NEW DELHI: Actor Rajkummar Rao on Thursday announced that he has completed shooting for his upcoming film ‘Bheed’, directed by Anubhav Sinha.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Rao shared an all-smiles picture with Sinha from the film set and wrote, “And it’s a Wrap #BHEED. Can’t express in words how amazing I felt working with you my dearest @anubhavsinhaa sir. You’re a gem of a person and a genius filmmaker. Is “Bheed” me ek bohot acche dost mil gaye mujhe. love you sir.”

Helmed by Anubhav Sinha, ‘Bheed’ is touted as a socio-political drama, which was shot across Lucknow.

The movie also stars Bhumi Pednekar in the lead role. The 32-year-old actor also announced her wrap up from the film, earlier this week.

‘Bheed’ is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Anubhav’s Benaras Mediaworks.

MUMBAI: On the occasion of his 65th birthday, veteran actor Anil Kapoor announced that he will share screen space with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone in the upcoming film ‘Fighter’.

Welcoming him on board, Hrithik took to Instagram and wrote, “Happiest Birthday to the man who grows younger each year in spirit and health, @anilskapoor! Best wishes to you Sir. From witnessing your legendary presence on sets as a mere assistant, to finally having the opportunity of sharing the screen with you. Super excited for #Fighter!”

Anil thanked Hrithik for his kind words and expressed his joy in working with the former.

“Thank you so much @hrithikroshan! Happy to be a part of team #Fighter & working with you on screen finally! #SiddharthAnand,” Kapoor wrote.

Deepika, too, wished Kapoor on his birthday and welcomed him on board.

“Welcome to Fighter birthday boy,” she posted.

Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘Fighter’ is touted as India’s first ariel action franchise.

After the resounding successes of Hotstar Specials on the platform, Disney+ Hotstar announces its upcoming spine-chilling medical drama, ‘Human’. Starring National award-winning actress Shefali Shah alongside the supremely talented Kirti Kulhari, the power packed series has been produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah of Sunshine Pictures Pvt. Ltd and directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh. Mozez Singh and Ishani Banerjee have written the gripping series. ‘Human’ as a series unravels unexpected secrets of the world of medicine. The series dives into the world of medical drama and its effect on people.

Talking about the series, producer and co-director Vipul Amrutlal Shah said, “‘’Human’, I had worked on this subject as a film script for three years and then I felt that this subject is too vast to be encapsulated in a film script which is only going to be 2-2.5 hours and that’s when I approached Mozez Singh and gave him the script. He read it and found it interesting. Mozez Singh got Ishani Banerjee on board, followed by Stuti Nair and Aasif Moyal and they started writing this particular show. We wanted to make the series to rightfully represent the medical world and also wanted to portray the personal relationships and conflicts of the characters to offer a wholesome presentation of this world. We are confident and hopeful that viewers will be intrigued by this story.”

Almost all follow-up stories (whether sequels or prequels) are weighed down by expectations and comparisons. The fans of the original of course are keen to watch them and yet at the same time they are usually a little wary. Sometimes, the high expectations and the emotional attachment to the original can also make them overly critical in their scrutiny of the new offering. The best follows up stories are always mindful of two things, above everything else. First, there has to be enough on offer for the fans of the original as one certainly doesn’t want to antagonise or alienate them. Second, it should also be able to stand on its own for the benefit of new viewers as one obviously wants to grow one’s viewership. Often the worst ones fail on both these counts. Now, ‘The Matrix Resurrections,’ the latest installment in The Matrix series, is neither an ideal follow-up story nor a forgettable one. The film has its moments but it is also has many shortcomings.

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is 18 years in the making. So, what took it so long? Following the release of ‘The Matrix: Revolutions,’ the Wachowskis refused the possibility of another Matrix film. But the studio remained quite keen in reviving the franchise through a possible fourth Matrix film. In fact, Zak Penn was hired to write a new screenplay after the Wachowskis refused every offer to create more sequels. Finally, in late 2019, a fourth Matrix film was finally announced, with Lana Wachowski returning as director (without her sister), and Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their iconic roles of Neo and Trinity, respectively. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created a lot of uncertainty. The filming started in February 2020 but was halted the very next month owing to the pandemic. According to reports, Lana even toyed with the possibility of shelving the project and leaving the film unfinished, but the cast insisted that she finish it. And so, the filming resumed once again, concluding three months later in August 2020.

Now, the most unique part of ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is how it takes the meta route. Metacinema, also meta-cinema, is a mode of filmmaking in which the film informs the audience that they are watching a work of fiction. In other words, it often references to its own production, thereby working against the narrative conventions that aim to create an immersive experience for the viewer. Now, some filmmakers go to great lengths to ensure that the viewer completely forgets that he/she is watching a film. Take, for example, the case of Christopher Nolan who consciously changed the setting of a key scene in Batman Begins to an opera house instead of the cinema hall setting in the original text in order to ensure that the attention of the viewers is never drawn to the idea of watching a film in a cinema hall while watching the scene. Similarly, we also have filmmakers like Woody Allen who take the completely opposite route, often going meta when they see the creative possibility.

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ introduces us to a new version of Neo, now known in the Matrix as Thomas Anderson. He is a successful video game developer, creator of a trilogy of games based on his dreams of the Matrix. But, he is now done with the Matrix and doesn’t want anything to do with it. However, his business partner, Smith, tells him that their financers, Warner Bros., want them to make a sequel to their trilogy. The similarity in the situations faced by Neo the video game developer and Lana the filmmaker is quite evident. But, just like Nolan, Lana too is conscious about the effects of going meta. She and her team of writers purposefully choose the world of a video game. It could very well have been a movie within a movie instead of a video game within a movie but obviously Lana decided against it to give ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ a more realistic touch.

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ can best be described as an interesting concoction of old and new ideas. Now, there is no denying that the film cannot be separated from its predecessors. For, there are constant references to the original trilogy and it’s not just limited to the characters. In fact, a re-watch of the first three films viz. ‘The Matrix,’ ‘The Matrix Reloaded,’ and ‘The Matrix Revolutions’ is strongly recommended before watching ‘The Matrix Resurrections’. Some of the newer things that get introduced in Resurrections only build on the Matrix mythology. And yet Resurrections falls short of attaining the brilliance of its precursors. Despite her best efforts it’s quite evident that Lana Wachowski is not at the top of her game here. Also, she missed a trick by not recasting Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus and Hugo Weaving as Smith in Resurrections. As for Reeves, he looks great as this new Neo closely resembling his John Wick avatar and so there is no reason for any future Matrix films to experiment with his look. Also, Carrie-Anne Moss is splendid as Trinity as always. Among the other members of the cast, each of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jessica Henwick deserves a special mention.

‘Tis the season! If you are looking for a fun way to celebrate Christmas and enjoy the holiday cheer with your family, The Daily Guardian is here to help. Here is a round-up of some amazing Christmas offers in Delhi-NCR to help you make the most of this holiday weekend.

1. L’OPÉRA

Delhi’s favoured French Patisserie chain L’Opéra, has an impressive array of seasonal festive products on offer. Choose from a classic selection of products like their Bûches (yule logs), Chocolates, Pantone, Christmas Puddings, Biscuits, Plum Cake, Alpine Nut Cake, Galette des Rois and other festive specialities.

The Bûche is a traditional dessert served during pre-Christmas dinners and luncheons and on Christmas Eve in France, and their unique Alpine Nut Cake combines a crunchy biscuit with nuts and tasty, rich caramel. In addition to L’Opéra’s round the year line of biscuits, variations like Gingerbread, Shortbread and extra nutty Hazelnut Crunch have also been added as Christmas delicacies. Their Christmas Pudding and Plum Cakes are other popular goodies.

In the spirit of giving back, Kasen Samandari, Laurent’s father and Executive Chairman of L’Opéra, shares, “This year, once again we have decided to dedicate 5% of the revenue generated from our hamper sales to Main Tendue (www.maintenduedelhi.org), the charity which supports 10 Indian NGOs.”

L’Opéra’s festive delicacies are available in all its outlets and online.

2. BAKEHOUSE COMFORT BY CAFE DELHI HEIGHTS

Founder Gunjan Batra has planned a special menu for this season. Indulge in Bakehouse Comfort specials like Apple Tart, Carrot Yule Log, Chocolate Bombs, Gingerbread Men Biscuits and more. They are also offering specially curated Christmas Hamper trays with specials like Tarts, Cookies, Panettone, Plum Cake, Puddings, exotic breads and more. These hampers are available in different sizes and prices. Their special arty trays are made on order as great additions to festive house parties. They come in different varieties like chip and dip trays, Mexican trays, Chef’s special trays and more.

At Bakehouse Comfort by Café Delhi Heights in DLF Avenue, Saket.

3. HONEY & DOUGH

Founder Aavika Chhawchharia says, “Honey and Dough is bringing back its classic selection of products which includes Classic Plum cakes, our special Chocolate Balls, Christmas Puddings, Cookies, Plum Cakes, and other festive specialities. An exclusive offering this year is our Chocolate House, which is made with in-house chocolates like truffles and more.”

This season Honey and Dough has expanded its repertoire to include Gingerbread and Shortbread cookies, specially crafted for Christmas. Christmas Puddings and Plum Cakes are also on offer and one can gift exclusive Honey and Dough Christmas hampers which are the perfect mix of cakes, cookies, chocolates and more.

At Honey and Dough exclusive stores at Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj, Malviya Nagar, Pacific Mall, Janakpuri, Cyber Park and more.

4. CAFÉ DELHI HEIGHTS

The Chef at Café Delhi Heights has created a special Christmas Menu that will be on offer from 21 to 31 December. This consists of Broth with Chicken Dumplings, Rice Vermicelli Hearty Duck Soup, Asian Spring Salad, Pulled US Turkey Soft Tacos, US Roasted Duck, Four Cheese Fondue, Parmigiana and more. The special menu can be paired with your favourite drinks at the bar.

At all Café Delhi Heights outlets across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Chandigarh.

5. OPHELIA, HOTEL ASHOKA

For Christmas, Ophelia at Ashoka Hotel offers a scrumptious buffet that includes seasonal specials like Marsala Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms, Grilled Camembert with Cranberry Glaze, Herbed Roasted Turkey, Classic Roast Chicken, Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, Prosciutto Crudo Ham, Maple Glazed Bacon, and Brussels Sprouts among other delicacies.

On Christmas Eve, a special a la carte menu is in place for Rs 6,000 per person and Rs 12,000 for couples with outdoor seating, along with special pricing for cabanas. Themed music and Christmas decor promises to make the occasion memorable.

At Ophelia – Hotel Ashok.

6. VIET: NOM, CYBER HUB

Viet:Nom Cyberhub is offering a lavish Christmas Brunch with special decor and a live performance of Christmas carols. An in-house Santa will cheer the guests as they enjoy the buffet. Guests can choose from a selection of salads, followed by delicacies from their live section. Starters include Grilled Chicken Skewers, Roasted Chicken Wings, and for mains one can enjoy Chicken in Lemon Grass Garlic Chili, Braised Fish in Tomato Ginger, Vietnamese Pickle Chili Eggplant, and other dishes. Desserts include Coconut and Passion Fruit Pudding, and Che Ba Ba.

At Viet:nom in DLF CyberHub.

7. CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT THE KNOT

Newly opened The Knot in Eros Intercontinental Hotel in Nehru Place, is the brainchild of Priyakant Gautam, and has a lot to offer this Christmas. Enjoy a Chef’s special brunch with appetisers like Warm Chevre Salad, Baked Brie, The Knot Special Platters and more. Vegetarians can choose from hearty dishes like Grilled Artichoke, Zucchini Wrapped Quinoa, and non-vegetarians will appreciate the Parmesan Crusted Lamb Rack, and the Herb Roasted Whole Chicken. Desserts include Chocolate Mud Pot, Plum Cake, and Cheese Cake with Wild Berry Compote.

At The Knot Eros International Hotel, Nehru Place.

The writer pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.

As we bid farewell to our second pandemic year in a row, it is time to assess the things that went wrong, the steps that could have been taken to avoid things going wrong, and the measures that need to be taken to plan for a more secure future. Corporate organisations that failed to innovate fared a sad fate, with many downsizing on a large scale and some even shutting their doors for good.

Fortunately, for those that are still struggling, a solution is at hand with the services of GreyB. Founded by Deepak Syal and Chakshu Kalra in 2008, it was launched in the peak of the global recession at a time when companies were collapsing with a domino effect. One major aspect that the founders observed while studying the companies around them was the fact that those who did not innovate shut shop during the collapse.

“This made us confident about launching GreyB, as we were working in the domain of innovation. We started with a vision to build a platform so that any company can use the knowledge present in their patents and increase innovation within their company,” explain the founders.

They witnessed the fruits of their labour when they were awarded a number of professional awards, such as the Edison award for creating a solution enabling small and medium size organizations to become more innovative, and the recognition as Top 300 Intellectual Property Strategists in the world by IAM. The founders’ entrepreneurial journey has also been featured in the book ‘No Shortcuts’ which became a bestseller on Amazon.

Essentially, GreyB works in the field of innovation, concentrating on three areas—helping companies generate money from their innovations, more specifically their patents; helping companies identify future technology areas where there is huge scope for innovation; and helping companies defend themselves in patent related legal cases.

“Though there are companies that provide similar offerings, at GreyB our aim was not to end up becoming a vending machine for our clients, which would mean giving the same output to all clients irrespective of what they really needed. We work with them like partners to make sure that they get what really solves their problem. This approach has helped us separate ourselves from our competitors and become an attractive option for companies,” explains Kalra.

To spread the word about their work, they began by meeting decision makers in industry conferences. Though it was tough to convince them at first, they started getting traction from certain individuals who were far-sighted and saw the value of what they offered. With happy clients, they were able to sign on more people through word of mouth. Now they are considered one of the top players in the high-end patent consulting space.

However, their journey has been marked with challenges. These included convincing people in 2008 to build their career in a non-software domain; and removing the tag of low-cost provider for their overseas clients who felt all Indian businesses fall under that category. They have fortunately overcome both problems over the years and gone on to record a few truly rewarding moments. Syal shares, “I remember a case where a SME from Israel who wanted to sell their 12 patents came to us. We worked on their patents which helped them get an offer of US$ 24 million for those 12 patents.”

“Our most rewarding moment was the cheque of Rs 5,000 received for the first work that we delivered to a client. The second most rewarding moment was seeing that people from premier institutes wanted to work with GreyB. Next was receiving the Edison award along with other delegates like the CEO of IBM in New York. The last would be seeing incoming requests from companies with Trillion Dollar market cap showing interest in working with us,” adds Kalra.

In a competitive business environment, the ability to innovate new ideas is severely limited due to lack of exposure. Having a database similar to Google to look for innovative solutions for specific corporate issues is the ideal way to overcome this problem. “Imagine the kind of impact this may bring to your problem-solving skills!” say the founders, signing off.

The writer pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.