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Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal, who climbed up the ranks owing to his latest film ‘Chhaava’, is saluting the brave personnel of the Indian Armed Forces. On Tuesday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared pictures of the men and the women in uniform. While the first picture is of a brave soldier from one of India’s elite forces taking blessings from Lord Hanuman, the second picture is of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who gave precise briefing during Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror operation after the Pahalgam attacks in April. Vicky also penned a long note in the caption, as he expressed his gratitude to the soldiers, who protect India. He wrote, “The way to peace is through strength. Saluting the unmatched bravery and precision of our Indian Armed Forces. No words can ever describe the gratitude and pride we feel in our hearts for our true heroes. We exist of you. Jai Hind”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, when it carried out precision strikes inside the territory of Pakistan, which is notorious for harbouring terrorism. The strikes were carried out at 9 sites in Pakistan and targeted key terror infrastructures killing close to 100 terrorists. In the following days, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated as the latter sent in surveillance drones, and also allegedly fired a Fatah missile in addition to the Chinese made PL-15. India’s air-defence system consisting of the Russian S-400 engaged with the drones, missiles and other air-borne threats successfully neutralising all of them. Pakistan’s Mirage aircraft was also shot down by the Indian forces. Mirage aircrafts are made by the same French company Dassault Aviation, which makes French Rafale jets. Currently, India has put up a tough stand after the recent skirmishes with Pakistan, and has declared that any future terror attacks sponsored by Pakistan will be an act of war. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 May,2025 12:22 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Avneet Kaur, known for "Tiku Weds Sheru" and "Mardaani 2", on Tuesday shared pictures with Hollywood action icon Tom Cruise ahead of the release of his latest film "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" in India. Kaur, who first met Cruise last year on a set visit of the movie, posted two new photos with the American star on her official Instagram account. "Namaste mere aur Mr Cruise ki taraf se poore India ko. Great to see you again @tomcruise @missionimpossible @paramountpics," she wrote in the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Avneet Kaur (@avneetkaur_13) The 23-year-old actor earlier met Cruise in November 2024 on the London sets of "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning", which is slated to be released in Indian theatres on Saturday. According to videos shared on her Instagram page, Kaur was among a group of selected creators from around the world who were invited by film's studio Paramount Pictures to visit the set, where they also tried their hand at experiencing stunts first hand. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the eighth installment in the popular spy action film franchise will be screened at 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Out of Competition section. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 May,2025 12:17 PM IST | Los Angeles | PTIPopular actress Jannat Zubair Rahmani's dream came true as she posed for a selfie with global superstar Tom Cruise before the release of "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" in India. Netizens were amused by this interaction, which was posted on Jannat's official Instagram account. The two pictures captured her priceless selfies in which she couldn't contain her excitement at capturing not just her goal come true but also Cruise's distinctive warmth and charisma. In the caption of her post, Jannat exclaimed, “One selfie with Tom Cruise = Lifetime bragging rights. Somebody pinch meeee!!!" Television actor Arjun Bijlani and Jannat's BFF, Reem Shaikh, reacted to the post with red heart emojis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jannat Zubair Rahmani (@jannatzubair29) Before this, actress Avneet Kaur shared a heartwarming moment with Cruise. She took to her Instagram handle and dropped a picture of the two exchanging a Namaste. "Namaste mere aur Mr Cruise ki taraf se poore India ko. Great to see you again @tomcruise @missionimpossible," Avneet wrote in the caption. Recently, actor Ali Fazal also showed his appreciation for Cruise for his contributions to global cinema. Taking to his IG, Ali shared a picture of himself with Cruise and penned in the caption, “Best of luck @tomcruise !! You won't need it, but sending you wishes here as I also thank you for keeping the theatres alive and hope that we follow after .. and carry on making movies and telling stories cuz that's really it, all of it- stories. I say this for all industries across the globe - we keep each other afloat one way or another, like kt or not. We break when we bow - not in humility but in servitude. And so, the title like a dilemma always fits - #MissionImpossible.” "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" is slated to hit the Indian theatres on May 17, ahead of its U.S release on May 23. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 May,2025 12:14 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Preity Zinta revealed the reason behind her positive outlook on life and constant smile on her face. During an AMA (Ask me anything) session on X, a fan asked Preity about how she always maintains a constant smile on her face. To this, the "Veer-Zaara" actor replied, "Whenever I want to complain, I look at people that don’t have love or family or jobs or the poverty around and how difficult it is for people to make ends meet. How can I complain after that? In fact, I thank god everyday for giving me more than I dreamt for. Therefore, smiling comes easily & so does gratitude," along with a folding hands emoji. When another netizen asked the reason behind her beauty, Preity shared, "Don’t know about that but …. how I look and my age seems to be a hot topic everyday! I think my brains are better than my face if you ask me but chalo koi na … will take the compliment. Somehow men are never asked how good they look at their age everyday - only their achievements are celebrated, but where I’m concerned ( or for that reason women)the conversation never goes past the age & face & sadly achievements are rarely mentioned! Sending you lots of love cuz your intent was good !" A curious user even asked the diva about how to get dimples like her. Preity reacted to this saying, "@realpreityzinta It’s called a muscle defect...Seriously ! Here is a perfect example of how a defect or imperfection is actually liked by people so we should not always try to fix everything in life. Our defects/shortcomings make us human." Talking about her professional commitments, Preity is all set to make her Bollywood comeback with Rajkumar Santoshi's “Lahore 1947," opposite Sunny Deol. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 May,2025 12:11 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSEven though a ceasefire is in place between India and Pakistan, the after-effects of the military conflicts can be felt across the board, including in Bollywood. The buzz in the industry is that several high-profile projects are being reviewed or undergoing significant rewrites to remove any references to Pakistan from their scripts. Among the first to be impacted is Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s political thriller Sarzameen. The team is now reworking key sequences. “The film never explicitly made a reference to Pakistan, but it’s set in Kashmir, and certain scenes were interpreted as politically sensitive in the current climate. They were to release the film on May 30, but now, they are redubbing some parts,” said a source close to the production. Another movie that must determine how to navigate the situation is Sunny Deol’s Lahore 1947. Sources shared that Rajkumar Santoshi’s directorial venture, centred on a Muslim family relocating to Lahore after Partition, is being internally reviewed. An insider said, “The film is in sharp contrast with the sentiment of the nation and is being re-looked at. The team needs to decide how to make it work without compromising the story or being insensitive, given the current situation.” Pathaan (2023) and Tiger 3 (2023), the last two offerings from Yash Raj Films’ spy universe, had prominent characters hailing from Pakistan. For their future films, we have heard that many writers will take a cue from Pathaan, where John Abraham’s antagonist Jim creates his own terrorist network with no links to any country. “The approach is to shift focus to shadowy terror networks and rogue agencies without geographical identifiers,” said a source. When mid-day reached out to YRF amid rumours that their upcoming films, War 2 and Alpha, are being reviewed in light of recent events, the spokesperson said, “There is no truth to any of these claims floating. Alpha, War 2, and Pathaan 2 have no Pakistan connection. War 2 and Alpha have already been shot and there are no changes being made because there are no changes to be made. Tiger is an Indian spy, Zoya is married to an Indian spy. So, there is no question of the [Tiger] franchise being in any uncertainty.” Not all movies with a war backdrop are under the scanner, though. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War — starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal — remains untouched. A trade analyst explains, “Bhansali has positioned his story in a timeless, almost mythical space. The film is set between 1960 and 1965, with the wars serving only as the backdrop. The love story takes centre-stage.” Don’t see, don’t hear? A day after Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane was removed from Sanam Teri Kasam’s (2016) cover on music apps, Mahira Khan has met the same fate with Raees (2017). The cover of the film’s album on Spotify now features only Shah Rukh Khan. Meanwhile, the music of Fawad Khan’s Abir Gulaal has been pulled down from Spotify and Apple Music.
14 May,2025 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu | Priyanka SharmaA love story in the making (From left) Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela Actors Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela have wrapped up a significant portion of filming for the upcoming musical love story, which was earlier touted as the third instalment in the Aashiqui franchise. Kartik shared a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram stories, and wrote, “Last day of a long schedule.” The yet-untitled film, being helmed by Anurag Basu, is expected to be an emotional rollercoaster ride with soul-stirring melodies by Pritam. The movie is also in news for dating rumours between the two actors.
14 May,2025 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamActor Ahan Shetty, son of Bollywood’s fitness icon Suniel Shetty, is all set to step into the combat boots for Border 2, the sequel to the iconic 1997 film. At 29, Ahan is aware that comparisons to his father, who starred in the original, are inevitable. That’s precisely why his preparation—both physical and mental—has been nothing short of disciplined. “Fitness has been a lifelong journey for me,” says Ahan. “Since I was a kid, I’ve been into sports—volleyball, football, cricket, swimming, and mixed martial arts. As I grew older, I transitioned to gym training to build muscle for films.” While he made his acting debut in 2021 with a romantic drama, Tadap, he now has a role of a lifetime that demands military grit. For this he has been pushing his limits. “I had put on quite a bit of weight for Sanki, which was Sajid [Nadiadwala] sir’s film. So for the role that I’m playing in Border 2, I had to cut down around eight kilos,” he reveals. “There are certain regimens that I’m following for my character like training in the gym, and keeping my cardio going. My training is going on full swing as I have to lose weight for it and maintain my muscle at the same time.” With his father, one of Bollywood’s fittest stars, Ahan finds inspiration right at home as well as easy tips to follow. “He has been my inspiration in terms of fitness. He mainly gives me tips on my diet. He says my diet has to be on point. So I try and really focus on it, especially now that I am prepping for Border 2. I am watching my diet, training and recovery,” he shares. Ahan’s fitness regime is intense. He trains six days a week in the gym and supplements it with mobility and stretching sessions twice a week. “I play football, and sometimes cricket too. So, I’m physically active every day.” The Cheats Sophie Choudry What’s your cheat meal?A nice big Chinese lunch with dim sum, peking duck and pancakes, chilli prawns and spicy rice. If at home, it’s mum’s biryani! Cheat meal vs cheat day?Definitely cheat meal. Cheat so well once that you don’t need to do it the whole day! Do you compensate for it?I prefer to do a cheat lunch. Then dinner automatically becomes very light, like a soup. And my meals are healthy anyway, so I just get back on track with that and a good workout. Inside Pragya Kapoor’s Fridge Almond milkSalmonChickenEdamameAvocado Fitness tip thats works for Shilpa Shetty “Try the ball drop challenge to test your core strength, shoulder stability, hand-eye co-ordination and reaction time,” says Shilpa.
14 May,2025 08:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ PanchalI feel lighter, so does the world around me,” says filmmaker Hansal Mehta as we get on a call with him to talk about the new journey he has undertaken, one that leads him to a fitter, freer self. In times when conversations around health, fitness, and weight loss are often buried under stigma or sensationalism, the filmmaker’s take on his journey with Mounjaro for weight loss is refreshingly honest. Excerpts from the interview: How did your journey with Mounjaro begin?I’d been struggling with weight for a few years. That led to insulin resistance and early signs of metabolic disease. I was working out, doing everything I could, but the cycle wasn’t breaking. I was first put on Ozempic [semaglutide], which helped to an extent. Later, my doctor prescribed Mounjaro, at a slightly higher-than-basic dose. It’s been nearly two years, and in the last six months, my sugar [levels] have normalised and I’ve lost 10–11 kilos. But everything I’ve done has been under the supervision of my physician, Dr Vishesh Agrawal. Mounjaro isn’t a magic pill. It works as part of a larger, carefully managed plan. Did you feel any hesitation about using it?I believe in research, data, and modern medicine. If something has been shown to work, and is prescribed under supervision, I’m open to it. There shouldn’t be stigma around using medical tools that can help. Talking about it helps others who may be silently struggling. Obesity, diabetes, and lifestyle diseases cause both physical and psychological damage. When celebrities use such medication, it often gets sensationalised...Yes, it becomes a meme fest. There’s misinformation, like the whole ‘Ozempic face’ theory—which, in my experience, comes from starvation and poor lifestyle choices. Medicine alone cannot do that to you. The use of modern medicine has become this dark secret. Anyway people talk about Bollywood as if we consume drugs. So by not talking about it, you’re making it look shady.[shady]. Self love I avoid sugar — but not completely. I drink occasionally. If I do, I make sure to compensate with an extra workout. I feel lighter mentally. I was already on this journey before I began work on Gandhi, and it turned out to be one of my healthiest shoots. I take care of how I dress and feel on set, and I think everyone should, not just actors. When you feel good, you create better. Dr Vishesh Agrawal, consulting physician and diabetologist Doctor says Some common side effects of Mounjaro are nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, and indigestion. Mr Mehta had some of these symptoms, but we were able to help him and negate them because he was constantly in touch with me. With appropriate dosing and medication, the side effects can be tackled. Stopping the use of the medicine depends on the patient’s goal.
14 May,2025 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaAs a director, Farhan Akhtar gave us one of the most personal stories set against a war with Lakshya (2004). Over two decades on, he is part of a war drama again, but this time, as an actor. He recently wrapped up the shoot of 120 Bahadur, which offers a retelling of the Battle of Rezang La — that took place during the 1962 India-China war — where 120 soldiers of the Indian Army’s Kumaon Regiment defeated 3,000 Chinese soldiers to defend the strategic mountain pass of Rezang La in Ladakh. Akhtar portrays Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, who had led the defence and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery. Ankit Siwach Actor Ankit Siwach, who was recently seen in Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs, plays one of the soldiers in Razneesh Ghai’s directorial venture. He reveals that the cast headed to Ladakh well before the film rolled last August. “The story revolves around six or seven soldiers in Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment. It was an emotionally and physically gruelling experience with four months of prep at the mountains. Almost 15 days before the shoot, we went to Ladakh to acclimatise so that it’d be easy for us to shoot while holding guns and running around the mountains,” he recalls. Sharing screen space with Akhtar is an experience he cherishes deeply. He says, “I used to admire Farhan, but after 120 Bahadur, I love him. His work ethics and creativity are unmatched.” Siwach will next be seen in the movie, Barf.
14 May,2025 08:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRWishes do come true, it seems. A fortnight ago, when filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane posted a picture of Konkona Sensharma and Radhika Apte on Instagram, the comments section was flooded with fans expressing their wish to see them on screen together. Now, mid-day has learnt that the two powerhouse performers have indeed joined forces for Motwane’s segment in the third instalment of Lust Stories. A source reveals, “This is a casting coup. Radhika and Konkona have long admired each other’s work. With Vikram at the helm of a fantastic script, this felt like the perfect opportunity for them to come together.” While this is the director’s first brush with the popular Netflix anthology, the actors are not new to this world. Apte had featured in Anurag Kashyap’s segment of Lust Stories in 2018, while Sensharma directed an acclaimed short, featuring Tillotama Shome and Amruta Subhash, in Lust Stories 2 (2023). Vikramaditya Motwane Another insider tells us that Abhishek Banerjee of Stree fame has also joined the cast. “Abhishek is a new entrant to this universe. The shoot will commence soon,” adds the insider.
14 May,2025 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaOn Tuesday, Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia walked the red carpet at Cannes 2025 Film Festival as a jury member. She first made an appearance for the opening press conference along with fellow jury members. Ahead of the official opening ceremony, Kapadia walked the red carpet in a power suit designed by Arjun Saluja and styled by Indrakshi Pattanaik. She paired the outfit with statement silver jewellery. About Payal Kapadia's look for Cannes 2025 red carpet Speaking about styling Payal Kapadia, stylist Indrakshi Pattanaik said, “Payal is a dear friend. She loves the 80s power suit style and I really wanted to explore that in her look. And Arjun [Saluja] was the best person to execute the vision. Arjun and I have been meaning to collaborate for a while for Payal and I am glad it all fell into place." Payal Kapadia#Cannes2025 pic.twitter.com/JsLqhg253j — Ellys Is Alone (@ellysmelancholy) May 13, 2025 The award-winning filmmaker wanted her outfit to be as comfortable as possible. “The idea was more about comfort for Payal. It was like character designing for her, making her look like herself. And given this year’s dresscode theme, which said no sheer, no over the top, no voluminous styles, Payal kept it minimal yet chic." Payal added an Indian touch to her look with statement silver jewellery. Payal marks her return to Cannes This marks Payal's return to Cannes a year after she charted history as the first Indian director to win the Grand Prix for her debut feature film 'All We Imagine As Light', a joint India and France production. The Malayalam-Hindi movie became the first film from India to be part of Cannes Competition after a 30-year gap.The director appeared alongside Cannes jury president and French cinema star Juliette Binoche, American actor and filmmaker Halle Berry, Italian actor Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani, Congolese director-producer Dieudo Hamadi, Korean director and screenwriter Hong Sangsoo, Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas and American actor Jeremy Strong. Earlier for the jury photocall ahead of the festival's opening ceremony, Kapadia chose a blue blouse and a red asymmetrical skirt ensemble by designer Payal Khandwala, who also dressed the acclaimed filmmaker for her appearance on the red carpet of the Golden Globes 2025 ceremony earlier this year. In the past, Indian film personalities such as Mrinal Sen, Mira Nair, Shekhar Kapur, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nandita Das, Sharmila Tagore, Vidya Balan, and Deepika Padukone have served on the Cannes jury.
14 May,2025 12:41 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
