MUMBAI: Actor Ayushmann Khurrana feels honoured to get opportunities to tell diverse stories of India through his films.

“I try to tell stories that are essentially rooted in the Indian microcosm and are about real people and their real lives in our culturally diverse country. I think that’s why these stories have resonated with people not just in India but also with Indians who live abroad or with people who are interested to know more about our country,” he said in a statement. Be it his debut film ‘Vicky Donor’ or ‘Article 15’, ‘Bala’ and ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’, Ayushmann has been passing on the socially relevant messages to the audience through his movies over the years, and he will continue delivering such messages through his projects like ‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’ and ‘Doctor G’.

“It is an honour for anyone to represent their country well on the global stage and if I’m doing this through my content-oriented films then I’m humbled,” Ayushmann added. Ayushmann is currently shooting for ‘Doctor G’ in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. 

MUMBAI: Actor Shahid Kapoor feels his movie ‘Kaminey’ helped him to break out of the “cute boy next door” image. On Sunday, he took to Instagram Story and penned a note expressing his love for ‘Kaminey’, which recently completed 12 years since its release. “12 years ago this film allowed me to express myself as an actor..not a face..not that cute boy next door..not that done to death ‘I am such a sweet guy good guy please like me’ rubbish.

My first double role. My first shot at a kamina no holds barred; a straight cut performing part. This was when it all started. So this one will always be special,” Shahid wrote.

After making his acting debut with college romance ‘Ishq Vishk’ in 2003, Shahid during his initial years in Bollywood starred in films with a similar plotline that got him the chocolate boy tag, but then with films like ‘Kaminey’, ‘Haider’, ‘Udta Punjab’ and ‘Kabir Singh, Shahid proved his versatility and talent in carrying off different characters. Speaking more about ‘Kaminey’, the Vishal Bhardwaj directorial mainly revolves around Charlie and Guddu, two twin brothers, who suffer from a minor speech disability – Charlie lisps, while Guddu stutters. Priyanka Chopra also featured in the hit movie.

MUMBAI: Actress Alia Bhatt has watched Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s recent release, ‘Shershaah’ and she just cannot stop gushing over it. The actress took to social media to praise the actors and the makers. She went on to congratulate the entire team on the film’s success.Alia shared ex-beau Sidharth’s post on her Instagram story and penned a long note. She wrote, “Must must must watch! This film has made me laugh and cry and everything more.” Further praising Sidharth, she wrote, “@sidmalhotra you were too too special yaa! So so moving! And @kiaraaliaadvani my beautiful, you really just shine right through! Congratulations to the whole team and the entire cast. Such a lovely film!”

The rumoured couple Sidharth and Kiara are being appreciated for their performances across all quarters. Their friends from the industry and fans have been sharing rave reviews on social media.

Meanwhile, Sidharth, who played the role of Captain Vikram Batra, has shared a heartfelt post on the occasion of Independence Day. Paying a tribute to Vikram Batra and other ‘Fauji heroes’, the actor wrote, “Paid my respects to Captain Vikram Batra & all other Fauji heroes in Delhi. The warmth and fondness with which he writes to his loved ones… while at war! That’s the extraordinary mettle a soldier is made of. When I read this letter… I could see Vikram in front of my eyes! Smiling, as he writes… with bombs dropping in the background. Like he found a quiet corner to take time out. But when he’ll go back to work, it’s lethal… he’s going to fight for his country… until his last breath. But there isn’t just one Vikram. In Kargil alone, we lost 527 Vikrams. They lived life – Yeh Dil Maange More! Let’s fill our hearts with pride as we remember every sainik today. JAI HIND. Happy 75th Independence Day.” 

MUMBAI: Farhan Akhtar and Riteish Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby Films are bringing together three top actresses for a movie.

Titled Jee Le Zaraa, the film stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif. Farhan Akhtar took to Twitter to make the announcement with a video. He wrote, “Did someone say road trip? Thrilled to announce my next film as director and what better day than 20 years of Dil Chahta Hai to do it. #JeeLeZaraa with @priyankachopra #KatrinaKaif @aliaa08 will commence filming in 2022 and I cannot wait to get this show on the road.” The background music in the video is of When Chai Met Toast and the song is called ‘Firefly’. Introducing the next road trip film in their lineup, after Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara— Excel Entertainment extends this genre to the girls this time, in collaboration with Tiger Baby. The makers are back with the story written by Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, and Reema Kagti; produced by Reema Kagti, Zoya Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani & Farhan Akhtar. 

NEW DELHI: Independence Day. Can you imagine this occasion without Mahatma Gandhi, Tilak, Nehru, Netaji Bose, BR Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel… and from the Bollywood side, Akshay Kumar? You might as well add John Abraham and Kangana Ranaut to that list, lest the duo have any hard feelings later. These are just three of the Hindi marquee stars, with a little help from Ajay Devgn, who are responsible for the extraordinary rise of patriotic-themed Hindi movies in the last decade. Put another way, if the “josh” of nationalistic content is high these days — sorry, Uri (2019) guys — blame it on the Desi Boyz (2011) and our very own Rani Jhansi (Manikarnika, 2019) who famously called herself an “ultranationalist.”

In fact, Kangana’s Manikarnika and the Vicky Kaushal starrer Uri might just be the first cultural artefacts of the Modi era. The Rani Lakshmi Bai biopic Manikarnika celebrated India’s rich past while Uri talked proudly about the triumphant “naya Hindustan” (new India), au courant with the Prime Minister’s vision for India as the next military and economic superpower. One way to track how Hindi films have got so nationalistic in flavour lately is to look for the traces of the Tricolour in its frames. That won’t be difficult because symbolically speaking, Indian flag is virtually everywhere in Bollywood movies of today.

In Shershaah, the latest of a clutch of patriotic releases, Siddharth Malhotra plays the Kargil war hero Vikram Batra, who sacrificed his life on the battlefield. Manoj Kumar films evoke the feelings of patriotism, be it Shaheed (1965), Upkaar (1967), Kranti (1981) and the oft parodied Clerk (1989). Manoj Kumar remains the de facto hero. 

MUMBAI: Abhishek Bachchan has sold his luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Oberoi 360 West. The actor got Rs 45.75 crore for the sale. Abhishek, his wife Aishwarya Rai and daughter Aaradhya would have been neighbours to Shahid Kapoor and Akshay Kumar if they had stuck with the purchase. The actor got the house in 2014 for Rs 41 crore. As per a report in Money Control, the house is 7,527 square feet and located on the 37th floor of the Oberoi 360 West in Mumbai’s Worli area. Shahid reportedly paid Rs 56 crore for his apartment while Akshay got it for Rs 52.5 crore. Shahid and his wife Mira often visit the site these days to overlook the construction work. She recently posted a video in which she checked out tiles laid out on the floor. Their flat is on the high-rise’s 42nd and 43rd floors. Other actors who have made recent property purchases are Rani Mukerji and Disha Patani. They bought sea-facing homes in the Khar West neighbourhood. While Rani Mukerji reportedly spent Rs 7.12 crore on hers, Disha Patani bought it for Rs 5.95 crore. Abhishek was last seen in The Big Bull, inspired by the life of tainted stock broker Harshad Mehta. The film did not do well amid comparisons with Hansal Mehta’s hit series on the same subject. His next two releases will be Dasvi with Nimrat Kaur and Bob Biswas with Chitrangada Sen.