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Even 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 correspondentActor Urvashi Rautela walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France on Tuesday as part of the opening ceremony. The actress has become a regular at the festival for a while now and manages to turn heads with her look. Rautela will be attending the screening of the film Partir un jour (Leave One Day). Urvashi Rautela stuns in whacky outfit Urvashi Rautela brought colours to the red carpet as she dressed in a colourful outfit. Even as she stunned in her whacky outfit, it was her parrot clutch that had our attention. The crystal clutch shaped like a parrot is reportedly worth Rs 4 lakh. The actor opted for a strapless structured outfit in shades of blue, red and yellow to walk the carpet. She completed her look with a matching tiara. According to the Instagram handle of Diet Sabya, the parrot clutch is made by Judith Leiber and it costs Rs 4,68,064.10. urvashi rautela the first woman to ever go on cannes looking horrible with a parrot puppet pic.twitter.com/eTEceXFoz7 — 𓅪 (@alfiyastic) May 13, 2025 Payal Kapadia returns to Cannes Apart from Urvashi Rautela, filmmaker Payal Kapadia also walked the red carpet of the film festival as a jury member. On Tuesday, she joined the prestigious jury panel for a press meet before the opening ceremony. She also marked her appearance for a photocall as part of the prestigious gala's jury panel. She was joined by renowned celebrities from across the world, such as Hollywood icon Halle Berry, Italian actor Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani, Congolese filmmaker Dieudo Hamadi, and Korean director Hong Sang-soo. In 2024, Payal scripted history by becoming the first Indian director to clinch the prestigious Grand Prix award. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, 'All We Imagine as Light' is the story of Prabha, a nurse, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a mysterious gift from her estranged husband. Accompanied by her roommate Anu, the duo takes on a journey to a coastal town, where the mystical forest serves as a sanctuary for their dreams.
13 May,2025 10:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe highly awaited horror comedy 'Bhoot Bangla' is currently in the making, and it seems like the cast is having a great time on set. Actor Jisshu U Sengupta gave fans a sneak peek into the shoot as he shared a fun black-and-white picture with co-star Akshay Kumar. Taking to Instagram, Jisshu posted a selfie with the Hera Pheri actor along with a caption that read, "Fun Times From The Sets Of #Bhootbangla." Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jisshu U Sengupta (@senguptajisshu) Earlier in January, actress Tabu, who is also part of the film, posted a happy selfie with her team from her vanity van. Her caption read, "End of schedule wala pose." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tabu (@tabutiful) Bhoot Bangla is directed by Priyadarshan, known for his popular comedies. The film also marks his reunion with Akshay Kumar after several years. The duo has previously delivered blockbuster films such as Hera Pheri, Bhagam Bhag, Garam Masala, De Dana Dan, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, among others. Bhooth Bangla stars Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, Mithila Palkar, and Wamiqa Gabbi in crucial roles. Meanwhile, the film will also witness a reunion of Akshay and Tabu after 25 years. The two were last seen together in Hera Pheri. Bhooth Bangla is produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms, along with Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is slated for a theatrical release on April 2, 2026. 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
13 May,2025 10:22 PM IST | Mumbai | ANI"My Melbourne", helmed by four acclaimed filmmakers, Imtiaz Ali, Onir, Rima Das and Kabir Khan, has secured the Best Film award at the 27th UK Asian Film Festival. Produced by Mitu Bhowmick Lange, in partnership with VicScreen and Screen Australia, "My Melbourne" has also won the special festival award celebrating 'Longing and Belonging' at the festival, according to a press release. The shorts in the film include 'Emma' by Das, 'Jules' by Ali, 'Nandini' by Onir and 'Setara' by Khan. The films are reflective of varied themes of diversity, including gender, race, sexuality and disability "Working on 'My Melbourne' was a deeply enriching experience. To see it being honoured in this way reaffirms the importance of stories that explore human emotions beyond geographical limits. It's a proud moment for all of us," Ali said in a statement. Khan said, "Cinema has the power to bridge cultures and foster empathy", and this anthology is a testament to that. "I'm truly grateful to have been part of a project that brings such meaningful narratives to life and gets recognised on a global platform," he added. "My Melbourne" had its world premiere at the 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It was later screened in India at the MAMI Film Festival in 2024. Das called the film's recognition "special" and said the project "was born out of a desire to reflect the nuanced, everyday realities of migrants and their emotional journeys". She added, "This recognition is special because it tells us that these personal stories are also universal." Onir said, "This project was close to my heart because it gave us the opportunity to tell stories that matter, stories that cross boundaries and touch the universal emotions of longing and belonging. I'm humbled and proud to be part of this beautiful journey." The UK Asian Film Festival was held between May 1 and May 11 in London. 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
13 May,2025 10:21 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIActor Sonali Bendre, who recently released her second book "A Book of Books", says she has "mad respect" for authors and would not call herself one until she writes at least 20 of them. Bendre, best known for films such as "Diljale", "Major Saab", "Sarfarosh", "Zakhm", and "Hum Saath Saath Hain", said being a public figure gives her the "privilege" to write and engage in meaningful conversations though she still primarily views herself as an actor. "I'll call myself an author only if I write 20 books, not before that. I have some mad respect for authors -- what they do, the way they write, the way an author can transport you somewhere, the way they make you think; only an author can do that. "So, I have really not thought of myself as an author in that sense. I have always looked at myself more as an actor, but it is a creative field. I am a creative person, and there are various ways through which you express your creativity," Bendre told PTI in an interview. The actor's passion for books led her to launch 'Sonali's Book Club', a digital community that celebrates literature and meaningful conversations. She made debut as an author in 2015 with "The Modern Gurukul: My Experiment with Parenting". Her latest endeavour, "A Book of Books", is intended for everyone -- both avid readers and those less inclined -- and delves into the importance of reading, especially the value of starting young. Replete with colourful illustrations by Rohina Thapar, it also suggests what to read, with recommendations for children, young adults and adults, across genres and for varied reading interests. Bitten by the reading bug since childhood, the 50-year-old actor admits she would choose books over movies any day. She also feels that book-to-screen adaptations often fail to capture the true essence of the originals. However, Bendre said that "Dune", the American epic space opera film franchise adapted from Frank Herbert's 1965 novels, has come close to doing justice to the original work. "I still stand by the fact that no movie can do justice to books, but this ('Dune') comes close," she explained. That said, the actor has been actively searching for the right book for adaptation -- either for production or one in which she could play a character. "I haven't found that book yet, but I am looking for it, and I am sure I will find it," she said, adding that in Bollywood, her "Hum Saath Saath Hain" co-star Saif Ali Khan is also a "voracious reader". "It was good to exchange notes with Saif and have his recommendations in books". Bendre, who is married to producer Goldie Behl, took a break from work after she welcomed her son Ranveer in 2005 and later appeared as a judge on reality TV shows such as "India's Got Talent", "India's Best Dramebaaz" and TV series "Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye". She went on a seven-year hiatus in 2018 when she was diagnosed with cancer. During her recovery, Bendre credited reading -- especially a book on tennis icon Serena Williams that detailed her struggles, challenging pregnancies, and triumphant return to championship wins -- as a vital part of her healing journey. "She was such a role model. I thought, 'See what she has gone through, and she has come back to the physical fitness level of winning a championship'. Picking out stories like that, stories that encourage you to heal yourself, to try not just to get back to what you were, but to be better than what you were. "I really took my illness as a journey that was helping me educate myself, helping me evolve as a person, and because I was looking at it in that sense, the kinds of books I was reading also changed," she added. Bendre returned to acting with the first season of the ZEE5 web series "The Broken News", which premiered in 2022. The second chapter of the TV newsroom drama premiered last year. Having written two non-fiction books, Bendre -- who likes to pick something in the fantasy fiction genre to decompress herself -- hopes to write a novel in the future. "There are many stories and characters that come to mind, and they stay with me. But then I feel like I can't take them all the way to a full book. I can't make a whole story out of them. So maybe when I have a little more time, someday I'll pick out these various characters and see if I can bring them together and write something. You never say never," she added. "A Book of Books", priced at Rs 599, is currently available for purchase across online and offline stores. 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
13 May,2025 10:19 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIADVERTISEMENT
