entertainment

ajay devgn steps into the metaverse universe with his all-new virtual avatar inspired by hotstar specials’ rudra – the edge of darkness set to release on disney+ hotstar

DIsNey+ Hotstar’s upcoming Hotstar Specials’ Rudra-The Edge of Darkness is set to become the first-ever series to foray into the dynamic world of the metaverse. Exploring the emerging intersection of the digital and physical world, the platform, in a first-of-its-kind initiative, has associated with Hungama Digital's Web3 venture called Hefty Entertainment to create this Metaverse.

Talking about this new development, lead actor Ajay Devgn said, “The exciting and novel space of the metaverse is an all-new world. It goes beyond our wildest imagination. I have always wanted to be closer to my fans and today I can proudly say - I am there. With my avatar, inspired by my role in Rudra- The Edge of Darkness, I am marking yet another first by foraying into the metaverse with the Hotstar Specials series that is so close to my heart now. From a digital series debut to my very first venture into the metaverse, this has been an incredible journey for me.’’

Commenting on the launch, Gaurav Banerjee, Head, Content Disney+ Hotstar, and HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star, said, “We are thrilled to present Ajay Devgn in a never-seen-before digital avatar inspired by his character in a highlyanticipated series Rudra – The Edge of Darkness. It will be a unique presentation and an engaging content experience for our users. We have always strived to be at the forefront of innovation and are delighted to associate with Hungama and Hefty Verse to introduce this new form of digital experience for Ajay’s fans.”

Siddhartha Roy, CEO Hungama Digital said, “At the core of every entertainment lover is their undying love and adulation for their favorite celebrities. We at Hungama are extremely happy to introduce Disney+ Hotstar’s Rudra – The Edge of Darkness into the world of Metaverse through Hefty Entertainment. Being one of the first movers bringing Entertainment into the Metaverse, through the 3D universe hosted on our platform, we provide a stable and secure space for entertainment lovers to strengthen their relationship with their favourite celebrities.”

Helmed by ace director Rajesh Mapuskar, the riveting psychological crime drama is celebrated actor Ajay Devgn’s digital series debut, where he will be donning the avatar of a cop never seen before. Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India, the series also features a stellar cast including Raashii Khanna, Esha Deol, Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Satyadeep Misra in pivotal roles.

Spanning six episodes, the series is an Indian rendition of the globally successful British series, Luther. RudraThe Edge of Darkness will be available exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar from 4th March 2022 in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali.

Tune in to Disney+ Hotstar to catch Ajay Devgn’s digital debut with crime thriller drama Rudra – The Edge of Darkness from 4th March onwards.

richa chadha, ali fazal, varun sharma, Pulkit samrat, and Manjot singh’s fukrey 3 goes on floors

AFTer much delay, Fukrey 3 has gone on floors. The successful franchise is headlined by Ali Fazal, Pulkit Samrat, Richa Chaddha, Varun Sharma, and Manjot Singh. The film directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and backed by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment was supposed to go on floors in April last year. However, owing to the pandemic, the shoot of the film was delayed.

Taking to his social media on Thursday, actor Varun Sharma was happy to announce the third installment Fukrey 3, which went on floors today. He wrote, “Shuru Hogayi!!!”

Ever since the announcement was made, it created a wave of excitement among the audience and especially the fans of the Fukrey franchise.

The popular movie franchise is considered among the cult classics of the Indian cinema and has become a huge hit for giving viewers a wholesome experience and making sure to deliver a burst of giggles.

Fukrey 3 stars Pulkit Samrat, Ali Fazal, Varun Sharma, Richa Chaddha, Manjot Singh, and Pankaj Tripathi. The film is directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and produced under Ritesh Sidhwani & Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment.

after shah rukh khan announces republic weekend 2023 for Pathaan, makers of fighter and tehran likely to shift their release date to avoid a clash

ON Wednesday morning, YRF finally made an official announcement of their muchawaited film Pathaan. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, the announcement of this film was done in a grand fashion and it immediately went viral. Fans of Shah Rukh Khan were eagerly awaiting an official announcement ever since the film went on floors in November 2020. The makers announced that the film will be released on January 25, 2023.

Interestingly, two other films are also scheduled to release over the Republic Day weekend 2023- Fighter and Tehran. What's even more interesting is that Fighter is being directed by Siddharth Anand and stars Deepika Padukone along with Hrithik Roshan. Tehran, on the other hand, is headlined by John Abraham.

But now with Pathaan going ahead with the Republic 2023 weekend, the makers of Fighter and Tehran will eventually postpone the release dates of their respective films as Siddharth Anand is directing Pathaan and it stars Deepika and John in lead roles along with SRK. Therefore, a three-way clash is highly unlikely considering that all three films are bigscale action entertainers and have the same actors leading the projects.

With the kind of anticipation and buzz around Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan, it is highly unlikely that any other filmmaker would want to release their film alongside Pathaan. In all possibilities, Pathaan will enjoy a solo release at the box office and is expected to break records. The film will also mark the return of King Khan on the big screen after four years. He was last seen on the screen in the 2018 film Zero which failed to perform at the box office.

salman khan and katrina kaif ready to roar in theatres with tiger 3 on eid 2023, watch powerpacked announcement

sALMAN Khan and Katrina Kaif are all set to return to the theatres as Tiger and Zoya in Maneesh Sharma's upcoming directorial, Tiger 3. The third installment is bigger and is expected to be mounted on a large scale. The actors are all set to take over the big screen with their film on Eid 2023.

Following the announcements of Pathaan and Jayeshbhai Jordaar, YRF has now announced the release date for Tiger 3. Dropping a video, Katrina Kaif is seen rehearsing with her Korean stunt team for the action scenes as the camera pans to Salman Khan as Katrina asks him, "Ready?" to which he responds, "Tiger, always ready!"

The action spectacle Tiger 3, helmed by Maneesh Sharma, will release in cinemas on 21st April 2023 on Eid, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

BreakinG: Bachchhan Paandey cleared by cBfc with U/a certificate and 3 cuts; 2 violent scenes and a double meaning dialogue have been modified

The success of Alia Bhattstarrer Gangubai Kathiawadi at the box office has brought much needed hope among the industry and trade members. From today, theatres in 14 cities and districts in Maharashtra have been allowed to operate 100% occupancy. As a result, the trade expects the business to grow manifold in the month of March itself. One of the biggest films of this month is Bachchhan Paandey. Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, it was always a keenly awaited film and the trailer has added to the hype.

Bollywood Hungama has now learnt that Bachchhan Paandey has already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). As per the censor report, the examining committee asked for three cuts in the action comedy. There’s a scene of a slitting throat and blood oozing out. In another scene, a character is stabbed, leading to a lot of bloodshed. The CBFC members felt that the violence in both these places was quite gory. The makers were thus asked to remove or modify the violence in these sequences.

The third cut is with regards to a double meaning dialogue related to a banana. The CBFC asked the makers to reduce or modify the dialogue, a part of which is “Kabhi toh (kela) khaane ke liye bhi le liya kar”.

After these changes were made, Bachchhan Paandey was awarded a U/A certificate. The certificate was handed to the producers on February 28, 2022. The duration of the film, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 149 minutes. In other words, Bachchhan Paandey is 2 hours and 29 minutes long.

Besides Akshay Kumar, Bachchhan Paandey also stars Kriti Sanon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Pankaj Tripathi and Prateik Babbar. It is directed by Farhad Samji and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala’s Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.

Bachchhan Paandey releases in cinemas on March 18, which is a holiday. A trade expert said, “It releases on Holi and this will prove to be an advantage. Cinemas are running with no restrictions in most parts of the country. The film seems like an ideal masala entertainer and as a result, expect the film to create a dhamaka at the ticket window.”

the BomBaY Prince

BY suJata masseY, allen & unWin, $29.99

RevIeWed By RAMA GAINd

By Rama Gaind

PerVeeN Mistry is a courageous, likeable and determined young lawyerturned-detective. She has dramatic appeal in a striking combination of crime and mystery set in 20th century India.

As the country’s sole female solicitor, she holds a unique status in 1920s Bombay, a woman maintaining equilibrium between the weight of family tradition with her own dreams and is a trail blazer.

The title of Sujata Massey’s mystery refers to the Prince of Wales, son of King Edward VII and grandson of Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India, who is about to embark on a four-month tour of India. It’s November 1921 and the citizens of Bombay are not universal in their welcome of the British heir.

Mistry isn't surprised when local unrest spirals into riots. She is, however, horrified by the death of Freny Cuttingmaster, an 18-year-old student who falls from a second-floor gallery just as the prince's grand procession is passing by her college.

Freny had come for a legal consultation, just days before her death, and what she confided makes Perveen suspect that her death was not an accident. When the death is ruled a murder, Perveen knows she can't rest until justice is done.

Perveen’s third mystery propels a rich story of female empowerment during a pivotal era. The impressive Mistry makes her triumphant return to solve a shocking murder on the streets of 1920s Bombay.

Massey was compelled to write this novel because she found a “trove of research material on the Prince of Wales’s 1921-22 visit to India. These ranged from silent films to daily government records and photographs of the tour and newspaper articles that chronicled the darker side of India’s reaction to the imperial visitor”.

the title of SUjAtA mASSey’S myStery referS to the prince of WAleS, Son of king edWArd vii And grAndSon of QUeen victoriA, QUeen of the United kingdom And empreSS of indiA, Who iS AboUt to embArk on A foUr-month toUr of indiA. it’S november 1921 And the citizenS of bombAy Are not UniverSAl in their Welcome of the britiSh heir.

introducing debut singer Psydu (sid)

ONLy 20 years old, Psydu is a hotshot new talent who successfully released his debut single "Millions On My Mind" on February 2, 2022, on multiple music platforms. He is an independent songwriter and singer from Sydney, Australia who creates deeply intimate hip hop/pop music rooted in personal experience and reflection in both sound and writing. Siddarth Sivaprasad (Sid), stage name PSYDU, is looking forward to releasing more pop and hip hop music since his mind is very flexible when it comes to different genres.

The promising singer always loved singing but believes that his music journey truly started when he discovered his beautiful gift of composing music. The artist finds music as a way to express his emotions, share his story and inspire others along the way. From being an independent young artist creating music only in his bedroom and shower, Psydu now has blossomed to be a full-blown creative music artist who has his eyes set on the limelight. He has gotten this far without any voice training, mentoring, connections, or support. His ambition is to become a platinum record artist one day.

His latest debut single “Millions on my Mind” has come to life after a year of unwavering dedication, demonstrating his unshakeable commitment and passion. Writing and performing his debut single, Psydu hopes to impart the lesson of resiliency and rising from all adversities on one’s own journey to greatness. The legendary singer Kamahl even commended his song and said "He’s creative! I’d like to meet him sooner than later" and also said, "I have just received Sid’s link! It’s interesting & impressive!".

he iS An independent SongWriter And Singer from Sydney, AUStrAliA Who creAteS deeply intimAte hip hop/ pop mUSic rooted in perSonAl experience And reflection in both SoUnd And Writing. SiddArth SivAprASAd (Sid), StAge nAme pSydU, iS looking forWArd to releASing more pop And hip hop mUSic Since hiS mind iS very flexible When it comeS to different genreS.

What Warne’s ‘shocked’ friends...

CONTD. FrOM PG 1

Staff at the Thai International Hospital told AFP in Bangkok that Warne’s body was taken to their facility around 6:00 pm local time (1100 GMT) from Samujana Villas, a luxury resort in the northeast of Koh Samui.

“No foul play was suspected at the scene based on our investigation,” Thai police told AFP.

Erskine revealed Warne was in Thailand at the beginning of three months off having spent the summer working for Fox Cricket on the Ashes.

“Shane was having three months off and this was the start of it,” he told the Remembering Shane Warne tribute on Fox Cricket.

“They had only arrived the night before.

“They were going to go out for a drink at 5 o’clock, and (Neophitou) knocked on his door at 5.15pm because Warnie was always on time and said “come on you’re going to be late” and then realised something was wrong.”

Erskine later revealed to Channel 9’s Today show that Warne had travelled to Thailand in a bid to get back into shape and had just finished a strict 14-day diet.

“He did go on these ridiculous sort of diets, and he was just finished one, where he basically only ate fluids for 14 days and he’d done this three or four times,” Erskine said.

“It was a bit all or nothing. It was either white buns with butter and lasagne stuffed in the middle, or he would be having black and green juices.

“He obviously smoked most of his life (but) I don’t know, I think it was just a massive heart attack. That’s what I think’s happened.”