ANUSHKA SHARMA IN FORBES 30 UNDER 30 ASIA 2018 LIST

Bollywood actor-producer Anushka Sharma has added another feather to her cap. The 29-year-old features in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018 list, which includes innovators and disruptors who are reshaping their industries and changing Asia for the better.

Anushka, one of Bollywood’s highest paid female actors, started her career with modelling back in 2007. In 2008, she hit a debut goldmine with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Her terri c performance even won her a Filmfare award for Best Actress.

Since then, she has done a slew of lms like Band Baaja Baaraat, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, PK, Dil Dhadakne Do, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Jab Harry Met Sejal Sharma, who’s married to cricketer Virat Kohli, also turned producer, with lms like NH10, Phillauri and Pari. The Forbes list highlights 300 young individuals driving change in Asia.

The actor sure is going places and we can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve next.

Rao, who started off in the industry with an interesting role in 2010 with Love Sex Aur Dhokha, went on cement his position with back-to-back powerful performances in lms like Kai Po Che!, Shahid, Aligarh, CityLights, Bareilly Ki Bar and Newton. Clearly, the actor likes to keep reinventing with every project.

“Otherwise it gets boring. Once you nd your comfort zone and you keep working in that comfort zone, after a while it gets very boring. You have to keep evolving and keep growing. And growth only happens when you push yourself,” he said.

It’s safe to say that if there’s one actor who does not stick to comfort zones, it’s Rao!

SWARA BHASKER: NO CONTROVERSIES? YES, PLEASE!

While most industry insiders probably love to be surrounded by controversies because it means more publicity, after all, Swara Bhasker doesn’t think so.

The actor says it’s nice to not be involved in controversies sometimes. Bhasker, who is sharing screen space with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sonam Kapoor in her forthcoming lm, was asked how it feels to have no con icts and controversies while working in a lm that has multiple actresses in one frame.

“I think this entire team is completely invested in the craft and the characters that they are playing,” said Swara.

“There is a great story, and we just want to make every attempt to ensure that people like it. Sometimes it is all right to not have any controversies! I am thrilled to be a part of this project,” she added.

Well, Swara may like to stay away from controversies, but we do not! After all, what’s entertainment without one? The actor, who’s known for often voicing her opinions on social media, received a lot of ak recently when she criticised Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat as a movie that glori es Sati and Jauhar.

“Life teaches everyone as we go about living it - it is normal. With the rise of social media, however, I feel, speaking and thinking has become a contested space where people get to question you and tell you what to do,” Swara said.

“I think that the time when someone tries to shut you down is the test of your conviction, and that gives me the strength to rise above the fear of ‘what will happen if I do this’,” she added.

Clearly, the actor has different sensibilities, and that’s what makes her stand apart from the rest. Swara said, “Everyone has their way of looking at matters, and everyone’s opinions are bound to differ. I believe in frankly acknowledging the good as well as notso-good realities of our industry.

“I am an outsider who has found perfect harmony in the kind of work I do here, but I am also willing to voice my disappointment every time I nd something off.”

Kudos to you, Swara for there aren’t many who dare to!

Farhan Akhtar Deletes Facebook Account

Actor Farhan Akhtar has ‘permanently’ deleted his personal account on the social networking website, Facebook.

The 44-year-old has become the latest celebrity to quit the social network in the wake of the Facebook data breach row. However, he did not mention the exact reason for quitting the platform.

“Good morning. This is to inform you all that I have permanently deleted my personal Facebook account. However, the veri ed Farhan Akhtar Live page is still active,” Farhan tweeted this week. Facebook is facing the heat after Cambridge Analytica, a British consulting company, was accused of harvesting data of up to 50 million Facebook users without permission and using the data to help politicians, including US President Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign.

BOLLYWOOD WAS NEVER MAHIRA’S PRIORITY

Pakistani actor Mahira Khan, who made her Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees last year, says the Hindi lm industry was never her aim.

Raees did not release in Pakistan, and Mahira was not allowed to promote the lm in India as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena gave an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave the country and to keep away from its showbiz.

“At that time I was angry. I was sad and angry and there were moments of disappointment and just hurt, you know. Now I’ve come to a place where