Browsing: Entertainment

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur took to social media to share a heartfelt reflection on the lost charm of old-fashioned train travel.

Reminiscing about the chaotic yet joyful family journeys of his childhood—from last-minute dashes to catch the train to the familiar sounds of the station whistle—Kapur painted a vivid picture of a time when travel was as much about the adventure as the destination.On Thursday, Shekhar took to his Instagram handle and posted a photo of people at a bustling train station. Along with the image, he reflected on the chaotic yet cherished memories of old-fashioned train travel, capturing the magic and madness of family journeys from his childhood.Kapur wrote, “Travelling today..it’s all about efficiency. Efficiency and Security. About minutes and seconds to spare. About taking your computers and Electronics out and repacking them. Making sure you’ve not forgotten anything. I have. Often. What happened ? Travel used to be so much fun! Especially train travel. Remember? Those family holidays? Where your father was always late to the train station. ( mine was) .. your Granmother insisting on carrying those jars of pickle just in case ..”“Stuffing your ‘Hold All’s’ ( remember them? Beddings rolled up with all your clothes and toiletries inside.. the arguing with Coolies .. the grabbing for your seats before someone else’s took them .. arguing with the guard because he gave your booked seats to someone else .. and your dad has still not arrived ..”“The Guard blows his whistle .. And the noise .. the din .. families desperately saying last minute goodbyes.. luggage being stuffed through windows .. the whistle blows again .. the train chugs a little .. the wheels desperately strain to move .. slipping a little .. your Dad has still has not arrived .. you break out into tears .. your mom trying to calm you down..”And then the train does not move. False Alarm .. A sudden silence all over the station .. all goodbyyes have been said .. the station is awkwardly silent .. nothing more to say .. why does the train not move ? My Dad arrives .. smiling as if nothing was wrong .. it was completely normal .. The guards whistle goes again .. the station erupts .. all that was not said earlier is said again .. the wheels move and strain the train moves .. people screaming goodbye all over again..” the filmmaker added.Shekhar Kapur concluded the post by recalling the thrilling and chaotic moments that marked the start of train journeys in the past.He also reminisces about the excitement of running alongside a moving train, daring to be the last one to jump aboard before the platform ended — a wild and unforgettable experience that added a sense of adventure to travel. His closing line, mentioning the air hostess asking him to switch off his phone, signals that he’s shared these memories while on a flight.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Actress Shruti Haasan opened up about the nerves she experiences before going on stage and how she has learned to overcome them over time.

Sharing her journey, the actress revealed that while pre-performance nervousness still lingers, it now serves as a source of motivation that drives her passion and dedication. When asked if she ever gets nervous before a performance, Shruti told IANS, “I used to get really nervous before performing. Like, super super nervous. Now of course, over time I’m much better, but I still get like excited, uneasy feeling in my stomach. But it’s just that nerves before performing, which I think is great. It motivates me. But I love to dedicate time for practice.”“I think my band gets annoyed sometimes because I always ask for more rehearsals. I really love to rehearse with everybody and rehearse as much as I can when it comes to music. When it comes to acting, I don’t like rehearsing like too much, but I have no problem over rehearsing when it comes to music.”The ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ actress also shared insights into her musical journey, revealing that some of her favorite songs to perform live are her originals, “Wash Me Away” and “Bury Me.” She expressed a deep emotional connection to these tracks and highlighted the challenge of singing them live, which adds to her enjoyment on stage.When asked about her all-time favorite singer, Shruti said she doesn’t have a single favorite. Instead, she admires a wide range of voices across genres — from Indian classical to rock and roll, appreciating both male and female artists.Haasan mentioned, “I don’t have one all-time favourite singer. I admire a variety of voices, a lot of Indian voices, classical voices, a lot of rock and roll voices, men and women. So no, I don’t have a particular name.”Professionally, Shruti Haasan is set to star alongside superstar Rajinikanth in the much-anticipated film “Coolie,” which is scheduled for a global release on August 14.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Veteran actress Zeenat Aman has opened up about how her latest project, ‘The Royals,’ helped her reconnect with her passion for cinema.

Reflecting on her journey back to the screen, she shared that the experience reminded her of the joy and purpose she once found in acting. Speaking about the same, Zeenat, who made a royal return as Maji, shared, “When I read the script, I knew The Royals had heart. But what’s truly special is how the audience has connected with it — especially the younger generation discovering love stories in a new light. It reminds me of why I fell in love with cinema in the first place.”Zeenat Aman made her much-anticipated comeback in Netflix’s ‘The Royals.’ In the show, she played the role of Maji Sahiba — the regal matriarch of a royal family entangled in palace politics and contemporary scandals. “The Royals,” directed by Priyanka Ghose, also stars an ensemble cast including Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea, and Milind Soman.Set in modern-day India, the story revolves around a once-wealthy royal family grappling with financial hardships. Their fate begins to shift when the heir joins forces with a hospitality entrepreneur to transform their ancestral palace into a high-end luxury resort. The series debuted on Netflix on May 9, 2025, and garnered a mixed response from critics.Talking about his role, Ishaan Khatter, who played Prince Aviraaj, said, “I’m thrilled about the show being binged around the world. It’s been only a few days since release and I’ve been on the receiving end of overwhelming love from all over. The Royals is a fun show with something for everyone; but also deceptively layered with drama and I’m so glad people are seeing and appreciating all that I wanted to bring to Aviraaj as a character. The fact that it’s high up on the Global Non-English Top 10 is a delight and I hope more people keep discovering it in the coming days!”Bhumi Pednekar revealed what she loved most about her character, Sophia.“She’s building her own story. She’s sharp, independent, and not someone who’s easily swept off her feet. But even she doesn’t expect the kind of connection that sneaks up on her. I think that emotional undercurrent—of two very different people trying to meet each other halfway—is what’s really resonating with audiences,” revealed Pednekar.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Producer Nidhi Dutta, who is the daughter of filmmaker JP Dutta, has shared her emotional and challenging journey of trying to conceive (TTC). She spotlighted the silent struggles many women face with infertility and encouraged others not to give up on motherhood.

Nidhi took to Instagram, where she shared a picture from her pregnancy photo-shoot, where she showcased her blossoming baby bump.Taking to the caption section, Nidhi, who has bankrolled films such as Paltan, Ghudchadi and Border 2, wrote down her struggles.She wrote: “This picture in any other country but India would have been tagged on Instagram as ‘Sensitive content’ as it is an absolute mental health trigger for anyone that is TTC… like many of the pregnancy announcements that became a trigger for me… TTC… a term I didn’t know existed and one I became extremely aware of and a part of…”She went on to share that the journey to get to the picture has been one of “tears, fear, pain and longing…”“All the while trying to find smiles over tears… faith over the fear and strength through the pain… a woman ‘trying to conceive’ can have the greatest partner and his support & the greatest support system in family & friends but can still feel all alone through it…”She shared that she knows most women talk about what they have been through once they deliver the baby.“Specially about fertility treatments like IUI/IVF… but the truth is We Don’t want to know what the procedure has in store! We have doctors for that… and some of the best in India too… what we need is women to speak about it while they go through the journey…”The producer said that she “didn’t want to wait for my baby to arrive to share my journey…”“I wanted every woman reading this to know my journey hasn’t reached its destination yet… but here I am… telling you to hope… watch me and take strength! DO NOT Give up! It’s the only way to reach your miracle and nobody will do it for u! (sic).”The producer added: “We must find the strength inside us and make our miracle happen… to all the women who have lost their babies before they met them… to the ones still waiting in their infertility centres… to the ones currently about to take their injection of the day… to the ones waiting for that phone call of adoption…”“No matter which phase of TTC your in…. This mom to be… sees you… was you… and is praying for u with every step I take. Your miracle is not far away. I promise. Just please hang in there. (sic).”–IANSdc/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Veteran actress and BJP MP Hema Malini visited the MIT School of Engineering in Mathura, where she said that she discussed the “future of our world.”Taking to Instagram, Hema shared a group picture with the Dean of Engineering, inaugural chief officer of Innovation and Strategy and other officials. The actress-turned politician stunned in a pink pearl hued saree as she stood in the middle to pose for a picture.She wrote as the caption: “Was at MIT yesterday with Anantha Chandrakasan, Dean of Engineering and inaugural chief officer of Innovation and Strategy and other officials. Was a guest at a fireside chat with select minds of Harvard and MIT at the Thomas Tull concert hall discussing the future of our world. With me was Anuradha Palakruthi.”“Was delighted to see a few Mathura residents among the audience. #mit #Mathura,” she concluded the post.Earlier this month, Hema heaped praise on PM Modi and the Indian Armed Forces following the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.Taking to X, Hema Malini wrote, “Koti Pranam to our powerful Army and our Airforce who have given a fitting reply to the terrorists who had taken the lives of innocent tourists and had in one evil stroke, widowed 26 of our women.”“Yes! Modi ji launched the most effective Operation Sindoor against the enemy, thus avenging the innocent citizens who were massacred mercilessly in Pahalgam. The entire nation has risen as one in support of the govt action. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”Operation Sindoor is the code name for the precise and strategic retaliatory strikes carried out by Indian armed forces on May 7, targeting nine key terror installations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.On the acting front, the actress was last seen in “Shimla Mirchi,” which released in 2020.Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the romantic-drama also stars Rajkummar Rao and Rakul Preet Singh. The film marked Sippy’s return to direction after a 25-year gap.–IANSdc/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Former actress Somy Ali emphasized that the future of Pakistan hinges on empowering its girls through education, innovation, and compassion.

She highlighted the crucial role these elements play in shaping a brighter and more progressive nation. Somy, who was born in Karachi, shared that the youth of Pakistan are keen to learn. She stated, “Right now in villages and cities across Pakistan, millions of girls sit at home, told to wait for marriage instead of miracles. But here’s what they’re not told – They can learn math, AI, and coding from free sites like Khan Academy, Google AI, or Microsoft Learn—for free. They can study business, psychology, math and science through Coursera, Udemy, or other online sites. They can master music and film from YouTube channels or enroll in free music and art classes. They can explore fashion design, starting a business from their study room. All they need is a smartphone. And someone who tells them they matter.”Ali added, “We talk about remittances and laws. But the world now runs on digital talent and emotional intelligence. Let’s make Pakistan a GCC—not just a “Global Capability Center,” but a global compassionate catalyst for change for the better!”“Imagine girls from Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Hyderabad becoming AI analysts, UX designers, and film editors, working remotely for companies in London, Dubai, and San Francisco. Artisans and survivors are launching AI art and fashion collectives with global buyers. Women building ethical AI platforms and creative incubators, generating revenue, while transforming their communities. This is not a dream. It’s already happening in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Vietnam. Why not Pakistan?”Somy Ali, who runs a US-based NGO called No More Tears as well as other organizations such as So-Me Designs and Somy Ali Productions, also mentioned that education, especially for girls, is the only solution to issues in Pakistan.“I was born in Karachi, raised across borders, and shaped by storms. I’ve survived sexual abuse, domestic violence, and smear campaigns. I’ve stood face-to-face with trauma—mine and that of 50,000 others rescued through my nonprofit, No More Tears, where I’ve paid for survivors getting PhDs to cosmetology diplomas! But this is not a story about suffering. It’s a manifesto of hope. I didn’t have any formal education while in Bollywood, with a 9th grade education at the time, but after I left Bollywood, I forced myself to get degrees in psychotherapy, broadcast journalism, and film studies, said Somy Ali.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan shared that he has turned his work mode on after it was on “pause”.

Amitabh took to his blog, where he mentioned that he is now keeping busy with work after a brief pause.“On the work front again… was a pause before the action… but now again on the front .. and more,” he wrote on his blog.On the acting front, Amitabh was last seen in the 2024 film “Vettaiyan,” an action drama film directed by T. J. Gnanavel. The film stars Rajinikanth as Athiyan, a senior police officer, who accidentally shoots an innocent person during an encounter killing, while investigating the murder of a teacher.The cast also features Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Rohini, Rao Ramesh, Abhirami and Ramesh Thilak.On May 13, Big B dedicated a poem by his late legendary father Harivansh Rai Bachchan to Indian jawans, which stressed that their actions should send a powerful message to the enemy, without the use of any words.“Jai Hind Jai Hind Ki Sena”, he wrote and also shared a poem by his legendary father.He shared: “O hamaare vajra-durdam desh ke vikshubdh-krodhaatur jawaano! Kitkitakar aaj apne vajra ke-se dant bheencho, khade ho, aage badho, upar chadho, be-kanth khole. Bolna ho to tumhaare haath ki do choten bolen!”The thespian then shared: “And the words of Poojya Babuji resound .. loud and clear .. and in reverberation .. from every element of the Country .. from every corner ..”Sharing the meaning, he wrote: “Oh ! the angered and dedicated Jawans of the Country .. clench your teeth .. stand up and move forward .. upward and beyond .. without giving any voice .. if you have to speak .. may the sound be heard of your slaps registered on the face of the enemy !!”Operation Sindoor is the code name for the precise and strategic retaliatory strikes carried out by Indian armed forces on May 7, targeting nine key terror installations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.–IANSdc/

Cannes, May 15 (IANS) Hollywood star Tom Cruise’s upcoming film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” earned a five-minute standing ovation due to the actor’s commitment to putting breathless and death-defying practical stunts on the silver screen.

The Cannes premiere was a big event, with an almost 40-piece orchestra welcoming guests into the theater with the franchise’s iconic theme before the screening, reports variety.com.The audience lapped up the film’s special effects but the long run-time left some theatergoers bleary-eyed and exhausted. In the final stretch of the film, featuring death-defying acrobatics from Cruise, a handful of attendees got up and fled the Palais.In the film, the 62-year-old star survived a three-minute knife fight sequence on a submarine wearing only skimpy boxer briefs along with a mind-blowing underwater sequence.During the standing ovation, Cruise clutched his heart and nodded gratefully, with both he and director Christopher McQuarrie kissing and thanking guests Zoe Saldana and Marco Perego-Saldana.As the clapping continued, the camera panned to each member of the large cast, including Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett and Hayley Atwell.“This response is why we do it. You are why we do it. The big screen experience is why we do it,” McQuarrie then said in a speech, which ended up being longer than the ovation itself.“Thank you all for being here and for supporting us. I want to thank this extraordinary cast — when I tell you how extraordinary they are, it wasn’t just showing up to work every day. This film was made during a pandemic and two industry strikes.”“These two films were made over a period of seven years with a lot of uncertainty, a lot of gaps in between their faith and their hard work, their dedication, their unquestioning devotion to this. This film would not be possible without the hard work of each and every one of these people standing up here. It’s the most extraordinary cast in the world.”Talking about Cruise, the director continued: “As a kid, I didn’t fit in and a lot of my life was imaginative play. I got to grow up and have my very own action figure.”“To be here in Cannes and have these moments — I mean as a kid when we were growing up, I really can’t even dream of something like this happening,” Cruise said.“I think McQ said it all, I’m just very grateful for 30 years to be able to entertain you with this franchise.”Addressing McQuarrie, the movie star said: “Grateful to you, my friend. Every step of the way what you’ve done and how you’ve expanded it — it just went beyond our expectations. I look forward to making a bunch of other kind of movies with you, I can’t wait.”–IANSdc/

Chennai, May 15 (IANS) The makers of director P Mahesh Babu’s upcoming film with actor Ram Pothineni on Thursday announced…

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Dr. Shriram Nene took to social media to share a heartfelt birthday wish for his wife and actress Madhuri Dixit.

Marking the special occasion, he posted a series of photos — one of which beautifully captured the couple gazing into each other’s eyes, radiating love and warmth. He also shared photos of the couple posing with their two sons, offering a glimpse into their close-knit family life. One sweet moment shows Madhuri sitting gracefully while her two sons stand behind her, their arms lovingly wrapped around her shoulders.For the caption, Dr. Nene wrote, “Happy Birthday to the one who’s brightened our lives in every way. You’ve made everything lighter, warmer, and better—just by being you. I’d choose you all over again in a heartbeat. Thank you for the love, the laughter, and the light you bring. Here’s to us, and to many more beautiful years ahead. I love you, always.”The couple tied the knot in 1999 and are parents to two sons. They spent the first decade of their marriage living in the United States before relocating to India, where Dixit resumed her Bollywood career.Madhuri Dixit celebrated her 58th birthday on May 15, and the occasion was marked by an outpouring of love across social media. Fans, family members, and celebrities flooded the internet with warm wishes. Among them was Kajol, who penned a sweet note for the legendary actress, fondly calling her the ‘OG dancing queen.’ Sharing her image, the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ actress wrote, “Happy Birthday to the OG dancing queen…May you always stun us with your grace on stage and off of it @maduridixitnene.”On the work front, Madhuri Dixit was last seen in the 2024 release “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.” The horror-comedy saw her in a key role, sharing screen space with Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, and Tripti Dimri.–IANSps/