ALI FAZAL GOING PLACES

You probably know ofhim fromhissmall roles in 3 Idiots, Fukrey and Happy Bhag Jayegi. But ourAli Fazal is now going places.

He got a small role in Furious 7 andfound himself thrust in anew world of great opportunities. The Lucknow lad acquitted himselfwell enough there to getnoticed, and before long, had bagged the title role in the Judi Dench starrer Victoria and Abdul.

TheStephen Frears-directed film should opennew doors for young Ali, and hasprobably already doneso, now that talent management firmJulian Belfrage Associates has signed him on. This company looks into the work of the big names such as Dench as well as Jude Law and Daniel Day Lewis.

Victoria and Abdul tells thestory of Queen Victoria's close relationship with a tall and handsomeIndian Muslim called Abdul Karim. It is based on a book by the same name by London writer Sharbani Basu.

Abdul Karim was just 24when hewas sent to England from Agra to wait at tables during QueenVictoria's golden jubilee in 1887. Hewas given to her as a "gift from India". The queen took such a liking to him that she soon elevated him in rank and he became a close confidante. He introduced her to the food and culture of India - she soon took to eating curry regularly andevenlearnt to read and write Hindi and Urdu.

The film releases on 22 September.

Meanwhile,news is that Ali Fazal has bagged a role in an upcoming Hollywood production opposite Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson's daughter. Richa Chadda is also said to be part of thisfilm, a musical comedy along Bollywood lines.

As well, there's a project with EddieIzard in the off ng, who Ali worked alongside in Victoria and Abdul.

BHAGYASHREE'S SON TO MAKE BOLLYWOOD DEBUT

Bhagyashree's son?She has a grown up son?

Weall remember her as the Pretty Young Thing that Salman Khan - and thewhole of India - fell in lovewith, in that super-duper hit Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). Sheleft the industry soonafter, neverhaving doneanother Hindi film, to wed thelove of herlife,agedonly 19. Today, 28 years on, her son Abhimanyu Dassani is all set to make his Bollywood debut.

He hasjust been announced as the lead in a quirky action comedy called Mard Ko Oard Nahi Hota. Thefilm, which will alsolaunch Radhika Madan, is directed by Vasan Bala, who wrote and directed the 2012 crime-thriller Peddlers.

The film is to be produced by Anurag Kashyap, whoselong-timeassistant Vasan has beensince the heady days of DevD.

"Vasan has written a superbly funny and kickass martial arts film, the likes of whichI have neither read nor seen. It's solocal andso new thatyoucan't help but marvel at it," Anurag Kashyap said.

Thefilm also featuresTamil star Vijay Sethupati in a key role.

SHABANA AZMI: NO SLOWING DOWN

India's very own Meryl Streep,Shabana Azmi feels the film industry has definitely beenage-centric, but that this is grad.ually changing.

"If you look in my owncareer graph in thelast 10 years, I haveprobably had themost challenging roles of my life," she remarked recently. "I have five films lined up for release.Two ofthem are American productions - one is called Signature Move andthe other is The Black Prince."

"ThenI have Premchand's ldgah, Sonata andThe Wishing Tree. All these roles are as different as you can possibly imagine."

Shabana says it's a rich variety of roles that is comingher way at 66, and it makesher happy.

Hindu Supporters Protest Against Scene In Upcoming Film

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)supporters protestedoutsidefilm producerT.P. Aggarwal's office claiming that his forthcoming release LaaIi Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana includes a scenewhich can hurt the Hindu community's sentiments.

They demanded the deletion of a scenewherein a pregnantwomenis seen being married.

However, Aggarwal stood firm against theprotestand said hewon't make any edits in the film as it has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

"It is not a crime for a pregnant woman to marry," the film producer, who is also President of the Indian Motion Picture ProducersAssociation, told the protesters.

He also asked them to show where in the scriptures it is mentioned that this is taboo.

Directedby Manish Harishankar, the film, slated to release on XXXX, features Naseeruddin Shah's son Vivaan and Kamal Haasan's daughter Akshara. It is based on thethemeof teenage pregnancy, a rising concern inIndia's metropolitan cities.

WEB SERIES FOR SHAMITA SHETTY, APARSHAKTI

It's good to learn thatthefilm industry is growing by looking at various modes of consumption. The term 'webseries' isnow being bandied about with increasing frequency.

Shilpa Shetty'sbabysister Shamita

Shetty will soon bejoining actor Aparshakti Khurrana for aweb series.

The series, in works for Viacom18's Over-The-Top(OTT)platform - VOOT, will mark Shamita's digital debut. The storyline of theseries and all the other related information is being kept under wraps.

Shamita had recently teasedher social media family with a post that read: "Doingwhat I love best! Work mode, shoot life,new beginnings, happy me."

According to an official statement from VOOT, the series will also feature Gaurav Pandey -last seen in Badrinath Ki Dulhania - and Ridhima Pandit.

The title of theseries will be revealed soon.

Rani Mukerji In Comeback Mode

Bollywood star Rani Mukerji returned to face the camera this month for her comeback film Hichki.

The announcement was made via a video posted onthesocial media platforms of productionbannerYash Raj Films.

After her power-packed performance as a policewoman in Mardaani, the actor took time off for motherhoodwhen she had daughterAdira with husband and film producerAditya Chopra.

Then shewanted to return to do what sheloves doing themost.

Coming out undertheYash Raj Films banner, Hlchki isbeing directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra andproduced by Maneesh Sharma.

The film will feature Rani in a positive and inspiring story about awomanwho turnsherbiggest weakness into her biggeststrength.

In an earlierstatement,Rani hadsaid shewas on thelookout fora script that would challenge and exc te her.

The fact that Hichki camewith a positive premise, urgedthe actress to take it up.

KAJOL: SOUTHERN SOJOURN

Meanwhile, Rani's first cousin and equally loved actor Kajol, hasjust finishedwork on hercomebackto Tamil cinema.The Soundarya-directed VIP2 hasjust wrapped up.

Lastseen in1997 Tamilfilm Mlnsara Kanavu, Kajol has returnedto Tamil filmdom afternearly two decades.

VIP2, a sequel to the 2014Tamil blockbuster Ve/aIlla Pattathari stars Dhanush in the lead role while Kajol plays a suave businesswoman in a pivotal role.

"The role is something I am really very happy about.I really can't reveal much about the film, asI have got strict orders from my directornot to talk about the film," theDilwale actorsaid. Apart from theTamil flm, Kajol is also working with herhusbandAjay Devgn for theirhome production.

"It is too early to talk about my home production film. We will most probably start shooting in the coming two or three months," shesaid.

And Some Other Comeback Features

Speaking of comebacks, Sridevi is all set to bewitch yet again, this time as Mom. Directed by Ravi Udyawar, Mom, a woman-centric film, is produced by Sri's husband Boney Kapoor.It will release in Hindi, Tamil andTelugu onJuly14.

Andwhat has RaveenaTandon been doing, while her contemporaries have beenworking away on their comebacks? She's beenjudging a children's talent show on TV called Sabse BadaKalakar.

"Judging a kids' reality show is very easy," ravishing Raveena said recently. "Kidsare very uncomplicated. For them, life is very simple- either it is black orit is white, with no hidden agenda.It has been a great andwonderful journey filming this show with them."

Really Raveena? Simple?? Well then, this next story below, is aimed at you.

Behind The Scenes Of A Music Reality Tv Show

There are awe inspiringstories of unknowntalent discovered onTV reality showswho go on to strike it big in the world of entertainment. But what about the equally good talent that does not make it to the top? How aretheyleft to pick up the pieces after they have 'failed'?

This is the unusual themeof upcoming flick Blue Mountains, directed by Suman Ganguli and produced by Rajesh Jain. It stars young talent Yatharth Rutnam, reallifewinnerof a children's talent show onIndianTV, even though hetakeson therole of someonewho didnot win. Gracy Singh (of Lagaan fame) playshis mum, failed classical singerwho urgeshim on in a bid to realise herowndreams vicariously through him.

Thefilm has already taken out various awards in the international film festival circuit.

Madhur Bhandarkar Is At It Again

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's upcoming project lndu Sarkarwill release on July 21.

The movie is reportedly basedon the infamous Emergency era, a 21-month periodfrom1975 to 1977,when Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across thecountry. It featuresAnupam Kher, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kirti Kulhari and Bengali actor Tota Roy Chowdhury.

A recipient of the Padma Shri, Bhandarkar is known forhis socially relevantfilms like Traffic Signal, Chandni Bar, Fashion and Page 3. He feels youth will be eagerto watch lnduSarkar.

What Tweety Bird Told Us This Week

Match thestars to the following tweets: KaranJohar, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhur Bhandarkar

Thank u forthe love the passion and just sticking by ur team. KKR fans u make us!

It's an Emergency! Your datewith an important chapterfrom post independence history of India, 'lndu Sarkar' releases on July 21 2017

My baby nursery designedby @gaurikhanwithso much loveand care it's my paradise! Loveyou gauri.

Nice. @SohailKhan inaugurates @bebeinghuman 53rd store at Seawoods Mall, Navi Mumbai

What's the chitchat between DEEPIKA PADUKONE and NEETU KAPOOR?

Send in your responsesto win@indianlink.com.au and win a movie pass

What's the chitchat between PRIYANKA CHOPRA and JIMMY FALLON?

SMEAR CAMPAIGN!!!

SUNEETA ROSARIO St. Agnes,SA

Suneeta wins a ticket to Hindi film Phillauri