Raju Shrestha: Ziddi Dil Maane Na is doing well with the youth because it’s not like those regular daily soaps that harps on the same story and drama

Raju Shrestha is new in Sudhir Sharma and Seema Sharma’s TV show Ziddi Dil Maane Na (ZDMN). The actor plays the role of Prem in the daily. The actor shares the kind of positive feedback he has been receiving for his role enthuses him to do better.
 
“The response I’m getting is very good. It is being watched by the youth as they are the target audience of ZDMN. Thankfully, the concept, presentation and performances have hit the bull’s eye. The TRPs are only getting better. It feels good when your effort gets appreciated,” he says.
 
The actor, who has started his journey as a child artist and has been a part of a number of Bollywood classics including the likes of Bawarchi (1972), Amar Prem (1972), Chitchor and Abhimaan (1973). He has also done a number of popular Hindi TV shows. Raju is known for his acting prowess and the kind of work he associates himself with.
 
Sharing how things worked out for him with ZDMN and why the show is doing well, he adds, “They wanted a new twist, add to the shock factor but in a subtle way by making someone new enter the show. That’s SAB TV’s style. And, this is the reason why I got on board… I auditioned for Prem character and it worked out pretty well… This show is Sudhir and Seema’s creative brainchild. They've thought on a different level and it’s quite unique in its own way and that’s why it is doing so well. Otherwise in daily soaps, the same story and drama gets repeated. The young audiences who are into reality shows like Roadies and therefore like the concept, feel of ZDMN. We've just started but it's been good so far.”
 
About how much he relates to his character, Raju says, “I play the role of an actor who has come here to train in the Parakram Academy. I relate to this character well, more so, because I come from a Bollywood background. I have done more than 150 films and thousands of episodes. My experiences have also helped me in getting into the skin of the character. I’m trying to get a little filmy in this show.”
 
Praising the producers of the show, Raju reasons why the show has been touching the right chord with the audience.
 
“Both Sudhir and Seema are warm, friendly and approachable. You can talk to them about any issue and they will help you. It’s nice to collaborate with such professional people. My last show on &TV was with Amir Jaffar. He was also nice and kind. After so many years of my television career, I've met these nice people and enjoy working with them. They know how to treat their actors,” he ends.

Actor Sharad Malhorta to showcase Heroic Avatar in ‘Vidrohi’

 

Star Plus announced the advent of a new journey by taking viewers one step closer to Indian history with their upcoming show ‘Vidrohi’. When a Freedom Fighter is so great, his story must be told. In keeping with the pulse of the audience, ‘Vidrohi’ narrates the valor and greatness of India’s First Freedom Fighter Baxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara whose story was downplayed by the Britishers while rewriting history. The show is being produced by Gaatha Films, LLP and makers have roped in versatile actor Sharad Malhorta to play the role of Baxi Jagabandhu.

 

Indian Television’s heartthrob Sharad Malhorta has audiences hooked with his portrayal in popular shows and his fans are eagerly waiting to see him in this new role. Sharad will be seen playing the role of a dedicated, selfless, and daring freedom fighter who is ready to go to any extent to protect his motherland and his people.

 

Pleased about the role, Sharad shares why he was excited to play this epic character. He says, “It’s a monumental character. When the character has huge potential, automatically the job of the actor becomes a huge responsibility. An actor is always greedy for good content and a show like ‘Vidrohi’ doesn't happen every day. But what drew me towards the story was the selflessness of the character Baxi Jagabandhu and I wanted the nation to know about this legendary hero from the lands of Orissa. It is very exciting to be in a period drama like Vidrohi. Such a show has its own challenges; one must work hard to ensure that you don’t just embrace the character you are playing, you also have to understand the smaller nuances of the period to deliver an authentic experience. I feel honored to be a part of this show. I am super excited to play this character onscreen since my role has a lot of variations. Above all, I'm glad to be back on the sets and shooting in this new normal. I hope viewers and fans continue to shower their love and appreciation as I embark on a new journey."

 

Sharad Malhotra has been a part of the television industry for quite more than a decade now and is a big hit with the audience for his portrayal in various shows. With Vidrohi, he gets another chance at charming his way into the hearts of his audience.

 

This October tune in to watch Vidrohi only on Star Plus!

 

 

Celebrities cheer as life slowly gets back to normal, malls and restaurants have reopened and theatre opening announcement is also done!

 With the number of cases going down, people in India are slowly getting back to their earlier lifestyle. Malls have reopened for fully vaccinated people, and restaurants too are functional till 10 pm. Like everyone else, this back-to-normalcy feel is making celebrities happy as well. They talk about whether they will visit restaurants, malls, theatres, show much they have been missing the experience, and what more they are planning to do now when they are able to step out. Read on:

 
Delnaaz Irani
I am super excited... I think it’s only fair that everybody gets a fair chance to earn. Malls are opening up, restaurants have opened doors, and the time has been extended, so it's lovely. I am fully vaccinated, so yes I can go shopping at my favourite mall which is very close to my house. I am very thrilled about it. I think life should come back to normal and we all should quickly get vaccinated, that is our responsibility as well. Everything cannot be put on the other side, I think as citizens we also need to cooperate with the government for our own safety and the one thing that we can do is get vaccinated. We must also take care of when we are stepping out, how we are travelling, mask should be on, sanitise and maintain distance. This virus is here to stay for how long we don’t know, and like the way we kind of surpassed this beautifully, this too shall pass. All and all I am very happy and will soon start visiting restaurants and theatres.
 
Parull Chaudhry
I am so happy with this decision and things opening up. I even can’t remember when was the last time I went to a restaurant or to a mall. This February, before the second lockdown, during my birthday, I went to a restaurant. This indeed is a welcome change by the government and I am happy that they have made fully-vaccinated clause compulsory. At this point of time I have to wait because my second dose is left. I hope people will be more responsible now as we have to control the spread of this deadly virus. This Independence Day, we literally got the freedom to go out and enjoy under certain rules and regulations.

Nivedita Basu
I don’t know if it’s a good idea to open malls because the delta variant has just about set its foot in Mumbai, Maharashtra, now because some people have stopped wearing masks, unfortunately. Whenever I step out of work, 60% of the people are not even wearing masks. I don’t know how soon another lockdown is happening. Restaurants are fine because they can still control the number of people coming in only and with the time extending things would be better. I think more people can now come to a restaurant and instead of waiting outside and crowding they can just space up and probably make it from 100% to 70-80% so that everyone's happy, able to enjoy and earn too. We all have been missing out on earlier life, especially children. My daughter misses going out. Many children have not been to school, don't know friends, haven’t developed social skills and have been only subjected to online study. But I am still worried about children stepping out, especially after what happened in Bengaluru, where 300 kids between the ages of 10 and 12 years, got infected by the virus when schools restarted. The delta variant apparently affects the kids more. I hope these people who wanted these malls and restaurants to open will also take precautions because it's not just their safety, one small mistake might put many other lives at risk. I will go and watch films with my friends.

Chitra Vakil Sharma
Finally the feeling of a comeback is happening and I am going to go back to shopping and dine out. It's important to start living normally once you are fully vaccinated and of course with precautions and following the other necessary norms. We are living life in fear and we need to be out of it soon. I am definitely missing going to restros with family and friends. Every Sunday evening meal would be a family meal. My hubby, Ajay, our daughter, Tanvi, and I, would go to a new restaurant and explore the feeling of normalcy again. Shopping to me is therapy. And a foodie like me loves to try new cuisines. I am fully vaccinated and take all precautions. As long as we follow norms and become socially responsible we may soon start living life without these restrictions. We are happy that our time of taking holidays, weekend outings, shopping and eating etc is back. I will go and watch Sooryavanshi with my sister Rohini Vakil.

Kaveri Priyam
Yes indeed we all are waiting for normalcy. We all were actually craving it for a really long time now. Malls being open are a good thing and that too for only fully vaccinated people makes us feel all the more secure. It's good news. I would love to visit the mall because I am fully vaccinated now. Even people who have been working and earning and doing their jobs in malls and supermarkets and its good for them as well. Theatres were missed big time. There is no substitute for watching films in theatres.

Hasan Zaidi
Well, I think it’s a welcome change more than anything else. We have suffered for a long time and most of us have been taking precautions. The virus has created havoc but we have systems in place, we have all the checks done. We citizens need to be responsible. On the other hand, the economics of the world, especially the hospitality sector, has been devastated. It is one sector which has been completely annihilated. It's a positive change that everyone is slowly being allowed to earn again. But you have to wear your mask, sanitise and maintain distance. You cannot live under fear and threat throughout because that in any case is a negative emotion and state of being. Know about your fears, be responsible but move on in life as we say in our line of work, the show must go on. I hope businesses bounce back. When businesses bounce back, people bounce back, the nation bounces back and we head towards a better future. I am looking forward to watching films in theatre.
Smita Dongre
Of course it seems conditions are getting normal. No, I haven't visited any mall or restaurant yet. Yes of course I am missing it. I miss going to the theatre too. All the technicians and artists of our industry are suffering. The good thing is that we have come closer to each other, have become compassionate. We have also got a little bit of peace of mind because of it. We are spending a lot of our time at home. Earlier there was a rat race but now everything has come to a controlled state. We have come closer to our family and people, with whom we had sort of lost contact earlier because we were running earlier. Biggest thing is that our expectations have gone down. I have not gone out anywhere neither in restaurants nor malls, probably I will now.
 
Dhusshyant Wag
Finally malls, restaurants are opening up... Unfortunately here in India people don't like following rules much. Clearly if the social distancing rule is not followed in public places the third wave will come and there are chances of Covid cases increasing in coming months. That is a thing we all need to take care of and must worry about. Of course I will visit restaurants and malls, I have been missing doing these activities. As you know I am a big junk food lover. Eating in restaurants is a different feeling altogether. You go with friends, family and sometimes you go by yourself, but it's a different environment and ambience when you eat out. There you go, spend time and readymade cutlery and food come in front of you. Of course I have been missing that experience. I would like my earlier life to restart soon. I wouldn't want coronavirus to spread again. We will have to take care and to maintain social distance so that we are free to enjoy ourselves. I am looking forward to the cinematic experience

World Heart Day: Celebs on what makes their heart happy, healthy*

 World Heart Day: Celebs on what makes their heart happy, healthy*

Among many important days celebrated across the globe is World Heart Day.  The day marked to recognise the importance of a healthy heart is September 29. World Heart Day spreads awareness around various cardiovascular diseases and related health ailments. It also makes us cautious as to how and why neglecting any health issues related to our heart can be dangerous and only the combination of a happy inside and the right lifestyle can keep the heart healthy. Celebrities agree with the same and share what makes their heart happy and urge everyone to listen to their heart. Read on:

Prateik Chaudhary 

My work and my family’s good health are the only things right now which make my heart really happy. Happiness and peace are very important assets not in everyone's life. Money, success, fame, everything is a waste, if one’s not happy or at peace. I am really working hard to achieve my goals without a single break. I start my day early, around 4:30-5 am, finish my acting riyaaz, then I workout, have healthy food and go off to shoot. I also go for a run on days I feel like it. Spending time with my family, being with them is my daily dose of happiness. This is my daily routine for the last couple of years to achieve my goals and to make my family and myself proud and happy, and fulfill all their dreams.

Delnaaz Irani

 The whole thought of being happy, having peace of mind, has always been my mantra in life. Be it whatever the situation I am in, I have always given importance to peace of mind. It is really important and I have learnt it the hard way in life. I find happiness in the smallest of things like picking up the newspaper every morning and reading it while sipping a hot cup of tea, making Manoj*, who is our help, smile by praising his culinary skills, going out for pani puri across the street with Percy (Karkaria; DJ and Delnaz’s partner), pretty flowers in the vase adding colour to our living space, small prayer for everything good in life. Anything that gives me complete stress free moments and peace of mind makes me smile from my heart. We should not be only running after things which are not even in our hands. We should invest our time and energy on things that make us happy. Real joys and acts of kinds are the things that keep my heart happy and healthy.

Sneha Namnandi 
My only goal in life is to be happy. When someone asks me what I wish to be I always tell them that I want to be happy. I am a spontaneous and organic person. Whatever comes to my heart I instantly do it no matter what until and unless it doesn’t hurt or harm someone. I am a very enthusiastic and excited person. Small things make me happy. Coffee and my dogs make me happier. Being calm and composed is the key. Anger and frustration are going to only pull you down. Rather be happy and float

Harssh A singh 
On World Heart Day, it makes me happy to see the worst of the pandemic slowly getting over and see people revive their lives and work. So happy to hear that the theatres are open next month and films will start releasing. Happiness and peace is very important, though I've been reading a lot of Buddhist literature, and I have come to believe that happiness has to be balanced with moments of struggle or you would not appreciate happiness at all. So happiness and peace in life must be thoroughly enjoyed so that you can be ready to face disappointments when and if they come. For happiness and peace surround yourself with people you love, like friends, family, mentors, partner, children, and avoid negativity. So, I make sure that I meet my close friends regularly, have a good laugh with them. I spend quality time with my family and most importantly I pray and meditate every day. It keeps me happy, peaceful and grateful for all that I have.

Ragini Nandwani
I’m an animal lover, so being around them always makes me happy.  I try and make efforts to take care of them as much as I can and have been associated with various dog shelters and NGOs, who take care of stray animals.
 

Munisha Khatwani
Spiritualism is what makes my heart and mind happy. I love doing my sundarkand  and Ramayan path. I also love animals like dogs. I just find so much purity in the animals. Whenever I am playing with a dog or like when I meet a dog, I feel extremely happy because their vibrations are pure, especially if it’s a house pet. I really want to achieve a lot more in life. I am doing human service with all my heart in it. I am here to help people and there is no ulterior motive. The value of peace and happiness are all connected with when I see people being happy or when my predictions come true. Bringing a smile to someone else’s face also makes me happy.

 

Nilesh Ahuja talks about Mehendi Lagi

 Music artiste Nilesh Ahuja has opened up about his new song Mehendi Lagi, which features Stebin Ben and Kavya Thapar.

The song is out now, and the response has been amazing, he said. "It's getting viral rapidly and a lot of people have started making Instagram reels on it which is crazy. The song has a very emotional vibe. It was shot in Mumbai itself," he shared.

"It came up when me and legendary lyricist Kumar Paaji were jamming together. He came up with the idea of Mehendi Lagi Jab Tere Haath Mein, which was instant and the tune was finalised at that moment itself. Then it was locked by Anurag Bedi sir for Zee music company. We all had the vision to make the track sound grand and epic," added the composer. They used a lot of live instruments such as mandolin, rabab, bouzouki, shehnai, and flute. "They were used to give the song a very traditional feel with a blend of modern sounds to make it richer, and Stein's voice has a great feel towards the song. He sang really well," he said.  Music videos are trending these days, in fact he feels that some of them were more appreciated than Bollywood movie songs. "My last song Thoda Thoda Pyaar featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Neha Sharma has been one of the most viral songs of this year and became a cult and everlasting track. Now the same team is back with Mehendi Lagi, so I hope it gets appreciated by the audience. I will keep trying and making soothing music for my fans and the country," said Niles

Nivedita Basu voices for stricter laws against rapists, abusers: Some still dare to commit such heinous crimes because they think they can get away with it

 The nation can never forget the  Nirbhaya incident that happened in Delhi back in 2012. Recently, the brutal rape of a 30-year-old woman in Sakinaka, Mumbai, again shocked the country and reminded us of the Nirbhaya tragedy. It sparked an outrage all over the country and raised questions on women safety yet again. What shocked many is the fact that this happened in a city like Mumbai, which is considered safe for women. Writer, producer and director Nivedita Basu shares the same opinion.

“The Nirbhaya case was obviously a testimonial that north India is known to be unsafe for women. But when I heard about the Sakinaka case I was in shock because Mumbai has been so safe for girls. It's very disturbing,” she says.

She adds that it’s high time that rules in India need to get stricter against such crimes. “There should not be a hearing or anything. These criminals should just be given death penalty. Some still dare to commit such heinous crimes because they know that they can get away with it. I just hope that justice is brought and these kinds of things at least don't happen in Maharashtra again,” says the director of the web series Tandoor.

Expressing further disgust and voicing for justice, Nivedita adds, “Of course we are angry and upset because many women are employed in lines of work that require them to do late nights, so should they stop working? I am also a part of one such field of work. We never really thought of any safety issues while coming back home earlier, but now we are worried and scared, so are our families.”

It was a special moment for both of us, I thought it was a great touch to this unique wedding,” reveals Ashi Singh as she sports her reel-life mother's wedding outfit for Meet's marriage sequence

 Zee TV's latest fiction show, Meet, has made a place for itself in the audience’s hearts ever since its premiere. The show presents the story of Meet (Ashi Singh), who mirrors several women across the nation that are fighting societal norms of gender roles regarding work and responsibilities. While the show has already managed to create a sense of awakening amongst the audience and everyone has been appreciating its lead protagonist, looks like a new twist in the tale is going to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.   

During the upcoming episodes, viewers will see Meet Hooda (Ashi Singh) getting married to Meet Alhawat (Shagun Pandey) after the former's sister runs away. While the whole wedding will happen in unusual circumstances, Meet's bridal look will truly leave everyone mesmerized. Ashi dressed up as a bride for the wedding sequence recently, donning a gorgeous red and green saree. But what's more is that she was wearing her on-screen mother, Vaishnavi Macdonald's saree which she had worn on her reel wedding day. Isn’t that amazing? While she looked really beautiful, Ashi was initially concerned about sporting short hair for the wedding sequence but looks like she ended up loving the look.  

As Ashi Singh mentioned, “The saree that I am wearing for my wedding look in Meet is actually my on-screen mother, Vaishnavi Macdonald’s saree, the one that she actually wore for her reel-life wedding. I absolutely loved it and it was truly a special moment for both of us. I thought it was a great touch to this unique wedding. It was a very simple and elegant saree, something that I would prefer to wear in real life too. As you know, Meet’s character is simple, so it went really well with the story too. In fact, I am a little uncomfortable wearing heavy jewellery and outfits too, but this was perfect. I was also concerned about how Meet's short hair would look on me in a bridal avatar, however, I am delighted that it looked amazing, and I could pull it off. Meet looked as pretty as any other bride and she is all set to get married and start a new phase in her life.”   

Well, we are definitely excited to see Ashi in the bridal look. However, viewers are in for some major twists and turn in the show in the upcoming episodes as Meet Hooda gets married to Meet Alhawat.   

 

To know more about what happens next, watch Meet every Monday to Saturday at 7:30 pm, only on Zee TV

Prateik Chaudhary talks about his new show Sindoor Ki Keemat

 "I am playing the character of Ashwin Awasthi. He's the parallel lead of the show. Ashwin Awasthi is the younger son of Awasthi family. He shares a very good bond with his big brother Arjun and his family. He is the Laxman to Arjun (his big brother) and Mishri (his bhabhi). Despite knowing that Arjun is not his blood or an adopted brother, he can live for Arjun and Mishri and can die for them. Ashwin helps his father in family business, but he is not as successful as Arjun and happily lives under the shadow of his big brother. The entire Awasthi khandan also loves him and pampers him like a kid," he said.

His first daily soap was Paramavatar Shri Krishna on &tv followed by episodic and web shows.  "I keep doing episodic shows and web shows, but a daily soap, that too with very good makers of the Indian television industry, 4 Lions Films, I am doing it for the first time," said the actor.

He doesn’t follow television shows much, but he thinks that Dangal channel is doing very well.  "I can see good content based on women empowerment. And I am not been biased here because am doing this show but am already liking my show Sindoor Ki Keemat a lot. I mean I can feel it while I am shooting. You can say it's already my favourite show not because am doing this show but content and makers and cast, everything is just perfect. And am sure audiences will love it to," said Prateik.

Talking about trends he noticed on TV, he shared, "Earlier, they used to do more content on women empowerment, family drama, religion shows, historical shows, but now I can see more of sci-fi and reality shows which are actually doing good."

He feels that looks are very important if you are playing a particular role where the character demands otherwise, they are not that important. "They are just bonus," he said. If he had to choose between looks and talent, he said, "Talent, without a doubt. By looks, you can reach the basic level, but if you want to crack the audition and also want to reach the top, it’s only your talent, craft, hardwork, consistency, patience and sacrifice that matter."

He also wants to participate in Bigg Boss.  "The only reality show I would love to do if I ever get the opportunity is Bigg Boss, only because of Salman Khan," he said about the show hosted by the superstar.

As of now, his career goal is to do good projects with good makers and teams, and entertain audiences as much as possible and make some space in audiences' hearts. 

Sanjay and Binaiferr Kohli's "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai" wins Iconic Comedy Serial of The Year award

 The 'King of Comedy' Sanjay Kohli and his wife Binaiferr Kohli won the Iconic Comedy Serial of The Year award for their show "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai" at the recently held Iconic Gold Awards 2021. The couple even took home the Best Production House award for their banner Edit II.

This is one of the many awards they have won for their comedy saga "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai".  They accepted the award on behalf of the Channel, beloved cast and crew. The show first went on-air March 2015 and has been known to create a laughter riot by portraying the fun banter between two neighbors Tiwari and Mishra. The show has been the audience's laughter dose for over six years now and has kept them hooked to their TV screens. Many even called the show their source of joy during the tough times of the lockdown. 

"Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai" features Aasif Sheikh, Rohitashv Gour, Shubhangi Atre, and Nehha Pendse in lead roles.

Finally I'm getting the kind of roles that I want to do : Harssh A Singh

 Noted actor Harssh A Singh was recently part of the popular series Mumbai Diaries 26/11. He played the pivotal character of Dr. Farookh Romani and got some great feedback. Speaking about his role Singh says,”Dr. Farookh Romani is a surgeon, a perfect and copybook surgeon. According to him, people like the characters played by Konkona Sen Sharma and Mohit Raina are running havoc in Bombay General Hospital, while he plays by the book.” Speaking about the prep work for the role he adds,” Like most of my characters, I actually wrote a 3-page biography on him, his life, childhood, How and why he became a doctor. That helped me get into the character. The medical procedures were part of extensive workshops that were held during the table reads and at the set, days before the shoot. All of us from the cast  Satyajeet Dubey, to Natasha to Mrunmayee had learned basic surgical procedures (without killing anyone) before the shoot. I already knew CPR. It was incredibly detailed and hard, but so much fun.”

26/11 was a horrifying day for all the Mumbaikars so where were you on that black day? “I was the Programming head of a Radio Station Radio City 91.1 during that time. I was in shock. The truth is that we were not clear about what was going on till early morning. So I rushed to the Radio station at 4 in the morning, and all we did was keep people calm. We had planned dinner at Leopold's that night, but for some reason we cancelled. So it just made the whole thing so much more terrifying. We just seemed helpless and defenseless, I just kept thinking how much hatred can a human being carry and how does this violence serve any purpose at all.”
 The show has got a very good cast and each character has been presented in a very good way. Harssh feels credit goes to the writers and the directors. He says,”I truly have to appreciate the writers and the directors Nikhil Advani and Nik Gonzalves for this. They have worked so hard on making sure that each and every character has depth, detailing and consistency. I think this is why Mumbai Dairies is by far the most superior web series that India has ever produced. From The main cast to the patients to the hospital staff, to the news crew, everyone was cast perfectly. I also loved the fact that weeks before the shoot, the entire cast got together at a hotel for 2 days and we poured over the script in painful detail. with Nikhil and NIk present, so everyone had time to live their part.  It was such a luxury to be able to live with the script like this and interact with all the actors before you got on to the sets.”
The feedback of his role is something which Harrsh is enjoying a lot. “My wife loves it, but I have my friends who hate my character, they call Dr. Romani, a misogynist and chauvinist, while female friends called and said that if I ever try "mansplaining" anything to her like I did to Konkona Sen Sharma, this friend would slap me in the face. Her exact words. But thats fantastic, which means that the character worked.”
This year Singh also appeared in State Of Siege: Temple Attack in which he has played a pivotal role. For obvious reason he is satisfied with his stint on OTT platforms. He adds,”Finally I am getting the kind of roles that I want to do. I remember there were some serious date issues with the State Of Siege: Temple Attack, so I told them to re-cast the role, But Ken Ghosh the director of the film insisted that it had to be me. That Felt so good. But you should know this, that an actor is never satisfied, he is happy briefly, but never satisfied. You want more challenges, fame, money, everything. It's sad but true. Honestly, I don’t distinguish between the mediums. I will do character-oriented stuff anywhere. TV, OTT, Films, anything. Like recently I did a short film called Green Room:Thehrav and it WON the audience award at the Cannes Film Festival. I am beyond thrilled. 150 films and our film won, and its a short film. So as long as its fun, its fresh and it makes you think, or create something different, I'm ok with whatever medium, I get.”

Himansh Kohli: We shouldn't let a situation become bigger than life

 Yaariyaan actor Himansh Kohli feels that there will be happy and sad moments, but we shouldn't let a situation become bigger than life.

"We are social animals and the first thing that kills us is loneliness and lack of communication or attention. Some people are loners, but if you see sudden dullness in someone, please care to ask them. Your two minutes of chat might make their day!

Usually a suicide indicates bad mental health condition, and one should never ignore it. Trust your gut and do whatever is needed to lift you from the dark space," he said.

He has never had any suicidal thoughts, but he does get scared that people close to him will leave him someday. "But I don't want to do that to them, especially not willingly. If you get negative thoughts like this, talk to a friend, guardian, parents, counselor, mentor, whosoever you feel understands you," said Humse Hai Life actor.

Does he think emotional setbacks or lack of trust make people go into a shell because of which they don't express or share what is on their mind or in their heart? "It does happen, yes. But, one should know when to break out of that shell and start enjoying life again. It's okay to experience setbacks, everyone faces them, and happy and sad instances will come. We shouldn't let a situation become bigger than life," he said.

"We can create millions of such situations, why settle for just one bad experience, take many, learn from it, and you shall rise the strongest one can ever be," he added. Himansh believes that life rebuilds, wounds heal, love happens again, money can be earned, and time heals everything. 

"My father once told me, 'Whenever you want to escape a situation or move on, don't leave it in a bad spirit, fix it first and then do it, else you create a bad memory that hurts you for life.'" Post-pandemic, insecurity in job, business, relationships and marriage seems to have multiplied manifolds. He thinks the solution is to stay busy, keep on doing new things and don't forget to get inspired. To keep himself motivated, he works a lot, exercises too and stays occupied. "There's almost never a time when I'm doing nothing, I pick something to watch or do or talk to someone whenever I have time," he said.

Talking about his philosophy of life, he said, "Everything that's happening in your life today is because of a choice you made yesterday. Choose well for yourself."

Star Plus brings new show 'Vidrohi' in October

 As it is believed in the Indian broadcasting space that if the investment in content is right then the shows on their own can build a connection with their audiences. Star Plus has always experimented with different genres and unusual storylines. In their quest to catch the attention of the viewers the channel is now all geared up to launch another masterpiece from its bouquet of offerings.

Star Plus is all geared up to launch one of its most expensive and biggest historical offering of the year, Vidrohi which is the creation of one of the sharpest minds in the entertainment industry. The show brings together some well-known faces from the industry and some outstanding technicians.

Produced by Gaatha Films, LLP, the show has been extensively shot on a mammoth set in Mumbai. The opulent pre Independence era will be brought alive through the use of high-end VFX technology to make the overall viewing experience more engaging and entertaining for viewers. With Vidrohi, the channel aims to take the Indian audience beyond the confines of history books to narrate the never told saga of a Freedom Fighter Baxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara (played by Talented Actor Sharad Malhorta) & Warrior Princess Kalyani (played by actress Hemal Dev) for the first time on television.

Actress Hemal Dev says, “As the name suggests, the TV Show is a warrior story and also the most challenging role of my life. This is as tough as it can get. A period drama was always on my bucket list. And when you get that opportunity with Star Plus you don’t think twice. My character Princess Kalyani in the show is strong-headed, she has a voice. While playing the character I have to keep reminding myself that I am in a different era & need a certain kind of body language. My whole attire has helped me feel even more strongly like Princess Kalyani. We have started shooting for the show and I have realized that I enjoyed action sequences and it is something I would like to do more often in the future. For now, I pray that all my fans shower their love for this new journey.”

This upcoming show brings together a powerful ensemble cast that includes actors like Sulagna Panigrahi, Anang Desai, Chaitrali Gupte, Priya Tandon, Danny Sura among others.

Celebs talk about their favorite tourist destination and the things they always carry with them while travelling!

 

Somy Ali

My favourite tourist spots are London, India, Paris, New York and Rajasthan. London and New York have so much diversity when it comes to food and cultures that it almost makes you believe that there is no discrimination in this world. It’s an illusion that we must all experience at least once. India made me who I am today. I owe everything No More Tears has accomplished to India so it’s more of a personal thing. As for Paris, that’s a given. Who wouldn’t want to go there?

I like to travel light and the five must-have in my travel bag are cell, pepper spray, notebook, pens and makeup.

Pranitaa Pandit

 There are two of my favorite destinations, Switzerland and New Zealand. Both are my favorite because Switzerland is beautiful to another level and it's mesmerizing. It has a lot of variety of views from snow to plain mountains and water streams. The weather is amazing and it's very less populated. It's gorgeous. And New Zealand because every sight of New Zealand is a picture-perfect moment. I remember going to Queenstown and just looking around and I was like should I take a picture. It's that beautiful.

I'm a light traveler. I would like to have a backpack and I try to keep as much stuff in it and then just travel with that. The five must-haves in your travel bag are, of course, a pair of sneakers, tracks, basic medicines, one good jacket and my phone, that is the five top five things that I must have in my bag.

Aalisha Panwar

 My favourite tourist spot is Kashmir. I love that place because you get to witness a different experience in different seasons. It is like heaven. I love the beauty of that place.

I am a person who travels heavily because I need to have different outfits for every day and then I carry different footwear too matching the outfit and then accessories too. My five must-haves are mobile and phone accessories like AirPods, charger, etc., perfume, my touch up makeup kit, mosquito repellant spray, and these days because of COVID I carry a mask and sanitizer.

Salim Diwan

 My favorite tourist spot lies in nature, wherever I can witness a true nature that is the spot I would love to explore. Nature gives us serenity, peace of mind, a refreshing environment, this is what we want when we get out of our stressful and regular life schedule. In India I love to spend time at my Lonawala bungalow. I like Lonawala because it's close to Mumbai and beautifully located amongst the hills. The weather is perfect and you can witness rain in almost all seasons. Abroad I love to spend time at different beachsides in London and other coastal areas of Europe. Every year I explore a different area of Europe but because of COVID I couldn't travel in the last one year.

I like to travel light so that I can explore the place as much as I can. Five must-haves are my earphones, my wallet, mint tablets, my SPF and my two or three types of shades and nowadays sanitizer.

Vidhi Pandya

 My favourite tourist spot is Ladakh. I love the breathtaking landscapes, the high mountains and the peaceful atmosphere of Ladakh. I like to travel light. I feel the only way to enjoy a vacation is to travel light. Believe it or not, heavy luggage always spoils the mood.

The five must-haves in my bag are a phone, a lip balm, some mints, safety pins and tissues.

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Kumkum Bhagya’s Reyhnaa Pandit reveals her new secret mantra to remain stress-free in life

 

Zee TV’s popular fiction show, Kumkum Bhagya has been an audience favourite courtesy of its intriguing plot and the authentic portrayal of relatable characters like Abhi (Shabbir Ahluwalia), Pragya (Sriti Jha), Rhea (Pooja Banerjee), Aaliya (Reyhnaa Pandit), Tanu (Leena Jumani), Ranbir (Krishna Kaul) and Prachi (Mugdha Chapekar). While the actors have been working round the clock to keep their viewers entertained, looks like Reyhnaa Pandit has also been doing some soul searching. We all know how the pandemic has created a lot of stress for everyone around us! During such a time, Reyhnaa shares with us her new secret mantra that she has come up with to remain stress-free.

While giving her own example, Reyhnaa revealed how she got very insecure and worried during the Lockdown last year. Even though she joined one of the most popular shows on TV - Kumkum Bhagya during the pandemic, the actress mentioned how the difficult times had affected her as she saw many artists struggling to make a living. In fact, the actress herself went through several insecurities during the pandemic and she opened up about how she is now at a peaceful and comfortable place in life.

As Reyhnaa Pandit shared, "The pandemic has taught me a lot of things. I have learned that one does need financial stability to survive such times. To be honest, I felt sad seeing so much pain and agony because people lost jobs and they had no way to get out of these testing times. As an artist, I understand the struggles our society is facing right now and how difficult it can be for everyone. Talking about insecurity, I guess everyone faces it. I wouldn't say I'm not insecure, I do get worried about my work, my life and the future I behold. I got insecure during the pandemic too. I think about everything happening in my life, but I make myself understand how to face my fears too. I take life as it comes, and I am pretty comfortable with my life now. I'm not scared of losing anything. I live by the philosophy that we were all brought to this world empty-handed by God and he has given us a purpose in life that we have to fulfil. In the path of life, we have to follow our hearts and choose our purpose in life. There is no such thing as right or wrong, whatever serves you right at the moment you should do that. That’s my new life mantra and I guess everyone should follow it.”

While Reyhnaa Pandit surely knows how to balance her off-screen life, her on-screen character - Aaliya is plotting some evil schemes to make Pragya suffer. What is she planning next? Will she be able to create a rift between Abhi and Pragya with Tanu's help? Or will Abhi and Pragya come closer as destined?

To know all this and more, tune in to Kumkum Bhagya every Monday to Friday at 9 pm only on Zee TV

Amarkant Dubey talks about his role in Sudhir Sharma's Ziddi Dil Maane Na

 Z

ddi Dil Maane Na actor Amarkant Dubey has opened up about his character that provides comic relief.

"One day suddenly I called up (producer) Sudhir to ask for someone's number so he said that he's got a role for me. I gave the audition and got selected. In the serial their academy is for commando training. So the mess/canteen in the academy's incharge is Baba Dilbagh. He's in charge and chef too. As he's old and working for 16 years in the mess/ canteen, he has jolly nature and does all the masti. Whenever they want to twist the story, they bring Baba Dilbagh. He's a comic relief. It's a very good role. I have certain restrictions Sudhir thought through before giving me the role. As I stay in the mess, I don't have to walk much," he said.

His character is a cook, who is a foodie. "I am a big foodie too. The character is Punjabi. As I have done a lot of work in the field of voicing, I didn't face any problem. As I am an actor, I've done a lot of work so I didn't face much difficulty. I really like the character. I believe everyday we get to learn so as and when the scene is performed, I get into the character. If the director likes the scene, I feel happy," he said.

Nowadays, there are good roles for actors of all ages even those who are over 50 years old. 

"In our times, we used to be fools (bewakoof). These days, the kids are very intelligent and mature. In our generation there was no maturity; it was rare. It used to come really late in our generation. This generation becomes mature fast. They make their own decisions and they make the right decisions. With them I get to learn and understand new things," said the veteran actor.

"People say that in my age bracket, there are a lot of artists who have stopped working so there are not many artists of this age. If I get work, I will do it. Now I am free. With my limitations, if someone offers me work I'll definitely do it. I can do all sorts of work. I have done a lot of negative roles. I did positive ones as well," he added.

Ziddi... is backed by with Seema and Sudhir's Sunshine production house.

"The sponsored programs that I used to write for radio, I used to direct for an ad agency in Worli, Sudhir came

there for voicing. Sudhir had come to Mumbai just then. He would come there and was a very good voice artist. Then we had a good tuning. I had a sponsored program for which I wrote and directed 100 to 150 stories. There as a hero, I used to take Sudhir. Then Seema came and they got married afterwards. My association with Sudhir is from that time. Sudhir would respect me," he said.

TV heartthrob Vishal Vashishtha joins the cast of Dice Media’s ‘Clutch’, India’s first eSports web-series

 Dice Media is all set to launch India’s first-ever esports series “Clutch” with Vishal Vashishtha as one of the lead cast.

 

From being a popular face playing Baldev Singh in ‘Ek Veer ki Ardaas Veera’ on television to playing the baddie Kabir Sharma in the television series ‘Ishq Mein Mar Jawan 2’, Vishal, who has charmed the audience with his versatility and on-screen persona, will soon be seen playing the role of a gaming enthusiast in Dice Media’s upcoming series ‘Clutch’. Showcasing the esports action on-screen, Vishal will also be accompanied by actress Ahsaas Channa, popular content creator Saurabh Ghadge, actors Prateik Pachori, and Tirth Joisher.

Clutch will showcase the perfect blend of gaming, excitement, and cut-throat competition in an esports tournament. Vishal and his squad will be seen sweating it out for a major esports tournament through the course of the series. Hold your excitement until the new episodes are released only on Dice Media.

Check out all the entertainment and action when the game begins, right here on your screen with Dice Media’s Clutch!

Why Tamannaah is the queen of versatility

She can set the screen on fire with her glam Avatar, she can create a laughter riot, or she can inspire you with a fierce character - Tamannaah can essay any role with conviction. The PAN-India star has sprung a surprise time and again with her acting chops. From her early blockbuster Happy Days to her recent release Maestro, the actress has always played a diverse character on the screen with utmost flair.

Tamannaah has a series of interesting line-ups on the horizon for the year. While we are eagerly waiting for the actress to stun us again, here are four films that prove she is the ULTIMATE queen of versatility.

- Maestro
With Maestro, Tamannaah ventured into a rather dark universe and played a complex character. Shedding her quintessential image, the actress looked effortless on the screen in her new avatar as Simran. While the audience loved her natural charisma, critics said the star proved her flair for diversity with her apt body language and performance.

- Seetimaarr
The sports drama featured Tamannaah in a fierce and powerful Avatar. Essaying the role of a Kabaddi Coach, the actress dubbed in Telangana dialect for the first time and garnered a lot of praise and appreciation for it. The film went on to become a massive commercial success at the box office.

- Baahubali: The Beginning & The Conclusion
Tamannaah turned into a warrior for the epic drama. The actress' transformation and intensity of the character received wide acclaim. Baahubali broke all the box office records in India and was the biggest hit of all time.

- F2: Fun and Frustration
Tamannaah gave the comedy blockbuster with F2: Fun and Frustration. The actress as Harika took the audience on a laughter ride with her perfect comic timing and captivating screen presence. Apart from the massive critical acclaim, the film became the fourth highest-grossing film of that yea

Ziddi Dil Maane Naa is surely a clutter breaker: Producer Sudhir Sharma

 

Ziddi Dil Maane Naa producer Sudhir Sharma calls his show a clutter breaker. Talking about the response to the show, with an army backdrop, he said, "It is surely a clutter breaker. That’s the most overwhelming response we are receiving .TRPs and reach are quite encouraging. We are happy that a story which is not based on the 'run-of-the-mill' idea or setting is still resonating with the viewers. There is also a huge fan following on SonyLIV." He and fellow producer Seema wanted to narrate a story which propels them to do something for society and for the country but in an entertaining way. "So our aim was entertainment with relevance. I am thankful to Neeraj Vyas and Sudhanshu from SAB TV who saw the merit in the show and gave us the chance to put this story out there," he said. According to him, choosing the right actors is always challenging.  "Known face, unknown face, flop actors, hit actors, who’s lucky and who’s unlucky...there are many factors the industry looks at while casting. I personally don’t care about all these cliches. My theatre experience has taught me to always look for actors who firstly, suit our character and secondly, one who can connect with the audience. I scout for the actors who are real and not fake," said Sharma. "I also look for their dedication towards the craft and am never impressed by their social media presence. I definitely prefer actors who are well educated and well-read, exposed to literature and other art forms. I don’t like to work with accidental actors. An actor must bring more than the script to the screen, it’s his or her life experiences and learnings which enhance the written word," he added. The big question for TV content creators today is what will work, what is the audience hungry for, he thinks. "Having a very strong competition from OTT platforms, this is truly the time for us to start thinking on the fresh approach for television. We must raise the bar on the writing level. I am always very excited to break that barrier on TV shows. I am very happy to take that risk. Hence, we will keep making shows like Ziddi Dil Maane Na, which uses a different narrative. I feel the TV audience is ready for the change," shared the producer. Commenting on the title of the show, he said, "We have heard this catchy word 'ziddi' a zillion times. Everyone is a bit of a ziddi. We all wanted to keep a title which resonates the passion which all our ziddi dil characters have." Sharing his vision for Sunshine Productions, he said, "We are aiming to expand Sunshine Productions in multiple formats without losing our focus on genres in which we are good at like stories of romance, relationships and youth. We are working on some ambitious web series and TV shows too."

Being a good actor is my focus, I am here to act" says Batla House actor Amit Jairath who is appreciated for his role in Mumbai Diaries 26/11

 Insisting that his foray into the world of performing arts was not a flash-in-the-pan decision, Amit Jairath, who considers Nikkhil Advani his mentor says that it’s his passion & love for the craft of acting which is the prime factor that attracts him to be a part of Indian cinema.

Talking about his experience and role in Mumbai Diaries 26/11 he says “It was an interesting experience – I had only heard and seen the horrific act on television. But now I was enacting it and the surroundings and the atmosphere around was made so real – that this time it felt that it was actually happening all over again – the real horror that Mumbai felt that night – I could feel it in my spine while shoot.”

His work experience includes multiple blockbusters like - Batla House - Directed by Nikkhil Advani, Bazaar – Directed by Gaurav Chawla – Produced by Nikkhil Advani, India’s Most Wanted - Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, Jagga Jasoos – Directed by Anurag Basu, Chakrayuh – Directed by Prakash Jha, Das Capital – Directed by Rajan Kothari, S.P. Chauhan – Directed by Manoj Jha, Satrangi – Directed by Sundeep Sharma.

On OTT he has spelled his brilliance in shows like - Marzi (Voot), Bang Baang (ALT/ZEE 5), Gormint (Amazon series – under post-production), Gone Game 2 (Voot – under production).

Apart from main stream commercial cinema, he has worked in many short films, few award-winning titles- Moksha, Nayi Ammi, Dhin Tak Dha

His television stint in shows like - Rabindranath Tagore Stories By Anurag Basu, Everest By Ashutosh Gowariker won him a loyal fan base in both urban and interiors of India.

Holding years of experience in theatre, he has worked with Bansi Kaul (Rang Vidushak), Gulzar Sahab & Salim Arif (Essay Communication), Nadira Babbar (Ekjute), Bhanu Bharti, Sahitya Kala Parishad Repertory (Delhi Government), N.K. Sharma (Act  One), and TV Commercials with Pradeep Sarkar.

"Being a good actor is my focus, I am here to act" states Amit. With his quality and quantity of work, Amit is here to play a longer game.

"Acting has been an obsession and passion, for me it was never a job, it was my calling. I am here to do good work" says Amit.

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