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Where are the rom-coms? That has been a frequent question asked by Hindi cinema fans in the past few years. It’s something Ananya Panday too was missing being part of. Which explains her next two offerings — Chand Mera Dil opposite Lakshya, and the second season of her popular series Call Me Bae. “We’ll shoot Call Me Bae’s second season soon. I just wrapped a chunk of Chand Mera Dil, which is an out-and-out romantic film. I’ve done films in a cutesy space, but never featured in a dramatic love story,” she tells us. Call Me Bae 2 is being scripted With director Vivek Soni’s romantic drama and the Amazon Prime Video series, Panday is consciously gravitating towards stories that exude warmth and comfort. Her reason is simple — we can all do with a dose of joy. She says, “Bae could have been easily classified as an entitled character, but I wanted people to connect with her. She is a mood-booster, when so much of the content right now is action. We underestimate the value of feel-good cinema. Playing Bae was healing for me in ways I didn’t expect. I want my films to make the audience feel the same kind of calm, joy, and reassurance that the character gave me.” While Ananya Panday shoots for Chand Mera Dil The actor started out with the mainstream campus caper, Student of the Year 2 (2019). Six years and several acclaimed films later, her criteria for choosing projects are clear today. “I don’t want to be part of something because I feel it will be a box-office hit. I have to see an opportunity there as an actor. Also, the older I’m getting, the more I feel the responsibility of making decisions. Every time I watch a movie, I buy into it strongly. So, I know the direct impact that cinema has on people. That’s why I have to be part of films that morally align with me. That doesn’t mean I won’t play an evil character, but the [messaging] should be morally correct.” Playing rooted characters in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) and CTRL (2024) has made young women identify with her. Mention this, and Panday squeals with joy, “I am a girl’s girl. As a young girl, I [remember] how much I used to admire Kareena [Kapoor Khan] and Alia [Bhatt]. When someone tells me that their daughter loves me, it makes me the happiest.”
13 May,2025 07:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIt wasn’t Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, the new pairing, or the curiosity surrounding royal lives that drew us to creators Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy’s latest show, The Royals. It was to see how yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman marks her comeback on the screen. However, when we confessed that to director Priyanka Ghose, she clarified that they had every intention for the senior actor to have more scenes. When we said we only began rooting for Khatter and Pednekar’s love story after episode six, she said, “That was by design. I knew that by then people will want them to get back together.” The Netflix eight-episode series follows the clash between an entitled prince and a tech startup entrepreneur amid a contemporary fairytale setting. In conversation with mid-day, she discussed the casting choices and why she had to hand over direction to Nupur Asthana later. Excerpts from the interview. Zeenat Aman was the biggest pull to watch The Royals. While it was a cameo, why did it feel that she was under utilised?When you’re writing a script, writers shouldn’t be limited by restraints. The minute you get to execution level, you know the challenges. You’re aware that you’ll get an actor only for a limited time and shoot only so much. As a director, you have to be clear on what to cut and what to keep. We had written and wanted more of Maajisa, but by the time we cast Zeenat ma’am, we knew her health challenges. We had spoken to her and her management, and learnt that her health would permit her only a few days. So, I worked backwards. We handpicked the scenes and calculated how much screen time to give her. I knew the key scenes she had to be part of, even in the royal ensemble during the charity fashion show. Her scenes with Sakshi [Tanwar] ma’am were non-negotiable — we needed the emotional arc. In the royal gathering, there were earlier scenes for her, but since she couldn’t shoot more days, I had to remove her from them. I shot the polo scenes for three days and the fashion show for two. It was difficult to have Zeenat ma’am sit through all that. I had to finish her parts all at once. The next day, I would shoot the opposite axis to avoid her angle. The intention was more, but the reality differed. Still, we did our best to include Maajisa in the right proportions across the season. Zeenat Aman as Maajisa When did Nupur Asthana come on board as a director?We brought in Nupur to direct episodes four and seven, which we shot last. The schedule had shifted because when we were to shoot in the mahals, it was peak wedding season in January and February. The dates shifted, and by the time we got to episodes four and seven, I wasn’t available. Rangita and I actively went out looking for a director to take over. Nupur had little to shoot in Rajasthan because her episodes were set in Mumbai and Madurai. Even the royal ball was shot in Mumbai. It broke my heart — I had done all the homework — but I had already committed to another project. How many palaces were used in the show?That’s like giving away secrets [she laughs]! Across six episodes, the entire schedule was in Rajasthan, then a short one in Goa for the opening episode, and some bits in Mumbai like the Gastronomics competition. I did three rounds of location recces. I picked different palaces because one palace doesn’t offer everything. We needed a bat-pooping corner, a dancing hall, darbar hall, exteriors, a swimming pool, and a polo ground. I went out with my production designer — incidentally, my sister Payal Ghose. The challenge was to make different locations seamlessly look like one palace. Even when we got access, we were only given empty barren halls. Payal dressed them up from scratch. Yuvanath Singh’s [Milind Soman] room was a giant open hall with no artwork or bathroom. Everything was constructed on-site by Payal and her team, including painting the walls. Sakshi Tanwar as Padmaja Singh How much of the state of royal estates shown is true?Each royal family from different provinces is positioned differently — financially, socially, or politically. On our recce trips, I had met some royals. Through those interactions, I realised every family’s trajectory is different. They might be holding onto a title from the past, but some of them are very affluent doing well after foraying into fashion, polo, politics and other fields. We showed different shades inspired by them. How did you convince Sakshi Tanwar to play such a controversial role?I knew of Sakshi ma’am through casting coach Atul Mongia, who directed her in Mai [2022] and spoke highly of her. I had to convince her of Padmaja’s arc across the season. This was new to her, and she was skeptical, but that was the challenge she took as an artiste. She was also going through a personal crisis, but I saw a hungry artiste wanting to prove herself. In three days, she found her rhythm. Watching her scenes with Ishaan on camera was a joy. Pic/Ashish Raje Ishaan was the epitome of thirst trap in this series. How did you blend his emotional and sexy sides?Ishaan in real life is a sexy, endearing, sensitive man — that was easy to portray. I was surprised no one had tapped into that before. He made Aviraaj far more likeable than he is on paper. If you just read the script, he’s a brat who behaves badly — during the will-reading and post a one-night stand. No one would root for him. But Ishaan brought more to the table. Yes, the ‘eye-candyness’ helps. His shirtless scenes didn’t feel forced and he is comfortable in his skin. I never used an inch of body make-up on him. He carried the trauma of the crown taking his father away and ran from it. Ishaan brought those layers effortlessly. Was it intentional to show the leading lady as a knight in shining armour instead of a damsel in distress?Yes, that arc was always in the story — Sophia is the one pulling the royal family out of its misery. Full marks to the women creators who thought of the female character in a wholesome way. Sophia is ambitious, but also impulsive. Was that due to Bhumi playing the part?Her impulsiveness was on paper. We leaned into it knowing Bhumi could pull it off without making it overbearing. With any other actor, I’d be skeptical. In India, we don’t easily accept authoritative women. But Bhumi has softness and vulnerability. Sophia is flawed, and only Bhumi could make her likeable. Sophia is Bhumi in real life.
13 May,2025 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamOn: Amazon Prime VideoDirector: Rahul PandeyActors: Amol Parashar, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Vinay PathakRating: 3/5 First off, I have a soft corner for stuff set in villages. Even if Gram Chikitsalay feels like simply the first draft of that show. I also love the way all the characters refer to the doctor in this series as ‘Daak Saab’. That’s also how it shows up in the subtitles. It’s the colloquially correct pronunciation. Although the gentleman that the villagers call Daak Saab is actually a “jhola chhaap” quack. Of which there must be God knows how many in rural India. Actor Vinay Pathak plays this beloved role, doing Internet searches for symptoms/diagnoses; rather trigger-happy, doling out “booster shots” to unsuspecting patients! Pathak, as Chetak Kumar, equally gets his purbi (eastern Indian) accent right. We know Pathak (Bheja Fry, Khosla Ka Ghosla) first from his days as VJ on Channel V, where he held a legit American twang. He’s a rare actor, who can seamlessly switch between both. Where’s this purbi accent in the show from, to be precise? Well, in the first episode, you observe an old bloke on a cycle, asking for directions to Danapur, that is supposedly 2 km from this village named Bhatkandi. Danapur, I know, is a satellite town of Patna. Only, the vehicle number plates in this village mention Jharkhand state, while you observe its district headquarter in a document as Bulsitiya — quite funnily named, like Fakoli (Bazaar), off Panchayat’s Phulera village in UP, that was shot in Mahodiya, MP. I call attention to such trivia, only because villages that constitute 70 per cent of India is somehow seen as anonymous/generic onscreen, while most good films/series attempt to capture every nuance of the big/small cities, where they’re set. It’s also unclear when, why or how (perhaps mid 1990s onwards), India’s villages swiftly fell off the mainstream entertainment map. Anything that authentically reverses it is, foremost, a pleasure to dive into, even give a longer rope to — including the last such show I watched, Dupahiya (also on Prime Video), that was much richer, in terms of (comic-thriller) plot. That rural entry happens in this case, with the pastoral long-shot of an auto-rickshaw meeting a herd of sheep in Bhatkandi, with farms/fields and lake on either side. The gent, Prabhat Sinha (Amol Parashar), on that rick, is a doctor sent over from Delhi to take over its defunct primary health centre, or gram chikitsalay. The irony of the show’s title is there are hardly any properly functional gram chikitsalayas in India’s eastern heartland. Although seeming quite affected in his manners, the good doc looks around clueless in an altogether foreign shore, that he must figure out, in order to set up base, even if temporarily. For closest company, he has his associates, chiefly a friendly assistant (played wonderfully by Anandeshwar Dwivedi). Now, this is a predicable trope, alright — that of a city boy hit by cultural shock/struggles, supplanted into a village. Take Agastya Sen crash-landing into Madna as a bureaucrat in English, August (1994). Or, of course, Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar), similarly thrown into a gram panchayat in Panchayat. The reason for this is kinda obvious. While the film/series may be rural, in its setting, its gaze has gotta be urban — because that’s what its OTT subscription audience is. India may reside in the villages. That’s not where its pockets are deep. Also, it’s not that the premise of Panchayat was particularly unique. Consider the Doordarshan TV serial in the 1980s, titled Ummeed, where a bank manager from the city is posted in a run-down office, at a village, with one assigned assistant. He has to get used to rural life. Who played this lead character in that show? Shah Rukh Khan! For the most part, the beauty/charm of Gram Chikitsalay lies in its atmospherics; casual observations, say, the kavi sammelan at the funeral bhoj/dinner. Or untested faces in walk-on parts — the old man with swollen testicles; that bombastic bloke, who’s the local teacher seeking medical certificate; the other guy, who’s gone ahead and farmed on government property… Over time, I’ve come to realise, slice-of-life shows work best when they’re about nothing at all. Of course, there’s no show about nothing. What I mean is, say, Friends or Seinfeld in an Indian village. That’s what the first season of TVF’s Panchayat charmingly felt like. TVF has also produced Gram Chikitsalay that appears to lose grip over the narrative, when cursorily dealing with hard issues like mental health or electoral politics, without the depth to offer its characters, eventually. Or even the plot’s central conflict, for that matter — that nobody in the village wants to visit its health centre; now that it’s fully functional, for the first time! Why would they not? It helps that the show is short, hence sweet — at five episodes flat, of about 40 minutes each. As against overstaying its welcome. There is no reason to catch another season. But if vela/chilling, will pick a village over villas, any day!
09 May,2025 10:13 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharBreak routine on this Mother’s Day, 11th May 2025. Bring in the popcorn and watch these fierce, fabulous and flavourful OTT shows with your mom on Netflix, JioHotstar and ZEE5. These web series aren’t your regular mother-son reunion or patriotism-guised love for ‘Mother’ India. Saas, Bahu or Flamingo - Saas-Bahu in #MenDominatedFields. Who else could fit the role of Queen of an empire other than Dimple Kapadia as Rani Ba— the name says it all. Angira Dhar as Kajal and Isha Talwar as Bijlee, Rani Ba’s two daughters-in-law along with Radhika Madan as Shanta, the daughter form a strong, loyal bond as the women of the house. This gang of women runs– not the kitchen, but a narcotics empire disguised behind the innocent facade of herbal and handicrafts businesswomen. The plot intensifies as Rani Ba declares someone new as the heir to her drug kingdom, sparking rumbling, power-hungry family conflict. Mai- When Mother turns Warrior This is the story of a mother who transforms from reverent to ruthless on her journey to find her daughter’s killers. Sakshi Tanwar, as Sheel, turns the underworld upside down to seek justice for her daughter, Supriya- played by Wamiqa Gabbi. She hunts the truth at all and any costs, ready to kill— this form of love can only be exhibited by a mother who has lost her daughter. Dabba Cartel- Dal, roti aur saath main… achar? Five women, with different reasons, start a lunch service company— dabba khana. There was more than just homely meals in these dabbas.. They become a part of the drug smuggling chain, not knowing that one of them had already been known in the underworld. This web series breaks motherly stereotypes and gives them the edge of a fiery, underworld don tucking the pallu and putting on shades. Watch this with your mom and see what alternative ideas she has when Shabana Azmi, Shalini Pandey, Jyothika, Nimisha Sajayan and Anjali Anand get into something they’ve never known before. Mentalhood- the mental motherhood This series produced by Rupali Guha, is based on the very reality of all mothers— the Mom to Mom battle. Dropping kids to school in MET verified, couture-giving looks, being a ‘Rohan ki mom’ in public and ‘Rohandas ki mataji’ at home, living up to their children’s expectation of a ‘cool’ mother and raising her children right is just the tiny bit of commonality you will find throughout this OTT show. For once, you’ll be on the outside, looking at mothers like yours and seeing the atrocious expectations children set for their parents. Starring the sherni—Sushmita Sen—as she navigates the illicit world of drug smuggling after her husband’s untimely and mysterious death. Now in its third season, this series has won hearts across all ages and genders—it's a must-watch. She begins as a novice, rises to a position of power, and faces the ultimate test as the plot twists and turns, putting her family in a now-or-never situation. Discover what unfolds and watch how Sushmita Sen does full justice to the role of an underworld queen and fiercely protective mother. Aarya Starring the sherni—Sushmita Sen—as she navigates the illicit world of drug smuggling after her husband’s untimely and mysterious death. Now in its third season, this series has won hearts across all ages and genders—it's a must-watch. She begins as a novice, rises to a position of power, and faces the ultimate test as the plot twists and turns, putting her family in a now-or-never situation. Discover what unfolds and watch how Sushmita Sen does full justice to the role of an underworld queen and fiercely protective mother.
09 May,2025 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShahid Kapoor made his web series debut in 2023 with the Raj and DK series 'Farzi'. The sequel to the series is currently in the works. The show revolved around counterfeit currency, with Shahid’s character portrayed as a talented artist who recreated Indian currency notes with precision, proving his worth through his skills. The second season of the show is reportedly set to become the actor’s highest-paid acting project in his over 20-year-long career. Shahid Kapoor charges whopping fee for Farzi 2 According to a report by Pinkvilla, Shahid Kapoor will be earning Rs 45 crore for the upcoming season, which is expected to go on floors later this year. This marks the highest fee Shahid has ever charged in his film or digital career. Reportedly, Kapoor usually charges between Rs 25-30 crore per film. However, he has adapted his fee structure for digital content, charging differently for OTT shows and theatrical releases. About Farzi 2 Farzi ended on a cliffhanger, teasing an intense face-off between Shahid, Vijay Sethupathi, and Kay Kay Menon. Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for its second season. Shahid and Raashii Khanna had confirmed in March 2024 that they would begin working on the sequel soon. Reports suggest that Farzi 2 is expected to go on floors in December 2025. A source revealed, “Raj and DK are currently occupied with Rakht Brahmand. Once they wrap the show, they’ll dive into pre-production for Farzi 2. The show is expected to premiere on OTT in the second half of 2026.” Before that, Shahid is expected to complete shooting for Dinesh Vijan’s Cocktail 2, co-starring Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon. The film is a sequel to the 2012 romantic drama Cocktail, which featured Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty. About Farzi Farzi featured an ensemble cast including Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, Raashii Khanna, Kay Kay Menon, Bhuvan Arora, Regina Cassandra, and Amol Palekar in key roles. The story followed the life of Sunny (played by Shahid), a small-time con artist who finds himself drawn into the criminal underworld while attempting the perfect con. However, a fiery and unconventional task force officer (played by Vijay Sethupathi) is determined to bring him down and eliminate the national threat he poses. Directed by the acclaimed duo Raj and DK, this crime thriller marked the digital debut of both Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi. It streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
09 May,2025 05:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNetflix released its original series, The Royals, starring a talented ensemble cast. This 8-episode romantic drama set in the fictional city of Morpur in Rajasthan offers a very casual take on Indian royalty. It follows the new-age recipe of inclusivity and women empowerment, but falls flat in terms of execution. What is Netflix’s The Royals about? The Royals follows the life of Bhumi Pednekar, a budding entrepreneur whose aim is to make royalty available for commoners through Royal B&B. She stumbles across Ishaan Khatter, a soon-to-be king, whose family is in debt after losing his father, Milind Soman. The two collaborate under unusual circumstances while suppressing their true feelings for each other. The series has several subplots to keep the viewer engaged, but they seem borrowed to simply extend the runtime. Powerful performances The story has a modern twist where the pauper saves the prince. Whoever decided to cast Bhumi and Ishaan together needs a raise. This pair came armed with chemistry that set the screen ablaze. Bhumi nails it this time with her acting prowess. When she cried, I cried because her tale represented every woman who dreams big and wants to make it on her own. Ishaan is a treat to watch. He portrays what it takes to cope with grief, while being marked with one expectation after another for the sake of his public image. Coming to the supporting cast, Sakshi Tanwar plays the OG mom - but this time she adds a comedic touch and lives by the mantra - “Vidhwa hoon, murda nahi,” taught by the icon Zeenat Aman, her mother-in-law. The veteran superstar, with little screen time, brought a smile to my face with her diva energy. She’s funny, witty, a hoarder of wisdom, and the sounding board for Sakshi when she faces any dilemma. The surprise element was Dino Morea, who probably took away the limelight from Ishaan whenever he made an appearance as the royal of Alsipur. Other actors such as Vihaan Samant, Chunky Panday, Nora Fatehi, and Kavya Trehan contribute decently to the show. Final Verdict The Royals is a refreshing watch and takes away the seriousness of elite life. It is nothing like The Crown, but allows a fragment of understanding of what the royal families in India perhaps endured when their reign dwindled. If you’re looking for a show that will make you laugh and cry all at once, The Royals is for you.
09 May,2025 01:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesAmid rising tension between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Information nd Broadcasting has directed OTT platforms to discontinue streaming of content originating from Pakistan. The Ministry has advised any and all streaming sites in India to not air content from Pakistan from immediate effect. MIB issues advisory to streaming platforms The advisory by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting comes in the wake of strikes by Indian armed forces on terror sites in Pakistan to avenge the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or… pic.twitter.com/8yjP6ULNEU — ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025 "In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," the advisory issued by the ministry said. AICWA lashes out at Pakistani artists Following India’s successful execution of Operation Sindoor and elimination of nine terror camps in Pakistan and POK, Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan condemned the country’s retaliation. Now, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has strongly condemned the Pakistani actors’ ‘anti-India’ statements in an official note. In a post shared on their social media, the organization lashed out at the actors, stating, “The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) strongly condemns the anti-India statements made by Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and actor Fawad Khan, who have openly criticised India and questioned the nation’s actions in defence of its sovereignty. Mahira Khan labelled India’s military response as a ‘Seriously Cowardly’ act, while Fawad Khan, instead of condemning terrorism, focused on criticising India’s stance and supporting divisive narratives.” Further in the statement, they said that the comments not only disrespected but also insulted the sacrifices of Indian soldiers and innocent lives lost to terrorism. Reaffirming their stance on a total ban on Pakistani artists, AICWA added, “These statements are not just disrespectful to our nation but also an insult to the countless innocent lives lost due to terrorism and the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our country. AICWA reaffirms its strict and complete ban on Pakistani artists, filmmakers, and financiers working in India. No Indian artist will collaborate with any Pakistani talent, nor will any global platform be shared with them.”
08 May,2025 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a decisive move, Netflix India, on May 7, called off the music launch of its upcoming series, The Royals. The cancellation came after India’s military launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror camps in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement, the government said that its military had targeted “terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from where attacks against India have been planned and directed”. This comes as a response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam. The music launch of the Zeenat Aman, Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter-starrer was scheduled to take place at a Juhu venue yesterday. The event was to be hosted by singer and composer duo Ruuh and Joh, with performances by Neeti Mohan, Sukriti Kakar, Jubin Nautiyal, and Jonita Gandhi, among others. Invitations had been sent out, and preparations were on in full swing before the decision to cancel was made Wednesday noon. Zeenat Aman Sources within the production team confirm that the top bosses at Netflix India deemed it “insensitive” to host a celebratory event at a time when the nation is witnessing escalating conflict at the border, and emotions are running high in the country. “This isn’t the right moment for glamour and red carpets. The optics of hosting a launch while the country is bracing for developments on the frontlines didn’t sit right with the team,” said a source. While the series will drop online as scheduled on May 9, all promotional activities have been paused until further notice.
08 May,2025 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuYesteryear diva, Zeenat Aman will next be seen as Maji Sahiba in the much-awaited drama, "The Royals". Through her latest Instagram post, Zeenat thanked the team for keeping her comfortable during the shoot. Sharing that shoots now tend to leave her exhausted due to age, she wrote on her IG, "This post is NOT studio-mandated. It’s my honest and earnest appreciation for the teamwork and effort that went into creating The Royals. The truth is that as I get older, shoot schedules leave me exhausted. At the end of a 10 to 12 hour workday that involves tedious time in the makeup chair, heavy costumes and jewellery, searing heat and frenzied activity, I am left with swollen ankles and drooping eyes. It’s all quite unglamorous, but then I watch myself on screen and see what a coup the team managed. My character Maji Sahiba is absolutely entitled, queenly, tart, and intimidating, just as she was scripted! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zeenat Aman (@thezeenataman) Lauding co-star Ishaan Khatter for looking after her on the set, Zeenat added, "Now, while every member of the cast and crew did their best to ensure my comfort, I must admit I am most charmed by the young Mr. Khatter. Here is a boy whose star is on the rise, yet he made it a point to prioritise my wellbeing. From assisting me down the stairs to my vehicle, to bringing me fresh ginger ale to sip on between takes and conjuring up cushions for the uncomfortable plastic chair I had to sit on during readings, he exhibited the courtesies and grace I thought had become virtues of the past." Praising his work ethic, she said, "I also witnessed his immense dedication to his work as he honed his horse-riding and dancing skills to really embody his royal character." "@ishaankhatter, you have an ally in me and I give you all my blessings for a successful career (and meaningful personal life)." Zeenat concluded. Backed by Pritish Nandy Communications, the project also stars Bhumi Pednekar, and Sakshi Tanwar in key roles. Helmed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, "The Royals" is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on 9 May. 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
07 May,2025 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe third and final season of Squid Game is approaching, and the newly released teaser trailer offers fans a first glimpse at the dramatic culmination of Netflix's most popular show across the globe. The makers have also announced the release date of the third season. About Squid Game season 3 teaser Picking up from Season 2's devastating cliffhanger, as per the teaser, the third season thrusts Gi-hun (Player 456) back into the brutal heart of the games, determined to dismantle them once and for all. Still haunted by the betrayal and loss of his closest ally, Jung-bae (Player 390), Gi-hun faces new difficulties, including the Front Man, who shockingly infiltrated their rebellion disguised as Player 001. The makers' newly unveiled teaser trailer opens with pink guards carrying a black box to the contestants' resting area. The curious and scared players approach and open the box, revealing Gi-hun inside. After he awakens, the viewers are transported to the beginnings of a new game, which includes a massive gumball machine that dispenses red and blue balls, representing the fates determining the next challenge. As the suspense builds, the final moments of the teaser echo with the mysterious cries of a baby. The series will stream in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages. The OTT platform, Netflix, announced the release date of the series through their Instagram handle. They wrote, "Player 456 returns, one final time. Watch the final season of Squid Game out on 27 June, only on Netflix." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) About Squid Games As per the press note shared by the makers, the series Squid Game remains Netflix's most popular show to date and continues to captivate global audiences, smashing multiple records with its Season 2 return in December 2024. Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, who returns as writer and director for the final season, originally planned Squid Game as a three-season story. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of a future spinoff. "When we were doing season one, I was saying there was never going to be another season," Hwang told The Hollywood Reporter during season two's launch. "And so if the time comes, and it just so happens that I'm able to come up with a character or a different story, then maybe there might be a comeback. But I'm thinking more along the lines of a spinoff," he added. (with inputs from ANI)
06 May,2025 08:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWould you believe it if we told you that Mayur More, who played the meek and clumsy IIT aspirant Vaibhav Pandey in Kota Factory, has never watched his own show? The actor confesses that apart from the first season, he has never dared to watch any of his work. “I get too critical about my work, wondering what I could have done better. It’s an unwanted pressure,” shares More, who is seen in Pushkar Mahabal’s directorial series Black, White & Gray — Love Kills. The series follows journalist Daniel Gary, who sets out to uncover four murders linked to an elusive young man — played by More — from an economically disadvantaged background. As Daniel investigates, he exposes a web of corruption, patriarchy, and societal divides, blurring the lines between guilt and innocence. In conversation with mid-day, the actor talks about what drew him to the show and his lack of prep before the shoot. Edited excerpts from the interview. How did you bag the role in Black, White & Gray — Love Kills?Like any other normal process, I went for the audition. They gave me the script in English, and I had to translate it into Hindi before the audition, which annoyed me a little at first. Even during the audition, I didn’t understand the briefing because they gave me no details. In the second round of auditions, Pushkar [Mahabal, director-writer] was present, and I expressed how clueless I was in my first audition. That’s when he told me a bit more about the story. Pushkar and our writer Ankita’s [Narang] energy was so infectious that I got drawn in even more. After four rounds, I was bored and very close to quitting. The show was initially planned to shoot in March-April [2024], but I was already working on another project at the time. So I declined the show. However, things got delayed on their end, and our schedules eventually aligned. What was your prep like?Actually, I didn’t even get the time to read the script. When Pushkar asked if I had read it, I said I hadn’t and felt guilty. We had to start shooting within a month, so it was quite shameful to admit that I hadn’t read it. I thought he’d be angry, but instead, he gave me a strange reaction. He asked me to come on set without reading the script. I thought he was being sarcastic, but he wasn’t. On set, he gave me the narration, and I couldn’t stop myself from jumping up and down — the script was confusing, but the twists surprised me. My loud reaction surprised me, while Pushkar was thrilled. How was it shooting the complicated scenes with the cast and crew?I had a lot of fun shooting the series. It was hectic, unlike your regular shoots. My DoP, Saee [Bhope], didn’t use any lights in the scenes — the ones we did use can’t really be considered proper shooting lights. Usually, between shots, you get about half an hour to adjust the lighting, but here we had none of that. We were shooting back-to-back. We were initially told we would shoot in a linear fashion, which made me feel relaxed because the script is quite complex. However, our location was so remote — somewhere in Nagpur — that we couldn’t do it that way. Typically, a crew consists of 100 to 150 people, but Pushkar prefers working with a smaller team. We had only 30 to 40 people on set. The action and running scenes were tough but a lot of fun. Palak Jaiswal and Mayur More in Black, White & Gray — Love Kills The music on the show has a 1980s vibe. Did you explore it personally on set?I was very excited about the music in the show. Pushkar feels he isn’t a good enough music director, so he moved to directing. Interestingly, we share a similar taste in music. I was listening to a track by Charanjit Singh, who was the sound engineer with RD Burman. In 1982, he made an album called 10 Ragas to Disco, which has now become a cult. When he explored this sound, even he didn’t realise he was creating something for future [generations]. He was missing the tabla, so he used a synthesiser instead. I made Pushkar listen to it, and he told me that the show’s music would be similar. I was thrilled. How will this show help your career trajectory?Actually, the story drives me. I never think about how a show will help boost my career. After Kota Factory, where I played such an interesting character, people keep casting me as a student. I’m a bit bored of that now. Even when I try to play it differently, they ask me to recreate the same look from Kota Factory. Sometimes, you have to do it for the money. I repeated myself once when the director insisted on that look. Mera mann khatta ho gaya tha because I didn’t get to explore anything new. I’ve tried to keep all my choices distinct from each other. The idea is to live many lives in this one life. Mayur’s past works . Tikli and Laxmi Bomb (2017). Gachchi (2017). Chidi Balla (2019). Girlfriend Chor (2020). Kota Factory (2019–24). Slum Golf (2023)
06 May,2025 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamADVERTISEMENT
