Kapil Sharma remembers KK on his show, sings ‘Sach Keh Raha Hai Deewana’

Actor and stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma paid tribute to late singer K.K. by singing one of his most famous tracks ‘Sach Keh Raha Hai Deewana’, from the 2001 film ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ starring R. Madhavan, Saif Ali Khan, and Dia Mirza in lead roles.

Kapil welcomed Bollywood actress Dia Mirza on his show and shared a video on his Instagram handle from the sets while singing the song and the audience responded with excitement.

Kapil wrote in the caption: “This was not planned,@diamirzaofficial was there in our show n I just started humming the lines of this beautiful song n suddenly all the people started singing this song with me aur woh b bahut sur me, this is the power of good music..Attribute to our loving KK.”

Comedian Rajiv Thakur mentioned: “It was a great moment.” Another fan wrote: “For those missing iconic KK.”

One of Kapil’s fans appreciated his voice and wrote: “Love your voice keep singing sir.”

South Asian dancers fight for representation after ‘Naatu Naatu’ Oscar performance

Nearly a week after the Oscars, the disappointment of a missed opportunity still weighs heavily on the minds of some South Asian American dancers, who are setting out to ensure it never happens again.

Many in the South Asian dance community were dismayed by the astonishing dearth of South Asian representation in the ‘Naatu Naatu’ performance at Sunday’s Academy Awards.

While singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava were on hand to perform their hit tune from Tollywood smash ‘RRR’, which made history for India that night by winning Best Original Song, they were not joined on stage by a single dancer of South Asian heritage, reported Variety.

Especially when, 14 years ago, they nailed it with the staging of A.R. Rahman’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ hit ‘Jai Ho’ at the 2009 Oscars as part of a widely celebrated four-minute medley.

“(The 2009 Oscars) had Indian singers and it was a multi-racial group of dancers and musicians,” explained Shilpa Dave, an assistant professor of media studies at the University of Virginia who specializes in the history of representations of race and gender in the media.

“They were really showing that music has this global force. That’s why people didn’t have an issue at that time.”

While Sunday night did mark a historic turning point for India, which also won Best Documentary Short for Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga’s ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, the glaring absence of South Asian performers on Hollywood’s biggest stage was the “last straw” for dancers like Achinta S. McDaniel, reports showbiz.com.

“Some people say, ‘just be happy with what we got,’ and that’s part of [the problem] – this idea of just accepting the scraps that are thrown to you,” McDaniel, the founder and artistic director of the Los Angeles-based Dance Company, told Variety.

“Just be happy an Indian song was nominated (and won). Don’t be mad about the overwhelming racism that appeared in the performance.”

McDaniel’s agent put her forward to serve as an associate consultant for the performance two weeks before the Oscars, but her rep was told that the AMPAS-selected choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon D’uomo, the Los Angeles-based duo known as NappyTabs, had already hired their team.

“(Equity is) a big part of what I’m interested in, and this has galvanized so many of my colleagues in the field,” said McDaniel.

“Now it’s enough. This is the last straw.”

McDaniel is hosting a Zoom on Saturday for South Asians in the dance community to unpack the events of the Oscars and plan ahead for a South Asian Summit this summer – an event she hopes to stage in conjunction with national organisation Dance/USA’s annual conference.

“This really lit a fire,” said McDaniel.

“So many people are joining this Zoom so we can start to make an actual change. It’s been too long since we’ve been quiet.”

Vikas Arun, a New York-based dancer, and teacher specializing in forms of Western and Indian rhythmic and percussive dance, told Variety there have also been conversations this week about building a cross-functional advocacy group that can rally on behalf of South Asian entertainers in moments of crisis.

Dave, who authored the 2013 book ‘Indian Accents: Brown Voice and Racial Performance in American Television and Film’, agrees the “next step” in the conversation is to further interrogate the advocacy of South Asian entertainers.

“It’s about thinking of representation and advocacy for not just directors, writers, and actors, but also performers on the larger scale as well,” said Dave. “I think dancers have been left out of this conversation. So when we’re looking at casting agencies and talent agencies, (we need to ask) where are the agents that are advocating the establishment?”

According to talents such as Ramita Ravi, another professional dancer, and choreographer whose agent put her forward for the Academy Awards, situations like the Oscars performance “unfortunately happen all the time.”

Interestingly, five days after the awards, there still remains some confusion about how the production transpired in the first place. It was initially thought that ‘RRR’ actors NTR Jr. and Ram Charan would perform the dance themselves, but Oscars producer Raj Kapoor detailed in an AMPAS blog that the actors declined, as they weren’t comfortable doing so with the time constraints.

As such, their characters were represented on stage by Lebanese Canadian dancer Billy Mustapha and American dancer Jason Glover, whom many wrongly assumed was of South Asian heritage.

One source told Variety that AMPAS then intended to fly over dancers from India to support the performance, but their work visas fell through, prompting NappyTabs to hire their own dancers.

While a source close to the production said AMPAS tried to ensure the original team from India was looped in on every creative decision, a team that included the film’s public relations team, S.S. Rajamouli’s son Karthikeya Rajamouli, ‘RRR’ producers and composer M.M. Keeravaani, the outrage at the resulting performance also highlights the divergence in what representation means for nationals versus those who are part of a diaspora.

“For many South Asian Americans in the U.S., we were born and raised in America and feel a very large sense of belonging here,” explained Ravi.

“For other generations, and especially immigrants or folks living in India, it’s a bit of a different equation – they might be excited to be invited to the table, while the diaspora wants to be part of building the table. In that way, I think the idea of representation sits very differently across the diaspora.”

Dave added: “The Indian cinema industry is the largest in the world, and when you’re coming from that background and environment, you don’t see the injustices that are happening in the diaspora and in Hollywood. So (the ‘RRR’ team) was thrilled to win an Oscar – and rightly so.”

But for those in the diaspora, representation matters greatly said Dave

First look of Prince William, Kate Middleton from ‘The Crown’ Season 6 unveiled

The sixth season of ‘The Crown’, which is currently filming in St Andrews, Scotland, is set to feature Ed McVey and Meg Bellamy as college-age Prince William and Kate Middleton, respectively.

The couple met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews, and photographers caught the actors filming a scene on March 17 that appeared to be a potential meet-cute, reports Variety.

William and Kate’s relationship has been followed eagerly by tabloids since they met. They were engaged in November 2010 and got married on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey. They have three children: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince Louis of Wales.

It has been speculated that this season will focus on the Royal Family in the ’90s, including William’s mother Princess Diana’s death. Although it is believed they will not show the moment of the death, it will include the lead-up and aftermath.

A source told Variety that there is a strong desire within the production team “to get it right and handle (it) sensitively.”

In September 2022, ‘The Crown’ paused filming on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s death and also announced that they would suspend production on the day of her funeral.

Prince William has been under fire recently after his brother Prince Harry revealed in his autobiography that William physically attacked Harry after insulting his wife, Meghan Markle, reports Variety.

After reportedly calling Markle “difficult,” “rude” and “abrasive,” Harry wrote that William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and knocked me to the floor.”

Ram Charan lands in Hyderabad to grand welcome by fans

Leading actor Ram Charan reached Hyderabad to a grand welcome by his fans. Basking in Oscar glory, the RRR actor landed at Begumpet Airport by a special aircraft around 1 a.m. on Saturday.

Ram Charan, who had landed in Delhi on Friday, was moved by the warm welcome by his fans late in the night.

As soon as the actor emerged from the airport building, there were loud cheers from hundreds of fans who were waiting for him. They showered petals on Ram Charan who was standing in an open-top vehicle waving at the crowd. Some of the fans were carrying banners and posters hailing him as a global star.

‘Naatu Naatu’, the RRR song featuring Ram Charan and Junior NTR, bagged an Oscar award for the best original song.

Ram Charan, along with his wife Upasana, arrived in Delhi on Friday. The young actor along with his father Chiranjeevi participated in India Today’s conclave in the national capital.

Ram Charan and Chiranjeevi met union Home minister Amit Shah at the conclave.

Ram Charan later tweeted that it was an honor to meet the central minister. He thanked Shah for appreciating the efforts of the RRR team.

Earlier, Amit Shah also tweeted that he was delighted to meet two legends of Indian cinema.

“The Telugu film industry has significantly influenced India’s culture & economy. Have congratulated Ram Charan on the Oscar win for the Naatu-Naatu song and the phenomenal success of the “RRR’,” wrote Shah.

Gal Gadot wishes ‘ma’ Alia Bhatt on her 30th birthday

Gal Gadot had the best birthday wish for her ‘Heart of Stone’ co-star Alia Bhatt, whom the Hollywood star lovingly called “ma”.

Alia, who just turned 30, shared pictures from her birthday celebrations on Instagram. Gal took to the comment section to wish her.

Alia shared her birthday pictures and captioned them: “THIRTY.” Gal commented: “Happy birthday ma.”

Helmed by Tom Harper, ‘Heart of Stone’ is intended to be the first installment in a series akin to Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible. The movie also stars Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighofer, Jing Lusi, and Paul Ready in addition to Gal, Jamie, and Alia.

On the Bollywood front, Alia also has ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’. She will be seen alongside Ranveer Singh again. The film also stars Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, and Dharmendra.

On his first post-Oscars appearance, Ram Charan receives rousing reception at IGI

Star hero Ram Charan, who famous actor after the ‘RRR’ Movie, has come a thunderous way at the VIP area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport today on Friday morning.

With him was his wife Upasana Kamineni. They were together present to celebrate the moment when the M.M. Keeravani-composed ‘Naatu Naatu’ won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards on March 13.

Ram Charan was all smiles and kept folding his hands and waving as he negotiated his way through the crush. The actor is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and address a conclave organized by a news magazine during his stay in Delhi before going back to his home city Hyderabad.

Vidyut Jammwal, Nandita Mahtani go their separate ways

Action star Vidyut Jammwal and fashion designer Nandita Mahtani have reportedly called it quits after being engaged for two years.

According to a source close to Media, Vidyut, and Nandita were seen attending the haldi ceremony of Deanne Pandey’s daughter on Wednesday, however, the two were seen maintaining a distance from each other.

“Vidyut’s reclusiveness in the social circuit is a reason behind their distance,” said the source from the Haldi ceremony.

It was in 2021 when the two got engaged at the Taj Mahal in Agra and confirmed it on social media.

However, the source concluded that they are respectful towards each other, good friends, and there for each other.

People must raise voice against those who defame India: Rijiju attacks Rahul

Union Law minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his London speech and said that people must raise their voices against those who defame India.

Speaking to the media, Rijiju said, “Rahul Gandhi must apologize for what he said in his London seminar. He has insulted our democracy, judiciary & nation. We must raise our voice against those who speak against our nation.”

He further said, “If Rahul Gandhi says something and Congress gets into trouble because of that, we have nothing to do with it. But if he defames our country, then as the citizens of this country, we can’t be quiet.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a lecture at Cambridge University in London recently, said, “Everybody knows and it’s been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for a democratic Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilization, moving around all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy.”

Amid the controversy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will attend Parliament on Thursday and is likely to address the controversy over his comments in London. The Congress has rejected the ruling BJP’s call for an apology by Rahul Gandhi.

RGV receives his civil engineering degree after 37 years

Engineering degree has been taken by the most famous filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma after 37 years he completed his B.Tech from Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur.

RGV, as the filmmaker is popularly known, took to Twitter to share a picture of his degree certificate and also his excitement.

“Super thrilled to receive my B tech degree today 37 years after I passed, which I never took in 1985 since I wasn’t interested in practicing civil engineering,” he tweeted. He thanked the university for the same.

The director had passed B Tech (civil engineering) with second class in the examination held in July 1985.

RGV also shared a picture with the professors of the university and wrote: “The uneducated me with the highly educated professors of Acharya Nagarjuna University.”

“I told the honorable vice chancellor Prof Raja Shekar garu I don’t deserve this honor but he insisted I do,” he added.

“Prof.Rajashekar garu..I usually feel horrible to be honored. But this time I truly felt honored to be with such honorable people on such an honor-filled occasion,” RGV wrote.

Sharing another picture taken while addressing the gathering, the director wrote: “Was trying to spoil Acharya Nagarjuna University students and scholars but they spoiled me.”

The 60-year-old made his debut in the Telugu film industry with the crime thriller Siva in 1989.

IND v AUS: KL Rahul gets a lot of balance into the team as a wicketkeeper, says T. Dilip

With India all set to face Australia in ODIs from Friday at the Wankhede Stadium, it also means the restart of the preparations for the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup.

As India gets back to the 50-over fold after winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series 2-1, it is likely that K.L Rahul will be back in the playing eleven as a wicketkeeper-batter, apart from being the number five batter, a role where he’s had plenty of success in last few years.

India’s fielding coach T Dilip also hinted at the same, citing the balance Rahul brings to the playing eleven in ODIs. “We all know that KL Rahul is a wonderful player. He has a proven record. Even in ODIs, in the middle-order, he has proven enough as a batter. As a wicketkeeper, he gets a lot of balance into the team.”

“Since he is not someone who has picked the gloves just now — he has been doing that since a younger age – he adds a lot of things. Not much difficult to work on his wicketkeeping skills, apart from refining a few aspects,” he said in the pre-series press conference.

Dilip, who has been India’s fielding coach after R Sridhar moved on post the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup, stated that improvements in fielding will continue to happen. “There are certain areas where we have certainly improved over a period of time. If you look at the number of direct-hit percentages in the (2022 T20) World Cup and that one direct hit from KL Rahul changed the course of the match.”

“That’s something we are looking at as a group and if you look at the overall ratio, even if there are no runouts, the number of times we have hit the stumps has improved a bit. That’s one area we will keep improving.”

Dilip has been part of the NCA setup and accompanied the Indian team for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021. He had worked with the Hyderabad Ranji team, India A, and junior teams for over 15 years.

“If you look at the last T20 World Cup, we had three wicketkeepers who played. That’s been a trend. If you see all the wicketkeeper-batters that are coming up in the lines, they have been fantastic batters too. That adds to the balance (of the team).”

“As a fielding coach, my responsibility is not only to work on their wicketkeeping skills, but also work on their fielding skills, so that whatever role the team requires according to the combination on that particular day, they are well equipped for that,” he added.

With all-rounder Hardik Pandya set to captain India in the first ODI as Rohit Sharma is unavailable due to personal reasons, Dilip thinks he can do the leadership job well in 50-over cricket after leading the team in various T20Is.

“When it comes to Hardik Pandya, he is the captain now officially. But he has been in our leadership group for all these matches and he’s already proven in T20s what he can bring to the table as a captain.”

“Irrespective of that, even if Rohit is the captain, he is part of our leadership group, and he adds a lot of value to the team. Not only you, but we all are also looking forward to him. He’s well-equipped to do it.”

Dilip signed off by saying the intensity that senior players like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja bring while being excellent fielders is something that can have a good effect on the youngsters in the team.

“They (Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja) have proven over a period of time, they have been role models and examples in terms of what they can contribute in fielding. Players do look up to them. What special I see as a coach when they come to practice is the intensity. Even after proving themselves, they carry that intensity, which definitely rubs on to the youngsters.”