Actress Shabana Raza, known professionally as Neha, made her acting debut with Kareeb (1998). The film, also starring Bobby Deol, was directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film is known for its lovely music. She met actor Manoj Bajpayee after her first film, and the pair tied the knot in 2006. Despite working in several other films like Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999), Fiza (2000), Rahul (2001), Aatma (2006) and Acid Factory (2009), her career never really took off. It was assumed that she quit films eventually, but in a recent interview, Manoj confirmed that wasn’t true. Did Kareeb actress Shabana quit films? When asked why Shabana quit films, Manoj said, “She didn’t quit films, she stopped getting work for some reason. Too many politics, here and there. As someone coming from outside, she really did not have any mentor. It was Vidhu Vinod Chopra, I think." Why Vidhu Vinod Chopra bit her Manoj also confirmed that Chopra once bit Shabana on her hand during the shoot. “Shabana had no acting experience. She was raising the wrong hand during a song. He bit her there just for her to remember that this is the hand to be raised. No one can do this with me. Because she was new, she thought this is how directors behave!" Last year, Shabana, in collaboration with her husband Manoj Bajpayee and Vikram Khakhar, launched Aurega Studios, a film production company. The studio's inaugural film was Bhaiyya Ji, which released in 2024. The couple are raising a daughter, named Ava Nayla, together, who is studying at a boarding school. Manoj explained why they preferred to send their only daughter off to a boarding school. "It was getting difficult to get her from one class to another in Mumbai. Plus she would return home tired from her hour-long commute and have no energy for anything. At boarding school, she has everything under one roof. Also, there is a limit on screen times, so she gets to have more human interaction than spending time on her iPad," he said.
08 January,2025 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor the first time ever, the Western Railway granted permission for the use of the Vande Bharat express train for commercial purpose. The Railways allowed filmmaker Shoojit Sircar to use the train for the shoot of his upcoming project. Mid-day got an exclusive footage of Sircar shooting a scene where an actor can be seen boarding the train with a bag. It is not yet know what Shoojit Sircar was filming. In the video, Shoojit can be seen directing a small scene where an actor can be seen walking towards the automatic Vande Bharat train doors and boarding in. He is seen wearing a white blazer and holding a suitcase. Two other people are also seen walking on the train station in the frame. Take a look at the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) The filmmaker known for films like 'Piku', 'Gulaabo Sitabo', 'October', 'Vicky Donor' is yet to announce his upcoming film. His last directorial was Abhishek Bachchan-starrer 'I Want To Talk' that focused on the relationship between a father and daughter as the former navigated a life threatening disease. The film was released in theatres in November. About Vande Bharat express Vande Bharat Express is a medium to long-distance superfast express service operated by Indian Railways. It is a reserved, air-conditioned chair car service connecting cities that are less than 800 km (500 mi) apart or take less than ten hours to travel with existing services and a planned reserved, air-conditioned sleeper service connecting cities that are 800 km (500 mi) to 1,200 km (750 mi) apart. The train was a part of the 'Make in India' initiative by the government and entered commercial service on 15 February 2019.On 15 February 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Varanasi was flagged off at the New Delhi railway station by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The train covered a distance of 759 km (472 mi) in 8 hours at an average speed of 95 km/h (59 mph) and reduced the existing travel time along the route by 15%. In December 2023, the Government announced a target to have 4,500 Vande Bharat trains by 2047.As of January 2025, 66 Vande Bharat trains are in service, which includes 17 sixteen-car services, 4 twenty-car services and 45 eight-car services.
08 January,2025 04:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDeepika Padukone who celebrated her 39th birthday on January 5, took to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday morning to share a positive message for new mothers. Deepika is pretty active on social media and often shares her thoughts via posts and reels. Deepika re-shared a reel on her stories about women who embraced motherhood and birthed a child in 2024. Deepika Padukone shares a reel about motherhood on Instagram The reel read, "Mums who gave birth in 2024, Remember this... When you see everyone's highlight reel at the end of the year, remember your body GREW and BIRTHED a whole human this year! NOTHING tops that." The reel was from an Instagram handle @thejoysofbeingmum. Deepika added a sticker of Amen with the reel on her story. For the unversed, the 'Om Shanti Om' actress also began a new chapter of her life by becoming a mother. She gave birth to a baby girl on September 8, 2024. Later, in an Instagram post, Padukone announced that she and her husband Ranveer Singh have named their daughter Dua, meaning prayer. The actress has never shied away from speaking about issues like mental health, depression, and women's safety, and this post seems directed toward new mothers either battling postpartum depression or grappling with the challenges of motherhood. Deepika Padukone also has an organisation called The Live Love Laugh Foundation that is focused on giving hope to every person experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. The actress started this community-driven foundation ten years ago when she publicly came out with her mental illness of depression. Padukone aimed to ensure that no one else suffers the way she has due to mental health issues. Deepika Padukone's work front and upcoming projects Deepika Padukone was last seen in Rohit Shetty's multi-starrer copverse film 'Singham Again' that hit the screens on Diwali last year. The film also starred Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Kapoor, and Shweta Tiwari in lead roles. She also appeared in the sci-fi thriller film 'Kalki 2898 AD' starring Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas and Fighter alongside Hrithik Roshan in 2024. Reports say that she will make a special appearance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next project Love and War starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
08 January,2025 03:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSonu Sood hailed as the “real-life hero” of India, continues to bridge the gap between stardom and the masses with his heartfelt gestures. In an unprecedented move, Sonu has announced that tickets for the opening day of his highly anticipated film Fateh will be priced at just Rs 99 for the first day. While blockbuster releases often come with premium ticket rates, Sonu’s initiative ensures that cinema remains accessible to everyone, reinforcing his deep connection with the common man. Fateh tickets are priced at Rs 99 Fateh, an action-packed drama inspired by real-life stories of courage and resilience, delivers a powerful message of unity and strength. Sonu’s decision to make tickets affordable stems from his belief in the film’s universal appeal and his gratitude to audiences. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonu Sood (@sonu_sood) In the video shared on Instagram, Sonu Sood says, (translated in English) “In 2020, when we were hit by Covid, many people who reached out to me for help were victims of cybercrime. They were dealing with fraud, and money was drained from their accounts. This deeply resonated with me, and I wanted to tell the story of the common man. Fateh is a film made for the common man, and I wanted it to reach everyone in the most accessible way across India. That’s why we’ve decided to price tickets at just Rs 99 for the first day. Additionally, I will be donating the entire profit from the film to charity as my way of giving back to people.” Profits made by Fateh will go to charity Written and directed by Sonu Sood, Fateh blends high-octane action with a socially impactful narrative. In addition to slashing ticket prices, Sonu has pledged to donate the film’s profits to charities and orphanages, further cementing his reputation as a humanitarian. As Sonu himself says, “Every ticket of Fateh that is sold will help those in need.” Produced by Umesh KR Bansal under Zee Studios and Sonali Sood of Shakti Sagar Productions, Fateh promises breathtaking visuals, adrenaline-pumping stunts, and a gripping storyline about cybercrime and is releasing in theatres on 10th January 2025. The film also stars Jacqueliene Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Naseeruddin Shah.
08 January,2025 02:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIt seems that maternal instinct has kicked in former actress Somy Ali, who is planning to adopt a baby girl from a village in India. Talking about why she never thought of settling down and having kids, Somy said that first it was a deranged addiction based over a “nonsensical teenager’s crush”. Then when it did actually come to fruition with my subconscious visualizing living my mother’s life holding onto a drug called hope stemming from the family of heroin. Then realising how that’s the “reality” being crushed and fed to me for years and the fairytale does have a shelf life just like the death of Bulund, a metaphor to the fairytale.” She added: “So 16-24 if you see the actual naked brain, one can see a vast difference of it coming alive in its wiring in spite of it being dead in a lab. Then back home to Miami and jumping in the pool of education to an extent where one has grasped every degree possible, even one to analyze one’s own mistakes.” “If they weren’t mistakes or accidents why would we call them that? The inception of the best thing that could have ever happened to my existence , No More Tears. In 2006-2025 saving 50,438 lives from actual death. Both nationally and internationally. Leading to so many accolades that one decides to throw them out as the work is substantial not a display of your awards except my mom wouldn’t let me get rid of them when she calmly says we need these as a gender because you didn’t marry your Madan, my father.” She said that her organisation became her oxygen and her purpose after hearing those words. And if I am strong enough one day the goal is to have baby Malala play with baby Ram and baby Ram play with baby Tom.” Asked if she plans to adopt a baby boy or girl, she said: “An infant from my second country, India. Even when I was there from 1990 to 1998 we addressed it as Bombay. And my grandparents were born there as well as my father. “They were all Hindu and so was my dad till a complete unnecessary and cruel division which led to countless murders take place thanks to the Brits leaving India, Pakistan and Kashmir all known as heaven on earth left in such disarray that countless lay dead as if it were a metaphorical exhibition to what’s about to happen and this is merely a preview.” “A fence, barely held on its own standing without the aid of teenage boys oblivious to what’s happening. “A border for what? To keep us apart while we both play cricket, enjoy the same food, and my mother with origins from Iraq grew up in Pakistan loving Amitji, Rekha Ji, Kaka ji, and my father a filmmaker introducing actors like Javed uncle (Javed Shaikh) who would frequent our studio then ends up in Om Shanti Om.” “If this isn’t a sign then one is rather dense as Fawad and Mahira Khan acting in the Hindi Cinema and loved by so many.” She said that craft and skills don’t see borders and neither does music as “it’s all color blind.” “So, yes my baby girl will be from a village in India and will be named Malala Ali. Malala will watch Hindi movies and have a crush on Aryan’s son.” “I have the confidence to bring forth a complete 180 not just geoprapjically, but expose that it’s not the civilians who cause the hatred, rather it’s the politicians from Putin, to many more universally, but we have great examples like the late Mandela, the ever changing history Sonu Sood, the past and the present as I call them the fixers for all that bent and damaged.” 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
08 January,2025 02:20 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Kangana Ranaut, who is gearing up for her upcoming movie ‘Emergency’, has shared that she extended an invitation to politician Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The film is based on the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across the country by citing internal and external threats to the country. The actress, who portrays the role of Indira Gandhi in the film, spoke with IANS in the run up to the film’s release on January 17. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Kangana Ranaut News (@kangana_ranautdaily) She told IANS, “I actually met Priyanka Gandhi in the parliament. And the first thing I told her was, ‘You should watch the emergency’. She was very gracious’. She said, ‘Yeah may be’. So let's see if they would want to watch the film. I think it's a very sensitive and sensible portrayal of one episode and one personality also. And I have taken great care to portray Mrs. Gandhi with great dignity. Because I see when I started to do a lot of research, there was so much focus and so much material about her personal life, whether it was her relationship with her husband or many friends or controversial equations”. She continued, “I thought to myself that there is so much more to every person. When it comes to women, especially, they're always reduced to their equation with men around them. And of course, sensational encounters. In fact, most of the controversial material was about all that. But I have portrayed her with so much dignity and sensibility. And I think that everybody should see this film”. Kangana said that Indira Gandhi was also a very loved leader also. “Apart from some very crazy things that happened during the emergency and other few things, I think she was very loved and celebrated. Being a three-time Prime Minister is not a joke. She was loved and celebrated”. 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
08 January,2025 01:22 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSSara Ali Khan's brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan is often seen indulging with fans and paparazzi in fun banter while heading out from his gym. Recently, a new video surfaced on the internet showing Ibrahim interacting with a man and his cow outside the gym. This video will leave you laughing. In the video, Ibrahim Ali Khan exits his gym after a workout. Ibrahim Ali Khan's hilarious interaction will leave you in splits View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) He is wearing a black T-shirt, shorts, and a hoodie which he paired with his sunglasses. He was also carrying his gym bag. In the video, he can be seen interacting with a man and his cow. Ibrahim asked Lakshmi (the cow), "What do you want?" The cow owner demanded baksheesh (tip). Responding to this, Ibrahim pointed at eight photographers and jokingly suggested taking the tip from them. He counted the photographers, "ek, do, teen..". To this, the cow owner replied, "Aap do, aap bade actor hain (You give, you are a big actor)." Ibrahim replies with a hilarious response which leaves fans and paparazzi shocked. He said, "Kaunsa actor, kahe ka actor hun main? (What actor?)." The cow owner further said that he is the son of a big actor. To this, Ibrahim replied, "Papa hain, main nahi hoon naa (My father is a big actor, but not me)." He then clicked a photo with the cow owner before leaving in his car. Netizens couldn't control their laughter and have filled the comment section with laughing emojis. Ibrahim Ali Khan's work front and personal life Ibrahim Ali Khan is set to make the Bollywood debut soon. He will debut with Karan Johar's film Sarzameen starring Kajol. the film will be directed by Kayoze Irani, actor Boman Irani's son. He also has Shauna Gautam's directorial, Nadaniyaan, in the works. He will star opposite Janhvi Kapoor's sister Khushi Kapoor in this romantic drama produced by Karan Johar under the banner of Dharma Productions. On the personal front, there are rumours that Ibrahim is dating Shweta Tiwari's daughter, Palak Tiwari. While both of them have remained tight-lipped about the rumours, they are often seen together at events and parties, which further fuels the speculations.
08 January,2025 12:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee, who shared screen space with Sushant Singh Rajput in the film Sonchiriya recalled bonding with him on the sets. Given their Bihar connection, Manoj, who recently appeared on Mid-day’s podcast series The Bombay Film Journey, shared what advice he gave Sushant about the film industry and how the news of his death left him sad for 3 months. ‘Sushant Singh Rajput wasn’t a mad guy’ Sushant Singh Rajput allegedly died by suicide in June 2020. He was found dead inside his Mumbai flat. His death was first probed by Mumbai Police, which later transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is yet to file a closure report. Manoj shared, “Nobody knows what happened to him. All of us are only presuming and guessing things. I have worked with him, and I can say he wasn’t a mad guy. He was fairly well-versed in too many things. He was a voracious reader. I found him reading all the time, both on the set and off the set. He had great knowledge about quantum physics. He used to talk to me about spiritualism and compare it with quantum physics. He was a fantastic mind. I would not like to come to any conclusion because I really don’t know what happened to him. Even the CBI is yet to come to a conclusion.” SSR’s death news left Manoj sad for 3 months The film industry was in shock after learning about Sushant’s death during peak COVID-19. Manoj Bajpayee said, “I must tell you that his death news hit me so badly that I was sad for three months as if I have known him so personally and closely.” He added, “As far as the industry is concerned, we used to have chats about the industry and its politics. I always told him to keep thick skin nahi toh yeh jaan maar dengi tumhari (it will kill you). I had thick skin because I have faced so many rejections. It was a part of my life but a lot of my friends didn’t have that thick skin. They couldn’t face rejections like I did.” Sonchiriya was a slow-burning thriller, based on the life of the dacoits of the Chambal district. It had an ensemble cast of Sushant, Manoj, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ranveer Shorey, among others.
08 January,2025 11:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSeasoned actor Manoj Bajpayee, was one of the many dreamers who came to Mumbai to make it big in the entertainment industry. On the latest episode of Mid-day’s podcast series Bombay Film Story, the actor, who set an example of how an outsider can survive in the industry despite various challenges, speaks about his relationship with the city. Manoj Bajpayee on his relationship with Mumbai When asked to describe his relationship with the city, Manoj Bajpayee states, "It's very neutral. I'm like an observer who is also working here. It can't be love, it can't be hate because I came from Bihar to Delhi, then Delhi University, and theatre, then I came to Mumbai. I always felt like a refugee going from one place to another. Maybe not finding a home where you can think of going back for years. That has never made me feel sentimental.” He adds, “I stayed in my village in Bihar for eighteen and a half years, stayed in Delhi for ten years, and I've been in this city for about thirty years. I don't feel comfortable saying that I'm going home, to my apartment. For me, home was my parents, village house. My apartment, where my daughter was born, I still don't call it home. 'Main flat pe ja raha joon'.” Manoj Bajpayee on Delhi Vs Mumbai debate After spending a significant amount of time in two metros, Manoj explains, “Delhi is not truly cosmopolitan. It is still hanging between an urban mindset and a rural mindset. Also, it is surrounded by rural India. The people who have been shifting to Delhi. They're all coming from rural areas like Bihar or UP. They also brought only that culture and that behaviour pattern. They started creating their own bubble as it happens in big cities. Nobody was ready to embrace the metropolitan culture of Delhi. But Mumbai is very cosmopolitan. It is truly a place where if you don't have money you will struggle to find your next food. Nobody knows nobody. That way Delhi is still pokey.” Manoj Bajpayee, who got a major break in films with 'Satya', has now 100 movies in his filmography which clearly shows the longevity of his career. He will next be seen in the third season of the web series ‘The Family Man’.
08 January,2025 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor as long as he can remember, Sonu Sood has curtailed the hours in his day to 22. The remaining two, he says, have always been devoted to fitness—no negotiation. This implies that whether a shooting stint commences early in the morning, or runs past midnight, or his film commitments have him travel across the world, Sood’s day doesn’t conclude unless he has hit the gym. It isn’t an ordeal that he puts himself through, but rather a part of his day that he looks forward to. “People like to party, or try a new restaurant. I like to exercise. When I’m away on a vacation, if the hotel gym opens late, I get restless and wonder how I will pass my time. I’m usually alone at the gym, and that’s good, because it helps me focus on my routine,” he says, matter-of-factly. While filming the upcoming Friday release Fateh, which had him take on duties as actor, director, and producer, he recalls waking up at 3.30 am to hit the gym for about two hours before shooting commenced at 5.30. Often, he’d conduct meetings with the team while running on the treadmill, because “taking on so many duties for this film left me with limited time”. Fateh, easily among Sood’s most ambitious projects, will be “one of the most special action films” India has seen, he promises. It’s easy to see that the actor is putting his might behind his directorial debut that plays to his strengths. If he has roped in music mavericks like Hans Zimmer and Loire Cotler for the soundtrack, his action team isn’t behind, with Lee Whittaker, the man behind films like Fast and Furious, and Jurassic Park 3, taking charge of the action sequences in this offering. “I’ve been doing action for the past 20 years and have worked with all the action directors of the country. Yet, my friends and family would ask me why our action [choreography] doesn’t match that of Hollywood films. So, I wanted to make something that could set a bar. Lee is one of the world’s best action directors. I spoke to him about something I had in mind, which is a single-shot action scene, without any cuts. It would involve 70 fighters. He told me he found it ambitious because India lacked the kind of fighters who could pull it off. So, I said we could get people from Mexico and South Africa for it.” The scene in discussion was filmed following a two-month prep, given that if “the 69th person made a mistake, we’d have to shoot the whole sequence again”. “It’s one of the best action sequences I’ve ever shot in my life.” Having adhered to a structured regimen throughout his life, Sood’s fitness journal may look fairly typical. Yet, while prepping for an action film, he says he could take the liberty to limit the cardiovascular component in his regimen. “When you’re doing a lot of action, a lot of cardio is involved anyway. Filming action for eight hours a day is fairly tiring because [you’re using] guns and running around. There’s hand-to-hand combat involved, so it was physically draining. It is owing to the routine that I have been following all these years that I had the stamina to survive this,” says Sood, 51, asserting that age has dampened neither his physical prowess nor his mental ability to stay fighting fit. Ask him if there’s a fitness format he adheres to, and pat comes his reply. “Callisthenics, which involves using body weight, has helped me do what I do. Everyone should try it.” His sons do too, he shares, adding that the duo enjoys exercising. “If you need to be pushed to head to the gym, that’s [a problem]. But if you have that drive, half the job is done. You have to be motivated. My kids have grown up watching me be disciplined; they know that there has not been a single day that I’ve given up. That also keeps them on their toes.” 70Number of fighters involved in the single-shot action scene Sood’s diet Sood emphasises the importance of a healthy diet and says that while he is vegetarian, he consumes eggs. He also has salads, avocados, besan chillas, and fruits, albeit in moderation, given that “they have a lot of fructose sugar”. “Because you need to have a balanced diet, I may, at times, have a small katori of rice and dal. But usually, egg omelettes, salad, and sautéed veggies are what I survive on. I enjoy eating this.” The Cheats: Amyra Dastur What’s your cheat meal: Chilli cheese naan and dal makhani. Cheat meal Vs cheat day: More often than not, it is once in a week, and usually on Sundays. Cheat meal Vs cheat day: It is a single portion. I would feel too guilty to [indulge] all day. Do you compensate for it:I usually do not train on the day I have a cheat meal. I will only do 15 minutes of cardiovascular work before the meal. The next day, I will train a bit harder. On Mouni Roy's Gym Playlist Bleeding loveAttentionI knew you were troubleTaki taki Fitiness Tip That Works For Anusha Dandekar Your body responds to things that make you happy. Do that and you will see your body change. For me, running on a beach or playing tennis is libera-ting.
08 January,2025 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia LullaBollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, has a dual celebration ahead, courtesy of his birthday on January 10 and his debut film 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' (2000) re-releasing on the same day. Hrithik marks 25 years in Bollywood this year. On Tuesday, the ‘Greek God’ of Bollywood took some time off his schedule and met with members of Indian media in Mumbai. During his informal meeting, he expressed his gratitude to them for supporting him throughout his journey so far. Hrithik Roshan skipped interviews after 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' release Hrithik reflected on his career in the film industry, thanking the media for making him "responsible". He said, "25 years! I remember 25 years back when 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' was releasing I was so shy and so anxious that I didn't do a single interview. I didn't step out of my house to do anything. I just skipped the entire promotional event... 25 years have passed and unfortunately, that side of me has not changed. I'm still as shy...This is really an excuse and an opportunity for me to say things to all of you that probably I have never said in 25 years.” Hrithik says the media made him feel accountable Hrithik Roshan continued, "I truly think that you have helped me, all of you, have helped me become the human and the actor that I am in these 25 years through our interactions. Through all the questions and answers you have made me feel made me feel uncomfortable I grew with that. sometimes you made me feel responsible sometimes you made me feel accountable. Guys, not good for a shy guy! Guys, not good for a shy guy.” "You know, it is you speaking to them, telling them how to see me, and how to understand me. It is your perceptions that you shared with the world that taught them how to see me. Thank you for that. Thank you for making me, contributing so much to my journey," the actor concluded. Hrithik's debut film was directed by his father Rakesh Roshan. It also starred Ameesha Patel, Anupam Kher, Farida Jalal, and Dilip Tahil among others.
08 January,2025 09:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
