Sukanya Verma looks at the recent spate of book-to-screen adaptations.
'When the camera rolls, he is Salman Khan and he is Aayush Sharma.' 'No family comes into the picture.' 'That became quite a challenge for Aayush because he knew this film will make or break his career.' 'Mahesh sir also told him: "When you're shooting, you have to forget you are related or that he's a superstar".'
'We're 26 and every time we write a song, we try to see how we can relate it to our life's experiences or that of our friends.'
'Where are the funny writers on Indian television and OTT platforms?' 'Where are the sitcoms?' asks Vanita Kohli Khandekar.
'It's not easy to perform in front of 5,000 people, who are standing right behind the camera. You have to remember the dialogue even when the crowd is shouting and saying things to you.'
'He was such a diverse poet that he wrote the song M bole toh Master of Munnabhai MBBS and also Yeh Rishta kya kehlata hai of Meenaxi.'
Things are off to a good start when a lead movie character appears for the first time against strategic music or swaggering drama and the audience bursts into wholehearted whistles and applause.
In televised remarks after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget, Modi said it has many provisions for the agriculture sector, including for making loans easier for farmers.
Sukanya Verma offers some amazing opening scenes in Hindi films that fuels an excitement for what happens next.
'Some months before his death, when I had inquired about his health, he was annoyed that people assumed the worst.' '"I am not going anywhere," Rishi snapped as only he could.'
'I don't know of anyone who could transform so much once she had make-up on.' 'And I don't mean just for the camera.' 'She could dress up for a wedding and she'd look like a different person.' 'And now to see her lying there, still and unmoving in that casket, it was heartbreaking', Satish Kaushik tells Subhash K Jha.
According to state government data, the first 10 months of last year -- January to October 2020 -- witnessed 2,649 murders in Bihar, an average of nearly nine murders a day.
For a while it looked like Twinkle may have nearly disappeared from the public eye until the world discovered her flair to notice wit and wisdom in everyday life. It wasn't long before she had authored two bestsellers and was hailed as one of the most, candid, humorous, stylish celebrities to emerge from the heart of Bollywood.
Several trains were cancelled, highways and key roads blocked and many thousands stranded for hours on Monday as a nationwide 10-hour shutdown against the Centre's three agri laws disrupted lives across parts of India, particularly in the north.
'As soon as the plane touched down and we emerged, barricades came down and his fans rushed towards us.' 'Then, before my astonished eyes, they had lifted him up and he was being passed along over the heads of people.' 'It was an incredible sight!'
'Somewhere, I have to be true to myself. At this point in life, I am more interested in human drama.'
Those involved in espionage scandal would not be spared.
Hemangi and Prashant Nakwe's vegetarian thaali business is keeping them busy in the lockdown.
Janhvi Kapoor does well as the girl trying to assert her 'kaabiliyat', observes Sukanya Verma.
Releasing the manifesto titled 'Badlav Ka Sankalp' (commitment to change) in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, Tejashwi Yadav said their government, if elected, would first approve the process for appointments on about 10 lakh jobs in the government.
India has much paranoia in India about a new 'Terroristan' coming up between Pakistan and a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Pakistan has zero ability economically, diplomatically, geostrategically or militarily to create one. If they try, it will be great for India as they will destroy themselves yet again, asserts Shekhar Gupta.
As thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, braved water cannons and teargas to camp at the national capital's borders to demand a rollback of the laws and their representatives held talks with the government, the songs flowed, speaking of pride of the land, strength in unity and the rights of the people fighting a mighty establishment.
'Woman need to be respected much more in our country. But choices should be allowed for women as well as men. I don't care about the box office collections of Ki & Ka; I care about the thoughts and conversation that it brings on. Every actor has that one film in their filmography where they pushed the envelope further.' Arjun Kapoor takes on new challenges with Ki & Ka.
'The wonderful thing about being a journalist is that when someone tries to muzzle your work, it's a badge of honour.' 'You know you've done something right,' Priyanka Pathak-Narain, the author of Godman To Tycoon: The Untold Story Of Baba Ramdev, tells Sunil Sethi.
'Films don't bring about change in society. People may watch a film, and want to live life like the actors on screen, or want to wear the same outfits or live in the same house... Films can affect a person's mind for an hour but after that, they will think about something else.' R Balki prepares us for his new film, Ki & Ka.
The Indian prime minister swears by Ayurveda, castor oil and mustard oil for treating common health problems.
As they say, laughter is the best medicine.
Aseem Chhabra imagines a time, 20 years from now, when movie-watching in theatres will be long gone, thanks to the coronavirus, and pens a letter to his grandchild, explaining the magic of the cinema hall.
A fun excerpt from Diptakirti Chaudhuri's Bollygeek: The Crazy Trivia Guide to Bollywood.
'We were expecting at least they would be held guilty, but instead they have gone scot-free'
If Kishore Kumar were alive today, he would have turned 90 on August 4.
Tandav is as mainstream and contrived as it gets, but not completely without its moments of charisma and drama, observes Sukanya Verma.
If the British can make a memorial for Indian soldiers, why don't we have one even after 65 years of India's independence? When we can have statues and parks dedicated to politicians, why not one for our defence personnel? It is astounding, says Varad Varenya.
If the British can make a memorial for Indian soldiers, why don't we have one even after 65 years of India's independence? When we can have statues and parks dedicated to politicians, why not one for our defence personnel? It is astounding, says Varad Varenya.
All those sizzling and sensational moves inspired Sukanya Verma to draw a list of 10 of Bollywood's hottest dancers right now.
India is in the second week of a three-week lockdown enforced to contain the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more than 70 lives while infecting over 3000 people. With sporting activities coming to a standstill, the elite athletes are confined to their homes, trying to remain fit while hoping for action to begin once normalcy returns.
The Hong Kong Open finalist, Sameer reached the quarter-finals with a shocking 21-17, 21-15 win in a 40-minute match.
'Kader Khan could be horribly intimidating, impossibly silly, achingly human and, sometimes, all at once.' 'I was drawn to his magic and magnetism even when I didn't know he was behind it,' recalls Sukanya Verma.
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