PRICK: ARE THEY OR AREN’T THEY?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the latest rumours circling the glam world about Priyanka Chopra allegedly dating Nick Jonas.

It’s actually quite silly to say ‘allegedly’ because the social media world is just teeming with pictures of the two celebs hand-in-hand wherever they go.

The Bollywood diva and American singer have been followed by eager paparazzi since Day 1 and clicked together at the Mumbai airport, on a dinner date in the city – Priyanka has supposedly even had him meet her mother, Madhu. To gain blessings for a big day, perhaps? An entertainment magazine in India recently claimed that the two might get engaged soon.

After all, Priyanka did talk about “having kids in the next 10 years – or maybe even earlier” in an interview.

And not too long ago, Jonas took the Quantico star to a family wedding in Atlantic City. According to reports, Chopra went with Jonas as his date to his cousin, Rachel Tamburelli’s wedding.

Although there was a fair bit of hoo-ha about the 10-year age gap between the two (and let’s face it, it’s quite apparent), who’re we to say it won’t work? Look at Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan…oh wait. Never mind. Well, anyway, we hope the Prick (Priyanka-Nick – sorry guys) works out, and what started on the red carpet of the Met Gala 2017 turns into a serious affair, no pun intended.

The actor’s performance, especially alongside the little girl Miraya Suri garnered him a lot of appreciation from everyone. But would he ever act in a film with his own kids? Turns out, no. Denzongpa also added that he would never make a film for his kids either. “I will be depriving them of their own satisfaction... the creative satisfaction that ‘I have done it’. Everybody must have that. Otherwise, all your life, you will feel that ‘my father helped me to be an actor’. Whatever success I have, is my own,” he says.

Do you hear that, star kids?

CHUBBY SPIDER-MAN: RANVEER

No, of course we aren’t talking about the Ranveer now. Duh. Have you seen that 8-pack? But it turns out that Ranveer was quite chubby back in his childhood days. Which in itself isn’t funny – until you get to know that that’s the reason he landed the role of SpiderMan.

“I remember playing Spider-Man in a school play but our play was a satire and it was a spoofy take on Spider-

Man,” says the actor, adding, “I was a bit chubby as a kid which is why they decided to cast me in the version. Because it was apparently funny to see a chubby kid in a tight Spider-Man suit.”

Aw, you poor kid, you must be thinking. But hey, we all know what a good sport Ranveer is, always ready to make himself a butt of jokes. “I was only too happy to go out on the stage and be laughed at. I still have no problem with being laughed at or (no problem) making a fool of myself,” he says.

Typical Ranveer.

TERRIFIC TRIBUTE: NAWAZ

For Nawazuddin Siddiqui to have won Best Supporting Actor at the recent International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Bangkok is no big surprise. Who else could they have given it to? But it really warmed our hearts to see that Nawaz dedicated his award to his Mom co-star Sridevi.

Sridevi, who died in a Dubai hotel earlier this year, was posthumously awarded the Best Actor in a Leading Role Female title.

“It was once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the first female superstar Sridevi and I dedicate my award as a tribute to her,” Nawazuddin tweeted.

What a beautiful way to remember one of India’s most loved stars, wouldn’t you say?

OPINION OVERLOAD: SONU NIGAM

Sonu Nigam is never afraid of speaking his mind, that’s for sure. Many a time, he’s been brazenly honest about the industry and how things work in it, and it has earned him brickbats a few times. However, the singer seems to think that it’s others who seem to have too many opinions these days – especially about music – whether or not they know anything about it. Touché!

Nigam says people may know zilch about creating music, but they always have something to say about it, and that was never the case back in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

He said that during those times, actors and other people would be present during the process, but not with the intention of preaching or interfering with music composers or singers.

“They used to go there to learn something from them, to have a good time and to give some input. Nowadays, however, everyone has an opinion while creating music whether they have the knowledge of it or not. I feel like that’s a major difference between now and then.”

Well, unfortunately for Nigam, the way things run in the industry have changed and sometimes it’s just easier to roll with the punches, eh?

NAWAZ AND THE NETA Nawaz is a chameleon. Let’s face it – there’s nothing the man can’t do. Whether it’s a small-time pimp in Talaash or the troubled Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto in his new film Manto, acting comes as naturally to him as does breathing, we think. Now, he’s all set to portray the inimitable Shiv Sena’s late supremo Bal Thackeray in an upcoming biopic, and he couldn’t be more thrilled.

“It is a lifetime experience essaying him,” Nawazuddin said.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that director Abhijit Panse always had Nawazuddin in mind to play the part. “I knew Nawaz bhai was the right one. And the moment I set my eyes on him when he walked into our meeting room, he was locked in my head,” he said.

Can’t wait to see what Nawaz does with this film, but one thing is for sure: it’ll be brilliant.

SUPERIOR SHETTY: SUNEIL

All parents seem to think that their kids are far better than they ever were at the same age – there are possibly no exceptions to this. Even Suneil Shetty seems to think that son Ahan Shetty, who’s soon going to be on the big screen, will make a much better debut than he did. The actor says he isn’t worried in the least about being compared to his son.

“He (Ahan) is far better than me. So, I am not worried about comparisons. If people accept him, luck is on his side and if he does the right thing, then he will be successful,” Suneil said.

After daughter Athiya Shetty made a rather feeble debut in Bollywood some time ago and, we are quite interested to see how things go for the other star kid.

STANDING O OVERSEAS: HITCHKI

It’s never easy to find a foothold in Bollywood after you’ve been away from the action for a considerable amount of time, especially for actresses. But if you do make a comeback, Rani Mukerji is a stellar example to follow. The actress, who got back to work with her critically acclaimed film Hitchki this year, plays a woman with Tourette Syndrome who goes on to become a teacher.

It turns out that the Siddharth Malhotra film got a standing ovation at the Shanghai International Film Festival recently. Malhotra gushed, “What an

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

SHARAM DINIZ or DEEPIKA PADUKONE in VICTORIA HAYES?

+ Share your views with us on our Facebook page /IndianLinkAustralia honour and an overwhelming feeling when your work gets a standing ovation from a foreign audience who simply watches a film with subtitles and gets moved to tears/laughter.”

How true. It is, after all, only art that can transcend all borders.

WORTH WAITING FOR? YOU DECIDE

If you loved Alia-Bhatt starrer Raazi, chances are that you think its writerfilmmaker Meghna Gulzar and Bhavani Iyer are a winning team. The talented duo have already announced their next project, a biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the army chief during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Iyer says she’s thrilled to be working with Gulzar, whom she calls her creative soulmate.

“It is a delightful and phenomenal subject that promises to push me to every limit of my storytelling boundaries and then some,” said the writer, who’s also written a spy thriller for Nikkhil Advani that is “deeply political and tells a remarkable story of the geo-politics of our subcontinent”.

Can’t wait.

On Twitter This Week

Match the stars to their tweets: Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Nawazuddin Siddique, Parineeti Chopra, Salman Khan.

Every 365 days I am forced to compliment you. It’s too tough aise nahi chalega baba please increase payment.

An actress claimed to not be doing a thriller film with me.

Would like to clarify that in the first place, I was never a part of any thriller film. So basically it’s all baseless.

Glad that u have liked n appreciated everyone’s effort that was put in the movie. God bless sukhi raho n keep watching means a lot.

Uff this Maradona adds so much stress. Love the Nigerian team but have to have Argentina in the play offs. My Phews continue…

Fathers and sons have so much silence between them! So much love and many a time so much left unsaid! Break that cycle! Give that #jadukijhappi to him today. Welcome to Twitter Ranbir!! Love you!!

MOVIE TICKETS!

Sonam: Silly girls. After a few drinks they think they can walk on water RAJ SANEJA, NSW Congrats, Raj! You win a movie ticket!

Another good one: Sonam: I know who’s gonna make the biggest splash already LEYLA SINGH