International Friendship Day: Celebs talk about their closest pals who have been their driving force

 Friends are the ones who make our life an interesting ride. Your life is bliss if you are blessed with true friends. Your true friend is always there by your side, loves you to the core, tells you when you are wrong and wants the best for you. Life is incomplete with real friendship. International Friendship Day on August 1 celebrates such true friends in our lives. On the occasion, celebrities also open up about friendship, the unique and unusual bond they share with their closest pals and how their friends have made their lives better:    

  
Smita Dongre
For me, friends are friends, no one is good or bad. My friends are my lifeline. I have a huge friend circle, so I can't possibly take a single name. We need friends in every situation of our lives, sadness, happiness, during moments of despair. In short, we can't live life without friends. I believe good friends bring good luck, they make our life heaven.
 
 
Vivaan Arora
For me friendship is everything. I believe in commitment and true friendship is a lifetime commitment. We may fight with our friends and have issues but nothing can spoil the bond. I have a few good friends. In today’s selfish world most people aren’t trustworthy, and there are others who try to take advantage of you, so you have to be careful. My best friend is Sushant Kumar. We have seen many ups and downs together in the last 11 years of our friendship. We love, trust and understand each other.
 
Jai Singh
Friendship means everything to me. I am blessed that I share the same bond with my school friends. We have known each other for the last 30 years. My junior KG friend,  Sunil Jatan Lal Nahata and childhood friend,  Rushvir Singh, have been my backbone. Abhishek Sharma, Shammi Gaur in Delhi and in Mumbai, Kavi Shastri  and  Geet Sagar are also my close friends. Shekhar Gill is like my brother. He is like family to me. With them around Mumbai is my happy place away from my family.
 

Anjali Phougat
Friendship is a relationship we maintain with our chosen family. Friends help us celebrate happy times and provide support during difficult times. Friends are the sisters and brothers we never had, and are by our side through all the ups and downs. I am a very quiet person and learned many lessons in life and now extremely selective in choosing friends. We are living in a mean world where it’s hard to find honest and loving people who want to be friends without purpose. My best friends are my husband Naveen and my daughter  Aarna I share a great bond with my family. I feel if we become good friends with our kids and life partner, life becomes joyful. My daughter makes me laugh with her incredibly humorous stories. Her smile makes me smile. Her laughter is infectious. Her heart is pure and true. Also we have a common best furry friend, and her name is Penelope. She is one- year-old Toy Poodle  and gives us unconditional love with pure heart and honesty. Pets can totally be your best friend and understand emotions without even saying anything.
 
 
Sneh Binny
Friendship is an everlasting sacred bond. Friends are always there through thick and thin. They help you shape you better and walk you down with your destined path. Vidur Sarin and I became friends while we were studying in the UK, and have been planning to work together in future. He lives in Delhi now and out of the blue we connected over a call and decided to work on a project together. The spark that never diminishes even after so many years signifies a true friendship.
 
  
Hasan Zaidi
Friendship for me is the most important, most loved and most cherished emotion. It’s a clichéd line to say that we choose our friends, unlike every other relationship which is by condition like parents, relatives, blood relations etc. True friends are those who stand by you through thick and thin. My best friend is Kamran Azim. We have been close since our childhood days. We were both in Delhi together and then I wanted to come to Bombay but at that time I did not have money and I did not wanted to ask from my parents so I was trying to sell my bike. At that time I did not have the papers of the bike with me so I was not being able to sell it off. He used to freelance at Mudra and Lintas during that time as an artist and one day he just came to me and said take this money give me your bike and you go to Bombay. That’s how I came to Bombay. Another dear friend of mine, who is also like my younger brother, is Sehbhaz Azim, who is an actor. They are five brothers. His younger brother’s name is Harnan. He always used to say that when I grow up I will be like Hasan bhai’, and recently he officially changed his name to Hasan. I cherish my friends like I cherish life.

Sonali Jaffar on Tujhse Hai Raabta coming to an end: It was a journey that I am glad we all were a part of

 Reem Shaikh and Sehban Azmi starrer Tujhse Hai Raabta goes off air. Actors, crew and the producers of the show Sonali Jaffar and Amir Jaffar bid an emotional adieu to the show that did well for the last three years.

 
“My take away from Tujhse Hai Raabta is that no matter how small a budget you have, no matter whether you are working with relatively newer people, your story will go a long way provided it’s told from the heart. And it’s the performances, presentation and relatable factor that do wonders. Raabta survived because it held on to all these things till the very end,” says producer and writer Sonali Jaffar.
 
Sharing memories of making the show, she reveals an incident about Arzan, the child artist who plays the role of Pilu. “Arzan spoke his first word and also took his first step on the set. There was like a crèche for him on the set and everyone was always pampering him. Watching Arzan grow up is an unforgettable memory for all of us. The most iconic scene for me was when Kalyani turns positive and I remember that we had got the tankers because there was rain needed for that scene. That was quite an emotional and interesting scene,” she adds.
 
Heaping praises on the lead actor Sehban and Reem, Sonali says, “Reem is like a child woman and Sehban is like a mature man, so I think it was the combination that couldn’t go wrong. He was mostly quiet, she was bubbly… basically they complimented each other.  I feel that it added a lot to their on screen chemistry and made their romance unique. Their chemistry grew as the show grew. Today they have become quite an iconic couple.”
 
Talking about how they have celebrated this journey so far and how emotional it was to say the final goodbye, Sonali shares, “I am a strong believer of the fact that you should be happy that a journey took place instead of just mourning about the fact that it has ended. When we had planned Tujhse Hai Raabta, I remember telling all the actors that the show will last about a year because that’s the length of the story we have to tell but see we worked for three long successful years and it’s been such a wonderful journey. Thanks to Zee TV for all the encouragement and support and the audience for their love. It was a journey that I am glad we all were a part of.”

Is there a possibility of a spin off or a second season of the show? “If we can figure out an equally compelling story to tell then of course I would like to work on the second season of Tujhse Hai Raabta. You never know what might happen next,” she concludes.

Friendship Day: Celebrities decode friendship

 s the world celebrates Friendship Day on August 1, celebrities share their thoughts on friendship and their best friends.

Zohaeb Farooqui:
Friends are my extended family
I’m the only child to my parents. I was raised in the hostel and I share a unique and emotional bond with my school friends. I call them my extended family.
There are four friends with whom I am close -- Ajinkya, Jay, Ankur & Krunal. They are the ones who have stood by me, laughed with me, cried with me and partied with me. They are my pillar of strength. I owe them my life and love them. Journey without them would have been boring.

Sneha Namanandi:
It is a very unique bond
For me friendship is a very unique bond. I have had all kinds of friends, who have supported me, been there for me, ditched me. But for me friendship is all about being there for your friend whenever he or she needs you. I am someone who will care a lot, go an extra mile or out of my way to help a friend.

I have a few special friends who are close to me. I don’t have any one name. Growing up, dogs have been around me and they have been my favourite companion. Polo, Tigger, Miguel, and Maui are my doggo friends.

Mahreen Khan:
An important relationship in my life
Friendship is a very important relationship in my life. I have been blessed with amazing people around me. It has been a beautiful journey with them. Friends teach you a lot. Major Bikramjeet was one of my closest friends ever. He was like my mentor and friend. Friendship is a very beautiful thing they make you whoever you are.

Harjinder Singh:
Friends keep you motivated
Friend is someone who has your back, no matter what. He will watch out for you and ensure you are not in danger alone. He will never purposely lead you into making decisions that aren't good for you. I share this bond with my best buddy Prateek. We don’t need words to communicate, just a look works. When it comes to Prateek, his belief in me always kept me focused. He repeatedly kept me motivated to never let my dream just go away.

Sharad Malhotra: 

Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend 

Karan Sethi & Prateek Chakraborty have been my friends for 10 years now. It started with my film From Sydney With Love and we ended up being more than family. We’ve had our shares of ups & downs, fights, arguments, mood swings, hibernations and misunderstandings too but at the end of the day we’re more than brothers taking care of each other’s backs. It’s bromance all the way. Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend and these two are my best buddies. Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.

Nivedita Basu:
Those who make you happier in your lowest days are true friends
I wonder why we celebrate these special days. If it's celebrated just on one day, then you have to remember and that's ironic. I think my friendship has more is to do with my parents, my husband and my in-laws. They are like the only permanents in your life. I don't have one friend but apart from that I have few close friends who've been with me for more than 20 years.

My child is my best friend right now because I spend most of my time with her. People who are there for you during your low days, matter to me the most because in happiness even a fake crowd shows up. So people who help you feel happier in your lowest days are true friends.

Chandni Soni:
Friends teach you how to fight with life
Neeraj Soni my husband, he's my bestie. I am not saying it because he's my husband. He is the only person in my life with whom I can share anything. Sometimes he just sees my face or mood and he understands my feelings. He's the only person who taught me so many things, like how to fight with life and he's the only person who handles me very well.

Chitra Vakil Sharma:
Friends stay with you at every stage of life

Friendship has different meanings for different people to me, for me it's a fantastic feeling. I am a people’s person and I have lots and lots of friends across the globe and I am regularly in touch with them. I know what my childhood friend is upto or what my former colleague is planning.

Having said that, we all have that one special friend in life who is always with you and that is my childhood friend Dr. Abhijit Bopardikar. He has been with me in every stage of life.

Friendship is undeniably a strongest and unbreakable bond that unites two individuals.

Nikki Tamboli: It was fun being candid with Mahreen Khan and spilling the beans about my lifestyle, fitness and more for my fans

 Bigg Boss season 14 contestant Nikki Tamboli was on the hot seat of Candid Yaari by Mahreen Khan recently. She shares having enjoyed being part of the chat show that is streamed on MX player and is inspired by Vogue’s popular ‘73 Questions’ format.
  “It was fun being candid with Mahreen and spilling the beans about my lifestyle, fitness and more for my fans. I feel such chat shows unveil a different personality of an actor. On-screen, we are actors entertaining our fans but while on a chat show we get to be ourselves, talk our hearts out and have a gala time answering some quirky questions that people who love us would like to know about us,” says the actor.  Speaking on Mahreen as a host, she adds, “Mahreen is talented and filled with good humour. I had a lot of fun talking to her. She made me feel comfortable, her questions were fun. So, all-in-all it was a great interaction.” Actors often dabble into anchoring. Nikki too would like to explore the possibilities in the future if good offers come her way. But at the moment she does not have much time at hand given her acting-related commitments.  “Well, I think if you’ve got it in you then why not give it a shot. Actors make terrific anchors too. The biggest examples are Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan sir… I am passionate about acting more than anything else. I love to act and play characters on screen showcasing different emotions. Anchoring isn’t something that I am thinking much about right now. But as they say, never say never,” she concludes.

International Friendship Day: Meera Deosthale says true friends protect you, they tell you when you’re wrong and never let’s anyone hurt you

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Friendship means being at ease around someone who understands you well, says Meera Deosthale. The actor says that a true friend is always there for you, no matter what. “True friends never leave your side, they are always there to support and guide you. They will also tell you when you are wrong but then won’t let anyone hurt you. They are those who always protect you. That's what friendship is to me,” says the actor, known for TV shows Udaan and Vidya.  Meera does not have a lot of friends. “I have a very small circle. But then that small circle is really important to me and there's not one person that can be left out because they all play different roles in my life. Whenever I have any kind of crisis, they are there,” she adds.  But the one person who has been consistent in Meera’s life firstly is her brother Aditya Deosthale . “He has been my friend since the day he was born and I have done all sorts of fun with him and have the fondest memories. Apart from that I have my childhood best friend Sanjana Udaar,” she shares,  "We have been friends for 15 years now. She's in Canada and every night we Facetime each other, though it's not necessary that we talk but we have to see each other. Sometimes the phone is on and we are just doing our own things but that's how it is, and that's what our friendship is. We tell each other everything. She is really special to me," she adds.   But what about friends in Mumbai? "This person is not just my best friend, but more like a family to me. She is Vinny (Arora Dhoopar). I met her five years ago on the sets of 'Udaan'. She and I talk every day. She has a little more experience in life than me. I think I am blessed to have her because there are times when I get stuck in life and she is always there to guide me and support me. I have these few people who are really important to me,” ends Meera.

Actor Sharad Kelkar shares how performing in an army uniform is always a great responsibility

 Celebrate India’s victory and the love for your country on 13th August with Bhuj: The Pride of India only on Disney+ Hotstar ~

 

This Independence Day weekend, celebrate India in all her glory, and revel in patriotism as Bhuj: The Pride of India is all set to release on Disney+ Hotstar on 13th August. Inspired by the story of real heroes, the movie is a timely reminder of the immense bravery shown by not just the armed forces, but also the ordinary women who helped win a war. Mounted on an epic scale, with a high production value, spectacular action visuals, and more, the much-awaited movie is all set to release on 13th August 2021 for all subscribers of Disney Hotstar

 

After playing some spectacular roles in his career, Actor Sharad Kelkar will now essay the role of an army officer in the much-anticipated film, Bhuj: The Pride of India.  Talking about his character RK Nair, the actor shares, "I think playing any character comes with its responsibilities. However, wearing a uniform or playing a character who has historic significance further adds to the responsibility. We need to keep in mind the honor that uniform or character carries and everything associated with it should be perfect. While playing the role of RK Nair and wearing the uniform of an Army man added different adrenaline to my acting. I have tried my best to achieve the determination and the spirit of the character in the film. I am looking forward to seeing the audience's reaction to the role!"

 

A Select Media Holdings LLP Production. Presented by T series and Ajay Devgn Ffilms, Bhuj: The Pride of India is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Ginny Khanuja, Vajir Singh, and Bunny Sanghavi. The film has been written by Abhishek Dudhaiya, Raman Kumar, Ritesh Shah, and Pooja Bhavoria directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya, and is all set to release on 13th August 2021 only for all subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar.

Taashaaa Hayaat files an FIR against KRK for molestation and harassment

 Upcoming singer and performer Taashaa Hayaat has filed an FIR against KRK who was recently embroiled in a controversy with Mika Singh. She has filed charges of harassment and sexual misconduct against KRK. KRK has a history of controversial engagements with many. Be it Mika Singh, Ajay Devgan, Vindu Dara Singh, Sharib Toshi or the brawl with Ali Quli Mirza, KRK has had a history of misdoings and that had to come to an end. 

Taking you to what she has said. Here it is, "When my song Zariya was released KRK made a good review video and it was really nice of him so after his several request to meet me, I thought to meet him and then he called to meet me at his bungalow. I went to his place, and he asked me to come in his room to meet him. He then asked me what can I do for him? I said I can do shows for him or sing in shows for free for him. He said you understand what people in the industry and asked me to compromise. I was leaving and he held my hand and I was hurt and tried to molest. He then said I can do anything to you and no one says a no to her. But then somehow I left and then he started calling me, abusing me, and threatening me that he would make videos against me. He harassed me and then I had to put an FIR against him. I have my respect and I can't say everything out there in the media that I have put in the FIR at Versova Police Station. I didn't speak about it to my family since I am from a conservative family. I know my limits and I know what can I do. He blackmailed me on phone and he used to call from his Dubai numbers to come and meet him. There are so many girls in Mumbai who are facing these and I want to tell them to get strong and not be abused or threatened by anyone. He has done this to not just me but to many. I have full faith in the judiciary. Everyone has a right to work and achieve something in life. And when monsters like KRK do things like this, it breaks them. He has done this to many. He has abused, threatened, lured, and whatnot. There are good people in the industry and it's our duty to make it cleaner. I want to give hope to all the girls. Carry on the hard work and never be pinned by such people. You have only trust your hard work and talent. And if it is meant for you, it will come."

Five times Vijayendra Kumeria nailed the blazer look

 The tall and handsome Vijayendra Kumeria has established himself as a successful actor in the industry. Soon after he featured in Udaan, the audience grew fond of him and his fan base grew by leaps and bounds with his portrayal of a blind photographer Darsh Rawal in his current show Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha. While we love how effortlessly he pulls off the role, his dressing style is something that always manages to grab the audience's attention, especially when he walks around in those stylish blazers like his second skin. So here are five of our favourite blazer looks of Vijayendra:

The pink zing: There is something so sexy about men wearing pink and Vijayendra's powder pink suit look is one of our favourites.  The powerful purple: The next on the list is Vijayendra's purple suit look. It's bold, it's colorful and it's striking.

The white sight: For one of the sequences in his show the actor wore a white tuxedo jacket. We have grown up watching the men in Hollywood flaunting this look several times and didn't we all love it? Well, Vijayendra too looks like nothing short of a dream here.

The blue blew: The colour blue symbolises calm and serenity, something that Vijayendra's name is synonymous to. So it won't be wrong in saying that the actor has blown away our minds with this look. The checked decked: Last on the list this three-piece checked suit that Vijayendra has posed in. Taking it a notch higher he ditched the normal pant and opted for joggers instead, and I am falling short of words to describe how gentlemanly and hot Vijayendra is looking here.  Do tell us which one is your favorite.

Kunal Thakkur: Since we’ve shifted to our new house, my wife and I are spending more time at home… our friends are complaining that it’s difficult to get us step out

 Kunal Thakur and wife bought their new place in Mumbai in December last year, and moved in soon after. Having spent months in the new place, the actor and his wife are happy to have got such a place for themselves.

“We bought our new house in December 2020, just after the first wave of Covid got over. Staying home for months together it kind of made me realise the importance of having a big house. My wife is a writer and was working from home. We felt we needed a bigger space and wanted to do it up with all things latest, hence we took the decision. A new home is like a new start. Since we’ve shifted, my wife and I are spending a lot of time at home and our friends are complaining that it’s difficult to get us to step out,” he laughs softly.
 
Kunal’s new house is in Transcon Triumph, which is one of the best housing complexes in Andheri. Celebrities like choreographer Bosco Martin, lyricist Sameer Anjaan, singer Arman Malik and Palak Munchal, actor Akshay Kumar, among others have apartments in this building.
 
Talking about how easy or difficult it was to buy and shift to a new house during the pandemic, the actor shares that it was quite a challenging experience.

“But the fun part was doing up our new home during the second lockdown. I got my friend Rewanth Dutta on board as an interior decorator and my cousin Bhavna Mehta as our vastu consultant. It gave us a sense of security having our people do our home. They have both done a great job. My wife is very creative and she knew exactly how she wanted the house to look like. It's a beautiful mix of colours and textures, well lit, cozy yet opulent. We call our home ‘our beautiful chaos’. It was challenging to get anything on time as shops were shut and we would have to make choices seeing pictures and videos. But I guess it was all worth it when I saw the end result,” he adds.
 
Meanwhile, on the work front, Kunal is busy with the third season of Tennis Premier League (TPL) that he co-owns with actor Mrunal Jain.  “We were going to hold the third season in a big way in December. Tpl is growing every year and is gaining immense support and popularity. We are looking at a much bigger season this time and have also roped in some international players as promised. We will be holding a live telecast and for sure you can look forward to some pulsating action. Apart from that, I'm filming the last few scenes with Jaaved Jaaferi, Siddharth and Waluscha De Sousa for my web debut Escaype Live for Hotstar. It is expected to release at the end of this year,” says the actor, who has done TV shows such as Bandini, Koi Aane ko Hai, Mahabharat, Sarvagun Sampann and films, Blue Umbrella, The Expose and Kabir Singh. His last project was Xpose a film.

Kriti Sanon, Janhvi Kapoor, Elnaaz Norouzi – Actress Who Gave Solid Performances In 2021

 Right from Kriti Sanon’s latest flick Mimi to Elnaaz Norouzi’s Chutzpah, we bring you the list of actresses who gave solid performances in 2021.

First seven months of 2021 has been a wonderful time for OTT platforms, thanks to the pandemic. Due to COVID-19, we often saw many filmmakers opting for direct-to-web releases for their upcoming films and web shows rather than waiting for theaters to reopen, which were banned to curb the deadly virus. For the past few months, be it a web show or a Bollywood flick, we have been glued to our television screens and binge-watch like there’s no tomorrow. Right from Kriti Sanon’s latest flick Mimi to Priyanka Chopra’s The White Tiger and Elnaaz Norouzi’s Chutzpah to Janhvi Kapoor’s Roohi, we bring you the list of actresses who gave solid performances in 2021.

Janhvi Kapoor – Roohi: After Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Janhvi Kapoor returned to the OTT platform Netflix with Hardik Mehta’s Roohi. The horror comedy-drama, which also stars Varun Sharma and Rajkummar Rao in the lead roles, garnered rave reviews and was being applauded by one and all in the industry. In Roohi, Janhvi’s spooky yet coy character got everyone talking about her solid performance.  

Elnaaz Norouzi – Chutzpah: Elnaaz Norouzi makes a strong case with her rather complex character in the just-released series Chutzpah. Helmed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, the web show also stars Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh, Aashima Mahajan, Ashwin Kaushal, among others in the lead roles. While it was a bold choice to commit to playing a Cam-Girl, the new-age versatile actress makes it look effortless on screen. Apart from playing an unconventional role, what stunned the audience and critics was the range of diversity portrayed by the actress. With the series, the powerhouse of talent has registered herself as one of few actresses who have taken up such a challenge.

Kriti Sanon – Mimi: It’s hardly been a few days since Kriti Sanon starrer Mimi has been released on the OTT platform Netflix. Helmed by Laxman Utekar, the film revolves around Mimi’s character who agrees to become a surrogate mother to an American couple. However, things turn upside down for Kriti’s character when the American couple decides to ditch her surrogacy. While the industry and Twitterverse continue to laud Kriti Sanon’s performance, it goes without saying that Mimi has delivered a rock-solid performance.

Parineeti Chopra – Saina: Helmed by Amole Gupte, Parineeti Chopra plays the Badminton star in the biopic, which hit the OTT platform Amazon Prime on April 23. Parineeti’s portrayal of Saina Nehwal was a potentially motivating film that was lauded by one and all in the industry. To step into the shoes of Saina Nehwal, Parineeti kept her fans updated by sharing pictures and videos of her journey while shooting for such an inspirational story.

Shaheer Sheikh: Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi is relatable… TV demands such content, the over-the-top approach needs to make way for reality

 The new season of Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi (KRPKAB) is back and fans can’t keep calm. Actors of the show are equally excited to be a part of yet another beautiful narrative high on emotion. Shaheer Sheikh, who along with Erica Fernandes and Supriya Pilgaonkar, reprised his character in the third season of this Yash Patnaik and Mamta Patnaik's show sounds excited talking about the third season. In fact, he shares that the team of the KRPKAB is like family, which is why working on the latest season felt like they never left home.

 
“The initial experience of déjà vu gave way to all of us feeling like we never stopped and just continuing with the same story, just that the time has changed. In fact, at times it felt like we’ve been shooting all this while. Starting at the point where we left the story, equations and bonds made the journey special,” he says.  Shaheer then speaks about his character on the show, Dev. “The show is relatable in the way that it makes you feel like such incidents and issues often happen around you or have been faced by a family member, relative or a friend. It’s a good thing because TV demands such content, the over-the-top approach needs to make way for reality. As far as my character is concerned, Dev hasn't changed a bit, but his equation with other characters has changed a little. We’re trying to show that with time how a relationship evolves and what all happens a few years down the line after marriage. That is something I feel we don’t explore much on television.”
 
While he is happy with how his onscreen character has grown over time, the actor confesses that he doesn’t relate to his character. “Dev is very complicated, and I am a very simple and straightforward guy. However, Dev has taught me a lot like how can I deal with certain kinds of people in a better way or how to manage different things at the same time,” shares the actor, also known for TV shows such as Kya Mast Hai Life, Navya..Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal and Mahabharat.   The ongoing season of the show went on floors in Siliguri as during that time the Maharashtra government had out restrictions on shooting in the state due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Shaheer says that it was a refreshing and welcome change to shoot in a serene location like Siliguri.
 
“Though we were shooting in a bubble, it was a good change for me. The place is beautiful and we all had a good time. Since the entire cast and crew put up at the same place, it felt like a nice vacation,” he recalls.  Much like the two earlier successful seasons, this time too hopes are running high. “Yes, of course, there’s an added pressure. The writers and even the actors have to live up to the expectations of the audience in the first two seasons. And this time too, the writers have done their job well and have come up with a very good storyline taking the narrative forward. We are hopeful that the viewers will like the third season. They have showered us with so much love and support, there is no way we want to let them down,” he ends. Yash and Mamta Patnaik's Beyond Dreams is known for producing quality content and know the pulse of the audience. 

Dipna Patel on International Friendship Day: No one understands me better than my best friends Ashish Katara and Tanvika Patel

 Friendship means being there for your friend in good and bad times, says Dipna Patel on the occasion of International Friendship Day. The Shubharambh actor shares that a true friend helps one become better human beings.

 

“As we grow and evolve our friends change and most of the times it’s for the better. I would like to mention my best friend from college Ashish Katara here. He was my senior and has been a rock solid support towards my dreams. In high school, I was a part of an unhealthy friend circle and there was negative peer pressure and that affected my confidence. After my entry into NIFT, Gandhinagar, everything changed for the better. Our friendship started when Ashish along with some other seniors were ragging us juniors. It was a healthy and fun sort of ragging,” she reveals.
 
 
Dipna shares that her best friends, Ashish and Tanvika Patel, understood her really well.  
“I had a hidden dream that my parents also didn’t have an idea about and that was to apply for Miss India pageant. Tanvika and Ashish are two friends who really believed in my potential when no one did. I still remember, while studying, I decided to try for the ‘Miss India’ pageant but I knew I needed to work on my grooming and communication to stand at par with other girls. So one day I decided to go to Mumbai to meet a pageant coach and get a portfolio done without telling my parents, who were in my hometown Baroda. And it was a last minute decision with no time to take a flight and it was Ashish who made me sit in a Volvo Bus from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, and encouraged my dream, when I wasn’t confident enough,” she shares.


Later of course, Dipna told her parents and they took time but eventually supported her and understood that she was very serious about her dream. On the other hand, Tanvika, who was her batchmate, photoshopped a photo of Dipna with a crown and wrote Miss Universe on it so that she could see that every day and make it a reality.

“Eventually I ended up winning Miss Universe India 2012, 2nd runner up title, which is alternatively called ‘Miss Asia Pacific India’. And Ashish and Tanvika were equally happy as if they won it too. These bonds are so special and it’s their love and belief in me that pushed me to do better. We three are in different cities now but I’m in touch with them and will be there for them whenever they need me. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” she concludes.

Zee TV’s Tujhse Hai Raabta bids a heartfelt adieu after 3 successful years

 Zee TV’s Tujhse Hai Raabta bids a heartfelt adieu after 3 successful years

 

~The show will air its last episode on 31st July 2021~ 

 

Zee TV’s popular fiction show, Tujhse Hai Raabta, has received immense love from the audience courtesy its consistent unique and intriguing storyline. From entertaining the viewers with its unique concept, to making everyone fall in love with their characters, the show has been well appreciated by the audience in the past 3 years. In fact, Malhar Rane (Sehban Azim) and Kalyani Rane’s (Reem Shaikh) stunning chemistry became the talk of telly town and the duo eventually emerged as one of the best Jodis of the television industry. After entertaining the viewers with interesting twists and turns in the story for nearly 3 years, the show is now all set to bid adieu and will be replaced by Zee TV’s new fiction property Bhagya Lakshmi which will air at 8:30 pm, every Monday to Saturday, only on Zee TV.  

 

During Tujhse Hai Raabta’s three-year stint, the show welcomed many interesting and well-defined characters that were convincingly played by some very talented actors like Reem Shaikh, Sehban Azim, Poorva Gokhale, Shagun Pandey, Rajat Dahiya, Savita Prabhune, Vaidika Senjaliya and many more. Wrapping up memories and moments of nearly 3 years, the entire cast and crew bid a heartfelt farewell to each other on the set while wiping away tears of joy.    

 

Nostalgic and overwhelmed at bidding adieu to her show, Reem said “I literally could not control my tears when I got to know that the journey with Tujhse Hai Raabta is all set to come to an end. The show’s immense success has honestly added a lot to my career, and I have literally evolved and grown as an actor with this show. Whenever I feel like looking back at my growing years, I glance through some of the old episodes of the show which always get me nostalgic.  I must say that my journey with Kalyani has been beautifully captured in these 3 years and I believe I have been able to perform this character only because of the people who dearly supported me in this journey. I have had the chance to meet the most amazing set of people during my growing years right from my best friend, Sehban to Poorva di, Rajat, Shagun, Milind uncle and Savita Tai. They have given me so much love and have taught me how to deal with things in life. The show has always been a part of me, and although I feel like I'm losing it now, I am really glad that character and show like this happened. Kalyani and Malhar, Kalma and Raabta lives forever!”  

Sharing his thoughts about his journey, Sehban revealed “I still remember the day when I was selected for the lead role in Tujhse Hai Raabta and I must say that Malhar has been one of the most interesting characters I have essayed so far. I have learnt a lot from him, and this three-year journey has been such a beautiful and unforgettable one. The show has given me more than I could ask for, from the people and best cast to the best character of Malhar Rane. I cherish every moment spent on the sets of Tujhse Hai Raabta. At first, we indeed felt bad about the show hitting its end, but then, as they say, everything good comes to an end. So, we decided to take it in a positive way and bid adieu to this show and the journey happily. I will be forever grateful to my team for supporting and giving this character all that it needed to be loved by the viewers. I especially want to thank the audience for showering us with so much love and I hope they’ll keep loving us in future too”  

 

Keep reading this space to know more about your favourite shows on Zee TV! 

 

Friendship Day: Somy Ali says we have tons of fair-weather friends, but closest are the ones who never leave our side

 For Somy Ali, true friendship is when you need someone during a really bad phase in your life and they give up everything and come to your aid. The actor-turned-humanitarian shares that friends who prioritize you more than anything else and support you during your troubled times are rare to find.

 
“We all have tons of fair-weather friends whom we party with and maybe even gossip with. But, I prefer being my own best friend rather than to the former and call those my friends who are there for me always, no matter the day, time, occasion or distance between us,” she says talking on the occasion of International Friendship Day.
 
Sharing the unique friendship she cherishes in her life, Somy adds that all ‘No More Tears’ Donors are her real friends. “I have not met many of them nor do I know them personally, but that has no significance to the bond we share. They believe in my cause, thus believe in me, which proves that they care about me and my mission. My take on friendship is those who believe in what I get out of bed for each morning,” she puts it straight.
 
Can there be life without friends? And, she replies, “Definitely! I am an introvert by nature and my time from Monday to Sunday is spent with victims therefore, I am a living example of one who has acquaintances, but not any specific best friends.”
 
There are people who don’t believe in friendship. But Somy does not belong to that group. “I believe in friendship only if one is lucky enough to find a genuine one. At the risk of sounding extremely pessimistic, it is difficult to find genuine and unselfish people in our world. Again, having said that, it does not mean that there are others who have not found true friends. I am happy for those individuals,” she clarifies.
 
But more than anything else, she does not believe in all these special days being celebrated. And, she does not believe in friendship day too. “I find days dedicated to anything relevant to our emotional attachments completely ridiculous. In my opinion, these days are all economical boosts. Our parents don’t need a specific day to know that they mean the world to us and nor do our siblings and friends,” she signs 

Parull Chaudhry: Indian population is huge and it’ll take time to get everyone vaccinated, so we can’t blame the government

 Amid the ongoing pandemic, vaccination in time is our only saving grace. The government introduced phase wise vaccination in India started in January this year began with frontline and health workers, followed by senior citizens and then it opened for those about 45 years old. Early last month, the government announced free vaccination for all above the age of 18. However, vaccine shortage is a sad reality. Many are of the opinion that vaccination should have been open to all from the beginning, while others support the government’s way of working things out. Actor Parull Chaudhry too voices her support to the government while expressing her concern over the situation.

 
“I don’t think we can’t blame the government for this. Indian population is huge so it is practically not possible to get everyone vaccinated so soon and also at the same time. We have two or three vaccines available and the system is trying to do its best but this will take time. We have to go stepwise to avoid confusion,” says the actor known for TV shows Divya-Drishti, Anupamaa and Kasautii Zindagi Kay (second season).
 
Parull is yet to be vaccinated. She had tested positive for the virus in the month of April, hence the actor-anchor will have to wait for three months before she can take the jabs.

 “I have been getting my antibodies test and the level is fine right now. My antibodies have to drop below 80 for me to get vaccinated. If I get vaccinated right now it won’t help because I already have antibodies in my system,” she adds.

The actor agrees that the pandemic has made us realise the importance of our health. “Now most of us are trying to eat right and exercising as well. Lot of people have suffered financially but then again ‘jaan hai toh jahan hai’. If you survive this pandemic then you have still got the chance to build everything again. It’s important to stay fit and fight this virus. I have always stressed on eating healthy. I guess that’s why the virus, thankfully, did not affect me much,” she shares.
 
Speaking on how this crisis has affected the global economy, she highlights how these turbulent times are affecting our collective mental health.
 
“We’ve to keep ourselves busy in every possible way, I’m doing the same. My Instagram became super active as I wanted to create stuff that cheered people. I’ve been home for almost a year after Kasautii… went off air, so it is difficult for me too… So, I’ve tried reaching out to as many people as possible to find out how they are doing. This has definitely been a life lesson. I’ve cut down on so many unnecessary expenses. In a way we should be thankful that this pandemic has opened our eyes to what we were doing wrong especially in the way we were dealing with Mother Nature. I also think we can’t just blame the government. We also have to be responsible and take care of our health and our loved ones. We must follow precautions and be there for each other,” she reasons.

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Everyone has watched porn at some point in their life: Vivaan Arora

 Raj Kundra's arrest for his alleged involvement in the adult film racket shook the entertainment industry. Sharing his opinion on the case, actor Vivaan Arora, who has been a part of TV show like "Aahat", "SuperCops vs Supervillains", and "Khushiyon Kii Gullak Aashi", to name a few, said that if the adult film was shot against someone's consent then they should be charged for it.

He said, "Everyone has watched porn at some point in their life, and some continue to watch it all their life. It just depends on the person. But as far as Raj Kundra's case is concerned, honestly, I don't know the whole story, but if a girl has done it on her own will, I don't think anyone should have a problem with it."

"But, if it was shot against her will and consent in the name of contract or blackmailed on the basis of releasing their photographs, then that's wrong. They should be charged for it, and strict action must be taken against them," he added.

Though watching pornographic content in private is not banned in India, publishing or transmitting it in electronic form is illegal. Talking about it, the actor said, "There are websites where you can watch porn. If it's illegal, or if it is banned, then it should have been imposed properly, like Dubai."

"Also, I feel, if you have banned something, people see an opportunity in it. They feel they can do something different in it. So they should make stricter laws for it because we don't have a strong internet power," he added. 

Vivaan also expressed his views on the bold content on the web these days, he feels that such scenes are used when people don't have a good content with them. 

"Bold scenes on the web are common without any reason. It's like you sell sex only if you don't have content. They get a beautiful girl on-board, they pay her well and use her for creating such content. There are so many OTT platforms where they put such scenes even if it is not required. They should take inspiration from series like Special Ops, The Family Man, etc., and see that even without such bold content they can make a good show. But sex is easy money, and people here don't like to do hard work," he concluded

Want to play varied roles and plan to direct too: Actor Jai Singh

 For an outsider like Jai Singh entering the entertainment industry and working with biggies like Ekta Kapoor in the initial days of his career is nothing short of a miracle and the actor says he is determined to prove his versatility in the coming years.

Jai made his debut in Hindi TV show with Ekta Kapoor-backed “Pavitra Bhagya” and is also seen in “Ishq Par Zor Nahi”. Talking about his career goals, he says, “I remember I was told I wouldn’t get work in Mumbai, but here I am thanking my stars every day. I am happy where I am today.

I see myself as a more matured individual, growing as an actor and doing varied roles. I also see myself hosting shows, as that is one of my fortes. I also plan to write and direct eventually.”

The actor believes he was destined to do the popular daily soap “Pavitra Bhagya”, starring Aneri Vajani, Kunal Jaisingh,  and Riva Arora. He recalls, “I was in Mumbai for an ad shoot and had sent my pictures to the creative head of the production house. I was watching ‘Bala’ when I got a call from them. I left the film in between, gave the audition, and had a gut feeling that I would get the part. And that’s what happened. I am thankful that I started with Balaji Telefilms and Ekta Kapoor ma’am.”

The actor is currently seen playing the role of a billionaire in Param Singh and Akshita Mudgal-starrer show “Ishq Par Zor Nahi”. “IPZN is my second show and by the grace of God, this also happens to be with a big banner like ‘Four Lions’, under Gul Khan ma’am. My entry happened after the leap, and I am overwhelmed with the love that I have received from the audience for my role of Viren Mehta,” he says.

Talking about his role in the show, Jai says, “Initially, my character was of a loving and caring man but after Ahaan (played by Param Singh) mistreated my onscreen daughter Rhea repeatedly, my character turned negative. I have loved portraying both facets of the character.”

Kolkata-born Jai said is grateful not only to his fans and well-wishers but his family too for their unending love and support. He shares that he has been fascinated with acting since his growing up years and that both his mother and sister, who are school teachers, pushed him for extracurricular activities.

“I have been drawn towards cultural events. I have an affinity for performing arts as I happily took to stage at every given opportunity. I’ve anchored many TV and stage shows, and did theatre as well,” he adds. He later took acting lessons from well-known director, Dinen Gupto, and made his TV debut with his tele-film ‘Baadi Bodol’ for ETV Bangla.

Talking about his work life before shifting base to Mumbai, Jai says, “I shared screen space with the legendary Soumitra Chatterjee for the telefilm ‘Swapner Pakhi Gulo’, and did a film called Zee5 ‘Satyameva Jayate’ with Arindam Seal. Capitalizing my love for stage, I then starting my arts academy, named Applaud, where I conceptualize, choreograph, and produce shows for children. I feel I’ve received much more love from Bengal than I deserve.”  In 2008, Jai enrolled at Anupam Kher's acting school, 'Actor Prepares'.

“I owe it to my mom for giving me the wings to fly to Mumbai and my guru, Mr. Yashraj Jadhav. 2018 was the year when I feel the universe conspired as I got the opportunity to do TV commercials with bigwigs like Sourav Ganguly, Dabbu Ratnani, Meghna Gulzar and Shoojit Sircar, and after that there was no looking back,” Jai adds.

Shobhit Johri: When I’m sad or missing something in life I usually listen to Bon Jovi’s Bed of Roses

 Shobhit Johri says “music is literally the soul” of his body. The actor has a knack for good music. He reveals that music has been a very integral part of my growing up because every member of his family is fond of music.

 
“Music changes my mood. There are days and nights when I am constantly listening to songs, frantically searching for that one song which will hit my mind. It might sound crazy, but I do it,” shares the actor, who is very fond of rock music.
 
“I love rock music. I am crazy about it. It's the genre that had me hooked during my college days and has still stayed with me. Apart from rock , 90s Bollywood is my other favourite. Bon Jovi is my all time favourite singer. When I am sad or missing something in life I usually listen to his Bed of Roses. From 90s Bollywood, there many songs that I love, but the one song I keep going back to is Woh Toh Hai Albela from Kabhi Haan Kabhi naa,” he says.
 
 
The actor knows how to play the guitar. “I learnt to play it while in college. Guess it's the time when you want to try new cool things and guitar was one of them. Also, I used to participate in school and college functions. I was actively involved with the cultural group of my college. I was part of their plays and also played the guitar,” he shares.
 
Sometime back, music was only available on audio cassettes and CDs. But now, thanks to the internet, all kinds of music are just a click away on our phones. “How can anyone forget the fun of playing songs on an audio cassette on both sides and then fixing the reel? Oh, thinking about all those days makes me nostalgic. Now times have changed, all music are available on our mobiles. But you know somewhere I believe that when a thing is not easily available it has much higher value like those limited cassettes. I still have a few of them in my house,” he adds

Actor Aishwarya Khare draws inspiration from COVID Heroes of India for her title role in Zee TV’s upcoming show Bhagya Lakshmi, salutes them with a Goddess Lakshmi idol

 After several super-successful collaborations such as Hum Paanch, Pavitra Rishta, Jodha Akbar, Kumkum Bhagya, Kundali Bhagya, and Brahmarakshas, Zee TV and Balaji Telefilms are all set to present viewers with an exciting new story about life, love, karma, and destiny – Bhagya Lakshmi, starting 3rd August and airing every Monday to Saturday at 8:30 PM on Zee TV. Set in Mumbai, Zee TV’s Bhagya Lakshmi will follow the journey of Lakshmi, a selfless girl of limited means, who despite her humble background and the curveballs life has thrown at her, always puts others’ needs before hers. Essaying this character will be none other than the popular television actress Aishwarya Khare who is all excited to begin her journey with this new role. In fact, Aishwarya has already begun her preparations and has found a rather unique way of getting into the skin of her character.   

 

To feel truly inspired and find a special, deep-rooted connection with Lakshmi’s character, Aishwarya decided to reach out to some truly exceptional COVID heroes from across India who embody her character Lakshmi’s selfless spirit and in the course of the pandemic, have prioritized the needs of others before themselves, put themselves at risk and helped humanity in a significant way. During her search, Lakshmi came across Javed Khan from Bhopal, Abhishek Gupta of Lucknow, Harsh and his mother Heena Mandavia of Mumbai, and Sourav and his mother Lakshmi Das from Delhi and spoke to them about their selfless journeys, reinforcing her faith that kindness still exists! 

    

Eager to hear his story, Aishwarya met Bhopal’s brave COVID hero - Javed Khan, an autorickshaw driver who converted his auto into a free ambulance to transport COVID patients who had no means to even get to a hospital for critical care. Javed told Aishwarya that he sold his wife’s jewelry to convert his auto into an ambulance. In his auto, he arranged for a sanitizer, an oxygen cylinder, a PPE suit, and some medicines to serve as a functional ambulance. At a time when everyone was hesitant to provide any kind of physical help to each other, it was Javed’s courageous act that helped him save the lives of more than 300 patients in Bhopal. Upon meeting Aishwarya, the young COVID hero said, “Somebody had to take the patients to the hospital, then I thought - why not me?”

 

Aishwarya also met Lucknow’s Abhishek Gupta who along with his friends helped conduct the final rites of several deceased COVID patients. At a time when families were not allowed to cremate their loved ones following a COVID death due to medical protocols, Abhishek and his friends volunteered to fulfil their last rites at their own expense, putting their own lives at risk. For this reason, a lot of families of Lucknow city will forever be grateful to Abhishek and his friends.

 

Aishwarya also happened to connect with Mumbai’s Harsh Mandavia and his mother Ms Heena Mandavia whose tiffin service distributed more than 27,000 meals, 65,000 tawa rotis, 8000 home-made sweets and 1000 immunity booster balls to the needy during the pandemic and still continue to feed the needy, every week, if not daily. Since then, this mother and son duo have been winning the hearts of many people with their selfless service. In fact, they also won Aishwarya Khare’s heart when they got her special homemade sugar free sweets for her and the entire team.   

 

She also met Delhi’s Sourav Das, a selfless COVID Hero, who along with his mother Lakshmi Das decided to help many disadvantaged people in society with the distribution of free masks. During the initial phase of the lockdown, Sourav felt that there was an immense dearth of affordable, good quality and comfortable masks for the underprivileged. That’s when the idea of distributing free masks and setting up contactless mask dispensers across Delhi came to him. Being an adept seamstress, his mother Lakshi tailored these masks at home herself and he streamlined the delivery mechanism. Speaking more about his initiative – ‘Pick One, stay safe’ during his conversation with Aishwarya, Sourav said his mother and he had distributed 2200 free masks in less than 2 months and the number keeps increasing month on month. He also happened to reveal the various challenges that he faced during his journey. However, he also mentioned that no challenge was big enough to make him take a step back from helping people around him.   

 

Deeply moved by each of their heart-warming stories and kind gestures towards helping people during the most difficult times, Aishwarya gifted these COVID Heroes a Lakshmi Murti as a token of appreciation and also wished them a blessed future.   

 

Talking about her experience of meeting all these COVID Heroes and seeking inspiration from them, Aishwarya mentioned, “Since my childhood, we’ve always read about or watched superheroes like Superman, Spiderman, Shaktiman in awe. But during a crisis like the COVID pandemic, it was gems like Javed, Abhishek, Harsh and Sourav who devoted all their time to help people in need. I feel these are the real heroes that we must look up to and try to imbibe some of their selfless traits. After hearing their stories, main kartihoon #NekiParYakeen and I feel deeply connected with Lakshmi’s selfless journey and that being kind to others is a way of life for some of these ‘real-life Lakshmis’ that I met as a part of my preparation for the role. Now I truly believe that every covid warrior’s journey is quite similar to Lakshmi’s life where the thought is simple: Nekikardariyameindaal. I am really delighted to see how their efforts have paid off and brought them so many blessings from people around them. I just hope their stories inspire many more people just the way they inspired me, I sincerely believe that we need many more people as such in our country.” 

 

Auron ki khatirjeenahaijiskitaseer, kuchkhaas hi likhihogirab ne uskitaqdeer  

   

Tune into Bhagya Lakshmi, starting 3rd August, Monday to Saturday at 8:30 pm, only on Zee TV