with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia were nominated in this category for their 'Motion'.

The 66th edition of Grammy Awards was held on Monday in Los Angeles.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Poonam Pandey on Saturday made an appearance on social media and said she is ''alive'', a day after there were reports that the actor had died of cervical cancer.

''I feel compelled to share something significant with you all - I am here, alive. Cervical Cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease,'' the 32-year-old actor posted on Instagram alongside a video.

Pandey said she wants to spread ''critical awareness'' about the disease and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take. ''Together, let’s strive to put an end to the devastating impact of the disease and bring #DeathToCervicalCancer,'' she wrote.

On Friday, the actor's team made the shock announcement that Pandey passed away after a battle with cervical cancer but there was no confirmation of the death of the model, influencer and sometime actor known for her bold statements and appearances.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Popular stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, who won reality series "Bigg Boss", called his journey on the show a ''roller coaster'' ride that tested him but also helped him evolve as a person.

"Bigg Boss" host Salman Khan announced Faruqui as the winner of season 17 on Sunday night.

Looking back at the show, which saw him competing for the winner's trophy with other popular contestants like Mannara Chopra, Ankita Lokhande, Arun Mahashetty and Abhishek Kumar, Faruqui said it was not an easy journey.

''It tests you. It's up to you how you react and what you say. It is not easy. I was drained out a bit mentally. I kept going for myself and fans. It has been a roller coaster journey,'' the comedian told PTI in an interview.

''I'm blessed I got that strength to tackle all the (negative) things that were thrown at me in the house. I'm happy about my journey. It was the best experience and it gave me the opportunity to become a better person," he added.

Being adjudged as the winner on his 32nd birthday was extra special, says Faruqui, who took home a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh and a car.

The comedian first made headlines in 2021 when he was jailed for over a month for his alleged remarks on Hindu deities during a stand-up show.

In 2022, he won reality TV show, ''Lock Upp'' season one that was hosted by actor Kangana Ranaut.

During his stint on ''Bigg Boss'' season 17, Faruqui entertained fellow housemates and viewers with his wit. His personal life also remained a topic of discussion throughout the show with his ex-girlfriend joining the show as a wild card contestant and calling him a ''womaniser''. Speaking about the focus on his personal life during the show, Faruqui, who has a son from a former marriage, said, ''There are certain things in your life that are private and you get into a situation that's uncontrollable and you can't handle it, or you don't have anything to defend yourself (with).

''It (focus on personal life) had an impact on me. This tag of womaniser definitely hurts you. But I've worked with a lot of women in different projects and I know how comfortable and respected they feel around me. So, I'm happy I can go and make eye contact with them. As a public figure I'm paying the price, this is like an EMI that you have to pay." The show premiered on Colors TV channel from October 15 last year with a total of 17 contestants locked in a house in Mumbai's Filmcity, including Vicky Jain, Ayesha Khan, Anurag Dobhal, Aishwarya Sharma, Neil Bhatt, Isha Malviya, Jigna Vora, Firoza Khan aka Khanzaadi, and Rinku Dhawan. Faruqui said he was confident that he would win but he started having mixed feelings in the final moments.

''I had that belief that I'm going to win but at the same time you are aware about the competition. In the final moments, I had mixed feelings. Now, I've processed this feeling that I've won the show." Going forward, Faruqui said he will continue to do stand-up shows.

"Stage is my home. I love humour, and you will see me doing a lot of stand-up comedy," he said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: 'Girls Will Be Girls', the debut production of actor-couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, has won two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Documentary ''Nocturnes'', an India-US co-production, also bagged an honour at the festival's annual awards, held in Park City, Utah.

''Girls Will Be Girls'', directed by Shuchi Talati, took home the Audience Award for World Cinema Dramatic Competition, while its lead actor Preeti Panigrahi won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting. ''Nocturnes'', directed by Anirban Dutta, won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Craft.

According to the makers, ''Girls Will Be Girls'' is set in a boarding school in a small Himalayan hill town in northern India. It follows the journey of Mira, a 16-year-old girl, whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother's unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences.

The film is an Indo-French co-production, a collaboration between Chadha and Fazal's joint venture Pushing Buttons Studios, and Blink Digital, Crawling Angel Films and Dolce Vita Films.

In a joint statement, Chadha and Fazal said they never expected an ''overwhelming response'' for their debut production at Sundance.

''This experience reinforces our belief in the power of storytelling and the need to champion diverse narratives that resonate globally. As actors, we've always craved powerful stories but getting those opportunities wasn't always in our hands. That's why it's heartening to see our new actors receiving this global acclaim. This recognition motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and telling new stories,'' they said.

''Girls will be Girls'' was a deeply personal and rewarding experience, said Talati.

''The film's success at Sundance is a testament to the collaborative efforts of a dedicated team. Richa has protected this story and film like a lioness. It's heartening to see our story resonate with audiences and critics alike, and I hope it sparks important conversations about coming-of-age experiences that we don't often get to see on screen,'' she said.

''Nocturnes'', a collaboration between Dutta's Metamorphosis Film Junction and US-based Sandbox Films, is set in the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas.

''In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe,'' according to the gala's official website.

The 2024 edition of the Sundance Film Festival is presented by Sundance Organisation, a nonprofit that discovers and supports independent artists, and introduces audiences to their work.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared a playlist of Ram Bhajans with over 62 songs. In a social media post, Mr. Modi shared the link to the playlist and said it contains some of his favourite Ram Bhajans he received from people over the last few days. He hoped that people can experience the universal appeal of Lord Ram, as each Bhajan transcends language and unites in reverence.

The Prime Minister also shared links of Bhajans from different parts of the world including Suriname and, Trinidad and Tobago. He said that despite the gulf of time and space, the heart of India’s traditions beats strong in many parts of the world.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Actor Sidharth Malhotra, who is set to play a police officer in the Prime Video series ''Indian Police Force'', says he is honoured to wear the khaki uniform on screen.

The actor was speaking here at the event 'Indian Police Ko Salaam', billed as an ode to the service, commitment and patriotism of Delhi Police officers.

Growing up in Delhi, Malhotra on Wednesday said he would often want to interact with the police officers on duty.

''As a citizen, you always want your officers and government to protect you. After I reached a certain position, I think the police service is one of the toughest jobs in the country.

''They take care of the public and deal with them with so much patience. As an actor, I feel honoured that I got an opportunity to wear the uniform on the screen. We are the reel heroes, you (police officers) are the real heroes,'' said the actor, who previously played Kargil war hero Captain Vikram Batra in ''Shershaah''.

On the stage, Malhotra was joined by ''Indian Police Force'' director Rohit Shetty, his co-stars Shilpa Shetty and Vivek Oberoi as well as Aparna Purohit, Head of India & South East Asia Originals, Prime Video, and Sushant Sriram, Country Director, Prime Video, India.

Ritu Arora, president, Police Families Welfare Society (PFWS), and Sanjay Arora, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, were the chief guests at the event, held to commemorate 75 years of the Indian Police Service at the National Police Memorial here.

Not only the officers, their families are also the ''real heroes'', said Rohit Shetty.

''I know how tough things are for the families of police officers. Both the officer and his family are always on duty till he retires. The sacrifices of the families often don't get highlighted. Monuments like the National Police Memorial are important so that the youth remembers the sacrifice of the brave officers,'' the director added.

Shilpa Shetty said she is honoured to play a ''real-life hero'' in her career.

''Playing a character is one thing and portraying a real hero is another game altogether. I'm happy that this series is an ode to the Indian Police and I'm also a small part of this show,'' she added.

Oberoi said Commissioner Arora was part of the police force deployed for rescue efforts during the 2004 tsunami that struck south India.

''I was working on ground zero with volunteers. I was able to do my work because you were there, Sanjay ji. It's impossible to run a country without our heroes in uniform,'' he said.

Commissioner Arora congratulated the team of ''Indian Police Force'' for depicting the police personnel in a realistic manner.

''In Indian films and series, the police are sometimes shown as a hero, a villain and even a comedian. But no show or film is complete without our presence.

''These days shows and films have started portraying the police in a realistic manner with focus on their success rate, challenges, contribution, failures and dilemmas. I wish this series grand success,'' the senior officer said.

Ritu Arora said the contribution made by the streamer Prime Video to the PFWS would be donated to Smita, a school set up for Delhi Police officers' children with special needs.

The trailer of the ''Indian Police Force'' received a thunderous response from the police personnel and their families at the event.

An exclusive montage from the series, set to Shetty's voice over, was also played. The show will start streaming on Prime Video from January 19.

At the event, artist Rahul Arya gave a live sand art presentation, highlighting the challenges faced by the police personnel.

The team of ''Indian Police Force'' also interacted with some of the police officers and their families on stage about fitness, personal and professional life as well as adversities they face on the job.

Several police officers were felicitated for their selfless service and bravery. Officers, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, were also remembered at the event.

Earlier, the police band performed the national anthem alongside the patriotic song ''Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon''.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of noted poet Munawwar Rana, and said he made rich contributions to Urdu literature and poetry.

He said on X, ''Pained by the passing away of Shri Munawwar Rana Ji. He made rich contributions to Urdu literature and poetry. Condolences to his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace.'' Rana (71) had been suffering from throat cancer and breathed his last at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow on Sunday.

Born in 1952 in Rae Bareli, Rana was awarded the Gyanpeeth Award in 2014. His poems were highly popular among the common people.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Veteran classical music singer and recipient of three Padma awards, Prabha Atre passed away this morning due to a heart attack. The singer breathed her last at the age of 92. After suffering a heart attack, she was taken to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune. She died before reaching the hospital.

She was going to participate in a program in Mumbai today. But even before this, her health deteriorated. Prabha Atre was born on 13 September 1932 in Pune. She was awarded Padma Shri in the year 1990, Padma Bhushan in the year 2002, and Padma Vibhushan in the year 2022, recently on 25 December, he was also given the Atal Sanskriti Award by the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis.

Expressing grief over her demise, Fadnavis said, "Her leaving the world is very painful, Indian music will always be indebted to her, I pay my heartfelt tribute to her and may God give strength to her family to bear this loss." Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also expressed grief and said, "Prabha ji's demise marked the end of a glorious era of classical music. Her demise is a big loss to the country's music sector and art sector, he pays tribute to her. Am."

Expressing grief over her demise, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra directed the administration to perform the last rites of the singer with full state honours. Her relatives are currently abroad and after their return to the country, her last rites will be performed in Pune on Tuesday.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Golden Globes are back with a fresh start after the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's troubles. This year's ceremony, marking the 81st edition, took center stage not just for its celebration of cinematic and television excellence but as a phoenix rising from the ashes of controversy.

"Barbie" topped movie nominations with nine nods, closely followed by "Oppenheimer" with eight. On the TV front, "Succession" led with nine nominations, while "The Bear" and "Only Murders in the Building" each secured five. Notably, Taylor Swift received a nomination for her Eras Tour concert film in a new category recognizing movies grossing over $100 million domestically and $150 million globally, alongside a new category for TV stand-up comedy specials.

The ceremony, which aired on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. Eastern time, brought home wins for "Oppenheimer" as Best Motion Picture (Drama), Lily Gladstone for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) in "Killers of the Flower Moon," and Paul Giamatti for Best Actor (Musical or Comedy) in "The Holdovers." "Succession" clinched Best Television Series (Drama), with Sarah Snook winning Best Actress in the same category. Other notable winners included "Poor Things" for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), and Taylor Swift's "What Was I Made For?" for Best Original Song. The Golden Globes' 81st edition showcased a new beginning post-HFPA, emphasizing outstanding performances and leaving the controversies in the rearview mirror.

Here’s the complete list of winners from the 81st Golden Globe Awards:

Best motion picture, drama
“Oppenheimer”

Best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, drama
Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Best motion picture, musical or comedy
“Poor Things”

Best performance by a male actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy
Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”

Best television series, drama
“Succession”

Best performance by a female actor in a television series, drama
Sarah Snook, “Succession”

Best television series, musical or comedy
“The Bear”

Best television limited series, anthology series, or motion picture made for television
“Beef”

Cinematic and box office achievement
“Barbie”

Best original song, motion picture
“What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

Best original score, motion picture
Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, “Anatomy of a Fall”

Best performance by a male actor in a supporting role on television
Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”

Best performance by a female actor in a supporting role on television
Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Best performance by a male actor in a limited series, anthology series or a motion picture made for television

Steven Yeun, “Beef”
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Best performance by a female actor in a limited series, anthology series, or a motion picture made for television
Ali Wong, “Beef”

Best performance by a male actor in a supporting role in any motion picture
Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”

Best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in any motion picture
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Actor Randeep Hooda, who is all set to portray freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the movie 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar', on Saturday, flagged off the Swatantraveer Savarkar Mukti Shatabdi Yatra from Yerwada Central Jail in Pune, On January 6, 1924, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was released from the jail.

"Today is a very historic day, as today it has been 100 years since Savarkar Ji was released from jail and he was kept under house arrest in Ratnagiri and was in district arrest. The day he left from this jail, he first went to Bombay and then went to Ratnagiri, where he remained in the Restricted Movement for the next thirteen years," Randeep told ANI. He added, "He is such a great freedom fighter for our country, about whom people know very little. I hope that through my movie, people will know more about him. If you read about him in detail, you will come to know that his contribution to the country was very big. Whatever wrong concepts people have about him, watch the movie once and read about him, then decide."

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on May 28, 1883, in the Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin Hindu family of Damodar and Radhabai Savarkar in the village of Bhagur, near the city of Nashik, Maharashtra. He was a freedom fighter, an activist and a writer. He was a leading figure in the 'Hindu Mahasabha.' Savarkar started participating in the freedom movement while still a high school student and continued doing so while attending Fergusson College in Pune.

He got active with groups like India House and the Free India Society while studying law in the United Kingdom. He also published books that promoted revolutionary methods for achieving total Indian independence. The British colonial authorities outlawed one of his works, 'The Indian War of Independence', which was about the 1857 'Sepoy Mutiny' or the First War of Independence.

Like Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Khudiram Bose, Madanlal Dhingra, and many others, Veer Savarkar also served as an inspiration. However, according to producer Sandeep Singh, he was misunderstood by many people throughout history, and the film will reveal the truth about him and his efforts. Directed and co-written by Randeep Hooda with Utkarsh Naithani, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar is produced by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Randeep Hooda Films with Legend Studios and Avak Films.

'Pavitra Rishta' fame Ankita Lokhande will be seen opposite Randeep Hooda in the film.
 

AHMEDABAD [Maha Media]: Filmfare Awards, one of the most glamorous and oldest film awards in the Hindi film industry, is all set to be back with its 69th edition. The new edition will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on January 28, 2024.

In July 2023, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited (TCGL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd (A Times Group Company) to organise the 69th Filmfare Awards. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Managing Director of Times Group Vineet Jain.

Actor Tiger Shroff represented the Hindi film industry at the ceremony, wherein he shared his special connection with Gujarat. "I have a special relation with Gujarat as my grandfather was Gujarati. And speaking of Filmfare, I have had a beautiful relationship with this award show. I attended the Filmfare Awards for the first time in 1990. That year my father (Jackie Shroff) won the Best Actor Award at Filmfare and I have been attending the award show since then. I also got opportunities to perform at several editions," Tiger said.

"This is going to be an amazing experience. Thank you to the CM of Gujarat for opening his arms up to the film industry, to Filmfare," he added. Filmfare Awards was first introduced in 1954. Reportedly, Black (2005) has won the maximum number of Filmfare awards in a single year. It won 11 Awards under the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Critics Award Best Movie, Best Actor (Critics' Choice), Best Actress (Critics' Choice), Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Background Score categories.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Lee Sun-kyun, an actor in South Korea's Oscar-winning film "Parasite", was found dead on Wednesday by authorities following up a report that he had gone missing, a fire official in the capital said. Lee, 48, who played the head of a wealthy household in the film, had faced investigation over accusations of illegal drug use amid a government crackdown in which police questioned him three times, with one session running 19 hours over the weekend.

The actor had said he was tricked into taking drugs by a bar hostess trying to blackmail him, the Yonhap news agency reported. Authorities found Lee in a search triggered by the report that he was missing, the fire official told Reuters on condition of anonymity, as the matter is a sensitive one.

Earlier, citing police, Yonhap said Lee was found in a car at a park in Seoul, after his manager told police the actor had left home, leaving an apparent suicide note. Officials at Seoul's Jongno and Seongbuk police stations did not immediately respond to telephone calls from Reuters to seek comment.

Lee's agency, HODU&U Entertainment, also did not respond to calls. Infringements of South Korea's tough drug laws can lead to six months in jail, or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers.

A 2019 dark-comedy thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite” won the Academy Award in February 2020 in the four categories of best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature film. It had received six Oscar nominations.

In the film, Lee acted as Mr. Park, whose affluent home is infiltrated by members of a lower-class family posing as highly qualified domestic workers in a tangled scheme that leads to a gory end. Lee, born in 1975, had leading roles in South Korean films such as the 2012 thriller "Helpless" and 2014's "All About My Wife".

He played the lead in Apple TV+'s first Korean-language original series, which rolled out in 2021. A six-episode sci-fi thriller, "Dr. Brain" unspooled the tale of a cold-hearted neurologist, hunting for clues to a mysterious family accident through brain experiments.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Malayalam film ''2018: Everyone is a Hero'', India's official entry in the international feature film category at the 2024 Academy Awards, is out of the Oscars race.

The Jude Anthany Joseph-directed film failed to make it to the shortlist of 15 films for the category, which was announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on Friday.

Jonathan Glazer's historical drama ''The Zone of Interest'' (UK), Denmark's ''The Promised Land'', starring Mads Mikkelsen, and ''Perfect Days'' from Japan are being billed as the frontrunners of the category.

The shortlist also includes "Amerikatsi" (Armenia), "The Monk and the Gun" (Bhutan), "Fallen Leaves" (Finland), "The Taste of Things" (France), "The Teachers' Lounge" (Germany), "Godland" (Iceland), "Io Capitano" (Italy), "Totem" (Mexico), "The Mother of All Lies" (Morocco), "Society of the Snow" (Spain), "Four Daughters" (Tunisia) and "20 Days in Mariupol" (Ukraine).

Films from 88 countries were eligible in the category. The shortlisted movies will advance to the next round of voting.

''2018'', starring Tovino Thomas in the lead, was announced as India's official entry for the 96th Oscars in September this year. The movie narrates the story of the devastating Kerala floods in 2018.

According to the makers, the film has earned over Rs 200 crore at the box office to become the highest grossing film in Malayalam cinema.

In a post on Instagram, Joseph said the opportunity to represent India at a global platform like the Oscars was nothing short of a dream.

''I sincerely apologise to all my well-wishers and supporters for disappointing you all. Nevertheless, the opportunity to represent India in this competition has been a dream-like journey that I will cherish for a lifetime.

''Being the highest-grossing film and the official Indian entry to the Oscars is a rare achievement in any filmmaker's career. I am grateful to God for choosing me for this extraordinary journey,'' the filmmaker wrote.

The AMPAS also unveiled shortlists for nine other categories -- original song, original score, sound, documentary feature, documentary short, animated short film, live action short film, makeup and hairstyling, and visual effects.

At the 95th Academy Awards, ''RRR'' and ''The Elephant Whisperers'', the two Indian films which won the best original song and best documentary short, were sent to the Oscars directly by the makers, but India's official entry in the international film category, Gujarati film ''Chhello Show''(Last Film Show), couldn't make it to the final five nominations.

The last Indian film that made it to the final five was the Aamir Khan-led "Lagaan" in 2001.

The 96th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: It's a special moment for actor Ranveer Singh as he got his wax figures displayed at the iconic Madame Tussauds museum in London. Taking to Instagram, Ranveer shared a few pictures from the museum as he posed alongside his wax statues.

"Growing up, I was fascinated by old photos of my parents alongside some of the world's most famous & prominent personalities, only to realize that they were wax figures at London's famed Madame Tussauds. The allure of that mythical museum stayed with me, making it surreal to now have my very own wax figure there. Gratitude fills me as my figure stands amongst the most accomplished personalities in the world. An unforgettable moment, compelling me to reflect on the magical cinematic journey that has led me to this moment," Ranveer captioned the post. Ranveer also shared a photo of his mother posing with his wax statue and wrote, "My whole universe #Maa. See how proud she is. God is kind. I am truly blessed."

Ranveer's wax figure is seen in a colourful sherwani. Another wax figure shows the actor in a black suit with a white pattern and a bow. The actor's post is filled with congratulatory wishes.

"Apna time aa gaya ," Ranveer's sister-in-law Anisha Padukone commented. "[?][?]," Actor Anil Kapoor commented.

In 2019, Ranveer's wife, actor Deepika Padukone got a wax statue at Madame Tussauds London. Meanwhile, on the film front, Ranveer is all set to surprise audience with his exciting line-up of is films next year.

He will be seen reprising his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty's cop drama 'Singham Again', which also stars his wife Deepika Padukone, actors Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Ranveer will also headline Farhan Akhtar's 'Don 3'.While announcing the film, Farhan requested the audience to give the same love to Ranveer as they showered on previous Don installments.

"In 1978, a character created by Salim-Javed and portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan with effortless elan, captured the imagination of theatregoers across the country. That enigmatic character was Don. In 2006, Don was reimagined and brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan in his own irresistibly charming way," he wrote. "The time has now come to take the legacy of Don forward and joining us in this new interpretation will be an actor whose talent and versatility I have long admired. We hope that you will show him the love you have so graciously and generously shown to Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan," the post further read.

'Don 3' will arrive in 2025.
 

KATRA [Maha Media]: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine here on Tuesday, days ahead of the release of his film ''Dunki''.

Almost incognito in a black hoodie, the 58-year-old actor was spotted walking in the Mata Vaishno Devi - Katra Bhawan.

Shah Rukh was accompanied by his manager Pooja Dadlani and his security detail.

This is his third visit to the temple in a year. The actor visited the shrine in August and December 2022, before the release of his films ''Jawan'' and ''Pathaan'', respectively.

The Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu's Reasi district is a religious pilgrimage atop the Trikuta hills that attracts lakhs of devotees from across the world every year.

''Dunki'' marks Shah Rukh's third and last release of 2023 following back-to-back action blockbusters in ''Pathaan'' and ''Jawan''.

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film is reportedly a comedy drama based on an illegal immigration technique named, 'donkey flight'. It is set to be released in theatres on December 21.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Melodious power couple composer Mithoon and singer Palak Muchhal took to stage together again as winners at the recent Indian Television Awards (ITA) at Filmcity with super-excited fans cheering for their favourite celebs walking the red carpet.

Mithoon, whose Gadar 2 songs are still making waves the world over, dedicated the award to his wife Palak, who dedicated her special award to him and sang Ghar Aaja Pardesi from Gadar 2 and Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2. "I am blessed that Gadar 2 is so loved by the audiences. Saeed Quadri sahab's lyrics were so amazing that they stood up to the original Anand Bakshi ji's lyrics. He is as much a recipient of the award as me. It was a great responsibility and I am glad I could do justice to it. Aashiqui 2, earlier, was as big a responsibility."

The soft-spoken Mithoon also took this musical opportunity to express his love for his wife Palak. "I dedicate my success to Palak as she is my life partner; my credit and happiness are as much hers as they are mine. Kyunki tum hi ho..." Palak beamed at the compliment. Looks like in the song of life, love is the melody for Mithoon and Palak!
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Character actor Junior Mehmood, known for his roles in "Caravan", "Haathi Mere Saathi" and "Mera Naam Joker", died on Friday following a battle with cancer, his son Hasnain said.

The actor was 68.

''My father passed away at 2.00 am following his battle with stomach cancer. He was in a critical condition since last 17 days. He had lost 35-40 kg in a month,'' Hasnain Sayyed, Junior Mehmood's younger son, told PTI.

Junior Mehmood, whose real name was Naeem Sayyed, began as a child artist with "Mohabbat Zindagi Hai" (1966) and "Naunihal" (1967). He was given the name Junior Mehmood by late comedy icon Mehmood after they starred together in the 1968 film "Suhag Raat".

According to the actor's close friend Salaam Kazi, Junior Mehmood had pain in his stomach and was getting treated by a local doctor. But when he started losing weight, his family decided to take him to Tata Memorial Hospital. ''They did a check-up and the doctors over there said he had cancer in his lung and liver, and a tumour in his stomach. He was also diagnosed with jaundice," Kazi added.

Director Sanjay Gupta was one of the first film personalities to pay tribute to Junior Mehmood on social media.

''You were an integral part of my childhood which was all about the movies. Rest In Peace Jr. Mehmood. Many thanks for the years of entertainment,'' Gupta wrote on X.

Trade union Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) also expressed its condolences on the death of the actor, who was its member since 1966.

Veteran actors Jeetendra and Sachin Pilgaonkar visited the actor at his residence on Tuesday after he expressed a desire to meet them. Jeetendra had shared screen space with the actor in several movies, including ''Suhaag Raat'' and ''Caravan''.

In a career of over four decades, Junior Mehmood featured in over 260 films across seven languages. His other popular films include ''Brahmachari'', ''Kati Patang'', ''Hare Raama Hare Krishna'', ''Geet Gaata Chal'', ''Imaandaar'', ''Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri'', ''Aaj Ka Arjun'', ''Gurudev'', ''Chhote Sarkar'' and ''Judaai''.

As a child actor, Junior Mehmood memorably recreated Mehmood's iconic song ''Hum Kaale Hain To Kya Hua'' from 1965's ''Gumnaam'' in the Shammi Kapoor-starrer ''Brahmachari'' in 1968. He not only danced to the track mimicking his idol's mannerisms but also matched the blackface along with the striped T-shirt and lungi look.

The actor also appeared on TV shows such as ''Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara'' and ''Ek Rishta Saajhedari ka''.

His burial will take place later in the day at the Santa Cruz cemetery, Kazi said.

''He will be buried in the same cemetery as his mother. Other noted personalities like Dilip Kumar sahab and Mohammed Rafi are also buried there,'' Kazi added.

Junior Mehmood is survived by two sons and a wife
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Eighty-one-year-old Indian-origin writer Meira Chand was among the three Singaporeans conferred the Cultural Medallion, the city-state's most prestigious arts accolade, in recognition of their artistic excellence and contribution to enriching the country's arts and culture scene.

Chand, fellow novelist Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran Osman Abdul Hamid received the award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a ceremony held at the Istana on Tuesday, The Straits Times newspaper reported.

The award comes with an SGD 80,000 grant for each recipient to support their artistic pursuits.

A Singaporean of Swiss-Indian parentage, Chand, along with Lim, is the first English-language female writer to be conferred the award since Ho Minfong in 1997.

Chand is an award-winning novelist known for her depiction of multicultural societies. Her 'The Painted Cage' (1986) was longlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize, the report said.

''Each of our three new Cultural Medallion recipients is being recognised for their explorations through life and for inspiring many others, not least the next generation of artists,'' President Tharman said in a statement.

From England to Japan, India to Singapore, Chand's life, according to her website, straddles the world, and her many novels mirror her journey to pin down the experience of these different cultures upon her and her relationship with them.

According to her website, she was born in London to a Swiss mother and Indian father, grew up, and was educated in the UK.

In 1962, she went to Japan with her Indian husband, where she taught art at an international school. Leaving Japan for Mumbai in 1971, she lived in India for five years, where she began writing. Calling India a ''life-changing experience'', the novelist said, ''For the first time in my life, I met a half of myself I had never known. There was simply no way I could understand that experience but through writing,'' according to her website.

The Cultural Medallion, instituted in 1979 by late President and then Minister of Culture Ong Teng Cheong, is the city-state's ''highest arts accolade, honouring individuals whose artistic excellence, contribution, and commitment have enriched and distinguished Singapore's arts and culture scene,'' according to the National Arts Council website.

It celebrates inspiring local arts practitioners who display professional maturity in their practice through a distinctive body of work, and who have made extraordinary contributions to Singapore's artistic development, the website said.

The award has been conferred to 132 artists in the fields of film, literary arts, performing arts, and visual arts, it said.

Last year, 56-year-old Tamilian Hindu Aravinth Kumarasamy was conferred the prestigious award.
 

PANAJI [Maha Media]: The 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will come to a close in Goa today. The closing ceremony will be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Bambolim in the evening. A host of film personalities and other dignitaries will be present on the occasion. 

Robert Kolodny directed American film ‘Featherweight’ is the closing film this year. A number of awards including the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Male and Female), Special Jury and Best Web Series (OTT) awards will be presented at the closing ceremony. Veteran Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony. The legendary American actor will also address a Masterclass at IFFI today. More than 270 films were screened during the 9-day event this year. These include 13 World Premieres, 18 International Premieres, 62 Asia Premiers and 89 India Premieres. For those not registered as delegates, Open Air screenings were held at Miramar Beach in Panaji, Anjuna Beach in North Goa, and Rabindra Open Lawn in Madgaon. IFFI Cine Mela was also organised at Yog Setu in Panaji for people of Goa and tourists in a bid to ensure that non-delegates are also included in the event. 
 

PANAJI [Maha Media]: In Goa, the refreshing and thought-provoking short film on receding beach lines of Goa, ‘Odh’ has won the best film award at the ‘75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow’ film challenge held at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the ‘75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow’ film challenge at IFFI in Goa on Tuesday.
 
According to the correspondent reports that as part of the Film Challenge, 75 participants were divided into five teams who made short films in 48 hours on the topic ‘Mission Life’. Mr Thakur said that the initiative aims to encourage and nurture young creative talents from various trades of filmmaking. The initiative is in its third year, having been launched in 2021 to mark the 75th year of India’s Independence as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
 
The story of the winning film deals with a fisherman, who takes his boat into the middle of the city in an attempt to find a parking space. He complains that the beach has been stolen and he has no space left to park his boat. The film addresses the issue of receding beach lines of Goa, due to the rise in the sea levels and mass constructions happening on the beaches.
 

BHUBANESWAR [Maha Media]: The 10th edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) with the theme 'Legends of Ancient Bharat and Beyond: Inspiring Lived Experience in the 21st Century', will be kick-started from February 9 in Bhubaneswar. Over 300 esteemed speakers, including poets, musicians, artists, and performers are all set to grace the festival, which will take place till February 11.

With sessions ranging from democracy to digital revolutions, and from cultural nationalism to climate justice, "the festival promises to be a kaleidoscope of thought-provoking dialogue," read a statement. It will also celebrate the intricate relationships between literature and liberty, the ethos of a republic, the kaleidoscope of cultural diversity, and the pillars of social equity.

Esteemed literary figures such as Bibek Debroy, Amish Tripathi, Sitakanta Mohapatra, Pratibha Ray, Ramakanta Rath, Paramita Satapathy, Arundhathi Subramaniam, Uday Prakash, K.R Meera, Yatindra Mishra, Hindol Sengupta, Milee Ashwarya and Milee Ashwarya are expected to attend the tenth edition of Kalinga Literary Festival. Over 30 new literary works and scholarly monographs will also be unveiled during the festival.

In a celebration of heritage and the environment, delegates and speakers will have the unique chance to thread through the annals of time on the Mystic Walk or to lend a hand towards greening our future through collaborative plantations. These experiences, together with the Mystic Mic, will allow festivalgoers to engage with the narrative soul of Bhubaneswar and partake in the lyrical dialogue between nature and culture. Sharing more details about the festival, Rashmi Ranjan Parida, the founder director of KLF said, "Within the heart of the 10th Edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), we engage with 'Legends of Ancient Bharat and Beyond: Inspiring Lived Experience in the 21st Century,' a theme that is particularly poignant as India emerges as a pivotal global power."

Parida added, "We are profoundly honoured to welcome a galaxy of renowned scholars, authors and writers. The theme underscores the relevance of India's rich historical narratives in shaping a contemporary society that stands on the cusp of global leadership, driven by the ethos of its ancient wisdom and philosophical depth." "As India ascends in its role as a global beacon, the legends of our ancient past offer more than just stories; they present a compass for ethical leadership, inclusive progress, and innovative thought. Our festival's theme invites us to delve into these lived experiences that resonate with today's challenges and triumphs, crafting a future informed by the lessons of the past," Parida said.

PANAJI [Maha Media]: British film 'Catching Dust' will be opening at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28. American film 'The Featherweight' will be the closing movie, whereas Turkish film About Dry Grasses will be the midfest movie. This was disclosed by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said at the curtain raiser press conference of IFFI 2023 in New Delhi. He said, Hollywood star Michael Douglas will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI this year.

During the 9-day festival, more than 270 films will be showcased. 198 films will be shown in International Section including 13 world premiers. Indian Panorama section will showcase 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films from India. The opening Film in the feature section is a Malayalam film, Aattam, and in the non-feature section is Andro Dreams from Manipur.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Friday hinted at entering electoral politics, saying if Lord Krishna blesses her, she would contest the next Lok Sabha elections.

She was here to offer prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna this morning.

When reporters asked her whether she would contest the next Lok Sabha elections, Ranaut said, ''Shri Krishna ki kripa rahi to ladenge (If Lord Krishna blesses, I will fight).'' She praised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government for consecrating Lord Ram's idol at Ayodhya possible ''after 600 years of struggle''.

''With the efforts of the BJP government, we Indians get to see this day after 600 years of struggle. We will establish the temple with great celebration. The flag of Sanatan Dharma should be hoisted all over the world,'' said the actor, who played the role of an Indian Air Force pilot in her recently released film ''Tejas''.

Ranaut also urged the government to create a facility to allow pilgrims to visit the remains of the lost city of Dwarka which was submerged under the sea.

''I always say that Dwarka is a divine city. Everything here is amazing. Dwarkadhish is present in every particle. I become blessed when I see Him. I always try to come here as much as possible to have the darshan of the Lord. But whenever I get a moment from work, I come,'' she told reporters.

''The city of Dwarka which is submerged in water can also be seen from above. I would like the government to have such a facility that one can go underwater and see the remains. For me, the city of Krishna is like heaven,'' she said.

Ranaut also talked about her upcoming films, including ''Emergency'' being directed and produced by her, and ''Tanu Weds Manu Part 3''.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India-born author Nandini Das has been named the winner of the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, a leading international non-fiction prize, for her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire'. 

Das is a Professor of English literatre at the University of Oxford. The winning book is her debut and has been described by critics as the “true origin story of Britain and India told through England's first diplomatic mission to the Mughal courts”. The author has sought to present a new perspective on the origins of empire through the story of the arrival of the first English ambassador in India, Sir Thomas Roe, in the early 17th century.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas is en route India to participate in the Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival here, which begins on Friday.

The Los Angeles-based star, who is the chairperson of the film gala's current edition, shared a travel update on her Instagram Story on Thursday.

''It's been a minute Mumbai... Cannot wait,'' Priyanka, 41, captioned the photo of her hand holding her Indian passport and a boarding pass.

Kareena Kapoor Khan-starrer ''The Buckingham Murders'', directed by Hansal Mehta, is set as the opening film of the gala.

The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is back with its on-ground edition after a hiatus of three years. It will come to a close on November 5.

The festival will showcase over 250 films with a special focus on contemporary films and new cinematic voices from South Asia here. According to the organisers, the gala boasts of over 40 world premieres, 45 Asia premieres, 70 South Asia premieres, and 13 sections.

Its 2023 line-up features big titles like Hirokazu Kore-eda's ''Monster'', Bradley Cooper's Oscar tipped ''Maestro'', Anurag Kashayp's ''Kennedy'', and Justine Triet's Palme d'Or winning movie ''Anatomy of a Fall''.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is all set to perform in India once again. The 'Shape of You' hitmaker will bring his '+ - = / x' tour to the country as part of his Asia and Europe Tour in 2024.

As per a statement shared by BookmyShow Live, Sheeran's gig will take place at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, on March 16, 2024. Interestingly, Calum Scott will mark his presence at the show. This visit marks Sheeran's return to Mumbai six years after his successful Divide Tour in 2017.

This year alone, Sheeran released two albums, '-' (Subtract) and Autumn Variations. Released to critical acclaim in May and September respectively, Sheeran worked with The National's Aaron Dessner on both LPs. Sheeran's two-hour + - = / x Tour will draw from all of his albums since 2011 - "Plus," "Multiply" (2014), "Divide" (2017), "Equals" (2021) and the new "Subtract," and also includes a song from 2019's "No. 6 Collaborations Project" ("Blow"). Sheeran's first performance in India was held in 2015. In November 2017, he returned for the second time for a show at Jio World Garden in Bandra Kurla Complex despite being injured.

He was also spotted partying with Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapoor with wife Mira, Malaika Arora and others at filmmaker Farah Khan's residence, who hosted the much-publicised night in honour of the 'Shape Of You' hitmaker. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 69th National Film Awards in New Delhi yesterday. Addressing the gathering, the President said she was very impressed by this year's award-winning films which tackled problems like climate change, girls' trafficking, oppression of women, corruption and social exploitation. President Murmu stressed that ideals like national unity should be spread through cinema.
 
Speaking at the event, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur informed the audience that the Government stands shoulder to shoulder with the industry in its efforts to counter film piracy and it has brought the Cinematograph Act to curb this menace.
     
Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman received the 'DadaSaheb Phalke Award at the ceremony. 

Nikhil Mahajan received the National Film Award for Best Direction for his Marathi film 'Godavari'. Allu Arjun received the Best Actor award for the action drama film Pushpa: The Rise.
 
The Best Actress Award was shared by Alia Bhatt for the biographical crime drama film Gangubai Kathiawadi and by Kriti Sanon for the comedy-drama movie Mimi.
 
'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' directed by R Madhavan took home the Best Feature Film award.
 
Pallavi Joshi received the Best Supporting Actress Award for 'Kashmir Files' and Pankaj Tripathi bagged the Best Supporting Actor Award for 'Mimi'.  RRR bagged the award for Best Popular Film, providing wholesome entertainment.
 
The Kashmir Files directed by Vivek Agnihotri received the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Amitabh Bachchan to visit the upcoming Rann Utsav and Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Bachchan on Sunday shared a photograph on X from the prime minister's recent visit to the Adi Kailash peak, an abode of Lord Shiva, and Parvati Kund in Jolingkong, Uttarakhand, and lamented that the ''tragedy is that I shall never be able to visit it in person''.

The PM responded to the screen icon with a suggestion to visit Kutch.

''My visit to Parvati Kund and Jageshwar Temples was truly mesmerising. In the coming weeks, Rann Utsav is starting and I would urge you to visit Kutch. Your visit to Statue of Unity is also due. @SrBachchan,'' PM Modi wrote on X. The prime minister was on a daylong visit to Uttarakhand on Thursday, which he started with a darshan of the Adi Kailash peak, and a puja at Parvati Kund. He later inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects and addressed a public meeting.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Actor Gayatri Joshi, who was seen in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Swades', met with a car accident while travelling in Italy with her husband Vikas Oberoi. Gayatri and her husband were on a vacation in Sardina when this accident took place. Gayatri and Vikas' car reportedly collided with several cars and a camper car.

As per Vikas Oberoi's manager the couple are doing fine. The incident  occurred during the Sardinia Supercar Tour, which features a luxury car parade from Teulada to Olbia.

Gayatri and her husband were driving their Lamborghini when their luxury car collided with a Ferrari and a camper van. Reportedly this resulted in an overturn on a rural road in Sardinia, and several automobiles crashed. As per media reports the Ferrari caught fire, killing the passengers, Melissa Krautli, 63, and Markus Krautli, 67. The couple was originally from Switzerland.

Gayatri Joshi, who was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra, began her career as a video jockey. She departed after that to go after her goal of becoming the Femina India beauty pageant winner. She represented India at Miss International 2000 after winning the Femina Miss India International title in 2000. She starred in Ashutosh Gowariker's directorial 2004 movie 'Swades', which is all about an NRI NASA engineer who visits his Indian roots. The movie received positive reviews, and Gayatri Joshi was praised for her "mature" portrayal. In 2005, she tied the knot with businessman Vikas Oberoi. She has also worked as an advertising model and appeared in a number of music videos, including Hans Raj Hans' 'Jhanjaria and 'Kaghaz Ki Kashti' by Jagjit Singh.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India will host the 46th edition of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Travel Mart at Pragati Maidan in Delhi from October 4-6, the Union Ministry of Tourism said on Saturday.

The physical version of the event is being held after a hiatus of three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said, adding that the PATA Travel Mart 2023 will be held at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC).

The IECC complex was also the venue for the G20 Summit held from September 9-10.

Headquartered in Bangkok, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), which was founded in 1951, is a renowned not-for-profit association recognised internationally for its role as a catalyst in the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia-Pacific region, the ministry said in a statement.

The event in Delhi will bring together tourism professionals and business stakeholders from across the world, offering a unique platform for networking, learning and collaboration, the officials said.

India will also be participating in the PATA Travel Mart in a ''substantial manner''. ''A designated pavilion for India at the Mart will create an immersive experience of the gamut of destinations in India both known and lesser known,'' the statement said.

State governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and other ministries will also put up stands and stalls to display their products, it said.

''Although the Mart is an exclusively B2B mart, it will help bring forth the diverse gamut of thematic products such as wellness, adventure, heritage, culinary and art and craft of different states to a global audience,'' a senior official said.

PATA Travel Mart is one of the important international trade exhibitions catering to the tourism sector and it serves as a platform for trade interactions between global buyers and sellers mostly from the Asia-Pacific region.

This year, the event will feature different activities, including the prestigious PATA Gold Award, the PATA Youth Symposium and the PATA Forum on Sustainability, besides the B2B Mart.

The success of the G20 Summit held this year has already ''placed India as one of the sought-after destinations for hosting larger scale events and conferences'', the ministry said.

With its sustainable and inclusive tourism activities, ''India is fast becoming the preferred choice destination for organising MICE events,'' it said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Union minister L Murugan will lead an Indian delegation to the Tashkent International Film Festival in Uzbekistan this year. Murugan, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, will visit Tashkent from September 29 to October 1, an official statement said on Thursday.

The participation in this film festival is aimed to build cinematic partnerships, have exchange of programmes, nurture filmmaking and act as a bridge between the cultures, the statement said. Known as the 'Pearl of The Silk Road', the Tashkent International Film Festival was started in 1968, and Indian movie ''Amrapali'' was screened in the opening edition of the festival.

Indian cinema made a name for itself on the world map back in its early days when the films of Raj Kapoor received love from across the world, especially in Uzbekistan and the Central Asia region. ''Indian cinema continues to have a charm to date as our cultural way of storytelling and art forms transcend into our storytelling and are appreciated not only in India but the world, such as the song 'Natu Natu' from the film RRR by Shri Rajamouli that recently bagged the Golden Globe award for best song winning the heart of cinema lovers across the world,'' the statement said.

Relations between Uzbekistan and India have their roots deeper in history. In recent years, there has been significant intensification in bilateral ties under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it added.
 

JAIPUR [Maha Media]: Actor Priyanka Chopra wished her little sister and actor Parineeti Chopra and AAP leader Raghav Chadha for their new beginnings. According to reports, Raghav and Parineeti will tie the knot at 'The Leela Palace' in Udaipur over this weekend.

According to certain other reports, there is uncertainty over whether Priyanka Chopra and her husband Nick Jonas will be able to attend the wedding. Meanwhile, Priyanka has taken to her Instagram stories to wish the couple.

She wrote, "I hope you are as happy and content as this on your big day little one, always wishing you so much love. #newbeginnings." In the picture, Parineeti is seen dressed in a black top, a multi-coloured skirt that she teamed up with a round hat.

Earlier, Parineeti and Raghav were papped at Udaipur airport and received a grand welcome with music, dhol beats and dance. A few days ago, In Delhi, the duo hosted a Sufi night for their close friends and family members. While Priyanka Chopra gave it a miss, the actor's mother Madhu Chopra and brother Siddharth marked their presence at the special function organised at Raghav's residence.

Prior to the musical night, Parineeti and Raghav sought blessings at a Gurudwara in Delhi, where they participated in Ardas and Kirtan. The duo exchanged rings on May 13 at Kapurthala house in the national capital in the presence of their loved ones. The star-studded ceremony was attended by several politicians including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, former finance minister P Chidambaram, and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray.

Before their engagement, both Raghav and Parineeti had kept their relationship under wraps. Parineeti and Raghav reportedly knew each other for several years before they began dating. The couple was recently spotted scouting for locations for weddings in Udaipur, hinting that they will follow in her cousin Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' footsteps and tie the knot in a lavish wedding in Rajasthan. Wedding festivities will take place on September 23 and 24 in Rajasthan, as per several reports.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Parineeti will share screen space with Diljit Dosanjh in 'Chamkila'. Helmed by Imtiaz Ali, the film revolves around two famous Punjabi singers Amarjot Kaur and Amar Singh Chamkila.  She also has 'Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue' alongwith Akshay Kumar in her kitty.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Winners of this year's Nobel Prizes will get an extra 1 million crowns, taking the total financial reward to 11 million Swedish crowns ($986,000), the Nobel Foundation, which administers the awards, said on Friday. The prize money has been adjusted up and down in recent years and the award-givers said it was increasing the amount this year to reflect the Foundation's stronger financial position.

In 2012, prize money was reduced from 10 million crowns to 8 million as the Foundation looked to shore up its finances. The prize amount was increased to 9 million in 2017 and in 2020 to 10 million - where it was prior to 2012. Over the last decade, however, the Swedish crown has lost around 30% of its value against the euro meaning the most recent increase in the value of the prize won't leave winners outside Sweden feeling much richer.

In 2013, the prizes for achievements in science, literature and peace - which were first awarded in 1901 - were worth around 1.2 million dollars, despite the cut in the Swedish currency sum to 8 million crowns. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is the first of this year's prizes and will be announced on Oct. 2 followed by Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Peace on the following days.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Shah Rukh Khan's love and respect for women is well-known. Be it a little girl or an elderly woman, he has always been seen rooting for females. In fact, his latest film 'Jawan' also celebrates the strength of female characters. From fighting the goons to ruling the screen with emotional scenes, the women of Shah Rukh's 'Jawan' undoubtedly acted as catalysts in making the film a blockbuster.

The audience is quite impressed to see the terrific portrayal of women characters in 'Jawan'. Recently, a fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartfelt painting created by their daughter, using pink to symbolise girl power in the movie.

"After coming from our second Jawan show, my 11 year old daughter went straight to her room and started painting. After couple of hours, she came up with this. She says she loved Vikram Rathore. What about pink? She says Jawan is about girl power. anything to say senior @iamsrk," the fan wrote. SRK, father to 23-year-old daughter Suhana, took notice of the tweet and lauded the efforts of the fan's daughter.

In response, he wrote, "She has got it right… #Jawan is indeed about girl power. Vikram Rathore agrees too. Our daughters are our future… give my love to her with a big hug!!!" Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Ridhi Dogra, Lehar Khan, Girija Oak and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya bring depth and strength to the characters in the film Jawan, which is directed by Atlee.

The film has taken the box office by storm. It has become the fastest Hindi movie to cross the Rs 500 crore mark at the global box office. It took the film just four days to reach this milestone.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Pop superstar Taylor Swift dominated MTV's annual Video Music Awards on Tuesday, adding nine trophies to her collection as she claimed the top prize for her smash hit song "Anti-Hero". The first single from Swift's 2022 "Midnights" album, "Anti-Hero" depicts a litany of insecurities with a chorus declaring: "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me."

"This is unbelievable," the singer, on a break from her record-setting Eras Tour, said on stage as she held the Moon Person statuette for video of the year. "The fact this is a fan-voted award means so much to me." It was the second straight win for Swift in the video of the year category. Last year, she won the prize for her 10-minute version of breakup song "All Too Well".

Swift's nine awards on Tuesday tied the record for the biggest VMA haul in one night, MTV said. Her accolades included song, artist and album of the year, bringing her lifetime VMA total to 23, second only to Beyonce. At the start of Tuesday night's show at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the 33-year-old Swift gushed as she received the pop video award from members of 1990s boy band NSYNC, the group that won the same honor 20 years ago.

"I had your dolls!" Swift said to band members including Lance Bass and Justin Timberlake. "You are pop personified. So to receive this from your golden pop hands, it's too much." Among other winners, rapper Ice Spice was named best new artist. Stray Kids, a band put together through a reality show, won the best K-pop award, and SZA scored best R&B video for "Shirt".

Rema and Selena Gomez won the first VMA for Afrobeats music for their collaboration "Calm Down". Performers at the ceremony included Demi Lovato, Lil Wayne, Olivia Rodrigo, host Nicki Minaj and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, who received the Global Icon award.

Minaj, who won the best hip hop video trophy, also joined Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J and other rap luminaries for a multi-song celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop that concluded with Run DMC's "Walk This Way". Colombian pop singer Shakira was honored with the Video Vanguard Award for her 20-year career. After performing a bilingual medley of her hits including "Hips Don't Lie" and "Whenever, Wherever," the singer saluted her fans.

"Thank you so much for being my army and helping me fight all my battles," she said. Later, she and fellow Colombian singer Karol G won best collaboration for "TQG".
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]:Netflix show ''Scoop'' and its lead star Karishma Tanna are nominated for the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards 2023, the organisers announced on Tuesday.

According to its official website, Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards is an annual event to celebrate the achievements of excellent content made for TV, OTT, and online across Asia. It is organised by Busan International Film Festival and Korea Radio Promotion Association.

While ''Scoop'' has secured a nomination in the Best Asian TV Series, Tanna is vying for the Best Lead Actress trophy at the awards.

''Scoop'' follows Jagruti Pathak (Tanna), a star crime reporter at a Mumbai newspaper, who makes headlines after she is accused of her rival Jaideb Sen's murder.

The critically-acclaimed Hindi language series, created by Hansal Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul, premiered on Netflix in June.

Mehta, also director of the series, congratulated the team for this ''great honour''. Backed by Indian production banner Matchbox Shots, the show is inspired by Jigna Vora's biographical book ''Behind the Bars In Byculla: My Days in Prison''.

''#Scoop on @NetflixIndia nominated for ACA and Global OTT Awards. - Best Asian Series - Best Actress @KARISHMAK_TANNA... A great honour for the entire team. This is all because of them. Congratulations partner in crime @mrunmayeelagoo @MatchboxShots,'' Mehta said in a post on X.

In the Best Asian TV Series category, ''Scoop'' will compete with ''The Black Yard'' (Kazakhstan), ''Not Others'' (South Korea), ''Delete'' (Thailand), and ''Taiwan Crime Stories'' (Taiwan).

Besides Tanna, other Best Lead Actress nominees are South Korean star Song Hye-kyo (''The Glory''), Hollywood star Zoe Saldana (''Special Ops: Lioness), Singaporean star Rebecca Lim (''Third Rail''), and Malaysian actor Emily Chan (''The Patient'').

The Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards 2023 will be held on October 8 at the BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center, during the course of the Busan International Film Festival, which runs through October 4 and October 13. Indian films also will have a strong presence at the 28th edition of the upcoming film gala, which will see premieres of several titles such as ''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani'', ''Joram'', ''Agra'', and ''Against The Tide''.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: The "Captain America: The First Avenger" actor Chris Evans tied the knot with Portuguese actor Alba Baptista, People reported. According to a source who spoke to People, the actor wed Alba Baptista on Saturday at a private estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The wedding was attended by several of the couple's well-known friends, including Jeremy Renner, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky, as well as Evans' Marvel co-stars Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey. On Saturday, Hemsworth, Downey, their wives, and Renner were seen conversing and dining at the Contessa restaurant within the five-star Newbury Boston hotel.

Soon after midnight on Saturday, Krasinski and Blunt were seen leaving the celebrations. According to a source, "They were very happy, joking and smiling."

According to People, the Portuguese actor who is from Sudbury, Massachusetts, and Chris have been dating for over a year and it's serious as of November 2022. A source added at the time, "They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her."

On Valentine's Day earlier this year, Evans posted a photo collage of himself and his ex-girlfriend in celebration of the customary occasion. The Captain America actor featured pictures of the couple enjoying some PDA, going on vacation and hiking together, as well as spending time with his dog Dodger.

Earlier, Evans posted a video collection of himself and Baptista scaring each other while doing laundry, passing through doorways, or just walking past each other on his Instagram Story, as per People.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer ''Dream Girl 2'' has minted Rs 116 crore at the domestic box office in 12 days, the makers have announced.

The film had raised Rs 40.71 crore net in the first weekend after its release on August 25.

Directed by Raaj Shaandilyaa, the comedy drama is a sequel to Khurrana's 2019 hit of the same name. Also starring Ananya Panday, ''Dream Girl 2'' is produced by Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures.

Balaji Motion Pictures shared the box office update of the film on its official X page.

''This is nothing but Dream Girl ke 116,00,00,000 aashiqon ka pyaar!'' the banner said in the post.

The film also stars Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, Asrani, Abhishek Banerjee, Manjot Singh and Seema Pahwa.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The government has launched in-house chemotherapy services at 30 ESIC hospitals across the country, according to an official statement.

Union Minister for Labour & Employment Bhupender Yadav on Thursday launched the chemotherapy services during the 191st meeting of the ESI Corporation at ESIC headquarters in New Delhi.

With this service, insured workers and their dependents will be able to get better cancer treatment at ease, the Ministry of Labour & Employment said in a statement.

The minister also inaugurated a control room with dashboards of ESIC. The dashboards will ensure better monitoring of resources and beds at ESIC hospitals, and the current status of ongoing construction projects, among others.

During the meeting, the minister also gave in-principle approval to set up 15 new ESIC hospitals, 78 ESIC dispensaries, and increase in bed strength at ESIC Hospital in Beltola, Assam, ESIC Medical College & Hospital, K. K. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The G20 Film Festival will begin in New Delhi today, August 16. Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali '' will be the opening film. The festival aims to celebrate and showcase a vibrant and collaborative partnership existing amongst the G20 and invited countries in the field of cinema. 

The festival is organised by the India International Centre (IIC) and the G20 Secretariat of the Ministry of External Affairs. It will be inaugurated by veteran actor Victor Banerjee and India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant. The event will continue till 2nd September.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel starrer 'Gadar 2' released in theatres on August 11 clashing with Akshay Kumar's film 'OMG 2'. 'Gadar 2' had a massive opening and it continued its golden run on Day and Day 3 as well. The movie has entered the coveted Rs 100 crore club as it made a whopping amount of Rs 135 crore in its opening weekend. 

As per a report in Sacnilk, the Anil Sharma directorial made an estimated collection of Rs 52 crore. It started off with Rs 40 crore followed by Rs 43 crore on Saturday. 'Gadar 2' is the second-highest opener of 2023 after Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan'.

According to trade reports, the film will now aim to have a steady Monday collection and will pick up the pace again on Tuesday, August 15 which is Independence Day. It is said to cross Rs 200 crore very easily. 

'Gadar 2' is a sequel to the 2001 blockbuster 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'. The sequel has Utkarsh Sharma, Simratt Kaur Randhawa and Manish Wadhwa in pivotal roles. The movie has got positive reviews and showered with lots of love from the audience. It is Sunny Deol’s biggest hit in his 40-year career.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Actor Mrunal Thakur is set to receive the Diversity in Cinema Award at the upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), the organisers announced Friday.

The ''Sita Ramam'' star will be honoured with the award in recognition of ''her outstanding performances across diverse roles and languages in the world of Indian cinema'', according to a press release.

The actor, who made her film with ''Love Sonia'', and then featured in movies such ''Super 30'', ''Toofan'', ''Jersey'', will receive the award during the annual gala night on August 11 in the Australian city.

''I am truly honoured and humbled to receive the Diversity in Cinema Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. This recognition reaffirms my belief in the power of storytelling that transcends languages and cultures.

''As an artist, I've always aimed to explore a wide spectrum of characters, and this award motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and taking up roles that challenge and inspire me. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had and excited for what the future holds in this incredible journey of cinema,'' the 31-year-old actor said.

The 14th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will run from August 11 to 20.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The 2023 Emmy Awards are officially moving off their usual September airdate as actors and writers continue their strikes against media conglomerates, reported The Hollywood Reporter. The 75th annual awards were supposed to air on Fox on September 18. However, sources close to the show confirmed that the original date and month are no longer being taken into consideration, although a new date has yet to be set.  The TV Academy and Fox, the 2023 broadcaster, are still negotiating the exact date of the rescheduled event. Ideally, the show won't take place until SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, had the Television Academy and Fox stuck with the September 18 date, they ran the risk of playing to a mostly empty room, sixteen of the 25 awards given during the 2022 Emmy telecast went to actors or writers. SAG-AFTRA's strike rules call for actors not to do publicity for work made by struck companies, and an awards show would fall under that. WGA writers also pen material for the host and presenters (who would almost certainly be SAG-AFTRA members). The postponement is the first for the Emmy Awards in more than two decades. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Television Academy and CBS postponed the 2001 ceremony; it broadcast in early November of that year.

Phase two voting for the Emmy Awards is still moving forward as originally planned. TV Academy members will vote on the nominees starting August 17. Whether the 2023 Emmys are actually handed out in 2023, is still up in the air for the moment, reported The Hollywood Reporter.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: The 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will be honouring actor Kartik Aaryan with its Rising Global Superstar of Indian Cinema award. According to the festival organisers, the ''Satyaprem Ki Katha'' star will receive the awards at the annual gala night of the festival on day one, August 11.

The award will be presented by the Governor of Victoria, recognizing Kartik's remarkable achievements and his significant impact on the world of Indian cinema.

''I am deeply honoured and grateful to the Victorian Government and the festival for this prestigious award and humbled to be celebrated at the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. ''It is a tremendous privilege to receive this recognition for my work in Indian cinema. I have always believed in the power of storytelling and the ability of films to touch hearts and inspire minds. I look forward to celebrating the magic of cinema together,'' Kartik said in a statement.

IFFM, which will run till August 20, promises to be a spectacular celebration of Indian cinema and culture, offering over 100 films in 20 languages, discussions, and events for film enthusiasts and the wider community.

Festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said Kartik enjoys a great fan base in Australia and they are thrilled to honour him.

''Kartik Aaryan is much loved world wide esp in Australia and the diversity of his performances is very admirable. His contributions to Indian cinema in the young generation have been exceptional. We are excited to honour him with the Rising Global Superstar Of Indian Cinema award and looking forward to hosting him at the event.” Apart from attending the annual gala night, the actor will also be participating in an 'in conversation' session. The festival will be screening number of his films, including ''Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'' and ''Satyaprem Ki Katha''. Kartik is currently in the UK shooting for his upcoming movie ''Chandu Champion'' with director Kabir Khan.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Artist Namboothiri, one of the most prolific literary illustrators in the country, died in the early hours of Friday, family sources said. He was 98.

Namboothiri's end came at a private hospital in nearby Kottakkal at 12.20 am while undergoing treatment for age-related ailments, his family said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on the demise of renowned artist Karuvattu Mana Vasudevan Namboothiri. Taking to Twitter PM Modi wrote, "Sri KM Vasudevan Namboothiri Ji will be remembered for his iconic artwork. He is widely respected for his creativity and efforts to popularize aspects related to history and culture. Saddened by his loss. My thoughts are with his family at this time of grief. Om Shanti."

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Legislative Assembly speaker A.N. Shamseer, and Union Minister for State V Muraleedharan expressed their condolences on his death. "Mourning the passing of legendary Kerala artist Namboothiri at the age of 97. After a lifetime of drawing in black&white (his illustrations were famed across the state), at age 82 he took up colour and dazzled the world with works of vivid exuberance. A special talent. #OmShanti", tweeted Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. 

During his several decades-long career, Namboothiri illustrated many popular characters for literary publications in the southern state.

A winner of the Raja Ravi Varma Award, Namboothiri is famous for his own style of line sketches.

Namboothiri's contribution stands out as he has done illustrations for almost all important literary works, starting from the 1960s to 2010.

The eminent work for which he drew his illustrations included Jnanpith Award winner M T Vasudevan Nair's famous novel 'Randamoozham'.

His illustrations left an indelible imprint in the minds of readers of renowned writers like VKN.

Born in 1925 in Kerala's Ponnani, Namboothiri entered the world of painting and sculpture in his childhood, influenced by the sculptures at a temple near his house.

A disciple of renowned artist K C S Paniker, he also drew inspiration from prominent painters like Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury and S Dhanapal. He studied painting in the Madras School of Fine Arts.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani-starrer "Satyaprem Ki Katha" witnessed a ''bare minimal drop'' as it collected Rs 7 crore at the domestic box office on the second day, the makers said on Saturday.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Namah Pictures, the film opened in theatres countrywide on Thursday. The movie raised Rs 9.25 crore on the first day.

In a press note, the makers said ''Satyaprem Ki Katha'' has impressed the audience with ''its pure love story and strong impactful social message''.

''Released on Eid al-Adha which is a holiday, the film saw a rush of audience that has created a positive word of mouth. However, the film faced the next working Friday but witnessed a bare minimal drop on a working day and collected 7 crore on day two,'' the statement read.

"Satyaprem Ki Katha", a musical romance drama, is directed by National award-winning filmmaker Sameer Vidwans, known for the critically-acclaimed 2019 Marathi drama "Anandi Gopal".

The film marks a reunion between Aaryan and Advani, who most recently featured in horror comedy "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2".

''Satyaprem Ki Katha'' also stars Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak and Rajpal Yadav.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Award-winning international singer Mary Millben expressed her immense joy upon meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that it was "such an honour." Taking to Twitter, Millben said, "Such an honour to be with you today Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi, Richard Gere, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Her Excellency Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, and all at the @UN for this memorable day."

"We are delighted to have you in the United States for this important visit, Prime Minister @narendramodi," she added. The award-winning international singer, who is all set to perform for PM Modi and other guests at a diaspora reception hosted by the United States Indian Community Foundation (USICF) on June 23, said that she is looking forward to welcoming guests.

"I look to performing for you and guests on Friday in Washington, D.C. God bless you and the #USIndia alliance. #internationalyogaday #india #narendramodi #PMModiUSVisit," Millben said in a tweet. Millben has been formally invited by the Steering Committee to perform for PM Modi during his official state visit to the US from June 21-23.

Millben will on the invitation of India's Permanent Representative to the UN, attend the 9th International Day of Yoga at the UN Headquarters (UNHQ) on June 21 with Prime Minister Modi on the UNHQ North Lawn. Millben said: "I have great anticipation and excitement as the Prime Minister visits the United States next week. This visit celebrates the U.S.-India relationship, the world's two largest democracies and the most important relationship in the world today," said Millben.

"I look forward to joining United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Korosi, Ambassador Ruchira Kamobj, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams in welcoming Prime Minister Modi for this first event in the United States," she said. Mary made her first trip to India to perform at the celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of India's Independence. Mary made history as the first American and African American artist to be invited to India for the Independence Day observance and for an audience of 1.4 billion people.

PM Modi, who arrived in Washington DC on Wednesday, has reached the White House and was welcomed by United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Meanwhile, PM Modi will attend the state dinner on Thursday which US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are hosting.

The Prime Minister will also address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on the same day. On June 23, the Prime Minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Later on, he will meet business leaders of 20 top American companies here and is also expected to address a gathering of more than 1,500 diaspora and business leaders.
 

HYDERABAD [Maha Media]: “RRR” star Ram Charan and wife, entrepreneur Upasana Kamineni on Tuesday morning became parents to their first child, a baby girl.

Both the mother and the baby are doing well, said the hospital, where Upasana was admitted on Monday.

“Miss Upasana Kamineni and Ram Charan Konidela had a baby girl on 20th June 2023, at Apollo Hospital Jubilee Hills – Hyderabad. The baby and mother are doing well,” the hospital said in the medical bulletin.

Ram, 38, and Upasana, 33, announced their pregnancy in December.

The couple tied the knot in 2012 after dating for years. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning Indian-American singer Falguni Shah for a special song to promote the benefits of millets and their potential to alleviate world hunger.

The ‘Abundance in Millets’ song, performed by Falu and her husband and singer Gaurav Shah, is set for release on June 16 across streaming platforms.

The year 2023 has been designated as the ‘International Year of Millets’ after a proposal for it was brought forward by India and endorsed by Members of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Governing Bodies, as well as by the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.

''Prime Minister Modi has written a song with me and my husband Gaurav Shah,'' Falu told PTI ahead of the song's release.

She said the song, written in English and Hindi, will be made accessible to everybody and highlights the power of millets.

“Falu and Gaurav Shah will release the track ‘Abundance in Millets’ featuring the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 16, 2023 in celebration of the International Year of the Millets. 'Abundance in Millets' was created to raise awareness of the super grain as another potential key to minimising world hunger,” said a statement on Falu’s website.

Falu said the idea to write a song about millets came to her when she met Modi in New Delhi last year after her Grammy win.

She said Prime Minister Modi suggested to her she should write a song with a message of ending hunger during their discussion on the power of music to bring change and uplift humanity.

Since music transcends boundaries, Prime Minister Modi suggested writing a song on millets, she said.

Falu said Modi told her that India promotes millets because it is a super grain and has immense health and nutritional value.

She said she very “naively” asked the prime minister if he would write the song with her and he agreed.

“We have collaborated on the song, it’s a single and it’s coming out on June 16,'' with a worldwide release on every streaming platform, she said.

The song will be released in Hindi and English, Falu said, adding that it will be translated into other regional languages to ensure a widespread reach.

Falu said she was initially nervous about writing the song with the prime minister, but the whole collaboration happened in a very organic way.

“It’s one thing to write for him and it’s one thing to write with him. In the middle of the song, you will hear the speech that he has written and narrated in his own voice,” she said.

Falu said she is “honoured” and “humbled'' to collaborate with Modi on the millets song.

“It is a lifetime opportunity for any artist'', she said.

The New York-based artist underlined that the song aims to promote millets and help farmers to grow more and try to end hunger in various parts of the world.

“What better to have a song and music tied along with the message that we can actually solve hunger problems in the world,” she said.

“If we can supply the world with millets, which is a very easy way of farming and growing, this grain can really help end the biggest problem in the world which is hunger and also uplift farmers, local and smaller farms,'' she said.

Millets were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of its consumption during the Indus Valley civilization.

Grown in more than 130 countries at present, millets are considered traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: On the occasion of actor and son Karan Deol's roka ceremony, actor Sunny Deol grooved to the song 'Morni Banke '.

Several videos of Karan's and Drisha Acharya's roka ceremony surfaced on social media in which the 'Gadar' actor could be seen dancing with 'Yamla Pagla Deewana 2' producer Sunny Deol grooves to Morni Banke at Karan Deol's roka.

In the video, Sunny can be seen in a black shirt and matching pair of pants.

The pre-wedding festivities have begun, and the families held their roka ceremony on Monday.

In another viral video, Karan and Drisha can be seen cutting a four-tier white cake while celebrating the ceremony.

Karan wore a blue kurta with a matching Nehru jacket and white trousers, while his wife-to-be chose a golden saree for the special day.

Karan was also seen posing with his friends in a photo. For the ceremony, his friends dressed in all black.

Karan was pictured with his family members. The photo featured Abhay Deol, his cousins and father Sunny.

Abhay, Sunny and Bobby Deol were all smiles at the roka ceremony.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Karan will next be seen in Apne 2 alongside his father Sunny, Bobby, and Dharmendra.

Sunny, on the other hand, is currently busy promoting his film Gadar 2. Along with Ameesha Patel, he will reprise his role as Tara Singh.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Ministry of Education is all set to host the 4th and the final Education Working Group (EDWG) meeting in Pune, Maharashtra from June 19, 2023, to June 22, 2023, under the theme of “Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning”. The meeting will culminate with the Education Ministerial meeting on June 22, 2023.

Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, of Higher Education said that Countries such as Spain, Australia, Indonesia, the United States of America (USA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, China and the United Kingdom (UK) have all expressed their interest in the topic of the seminar and will be participating as panellists, as reported by Financial Express.

Reportedly, similar to the previous meetings, a seminar will be preceding the main EdWG Meeting and it will be based on the priority area of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.

On June 16, at IISER, Pune, as a precursor to the G20 EdWG meeting, the Department of Higher Education is organising a seminar in collaboration with ELSEVIER.

The seminar will be held on the theme ‘Accessible Science: Fostering collaboration’. This event will convene stakeholders across the scientific community to discuss best practices for accessible Science, how accessible Science can be applied across individual nations with differing local capacities, and ways to utilise science practices to support global progress, he added.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Marvel star Tom Holland says he is on a year-long break after working on a ''difficult'' series like ''The Crowded Room''.

The 27-year-old actor plays the role of Danny Sullivan in the Apple TV+ anthology show, which explores the true and inspirational stories of people who have struggled and learned to successfully live with mental illness.

Holland, who pulled double duty as producer on the first season of ''The Crowded Room'', said backing the project just added to the pressure.

''We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before. ''And then on top of that, being a producer, dealing with the day-to-day problems that come with any film set, just added that extra level of pressure. I'm now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was,'' the ''Spider-Man: No Way Home'' star told entertainment magazine Extra.

While he is ''no stranger to hard work'' and ''really enjoyed'' working on this series, Holland admitted that ''the show did break me''.

''There did come a time where it sort of was like, 'I need to have a break'. I am excited to see how it turns out, and I feel like our hard work wasn't in vain,'' he added.

''The Crowded Room'' is a 10-episode limited series about a man who is arrested following his involvement in a New York City shooting in 1979. In the psychological thriller, Holland plays Danny Sullivan, a character based on Billy Mulligan, a man known as The Campus Rapist and the subject of a highly publicised court case in the late 1970s.

The first three episodes of the show will start streaming on Apple TV+ starting June 9 and release an episode a week every Friday after that until July 28.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India is set to host the Miss World 2023 competition, as the coveted international beauty pageant makes its return to the country after nearly three decades.

The much anticipated 71st edition of Miss World is expected to take place in November this year, the final dates of which are yet to be ascertained.

India had last hosted the international pageant in 1996.

''I am delighted to announce India as the new home of the 71st Miss World Final... We cannot wait to share your unique and diverse culture, world class attractions and breathtaking locations with the rest of the world.

''The 71st Miss World 2023 will showcase the Achievements of 130 National champions in their one-month journey across 'Incredible India' as we present the 71st and most spectacular Miss World final ever,'' said Julia Morley, chairperson and CEO of Miss World organization at a press conference on Thursday.

The month-long event, which would witness contestants from over 130 countries, will feature a series of rigorous competitions, including talent showcases, sports challenges, and charitable initiatives -- all aimed at highlighting the qualities that make them ambassadors of change.

The reigning Miss World, Karolina Bielawska of Poland, who is currently in India spreading the word about the beauty competition, said she is excited to hand over her crown in this ''beautiful country'' which stands for the same values as Miss World.

''India has the greatest hospitality in the entire world. It is my second time here .. and you make me feel like home. You stand for the same values.. diversity, unity... Your core values are family, respect, love, kindness and this is something that we would love to show to the world. There is so much more to see here, and bringing the whole world here for a month and showing everything that India has to offer is the best idea,'' said the Miss World 2022.

Equally excited and looking forward to India hosting the event was the current Miss India World Sini Shetty, who'll represent the country in the high-octane competition.

''I am so excited to meet all my sisters across the globe to welcome them to India to show them what India truly stands for, what India is, what is the diversity in India... I am really excited and looking forward to this journey. I hope you guys have the best time here in India,'' she said. India has won the prestigious title six times -- Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017).
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Actor Gufi Paintal, best known for playing 'Shakuni mama' in the epic TV serial ''Mahabharat'', died on Monday at a hospital here due to age-related issues, his nephew Hiten Paintal said.

He was 79.

The veteran actor was admitted at a hospital in suburban Andheri.

''Unfortunately, he is no more. He passed away at the hospital at around 9 am. His heart gave up. He passed away peacefully in his sleep,'' Hiten told PTI.

Hiten had earlier said that his uncle was not keeping well due to age-related health issues.

''He had blood pressure and heart issues. He was keeping unwell and all this was going on for a while. Things got severe now so we got him to the hospital for observation. He has been in the hospital for seven to eight days. He was critical initially, but right now he is stable,'' Hiten had told PTI.

Paintal's acting credits also include 1980s Hindi films such as "Suhaag", "Dillagi", as well as television shows "CID" and "Hello Inspector", but his manipulative uncle act as Shakuni mama from BR Chopra's ''Mahabharat'' made him a household name.

He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild.

The last rites will be held today at around 4 pm at a crematorium in suburban Andheri.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: On a rain-soaked Thursday evening in the Spanish capital, thousands of kilometres away from the city of its origin, the Jaipur Literature Festival began with an aim to create a platform to explore Spanish writing.

JLF Valladolid Spain, which is being held in the northwestern city, will bring together an array of writers, thinkers, artists, and poets to engage in stimulating dialogues and conversations on subjects ranging from fashion and design, history, visual art to literary fiction and poetry. The 10th international extension of the literary festival aims to become "a bridge between the diverse and vibrant literatures of Spain and India".

Talking at the opening ceremony, Indian ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik said that both the countries share similar diversities.

"A literary grouping of English, Spanish and Indian language is something we are really keen on. We are also looking at Indian diversity, Spain has the same diversity. Every 100 miles in Spain also is a different country, and yet it's Spanish. So we are very similar. Similar thoughts, similar family values, we love music, we love children. So if you put it all together, we have something very unique," the ambassador said. Over the course of three days, the literary event will host Spanish and Indian writers, scholars, diplomats, musicians and actors including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, writers Vikram Chandra, Deepti Kapoor, Oscar Pujol, Agustin Paniker and Pallavi Aiyar, poets Ranjit Hoskote and Raquel Lanseros, foreign affairs expert Ana Palacio, and Portuguese politician Bruno Macaes.

"Why should JLF be in Spain? Primarily, for us, it is really a discovery of a Spanish speaking world. This is our first offering in Europe. For us, it is really an entry into a language that we in India are not necessarily familiar with. Despite the language's incredible push to get everybody to learn Spanish, we are still ignorant about the writers from your part of the world," said Sanjoy K Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts.

The event will also be attended by Indian singers Usha Uthup, Vidya Shah, actor Kabir Bedi, and Kutle Khan Project, along with Spanish musicians such as German Diaz, Raul Olivar Flamenco Trio, Pablo Oliva and dancer Monica de la Fuente. The festival will come to a close on May 4.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar believe the new Parliament building will contribute towards a ''new India'' and become a symbol of the country's growth story. The Hindi film stars shared a glimpse of the new Parliament house on Twitter on Saturday night and expressed their happiness over its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prime minister praised the two actors for sharing their thoughts on the new building.

''What a magnificent new home for the people who uphold our Constitution, represent every citizen of this great Nation and protect the diversity of her one People @narendramodi ji. A new Parliament building for a New India but with the age old dream of Glory for India. Jai Hind! #MyParliamentMyPride,'' Shah Rukh wrote alongside the video featuring his voice over.

The parliament is to the nation what soul is to the body, the 57-year-old actor said in the clip with the famous ''Swades'' track ''Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera'' playing in the background.

''My sincere prayers that the soul of democracy remains robust in its new home and continues to foster liberty, fraternity and equality for ages to come. May this new abode of democracy build a new age that is renowned for its scientific temper and empathy for all.

''A new parliament for a new India but with the same age old dream -- the glory of India, of our nation. Jai Hind!'' SRK said.

PM Modi hailed Shah Rukh for beautifully expressing his thoughts about the new Parliament building.

''The new Parliament building is a symbol of democratic strength and progress. It blends tradition with modernity. #MyParliamentMyPride'' the prime minister tweeted.

Akshay also shared the video with a personalised voice over. ''Proud to see this glorious new building of the Parliament. May this forever be an iconic symbol of India's growth story. #MyParliamentMyPride'' he tweeted.

The actor, who grew up in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi, said as a kid he used to notice that the majority of the buildings near India Gate were constructed by the British.

''Today, on seeing this brand new and grand new building my heart is filled with pride. The Indian Parliament is a temple of democracy. It is a symbol of new India. An India, which is not only at the forefront of culture and heritage, but also marching ahead in the world with its progress,'' he said in the clip. The actor congratulated PM Modi for ''making this day possible''. ''God bless India with more and more progress in the years to come,'' he added.

The Prime Minister replied on Akshay's post and said the ''new Parliament is truly a beacon of our democracy.'' ''It reflects the nation's rich heritage and the vibrant aspirations for the future. #MyParliamentMyPride'' PM Modi tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building here on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Music legend Tina Turner has passed away. She was 83. Known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll for her blistering performances and powerfully gritty vocals, Tina died on May 24 after a long illness.

She breathed her last at her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. The news of her demise was shared by her publicist Bernard Doherty via a statement, People reported.

"Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock'n Roll' has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model," the statement read. "There will be a private funeral ceremony attended by close friends and family. Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time," the statement further read.

Since 1994 the American-born singer had been living in Switzerland with her husband, German actor and music producer Erwin Bach, earning her Swiss citizenship in 2013. In recent years she battled a number of serious health problems, including a stroke, intestinal cancer and total kidney failure that required an organ transplant. Boasting one of the longest careers in rock history, Turner scored Billboard Top 40 hits across four decades, earning her Grammys, a Kennedy Center Honor, and entry into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Most recently, Turner was the focal point of an HBO documentary on her life titled Tina. As per People, Turner's early years were marred by her tumultuous marriage to musical partner Ike Turner, who subjected her to brutal acts of physical and psychological abuse. (He died in 2007.) Her survival and harrowing escape was dramatized in the 1993 film What's Love Got to Do with It starring Angela Bassett.

In 2008, she announced that her Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour would also be her last, and from that point on she largely retired from the music industry. She began to focus more on her private life, notably her relationship with German actor and music producer Erwin Bach. After decades together, the pair married in 2013. In 2018, she made one of her last public appearances, dropping in at the premiere of the London musical based on her life story, Tina, which details every turbulent moment of her 50-year singing career.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Popular TV and film actor Nitish Pandey passed away here, reportedly due to cardiac arrest. 

He was 50 years old.

He began doing theatre in 1990 and In 1995, he got his first show ‘Tejas’ in which he played a detective. 

He has worked in serials like ‘Manzilein Apani Apani’, ‘Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani’, ‘Saaya’, ‘Justajoo’ and ‘Durgesh Nandini’. Nitish had also done movies like ‘Om Shanti Om’, ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’, ‘Badhaai Do’, ‘Dabangg 2’, among others.

He also had an independent production house - 'Dream Castle Productions' which produces Radio shows.

He was last seen in Star Plus show ‘Anupamaa’ as Dheeraj Kapoor.

Actor Vaibhavi Upadhyaya, best known for the television series Sarabhai vs Sarabhai: Take 2, passed away in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, said the police.

The last rites of the actor will be held in Mumbai on Wednesday, added Verma.
 

KOLKATA [Maha Media]: Ruskin Bond unveiled a diary designed by 6-year-old Aavya M Bhutoria of Kolkata. The diary was unveiled in Mussoorie in the presence of her father Sundeep Bhutoria. The cover of the diary features her painting which she did during lock down depicting her experience of finding solace in art during the difficult time. The cover design was conceived by Swarup Dutta to bring out the essence of the diary. The diary has different variations of pages inside from plain, ruled and squared.

The acclaimed author Ruskin Bond, Padma Bhushan, was delighted to see the diary and praised Aavya's creativity and perceptiveness in chronicling her lock down days through images in this diary. He also added that he will be chronicling his next story in Aavya's diary. "We really enjoyed Aavya's art, so we put her best creations together as a digital collage for everyone to enjoy!" said Swarup Dutta.

Aavya's creative journey actually began during the standstill months of the pandemic. She was barely three, making doodles relentlessly on notepads and conference pads and her family of three --with Mumma, Papa and herself -- often ends up being her favourite subject for doodles. From birds and flowers to her favourite spots in and around her apartment terrace garden, diverse worlds find expression in her art. The crows in her paintings are her own, with yellow beaks after having feasted on ripe mangoes! Afternoons are when Aavya can be mostly found immersed in her creative process at a sunny little desk by a French window.

Aavya nurtures a passion for art from a tender age. She expresses her love for painting through dynamic colours, compositions and textures. This story is provided by PNN. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The teaser of the short film ‘Dobya’ produced under Sejal Dipak Painter’s production house, Swarna Pat Katha, was launched by the makers on Friday.

The film has also been selected to premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival - - Marche du Film. 

The film is based on a heartwarming story of an old man, Tatya, and his old bull Raja. Dobya revolves around how human nature prioritises development over authenticity and nature. The film gives out a message that how these days, everyone gives more importance to materialistic elements than relationships. The film stars Shashank Shende, Siddhesh Zhadbuke, Abhimaan Unvane, and Nachiket Devasthali. The film is helmed by Ashutosh Popat Jare. At Cannes Film Festival, the unique and moving story Dobya will be a part of a three short films anthology named Naked Word. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Mughal-e-Azam' has entertained fans across the globe. And now after more than 200 marvellous performances across six Asian countries, its sublime stage adaptation, 'Mughal-E-Azam: The Musical', premieres in North America. The 13-city tour starts in Atlanta on Friday, May 26 with stops in New York, Chicago, Toronto, and more. This is also India's longest-running Broadway-style extravaganza and has been directed by Feroz Abbas Khan and produced by Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It will be presented in North America by Cinema on Stage and will bring to a global audience, a timeless love story intertwined with the silken skeins of India's syncretic culture and its rich dance, musical, cinematic, and theatrical traditions.

The director described his thoughts on the milestone by stating, "There cannot be a better way to end the pandemic-induced lull than to take 'Mughal-E-Azam: The Musical' to an international audience. We are well aware of how challenging it will be to keep the energy levels up as we travel from one city to another with a vast crew and learn to familiarise ourselves with a new venue every time, but we are looking forward to it. The last few years of not being able to perform have made us all hungry, and we will invest even more passion and diligence than ever before in every performance and ensure that this tour is a massive success. A very big element of this project is the way Mayuri Upadhya has choreographed dance sequences to do justice to the majestic musical score, and we are sure that the audiences will love every moment of it," Feroz added.

"Seven years back, when we green-lighted this project, we had not imagined that it would run for 19 seasons and travel to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Muscat, Doha, and now North America. There is a lot of technical and logistic expertise that goes into a massive show like this, but what really makes it universally loved is its emotional core and the love story of Salim and Anarkali, said Deepesh Salgia, Creative & Strategic Vision for the musical. And of course, this is India's most expensive theatre production and leaves audiences everywhere enchanted with its intricately choreographed dance sequences, spectacular lighting, exquisite costumes by Manish Malhotra, and live singing. We at Shapoorji Pallonji are extremely delighted to bring this musical play to a country that prides itself in creating a global ecosystem for theatrical production," concludes Deepesh Salgia.

India's first Broadway-style musical boasts a cast and crew of more than 150 people, has been met with all-around accolades following its 2016 premiere in Mumbai. In 2017, it won seven out of the 14 BroadwayWorld India Awards, including Best Play, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Choreography, Best Original Set Design, Best Original Lighting Design, and Best Ensemble Cast.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Despite advising fans that he might not be able to keep his routine 'meet and greet' with them, megastar Amitabh Bachchan eventually turned up for his Sunday ritual. Taking to blog, Big B dropped several images from the occasion.

Take a look "The Sunday by the Gate had seemed uncertain but .. my Director was generous to the cause and worked in a manner that made it possible for me to rush back in time to greet and savour the love of the dedicated Ef and the well wishers ...," he wrote on his blog.

Big B looked super cool in a white kurta pyjama that he paired with a cool printed colourful jacket. On May 6, Big B informed his fans that he may skip the Sunday ritual.

"Going certainly not for the GATE at JALSA tomorrow, for .. there is work on location which can only be given permission for on a Sunday .. There shall be effort of course to return in time for the 5:45 pm at Jalsa .. but there could be a delay or a non appearance .. so a warning in advance to keep away," he had posted. Meanwhile, on the film front, Amitabh will be seen in 'Project K', which also stars Deepika Padukone and Prabhas.

Helmed by Nag Ashwin, 'Project K' is a bilingual film shot simultaneously in two languages i.e., Hindi and Telugu across various locations. Big B will also be seen in Ribhu Dasgupta's next courtroom drama film 'Section 84'.
 

EW DELHI [Maha Media]: The controversial film 'The Kerala Story' has been made tax-free in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced to give tax-free status to 'The Kerala Story' in the state, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies and used it to attack the Congress during a rally in Karnataka. 

"We have already made a law against religious conversion in Madhya Pradesh. Since this film creates awareness, everyone should watch this film. Parents, children and daughters should watch it. That's why the Madhya Pradesh government is giving tax-free status to the movie 'The Kerala Story'," Chouhan said. The CM said that the film exposes the conspiracies of 'love jihad', religious conversion and terrorism and its "hideous" face. 'Love jihad' is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage. 

This film tells how the daughters ruin their lives after getting entangled in the web of 'love jihad' due to momentary sentimentality, said Chouhan and added, "This film also exposes the design of terrorism." 

In a rally in Ballari in poll-bound Karnataka, PM Modi said on Friday, "Such a beautiful state of the country, where people are hardworking and talented. The 'Kerala Story' film brings out terror conspiracies happening in that state." "It is unfortunate that Congress can be seen standing with this terror trend that is seeking to ruin the country. Congress is even indulging in backdoor political bargaining with people having terror inclinations. People of Karnataka should be cautious about Congress," added Modi. 

Karnataka votes for a new assembly on May 10. The results will be announced on May 13.

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: special CBI court in Mumbai is likely to announce on Friday its verdict in the suicide case of actor Jiah Khan, who was found dead in her suburban home on June 3, 2013.

Actor Suraj Pancholi, son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, is accused of abetting the suicide of Khan.

Suraj Pancholi was charged on the basis of a 6-page letter purportedly written by Khan, who was found hanging in her Juhu home.

As per the Central Bureau of Investigation, the letter, which was seized by Mumbai police that began its probe on June 10, 2013, was written by Jiah Khan.

The CBI claimed the note narrated her ''intimate relationship, physical abuse and mental and physical torture” allegedly at the hands of Pancholi, which led to her committing suicide.

The case was reassigned to a special CBI court in 2021 after the sessions court said it did not have the jurisdiction over the case as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had probed it.

Special CBI Judge AS Sayyad, after hearing the final arguments of both the sides, last week reserved his judgement in the case for April 28.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Harry Potter'' star Daniel Radcliffe and his longtime partner, actor Erin Darke have become parents to their first child.

A representative for Radcliffe confirmed the news to People magazine, but did not reveal the sex of the baby, or when the child was born.

In late March, it was reported that the actor couple was expecting a baby after they were spotted in New York City, where Darke's baby bump was visible underneath her hoodie.

Radcliffe, 33, and Darke, 38, have been together for over a decade. They first sparked romance rumours after co-starring in the 2013 film ''Kill Your Darlings''.

In a 2019 interview, the actor talked about shooting an intimate scene with Darke (''Good Girl Revolt'') for ''Kill Your Darlings''.

''It'll be a hell of a story to tell our kids one day because of what our characters do with each other.

''Our characters are meeting and flirting with each other, so there is this kind of sweet record of us just meeting for the first time and flirting,'' Radcliffe had said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]:  “Mann Ki Baat” is an important piece of communication through which Prime Minister Narendra Modi connects with citizens, actor Aamir Khan said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ‘National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100’.

The one-day conclave was inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar here with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur as the guest of honour.

The 100th episode of the prime minister’s monthly radio programme is scheduled to be broadcast on April 30.

“It’s a very important piece of communication that the leader of the country does with the people, discussing important issues, putting forward thoughts, giving suggestions, leading…

“That is how you lead by communication. You tell your people what you’re looking at, how you’re seeing the future, how you want your support in that. (It’s an) important communication that happens in ‘Mann Ki Baat’,” Khan told PTI.

Asked if Modi only talks about his “mann ki baat” (what he wants to talk about) in the radio programme, the Bollywood star said, “I think it’s his prerogative because he’s doing it… It is his method of hearing what the people have to say connecting with people across the country. I think it’s a very important initiative.” Later in the day, the “Laal Singh Chaddha” actor will participate in a panel called “Awahan Se Jan Andolan”.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Felicitated with the Deenanath Mangeshkar Award- Vishesh Puraskar for her contribution to Indian Cinema, actress Vidya Balan shared a memory of her encounter with the nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar. 

Wearing a saree gifted by the late Lata Mangeshkar, at an event held here on Monday, Vidya expressed her love and gratitude for the legendary icon. “A few years ago, I had the privilege of sitting right behind Lataji at a film awards ceremony and I couldn’t help but stare at her in amazement through the evening. I believe someone later told her about it and a week later, she sent this saree to me, that I am wearing today. I called her to thank her. I had the privilege of hearing her melodious voice on the phone, I thanked her from the bottom of my heart and said to her that I will meet you wearing this saree, but unfortunately that didn’t happen…Maybe that is why I was chosen to come here today and share the experience of her blessing me,” she said. 

Saying this Vidya stepped out from behind the podium so everyone present could have a good look at the gorgeous saree. “I have had the good fortune of receiving many awards in my career and I always thought of them as a for of appreciation for my work, today this award feels like an honour,” she added. On the work front, she was last seen in ‘Jalsa’. She next has ‘Neeyat’ in her kitty. 

KANNUR [Maha Media]: Gemini Sankaran, the founder of Gemini Circus and a pioneer of Indian circus, died, family sources said on Monday. He was 99.

Sankaran was admitted to a private hospital near here for the past few days due to age-related ailments and died on Sunday night.

Condoling the demise, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed Sankaran for playing a major role in popularising Indian circus worldwide. "He played a major role in modernising the Indian circus and included foreign performers and their tricks," Vijayan said.

The Chief Minister said he had close ties with Sankaran who had a progressive outlook.

Sankaran used to have close relations with various prime ministers, presidents and other prominent personalities.

His demise is a great loss to the art of circus in the country, Vijayan said.

Sankaran, who was born in 1924, trained under noted circus artist Keeleri Kunhikannan for three years and later joined the military and retired after the Second World War.

After working with various circus groups across the country, he purchased Vijaya Circus Company in 1951 and renamed it as Gemini Circus. Later, he started his second company, Jumbo Circus.

He was honored by the Union government with a lifetime achievement award considering his overall contribution to circus in the country.

Sankaran is survived by two sons and a daughter.

His body will be kept at his residence for the public to pay homage and the last rites will be held at Payyambalam beach on Tuesday.

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Pamela Chopra, playback singer, writer and late filmmaker Yash Chopra's wife, died on Thursday at a Mumbai hospital. She was 74.

Pamela Chopra breathed her last at Lilavati hospital where she was admitted after being diagnosed with pneumonia. She is survived by her sons, filmmaker Aditya Chopra and actor Uday Chopra.

"She passed away today early morning due to pneumonia with ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). She had been admitted to the hospital for 15 days in the ICU," Dr Prahlad Prabhudesai told PTI.

Yash Raj Films said in a statement that the last rites took place at 11 am.

"With heavy hearts, the Chopra family would like to inform that Pamela Chopra, 74, passed away this morning... We are grateful for your prayers and the family would like to request for privacy in this moment of deep sadness and reflection," the statement read

Pamela Chopra married Yash Chopra in 1970 and remained an important influence in his career. She sang many songs for his films, including "Surkh Jode Ki Jagmagahat" in "Kabhie Kabhie", "Khude Se Jo Vada Kiya Tha" in "Silsila" and "Ghar Aaja Pardesi" in "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge".

She wrote the story of "Kabhie Kabhie", Yash Chopra's 1976 directorial starring Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Shashi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor.

Pamela Chopra is credited as a screenwriter along with others, including her son and husband, in "Dil To Pagal Hai".

Beyond singing and writing, she was involved in her family's production banner Yash Raj Films as dress designer, producer and associate producer.

She most recently made an appearance on "The Romantics", Netflix's four-part docu-series celebrating the movies of Yash Chopra and his production house.

Yash Chopra died in October 2012.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Why haven't other Indian stars done it? That's the question Priyanka Chopra Jonas says she is asked all the time and one to which she has no ready answer other than the fact that she left the baggage of being a Bollywood star when she crossed over to the West.

The former Miss World, arguably the only mainstream Indian actor to make it big in the American entertainment industry, is now fronting the global spy series "Citadel".

''People ask me all the time, why haven't other people done it? Why haven't other actors from India broken the way you've broken? I don't have the answer to that. All I know is that the one thing that I did, which maybe led to it, was I didn't carry my baggage," Priyanka told PTI in an interview during a recent visit to India.

"I come from India and I'm a big star here, and I have an entourage of 20 people. I don't do that (there). I will give an audition. I have no qualms in walking into the room and showing people my work. I'm not afraid of the work. I don't carry my ego or my pride,'' she added.

The 40-year-old decided to explore Hollywood at the peak of her career in the Hindi film industry around 2011-2012. She began as a singer with the single ''In My City'' and went on to feature as the lead in the American TV show ''Quantico'' and played the antagonist in the film "Baywatch". Most recently, she was seen in "The Matrix Resurrections" alongside Keanu Reeves.

The actor said it took her eight years of building her ''credibility'' with ''smaller roles and movies'' to finally reach a position where she is getting opportunities with big names such as ''The Matrix'' creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski and ''Avengers: Infinity War'' duo Joe and Anthony Russo, who have produced "Citatdel".

''I've been a leading lady for a very long time, whether that's in Hollywood or in Bollywood. I consider myself a leading lady. It takes time to get there. It took me about eight years working in Hollywood to be able to do leading parts,'' the actor said.

Be it Hollywood or Bollywood, the nature of the ''beast'' that the entertainment industry is remains the same, start with ''smaller roles and movies'' and build your ''credibility'', Priyanka said.

''And I had to do the same thing when I joined Bollywood... That's just how the industry works. And I'm not afraid of hard work. I'm not afraid of perseverance, but when you finally get there and when you watch your work then it's like 'I did it again'.'' She was in India to promote "Citadel", which will be seen on Prime Video and is backed by Russo Brothers' AGBO banner. The show also features ''Game of Thrones'' actor Richard Madden and veteran Hollywood star Stanley Tucci.

It follows elite agents Mason Kane (Richard) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka), who had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives after the fall of independent global spy agency Citadel.

Russo Brothers approached Priyanka with the idea of ''Citadel'' five years ago. It was shot for over a year and a half during the pandemic, making the whole process ''emotionally draining and physically demanding''.

''It was taxing... I'm not even going to say it was lots of fun... The show required us to be in good physical shape. To be able to do all the physical stunts that we needed to do. And it's not easy to go to the gym every single day to do stunt training, five-six times a week for a full year and a half... And I don't like going to the gym at all.

''Doing all that was physically taxing anyway and then we were away from our families. We were in a bubble. We couldn't meet friends. We only had each other, which was the crew and cast. That can be emotionally very difficult.'' Juggling between two major film industries hasn't been a cakewalk, the National Award-winning actor said.

''I've found a really beautiful work-life balance. I'm not someone who overworks myself anymore... I used to burn the candle on both ends. Now I have a sense of I need time, my team needs time, people need to sleep, we need to eat. There was a time where I would go without sleep, food for days and it didn't matter. But my priorities have shifted.'' The actor, who got married to American singer Nick Jonas in 2018 and welcomed her first child Malti Marie Chopra Jonas in 2021, said it is important for her to spend time with her family now.

''It's very important for me to have time with my family and to be able to finish working in the evening and go back home and actually have just time for myself. I go away for the weekends. So I don't feel perennially exhausted,'' she added.

"Citadel", produced by AGBO and Amazon Studios, will premiere on Prime Video globally on April 28.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has secured the top position in Time Magazine's poll for its annual TIME100 list. 

In the poll, the magazine readers vote for the individuals they believe deserve a spot on TIME’s annual list of the most influential people. 

According to the American publication, over 1.2 million votes were cast in the poll with Shah Rukh receiving 4 per cent.

The 57-year-old actor is currently riding high on the success of "Pathaan", which became a runaway blockbuster at the global box office after it released in January. The movie, a mega comeback vehicle for Shah Rukh after his absence from leading man roles for more than four years, has earned over Rs 1000 crore worldwide. 

The second spot went to the Iranian women protesting for greater freedoms from the country’s Islamic regime, garnering 3 per cent of the vote. Iran has been hit by protests since the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini was detained in September by Iran's morality police, who said she didn't properly cover her hair with the mandatory Islamic headscarf hijab. She collapsed at a police station and died three days later.

The Iranian women were also recognised in TIME’s 2022 Heroes of the Year and also won last year’s Person of the Year reader poll.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Actor Nayanthara and filmmaker Vignesh Shivan who welcomed their twin sons last year in October. Finally, has revealed the full name of their children.

A video has surfaced only in which actor Nayanthara can be seen revealing the full names of her twins.

During the event, when Nayanthara was asked to reveal the full names of her boys, she said "My first son is Uyir Rudronil N Shivan and my second son is Ulag Dhaivag N Shivan."

Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan married in Chennai on June 9, 2022. It was an intimate wedding with only their close friends and select guests, including Shah Rukh Khan, AR Rahman, Suriya, and Rajinikanth, in attendance.

Four months after their wedding, they welcomed their sons via surrogacy. The news was shared by Vignesh on his Instagram handle where he shared pictures of his twin newborns named Uyir and Ulagam. In the images, the duo was seen kissing the feet of their babies.

He captioned the post by writing, "Nayan and Me have become Amma and Appa. We are blessed with Twin Baby Boys. All Our prayers, our ancestors' blessings combined with all the good manifestations made, have come 2gethr in the form Of 2 blessed babies for us. Need all ur blessings for our Uyir and Ulagam. Life looks brighter and more beautiful. God is double great."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Nayanthara will be seen starring in director Atlee's next action thriller film 'Jawaan' along with Shah Rukh Khan. The upcoming film is all set to hit the theatres on June 2, 2023. 
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth are separating after nearly 12 years of marriage.

In a joint statement, posted by Witherspoon on Instagram, the 47-year-old actor and her husband said they made the decision to divorce after ''a great deal of care and consideration''.

''We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together.

''Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter. These matters are never easy and are extremely personal. We truly appreciate everyone's respect for our family's privacy at this time,'' the statement read.

The news comes just days before their 12th wedding anniversary on Sunday.

Witherspoon and Toth, 52, had announced their engagement in December 2010, before tying the knot in March 2011. The couple share 10-year-old son Tennessee James.

Witherspoon was previously married to actor Ryan Phillippe, with whom she has two children -- daughter Ava, 23, and son Deacon, 19.
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: ilmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best known for the movie ''Parineeta'', passed away at a hospital early on Friday, his wife Panchali said.

He was 67.

The director was admitted to the ICU of Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra following a fever.

''He passed away between 3.10 am and 3.30 am at Lilavati hospital,'' his wife told PTI.

He had viral fever on March 22. After administering some medicines his fever subsided but not completely. So he was rushed to the hospital, she said.

''By the time we reached the hospital, his vitals started dropping. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection attacked his lungs,'' the director's wife said.

''According to doctors, he had many comorbidities which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. Since COVID-19 hit him in July 2022, he was quite weak,'' Panchali said. Sarkar made his directorial debut with ''Parineeta'' in 2005. Some of his other directorial ventures include ''Laaga Chunari Mein Daag'' (2007), ''Lafangey Parindey'' (2010), ''Mardaani'' (2014), and ''Helicopter Eela'' (2018).

Many celebrities offered their condolences through social media.

Ajay Devgn said he is unable to fathom the news about Sarkar’s demise.

''The news of Pradeep Sarkar’s demise, 'Dada' to some of us, is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada,'' Devgn wrote.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared a picture of the director on Twitter and wrote, ''Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP.'' Responding to Mehta's tweet, actor Manoj Bajpayee said he was shocked.

''Ohh! That’s so shocking! Rest in peace Dada!!,'' he said.

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli remembered him as a sweet man. He shared the clip from the song 'Pihu Bole' from the movie ''Parineeta'' on social media.

''Shocked and sad to hear about Dada Pradeep Sarkar. Really sweet man. Had lovely conversations about cinema with him. RIP Dada. Here's a song from your film to celebrate you and your cinema,'' he said in the post.
 

INDORE [Maha Media]: Indian music composer and singer Kailash Kher launched Mahakal Stuti song in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on the occasion of beginning of Hindu new year on Wednesday. There are a total of five singers which include Kailash Kher, Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, Sonu Nigan and Arijit Singh who have contributed their voice for the song. The singer also recited a few lines of the song on the occasion.

Besides, speaking to news agency, Kher said, "There are five singers who gave their voice in this new version of Mahakal song. Bringing together big singers is like gathering gods, it takes a lot of difficulty. Even before this could happen, the date for the inauguration of Mahakal Lok by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived. So, I performed alone. Now we have brought all the singers together in its next phase." Kher also compared today's trending rap songs with gutters. He said, "Both rivers and drains flow on this earth, it is your choice whether you want to go towards the river or fall into the drain."

When asked about the use of foul language in the rap songs, Kher said, "There is bitterness-junk food as well as there is organic food (referring to the song taste). You should avoid it and tell the children what is good and what is bad. It is the responsibility of the parents and elders." Talking about the insult of the Indian Tiranga (Tricolour) in London, Kher said, "Wherever someone is insulting our India and culture, God is making him blind and lame. We may or may not have faith in human power, but we have unwavering faith in divine power."
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: As someone who worked in the Hindi film industry for a long time before making a career in Hollywood, ''Citadel'' star Priyanka Chopra Jonas says it is exciting to be part of a series that is taking entertainment ''beyond borders and language'' through an intersection of stories from different countries.

''Citadel'', an ambitious spy drama slated to debut on Prime Video on April 28, will act as the flagship show that will blend with local shows already under production in India and Italy, starring starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, respectively.

Chopra Jonas spoke about the ''cross pollination of cultures'' in a global press conference in late February.

''It was so exciting to me as someone who worked for a very long time in a non-English medium to see the success of subtitled work in English language territories. But the ambition of this show, which was so attractive to me in the beginning, is kind of like the social experiment of it.

''If the flagship show is an English language, you have an Indian show, you have an Italian show, and the characters and the storylines kind of blend into each other,'' the Los Angeles-based actor said in the press conference, which was also attended by PTI.

The actor hopes this blend of stories will lead people to tune into shows of different languages.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: In an attempt to create a positive environmental impact by uniting the world in support of people and the planet, World Wildlife Fund is all set to celebrate Earth hour on March 25, 2023, with more than 190 countries, including India, joining as participants in the switch-off event which will turn a single Earth hour into thousands and millions of hours of action and awareness towards the conservation of environment.

Ahead of the observance of the global event, Earth Hour India has launched three-time Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej as the ‘Face of Earth Hour India’ for this year.

The Bengaluru-based music composer is widely known for his music albums like, ‘Divine Tides’ and ‘Winds of Samsara’ for which he has been bestowed with the prestigious Grammy Awards.

The internationally acclaimed composer has been devoting his music only to the cause of the environment, for at least half a dozen years now.

Sharing his views and aspirations as the face of the campaign, Ricky Kej said, ” We can together revitalise the power of the hour for a nature positive world and inspire and mobilize the collective consciousness of the entire world to give back to the people and planet. As landmarks and homes across the globe take part in Earth Hour’s iconic switch-off, I request everyone to ‘switch off’ themselves by taking a break from their routine and everyday distractions and spend 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet and nature around us.”

Earth hour is one of the world’s biggest grassroots environmental movements which was started back on March 31, 2007, in Sydney Australia where 2.2 million individuals switched off their lights for an hour, to tackle climate change and replace people’s despair with hope and positivity at a global level.

The annual campaign is observed every year to bring conservation and sustainable practices into focus towards creating a better world for future generations. 

Like every year, Earth Hour 2023 will be observed from 8:30-9:30 PM which will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of our planet, the need to protect and how there is a limited time to do so.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Gauri Khan, a well-known interior designer and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's wife, has found herself in legal trouble as an FIR has been registered against her in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow. The FIR, which has been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 409 (criminal breach of trust), was registered at the Sushant Golf City police station in Lucknow.

The managing director of Tulsiyani Construction and Development Limited, Anil Kumar Tulsiyani, the director, Mahesh Tulsiyani, and the brand ambassador, Gauri Khan, have all been named in the FIR. They have been accused of not delivering a flat to a buyer even after receiving payment of approximately Rs 86 lakhs.

Kirat Jaswant Shah, a resident of Mumbai, has filed the complaint, claiming that he had paid the entire amount for the flat, but had not been handed over possession. The flat in question is located in the Tulsiani Golf View project in the Sushant Golf City area of Lucknow. The buyer alleges that Gauri Khan's promotion of the project influenced his decision to buy the flat. She's considered among one of the best interior designers in Bollywood and has decorated the houses of many celebrities like Sidharth Malhotra, Farah Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandez, among others.

This FIR against Gauri comes at a time when her husband Shah Rukh has been basking in the success of his recent blockbuster 'Pathaan'. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the action-packed movie breached the Rs 500 crore net in Hindi within a month of its release and has crossed the Rs 1000 crore worldwide.
 

AUGANGABAD [Maha Media]: After the gap of seven years, Three-days Ellora-Ajantha International Festival being starts from today at historical Soneri mahal situated at cpus of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU).

Preparation has been completed at Soneri Mahal with the stage is decorated with attractive Replicas of Ellora and Ajantha.It reflects the rich of tradition of Aurangabad . Meanwhile ,seats for 5500 spectators have been arranged for this festival. The program will begin this evening with the Kathak dance of Mayur Vaidya and Mrinmayi Deshpande. 

Bharatnatyam by Prarthana Beher and Lavani by Bhargavi Chiramule will be performed. Fans will also get to experience the singing of Padma Bhushan Pandit Rashid Khan, Mahesh Kale and the juggling of tabla and flute by Padmashri Vijay Ghate, Pandit Rakesh Chaurasia during the three days festival. It may note that due to different reasons the festival not organised by administration during the past seven years. 
 

MUMBAI [Maha Media]: Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who will be soon seen in the upcoming film "Selfiee", is set to give up his Canadian passport and has applied to get his citizenship status changed.

In the past, the superstar had stated that he would change his passport to that of India but owing to the delays induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, he wasn't able to do so. But, now it looks like the actor will soon get an Indian passport.

During an interview in the first episode of the new season of "Seedhi Baat" on news channel Aajtak, Akshay said: "India is everything to me. Whatever I have earned, whatever I have gained is from here. And I'm fortunate that I get a chance to give back. You feel bad when people say things without knowing anything."

Unravelling how the whole Canadian passport scenario came into being, the "Bachchhan Paandey" superstar said: "I thought that 'bhai, my films are not working and one has to work'. I went there for work. My friend was in Canada and he said, 'Come here'. I applied and I got in. I had just two films left for release and it is just luck that they both became superhits."

"My friend said, 'go back, start working again'. I got some more films and I kept getting more work. I forgot that I had the passport. I never thought that I should get this passport changed but now yes, I have applied to get my passport changed and once I get the renounced status from Canada."
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The New Delhi World Book Fair will be held from 25th of this month to 5th of next month at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate the fair on 25th February.

Briefing media in New Delhi today, the Chairman of National Book Trust Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma said, the theme of the fair is Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. He said several literary and cultural activities focussing on the theme will be organized during the fair. He said, more than two thousand stalls will be set up and more than one thousand book publishers will participate in the fair. 

Director of National Book Trust Yuvraj Malik said France has been designated as the Guest of Honour Country. He said the G20 theme has been integrated with the New Delhi World Book Fair and exhibitions of books from G20 member countries will be organized during the fair.
 
Foreign and G20 pavilions, a dedicated pavilion on National Education Policy 2020 and a Children's pavilion will also be set up in the fair. At the YUVA corner in the fair, 75 young writers will interact with book lovers, visitors and other panellists. The timings of fair will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the people can enter the fair from Gate Numbers 4 and 10. Entry is free for school children, senior citizens and the differently-abled.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India-born Hindi and Sanskrit writer-translator Dr Mridul Kirti was awarded the 'Vishwa Hindi Samman' Award by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at recently-concluded 12th World Hindi Conference.

Melbourne-based Kirti has translated scriptures such as Samaveda and Ashtavakra Gita written in the classic Sanskrit language into Hindi and Brij Bhasha.

 "Dr Mridul Kirti, who lives in Australia, is a cultural, spiritual and linguistic bridge of insight. She has translated many books into Hindi poetry. She has deep devotion towards Indian culture and spirituality," Jaishankar wrote in a tweet.

She considers herself to be a humble medium for spreading the message of God, and has devoted a large part of her life in writing and translating immortal religious texts, reads her website bio.

Kirti has a PhD in Political Science from Meerut University and has been awarded UP Sanskrit Sahitya Academy Award for translation.

The World Hindi Conference was co-hosted by the governments of India and Fiji from February 15-17 in Nadi, Fiji.

"Our aim is how to make Hindi a global language," Jaishankar, who inaugurated the ceremony, said.

The main theme of the conference was "Hindi - Traditional Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence".

The Hindi language, written in Devanagari script and influenced by Sanskrit, is the third most spoken language in the world with 615 million speakers after English and Mandarin.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor swept the Dadasaheb Phalke International film festival awards 2023, held at a five-star hotel in Mumbai on Monday.

Alia won the best actress award for portraying the iconic character Gangubai in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, while Ranbir was named the best actor for ‘Brahmastra’.

Ranbir was not present at the occasion. Alia received the award on his behalf. Varun Dhawan won the Critics best actor award for ‘Bhediya’. Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Kashmir Files’ was awarded the Best film award. For this film, Anupam Kher received the award of most versatile actor of the year.

It’s a proud moment for Neetu Kapoor as two awards came to her home. Taking to Instagram, Neetu shared the screenshot of recipients on her story.

As per their official website, the festival celebrates the brilliance of the Indian film industry by making an effort to acknowledge and aid nascent projects by bringing them to mainstream audiences.

Other celebs present at the event included Varun Dhawan, Ronit Roy, Shreyas Talpade, R Balki, Sahil Khan, Natalia Barulich, Jayantilal Gada, Sachet, Parampara, Vivek Agnihotri, Rishab Shetty and Hariharan among others. 

Here are the winners:

Best Film: The Kashmir Files

Best Director: R Balki for Chup: Revenge of The Artist

Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Most Promising Actor: Rishab Shetty for Kantara

Best Actor In A Supporting Role: Manish Paul for Jugjugg Jeeyo

Outstanding Contribution In The Film Industry: Rekha

Best Web Series: Rudra: The Edge of Darkness

Critics Best Actor: Varun Dhawan for Bhediya

Film of The Year: RRR

Television Series of The Year: Anupamaa

Most Versatile Actor Of The Year: Anupam Kher for The Kashmir Files

Best Actor In A Television Series: Zain Imam for Fanaa- Ishq Mein Marjawaan

Best Actress In A Television Series: Tejasswi Prakash for Naagin

Best Male Singer: Sachet Tandon for Maiyya Mainu

Best Female Singer: Neeti Mohan for Meri Jaan

Best Cinematographer: PS Vinod for Vikram Vedha

Outstanding Contribution In The Music Industry: Hariharan
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The International Indian Film Academy and Awards (IIFA) is all set to return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on May 26th and 27th. 

The IIFA will be staged at the world-class Etihad Arena, the Middle East’s largest stateof-the-art indoor entertainment. IIFA today is recognised not just as a major International event but an institution in its own right; a brand that is synonymous with Indian cinema. 

The highly anticipated two-day celebration will mark the 23rd edition of IIFA Weekend & Awards and is dedicated to building bridges across cinemas, businesses, communities, and nations, creating everyone’s dream: “One People. One World”. 

With the growing popularity and global recognition, back by popular demand the biggest celebration of Indian cinema will see National Award-Winning actor Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan assuming IIFA Awards hosting duties. 

Speaking on the occasion, Vicky said, “I feel hugely privileged, my journey with IIFA goes back by seven years to my first film, Masaan when I won the Best Debut Award, followed by Best Supporting Actor for Sanju and Best Actor for Sardar Udham last year. I can’t wait to be back to take centre stage as IIFA Awards host along with Abhishek Bachchan.”

Abhishek added, “I'm ecstatic to be hosting the 23rd Edition of IIFA Awards at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. IIFA is like family to me and it gives me immense pleasure to celebrate the very best of the extraordinary range that Indian cinema has to offer. With IIFA’s gigantic global fan following it is indeed an annual pilgrimage and an absolute honour to entertain and meet the fans there and connect with them globally. I look forward to hosting the IIFA Awards. See you all there!”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Eminent Indian painter and late filmmaker Guru Dutt's sister Lalitha Lajmi died on Monday at the age of 90. Announcing the demise of Lalitha Lajmi, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) on Twitter wrote, "With Profound grief and sorrow NGMA, Mumbai, Ministry of Culture, Government of India shares the news of demise of veteran artist and printmaker Smt. Lalitha Lajmi who left for heavenly abode this morning(13.02.2023). Our Deepest Condolences. RIP."

Lajmi was born to a poet father and a poly-linguist writer-mother in Kolkata on October 17 in 1932. According to the National Gallery of Modern Art, her works "reflect the hidden tensions that exist between men and women, captured in the different roles they play. Yet, her women are not meek individuals, but assertive and individualistic, with a strong autobiographical element."

Over the decades, Lajmi has held several exhibitions at international art galleries in Paris, London and Holland. She also featured in Aamir Khan's film 'Taare Zameen Par', which was released in 2007. Lajmi's daughter, Kalpana Lajmi was also a well-known Indian filmmaker who had made award-winning films like 'Rudali' and 'Daman'. Kalpana Lajmi passed away in 2018 due to multiple illnesses. She is survived by her son Devdas.
 

HYDERABAD [Maha Media]: Well-known film director and also screenwriter and actor, Kasinadhuni Viswanath, popularly known as ‘K Viswanath’ passed away at his residence due to age-related ailments here on Thursday night. 

He was 92. 

Viswanath, who was born in Repalle of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, was popular for iconic films such as Sankarabharanam, Sagara Sangamam, Swathi Muthyam and Swarna Kamalam among others. His works primarily in Telugu cinema, is recipient of five National Film Awards, seven state Nandi Awards, ten Filmfare Awards South, and a Filmfare Award in Hindi. He was honored with the "Prize of the Public" at the "Besançon Film Festival of France" in 1981. In 1992, he received the Andhra Pradesh state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and the civilian honor Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of arts. In 2017, he was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema. 

Viswanath started his film career as an audiographer and in sixty years, he has directed 53 feature films in a variety of genres, including films based on performing arts, visual arts, and aesthetics. He received international recognition for his works, and is known for blending parallel cinema with mainstream commercial cinema. Viswanath's filmography is known for addressing the issues of caste, colour, disability, gender discrimination, misogyny, alcoholism and socio-economic challenges through liberal arts medium.[1][2] His directorial works which are produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations were screened to special mention at the Moscow International Film Festival; such films were dubbed into Russian language and have been theatrically released in Moscow. 

Kasinadhuni who studied Intermediate from Guntur Hindu College, and holds a BSc degree from Andhra Christian College of Andhra University, began his career as a sound recordist at Vauhini Studios in Madras, where his father was an associate. 

Latter. Viswanath made his entry into film direction at Annapurna Pictures under Adurthi Subba Rao and K. Ramnoth.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A Delhi court on Friday allowed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to travel to Dubai.

The court was hearing her application seeking permission to travel abroad for a conference.

A detailed order in the matter is awaited.

Fernandez is an accused in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case also involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar and is also named in the charge sheet filed in the court.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the passing away of noted architect Dr. BV Doshi.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said; "Dr. BV Doshi Ji was a brilliant architect and a remarkable institution builder. The coming generations will get glimpses of his greatness by admiring his rich work across India. His passing away is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Shah Rukh Khan returns to the cinemas after four long years with ‘Pathaan’, and he reveals that he is realising his 32-year-long dream of being an out and out action hero on the big screen. In a video released by the producers, Yash Raj Films, SRK says, “I came to the film industry 32 years ago to be an action hero but I missed the boat because they made me a romantic hero instead. I've only wanted to be an action hero. I mean I love DDLJ and I love Rahul and Raj and all these good sweet boys but I always thought I was an action hero, so for me it is it's my dream come true.” 

About his character in ‘Pathaan’, the superstar reveals, “Pathaan is an easy guy, doing lot of tough things and I think he's naughty, he's tough but doesn't wear it on his sleeve. He's trusting. He's honest and I think he very single-mindedly thinks of India as his mother.” SRK is teaming up with the gorgeous Deepika Padukone in the movie. He and Deepika are one of the biggest on-screen pairings in the history of Indian cinema given their epic blockbusters Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express and Happy New Year. About DP and her impact in Pathaan, Shah Rukh says, “You need someone of the stature of Deepika to be able to pull off a song sequence like Besharam Rang and then you know, to be able to do action, where she takes a guy and pulls him right over herself and beats him, she's tough enough to do that too. That kind of a combination could have only been achieved with someone like Deepika. It's a quite a layered character for an action film heroine so to say.” 

‘Pathaan’ is part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe and has the biggest superstars of the country Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in it. It will release on January 25, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: S.S. Rajamouli has made India proud once again after winning the Best Original Song and Best Foreign Language Film at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards. He dedicated the honour to all the women in his life and said 'Mera Bharat Mahan' during his acceptance speech.

The Critics' Choice Award win comes right after creating headlines at the 80th Golden Globes. His film 'RRR' was Best Foreign Language Film and its track 'Naatu Naatu' once again clinched the Best Original Song honour.

While accepting the honour, Rajamouli said: "To all the women in my life. My mother Raja Nandini thought school education was overrated and she encouraged me to read comics and story books and encouraged my creativity."

"My sister-in-law Srivalli who became like a mother to me always encourages me to be the best version of me."

He also spoke about his wife Rama, who is a costume designer for Rajamouli's films.

"My wife Rama... she's the costume designer of my films but more than that she is the designer of my life. If she's not here I am not here today. To my daughters, their smiles are enough to light my life up."

Before signing out, he gave a shout out to his motherland.

"And finally to my motherland India, Mera Bharat Mahan - Jai hind."

'RRR' stars NTR Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt and Shriya Saran and tells the fictional story of two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem and their fight against the British Raj.

Set in the 1920s, the plot explores the undocumented period in their lives when both the revolutionaries chose to go into obscurity before they began the fight for their country.
 

AURANGABAD [Maha Media]: Five-days long eighth Ajanta Ellora Film Festival being inaugurated on Wednesday evening by famous marathi film director Nagnath Manjule at Inox Cinema hall in Prozone Mall in the city. According to the organisiors, Apoorva Chandra, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be present as the chief guest. 

During the five-days festival 55 films will screened. The aim is to take culturally-rich Aurangabad to the global stage as a venue for film shoots. Moreover, people from here will get the chance to interact with international crews. The five member panel to decide the awards will be headed by Canadian filmmaker Judy Gladstone, while members of the International Federation of Film Critics India (Fiprisci) will  also judge some movies.

Director and film scholar Arun Khopkar will be conferred the ‘Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award’ during the festival. 

Madhur Bhandarkar, Nagraj Manjule, Sai Tamhankar, Shweta Basu Prasad, Sonali Kulkarni, Jitendra Joshi are scheduled to interact with students and those from the film fraternity during the festival.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Bollywood film 'Kashmir Files' has been shortlisted for Oscars 2023. The film director Vivek Agnihotri informed about the shortlisting of this film in the Oscar.

The Kashmir Files revolves around the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the year 1990.

Other films, Kantara, RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Chhello Show have been also shortlisted for Oscars 2023. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that it is a matter of pride for everybody that Indian films have been shortlisted for Oscars.

In an exclusive interview to AIR News, veteran actor Anupam Kher has expressed happiness over the shorlisting of The Kashmir Files for Oscars 2023. 
 

DEHRADUN [Maha Media]: Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher on Saturday met cricketer Rishabh Pant who is recuperating at Max Hospital here after suffering injuries in a car crash.

India's star cricketer had a miraculous escape when his luxury car crashed into a road divider and caught fire after he dozed off at the wheel on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the early hours of Friday.

''He (Pant) is doing fine. We met him as fans. Let us pray that he recovers soon and we see him playing again,'' Kapoor told reporters after coming out of the hospital. Kher, who accompanied Kapoor, said they made the cricketer laugh a lot.

''Everything is fine. We met Pant, his mother and relatives, they are all fine. We made him laugh a lot,'' he said.

The 25-year-old, who was on his way to his hometown Roorke to surprise his mother, suffered injuries on his head, back and feet in the accident, according to police. Hospital authorities have said that his condition is stable.