Bollywood icon Bhagyashree who made her mark in the film industry with Maine Pyar Kiya tells us that one shouldn't rest on past laurels. Unlike her peers, she made the optimum use of her influence through social media by becoming a crusader for women’s health and well-being. On Mid-day’s third season of Powerful Women, Bhagyashree gets candid about juggling work with motherhood, raising her kids with gender equality as the norm, and more. Bhagyashree on balancing work and motherhood Bhagyashree admits there are hard days as a mother when you want to achieve your dreams and have responsibilities for your family and kids. Recalling the times she would take her daughter Avantika Dasani on set, Bhagyashree avers, “To strike the balance somewhere, there is no right and wrong. It is a fight that you have to win every day. So you have to put on your armor and go there and do your stuff. I didn't believe in leaving my children with nannies. Though I had my in-laws, I didn't think it was right to expect them to look after a toddler. And I would hate if I were to come back home and someone were to tell me that we are looking after your kids.” She adds, “It was tough when I was doing that. But the beauty of the situation was that I was enjoying both. I didn't want to leave being a mother to her. I think I was more capable at that age than I was when Abhimanyu (Dasani) was born. I was far too young to manage both worlds.” On inculcating gender equality at home Bhagyashree, who is raising a son and a daughter asserts that gender equality stems from home. She states, “Household tasks have to be shared by both. Brother has come, he is very tired, give him water. No, that doesn't work. Both of them are equipped to cook food for themselves. Because they used to say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I also feel it works the opposite way. I feel that when you bring up your children as rounded human beings it gives them a chance to interact with complete equality.”
02 March,2025 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesIn Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), many were surprised to see Sheeba in a blink-and-miss role. With the cameo, the actor—who starred in many ’90s movies, including the Salman Khan-led Suryavanshi (1992)—returned to films after an eight-year hiatus and followed it up with an appearance in Jigra (2024). Next, the actor will be seen in Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 4. Sheeba reveals that while she was shooting for the actioner in Film City last week, Khan, who was filming Sikandar in the vicinity, dropped in to meet her. Sheeba “Besides Suryavanshi, I had done one more movie with Salman that never released. While we met briefly at events and parties over the years, it was after 23 years that we met properly on the sets of our movies,” says Sheeba fondly. Over the decades, their fantasy horror film, Suryavanshi, has become popular among a section of the audience. Did they discuss making a sequel to the reincarnation drama? “I don’t think that will happen,” laughs Sheeba. “Every time we talk about the movie, it’s a bit of a joke with Salman. He cracks up about his wig and chest hair. We didn’t talk about Suryavanshi or doing a movie together, but caught up on our lives.” Khan is known to give good career advice. Though she is starting her second innings at the movies, Sheeba says she didn’t get an opportunity to seek his guidance. “We need to have a longer conversation, which will be an advisory session. We were both in between our shoots, so the catch-up was briefer than we wanted it to be.” The actor, who tied the knot with filmmaker Akashdeep Sabir in 1996, says she cherished the past two decades as she raised her two sons. “Now, I want to do age-appropriate roles and work with good makers,” she smiles.
02 March,2025 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRNeena Gupta feels her life, currently, is a long-running dream. The National Award-winning actor has as many as four diverse stories to tell in the coming months. Not just that, she is also enjoying the precious position of being able to say no to what doesn’t feel right. “When [good] work comes, I take it up. When it goes to someone else, I feel bad. Now, I am able to say no to projects I don’t enjoy listening to. That makes me very happy. Earlier, I couldn’t because I had to survive,” she smiles. Gupta begins the year with the JioHotstar film, Dil Dosti Aur Dogs, in which the actor plays an emotionally withdrawn woman, who finds an unlikely companion in a furry friend. The actor says she relished entering an unfamiliar territory. “I have never played such a character. It was a big challenge and interesting for me to do,” she says. A still from Dil Dosti Aur Dogs Dil Dosti Aur Dogs also offered the actor another opportunity in the comedy space. It’s a genre Gupta has often taken up over her four decade career—from the classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) to her hit OTT outing Panchayat. The actor says comedy is the trickiest genre, which needs the hands of an able director. “Not everyone is gifted with comic timing and you cannot acquire it. The director has a big role to play in this. If you fall on the wrong note, no one can help you. Long ago, I had replaced an actor on a comedy show. I was told that I had to take it two notes higher that what I was performing on. The pitch of the show was loud. I was so unhappy doing it, but I agreed because that was their style. One has to adapt to various directors. That way, Panchayat is amazing because it is so real that we don’t have to do anything,” says Gupta, who has just finished filming the fourth season of the Prime Video series. The year will also see the senior actor in director Anurag Basu’s romantic drama, Metro… In Dino, which also stars Konkona Sensharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ali Fazal and Anupam Kher. Gushing about her maiden collaboration with Basu, she says, “I keep asking him, ‘When are you casting me next?’ Mostly, my segment in the film is with Anupam Kher, but we aren’t playing a couple. We shot in Kolkata and Mumbai. There was so much spontaneity and improvisation on the set. It was great fun as well as a learning,” says Gupta. She recently finished filming the sequel to her 2022 thriller, Vadh. And now, her eyes set on something more athletic. “I want to do an action film or a spy thriller. I also want to play a glamorous, cool woman. There was a project in the action space that had come my way. I also had a double role in it but it didn’t work out due to financial reasons. It might work out tomorrow, who knows. I had gotten offered a spy film as well, but that also didn’t materialise. But that’s something I am inclined towards.”
02 March,2025 07:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaVarun Dhawan barely has time to breathe. After wrapping up an elaborate 45-day schedule for Border 2, he is now preparing for the next schedule in Uttarakhand. He will then head to shoot for his father David Dhawan’s entertainer. This yet-untitled project marks the father-son duo’s fourth collaboration after Main Tera Hero (2014), Judwaa 2 (2017), and Coolie No. 1 (2020). Backed by Ramesh Taurani’s Tips Entertainment, the film also marks Kannada actor Sreeleela’s Bollywood debut, featuring alongside Mrunal Thakur and Maniesh Paul. David Dhawan After wrapping up the Mumbai and Goa schedule, a 45-day schedule has been planned across London and other parts of the UK during May and June. A source reveals that the veteran filmmaker and his team have locked several iconic locations for the shoot, ensuring a mix of grand cityscapes and scenic countryside backdrops. The source shares, “Varun and the team will be shooting extensively in London, covering popular spots including Piccadilly Circus among other places. There is an elaborate dance number planned which will be one of the highlights of the film.” The UK schedule will also include a week-long shoot in the countryside, where the team will film key romantic portions and a chase sequence. “David Dhawan is keen on bringing a fresh, international aesthetic to the film while maintaining his signature humour and energy,” the source adds. Varun, who has been juggling multiple projects, will fly to London by mid-May after completing his commitments for Border 2 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
02 March,2025 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuHeld at gunpoint Suniel Shetty has shared a terrifying memory from the 2001 World Trade Center attacks in the US. While filming Kaante (2002) in Los Angeles, police mistook him for a “threat” because of his beard. Held at gunpoint, handcuffed, and forced to his knees after simply asking a stranger for hotel keys, Suniel was left frozen in shock. “Down or we shoot!” the police yelled. The chaos only ended when the film’s production team and a hotel manager stepped in, proving he was an actor. “The whole incident was insane, I didn’t know what would happen next,” he recalled.
02 March,2025 07:09 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamComedian and actor Vir Das often shares his opinion on ongoing issues in the country. With his unique style and quirk, Vir Das has often left his followers in splits. Now, he has taken to Instagram to share his thoughts on the growing pollution in Mumbai's air. As air quality continues to degrade, Vir has compared breathing in the city to smoking cigarettes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vir Das (@virdas) Vir Das compares Mumbai air with smoking cigarettes Vir Das shared a post on Instagram that reads, "I’ll smoke a cigarette socially maybe fifteen days a year. The remaining days I’m a breathing Mumbaikar. Same taste. Today Mumbai was a Marlboro Light." This post from Vir has sparked a meme fest in the comment section, with fans dropping hilarious reactions. Sonam Kapoor also echoed Vir’s thoughts on Mumbai’s air quality and reshared his post on her Instagram story. Reacting to Vir's post, one user wrote, "Bhai, Delhi aao, 10 hukka chal raha hai roz ka." Another fan commented, "Come to Delhi, Habibi." "I just arrived in Mumbai, and my opinion—evacuate the city and fix it!" read another comment. One user quipped, "So, all I have to do is shift to Mumbai... and I can buy my own Ferrari? Great!!" Another shared, "I live in Delhi, it rained yesterday, so we are Esse Lights at the moment. Usually, we are Marlboro Advance." A comment read, "Delhi keeps changing taste until it turns into Gudang Garam." Bryan Johnson walks out of a podcast Earlier, Bryan Johnson had walked out of Nikhil Kamath's podcast due to poor air quality and later took to X to share his thoughts on Mumbai’s air quality. "A firestorm of debate has ignited in India since I walked off a podcast due to the poor air quality. Indians, organize yourselves and take action. You will do more to improve India's health by cleaning up the air than by curing cancer," Mr. Johnson wrote. He also talked about how people have normalized pollution and said, "People would be outside running. Babies and small children exposed from birth. No one wore a mask, which can significantly decrease exposure. It was so confusing." He further shared that he couldn't understand why India's leadership had not declared air pollution a "national emergency."
01 March,2025 07:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentZindagi Na Milegi Dobara is one of the most loved films since its release, and if there is even a 1 percent chance that the movie could get a sequel, it would make moviegoers rejoice in excitement. Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment has consistently delivered entertaining and successful films, but Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was one of the most remarkable among them. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hrithik Roshan (@hrithikroshan) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 on carts? While recently, there was a lot of buzz about the sequel, there was no concrete decision on it. But it seems like the boys are ready to reunite. Today, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, and Hrithik Roshan, in a collab post, shared a picture of them recreating the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara poster as they hint at a possible sequel to their 2011 blockbuster drama. While taking to their social media, the trio attached the picture with a caption that reads, "It took time, but we finally said YAS #ZindagiKoYasBol #collab." This caption also hinted at the possible title of the film. It looks like the makers have decided to call the movie Zindagi Ko Yas Bol. Fans react to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 possibilities As the trio shared the picture, fans couldn't hold back their excitement and started reacting to the post. One wrote, "Just don't break my heart 💔 by saying that this is for an ad shoot." Another fan commented, "Aise baar baar hopes dikhake baad mein sequel nahi lana is not FUNNY!!" Meanwhile, a third user shared, "Wow Hrithik, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 announcement? Really, Hrithik!" Another user wrote, "Mann! Really hope the next part of the movie is being made—Zindagi Mil Gayi Dobara ❤️ please." Earlier, actor-producer Farhan Akhtar shared a fun video of himself sitting with the other lead cast members of the film, Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol. In the video, the trio is seen gazing at a novel by Alexandre Dumas titled The Three Musketeers. Farhan and Hrithik are heard calling it "Unbelievable" and "Outstanding," while Abhay smiles as he looks at the book. Farhan captioned the post, "@zoieakhtar do you see the signs?? @ritesh_sid @reemakagti1 @excelmovies @tigerbabyofficial." Although this reunion of the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara cast was a fun banter to watch, it was Ritesh Sidhwani’s comment that fueled speculation about a sequel to the film. He commented, "Let’s make it happen, boys! @faroutakhtar @abhaydeol @hrithikroshan."
01 March,2025 05:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAlia Bhatt welcomed her little bundle of joy, her first child with Ranbir Kapoor, Raha, in 2022. It was on Christmas 2023 when the couple decided to introduce their daughter to the world, and since then, Raha has become one of the most adored star kids. Since Christmas 2023, Alia has been sharing several pictures of Raha, and netizens have been showering her with love. However, Alia has now deleted all the pictures of Raha from Instagram, except for the ones that do not reveal her face, leaving everyone shocked. Alia Bhatt removes pictures showing Raha’s face When we scrolled through Alia's Instagram profile, we noticed that all the pictures that revealed Raha's face had been taken down. Even the pictures from their Jamnagar trip and their Paris vacation have been removed from social media. It's not like we couldn't spot Raha—Alia's New Year's Day photo album is still on her social media, but those pictures don't show her face. Fans react to Alia’s decision While several people are shocked, many are discussing the reason behind Alia's decision. One Reddit user wrote, "100% support her here. Never a fan of Alia. Mostly a critic, lol. But there are too many creeps and weirdos on the net. As a parent—whatever she feels is a protective action—she should do it." Another user commented, "Honestly, a good decision, and now I hope the paps will realize this and stop bothering them all the time. Respect the kid's privacy and the parents' decision." Addressing a recent viral video of Alia, one fan shared, "The Saif-Jeh incident has affected them. They have also informed the paparazzi not to click Raha henceforth. Good for them." Alia Bhatt's Viral Video Recently, a video of Alia walking towards the paparazzi and requesting them to shut their cameras as she wanted to speak with them went viral. After this video surfaced on social media, fans started speculating that she might have told the paparazzi not to click Raha henceforth. Alia and Ranbir tied the knot in April 2022 in an intimate wedding ceremony in the presence of their close friends and family members after several years of dating. Their daughter, Raha, was born in November 2022.
01 March,2025 03:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Tiger Shroff is known to play power-packed roles onscreen owing to his physical strength and his ability to pull off complex stunts. He has largely played action-packed roles in movies as he is into fitness and is one of the fittest actors in Bollywood. While his onscreen persona is that of a fearless man, he had once confessed that he is cared of sleeping alone. When Tiger confessed he cannot sleep alone During his appearance on Koffee With Karan in 2019 with his Student Of The Year 2 co-stars, Tiger confessed that he cannot sleep alone and is scared of doing so. On the show, when host Karan Johar asked Tiger if he really is a loner, like his SOTY 2 director Punit Malhotra, the actor replied that he can’t even sleep alone, and hasn’t been able to since he watched a horror movie as a child. Ever since I have watched a horror film, I can’t sleep alone. When I am travelling, I have some member of the team with me and when I am at home then I sleep with my mother.” Tiger Shroff's work front Tiger will next be seen in the fourth installment of the “Baaghi” franchise.The film also stars Sonam Bajwa and Harnaaz Sandhu, the winner of the Miss Universe 2021 beauty pageant, who is all set to make her debut in Hindi cinema. It was on November 18, Tiger announced the fourth installment of his “Baaghi” franchise, which will be directed by A. Harsha. The film is set to hit the screens on September 5, 2025. An action thriller, “Baaghi”, was first released in 2016 and was directed by Sabbir Khan. A partial remake of the 2004 Telugu film “Varsham” with a climax inspired by the 2011 Indonesian film “The Raid: Redemption”. The film had Tiger, Shraddha Kapoor and Sudheer Babu. The second installment, which was directed by Ahmed Khan, released in 2018. It was a remake of the Telugu film “Kshanam”. The second installment had Tiger alongside Disha Patani, Manoj Bajpayee, Darshan Kumar, Prateik Babbar, Randeep Hooda, Deepak Dobriyal and Arravya Sharma. “Baaghi 3” was again directed by Ahmed Khan, was partially inspired from Tamil film Vettai, stars Tiger Shroff, Riteish Deshmukh and Shraddha Kapoor in lead roles. A Sajid Nadiadwala franchise, under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment banner, the film is set to release on September 5, 2025.
01 March,2025 03:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhat starts as a harmless arrangement soon spirals into something neither of them sees coming. Netflix has unveiled the highly anticipated trailer for Nadaaniyan, giving a closer look at the whirlwind romance between Pia Jai Singh (Khushi Kapoor) and Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan) — two people from different worlds who think they have everything under control, until emotions catch up. About Nadaaniyan The film follows Pia, a South Delhi diva determined to script her perfect love story, and Arjun, a middle-class overachiever with his sights set on becoming the debate team captain. Their worlds collide when Pia ropes Arjun into a transactional arrangement — posing as her boyfriend to pull off the perfect romantic facade. The plan is simple: keep everyone guessing, no strings attached. But as real feelings sneak in, misunderstandings take over, leaving the duo questioning whether love can ever be scripted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Marking Ibrahim Ali Khan’s much-awaited debut alongside Khushi Kapoor, Nadaaniyan also stars Mahima Chaudhary, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza and Jugal Hansraj in pivotal roles, adding warmth and depth to this layered romance. Directed by Shauna Gautam and produced by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra under Dharmatic Entertainment, the film captures the magic and madness of first love, where choices aren’t always easy, and the heart has a mind of its own. Shauna Guatam calls Nadaaniyan incredibly special Looking back on her experience of directing her debut film, Shauna Gautam shares, “Directing Nadaaniyan has been an incredibly special journey for me, especially as my first film. This story is close to my heart, capturing the innocence and often surprising nature of first love. Collaborating with Karan sir and Dharmatic Entertainment has been a dream, and their support has been invaluable in bringing this vision to life. Working with such an amazing cast, particularly Ibrahim in his debut role, has been an absolute joy. I can't wait for audiences to witness this fun, heartfelt ride on Netflix ” The wait is almost over — get ready for a romance that’s anything but typical. Watch the trailer for Nadaaniyan and experience the charm, chaos, and unpredictability of first love when the film premieres on March 7 , only on Netflix!
01 March,2025 02:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Kiara Advani and her actor-husband Sidharth Malhotra announced the happy news of them expecting their first child on Friday (February 28). A day after the announcement, Kiara was spotted in the city as she got back to work. The actress was greeted by paparazzi who congratulated on her happy news. Kiara makes first public appearance Kiara Advani was seen in a loose fitted white shirt and matching shorts for her first appearance after the announcement. She had her hair tied up neatly and was seen wearing black shades to protect herself from the strong sun. She posed for some pictures for the paparazzi who congratulated her. She smiled and thanked them for the good wishes. She then walked into her vanity van where he team was awaiting her and immediately got up to congratulate and hug her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Kiara and Sidharth to become parents soon In a collaborative post, Kiara and Sidharth shared a picture of them holding baby socks while making the announcement. Sharing the news, they wrote, "The greatest gift of our lives👼Coming soon." View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani) Soon after they made the announcement, they were flooded with congratulatory messages from fans, friends and colleagues from the film industry. About Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s Love Story The two became friends and got close while working on the film Shershaah. Their friendship blossomed into love, and eventually, they tied the knot in 2023. They opted for a grand destination wedding at the Suryagarh Hotel, Jaisalmer, where only family members and close friends were present. After taking the saat pheres, Sidharth and Kiara posted adorable pictures from their wedding ceremony, writing, "Ab humari permanent booking ho gayi hai." The two looked ethereal on their big day. Kiara wore a mesmerizing pink and gold embellished lehenga set. The gorgeous bridal outfit was paired with an assemblage of jewels and a beautiful yet blingy maang tikka. On the other hand, Sidharth wore an ivory and gold bandhgala, heavily embroidered, along with a stole and turban. Their outfits were designed by Manish Malhotra, who was also a part of the couple’s wedding festivities. Their wedding was the talk of the town—courtesy of their wedding video. The couple’s wedding video is what dreams are made of—it is nothing short of a fairytale.
01 March,2025 12:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
