Somy Ali is celebrating the pride month, says as a child she was also taught that homosexuality is wrong

 Somy Ali has always been vocal about her solidarity with the LGBTQAI+ community. The actor-turned-humanitarian, who is also celebrating pride month along with the rest of the world, reveals that her US based NGO No More Tears has handled many cases involving people from the community.

     
“I made it a point to implement helping LGBTQ victims of human trafficking and domestic violence within the mission of No More Tears (NMT). In fact, as a straight woman, I’m proud to say that I initiated the first LGBTQ Student Club in my college. We’re taught to hate them, and we’re all products of our childhoods. As a child I was also taught that homosexuality is wrong, and it wasn’t until college when my professors opened my eyes and encouraged me to ask questions. It was more than necessary for me to redeem my thought process and it slowly made me a huge proponent of LGBTQ rights. NMT has helped countless survivors from the community and will continue to do so,” he says.

Revealing a bit about the kind of issues rainbow people face, Somy mentions that it was at the peak of the pandemic when NMT had several cases in addition to the referrals that were there from the pre-Covid times.
 
“There was one case in particular where a 19-year-old young lady came out and told her parents about her girlfriend. Her father beat her so badly that she ended up in emergency care. This survivor is now under our care and doing much better. She and her girlfriend are living together in their own apartment and this beautiful and vivacious survivor is attending online classes studying psychology while receiving therapy under NMT’s care. In totality since the pandemic, we’ve helped 42 victims from the LGBTQ Community,” she adds.

Recently, Somy shared a story of India’s first transgender model-actor Nikkiey Chawla on social media and a poster of The Married Woman, a film based on same-sex love.
 
“I’ll always support the LGBTQAI+ Community and as for Nikkiey, I absolutely love her. She is beautiful inside out and severely bold. I’ve immense respect for individuals who’ve suffered numerous hurdles to finally find their identity and own it. It is difficult enough to live in this world as a straight person, let alone being a member of the LGBTQAI+ Community, which is why it annoys me to no end when people make uneducated and ignorant comments like, “Why did he/she choose to be gay?” I’ve nothing but love and respect for Nikkiey and anyone else who has the courage to take a stand for themselves,” she states.

Ask if she thinks cinema in a way helps in inspiring the society to understand and accept people from the community and she replies, “I hope it does. I do recall when I was living in India in the 90’s, I saw perhaps one of the most beautiful films ever depicting same sex love, “Fire” and how badly the masses reacted to it. I know we’ve had immense progress since then, but I will be fully satiated when we see same-sex couples in romantic “movies” as a norm, not a rarity. I’m optimistic that cinema is moving in that direction. Ultimately love is love and it should be our birth right to fall in love with whomever we choose to. I feel social media has also made a significant difference. It has given a voice and helped many from the community stand up for their rights. Of course, we can’t get rid of the ignorant trolls, but who cares about them. They’re just cowards who were taught to hate and get off on hurting people.”

'Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2': Amma Ji accuses Pratigya of trying to kill her

 Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2" is witnessing some new drama currently. Pratigya's entry in the Thakur household has left everyone threatened, but neither Pratigya nor the Thakurs are going to give up.

In the recent episodes we saw that Pratigya asks Meera about how she and Krishna got married. The family reacts to this and asks her to mind her own business, but Krishna takes a stand for her and tells them not to make a big issue out of it. Pratigya then sees Garv eating something and asks her not to have it as it has brinjal. This leaves Krishna stunned, but Pratigya somehow manages to change the topic by saying that it's her duty to know about her boss and his family.

In the upcoming episode we will see that Amma Ji is locked inside a room and a fire starts there. Krishna and Pratigya manage to save her, but she accuses Pratigya for starting the fire.

Will Krishna believe Amma Ji? How will this battle end? To know what happens next keep watching "Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2".

Produced under Rajan Shahi's banner Director's Kut Productions, "Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2" is being led by Pearl Grey as the showrunner, creative producer and writer. It features Arhaan Behll, Pooja Gor, Anupam Shyam, Bhumika Gurung, Sachal Tyagi, Parvati Sehgal, Asmita Sharma, and Aalika Sheikh. The show airs on Star Bharat from Monday to Friday at 8:30 p.m.

I am scared of injections, but this vaccine is the most important one: : Meera Deosthale

 As India is coming out of the second wave of Covid19, the vaccination drive is going on in full force. Actress Meera Deosthale recently took her first dose of vaccine and shared her experience with us. 

She says,”I had been trying for a long time to book a slot. Ultimately I got to know about this big vaccination drive in a school. So I booked my slot via book my show and took my first jab. Though I am scared of injections but I went alone. Through out my growing up years, during my vaccinations I would be accompanied by my elders. It was quite flawless and got my jab in 5 minutes. But the actual experience of the vaccination was the next three days. I had Body ache and fever, I took enough rest and now I am feeling good. I am very happy to get the vaccine. I know there are people who have said there is no need to take the vaccine. But it’s  a must. Please don’t neglect your health.  It’s for free. Go and get it. The only sure shot thing we know is after two shots of vaccination, we will be in a more safer position to fight this dangerous virus. Now I am eagerly waiting for the second dose so I can be fully protected.”

Nivedita Basu: Melodies motivate me to perform better, I usually like listening to soft and soulful music

 hose who follow Nivedita Basu on social media will know about her love for music. She is not just particular about the kind of music she listens to but when it comes to work involving music, she makes sure to bring out the best.

 
“Since my Balaji (Ekta Kapoor’s production house) days, title tracks of shows, popular songs used in different shows have all been overlooked by me. I’m somebody who thinks music and creates through music. Melodies motivate me to perform better. I usually like to listen to slow, soft and soulful music, like the compositions by Amit Trivedi, AR Rahman. I’m not too much into beats unless I am in a nightclub,” adds the writer-producer-director.

Her favourite singers are Rekha Bharadwaj, Rahman and Benny Dayal. “I also like KK, Arijit Singh, Prateek Kuhad… I like their voice and expression. I like both happy and sad songs. I used to have a lot of favourite sad songs, when I used to create music, because in my serials I used a lot of these songs. I remember using Badlapur, Cocktail songs, then I used to like even those sad songs in Karan Johar's films,” she says, adding that she also likes the song Dil Ka Mizaaj Ishqiya from Dedh Ishqiya.

Talking about her favourite happy songs, she reveals, “Right now my happiness is also related to my child, so there are two songs which she enjoys. They are Ghungroo track from War and Meri Gully Mein from Gully Boy. I love these songs too because seeing my child happily dancing to these numbers makes me happy. I think she kind of likes raps. I have recorded many of her dance videos.”  

Given that Bengalis are inclined towards art, Nivedita shares that she knows how to play the harmonium and keyboard. In school, she played piano and drums. In fact she was the best drummer of her school band.

“I used to be a school prefect and participated in every school function. I performed with the band and also took part in solo singing (both classical and western) competitions. I was a part of the choir. I was very much a part of all extra-curricular activities in school,” she says.

There was a time when music was only available on audio cassettes and CDs, but now any kind of music is just a click away. Thanks to all the technological advancement.
 
“I remember the days of cassettes because my grandfather used to have this recorder. Whenever we used to visit them in Vrindavan, we used to record songs, and play it to everyone. He has preserved all those records... When CDs came, I knew how to download and write CDs so that I have enough music to listen to when I am driving. And back in those days I was into peppy tracks. In those days getting the CD you wanted was like an achievement,” she recalls

Agreeing that music can change our mood, Nivedita says, “Music enhances my mood and makes me feel better. I have a good collection of different kinds of music in my house, many people have told me that they would like to steal my collection so I am guarding them with all my might (laughs).”

Tassnim Shaikh feels blessed to be part of Anupamaa!

 Actor Tassnim Shaikh, who plays the role of Rakhi Dave in Rajan Shahi’s Anupamaa, says that she loves the way her career has panned out. The actor has been part of the industry for many years now and says that she is proud of the roles that she has done. “I had a beautiful journey. I started working in 1997 and since then, it has been a very smooth and beautiful journey. God has been very kind and I never experienced a roller coaster ride in my career. So far, I have done some amazing characters on very good shows on Indian Television which people still remember. I am very thankful to this television industry as it was here that I found my husband, my family and this television industry has become my family too. My journey has been very happy and nice and today when I look back, I can smile with all my heart,” she says.  

Ask her which roles are closest to her heart, and she says, “The first name that comes to my mind is Jyoti from Kkusum, where I played a positive role. Jyoti was exactly like how I am in real life and so playing her role was never a performance for me. When I entered this industry, I was slightly scared and nervous but had a lot many hopes to prove myself and I was very hardworking. I was similar to how Jyoti was and I will always remember Jyoti for this reason. Secondly, I always remember Renuka from Kumkum. This was a negative character but that was also a game-changer to me. By playing this negative character, it created a whole different image of me in the industry and the perspective changed. Till date, I am doing negative roles. Mohini is a character that I still miss and was the most loved negative character on TV. The feedback and the responses that I used to get for her are similar to what I get now for Rakhi Dave. Rakhi Dave is one such character which I will cherish and she is one of my favourites. Rakhi Dave is a strong-headed person who is very caring towards her child and is someone who wants to maintain standards for herself and her family. She is one such negative character who is supported and loved in spite of being dark. And, of course, Ruqaiya Begum was my first character in a costume drama, and I loved her. Through her, I experienced the aura of a surrounding like Sheesh Mahal and be the queen. I wanted to feel that era and the set was so beautiful that I have no words but to cherish all the memories which are close to my heart.”  

 

Tassnim feels blessed to be part of Anupamaa. “I took up this show just because it belongs to Rajan Shahi's productions. He is one producer who I really wanted to work with. After my daughter was born and I took a break, I saw the journey of Rajan Sir as a producer with the content he has made for the television. So, I wanted to make a comeback with his production and I am so grateful. When I got the briefing of this character, I was still not sure whether I should do it or not as it was not in the main family and all the characters who I have taken up till date have belonged to the main family. But I followed Rajan Shahi sir's conviction as he said, ‘Tassnim, you should take this, you will really enjoy it’ and I said yes for it and I am so thankful to have believed him. Today, the cast and crew are like my second family and I love shooting and being on the sets"

She adds, “For any actor, success of the show means a lot and thank god, I have been really blessed for being part of one the best shows. All my shows have been super hits and have performed really well and topped the TRP charts. I feel like a blessed child to have been a part of such wonderful shows in my journey be it Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kkusum, Kumkum or the current one Anupamaa.”

Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha has given me creative satisfaction: Sonali Jaffar

 Every once in a while there comes a character so challenging and difficult that the audience falls for it immediately. Something similar happened with Vijayendra Kumeria's blind photographer character Darsh Rawal in Sonali and Amir Jaffar's Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha. In fact, the Sonali confessed, "Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha has given me creative satisfaction because of this blind character of Darsh."

"This was what made me realize how tough life is with such a challenge. While we were writing about the character, I got to realize and feel the pain that these people go through. To execute the same feelings and pain of the character onscreen has been challenging and satisfying too," she added.

The producer couple are currently entertaining the audience with three shows - Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha, Qurbaan Hua and Tujhse Hai Raabta - under their production house Full House Media Pvt Ltd. Sharing the journey of the shows, Sonali said, "We have had a lucky year with Tujhse Hai Raabta. It has had a life of its own. The show has been there for three years. The show has been our lucky mascot. Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha is a new show relatively. The first two to three months have been the settling months and we have managed it. Qurbaan Hua has been doing well for itself."

And what about content for the web? "I don't know. I am going to give a mundane reply (laughs). This is the year where my boys are in the 10th. So I do not want to start anything new. I want to stabilize whatever I have at this point in time. They are taking a lot of my time already. So content for the web will happen when the bandwidth for that opens up," Sonali wrapped up.

Richa Rathore gets jabbed: At first I was anxious… now I’m counting days for my second dose to complete the course

 Richa Rathore has finally been able to Richa Rathore has finally been able to get her first jab. The actor, who plays the lead character of Nandini in Sonali Jaffar and Amir Jaffar’s Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha, shares feeling nervous before taking the dose.

 
“At first I was a little anxious. However, the whole experience turned out to be fine. I did have the usual fever but it didn’t last for more than a day. I feel much relieved… Now I am eagerly counting days for my second dose to complete the course. Proper vaccination means not just my safety but all of those who I come in contact with daily, both at home and at work,” she says.
 
Addressing her fans, the “only message” the actor wants to convey is, “Please carefully listen to what the medical professionals are saying. If they’re saying vaccination is important, let’s believe them and get inoculated. I might not be an expert on this subject, but from the little that I know, vaccination has become the most crucial step in our fight against the devastating second wave of Covid-19. With vaccination we can be well prepared for whatever comes next, and hopefully prevent the third wave.”
 
There are many who are reluctant to get vaccinated. While some of them are worried, while others feel the government has some ulterior motive behind this vaccination drive.
 
“With fear and anxiety, there are also widespread rumours and fake news which validate that fear. It’s important to be aware and consume the right information, which is why we must only listen to our medical professionals and trusted sources of information, she concludes.  The production house is known for taking utmost care of actors.   The show is generating lot of interest for its interesting storyline.