Manushi Chhillar: Likes and shares in virtual world add to pressure

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Manushi Chhillar: Likes and shares in virtual world add to pressure

Actress and former beauty queen Manushi Chhillar, on the occasion of International Youth Day on Wednesday, said that youth should feel free to be themselves, but also warned against online toxicity.

“We, the youth of our country, are riding on the technology wave and while there are massive advantages, there are disadvantages too. We are dealing with severe online toxicity and hate that one shouldn’t face growing up. Rather the youth should feel free to be themselves, discover their identities, make mistakes and learn from them,” Manushi said.

She added: “I pray we are super strong to take on this much negativity that’s thrown at all of us on a daily basis and are able to distinguish between what matters and what doesn’t.”

Manushi wants the youth to always know that these things don’t really matter.

“Likes and shares and comments in the virtual world are definitely adding up to the pressure and I would want the youth to always know that these things don’t really matter. It’s not real despite being quantifiable. What matters is who we are, what our core values are, how we treat others and how responsible we are towards our family, friends, environment and country,” she said.

Manushi is 23, and she feels living through the Covid pandemic has definitely set new priorities for the youth, including her.

“Youth and children are also growing up in an environment where they are living through a pandemic today and that’s bound to impact the way we envision the future. I hope it doesn’t unnerve the youth to explore and express. Youth should not be shy to innovate and to lead life fearlessly as we are the explorers of our future,” she says.

Manushi welcomes the conversation that the youth are maturing faster in an age of technology.

“All the innovations and all the predicaments that we have seen in such a quick time will definitely have an impact. I hope it only forms a part of the youth’s evolution process and doesn’t disillusion them from having experiences. Youth is meant to live without fear, live free, and always feel that they can chase the sun,” she said.

Manushi shared that on International Youth Day, she wishes that the youth of the country don’t succumb to these external pressures and continue to dream.

She said: “These minds will shape up the future of this world and I’m most excited to see what they create for themselves and other generations.”

Manushi is all set to make her Bollywood debut opposite superstar Akshay Kumar in the upcoming film “Prithviraj”. Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, “Prithviraj” is based on the life of King Prithviraj Chauhan. It stars Akshay as Prithviraj, while Manushi will play the role of the Sanyogita, the love of his life.

SSR’s dad attempted to know details of treatment from Rhea: WA message

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SSR’s dad attempted to know details of treatment from Rhea: WA message

Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s father K.K. Singh had tried to contact his son’s live-in partner Rhea Chakraborty to know the details of his son’s ongoing medical treatment at that time, WhatsApp messages shared with the media showed.

The actress, who is now the prime accused in the death case of Sushant, did not respond to any of the messages.

Besides Rhea, Sushant’s father also tried to connect with his son’s former manager Shruti Modi and even she did not revert back to him. Modi is a co-accused in the case filed by Singh at a Patna police station on July 25. She was also both Sushant and Rhea’s manager.

The ED and the CBI are probing the death of the late actor, who was found hanging in his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14 on the complaint of Singh filed at the Rajeev Nagar police station. Sushant and his family hail from Purnea district in Bihar.

Both the agencies have taken over the probe on the basis of the Bihar Police FIR.

Singh in his message to Rhea at 12.34 p.m. on November 29 last year asked her to share the details of his son’s treatment.

In the message to Rhea, Singh said, “Jab tum jan gaee ki hum Sushant ka papa hun to baat kyu nahi ki. Aakhir baat kya hai. Friend bankar uska dekhbhal aur uska elaj karba rahi ho to mera bhi farj banta hai ki Sushant ke bare me jankari mujhe bhi rahe. Esliye call kar mujhe bhi sari jankari do (When you have come to know that its Sushant’s father then why don’t you speak to me. What is the reason. If you are getting Sushant treated being a friend then it is also my responsibility to know the details. Therefore call me and share all the information).”

The revelations come in the backdrop of regular questioning of Rhea and her family members besides Modi, and others associated with Sushant by the ED.

The CBI on Monday visited the Faridabad home of the late actor’s brother-in-law, O.P. Singh, who is a top police officer in Haryana. They recorded the statement of Sushant’s father and sister in connection with the case.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources, the family members have claimed that Sushant’s death was not suicide but a murder. However, the CBS officials remained tight-lipped on the development.

The father had also tried to contact Modi, on the same day he whatsapped Rhea, November 29, asking her to book a flight ticket for Singh so that he could come to Mumbai.

Singh wrote to Shruti Modi, 18 minutes before messaging Rhea. In the message, he said: “Mai janta hu ki Sushant ke sare karj aur use bhi tum hi dekhti ho. Wah abhi kis stithi me hai, iske liye bat karna chah rahe the. Kal Sushant se baat hui thi to usne kaha tha ki main bahut pareshan hu.

“Ab tum socho ki ek pita ko kitni chinta hogi uske liye. Esliye tumse bat karna chah raha tha. Ab tum bat nahi kar rahi ho to mai Mumbai jana chahta hu. Flight ka ticket bhej do. (which roughly translates into ‘I know you handle the expenses and other things of Sushant, and it was the reason why I wanted to speak to you. Wanted to know in which condition he is in. Yesterday I spoke to Sushant and he said that he was troubled. Now you can imagine being a father, how worried I must be for my son. It was the reason why I wanted to speak to you. And now when you are not speaking then I want to come to Mumbai. Send the flight ticket).”

The ED has recorded the statement of Rhea, her brother Showik and father Indrajit on Monday. Till date the ED has questioned Rhea twice, her brother’s Showik statement thrice and her father Indrajit once.

For the first time on Tuesday, the ED has called Sushant’s sister Mitu Singh to record her statement with the agency. A top ED official said that Mitu Singh will be recording her statement later in the day.

The ED has also recorded the statement of Rhea’s Chartered Accountant (CA) Ritesh Shah, Sushant’s CA Sandeep Sridhar, his house manager Samuel Miranda, his flatmate Siddharth Pithani.

Shruti Modi on Tuesday morning again joined the ED probe. She has been questioned by ED twice earlier.

The ED had on July 31 registered a case on the basis of a Bihar Police FIR on his father’s complaint that Rs 15 crore was withdrawn or transferred from his son’s Kotak Mahindra Bank account.

The ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Rhea and her family members. Sushant’s father has accused Rhea of taking money from his son and also threatening to disclose his medical reports to the media. The late actor’s family has also accused her of keeping him away from them.

The case was transferred to the CBI from the state police on August 6.

On Monday, Rhea had moved a fresh plea in the Supreme Court, complaining that the media was unfairly holding a trial and pronouncing her guilty. She also urged the top court to ensure that she is not made a scapegoat of political agenda in the wake of the Bihar elections scheduled later this year.

The plea also said that she had no objection if the court referred the matter to the CBI. The apex court will be hearing the matter again on Tuesday.

Sister Mitu, ex-manager Shruti to be questioned

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Sister Mitu, ex-manager Shruti to be questioned

Spreading the net wider in the Sushant Singh Rajput financial deals probes, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday summoned his sister Mitu Singh and former manager, Shruti Modi.

While Modi arrived at the ED office around 9.30 a.m., Mitu is likely to reach by noon.

The ED on Monday grilled Sushant’s live-in partner Rhea Chakraborty, her father, and brother, besides others in connection with the probe into the late actor’s financials.

Sushant was found dead in his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14. His family has lodged an FIR against Rhea and several others for abetment to suicide.

Mahira and Paras try to give ‘Bigg Boss’ feel to their new music video

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Mahira and Paras try to give ‘Bigg Boss’ feel to their new music video

Former Bigg Boss contestants Mahira Sharma and Paras Chhabra have reunited for a music video. She says it has all the elements that their fans loved while watching them on season 13 of the popular show.

Sung by Raman Goyal, the song is called “Ring”, and its video sees Mahira and Paras, fondly known as #pahira by fans, getting into cute fights.

“We wanted to give a ‘Bigg Boss’ feel, show how we are in reality, without acting. People liked the fun and love, we have put all that in the music video,” Mahira told IANS.

Apart from participating in the controversial show together, the two actors have also featured in other music videos.

“Working with Paras is always comfortable,” she said.

She shared that the two off-screen friends don’t fight much in reality, but sometimes “I get a bit rude and he has a problem with that. He eats very quickly. I have a problem with that”.

As for music videos, she simply loves them. “I have always liked doing music videos. We can’t do much because of coronavirus. There are TV show offers also, but I don’t want to take risks. It’s all in Mumbai and shooting every day…I am just waiting for this pandemic to get over,” said the actress, who is currently in Chandigarh.

But the entertainment won’t stop.

“We will continue to entertain fans through different music videos. There will be more music videos (with Paras),” she promised.

Asked if she learned anything during the lockdown period, she replied with a laugh: “I learned during ‘Bigg Boss’ — that was also kind of a lockdown, too, a dangerous one. The situations taught me patience and how to cook.”

Locked and hitched: Star couples who got married amid lockdown

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Locked and hitched: Star couples who got married amid lockdown

For many stars, the new normal has been all about new beginnings. Despite lockdown, several among the gitterati have tied the knot in an intimate affair.

IANS brings a list of star couples, who sealed their ‘forever together’ in the time of Covid-19.

RANA DAGGUBATI and MIHEEKA BAJAJ

The “Baahubali” star got married to Miheeka Bajaj on August 8 in the presence of close family and friends. The close-knit yet glamourous affair was hosted at the Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad. In May, Rana made his relationship with Miheeka public. Sharing a photo of the couple, the actor wrote on Instagram: “And she said yes! #MiheekaBajaj.” He used a red heart emoji along with his caption.

PRACHI TEHLAN and ROHIT SAROHA

Actress Prachi Tehlan got married to Delhi-based businessman Rohit Saroha on August 7 in New Delhi. Prachi said every safety measure was ensured at the celebrations.

“Health and safety of each and every human at the wedding is of utmost importance to me. That is why we have booked a venue that has a huge space. The idea is to make sure that guests do not come in close proximity to each other. Besides, we have invited them at an interval of 30 minutes to avoid crowding,” she had said about her wedding.

* MANISH RAISINGHAN and SANGEITA CHAUHAAN

“Sasural Simar Ka” actor Manish Raisinghani tied the knot with his lady love Sangeita Chauhan on June 30. They got married in a gurudwara in Mumbai in the presence of their immediate family members.

“Ek haath mein Sword…Doosre haath mein Sanitizer…. and face pe mask…Hmmm…What do we call it shadi or kidnapping? Hmm. Congratulations @sangeitachauhaan Ur kidnapped (for life),” Manish wrote on his Instagram after his wedding.

* PUJA BANERJEE and KUNAL VERMA

Television stars Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma had planned for a grand wedding in April, but had to stall due to the pandemic. On the same day, Puja took to her Instagram account to reveal that the couple had already had a court marriage one-and-half month back. They donated the amount they had set aside for their wedding.

* NITHIIN REDDY and SHALINI KANDUKARI

Telugu actor Nithiin tied the knot with Shalini at a five-star hotel in Hyderabad in July. Despite the lockdown and the pandemic, the couple managed to host a grand wedding, while following the rules and restrictions imposed by the government due to the pandemic.

* SUJEETH REDDY and PRAVALLIKA

“Saaho” director Sujeeth Reddy got married to Pravallika on August 2 in Hyderabad. It was a close-knit ceremony with only family members in attendance. On June 10, the couple got engaged in an intimate ceremony. They were in a relationship for the past few years.

* NIKHIL SIDDHARTHA and PALLAVI VARMA

Telugu actor Nikhil Siddhartha got married to his longtime girlfriend Pallavi Varma at a farmhouse in Hyderabad in May. The couple were earlier planning to get married in April but had to postpone the wedding owing to the lockdown. The wedding was attended by only a few family members of the bride and the groom.

* NIKHIL GOWDA and REVATHI

Nikhil Gowda, a Kannada actor, and son of former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy got married to Revathi in April at a farmhouse near Bidadi in Ramanagara district amid the lockdown. It was said that the “wedding was simple without frills”.

ED continues questioning Rhea, Showik, now dad Indrajit also joins

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ED continues questioning Rhea, Showik, now dad Indrajit also joins

Actor Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik and father Indrajit Chakraborty on Monday deposed before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money-laundering probe connected to the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

Their questioning began around 12.15 p.m.

The ED on Friday had quizzed Rhea, her ex-manager Shruti Modi, Sushant’s house manager Samuel Miranda in connection with the case. The ED had also questioned Showik on Friday for over eight hours and for over 18 hours on Saturday and on the intervening night of Sunday.

This is for the first time that Rhea’s father Indrajit was being questioned by the ED in connection with the case.

ED sources said that the agency suspects illegal money transactions and investigators have a clear picture about the whole matter.

On earlier occasions, Rhea has remained evasive during the questioning and claimed to be innocent.

The ED will question the actor and her family members regarding three of Rajput’s companies she is partners in. Rhea has told the financial probe agency sleuths that Rs one lakh was the paid-up capital, which was shared by the three of them (Sushant Singh Rajput, Rhea, and Showik Chakraborty), and apart from that, she hasn’t spent any more on the company.

The ED is also looking into two properties owned by Rhea and her family. Regarding the Khar (East) flat that is in her name, Rhea has told the ED officials that she took a housing loan for Rs 60 lakh and the rest of the amount, around Rs 25 lakh, have been paid through her own income. The agency will also question her father about another property.

The agency has asked for income tax returns of the last five years from the Chakraborty family.

The ED on July 31, registered the case on the basis of a Bihar Police FIR on the complaint of Sushant’s father K.K. Singh, who alleged that Rs 15 crore was withdrawn or transferred from his son’s Kotak Mahindra Bank account holding Rs 17 crore.

The ED had registered the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Rhea and her family members on the basis of Singh’s complaint submitted at the Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna.

Sushant and Rhea were said to be in a live-in relationship before the actor’s death on June 14. Sushant’s father has accused Rhea of taking money from his son and also threatening to disclose his medical reports to the media. Sushant’s family had also accused her of keeping him away from them.

The case was transferred to the CBI from the state police on August 7.

Darshan Kumaar: Took me years to understand how industry functions

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Darshan Kumaar: Took me years to understand how industry functions

Actor Darshan Kumaar says insiders do have an edge over outsiders in Bollywood, but nothing can outshine talent.

“Obviously, insiders, who know the industry from their childhood and whose fathers are stars or producers, have been stars over outsiders, who come from outside and who don’t know the ABCD,” he said, adding about outsiders like him: “It takes many years to understand the industry and how it works, which they (insiders) know from before.”

“They are prepared from before (for) what they have to do whereas we (get to) know about these things when we come here, so it takes time. But if you are talented no one can stop you,” he said.

The “Mary Kom” actor continued: “Thanks to the audience, they want to see good actors. In the past, one set of styles could work but now it has changed, as audiences get bored if an actor is doing one set of roles. It is a good time for theatre actors who are working on their skills, and acting as they can perform different roles and look their best.”

“If you don’t perform well, the audience will not like you, and in the future, you will not get work. So, this insider and outsider debate does not exist there. So, it might work once but later you have to show your talent and skills to get work,” he added.

Looking back at his journey, Darshan said: “I started from doing theatre in Delhi and then came to Mumbai and joined Neena Gupta’s group for 14 to 15 years, and through these years I have learned a lot. When I first came to Mumbai, I did not know anyone and it took me years to understand how the industry functions. Like meeting everyone, going for auditions, how to meet casting directors, and how to give photos in different offices. We had a very limited budget, so we would leave in the morning with one packet of biscuits and give auditions the entire day. Eating those biscuits with tea or water is what I have seen. So, I think the passion for work and acting and sacrifices did helps as an actor.”

After “Mary Kom”, Darshan went on to do “NH 10”, “Sarbjit”, “A Gentleman”, “Baaghi 2”, and “The Family Man”. He currently stars in the web series “Avrodh: The Siege Within”, which is live on SonyLIV.

Atul Kulkarni: Pandemic will enhance disparity, impact economy and education

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Atul Kulkarni: Pandemic will enhance disparity, impact economy and education

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic will only enhance the existing inequality and disparity in Indian society and also impact economy and education, feels actor Atul Kulkarni.

“Everything is uncertain today but one thing certain, especially in a developing country like India, is that the disparity and inequality in our society are going to grow. Not only economic disparity, but it will also have an effect on the education,” Kulkarni told IANS.

With educational institutions shut owing to lockdown, online education has become an alternative for students.

Commenting on the same, the actor said: “For online education, you need certain equipment at home. You need parents who can teach children at home. If you go to a village or even in Mumbai if you go to a slum, such cultural capital is not with parents. As a result, you will see a huge inequality and disparity in education, which is going to come and bite us seven or eight years from now. The attempt of every government should be to reduce that inequality.”

Asked how his life changed over the past few months of lockdown, the actor commented: “I have not really missed shooting or the sets. I have not really missed Mumbai because I have been staying in my farmhouse for the last four months. I have really enjoyed my stay at the farmhouse. My NGO works from there and works on that front is going on.”

On the work front, the National Award-winning actor features in the recently-released Amazon Prime web series “Bandish Bandits”.

Sharing his experience of working in the musical, the actor said: “Music is the ‘Atma’ of ‘Bandish Bandits’. I am happy that I got this opportunity to try something I have never done before — to act as a classical singer.

“Classical singing is extremely difficult, to sing the Sargam isn’t very easy especially when you have the breathless Shankar (Mahadevan) lending his voice to you!” he added.

Asked if he would like to go through training to get a hold of classical singing, the actor joked: “I would perhaps need 49 births to sing classical!”

Swastika Mukherjee: People tend to get intimidated by successful women

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Swastika Mukherjee: People tend to get intimidated by successful women

From trolling to rape threats, popular Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee has dealt with a lot lately. The actress says in our society, successful women are always targeted and humiliated. However, she adds, she has never let people shame her for the choices she has made in life.

“In our society, people tend to get intimidated by successful women and therefore start trolling and humiliating you. Our hard work is always discounted, our talent never appreciated. If we are pretty and successful, we have mostly gossiped about, and it is said, ‘she must be sleeping around’. If I am really working hard to earn money and then buy an expensive car, they say, ‘she must have got a gift from her boss’. When a man buys the same car, society looks at it as a result of his hard work! But honestly, I am immune to such criticism,” Swastika told IANS.

“Now, when I hear anything of that sort, I am like ‘yeah, God has given me beautiful legs, what I do with it is my call’. I do not feel ashamed of my choices in life and the success I have achieved, because I did not get anything overnight. I have been working since the year 2000.” the actress added.

Besides numerous Bangla hits, Swastika has worked in Bollywood films such as “Dil Bechara” and “Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!”, besides the web series “Paatal Lok”. Although she is the daughter of veteran Bengali actor Santu Mukherjee, Swastika never ever wanted to be an actor.

“My father never took to a film set. Whenever my sister and I asked him if we could come along to his set, Baba would reply, ‘do your friends go to their father’s office? My film set is my workplace, my office. Why would you come to my office?” recalled Swastika.

“So, until I went for the shooting of my debut TV show, I did not know anything about the shooting. But honestly, in my first show, I was very bad, and people wrote reviews slamming me taking my father’s name. That was the time I realized I have to give my 100 percent to acting. I think the show ‘Ek Akasher Neeche’ changed everything for me. I worked on it for around three years,” she said.

Swastika refuses to get into the debate of nepotism. “If people say that it was easy for me to get into films, they are wrong. I have worked in TV for a good four years before I got film offers. So, I was not a random face, dropped with a glamorous debut! By the time I did my first film, I was known on TV,” mentioned Swastika.

Robert Pattinson’s sneaky ‘Batman’ audition story

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Robert Pattinson’s sneaky ‘Batman’ audition story

Actor Robert Pattinson said he lied to filmmaker Christopher Nolan to make it to the screen test for a superhero film, The Batman.

In an interview with Irish Times, Pattinson recalled his attempt to sneak away from the “Tenet” set for his “Batman” audition. He said that he cited “family emergency” for his absence from the sets of “Tenet”, but the filmmaker was quick to figure out the truth, reports ew.com.

“It’s funny because Chris is so secretive about everything to do with his movies,” Pattinson said, adding: “And then I had to be really secretive about Batman stuff. So I had to lie to Chris about having to go for a screen test an” I said I had a family emergency. And as soon as I said ‘it’s a family emergency’ he said: “You’re doing the Batman audition, aren’t you?'”

Nolan is known for putting his own spin on Batman with the “Dark Knight” trilogy.

Pattinson credits “Tenet” for helping him get in shape for the role of the caped crusader.

“When I’m running on screen I’m generally paired with John David (Washington) who is an ex-NFL player so it was the most unfair thing in the world. The maximum workout I do most of the time is a casual stroll. John David can run all day long. It was good that I ended up being pretty fit. But definitely, in the beginning, there were days I just could not walk afterward,” Pattinson said.

Nolan’s “Tenet” has been described as “an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage”. The second trailer of the film came with hints of ‘inversion’ versus time travel as a part of survival. The latest trailer of the action thriller gives a glimpse into the mission that the protagonist secret agents, essayed by Pattinson and Washington, embark on, in a time-bending mission to prevent World War III.

The supporting cast includes Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Clemence Poesy. The film has been shot across seven countries — India, the US, the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, and Norway.

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