Have you heard? Conquering new dunes

Tabu

Powerhouse performer Tabu has bagged her fifth international project. The National Award-winning actor has been cast for a recurring role in the much-anticipated series, Dune: Prophecy, a prequel to Denis Villeneuve's blockbuster Dune film franchise. Tabu will essay the role of Sister Francesca, a character described as possessing strength, intelligence and undeniable allure. According to the official communication, Sister Francesca leaves an impactful and lasting impression, and her return to the palace disrupts the established power dynamics of the capital. Inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's novel, Sisterhood of Dune, the show will be helmed by executive producer-director Anna Foerster, who will also direct the first episode. Tabu joins renowned actors Emily Watson, Olivia Williams and Mark Strong. Previously, Tabu wowed global audiences in films like Hanuman aka The Monkey Who Knew Too Much (1998), The Namesake (2006), The Life of Pi (2012) and A Suitable Boy (2020). Last seen in this year's crime comedy, Crew, the actor will next be seen with Ajay Devgn in Neeraj Pandey's Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha.

Not political

Allu Arjun was recently booked by the police for violating the poll code when he visited his friend, MLA Silpa Ravi, in Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh. The actor issued a clarification, saying, "I'm not affiliated with any political party. I remain neutral and support my people, regardless of their political affiliations. This includes my uncle Pawan Kalyan, whom I'll always stand by, along with my friend Ravi and my father-in-law, Mr Kancharla Chandrasekhar Reddy. I couldn't fulfil my promise to Ravi last time. So, this time, I went to support him."

Representing India abroad

The Cannes Film Festival kicked off yesterday at the French Riviera. The Red Sea Film Foundation will celebrate Women in Cinema with a gala dinner where Kiara Advani will represent India. The exclusive gathering will bring together six incredible visionary women to honour their achievements in front of and behind the camera. A source said, "Kiara's dedication to her craft has been recognised internationally. Her presence at the Women in Cinema gala dinner at Cannes further underlines India's growing influence in the global cinema landscape. Her invitation to the prestigious event also signifies her growing influence and the global recognition she's receiving."

Running her way to success

Nitanshi Goel, who plays Phool in Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies, is over the moon. Reason: she has bagged her first award, IMDb Breakout Star Starmeter Award for her sincere portrayal of a bride, who gets separated from her husband on their way to her marital home. The actor shares that the film's shoot began on an eventful note. "We were filming the scene where I am running [on the railway platform] and I clash with Chotu. To make it look natural, I was actually looking back while running. I was wearing glass bangles and bumped [so hard into Chotu] that on the first day itself, the glass bangles injured my hand," she recalls. Incidentally, she injured her leg while shooting for the climax, which also required her to run. Kiran, pleased with her Phool's win, sent her a video, saying, "I knew it when I saw your audition because it was just so unique."

A new salt-and-pepper avatar

The anticipation around Shah Rukh Khan's next, King, has increased following reports of his extended cameo developing into a full-fledged titular role. Leaked pictures of the superstar indicate that he could be sporting a rugged salt-and-pepper look in the Sujoy Ghosh-directed thriller. Buzz around SRK's avatar for his upcoming movie was triggered after one of the images showed him with grey beard like his character, Vikram Rathore from Jawan (2023). While SRK was seen sporting a black beard during his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) earlier matches, of late, he appears to be hiding his look under a hoodie. What makes King eagerly awaited is that the action is being supervised by Pathaan (2023) director Siddharth Anand, and it marks the big-screen debut of SRK's daughter Suhana, who forayed into films with The Archies last December. King is slated to go on floors this August.

Mallika's loss, Sakshi's gain

It is now learnt that Mallika Sherawat was the first choice for directors Nupur Asthana and Priyanka Ghose's web series, The Royals. However, the actor opted out due to creative differences. Mallika's team reportedly claims that her role of Ishaan Khatter's mother wasn't shaping up as initially discussed. After her exit, the producers didn't waste too much time in looking for a replacement and signed on Sakshi Tanwar instead. Also featuring Bhumi Pednekar as an entrepreneur, the narrative alternates between the present day and past decades.

Buddy bonding

Director Anurag Basu is set to wrap up the shoot of his next, Metro In Dino, in the coming days. Scheduled to arrive in cinemas on November 29, the film tells multiple intertwined stories and features an eclectic cast comprising Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sensharma, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher. We hear that Ali and Fatima, who are currently shooting with Basu, have become good friends. "Even though this is their first movie together, the two actors share such a great camaraderie that it reflects in their scenes together," said an insider. Going by the picture of Ali and Fatima with Basu from the set, we must say, the two actors do look good together.