BOLLYWOOD GRINDS TO A HALT

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, all Indian filmmakers and producers have decided to temporarily halt filming. In a notification issued by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association, Federation of Western Cine Employees and other similar bodies, they’ve announced that work for films, TV shows, and other formats will be suspended until 31 March.

Good on you, Bollywood, for coming together in these unpredictable times!

As of the day of the announcement, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has confirmed 107 cases of the coronavirus in India.

Just days prior, films like Salman Khan’s upcoming Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai were still shooting in Mumbai although makers insisted they were adhering to safety norms by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Even Kartik Aaryan had posted pictures of the cast and crew in masks on the set of Bhool Bhulaiyya 2.

Due to the coronavirus, several cinema halls have shut down in India and movie releases have been postponed. Showings of recently released movies like Baaghi 3 and Angrezi Medium have been paused while upcoming releases like Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi have been

Guess Reassess

GUESS WHICH ACTOR?

One might think times are changing with pay disparity and sexism being discussed in Bollywood. But some stars aren't that progressive. This A-list hero who has made an unconventional film with "his favourite co-star" is now refusing to join a big-banner womencentric political drama with her because he's a bigger star than her today and is not comfortable playing second fiddle. Sometimes success comes at the cost of friends!

GUESS WHICH DIRECTOR?

This director's first film is the biggest surprise hit of 2020 so far and he’s on the list of many producers. It was almost a given that he would make his second film with the same team which included a top actor/producer. Unfortunately, he was lured by another producer with a fancy cast and more money. The director couldn’t resist and signed on, pissing off the actor/producer who is now giving him a cold shoulder. No wonder there’s no success party!

GUESS WHICH ACTRESS?

This famous actress has been taking on socially relevant, women-centric projects in recent times. Apparently, it’s gone to her head – she allegedly doesn’t treat her staff well and keeps screaming delayed indefinitely.

Bollywood stars have been regularly reaching out to their fans to stay responsible and listen to health advisories. Parineeti Chopra posted a two-page letter on social media.

“While all of us have the 'luxury' to be house arrested and waiting for news, please spare a thought for the doctors and medical staff around the world who are risking their lives, away from their families, to save us! Exactly like our soldiers do at a war,” it read.

Even Big B Amitabh Bachchan took to Twitter requesting fans to stay safe and not to gather outside his bungalow Jalsa for their weekly meet-and-greets.

Angrezi Medium brings back Irrfan Khan as the male protagonist opposite Radhika Madan as his daughter. Directed by Homi Adajania of Cocktail and Finding Fanny fame, the film also stars Kareena Kapoor. It is set to release in China in a few months’ time.

Milind Soman Opens Up About His Time In The Rss

In his memoir Made In India, model-actor Milind Soman has spoken out about his time with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a young boy. He discussed visiting the local ‘shakha’ (training centre) in Shivaji Park, adding that his father saw great physical and mental benefits in being a junior cadre of the RSS.

He said he feels “baffled” reading about all the “subversive, communal propaganda the media attributes to RSS shakhas” as his memories of evenings spent there were completely different.

Soman recalls how activities included and shouting for little things. A far cry from her back-to-back successes last year! She‘s even left journalists in the lurch without giving interviews and her attitude has taken a 180-degree turn. marching about in khaki shorts, practising yoga, working out in an outdoor gymnasium, going on camping trips, and chanting Sanskrit verses that the young boys didn’t understand.

GUESS WHICH FILMS?

Word on the grapevine is that the biggest of the multi-starrer films this year had to postpone their Italy shoot. Now they plan to do interior scenes first, hoping to shoot outdoor sequences later this year in Europe. Another ‘90s film remake is almost complete - except for a song to be shot in the Far East. Now they’re going to Ooty or Ramoji Studios in Hyderabad instead!

He said he was inspired by the team of adults who conducted the activities, calling them most well - meaning adults who “truly believed they were helping raise good ‘civilian soldiers’.”

He also recalled how his father had been a part of the RSS himself. While he didn’t understand what there was to be proud about, there was “not much to complain about either,” according to the model.

The revelation had social media abuzz. In response to this, the model took to Twitter with a witty response: “Trending at 54 for an experience I had at 10. Wish it was about swimming, which was at the same time!"

When Saif Had To Earn Back His Palace

In a surprisingly candid reveal, Saif Ali Khan recently said that he had to earn back his ancestral palace in Pataudi after his father passed away since it was rented out to a hotel chain.

He said many people have had fixed notions about his royal heritage, but that he did not actually inherit the palace.

“The house I'm supposed to have inherited has been earned back through money from films. You can't live off the past,” said the actor who is known for his work like Omkara, Sacred Games, Love Aaj Kal and Parineeta.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

After the death of his famous father, cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi back in 2011, the palace was rented out to Neemrana Hotels. It dates back to the 1930s when it was built by the eighth Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi Ali Hussain Siddiqui and is valued at a whopping Rs 800 crore. It has over 150 rooms and a working staff of over 100 people.

“There is history, culture, beautiful photographs; and, of course, some land. It has been a privileged upbringing. But there's been no inheritance,” Saif clarified.

AYUSHMANN: A FORWARDLOOKING INDIA

Ayushmann Khurrana is understandably happy with the warm response by filmgoers to his gay romance Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. As Bollywood’s first same-sex romance, it was a gamble – and it paid off!

“When you do a film on a taboo topic, you have to first plan on how you are going to spread the message to as many people as possible. So, for us, when we decided to take up an important subject like legitimacy of same-sex relationships, we decided to do it through humour,” he said.

Ayushmann knew it was a tricky subject to deliver to audiences, but that it was necessary to trigger a conversation within families. “We decided that we will entertain them thoroughly while giving them something to ponder over. I’m delighted that our crucial social message movie has done well,” the actor beamed.

Although the closure of movie halls due to the coronavirus has impacted showings, Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan was declared a semi-hit at the box office, grossing over Rs 82.5 crore worldwide.

Ayushmann hopes that films like this make producers ready to put their money on important cinema. Clearly, the film’s success shows that an evolving India is ready.

Rajnikanth Braves The Wild With Bear Grylls

Despite a legendary acting career in films, did you know Rajnikanth has never appeared on the small screen? Well, he has now made his TV debut in Into the Wild starring alongside Bear Grylls.

Rajnikanth visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve for this episode with the Discovery Channel survival star. He can be seen riding an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in the jungle, balancing on a metal bridge in the middle of the forest, and wading through a deep pond in the reserve.

“Superstar @Rajinikantha's relentless positivity and never give up spirit was so visible in the wild as he embraced every challenge thrown at him,” tweeted Grylls with a teaser video of the episode.

The video ends with Rajnikanth wearing his trademark sunglasses, saying “This is the real adventure”.

Back in mid-2019, the show featured none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi who joined Grylls at Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.