Browsing: Entertainment

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Singer Aastha Gill, on Friday, made her much-anticipated debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, marking a significant milestone in her journey as an artist.

On the third day of the prestigious event, the singer walked the red carpet, calling the experience “surreal” and “dreamlike,” as it brought together years of hard work, creativity, and cultural expression. Sharing her experience, the singer shared, “Walking the red carpet at Cannes was surreal—it felt like a dream woven with years of music, culture, and creativity. I wanted my look to reflect not just who I am as an artist, but also the vibrancy and power of where I come from. I am taking a beautiful experience back from here.”Aastha also took to Instagram to share her stunning photos from the star-studded red-carpet event and captioned it, “Made my Cannes Film Festival debut, and today, I know dreams really do come true.#Cannes2025.” In the images, she is seen wearing an off-shoulder dress that she styled with statement neckpiece.Aastha Gill is known for her popular numbers like “DJ Wale Babu,” “Kamariya” from ‘Stree’ and “Naagin,” among others. She rose to fame with her energetic contributions to Bollywood soundtracks, including hits like “Dhup Chik” from Fugly, “Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai” from Khoobsurat and the chart-topping “DJ Wale Babu.” Beyond film music, she has also released a string of popular singles and collaborated with numerous artists across the music industry.Talking about the ongoing Cannes 2025, the day three of the prestigious festival saw a vibrant infusion of Indian glamour and cinematic pride. Veteran actor Anupam Kher made a memorable red-carpet appearance ahead of the screening of his film ‘Tanvi The Great,’ while ‘Laapataa Ladies’ star Nitanshi Goel and Chhaya Kadam drew attention with their confident and stylish presence.Meanwhile, a host of Indian film personalities—including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor, Neeraj Ghaywan, Vishal Jethwa, Ishaan Khatter, and Aditi Rao Hydari—are expected to attend the 78th edition of the film festival.The festival is being held from May 13 to May 24, 2025, along the scenic French Riviera.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Tollywood heartthrob NTR has promised a special return gift to his ‘War 2’ co-star Hrithik Roshan aka Kabir.Taking to his X, the ‘RRR’ actor penned, “Thank you in advance @iHrithik sir!!! Can’t wait to hunt you down to give you a special return gift Kabir… #War2.”NTR’s post comes after Hrithik teased a big birthday surprise for him, most likely linked to their much-awaited drama, “War 2.”Taking to the micro-blogging site, Hrithik wrote, “Hey @tarak9999, think you know what to expect on the 20th of May this year? Trust me you have NO idea what’s in store. Ready #War 2 ?”The latest post by the ‘Krrish’ actor is being taken as a hint for a major announcement regarding “War 2″If the reports are to be believed, the team is planning to unveil the film’s teaser on May 20, commemorating NTR’s birthday.It is believed that the launch of the teaser will kick-start the promotional releases for the sequel, including the official trailer.Speaking during an event in the U.S., Hrithik shared that although he initially felt nervous about “War 2”, he’s now proud of how the film has turned out.The Ayan Mukerji’s directorial will mark the return of Kabir Dhaliwal (Hrithik) to combat a new threat to the nation in a perilous undercover mission.Joining him this time is NTR, who has been roped in as the antagonist in the action entertainer.Mommy-to-be Kiara Advani will be seen as the leading lady in the drama produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner.A sequel to Hrithik’s 2019 hit “War” promises a grand pan-India release across multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.Movie buffs can witness the action of “War 2” in cinema halls on August 14, ahead of Independence Day 2025.–IANSpm/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Filmmaker Dheeraj Jindal has announced his new short film “Momo Deal,” which explores a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on death and friendship.

The movie, which stars actors Anushka Kaushik and Akashdeep Arora, will premiere exclusively on Royal Stag Barrel Select Shorts in July. Speaking about the project, Dheeraj Jindal shared, “The film, which is written by Palak Shah, is a warm, witty take on friendship and farewell. Its humor and heart can reach everyone, everywhere. I can’t wait for audiences to meet this incredible cast and feel the bond we’ve brought to life. The film touches upon a very raw nerve of friendship.”He added, “It’s a completely unique take on death and friendship, dealing with a grim subject but in a very light-hearted tone. I wanted to explore how we process loss and the lengths we go to for the people we care about, even after they’re gone.”The upcoming short film has already earned international recognition. It has been selected for several esteemed film festivals, including Garofano Rosso in Italy, Accra Indie Filmfest in Ghana, the DC South Asian Film Festival, and IFFSA in Toronto. Additionally, it has taken home notable honors such as Best Director and the Golden Elephant Award at the Ooty Short Film Festival.‘Momo Deal’ will premiere on Royal Stag Barrel Select Shorts.Speaking of Dheeraj Jindal, he has carved a niche for himself as a filmmaker known for thought-provoking narratives and a wide-ranging cinematic vision. He made a powerful debut with the short film “The School Bag,” which earned global acclaim with selections at 106 film festivals across 24 countries.Dheeraj went on to direct critically praised shorts such as “Baj Gai Seeti,” “Vikalp, and Paash”—the latter even qualifying for Oscar consideration.Beyond directing, Jindal has also made a mark as a producer, backing acclaimed titles like “Sorry Bhaisaab,” “Katran,” and “Anahut.”–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Bollywood is often equated solely with glamour but, there are days, when the artistes, more so the actors brave a gruelling day to do justice to their part.
Debutante actress Akanksha Sharma has been highly appreciated for her garba moves in the song ‘Dholida Dhol Nagada’ from the upcoming film ‘Kesari Veer’. However, it was not a cakewalk for the actress and the dance unit as they shot in the bone melting heat of 45 degree celsius with the support of an air-conditioner.Talking about her preparation behind the making of the song, Akanksha said, “We shot the entire song in nearly 45-degree temperature, and there was absolutely no air conditioning. Imagine 200 to 300 people packed in a single hall, all dancing, all sweating, it was intense. The heat was almost unbearable, and we were all pushing through it. What made it even more challenging was that we had just two days of rehearsal before the final shoot. Despite the tough conditions, everyone gave it their all, and I’m really happy of how the song turned out”.Akanksha’s grace, elegance, and dance moves have taken everyone by surprise and the talented actress has captivated the audiences with her mesmerizing dance performance.In ‘Dholida Dhol Nagada’, Akanksha’s movements and vibrant energy have been stealing hearts. Her dedication and passion for dance shine through every step, making this song an unforgettable highlight of the film.In addition to ‘Kesari Veer’, Akanksha Sharma will be seen in ‘Tera Yaar Hoon Main’, co-starring Aman Indra Kumar and directed by Milap Zaveri. She is also set to star in an untitled action-comedy, also helmed by Zaveri. With such exciting projects on the horizon, Akanksha continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the industry.–IANSaa/

Los Angeles, May 16 (IANS) Actress-singer Jennifer Hudson is not just coming out in support of the Broadway musical ‘Smash’ but is also celebrating it.

The ‘Sex and the City’ star, 43, made a surprise appearance at the hit Broadway musical at the Imperial Theatre in New York City. She starred in the second season of the 2012 TV series that inspired the stage production, reports ‘People’ magazine.The Oscar winner is also part of the musical’s all-star producing team with Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg. Hudson stepped out on stage to celebrate the stars of the show, and even sing a bit of a song her character performed on the series. After the cast, led by Robyn Hurder and Caroline Bowman, respectively in the roles Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee made famous on screen, took their bows, songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman introduced the EGOT winner to the stage.As per ‘People’, the singer immediately hyped the audience, saying, “Was that not an amazing show?” Hudson, after giving Hurder a sweet hug, went on to praise the show. “It is such an honor to watch you guys do what you do… It’s what it’s about. It inspires you. Do you not want to be on Broadway now? That’s what this show has done”.”Your stardom is amazing”, Hudson continued of the cast. “Each and every one of you are a star. I’m so inspired to be a small part of this”.Shaiman then popped the question that everybody was thinking, “J. Hud? If I twisted your arm, would you give us just a few bars of the song we wrote for you?” Hudson went on to sing a few lines of “I Can’t Let Go”, which the Shaiman and Whittman penned for the second season of the series.Before exiting the stage, she told the cast, “I’m so proud of y’all”. Hudson was notably absent from the premiere of the musical on April 10, which brought out stars Billy Crystal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, as well as a slew of Smash alums, including Debra Messing and Christian Borle.She addressed her absence in a shared Instagram post with the musical, explaining that she had to be in Los Angeles to film an episode of her self-titled talk show. “I can’t be in two places at one time”, she explained while on the set of her show. “I gotta be here with y’all, so I’m going to miss opening night, but I hope everyone enjoys the show”.–IANSaa/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Veteran actor Anupam Kher had a memorable moment at Cannes 2025 as he received a sweet peck on the cheek from Hollywood legend Robert De Niro.

The heartwarming gesture left Kher visibly touched, as he referred to De Niro as the “greatest actor of all time.” On Friday, the ‘Special 26’ actor took to Instagram to share a special video capturing a heartfelt moment with Robert De Niro at Cannes 2025.In the clip, De Niro is seen warmly hugging Kher and planting a kiss on his cheek, a gesture that clearly meant a lot to the veteran Indian actor. Alongside the video, Kher reflected on the emotional experience of reconnecting with his longtime friend and praised De Niro for his incredible legacy. He also expressed joy over meeting De Niro’s wife, Tiffany, and daughter, Jia, and congratulated the actor on receiving the prestigious Palme d’Or at the festival’s opening.In his heartfelt post, Anupam Kher also mentioned introducing De Niro to the team of ‘Tanvi The Great,’ including lead actress Shubhangi, and even gave him an exclusive preview of the film’s poster.The 70-year-old actor wrote, “In Cannes: Best hug from the greatest actor of all time! It was the most amazing feeling to meet my friend #RobertDeNiro, his graceful wife #Tiffany and their beautiful daughter #Jia in #Cannes! Their love and affection touched me deeply. Congratulated him for getting the most prestigious award Palme d’Or award at the opening of #CannesFilmFestival.”“Told him about the #WorldPremiere of #TanviTheGreat in Cannes! He met #Shubhangi (Tavi) and our other crew members very warmly! Showed him the first poster (to be released tomorrow) of our film! He Loved it. Thank you dearest Mr. De Niro for your love, warmth, that wonderful hug, the delicious lunch and your infectious Brilliance over the years! Having you as a friend is the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for! Also a big THANK YOU to dearest #Tiffany for your hospitality and generosity! And for shooting this video! Jai Ho! #RobertDeNiro #GodOfActing #Cinema #Friends.”Earlier, Anupam Kher had congratulated Robert De Niro on receiving the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, calling the award well-deserved. He also referred to the American actor and director as the “Godfather of Acting”—a nod both to De Niro’s legendary status in cinema and his iconic roles. Kher expressed how meaningful it is for him not only to have shared screen space with De Niro in the past (as in Silver Linings Playbook) but also to count him as a personal friend.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Actress Nitanishi Goel, who gained the spotlight for her work in the acclaimed film “Laapataa Ladies”, had a surreal moment as she sauntered the red carpet at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2025.
Nitanshi took to Instagram, where she posted a handful of pictures of herself from the French Riviera, dressed in a beautiful black floor sweeping gown with a drizzle of gold. The pictures featured the actress walking the red carpet at the prestigious event.For the caption, she wrote: “Still taking it all in… Grateful, honoured, and so proud to represent a bit of India on this global stage. Walking the red carpet at Cannes felt like a dream — thank you for all the love, always.”Ahead of making her debut at the Cannes Film Festival, the actress who walked the runway forglobal beauty brand, L’Oréal Paris, the official beauty partner of Cannes, had said: “I came into this industry with aspirations of making things happen for me. From the incredible journey of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ to now standing on the global stage at Cannes, I am getting closer to realizing them.She added: I am that girl who is representing every Indian girl out there who dreams big and is ready to go and achieve them, come what may. Being able to represent those girls at a global stage is a moment of sheer happiness.”Nitanshi gained widespread recognition with her debut movie “Laapataa Ladies,” co-starring Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam. Made under the direction of Kiran Rao, “Laapataa Ladies” shares the tale of two young newlywed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husbands’ homes.–IANSdc/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Actress Malaika Arora, who has joined the panel of Realme Hip Hop India Season 2, strongly feels that dance is a powerful form of storytelling.
Amazon MX Player released an imaginative video in collaboration with Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, featuring Malaika, who has joined this season’s judging panel for the first time.Malaika said: “There’s something truly magical about the world of Pokémon – the adventure, the action, the joy of discovery. Pair that with the energy of hip hop, and it just clicks. This was such a fun and imaginative concept to shoot, and it really captures how two different worlds can come together to create something unforgettable.”“I’ve always believed that dance is a powerful form of storytelling, and this one’s for every kid who loves the world of Pokémon and every dancer chasing that stage,” she added.Amazon MX Player has added a fresh twist to the show with a first-of-a-kind, creative collaboration with Pokémon. The collaboration marks a milestone in the service’s continued commitment to building marketing-first partnerships with marquee brands through its flagship IPs.The video reimagines opening digital Pokémon card packs as a dramatic hip-hop dance battle, with signature Pokémon powers fuelling every move. It blends the thrill of discovery with dance and style to create a unique visual treat.“Our collaboration with Pokémon perfectly reflects Amazon MX Player’s commitment to delivering bold, innovative experiences to our audience,” said Aruna Daryanani, Director, Amazon MX Player.“By bringing together the iconic charm of Pokémon with the raw energy of Realme Hip Hop India Season 2, we’re offering viewers a one-of-a-kind cultural mash-up that is unique and memorable. At Amazon MX Player, we constantly strive to break new ground—crafting immersive entertainment and forging meaningful brand partnerships that truly connect with fans and advertisers alike.”“Our goal with this collaboration was to spark imagination and joy, just as Pokémon has done for fans around the world for decades. Partnering with Amazon MX Player on an impactful show like Realme Hip Hop India S2 gave us the perfect canvas to showcase Pokémon’s playful spirit in a new, movement-driven way,” shared Susumu Fukunaga, Corporate Officer, The Pokémon Company.Fukunaga added: The energy, creativity, and passion seen in this campaign aligns perfectly with what our brand stands for. We are excited to take Pokémon as well as Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket to dance lovers and their loved ones,”Judged by Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora, Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 airs on Amazon MX Player.–IANSdc/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan opened up about the significance of fantasies in life, describing them as a vital part of human experience that goes beyond mere dreams.

He emphasized that fantasies represent a complete and vibrant expression of one’s imagination—a form of living that energizes the soul. According to him, fantasies are timeless and universal, belonging to people of all ages and walks of life. On Friday, SRK’s close friend and filmmaker Farah Khan posted a video of the actor talking about his fantasies. Sharing the clip on Instagram, Farah wrote, “Shah Rukh, maine toh itna hi poocha tha ki fantasy ke baare me tumhara kya khayaal hai Tum ne toh Fantasy pe movie hi bana di.”In the clip, the ‘Pathaan’ actor shared that he, too, cherishes his own set of fantasies, highlighting their importance in keeping creativity and passion alive. In the video, as part of a biscuit commercial, Shah Rukh could be heard saying, “Fantasy, what do you think about fantasy? In my opinion, fantasy is one step ahead of dreams. Fantasy is dancing on its own. Dreams are incomplete; fantasy is complete. Listen to it to live, friend. Fantasy is necessary. There is no age for fantasy, no life stage. Every person has a right to fantasy. I too have some fantasies.”“Does anyone have any doubt? When you are stuck in traffic on the road, trapped in the clutches of the bosses, sitting at the study table, trying to wake up, or in the illogical logic of complicated relationships, you order the fantasy app’s OTPM, fly the kite of thought with a rocket, go into fantasy and fight the aliens, or get stuck in some other universe. Enough of being a hero; sometimes be a villain. Hit six on the last ball, beat India. Kiss the prince, bring your frog home. No, no, no, sorry, sorry. Kiss the frog, bring your prince home. Or become the SRK of a romantic movie,” added the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota’ Hai actor.The 59-year-old actor went on to state, “Whenever you get lost in fantasy, you will find smiles on your lips. When you come back from the fantasy world, bring your life to life. Dreams are incomplete; fantasy is complete. Listen to it to live, friend. Fantasy is necessary.”–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) Actors Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia have officially announced the release date for their much-anticipated film “VVAN: Force of the Forest.”

The upcoming movie, which promises thrilling action and a gripping storyline, is set to release in theatres on 15th May 2026. This film marks the first collaboration between Sidharth, Tamannaah, Balaji Telefilms Ltd., and TVF. Set amidst the enchanting landscapes of Central India, VVAN will take viewers on an exhilarating adventure through wild forests, age-old legends, and secret temples. Filmed amidst authentic forest landscapes, the movie promises to deliver a rich and immersive visual journey.On Friday, Sidharth and Tamannaah took to their respective Instagram handles to announce the release date of the film. They also posted an intriguing poster, writing, “The forest has whispered. The force will be unleashed on 15th May, 2026! Get ready for the big screen adventure!.”Directed by Deepak Mishra and Arunabh Kumar and produced by Ekta Kapoor, “VVAN” is backed by Balaji Motion Pictures in collaboration with The Viral Fever (TVF).Earlier, the makers unveiled two striking posters featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, providing a first glimpse of their intriguing characters. These visuals hint at a gripping folk thriller in the making. Inspired by Indian folklore, “VVAN: Force of the Forest” delves into a world where age-old myths come to life and the wilderness hides secrets yet to be discovered.The film is set to bring the folklore to life on the big screen on 15th May 2026. The movie is slated to begin shooting in June this year. Last month, the makers officially announced Tamannaah’s addition to the project and shared a teaser featuring her introduction. Although her face was not shown in the clip, the ‘Baahubali’ actress was seen running barefoot in a red saree towards a forest.The teaser also showed her lighting a lamp and encountering a sign that read, “Warning: Entering the forest after sunset isn’t allowed.”–IANSps/