Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Actor Avinash Tiwary has opened up about his desire to shed the OTT tag as he gears up for the release of “Ginny Weds Sunny 2.”

While he has gained recognition for his performances on digital platforms, the actor is now focused on making his mark in mainstream cinema. Talking about shedding his OTT image, Tiwary told IANS, “The OTT actor tag only happened because there was Covid, but I was looking to do theatricals. Last year, I was doing a couple of films, which didn’t take off. That’s when I realised I need to take control of things to create a distinction that says I’m not just only on one platform.”“Theatre is going to be a larger part of my filmography. I was supposed to do a big production house film, which didn’t take off last year. If I want to have any relevance as an actor in this country, I need to be in the theatres.”The ‘Laila Majnu’ actor also expressed, “OTT is an opportunity to reach out to the audiences around the world. But theatres are a way to ensure that I have connectivity and relatability with the people in India.”Although Avinash has made a mark as a promising actor, he feels there’s still an element of his journey that remains unfulfilled. Expressing the same, he mentioned, “Why aren’t the projects making a big splash, I don’t get it. Every project that I do has been loved by almost everyone who has seen them, but why such few people have seen them is something I don’t understand. It feels like every work I do doesn’t get its due at that point, and then it happens later.”“Apne yahan jab tak Mumbai me aawaz nahin hoti, logon ko pata hi nahin chalta ki kuchh hua hai.”Avinash Tiwary recently completed shooting for his upcoming theatrical release, “Ginny Weds Sunny 2.” The film marks his first solo commercial outing since “Laila Majnu.” Over the past two years, he appeared in a variety of projects, including “Bambai Meri Jaan,” “Khakee: The Bihar Chapter,” and the comedy film “Madgaon Express.”–IANSps/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh made his first public appearance on Monday, following the controversy surrounding his film “Sardaar Ji 3.”

The ‘Udta Punjab’ actor was spotted flashing a smile and waving at paparazzi while exiting the airport. As soon as Diljit stepped out of the airport, the paparazzi began calling out, “Paaji!” Though he didn’t stop to pose, he acknowledged them with a warm smile, folded hands, and a friendly wave before getting into his car. For the airport outing, Diljit Dosanjh kept it casual in a white t-shirt with blue denims. He is also seen wearing a red turban.Notably, this marked his first public appearance since the controversy surrounding “Sardaar Ji 3.”The controversy surrounding “Sardaar Ji 3” began after the film’s team faced backlash for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir as the female lead. This decision sparked criticism and led the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to issue a non-cooperation order against lead actor Diljit Dosanjh. Initially, FWICE imposed a ban preventing him from working on any film projects.However, following an appeal from producer Bhushan Kumar, an exception was made for “Border 2,” allowing Diljit to continue shooting the film, though with certain restrictions. While he has been permitted to finish work on the war drama, the non-cooperation directive still applies to any new projects, potentially posing challenges for his future film commitments.Meanwhile, the ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ actor has been busy shooting for “Border 2” and has also been sharing glimpses from the sets on social media. The upcoming war drama, directed by Anurag Singh, also stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty.The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta and is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series in association with J.P. Dutta’s banner, J.P. Films.“Border 2” is scheduled to release on January 23, 2026.–IANSps/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Actress Madhoo Shah is dropping some Monday motivation. The actress feels that if one manages time correctly, they can keep stress at the bay.

On Monday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a video of herself talking to the camera, as she said how time management is directly wired to stress management. In the video, the actress can be sitting inside an airport waiting for her flight.She said that she likes to keep a considerable time margin whenever she steps out of her house. She said sometimes her family members get annoyed at her habit of leaving well ahead of time. The actress said that though they might feel that she is paranoid about the time but, she has been proven right time and again.The actress said that leaving early for a destination ensures you deal better with surprises or traffic that your journey to the destination throws at you.She also penned a long note in the caption, as she explained the reason behind her thought-process.She wrote, “Stress management equals time management, plan your time correctly and you will never run out of time or time you will never be chasing after time and that way you will relax and if you’re relaxed your nervous system feels relaxed and in that state of mind you can achieve a lot more under duress under pressure under stress. You actually under perform so if you’re calm, if you’re relaxed, you will always be happy (sic)”.She further mentioned, “In fact, one of the definitions for happiness is calm and you can be calm when you’re not stressed out and if you manage your time well you won’t be stressed out so think about it. It’s #MondayMotivation”.–IANSaa/

Chennai, July 14 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Monday declined to grant any ex-parte interim relief in a civil suit filed by renowned music composer R. Ilaiyarajaa, who has accused Vanitha Film Productions of unauthorisedly using one of his iconic songs as well as misusing his personality rights in the recently released movie Mrs. and Mr. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, hearing the matter, stated that no interim order could be passed without giving the other party a chance to respond.He granted a week for the production house, represented by actor-producer Vanitha Vijayakumar, to file a counter-affidavit.Ilaiyarajaa had approached the court seeking a direction to remove the song Sivarathri — originally composed by him for the 1990 Tamil film Michael Madana Kama Rajan — from Mrs. and Mr., which hit theatres last week.He also sought a permanent injunction restraining Vanitha Film Productions from using his personality or image for the film’s promotional materials.Additionally, the composer requested that the production house be directed to disclose profits earned through the alleged exploitation of his personality rights.Two interim applications were filed alongside the suit — one seeking immediate removal of the song from the film, and another asking for a stay on the sale, screening, or broadcast of the movie with the disputed song.When the matter was taken up, Justice Ramamoorthy observed that it needed to be clarified whether the producer of Michael Madana Kama Rajan had indeed sold the rights to the song in question.Ilaiyarajaa’s counsel, A. Saravanan, argued that the composer retained all rights over the song and that the original producer merely had limited usage rights restricted to the 1990 film.Appearing for Vanitha Film Productions, senior counsel Sridhar Moorthy contended that his client had secured rights to use the song from an audio company.He also pointed out that a related dispute involving Ilaiyarajaa, Echo Recording, and Sony Music is currently pending before a Division Bench of the High Court.When questioned by the judge on how the production house used Ilaiyarajaa’s personality rights in promotional materials, Moorthy requested time to obtain instructions from his client and respond with a detailed affidavit.The matter has been posted for further hearing next week.–IANSaal/skp

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) On the auspicious occasion of the first Shravan Somvaar, politician-actress Smriti Irani offered prayers to Lord Shiva.

Taking to Instagram, she shared a photo where she is seen putting curd and flowers on a Shivling. She captioned the post in Hindi, “Namaste Astu Lord Vishweshwaray Mahadevai Tripurantakaya Best wishes to all of you on the first Monday of Shravan month, dedicated to Lord Shiva. May devotion, strength, and prosperity be there in all of us with the grace of Bholenath. Har Har Mahadev!.”Ahead of the launch of her show “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2,” Smriti offered her prayers on the first Shravan Somvaar. She shared a photo of a Shivling and extended heartfelt wishes to everyone.Shravan, also known as Sawan Maas, is considered one of the most sacred months in the Hindu calendar. Devotees dedicate this time to worshipping Lord Shiva and often observe fasts, known as Shravan Somwar or Sawan Somwar Vrats, on all Mondays throughout the month. The first Monday of the Sawan month falls on July 14.Meanwhile, Smriti Irani is all set to reprise the iconic role of Tulsi Virani after 25 years in “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2.” The show will also star Amar Upadhyay as Mihir Virani, Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Shakti Anand, Kamalika Guha Thakurta, Shagun Sharma, Rohit Suchanti, Aman Gandhi, Ankit Bhatia, and Tanisha Mehta.In a lengthy Instagram post, producer Ekta Kapoor had earlier revealed why she initially said no to the idea of relaunching her iconic TV show. She posted a note that read, “Why Kyunki, why now? When the 25th year of ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ was approaching and the idea of relaunching it surfaced, my first reaction was a firm no! Why would I want to shake up nostalgia? You can never compete with nostalgia. It always remains supreme. How I remember my childhood and how it really was, will always be different.”“Also, the television space has changed. Once dependent on 9 cities, audiences now consume content in fragments, scattered across platforms. Would this shake the legacy of Kyunki, the iconic TRP no one ever achieved before or after?Kapoor added, “But was that truly the legacy of the show? Was it just a show with high numbers? Research carried out by an international body once concludes that the show gave a voice to women in Indian homes. Between 2000 and 2005, for the first time, women began participating in family discussions, a shift deeply influenced by Indian television, especially, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki.”“Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2” will premiere on July 29 on Star Plus.–IANSps/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) The first look of the upcoming period-drama ‘The Revolutionaries’ was unveiled on Monday. It features an ensemble cast led by Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, Pratibha Ranta, Gurfateh Pirzada and Jason Shah, and shows the fight for freedom put up by the Indian revolutionaries against the British imperial power.
The series is created and directed by Nikkhil Advani, and is based on the acclaimed book, ‘Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom’. It tells the story of brave young Indian freedom fighters who believed that armed resistance was not just vital but indispensable to ending the British Raj.Talking about the series, Nikkhil Advani said, “For me, ‘The Revolutionaries’ is a deeply enriching and enlightening experience. Sanjeev Sanyal’s powerful book has given us a compelling foundation to tell the untold stories of these extraordinary young patriots. We’re thrilled to work once again with our long-standing collaborators at Prime Video, who are wholly supportive and encouraging of our vision. We have brought together an exceptional crew and cast, led by Bhuvan, Rohit, Pratibha and Gurfateh, who are ready to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of this story and breathe life into these iconic characters. We are committed to crafting a narrative that is both authentic and impactful for audiences across the globe”.The series is currently in production with filming underway across multiple locations in India, including Mumbai, Amritsar, Varanasi and Dehradun.Nikhil Madhok, Director and Head of Originals, Prime Video, India, said, “India’s rich history is filled with stories of courage, valour and sacrifice – many of which have been lost to time. Sanjeev Sanyal’s remarkable book ‘Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom’ shines a light on a vital part of our freedom struggle, and we’re immensely proud to bring this story to life”.“‘The Revolutionaries’ is an ambitious and deeply meaningful project for us, and we are delighted to once again join forces with our long-time collaborator Nikkhil Advani and the talented team at Emmay Entertainment. With Nikkhil’s creative vision at the helm, and Bhuvan, Rohit, Pratibha and Gurfateh bringing powerful characters to life, we are confident in our ability to authentically portray the spirit of the era and honour this inspiring chapter in India’s history”, he added.Produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani under the banner of Emmay Entertainment, the series is written by Sanjeev Sanyal. ‘The Revolutionaries’ will soon premiere on Prime Video.–IANSaa/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Actor R. Madhavan, who was recently seen in the romantic comedy “Aap Jaisa Koi,” reflected on how opportunities to star in romantic films have become fewer with time.

The actor, who plays a 42-year-old Sanskrit teacher in the Netflix film, shared what intrigued him about “Aap Jaisa Koi.” Madhavan stated, “I didn’t choose this to go back to romance. I chose it because it was an interesting story, age appropriate, and topical. There are only a few chances left to star in a love story — and fewer that feel this honest.”Talking about working with Fatima Sana Shaikh in the movie, the ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ actor shared, “She’s a dynamic, younger actor — and I had to make sure the pairing looked palatable. But she’s also incredibly charming, and I have a lot of affection and respect for her. It was honestly too short a shoot!” Fatima, for her part, calls Madhavan “emotionally intelligent and sharp,” saying, “I learned something from him every day on set.”Interestingly, Madhavan paid a visit to his school during the shoot of “Aap Jaisa Koi” in his hometown, Jamshedpur, Bihar. Speaking about the experience, he revealed to IANS that being in the school again reminded him of all the insecurities about his future that he used to feel as a student.“I got a chance to visit my old school, and as soon as I stepped in, all the insecurities I used to have about my future started coming back. Till 8- 9th standard, we used to only enjoy ourselves, but after that, I was scared about not being successful in life. I was suddenly reminded of all the trouble and pressure we used to go through during the last two years of school. I realized that I was scared for nothing- ‘look at what is happening in life’. Back then when I could not clear IIT, my parents thought that my future is finished. What used to feel like such major concerns feel so light now in retrospect. Life always has something better in store for you.”Helmed by Vivek Soni, “Aap Jaisa Koi” premiered on Netflix on July 11.–IANSps/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Known for her work in films such as Kya Kool Hai Hum, Krishna Cottage, Ek Vivah Aisa Bhi, Shabri and Don, actress Isha Koppikar has encouraged open conversations around self-worth, resilience, and emotional well-being.

“Fame can be a double-edged sword. On one side, you have admiration and success, but on the other, there’s constant pressure to meet expectations that aren’t always real,” Isha said.The actress said that the industry needs to hear that it’s human to feel overwhelmed.”You’re expected to smile through the stress, to keep showing up even when you’re breaking inside. For a long time, I didn’t know it was okay to say, ‘I’m not okay.’ I think more people in the industry need to hear that it’s human to feel overwhelmed and that you don’t have to suffer in silence,” she said.The constant demand to perform, look flawless, and stay relevant can take a serious toll on mental health. However, Isha said that the “true strength isn’t about having it all together.”She added: “You – just as you are – are enough. It’s a simple truth that many of us forget, especially in a world where everything is filtered and curated to suit appearances.“True strength isn’t about having it all together, but about being real, being kind to yourself, and knowing that vulnerability is not weakness, but courage in its purest form.”The actress was last seen in the 2024 film “Ayalaan,” a science fiction film directed by R. Ravikumar.The film stars Sivakarthikeyan and Rakul Preet Singh, alongside Sharad Kelkar, Isha Koppikar, Karunakaran, Yogi Babu, David Broughton-Davies, Bhanupriya and Bala Saravanan, with Siddharth voicing the titular role.It follows Thamizh who teams up with Tattoo, an alien, to stop Aryan, a rogue scientist, from making a deadly Nova gas, which would endanger the Earth.–IANSdc/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Actress Niyatii Fatnani, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming web series, “Rose Garden,” has revealed how portraying the character of Simran played a key role in her artistic growth.

The actress shared that the role challenged her in new ways and helped her explore deeper layers of her craft. Talking about her role in the series, Fatnani stated, “I have never played cricket, but I watch cricket matches. I learned to play cricket on the set before our take only. What intrigued me to play Simran was how complex she was. I have never played a character so complex and never played a murderer. So, this was like a challenge, and playing Simran has helped me venture and learn more as an actor.”The forthcoming web series “Rose Garden” is set against the backdrop of a quaint village in Punjab. The show also stars Maninee De, Akanksha Puri, Niyatii Fatnani, and Neel Samarthh.Known for his performances in television shows like “Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant,” “Kundali Bhagya,” “Waris,” and “Sapno Ki Chhalaang,” Samarthh will be seen portraying the role of a police officer. “The Rose Garden” is all set to premiere on 17th July on Hungama OTT.Speaking of Niyatii Fatnani, she has appeared in shows like “Yeh Moh Moh Ke Dhaagey,” “Nazar,” “Channa Mereya,” and the reality show “Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi 14.” The actress began her acting career in 2016 with “D4 – Get Up and Dance,” where she played the role of Niharika Sinha. She later rose to fame for her performance as Piya Rathod in the popular supernatural drama “Nazar.”–IANSps/

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) English actor Christian Cooke, who essays the role of Chess legend Garry Kasparov in the streaming series ‘Rematch’, has deconstructed his process behind approaching the part.
The actor said that he read a lot of books, and watched some of the documentaries about the world champion. He also shared that he finds a lot of similarity between him and Garry in terms of focus and work ethic.Talking about how they approached the series, Christian Cooke said, “The benefit is that it’s not an original story, it’s based on something that actually happened. The writing follows the historic event as its foundation and so that’s really what we were doing. We were telling a real piece of history about something that happened. It’s great when you can do it; because what’s more dramatic than real life. I think that we didn’t need to worry about that too much because the match happened and there is a lot to draw upon and as an actor you are just trying to follow the arc of the writing, the character. How is it mapped out in the script and you’re really just breaking it down day by day, scene by scene and you’re thinking about each moment as a whole”.‘Rematch’, which is a psychological thriller, and explores how a supercomputer beat the greatest chess mind alive. It presents the showdown between Garry Kasparov and IBM’s pioneering supercomputer Deep Blue.Talking about his preparation, he said, “So I read a lot of books, I watched some of the documentary about Kasparov which was made about when he played Deep Blue called ‘Garry Kasparov – a man vs Machine, the BBC made, which was a great source of research and I think there is similarity just in terms of focus and work ethic. And, you have to be quite tenacious as an actor to keep pursuing it and keep striving to be better and to challenge yourself. I think when you are a chess player you’re on your own with that as well. It’s like you just have to keep focus and keep going and keep sharp, which is the same thing I get as an actor”.The match was a turning point that blurred the line between human brilliance and artificial intelligence, sparking a global debate still relevant in today’s AI-driven world. The series is directed by Yan England, and also stars Sarah Bolger, Aidan Quinn,, Tom Austen and Trine Dyrholm in key roles.The show is set to drop on Lionsgate Play on July 18, 2025.–IANSaa/