Payal Ghosh calls #MeTooIndia movement ‘fake’

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Payal Ghosh calls #MeTooIndia movement ‘fake’

Actress Payal Ghosh on Saturday termed the MeToo movement in India as fake. The actress, who has leveled sexual harassment charges against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, has also questioned the authenticity of the movement that started two years ago in the country.

“All the accused got a clean chit in the #Metooindia movement. So it deems the accuser to be false. Why are they not punished for harassment then? Where is the truth? Up in the air. Why are those women not behind the bars for false accusations, as the accuser got a clean sheet?” Payal wrote on her verified Twitter account.

“The women posting in support of the accused know nothing about the situation and can have an opinion that the accused can’t do this ever. It’s like the rapist’s wife saying that the husband is innocent and can never do this. Tell me otherwise,” Payal wrote in separate tweets, tagging her opinion with #fake and #Metooindia.

Payal’s claim over the authenticity of the MeToo movement in India comes at a time when Anurag Kashyap has received the support of several industry colleagues, including actresses he has worked with, as well as his two ex-wives after she accused him of sexual harassment.

On Friday, Payal had claimed on Twitter that the filmmaker has lied before the police while giving his statement. The actress demanded a lie detector, polygraph test, and narco analysis be performed on him.

On Friday evening, Payal’s lawyer Nitin Satpute tweeted from his unverified account: “Today I have filed an application to the Police station on behalf of Payal Ghosh to conduct Narco Analysis, Lie Detector and Polygraph Test of Mr. Kashyap to find out the truth, for the interest of Justices.”

‘Black Widows’ ready to strike, leading ladies excited

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‘Black Widows’ ready to strike, leading ladies excited

Mona Singh, Swastika Mukherjee, Shamita Shetty, and Raima Sen — the four leading ladies of the upcoming web series Black Widows — are excited about the show, which they say projects them in a powerful manner.

The Indian version of the web series will be the eighth international remake following adaptations in Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, the Middle East, Mexico, Scandinavia, and the Czech Republic.

'Black Widows' ready to strike, leading ladies excited

Talking about the show, Mona said: “We had a fantastic time shooting for the show and every member of the crew has gone above and beyond to ensure we deliver a great product. I am confident that the first look will create intrigue.”

Swastika mentioned: “This is a huge responsibility on the team, given the reputation of the international show, and all the actors have strived to create something quite extraordinary.”

Raima added: “Shooting for ‘Black Widows’ has been a fun ride! There is a talented bunch of actors, each with clearly defined characters. The first look will surely give the audience a sneak-peek into each of our roles.”

The show also features Sharad Kelkar, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Aamir Ali, and Sabyasachi Chakraborty.

Directed by Birsa Dasgupta, the show is a quirky drama set in a small picturesque town in India. It revolves around how three best friends, who thought they got away with the perfect crime of killing their abusive husbands, find all has not ended yet.

The series is slated to premiere in December on Zee5.

'Black Widows' ready to strike, leading ladies excited'Black Widows' ready to strike, leading ladies excited

Being Mohinder Amarnath: Saqib Saleem on playing the icon in ’83’

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Being Mohinder Amarnath: Saqib Saleem on playing the icon in ’83’

Actor Saqib Saleem knows the responsibility he shoulders while essaying Mohinder Amarnath, in a film about the 1983 cricket World Cup. He recalls being edgy before he started the film, adding that he spent a lot of time with the legendary cricketer to prepare for his role.

Saleem plays Amarnath in “83”, Kabir Khan’s Bollywood tribute to Indian cricket’s first-ever World Cup victory that casts Ranveer Singh as the team captain Kapil Dev. Amarnath, popular as Jimmy among friends and fans, was the star of India’s 1983 World Cup campaign. He won Man of the Match titles in the final as well as the semifinal.

“Before every film, there is immense self-doubt, and when you are playing a real-life character you just have to try and be as close to him so that when the people watch the film they get a glimpse of the guy. I was very edgy before I started the film. I have just been fortunate. I got to play him and I got to spend time — a lot of time — with him,” Saqib told IANS.

He added: “I have had enough lunches with him, whether in Dharamshala or London or in Bombay. He came to help me train in cricket. I’ve spoken to him about his life and experiences, and what he was thinking at that time, also about the relationship he shared with his father. He opened up to me and I realized he is just a fantastic human being.”

He may have been nervous before the shoot, but Saqib says he did not take any pressure once filming started. “Now I hope when the film comes out, people will see a bit of Jimmy Amarnath in me. The would make me really happy,” he said.

“83” was originally scheduled to hit the screens in April, but the film has been pushed to Christmas owing to the COVID outbreak.

Was he disappointed in learning that the film’s release has been pushed? “…100 percent! I am very excited about this film. The disappointment didn’t last for more than 10 days, though. One realized the world is going through a lot more at this point,” he said.

“Yes, the film is important to all of us who worked on it and to those who really want to watch it, but then there are a lot of people going through a tough time. The world is going through a tough time. The world needs healing right now,” he said.

Directed by Kabir Khan, “83” also features Tahir Raj Bhasin, Pankaj Tripathi, Boman Irani, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Jiiva, Sahil Khattar, Chirag Patil, and Adinath Kothare in key roles, along with Deepika Padukone as Kapil’s wife Romi Dev.

SRK remembers value of truth on Gandhi Jayanti

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SRK remembers value of truth on Gandhi Jayanti

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Friday, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan urged everyone to encourage children to follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

“If this Gandhi Jayanti there is one ideal we would like our children to follow, in good times, bad times and all the time….it should be Hear no bad…see no bad….speak no bad! Remembering the value of truth on Gandhiji’s 151st Birth Anniversary,” SRK wrote on Instagram.

The actor is currently in the UAE along with his family for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Shah Rukh, who owns the Kolkata Knight Rider (KKR) team in the league, was recently spotted attending matches there, with wife Gauri and son Aryan.

He was dressed in smart casuals — blue jeans, a white and purple KKR buttoned hoodie and a KKR mask — and, as usual, fans were gushing on social media.

“He looks so good,” a user commented.

“Boss in the stadium,” another fan wrote.

Bhumi Pednekar: I have to use my voice to educate people about climate change

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Bhumi Pednekar: I have to use my voice to educate people about climate change

Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who has taken up the cause of climate conservation to raise awareness among fellow Indians, says she wants to use her voice to bring about positive change.

“I always had this fear,” she claimed, recalling how concerned she always was about the environment, even as a child. “It started in my childhood. ‘What would happen to this world when the water dries up?’ That was the first question in my head. So, I started reading up on climate change,” she recalled.

“I have always been conscious, and I tried to have a sustainable style of living, especially since I became an adult. But then I realized I wasn’t really doing enough and that’s when I started Climate Warrior,” she declared.

Bhumi’s online and offline initiative Climate Warrior is an initiative to mobilize citizens of India to contribute towards protecting the environment. The initiative has turned a year old.

She wants to use her fame to educate people about climate change.

“I have become an actor. I have the power to reach out to so many people and I have always tried doing that through my cinema. I have to use my voice, my social media platforms to bring about positive change in the world and educate people about climate change,” she said.

Bhumi feels every individual must participate in raising community awareness about environmental protection.

“When we speak about love for our family, when we speak about love for our nation, do we actually mean all this because we should be doing more to protect our families and our nation and our future generations. These were all the looming questions in my head and that’s when I realized I should start Climate Warrior,” she said.

Aahana Kumra digs Bengali food and Kolkata culture

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Aahana Kumra digs Bengali food and Kolkata culture

Actress Aahana Kumra loves Bengali food and the culture of Kolkata. Aahana, who spent a lot of time in Kolkata, says she misses both.

“I spend a lot of time in Kolkata and I am surrounded by Bengalis. My brother-in-law is a Bengali. My first director Ribhu Dasgupta (of the TV series ‘Yudh’) is Bengali. Since I actively perform in theatre, I often go to Rabindra Sadan for performances. Bengali food, culture — everything — is so familiar that I am kind of home with it!” Aahana told IANS.

Aahana recently worked with director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury in the film “Rules Of The Games”. Roy Chowdhury, known to pan-Indian audiences for his critically and commercially successful Bollywood film “Pink”, is among the pioneers of the new-age Bengali cinema.

“When it comes to Toni Da (as is known among friends and colleagues)], I think he spoilt all of us and now we want to go back to his set! After our first meeting for the film, he invited us to his home and served mouthwatering Bengali food. Just to have such a meal, I can do another film with him! After the wrap, Prasoon, our casting director who is also a Bengali, invited us to his place. We had some more insane food there. There is something about Bengali food — the spicing, the freshness – it makes you crave for more!” Aahana said.

Roy Chowdhury added, laughing: “I have to share a secret with you. It may sound weird but the fact is I cannot trust people who do not love food. period. You could have a small portion like you can have one piece of bhetki macher paturi, but if you do not love food, how can I trust you with my creative idea?”

He explained: “For me, creativity flows when the environment is conducive. After a good meal, good music, and a good conversation, the mind works wonders, right? Even food has its story — where it came from, the society, the culture.”

“Rules Of The Games” also features Chandan Roy Sanyal, and streams on Zee5.

Rahul Dev says his latest ‘Raat Baaki Hai’ is an interesting film with tight plot

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Rahul Dev says his latest ‘Raat Baaki Hai’ is an interesting film with tight plot

Actor Rahul Dev says his upcoming digital film, Raat Baaki Hai, is all about thrill, drama and a tight plot.

“It’s an interesting film with a tight plot. People would like it for the elements of thrill and drama. I have an able director in Avinash Das who gives his actors space to perform, hence the creativity is truly collaborative. (I am) enjoying myself on set and I can’t speak too much at this point except that the character holds a few surprises in store,” Rahul said.

“Raat Baaki Hai” also stars Paoli Dam and Annup Soni.

The film is a story of love, deceit and revenge and is based on Atul Satya’s popular play “Ballygunge-1990”. The film takes place when two estranged lovers meet after 12 years.

Amol Parashar: Theatre easiest medium for exploration

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Amol Parashar: Theatre easiest medium for exploration

Actor Amol Parashar, who rose to fame with his character Chitvan Sharma in TVF Tripling, and is currently being seen in film ‘Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare’, has also featured in the lead role in the televised play ‘Panchi Aise Aate Hai’ on Tata Sky Theatre, which is celebrating Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar’s contribution to theatre.

Sharing his thoughts on theatre, Amol shared that for exploration purposes, “theatre is the easiest and most convenient medium for an actor”.

“When working on a text, or when working on a theatrical production, the process gives you ample time and space to experiment and ‘play’ around. You can keep working on a performance or refining it as you do more and more shows of the same production. Thanks to the beauty of imagination in theatre, you can also deal with characters and themes that are far away from you physically. Film doesn’t offer you the same freedoms, at least not to the same extent,” he told IANSlife in an email.

Asked about theatre as a tool for social change and a mirror of society, Amol, 29, feels that theatre performance and watching is a much more personal experience. “You can dabble in unique and radical ideas and still find acceptance. The constraints of commerce don’t come in the way of theatre as much as they do with other forms of storytelling. That makes it a much more effective tool to drive through social change and new ideas.”

The young, promising actor also shared his perspective on Vijay Tendulkar’s contribution to Marathi theatre.

“Vijay Tendulkar is a legendary name and I am too small a fry to even have an opinion on his contribution. He had a voice of his own, and a strong one at that, taking up social and political events of his time and depicting them in his work. His plays are read, performed and analysed in a multiple languages in India and outside. There’s no doubt that he is one of the most influential playwrights of our country.”

Amol has dabbled in multiple mediums and genres, and says that it is a process to delve deeper into his craft and also himself as a human being. “I would like to be grow my skillset to a point where I should feel like nothing is unachievable.”

Finally, sharing his thoughts on theatre’s new televised avatar that he’s now featuring in, the actor shared that, “Every art form and medium goes through a process of evolution. With new technology at our disposal, it is our duty to experiment and see if we can come up with newer and newer ways to reach the audience. It is a great initiative by Tata Sky to this purpose, especially because classic texts and playwrights are being made accessible to a large audience. These texts would otherwise just become an archive in a library. It’s invigorating to see them being packaged in a certain way and made accessible to the large audience that Tata Sky enjoys.”

Rasika Dugal on ‘Delhi Crimes’ making International Emmys cut

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Rasika Dugal on ‘Delhi Crimes’ making International Emmys cut

The web series Delhi Crime has been nominated for International Emmy Awards 2020 and actress Rasika Dugal, who features in the hit show, feels it has won recognition by striking balance between being interesting and sensitive.

“I feel ‘Delhi Crime’ is a very sensitively and intelligently made project. I am really proud of working on it. I am thrilled that it’s getting the recognition that I feel it deserves,” Rasika, who played a cop in the series, told IANS.

The series is vying for honours at the International Emmys alongside shows from Argentina, Germany and the UK in the Best Drama Series category.

The first season of the show followed the story of the Nirbhaya rape case of 2012.

Asked what clicked with everyone, Rasika replied: “I think the case itself. The Nirbhaya rape case affected a lot of people very deeply. It was horrific and gruesome. As a society, we should not forget it. We should remember that we, as part of society, allowed a crime like this to happen.”

“Besides, it’s an engaging police procedural series. It’s made in a way that’s interesting yet sensitive, which is a very difficult balance to have,” she added.

She felt that the makers dealt with the subject with a lot of sensitivity.

“The director, editor and cinematographer were so well aligned. They dealt with the material with sensitivity. Even while watching it, I was moved by some of the choices they made. For example, it talks about a rape case, but you don’t see the act. It was a sensitive decision on the part of the director. When I watched the series for the first time, I felt honoured to be a part of it,” said Rasika.

The show will soon return with a new season, highlighting a different case.

Rasika did not reveal details about the case to be focussed, but shared that she has finished shooting for its second season.

Vaani Kapoor is ‘grateful’ the film industry ‘is bouncing back’

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Vaani Kapoor is ‘grateful’ the film industry ‘is bouncing back’

Even as the government on Wednesday evening announced its decision to open cinema theatres in a phased manner, several film units have already started shooting amid the new normal.

Among units that are filming overseas is the Akshay Kumar-starrer “Bell Bottom”. The cast and crew have been shooting in Glasgow, Scotland. Actress Vaani Kapoor, who is paired opposite superstar Akshay in the film, says she is happy to see the industry bouncing back.

“Shooting for ‘Bell Bottom’ has been fun and a good experience. Despite the ongoing challenges amid the ongoing pandemic, the team managed to have a really smooth and safe shooting experience while filming with a large crew, for which they deserve all the credit,” said Vaani.

“We were made to feel safe on the sets because of their commitment to safety and hygiene,” she added.

Vaani is also gearing up to start shooting for Abhishek Kapoor’s untitled romantic drama opposite Ayushmann Khurrana.

“I’m looking forward to shooting with Ayushmann for this progressive love story that is being directed by Abhishek Kapoor. I couldn’t feel more grateful that my industry is slowly bouncing back.”

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