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Manish Malhotra recalls winning his first Filmfare Award in 1995
Ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra strolled down memory lane as he remembered winning his first-ever Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design in 1995 for his work in the film 'Rangeela', which starred actor Urmila Matondkar. Taking to his Instagram account on Saturday, Manish shared a black-and-white throwback picture of himself holding the Filmfare trophy. He also posted an old video showing the award being announced, followed by veteran actress Rekha handing him the trophy on stage. The third slide of his post contained a note that read, "My first Filmfare came with Rangeela, the same year they decided to introduce the Best Costume Design category. It felt like the industry was finally beginning to see costume not just as clothing, but as storytelling." In his post, Manish included a caption that read, "The first-ever Filmfare Award (@filmfare) for Costume Design. It feels so nostalgic..." Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05) Manish, who has been in the fashion and film industry for more than three decades, has worked as a costume designer on several big-budget films, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Apart from this, Malhotra also launched his film production company, Stage 5 Productions, in September 2023. So far, he has produced several films under this banner, including Bun Tikki, Train from Chhapraula, and Ul Jalool Ishq. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 April,2025 05:20 PM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Akshay Kumar wants British government and King Charles to watch 'Kesari 2'
Akshay Kumar is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, Kesari: Chapter 2. In the movie, Kumar plays the role of lawyer C. Sankaran Nair, who famously fought against the British following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The massacre remains one of the most devastating tragedies in the history of India’s freedom struggle, where men, women, and children were brutally killed by British forces. Akshay Kumar wants British government to watch Kesari 2 At a recent press conference for the film, Akshay said that Kesari: Chapter 2 is a movie that must be watched by the British government and King Charles. Speaking about the historical event, Akshay shared, “My grandfather witnessed the entire Jallianwala Bagh incident. He told stories about it to my father, and my father passed them on to me. I’ve known about the massacre since I was a child, so this film is very special to me. The event has always been etched in my memory. The most surprising thing is that history doesn’t tell us what we actually need to know.” He also emphasized that King Charles should watch the film. While the British authorities have acknowledged the massacre, they have never officially apologized for it. “I’m not here with a begging bowl to say, ‘They should say sorry.’ I just want them to watch this movie and realize the gravity of their mistake. The rest will follow naturally. The apology is bound to happen—it will flow on its own. But first, they must watch this film. The British government and King Charles should see what happened. The rest will follow automatically.” Kesari: Chapter 2 Trailer The trailer opens with Akshay Kumar as C. Sankaran Nair questioning a British officer about whether any warning was given to the people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh before shots were fired on those protesting the Rowlatt Act. The trailer then shows Nair fearlessly building a strong legal case against the British Crown. To counter Nair, the British bring in a defense lawyer, played by R. Madhavan. What follows is a passionate and intense courtroom drama between two powerhouse performers. Ananya Panday also appears in the trailer, playing a female lawyer—a rarity during that time. She has only one line in the trailer and seems to be part of Nair’s legal team. Interestingly, Akshay can be heard using the 'F' word in the trailer. Reacting to this at the trailer launch event, he said, “Yes, I used that word. But the surprising thing is, people noticed that but didn’t seem affected when I used the phrase, ‘you are still a slave.’ I think that’s an even bigger abuse. I would’ve been happier if someone had pointed out the word ‘slave’ instead of focusing on ‘f*** you.’ Because in my opinion, even if they had been shot with a gun at that moment, it would’ve seemed less insulting.”
12 April,2025 05:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hanuman Jayanti 2025: Shreya Ghoshal drops new song on the auspicious occasion
On the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, popular playback singer Shreya Ghoshal brings forth a heartfelt musical tribute that is as divine as it is deeply moving. With a voice that resonates across generations, Shreya delivers a soul-soothing rendition in the form of Jai Hanuman that embodies devotion, grace, and purity in its truest form. For years, Shreya has been celebrated as one of India’s most beloved voices—a rare gem who seamlessly connects with listeners young and old. Whether it’s a grand Bollywood ballad, a classical masterpiece, or a devotional song, Shreya has a unique gift of transforming every note into magic. Her latest Hanuman Jayanti release is yet another testament to her unmatched versatility. More about Shreya Ghoshal’s Jai Hanuman What makes this rendition so special is its simplicity—Shreya doesn’t rely on theatrics or grandiosity. Instead, she lets her voice do what it does best: touch hearts. It’s her most stripped-down, spiritual offering in recent times, and yet it carries immense emotional weight, reminding us why she remains one of the most soulful singers of all time. About Hanuman Jayanti 2025 Hanuman Jayanti or Hanuman Janmotsav celebrates the birth of Lord Hanuman, an ardent follower of Lord Ram. This day falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra, which typically occurs in March or April. The festivities are marked by colourful processions, cultural performances, and the sharing of prasad. On this auspicious occasion, devotees fast and offer puja to the deity. They also chant Hanuman Mantras to appease Sankatmochan and form a deeper connection with Lord Hanuman. Several devotees gather at the Hanuman temples across the country on the occasion to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman, known for his unwavering devotion, courage, and strength. Shreya Ghoshal’s singing career Shreya Ghoshal is widely recognized as one of India's top singers, celebrated for her flawless vocals. She has sung in various Indian and foreign languages and has earned several awards, including five National Awards and four Kerala State Film Awards. Her first song in Bollywood was Bairi Piya from the movie Devdas, featuring Shah Rukh Khan in the titular role. She was only 16 when she recorded the song with Udit Narayan.
12 April,2025 01:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Raha clicks Alia Bhatt's picture with her pet cat, see result
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt melted hearts on social media this Pet Day by sharing an adorable picture with her furry 'prince.’ Captured by none other than her 'princess,’ the sweet moment quickly caught fans’ attention, celebrating the bond between Alia and her beloved pet. On Friday, the 'Raazi' actress took to her Instagram handle and dropped a cute photo of herself posing with her white Persian cat, Edward. In the image, Alia is seen lovingly holding her pet cat in her arms while posing for the camera. Alongside the image, the ‘Student of the Year’ actress wrote, “a picture with my prince, clicked by my princess #HappyPetDay.” Going by her caption, it does seem like Alia is hinting that her little daughter, Raha, was the little "princess" behind the camera. Alia’s post sparked a wave of love in the comments section, with fans gushing over the adorable picture. One fan commented, “cutest pic ever.” Another said, “raha's tiny hands holding the camera, but oh-so-big love in a click. Mama’s little fan is already her sweetest photographer!.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt) Alia Bhatt is a proud pet parent to two adorable cats, Edward and Juniper. While Edward initially came into her life as a special birthday gift—reportedly from her then-boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra—Alia later expanded her furry family by adopting Juniper during the COVID-19 lockdown. Over the years, the actress has often shared glimpses of her pets on social media, reflecting her deep love for animals and her bond with her four-legged companions. National Pet Day, observed annually on April 11, is a heartfelt celebration of the unconditional love, happiness, and companionship that pets bring to our lives. Founded in 2006 by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige, the day also serves a greater purpose—promoting pet adoption and raising awareness about animal welfare issues around the world. Many Bollywood celebrities like Madhuri Dixit, Pulkit Samrat, and others took to social media to mark National Pet Day, sharing adorable pictures and heartfelt moments with their furry companions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 April,2025 09:42 AM IST | Mumbai | IANS
VBA Chief Prakash Ambedkar leads protest against Censor Board
The much-talked-about biopic 'Phule', which is based on the lives of social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, has faced a delay in its release after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked the makers to remove a couple of scenes that mention caste-related terms. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar, on Friday, led a protest against the Censor Board in response to the decision. The film was scheduled to release on April 11, coinciding with Phule's birth anniversary; however, it was postponed due to the board's orders. While speaking to ANI, Prakash Ambedkar strongly opposed the move and said the cuts would affect the "film's purpose." "If those scenes are removed from Phule, the purpose of the film is lost. We are raising our voice against the arbitrary actions of the Censor Board. If they order the cuts, we will protest at their office," he told ANI. The film stars Pratik Gandhi as Jyotirao Phule and Patralekhaa as Savitribai Phule. It is produced by Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions. Meanwhile, the makers have yet to announce a new release date. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 April,2025 09:40 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Bebo 'plays cop' for a day, finds husband Saif Ali Khan "guilty of his good look
Kareena Kapoor seems to be in a fun mood as the actress shared a cheeky compliment for her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan, calling him "guilty of good looks" as she "played a cop" for the day. The 'Jab We Met' actress took to her Instagram on Friday to post a series of pictures from different shoots taken on the same day but in different cities. In her post, Kareena first shared a picture of herself sitting on a sofa in a formal outfit. The next two pictures featured Saif, who was seen riding a horse in a white kurta, blue jeans, and black sunglasses. Praising Saif's commitment to work, Bebo wrote, "Played a cop and found my husband guilty of his good looks. Same day. Different sets. Different cities. Very hardworking, as you can see." Check out the fun post View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena Kapoor will next be seen in ace director Meghna Gulzar's new film Daayra. The film will also star Ayushmann Khurrana. Saif Ali Khan, on the other hand, will next be seen in Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. A new poster for his film was unveiled earlier this month. The poster shows Saif giving an intense look, with a stunning diamond shadow cast around his eye. The film also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor, and Nikita Dutta, alongside Saif Ali Khan. The teaser, released in February, offered a glimpse into the movie's plot, showcasing Saif and Jaideep's characters joining forces to steal the coveted African Red Sun diamond. The heist drama is directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 April,2025 09:39 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI
Mixing melody with a dialogue on mental health
Born into a family of luthiers, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma has always been around music. However, his identity as a sitarist has been shaped by much more than just his lineage. With soulful sitar melodies, henna-stained hands, and conversations on healing and mental health, the young musician is redefining Indian classical music. This confluence of energy has led to his initiative, Sitar for Mental Health. Mental Health Awareness Month, celebrated annually in May, is still a month away, but Sharma’s performance tomorrow at the Dome SVP Stadium in Worli, using the sitar as a medium, couldn’t have come at a better time. So, what drew him to the sitar? “I didn’t choose sitar. In a way, sitar chose me,” shares Sharma, who has been trained by celebrated Indian sitarist and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar. Having found peace through sitar during a challenging phase in life, Sharma decided to build a community where music and mental health became one. Sitar and mental health The sitarist’s performance in the city is an extension of this very same thought. He explains, “The concept of Sitar for Mental Health came into being after I lost my grandfather, who was my best friend. This is how I was coping with it. I would play the sitar online and also talk about grief. A lot of people could relate to me because many were losing their loved ones during the pandemic. I would also invite mental health professionals on social media platforms like Clubhouse and have important conversations.” The result over time has culminated into this 10-city India tour, where he says apart from music, listeners should be ready for meditation, conversation and answering deep thoughtful questions. Training under Shankar While Sharma channels his ‘soul’ through his ‘soulful’ melodies, he credits the late sitar maestro Shankar, who was his teacher, for imparting the knowledge of music and believing in his potential. Sharma didn’t only receive training from the legendary musician but was also one of his last disciples. Recalling his training days with the sitar virtuoso, he shares, “It was an intense time. I used to play sitar for six hours every day. My parents would get me out of school at half time and then I would go to his centre to practise. Sometimes, I also had my lunch or dinner with him. He saw potential in me, and wanted me to take the legacy forward. He was a strict teacher. But when he kept the sitar down, he was the nicest person. He was funny,” he reminisces about Shankar, whose 105th birth anniversary was coincidentally earlier this week. “I really miss him. There’s no one like him.”
12 April,2025 09:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Raaina Jain
Up & About: Zoya Akhtar's hosts filmy get together
Chilling out! There’s no occasion and no meeting, but when do friends ever need a reason to catch up? Mini, Kabir, Chunky, Farah, Farhan and Shibani have a get-together at Zoya Akhtar’s home Mini Mathur, Kabir Khan, Chunky Panday, Farah Khan Shibani Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar Just in Urvashi Rautela, Preity G Zinta, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Twinkle Khanna Boman Irani
12 April,2025 07:33 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
Ahmed Khan: ‘Laughter will bring people back to cinemas’
One can sense Ahmed Khan’s enthusiasm as he readies for the next schedule of Welcome to the Jungle. The director kicked off the ensemble comedy—starring Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, and Arshad Warsi, among others—in December 2023. It has been an intermittent shoot since then as securing combination dates of such a vast ensemble hasn’t been easy. With the next leg slated to roll in Kashmir, the director says, “I’m planning my schedule now because there are so many actors and we have to bring all of them together. They are all so busy. But the good thing is that they all are excited about this movie. We have an international schedule too.” Ahmed Khan The Hindi film industry is going through a slump, where big-ticket movies are unable to create box-office magic. Does the fear play on his mind? Khan reflects, “Earlier, one was an art film, another, an action film and then, there were family films. Now, one movie [is expected to serve] all. We also have to think, ‘Will this work in south India?’ Then, there is the multiplex audience and single-screen audience. So, we have to keep all these factors in mind. Also, people are saying that films are not doing well. But last year, five films earned Rs 500 crore each. We never dreamt that our industry would make R500 crore! Now, films are expected to make Rs 700 crore [to be called a success]. When I’m making my film, the fear is definitely there. But we have to survive here.” In this uncertain market, Khan believes Welcome to the Jungle might have an advantage. “Comedies bring people together. Big cast, big scale, great music and laughter will bring people back to cinemas,” he states.
12 April,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Tejas Deoskar: I’m the only one to have two films releasing in different languag
Every director will tell you about the Friday jitters they experience when their movie is releasing. One can only imagine the pressure and excitement that director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar will feel when his two movies, Ground Zero and Devmanus, hit the theatres on April 25. “Somebody told me that before this, only Priyadarshan sir had two films releasing on the same day. I’m the only one to have two films releasing in different languages,” grins Deoskar. Mahesh Manjrekar and Renuka Shahane in Devmanus Language isn’t the only factor separating the Hindi offering, Ground Zero, and Mahesh Manjrekar’s Marathi outing Devmanus. Inspired by real-life events, the Emraan Hashmi-starrer chronicles the aftermath of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. Deoskar explains, “Ground Zero is an intense action drama based on BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey’s life and real events. Emraan plays him, and is seen [on the hunt] for a terrorist. Devmanus is an emotional thriller, where a man—played by Manjrekar—finds himself in a moral dilemma. I was initially apprehensive about both my movies releasing on the same day. I feel the audience gets divided, especially since the Marathi audience is a subset of the Hindi one. But the two production houses felt that both films had different viewers. They didn’t see it as a clash. The only thing I had to figure out was to run around for the films’ post-production, which was tough.” Tejas Deoskar While shooting each movie came with its challenges, the director believes Ground Zero was the more demanding one. “It was a tougher one to execute as action films are demanding. Plus, we were shooting in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir, and the region has certain complexities.” Having an earnest actor like Hashmi helped matters. “Emraan is a director’s delight. He asks a lot of questions related to his character and the story, and comes on the set having done a lot of homework. So, we’re halfway through when we start. Also, he has an uncanny memory,” shares Deoskar. Working on Devmanus was a unique experience as actors Manjrekar, Renuka Shahane and Subodh Bhave are also directors in their own right. Deoskar reflects, “While there were four directors, including me, on the set, nobody overpowered me. There was mutual respect. We could collaborate, discuss their suggestions, and do what was best for the film.”
12 April,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBR
Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh shoot special song for Sitaare Zameen Par
Three years after Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), Aamir Khan is gearing up to return to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par by May-end. We can expect another heartfelt story as the RS Prasanna-directed film, a spiritual successor to the superstar’s much loved Taare Zameen Par (2007), revolves around a group of men with intellectual disabilities who discover their self-worth through sports. While details about the film—which is a remake of the Spanish offering, Campeones (2018)—have been kept under wraps, mid-day has learnt that a special song featuring Khan and Genelia Deshmukh was shot last week in Marol. Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh. Pics/PTI, Instagram Over a five-day schedule, Prasanna and choreographer Vijay Ganguly gave shape to the number. A source from the set reveals, “It’s a feel-good track. It’s unclear whether it will be part of the narrative. Most likely, it will be a special number attached to the credits, playing out like a montage that ties together the movie’s central themes.” Post-production of Sitaare Zameen Par, which also stars Darsheel Safary, is nearly complete. We’ve heard that Khan is considering kicking off the promotional campaign by early May. The source adds, “The film’s subject is very close to Aamir. He is keen to build early awareness around the movie, and position it thoughtfully.”
12 April,2025 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu