ALI FAZAL GOING PLACES

You probably know ofhim from his small roles in 3 Idiots, Fukrey and Happy BhagJayegi. But our Ali Fazal is now going places.

He got a small role in Furious 7 and found himself thrust in a new world of greatopportunities.The Lucknow lad acquitted himself well enoughthereto getnoticed, and before long, had bagged the title role in the Judi Dench starrer Victoria and Abdul.

The Stephen Frears-directed film should open new doors for young Ali, and has probably already done so, nowthattalent management firm Julian Belfrage Associates has signed him on.This company looks intothe work of the big names such as Dench as well as Jude Law and Daniel Day Lewis.

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

Abdul Karim wasjust 24 when he was sentto England from Agra to waitat tables during Queen Victoria's goldenjubilee in 1887. He was given to her as a "gift from India".The queen took such a liking to himthatshe 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 andevenlearntto read and write Hindi and Urdu.

The film releases on 22 September.

Meanwhile, news isthat Ali Fazal has bagged a role in an upcoming Hollywood production opposite Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson's daughter. Richa Chadda is also saidto bepartofthisfilm, amusicalcomedy along Bollywood lines.

As well,there's a projectwithEddie Izard 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 asthe Pretty Young Thingthat Salman Khan - and the whole of India- fell in love with, in thatsuper-duperhitMaine PyarKiya (1989). She leftthe industry soon after, never having done another Hindifilm, to wedthe love of herlife, aged only 19. Today, 28 years on, her son Abhimanyu Dassani is allsetto make his Bollywood debut.

He hasjust been announced asthe lead in a quirky action comedy called MardKo Oard Nahi Hota. Thefilm, which willalso launch Radhika Madan, is directed by Vasan Bala, who wrote and directedthe 2012 crime-thriller Peddlers.

Thefilm isto be produced by Anurag Kashyap, whose long-time assistant Vasan has been since the heady days of DevD.

"Vasan has written a superbly funny and kickass martial arts film,the likes of which I have neither read nor seen.It's so local and so newthatyou can'thelp butmarvel atit," Anurag Kashyap said.

Thefilm also features Tamil starVijay Sethupati in a key role.

SHABANA AZMI: NO SLOWING DOWN

India's very own Meryl Streep, Shabana Azmi feelsthe film industry has definitely been age-centric, butthatthis is grad.ually changing.

"If you look in my owncareer graph in thelast10 years, I haveprobablyhad themostchallenging roles of my life," she remarked recently."I havefive films lined up for release.Two ofthem are American productions - one is called Signature Move andthe other is The Black Prince."

"Then I have Premchand's ldgah, Sonata andThe Wishing Tree. Allthese roles are as differentas you can possibly imagine."

Shabana says it's a rich variety of roles that is coming her way at 66, and it makes her happy.

Hindu Supporters Protest Against Scene In Upcoming Film

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) supporters protestedoutsidefilm producerT.P. Aggarwal's office claimingthat his forthcoming releaseLaaIiKi Shaadi MeinLaaddoo Deewana includes a scene which can hurtthe Hindu community's sentiments.

They demanded the deletion of a scenewherein a pregnantwomen is seen being married.

However, Aggarwal stood firm against the protestand said he won't make any edits inthefilm as ithas been passed bytheCentral Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

"It is not a crime for a pregnant woman to marry," the film producer, who is also President of theIndian Motion Picture Producers Association,toldthe protesters.

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

Directed by Manish Harishankar,the film, slatedto release on XXXX, features Naseeruddin Shah's son Vivaan and Kamal Haasan's daughterAkshara. It is based onthetheme of teenage pregnancy, a rising concern in India's metropolitan cities.

WEB SERIES FOR SHAMITA SHETTY, APARSHAKTI

It's goodto learnthatthefilm industry is growing by looking at various modes of consumption.Theterm 'web series' is now being bandiedaboutwith increasing frequency.

Shilpa Shetty's baby sister Shamita Shetty will soon bejoining actor Aparshakti Khurrana for a web series.

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

Shamita had recently teased her social media familywitha postthat read: "Doing what I love best! Work mode, shoot life, new beginnings,happy me."

According to an official statement from VOOT,the series willalso feature Gaurav Pandey - last seen in Badrinath Ki Dulhania - and Ridhima Pandit. Thetitle of the series will be revealed soon.

Rani Mukerji In Comeback Mode

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

The announcement was made via a video posted onthesocialmedia platforms of production banner Yash Raj Films.

After her power-packed performance as a policewoman in Mardaani, the actor took time off for motherhood when she had daughter Adirawithhusband and film producerAdityaChopra.

Then she wantedto returnto do what she loves doingthemost.

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

Thefilm will feature Rani in a positive and inspiring story about a woman who turns her biggest weakness into her biggeststrength.

In an earlier statement, Rani had said she was onthe lookout for a scriptthat would challenge and excte her.

The factthatHichki camewith a positive premise, urgedtheactressto takeit up.

KAJOL: SOUTHERN SOJOURN

Meanwhile, Rani's first cousin and equally loved actor Kajol, hasjust finished work on her comebacktoTamil cinema.The Soundarya-directed VIP2 hasjust wrapped up.

Lastseenin 1997 Tamilfilm Mlnsara Kanavu, Kajol has returnedto Tamil filmdom after nearly two decades.

VIP2, a sequelto 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'treveal much aboutthe film, as I have got strict orders from my director nottotalkaboutthe film," the Dilwale actor said. Apart fromtheTamilf lm, Kajol is also working withher husbandAjayDevgn for their home production.

"It is too early to talk about my home productionfilm. We willmost probably startshooting in the coming two or three months," she said.

And Some Other Comeback Features

Speaking of comebacks, Sridevi is all setto bewitch yet again, this time as Mom.Directed by Ravi Udyawar, Mom, a woman-centric film, is produced by Sri's husband Boney Kapoor.Itwillreleasein Hindi,Tamil andTelugu onJuly 14.

Andwhathas RaveenaTandon been doing, while her contemporaries have been working away ontheir comebacks? She's beenjudging a children'stalent show on TV called Sabse BadaKalakar.

"Judging a kids' reality show is very easy," ravishingRaveena said recently.

"Kids are very uncomplicated. For them, life is very simple - either it is black or it is white, with no hidden agenda.It has been a great and wonderfuljourney filmingthis show withthem."

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

Behind The Scenes Of A Music Reality Tv Show

Thereareawe inspiring stories of unknowntalentdiscovered onTV reality shows who go onto strike it big inthe world of entertainment. But what about the equally good talentthat does not make itto thetop? How are they left to pick up the pieces after they have 'failed'?

This is the unusualthemeof upcoming flick Blue Mountains, directed by Suman Ganguli and produced by Rajesh Jain. Itstars youngtalent Yatharth Rutnam, real life winner of a children's talent show on Indian TV, even though he takes on the role of someone who did not win. Gracy Singh (of Lagaan fame) playshis mum, failed classical singer who urges him on in a bidto realise her own dreams vicariously through him.

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

Madhur Bhandarkar Is At It Again

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

The movie is reportedly basedon the infamous Emergency era, a 21-month period from 1975to 1977, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across the country. It features Anupam Kher, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kirti Kulhari and Bengali actor Tota Roy Chowdhury.

A recipient ofthe Padma Shri, Bhandarkar is known for his socially relevantfilms likeTrafficSignal, Chandni Bar, Fashion and Page3. He feels youth will be eagerto watch lnduSarkar.

What Tweety Bird Told Us This Week

Matchthe stars to the followingtweets: Karan Johar, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhur Bhandarkar

Thank u forthe lovethe passion andjust sticking by ur team. KKR fans u make us!

It's anEmergency! Your date with an important chapter from post independence history of India, 'lndu Sarkar' releases on July 212017

My baby nursery designedby @gaurikhan with so much love and care it's my paradise! Love you 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