EXCLUSIVE: Himesh Reshammiya to compose music for Veer Pahariya’s Naam - To Live Is War; reunites with Mahesh Bhatt after 16 years

One of the most awaited films of 2027, Naam - To Live Is War, has just got bigger. Presented by Mahesh Bhatt, the film was announced in June and stars Veer Pahariya in the lead. Varun Sharma of Fukrey fame will be seen playing a negative role for the first time in his career. Last week, the makers announced that Prashant Narayanan, Vijayant Kohli and Shefali Bagga had joined the cast. Now, Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that another prominent name has come on board – Himesh Reshammiya.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Naam - To Live Is War is an intense film and the makers wanted someone who could do musical justice to its subject and theme. They felt Himesh Reshammiya would be the right choice. Himesh was impressed with the film's plot and the passion of the team and hence, he readily came on board. He was also excited about collaborating with Mahesh Bhatt after a long time.”

Interestingly, Himesh Reshammiya and Mahesh Bhatt go back a long way. Himesh composed the song 'Soorat Pe Teri Pyar Aave' for Footpath (2003), starring Aftab Shivdasani and Emraan Hashmi. Mahesh Bhatt was associated with the film as a writer. Later, Mahesh Bhatt wrote the story and screenplay of Kajraare (2010), which starred Himesh Reshammiya in the lead. Himesh also composed and sang all the songs of the film.

Naam - To Live Is War, hence, marks their reunion after nearly 16 years. Although they haven't collaborated during this period, the mutual respect has remained intact. After the release of Himesh Reshammiya's 2014 mystery thriller The Xposé, he revealed in an interview with The Times of India that Mahesh Bhatt had personally called to congratulate him. Himesh had said, “Bhatt sahab called to congratulate me and that was an emotional moment for me. His praise means a lot.”

Himesh Reshammiya is on a roll. Besides Naam - To Live Is War, he has several interesting films in his pipeline, including Sooraj Barjatya's Yeh Prem Mol Liya, the Emraan Hashmi-starrer Gunmaaster G9, Anil Sharma's Arjun Naga and Vikram Bhatt's horror film, 1920: Cold Winter.

The source further revealed, “Like these upcoming films, the music rights of Naam - To Live Is War have also been acquired by Himesh Reshammiya's music label, Himesh Reshammiya Melodies.”

Coming back to Naam - To Live Is War, the film is presented by Mahesh Bhatt under Utsav Entertainment and Productions. Directed by Sidhaant Sachdev, it is produced by Utsav Upadhyay and Riddhi Chawda.

Naam - To Live Is War marks Veer Pahariya's third film after the Akshay Kumar-Sara Ali Khan co-starrer Sky Force (2025) and the recently released romantic comedy Prem Keetanu (2026).

Also Read: Himesh Reshammiya, Shilpa Rao, Anu Malik and others to perform at Bollywood Music Project’s 10th anniversary in Mumbai

from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/XAKIF1r
https://ift.tt/3w8hrvB

Read More

EXCLUSIVE: Shefali Shah recalls first turning to therapy; says, “I wasn't equipped to handle it”

Actor Shefali Shah has spoken about her experience with therapy, recalling how she first sought professional help after struggling to manage certain aspects of her life. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the actor discussed her journey with mental health professionals, the importance of finding the right therapist and how therapy has helped her recognise emotional lows before they become overwhelming.

Shefali, who recently made her debut as an author with The Audacity of Being: A Sort-of Memoir, published by Bloomsbury on October 1, 2026, has been discussing personal experiences as part of conversations around her book. During the interview, she explained that her decision to seek therapy did not stem from one major incident but from a growing realisation that she needed professional guidance. Shefali Shah recalls how she first sought professional help Shefali traced her first experience with a mental health professional to a visit to her children's school, where a psychiatrist had spoken about attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD and ADHD). At the time, Shefali believed her son might have the conditions and approached the psychiatrist with her concerns.

Recalling the incident, she said, “My children's school had a psychiatrist who came and spoke about ADD and ADHD. So I went to her one day saying, ‘My son definitely has ADD, ADHD, everything.’ She asked me to bring him in, but after meeting him, she said he was fine. Then she asked me, ‘What is your problem?’”

Shefali said the exchange eventually became a joke between them. However, she later approached the psychiatrist again when she was struggling with sleep.

“I remember once going to her saying that I cannot sleep. I need something to sleep. She asked me how long it had been since I had slept, and I said around 22 hours. I had come from the gym and hadn't eaten anything,” she recalled.

The experience prompted Shefali to consider that she might need help managing her own concerns. “I just thought that I wasn't equipped to handle it,” she said, explaining that she gradually began seeing the psychiatrist. “I have to go to a dermatologist” Shefali said her decision to continue therapy was not necessarily linked to a single life-changing event. Instead, she came to understand that professional support could help her navigate difficult periods.

“I don't remember if anything happened which was earth-shattering. But things happen in your life and, at some point, I hope people realise that you need a third person who's a professional, who knows this better than me,” she said.

Comparing mental health support with seeking treatment for a physical condition, Shefali added, “I can't keep putting a cream on an allergy rash. I have to go to a dermatologist.”

She also acknowledged that, initially, she would turn to therapy mainly when she was going through a crisis, such as a period when work was scarce and she was feeling depressed. After some years, however, she felt that her existing approach was no longer helping her in the same way. Shefali Shah on finding the right therapist Shefali eventually met Dr Vishal Sawant after someone introduced them. She said one of the things that stood out about their first interaction was that he did not rely on her previous assessments to define her experience.

“When I told him what I thought was happening and showed him my report, he said, ‘I don't want to look at it.’ He never labelled me, which was fantastic,” she said.

According to Shefali, the therapist helped her understand that people experience emotional highs and lows differently, and that she might feel certain emotions more intensely than others.

“He said everybody goes through a low phase or a high phase. You might feel it more acutely than somebody else. That's how it started, and he's been a huge support, somebody who's made my life so much simpler,” she said.

Shefali added that therapy has gradually become less about seeking help only when something goes wrong. There are times when she meets her therapist simply because she feels the need to check in.

She recalled one of his early goals for her: “One of the first things he told me was that he wanted to reach a point where I didn't need him.”

Learning to recognise emotional lows Shefali said she has become more aware of her emotional state and can increasingly recognise when she is beginning to feel low. While she is unsure whether she has reached the point her therapist hoped for, she believes the process has helped her develop a better understanding of herself.

Discussing the role of therapy amid the pressures of everyday life, she explained that a therapist does not necessarily tell someone what decisions to make. Instead, the process can help a person understand their situation and decide how to respond.

“This person is not the one who will tell you what to do. He will just tell you, ‘This is what it is. Now you figure what you want to do.’ You have to choose your way, which is what you need anyway in life,” she said.

Shefali added that gaining perspective can sometimes mean stepping back emotionally and assessing a situation before deciding whether it deserves further attention.

Her account highlights how her understanding of therapy has evolved over time, from seeking help during difficult phases to developing greater awareness of her emotional well-being. Through her experience, the actor has also underlined the value of professional support in navigating life's pressures.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Shefali Shah reveals Vipul Shah advised her against doing Waqt; says, “He told me don’t do it”

from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/H2wVQ8F
https://ift.tt/5pdtvx4

Read More

20 years of Don EXCLUSIVE: Cinematographer KU Mohanan recalls Shah Rukh Khan driving through fire in chase scene: “There was no duplicate. He will do anything you tell him”; also shares why the film’s twisted climax added to its success

Farhan Akhtar’s Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006) completed 20 years today. The film was a remake of Chandra Barot’s Don (1978), starring Amitabh Bachchan. Produced by Excel Entertainment and also starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Om Puri, Boman Irani, Arjun Rampal and Isha Koppikar, the action flick became a success at the box office. It was a major moment for mainstream Hindi cinema as sequels weren’t a regular feature back then.

 

Even after two decades, Don doesn’t appear old. A major reason for this is the visuals provided by cinematographer KU Mohanan. Interestingly, this was the first time he had worked in a mainstream commercial film. Mohanan revealed that there were apprehensions because of this before he came on board in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama.

He said, “At that time, I was mainly doing advertising work. I was quite big in advertising films. Maybe, that’s why Farhan got an idea about my work. But he knew I hadn’t done any big feature film before. He was a little apprehensive also in the beginning if I would be able to pull it off. This was a huge film. He expressed his concerns and asked me if I would like to do it. I said I will try because even I was not very sure about myself. But I took it as a challenge and accepted the film.”

Challenges of shooting action sequences

Mohanan faced that challenge of shooting high-octane action sequences for the first time. “It was very challenging,” he said. “But we had a good team, like the second unit director and the action team. The main person was from Australia. He had worked in many Hollywood and international films. We really wanted to make it look world class. Most of the action scenes were done in real. The chase sequences were done in that speed. There wasn’t too much of cheating. Certain things which we couldn’t do in real were done with a little VFX. At that time, VFX was not very popular. It wasn’t easy to do VFX.”

Shah Rukh Khan’s daredevilry made things easier

Mohanan shared that SRK made things easier and he was amazed by his commitment towards shooting action scenes. “He will do anything you tell him,” he recalled. “He used to get very excited for action, even at times when I used to get scared. I was sitting behind him in the car with the hand-held camera during a chase scene. He was driving the car and hitting the water barrel that was coming on the windscreen and then hitting a road roller. Everything is done by him. There was no duplicate.”

One particular scene involving fire astonished Mohanan about the kind of risks Khan was ready to take. “There is also a scene where the car is going through a fireball. That car is driven by Shah Rukh Khan. It wasn’t a stunt double. There was a camera mounted in front of the car, so you can see the actor. He did it twice. He is the greatest star I have worked with. He is a such a great, gentle and warm human being. He is a very hardworking actor and very supportive to everybody. He is a dream to work with. More than a star, I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan as a person,” he said.

Don started a good professional bond between Mohanan and SRK, which continued in various projects in the years to come. “Shah Rukh is very fond of me maybe because of the quality of work I come with. He really appreciated the way I worked in Don. That’s the reason I did Raees (2017) and Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017). After that, I did innumerable TV commercials with him,” he recalled.

The end twist played a major role in Don’s box office success

Interestingly, KU Mohanan is a big fan of the original Don. It released when he was a school student in Kerala. He was glad to know that Farhan Akhtar’s remake threw in a major twist in the end. “It was so exciting for me to re-do that film as a cinematographer,” he said. “When I read the script and saw the twist, I felt it was very interesting. Otherwise, what is the point of making it exactly like before? That’s a great twist that Farhan brought in. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why the film worked at the box office. We had a very strong team along with the great vision of Farhan Akhtar. He is very supportive as a director and a great producer, along with Ritesh Sidhwani.”

Don’s international look was an effort to break the existing pattern in Bollywood back then

Don had an international look to it. Mohanan said that this is what they always aimed for. “We were trying to break the regular pattern of Bollywood cinema existing at that time,” he said. “Anyways, I am exposed to international cinema. Actually more than Hollywood, I am exposed to other kind of cinema – the cinema from Europe, Japan, etc. So, I have a different kind of way of looking at things. Maybe that worked in the film actually. That’s why it looks different.”

Mohanan made it clear that despite taking inspiration from international cinema, his aim was never to copy anything from foreign films. “You can get inspired by someone else’s work. You can get influenced by people who worked before us. It’s like carrying a baton forward. I tried to make it look very unique and our own. To an extent, I think, I succeeded in doing Don. It wasn’t a copy of Hollywood. But it also wasn’t like the regular Hindi cinema of that period,” he said.

The green colour palette

One can easily notice the green colour palette to the film right from the onset. Sharing the thought behind this, Mohanan said, “When we did the camera and look test, Farhan, myself, the production designer Aradhana Seth and the costume designer Aki Narula discussed decided that we will go with one particular colour palette. It’s a collaborative work, actually. We also decided that we will cut off certain type of a colour. For example, there are no warm colours in the film; it’s a very cold film. You have shades of blue, green and black. We thought this looks like a good colour palette for the film. Otherwise, Hindi cinema was not doing any colour palette at that time. There wasn’t a properly paletted film. It was all haywire. There is only one song (‘Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana’) where there is a lot of warmth, like red, orange, etc.”

Don started a healthy working relationship between KU Mohanan and Excel Entertainment

Don was a pleasurable experience for KU Mohanan. It became a start to a long collaboration with Excel Entertainment, with movies like, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012), Fukrey (2013) and Raees. He laughingly said, “Most of my filmography is produced by Excel Entertainment. They are very good producers. They are very straightforward and very quality conscious. That’s the reason I did most of my films with them. Ritesh Sidhwani is a very great producer.”

Surprisingly, Mohanan wasn’t a part of Don’s sequel Don 2: The Chase Continues (2011). When pointed this out, he said, “I was busy with some other work actually.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday to witness a KING-sized BLAST; Siddharth Anand gears up to launch EXPLOSIVE teaser on November 2

from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/JoPsSeD
https://ift.tt/6gRvkJV

Read More

EXCLUSIVE: Ayushmann Khurrana-Sara Ali Khan starrer Udta Teer DENIED release permission in Nepal

In recent times, several Hindi films, including Dhurandhar, Border 2, Fighter, Sky Force, Article 370, Tiger 3, etc, have reportedly been denied a release in certain Middle Eastern markets. However, the upcoming Ayushmann Khurrana-Sara Ali Khan starrer Udta Teer has now faced a roadblock closer to home, in the neighbouring country of Nepal.

Bollywood Hungama has learned that Udta Teer has not been granted permission for public screening in Nepal. Bollywood Hungama is in possession of a copy of the official order, which was communicated to the makers by Bishal Bhandari, Section Officer, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of Nepal.

The letter further stated that permission was denied as the film falls under the subject matter prohibited by Section 5(3) of the Film (Production, Exhibition and Distribution) Act, 2026 B.S.

The letter was issued on Ashwin 30, 2083, as per Nepal's Bikram Sambat calendar, which corresponds to Friday, October 16, 2026, in the Gregorian calendar.

Udta Teer stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, the late Mukul Dev and several others. Written and directed by Akash A Kaushik, the film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta's Dharma Productions, along with Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain's Sikhya Entertainment.

The film tells the story of a Pakistani spy who infiltrates India but ends up losing his memory. In an unexpected turn of events, he begins believing that he is a hardcore Indian patriot, leading to chaos and madness.

Also Read: Ayushmann Khurrana promises unexpected twists and laughter in Udta Teer; says, “Just when you think you know where it’s going, it takes another turn”

from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/JmLZfy4
https://ift.tt/pPr7b5A

Read More

Tiger Shroff Shooting Incident: Eknath Shinde visits actor’s residence after gunfire in Juhu; Police launch manhunt

Mumbai witnessed a shooting incident in suburban Juhu on Sunday evening, October 18, after unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire at Tiger Shroff’s car. Following the incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the actor’s residence late at night to check on his well-being and review the situation. The visit came as the Mumbai Police and Crime Branch began investigating the attack and searching for those responsible.

Visuals shared by news agency ANI and circulated on social media showed Eknath Shinde meeting Shroff at his residence. In the footage, the actor appeared with dressings right below the neck, on his arm, and a crepe bandage too around his arm. Shinde has not yet addressed the media about the incident. According to the information available, the state government has indicated that the matter is being treated seriously, while the police continue efforts to identify and apprehend the assailants.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Visuals from inside the residence of Tiger Shroff as Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde arrived to visit him following an incident of firing at his car, injuring his driver The actor is safe and has not sustained any gunshot injuries, as per Mumbai Police

(Visuals source: Shivsena PR)

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2026

According to preliminary reports, the incident took place at around 7 pm on Sunday near Pushpa Park in Juhu, when Shroff was returning from a football session. The assailants reportedly arrived on a motorcycle and fired multiple rounds at the actor’s BMW. Shroff is said to have escaped without sustaining any bullet injuries, although the vehicle was hit during the firing.

The Mumbai Police and the Crime Branch subsequently cordoned off the area where the firing took place. Investigators reportedly recovered empty bullet shells from the scene, while forensic teams were mobilised to examine the evidence. The investigation is also focusing on CCTV footage from the surrounding area to establish the sequence of events and identify those involved. Reports indicate that the police are examining available evidence and pursuing leads as the search continues across the city.

Shortly after the incident, a message circulating on social media allegedly claimed responsibility in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate. However, the claim remains unverified. Senior police officials have reportedly indicated that all angles are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation, and no conclusion has been established regarding the identity or motive of the assailants.

The incident has prompted heightened attention to the investigation, with authorities working to establish the circumstances surrounding the firing and trace those involved. Further details are expected as the police continue their probe into the shooting near Pushpa Park in Juhu.

Also Read: Tiger Shroff safe after firing incident reported under Juhu Police Station

from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/jonsvf5
https://ift.tt/OrK6zTu

Read More

Amit Trivedi reveals Dev D was initially put on HOLD: “Ronnie Screwvala was not keen on making it”; recalls how he TREMBLED before presenting songs to Anurag Kashyap: "I feared this would be the first and last film of my career!"

Amit Trivedi had a conversation with Komal Nahta in which he revealed that he had no plans of composing songs for films. However, he made independent music with singer Shilpa Rao; the latter made Anurag Kashyap heard those songs and that’s how Anurag got interested to meet Amit Trivedi. This was a time when the acclaimed filmmaker was working on Dev D (2009), starring Abhay Deol.

Amit Trivedi said, “Anurag sir told me that he was doing a modern-day Devdas and that it had a requirement of some 12-15 songs. He shared some ideas and references. All this was very new for me. I went home and started working immediately. I took 6 months to compose 6 songs as my advertising work was also going on. 6 months later, Shilpa asked me for an update. I told her, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? Sir must have forgotten our meeting’. But she insisted that we had to meet him again.”

He continued, “Earlier, we met in Anurag sir’s office. This time, the meeting took place in my studio. Anurag sir came along with Vikas Bahl. Trust me, main kaanp raha tha. I was 26-27 years old. I had not seen Devdas. So, I saw both Dilip Kumar’s Devdas (1955) as well as Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas (2002). That gave me an idea about the plot. Then, I composed as per what I understood. I feared ki main gaali khaunga and that this would be the first and last song of my career! However, they were so impressed and they liked all the songs.”

Amit added, “The next day, they called me for narration. I didn’t know what that meant (laughs). I heard the story after which I composed two more songs – ‘Saali Khushi’ and ‘Pardesi’. After listening to the tracks, Anurag sir tweaked a bit of the script and reimagined the film. I was like, ‘Wow. Aisa bhi hota hain’!”

He also stated, “Then, something happened. I don’t know exactly, but producer Ronnie Screwvala sir was not keen on making Dev D. So, the film went on hold. Anurag sir met me and said, ‘You have worked enough on Dev D. Tu abhi ruk jaa. Thoda hold pe hain. Meanwhile, I am producing a film called Aamir (2008). Raj Kumar Gupta is directing it. You work on this film while I figure out a way forward for Dev D’.”

Aamir, starring Rajeev Khandelwal, released first and hence marked Amit Trivedi’s debut as a film composer, even though Dev D was the first film he had worked on. Dev D eventually released eight months later.

Also Read: Abhay Deol recalls “creative flow” with Anurag Kashyap in BTS anecdote as Dev D set to re-release on April 24, 2026

from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/x1VcwyX
https://ift.tt/TtPJlp2

Read More

SS Rajamouli cheers for Ramayana Part 1, praises Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra ahead of November 5 release: "Looking forward"

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has extended his wishes to the team of Ramayana Part 1 ahead of the film's worldwide theatrical release on November 5. The filmmaker praised director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra for bringing the epic to the screen on a large scale.

Rajamouli shared his thoughts on X, describing Ramayana as a story that Indian storytellers have long aspired to bring to the screen. He wrote, "It's a joy to see @niteshtiwari22 and @malhotra_namit bring it to the screen on such a grand scale. Each actor brings these timeless characters to life with depth."

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and co-written by Shridhar Raghavan, Ramayana Part 1 stars Ranbir Kapoor as Prince Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also features Sunny Deol, Ravie Dubey, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan and Lara Dutta in key roles.

#Ramayana is a story every Indian storyteller grows up aspiring to tell. It's a joy to see @niteshtiwari22 and @malhotra_namit bring it to the screen on such a grand scale. Each actor brings these timeless characters to life with depth. Looking forward to 5th November. Best wishes to the entire team. https://t.co/zRAQ54SfJm

— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) October 17, 2026

Ramayana Part 1 brings together a large ensemble The film's cast includes actors from different parts of Indian cinema, with Yash making his Hindi film debut as Ravana. The project brings together several performers for a new cinematic adaptation of the epic.

The music for the film has been composed by Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. The makers are also planning a worldwide theatrical release, including IMAX screenings.

Ramayana Part 1, also referred to as Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on November 5.

Also Read: Yash calls himself “Radhikapati” at Ramayana international trailer launch in Bengaluru, credits wife Radhika Pandit for her support

from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/Ra7iSDo
https://ift.tt/FL3eQ74

Read More

EXCLUSIVE: Addinath M Kothare reveals 2 out of 5 ACs on Nayyi Navelli sets were reserved ONLY for him: “My sweat was dripping through the prosthetics; andar se mera body melt ho raha tha!”

For many viewers, Addinath M Kothare has emerged as one of the biggest surprises in Nayyi Navelli. An unexpected twist in the story has made his character and performance stand out. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Addinath M Kothare spoke about the response to his role, the challenges of working on the film, his experience with Yami Gautam Dhar and a lot more.

How has the response to your character in Nayyi Navelli been? It's been amazing so far. I am quite overwhelmed with the response that I am getting for my character. It's a festive family entertainer, which has been aptly released during the festive season. Hence, it's lovely to be in this space right now.

The film has a Dussehra connection. Is that why the makers decided to release it during this festive period? Absolutely. This is also why they fast-tracked the entire shoot. It was a very difficult film to make due to the VFX, fantasy elements, ensemble cast, songs, etc. Yet, it was a very well-planned and efficiently executed project. We started shooting in April, and here we are. So, it's amazing!

It's a passionately made film. The kind of detailing that has gone into it and the efforts taken by the team deserve special mention. Ravi Srivastava, who has worked on films like Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and Lion (2016), handled the production design of our film. Rishi Punjabi's cinematography is phenomenal. The whole team worked really hard. As for Aanand L Rai sir and Himanshu Sharma, they are master storytellers, as we all know (smiles).

Horror-comedy has become quite popular now, but you and your family have been pioneers in this genre. Your father, Mahesh Kothare, made the cult film Zapatlela (1993), followed by Pachhadlela (2004), on which you worked as an assistant director. You also acted in Zapatlela 2 (2013). What are your thoughts on returning to this genre?

(Laughs) Quite honestly, you can't plan or even predict these things. I feel blessed that I got a film in this genre. I am also fortunate that two of my films are releasing quite close to each other. While Nayyi Navelli is a fantasy centred around mythology, Ramayana is a historical.

How was your experience of working with Yami Gautam Dhar? It was amazing. Despite being such a big star, she is very grounded and easy to talk to. She was also extremely helpful.

When you begin working on a film, you are still searching for your character, his body language, etc. Moreover, the film is set in Meerut, and I had to work a lot on the dialect, as I was the only non-North Indian actor on the set! Thankfully, I was somewhat familiar with the accent because of the films we watch. So, it wasn't completely alien to me. Also, in Mumbai, you get to hear the UP accent quite often.

Nevertheless, I had to work a lot on the dialect and other aspects of the character. On my first or second day of the shoot, Yami, Balaji Mohan sir and I were having a conversation. Yami cracked a joke, and I laughed. As I laughed, she stared at me for a moment and said, "Adi, this is Raja!" At that point, I was still trying to find the character. I knew I was close, but her observation helped push me in the right direction.

You had to wear extensive prosthetics, and a lot of VFX was also used for your scenes. How challenging was the experience? That was the biggest challenge of the film. I was covered in prosthetics from head to toe. There were prosthetic patches on my face, including my forehead and the veins on my face and neck. From my neck to my toes, I was wearing a complete silicone prosthetic bodysuit. There were days when I had to wear it for 12 hours!

It used to take me four hours to get ready and another one-and-a-half hour to remove the prosthetics. Moreover, we were shooting in May! But the production and direction teams took great care of me. On the sets, we had these anaconda ACs. They consisted of an AC unit with huge tubes that would crawl all over the set, just like anaconda snakes. There were five such ACs in total. Whenever I wore the suit, two of those five anacondas were reserved exclusively for me (laughs)!

I remember that on the first and second days, I became so itchy that I simply couldn't bear it. Thankfully, the direction team asked me to take a break. I got out of the suit, and we began figuring out how to get rid of the itchiness and make it possible for me to wear the suit for longer durations. Slowly, through trial and error, we found a solution. Before putting on the suit, I would cover myself with Abzorb Dusting Powder. There would be a thick layer of powder, almost 2 cm, all over my body! On top of that, I would wear a sweatsuit, like the ones swimmers wear, and then the prosthetics. That made things easier, though it took us two days to figure it out.

Yet, there were challenges. One day, I was wearing the prosthetics and rehearsing with Yami. Suddenly, I noticed that the floor had become wet. I wondered, ‘Yeh paani kahan se aa raha hai?’ Then I realized that my sweat was dripping through the silicone prosthetics! Andar se mera body melt ho raha tha!

How many days did you have to shoot wearing the prosthetics? We shot for around 50 days, out of which I wore the prosthetics for 20 days. I had to perform and get the emotions right while wearing that suit. Hence, it was a physically and mentally challenging process. But the production team was well-equipped to ensure that the actors were comfortable despite these challenges. That's the only reason I could pull it off.

Also Read: Jacqueline Fernandez has a hilarious cameo in Yami Gautam Dhar’s Nayyi Navelli

from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/cXZ5QmT
https://ift.tt/5TuomJg

Read More

Amit Trivedi reveals he CRIED while working on Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: "If Shakun Batra liked a song, Karan Johar wouldn’t like it and vice versa; mujhe kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha tha"

Amit Trivedi had a conversation with Komal Nahta in which he revealed that he had a dream run as a music composer in the initial phase of his career. However, he got a reality check while working on Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012), starring Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Amit Trivedi said, “For Dev D, I made 18 songs and all of them got selected. The same happened with Aamir. There was a requirement of 5 songs. I only composed 5 songs and they all got selected. This was repeated with Udaan (2010) as well. I began to assume, ‘Wow. Aise hi hota hoga. This industry is amazing’ (laughs). Then, I got a shock of my life when Karan Johar came into my life. That’s also when mainstream Bollywood came into my life.”

He explained, “I signed Shakun Batra’s film, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, which was produced by Karan Johar. While working on the film, I asked myself, ‘Yeh kya ho raha hai?’. It was completely contrary to my previous experiences. Until then, I had worked in 5-6 films, including a song in Karan Johar’s Wake Up Sid (2009), that is, ‘Iktara’. Woh gaana bhi one shot tha. Everything was smooth. But during Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, mere nakshatra badal gaye! Every song got bounced. If Shakun would like it, Karan sir won’t like it, and vice versa. Aur mujhe kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha tha!”

Amit Trivedi revealed, “At that time, I felt very vulnerable and sad. I even cried. I had self-doubt. I asked myself, ‘Am I not good enough? Don’t I know how to make good music? But then how did I manage to work on so many films? Also, many of those songs were hits as well. So, I am not the problem. The problem is somewhere. But Karan sir is also vastly experienced’.”

Also Read: Kiran Rao and Saba Azad react to Imran Khan facing legal trouble over Mumbai protest; come in support of the actor

from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/bYGhsQw
https://ift.tt/jpDw0iN

Read More

Nana Patekar’s son Malhar addresses Tanushree Dutta allegations: “The truth will remain the truth”

Late actor Nana Patekar’s son, Malhar Patekar, has addressed the allegations made against his father by actor Tanushree Dutta, while also dismissing reports about his parents’ relationship and family dynamics. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Malhar said the legal case related to the allegations had already concluded and questioned why the matter kept being discussed. Without naming Tanushree, he said he had nothing further to add.

“Without naming anyone, I want to say that the case people are bringing up unnecessarily is already over. Judiciary se clear hua hain, case khatam ho chuka; phir bhi bol rahe [the case is over; they still keep talking],” he said.

Malhar added, “Aise logo ko mein unko kuch nahi bolunga; joh sach hai wahi rahega, bhagwan unka bhala kare [I have nothing to say to such people. The truth will remain the truth. May God bless them], this is what I have to say to them.” What Tanushree Dutta had alleged against Nana Patekar In 2018, Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar and others of sexual harassment on the sets of Horn OK Pleasss. She had alleged that an incident took place during the filming of the movie and subsequently quit the project.

The allegations resurfaced during India’s #MeToo movement, with Tanushree reiterating her claims against Nana, choreographer Ganesh Acharya and the film’s producer.

Following Nana Patekar’s death on October 8 in Goa, Tanushree shared a video on her Instagram Stories in which she referred to the late actor as an “evil dead”. She later spoke to the media about the allegations and said that she would not forget what she claimed had happened on the sets of the film.

Nana Patekar died of a heart attack in Goa after reportedly experiencing chest pain early in the morning. He was later cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Pune in the presence of family, friends and members of the film fraternity.

Also Read: Nana Patekar’s autopsy CONFIRMS heart attack caused by blood clot in left main coronary artery: Report

from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/FUStE5s
https://ift.tt/kgAmlVu

Read More

Giorgia Andriani to star in Hindi thriller web series Dice, shoot to begin in November

Actress-model Giorgia Andriani is set to feature in an upcoming Hindi thriller web series titled Dice. The series will see her play an Italian character and is scheduled to begin filming in November 2026.

The project will be shot across locations in Italy, including Potenza and Brindisi. The series is being produced and directed by Chandrakant Singh, with Angelo Viggino also attached as producer. Giorgia Andriani on exploring a new character For Giorgia, Dice will give her an opportunity to take on a new role while also bringing an aspect of her cultural background to the character.

Speaking about the project, Giorgia said, “I’m really excited to be a part of Dice and am eagerly looking forward to starting the shoot. It’s always exciting as an actor to explore a new character and immerse yourself in a different story.”

She added, “The fact that we will be shooting in Italy makes this experience even more special for me. I’m looking forward to being on set, working with the team and bringing this character to life.” Dice to be shot in Italy The upcoming thriller will be filmed in Italy, with Potenza and Brindisi among the locations planned for the shoot. The series will be presented in Hindi while Giorgia will portray an Italian character.

With production scheduled to begin in November, Dice adds another project to Giorgia’s acting journey as she takes on a role that connects her on-screen work with her Italian roots.

Also Read: Giorgia Andriani’s regal romance and Kiara Advani’s rose romance led this week’s best floral fashion moments

from Latest Bollywood News | Hindi Movie News | Hindi Cinema News | Indian Movies | Films - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/OfJcPts
https://ift.tt/FIfPSHd

Read More