Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has garnered a following of 10 million on Instagram and has thanked his fans for being there as his strength.
Arjun posted a video montage on Instagram. The clip features all the videos and pictures he has shared on the portal.
“Thank You All for the Love . Thank you for being there as my strength. Truly touched and humbled by your blessings,” he wrote as the caption.
On the professional front, Arjun has recently announced his next film directed by Koratala Siva.
He also shared the first poster of the film, tentatively titled “AA21”, on the photo-sharing website. In the poster, two boys can be seen standing near a shore and gazing at a village.
The film is scheduled to release in early 2022. Other details related to the film are still under wraps.
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh shared a romantic post of his actress wife Deepika Padukone, whom he lovingly tagged as Biwi No. 1.
Ranveer posted the picture on Instagram on Tuesday night, on the occasion of Deepika’s birthday. In the image, Ranveer is seen hugging Deepika from behind and planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Biwi No.1 @deepikapadukone #happybirthday,” Ranveer wrote as caption.
He also shared a childhood picture of Deepika, who turned 35 on Tuesday.
Alongside the image, Ranveer wrote: “My jaan, my life, my gudiya…. Happy birthday!!!@deepikapadukone.”
Ranveer and Deepika reportedly started dating in 2012. The two have starred together in films such as “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela”, “Bajirao Mastani” and “Padmaavat”, and will be seen in the upcoming “83”.
The couple tied the knot in November 2018 at Lake Como, Italy.
Dimple queen Deepika Padukon’s exclusive b’day party for B’town stars. Check out the pictures. Credits : (Pallav Paliwal/Asianlite)
As Bollywood enters the new year, a line up big names from the Telugu and Tamil film industries are gearing up to make their debuts in the Hindi film industry.
These are not ordinary debuts of newcomers, which sets this lot apart. They are all established stars down South. Although most of them are known names even outside their domain, the Bollywood audience is yet to fully experience their acting prowess and glamour.
IANS draws up a roster of some of the southern biggies lined up to take a bow in Bollywood this year:
VIJAY DEVERAKONDA The Telugu superstar is already known to pan-Indian audiences as the titular hero of “Arjun Reddy”, which was remade as “Kabir Singh” in Bollywood. Vijay, who made his name with his “Rowdy” brand of acting, in Telugu hits such as “NOTA” and “Geetha Govindam” is now ready for his debut Bollywood project. The Puri Jagannath directorial co-star Ananya Pandey, and is produced by Karan Johar.
SAMANTHA AKKINENI
She is one of the most sought-after female stars in Tollywood. Her work down South includes films such as “Rangasthalam”, “Mahanati”, and “Theri”. This year, Samantha will be seen in her first Hindi project, “The Family Man 2”. The second season of Raj and DK’s web series is being awaited by the audience with anticipation. While the details of her role have been kept under wraps, her fans are excited.
VIJAY SETHUPATHI The Tamil star is known for his acting chops, and he garnered acclaim beyond his home turf with the OTT-released film “Super Deluxe” last year. He has started the year with bang, announcing his Bollywood debut. The actor will star in Santosh Sivan’s “Mumbaikar”, a Hindi remake of the 2017 Tamil hit, “Maanagaram”.
RASHMIKA MANDANA This blue-eyed girl from the Telugu film industry is taking a big leap this year, as she enters Bollywood with a bang. Rashmika, whose brand has always been that of the girl next door girl, has given hits such as “Geetha Govindam”, “Dear Comrade” and more. She enters Bollywood as Sidharth Malhotra’s co-star in “Mission Majnu”, a spy thriller.
PRIYAMANI All-India audiences have already seen her in the web space on season one of “The Family Man”, as well as prop roles in “Raavan” (2010) and “Rakht Charitra 2” (2010), besides the hit dance number “1 2 3 4 get on the dance floor” in “Chennai Express” (2013). This year the talented actress makes her debut as a bona fide Bollywood heroine in Amit Sharma’s “Maidan”, alongside Ajay Devgn.
Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has shared a video on social media, where she is seen riding a motorbike. The song Hairat from the 2010 film Anjaana Anjaani plays in the background.
“Four wheels… Move the body…Two wheels…Move the soul.. P.S. I always wanted to ride a bike with this song playing in the background!” Kriti captioned the clip.
The actress is all set to start shooting for the upcoming film Bachchan Pandey starring Akshay Kumar.
She has also finished shooting for her next with actor Rajkummar Rao for Abhishek Jain’s upcoming comedy Second Innings. The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Dimple Kapadia, and is scheduled to release next year.
Kriti’s other upcoming film is Mimi, Laxman Utekar’s film that casts her as a young surrogate mother alongside Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Manoj Pahwa and Supriya Pathak.
He courted limelight and controversy posing in the nude with then girlfriend Madhu Sapre, wrapped by a python, for a shoe commercial in the nineties, and did much the same again nearly three decades later when he ran in his birthday suit on a Goa beach to celebrate his 55th birthday last month. Milind Soman, model and fitness freak, always lives up to his sex symbol tag with aplomb, and says the definition doesn’t bother him…writes Sugandha Rawal.
“The tag of sex symbol doesn’t bother me. I will tell you why — because, for a man to be regarded as a sex symbol is great. Men are very happy to be regarded as sex symbols because that is something extra for them,” Milind told IANS.
However, he acknowledges the gender disparity in this context. “When a woman is regarded as a sex symbol, it might be everything that she is seen for, which is not a good thing,” he observed.
The actor explained: “That is part of the whole discrimination on the part of the way we see women. Women have been objectified to that extent. Men have not been objectified to that extent that it (being a sex symbol) is all that they stand for.”
The actor feels things are changing for the better.
“I think it is going away. I see it becoming a little bit more equal. The whole thing can’t change at once but different aspects, especially gender equality, will change quicker than other aspects,” he added.
Recently, Milind caused a stir when he posted a nude picture of himself running on the beach on his 55th birthday. While the actor was lauded by many for the viral image, he was booked by South Goa district police for obscenity.
Asked if the reactions and response to his birthday suit picture surprised him, Milind laughed and said: “Nothing surprises me.”
“Okay, on social media, nothing surprises me. I’ve been here for more than 30 years. People’s opinions are important. But what they tell you is how our society is growing, how our values are changing and how our culture is evolving. It doesn’t mean that something is good or bad, or that’s not what it tells me. I can decide what is good or bad, but what it (the reactions) tells me is about society. (Now), more people are getting more exposed, and more people are able to express their ideas. That is interesting — what ideas they come up with and how they change over time,” he added.
Tell him he looks good in the birthday picture, and his response is: “A lot of people who saw it have told me the same thing.”
At the moment, Milind is seen in the role of a eunuch in new web series “Paurashpur”. The series traces the story of a medieval city that is fraught with crime, corruption, abuse of power, misogyny, rape and love. It is set against the backdrop of 18th century India.
“Paurashpur” also features Shilpa Shinde, Kashish Rai, Annu Kapoor, Shaheer Sheikh, Flora Saini, Anant Joshi, Asmita Bakshi, Harshita Kasyap and Sahil Salathia. The show is directed by Sachindra Vats and has premiered on ALTBalaji and Zee5.
Actress Urvashi Rautela has shared a note for her mother on her birthday, saying she is thankful to her for guidance and support.
“I wish my mother a very happy Birthday, Meera Rautela. I would want my mum to know that I am nothing without her but I would achieve the world with her by my side, I love you Mum. With each passing day I am thankful to you, as you have provided me the warmth, guidance, love and your heart,” she shared, adding: “You are someone who would love me unconditionally, whether I am right or wrong in the path of life, no one can replace you. I love you so much mum, wherever I go you will always be there for me. Thank you Maa.”
The actress also took to Instagram to share some moments from the birthday celebrations.
“Every day I wake up, I always have you to thank. I have your guidance, your warmth, your love, and your heart: someone who loves me unconditionally. Right or wrong, you are always my Mom. No one can ever take your place in my heart. I love you forever and ever. No matter where I go or whom I meet, you will always be Number One to me,” she wrote with the pictures.
Urvashi has been working on her first bilingual movie, Mohan Bhardwaj’s “Black Rose”, based on Shakespeare’s “The Merchant Of Venice”. Urvashi plays a pivotal role based on Shylock in the film.
Actor Nagarjuna, with ‘Bangarraju’ and Mahesh Babu’s ‘Sarkaaru Vaari Paata’ are among the other major releases expected in 2022…writes Narendra Puppala.
If the year that ended is any indication, Covid lockdowns and restrictions notwithstanding, the Telugu film industry is here to stay.
Imagine, no less than 182 Telugu movies had either theatrical or OTT releases in 2021! This despite a Covid pandemic that is yet to be understood or tamed effectively.
And with a string of big-ticket flicks in various stages of completion, and due for release in 2022, Tollywood certainly seems on course for further consolidation. 2022 is set to see several releases and quite a few of the established stars back on the silver screen after a short hiatus.
Megastar Chiranjeevi’s ‘Acharya’ is among the most awaited Telugu movies this year. Coming after his last release ‘Saira Narasimha Reddy’ in 2019, there’s a lot of buzz around ‘Acharya’ which also has Chiranjeevi’s son Ram Charan giving him company on screen. In 2022, the megastar will also be busy with two more productions in the form of ‘Godfather’ and ‘Bhola Shankar’.
This year will also see a slew of cinematic offerings from the Chiranjeevi clan. This includes Pawan Kalyan’s ‘Bheemla Nayak’ which appears to be a stylised remake of Malayalam hit ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’. The movie also stars Rana of ‘Baahubali’ fame. And then, there are Chiranjeevi nephew Varun Tej’s ‘Ghani’ and ‘F3’ waiting in the wings, for release this year.
Not to forget, the sequel to ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ will go on the floors from March. The hit movie released in December stars Chiranjeevi’s nephew Allu Arjun.
Actor Nagarjuna, with ‘Bangarraju’ and Mahesh Babu’s ‘Sarkaaru Vaari Paata’ are among the other major releases expected in 2022.
2022 will also see ‘Baahubali’ fame Prabhas’ return to the theatres with ‘Radhe Shyam’. The movie is also set for simultaneous release in multilingual versions. And then, the original Telugu version of ‘Kabir Singh’, actor Vijay Devarakonda is expected to set the silver screen on fire with his mixed martial arts movie ‘Liger’. This movie is also being released in several languages.
What has come as good news for the film industry is the eagerness with which movies were lapped up by audiences in 2021. Despite doomsday predictions and restrictions on theatre screenings, Telugu movie releases in the past year have bolstered industry confidence.
‘Pushpa’ director Sukumar says, “It’s heartening to see people returning to theatres. Movie watching is a communal experience. If not, movie theatres should have disappeared in a country like the US. But see people queuing up to see ‘Spiderman’ in theatres!”
In what seems to be a new trend, Tollywood has started actively looking beyond its traditional areas of influence. Although south Indian movies have made a favourable impact on Hindi-speaking audiences down the decades, they were never able to convert into box-office magic. In a way, it was S.S. Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali’ series that set the stage for presenting Telugu movies to a pan-Indian audience.
Tasting blood, Rajamouli went in with all guns blazing to create his next big screen project ‘RRR’. Apart from lead billboarding with Jr NTR and Ram Charan, Rajamouli roped in Ajay Devgan and Alia Bhatt for the movie. The movie has created a buzz across the country.
Capitalising upon the new-born fascination among audiences for Telugu films and stars, Tollywood producers are also looking at these markets with new eyes. They are no longer content with settling down for revenues generated by selling their movies’ dubbing rights. The focus is now on straight releases in a whole set of languages.
The stupendous success of Allu Arjun-starrer ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ released in five languages – Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi – has underscored the potential for Tollywood releases in non-Telugu markets.
Meanwhile, ‘RRR’ was set to release on January 7, but with Covid rearing its ugly head once again in the form of the Omicron variant, the makers of ‘RRR’ have decided to put off the release for now.
But in a sign of the good times ahead, names like Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Allu Arjun, and Vijay Devarakonda, are no longer unknown beyond the borders of the two Telugu states. In fact, Bollywood seems eager to rub shoulders with their filmy cousins from south of the Vindhyas.
In the face of adversity, the Tollywood industry certainly seems to have hit upon the key to revive itself and build up its fortunes.
While the year 2020 would always be remembered for the havoc the pandemic created for humankind, it also become momentous as it marked several events which brought cheer to life.
From celebrities tying the knots to some getting pregnant and many Bollywood stars venturing into OTT platforms, 2020 saw it all. Let’s rewind and look back at some of those moments that took place in 2020.
Lockdown weddings
Lockdown weddings were a hit in 2020 as many celebrities chose to enter the wedding lock in a private wedding ceremony rather than a star-studded wedding. Actress Kajal Aggarwal married her long-time boyfriend Gautam Kitchlu in a private ceremony in Mumbai. Singers Neha Kakkar and Rohanpreet Singh also tied the knot during this period.
Actor Rana Daggubati married his girlfriend Miheeka Bajaj at an intimate wedding ceremony in Hyderabad. Actor and Bigg Boss 7 winner Gauhar Khan also tied knot with a social media influencer Zaid Darbar in Mumbai. Cricketer Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic also had an intimate wedding during this period.
Celebs announce pregnancy
While some couples spent their days in lockdown baking in the kitchen, others have spent it whipping up a storm. Celebrities around the globe forced into home sheltering have used this time to get pregnant.
Power couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli announced the couple’s first pregnancy on social media. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan are also expecting their second baby.
Across high seas, supermodel Gigi Hadid and boyfriend Zayn Malik confirmed they were expecting their first child together. Cricketer Hardik Pandya and his wife Natasa Stankovic welcomed their first child during this period.
FASHION, art shows go digital
Major international and Indian fashion events like the New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week and India Fashion Week and Lakme Fashion Week went online and were held in digital format. Deviating from the tried and tested and adapting to a ‘new normal’, these online events were very much appreciated and accepted by consumers as well as the designers. The India Art Festival (IAF), a contemporary art fair, also took the conventional presentation of visual art to a digital platform with ‘Virtual India Art Festival’.
Celebs debut on OTT platforms
The year 2020 saw veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah made his OTT debut with ‘Bandish Bandits’. Actress Sushmita Sen returned to acting after a decade with the web-series ‘Aarya’. Karisma Kapoor too made her digital debut this year with ALT Balaji’s show ‘Mentalhood’. Actress Jacqueline Fernandez was also seen in the show ‘Mrs. Serial Killer’ on Netflix.
Abhishek Bachchan made his OTT debut with crime thriller show ‘Breath: Into The Shadows’ on Amazon Prime Video.
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan seems to be having a lazy last day of the year. Instagram images she posted on Thursday capture Kareena, son Taimur and actor husband Saif Ali Khan in a cosy mood in bed.
“Ending the year snuggling and cuddling trying to force the boys into a perfect picture… 2020 would not have been possible without the two loves of my life… marching ahead… to new beginnings. Stay safe my friends… Love and hope from us. We love you all…Happy new year,” Kareena wrote as the caption.
Saif and Kareena got married in 2012. She gave birth to their first-born, Taimur, in 2016. Kareena is currently expecting their second baby, and she often shares photographs of her baby bump on social media.
Singer Jassie Gill, who debuted in Hindi cinema with the 2018 film ‘Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi’ says what he can feel via music, he wouldn’t be able to feel as deeply otherwise…writes Siddhi Jain.
“Music has a big role in my life and also during these difficult times, because I am a singer. What I can feel via music, I don’t think I’d be able to feel otherwise. Not just this time, music is also your feel-good companion during happiness and all other emotions,” Gill, 32, told IANSlife.
Gill, who was a mentor on the digital-only musical reality show Smule iDiva ‘1, 2, 3… Riyaaz’ recently featured in “Saath Saath Mein”, an original music video that also featured the show’s winners and co-mentors Lisa Mishra and Kusha Kapila.
Iterating that the show must go on, the Punjabi pop heartthrob says that he made a lot of music during lockdown and launched his own YouTube channel to “release the voice of my heart – whether it’s commercial music or not – on it”.
Gill said about the music video: “It was the first time I shot and recorded my own bit, and then it was joined with other bits sent by others.”
On the show’s format and his experience of mentoring, he says: “It was a new digital-only reality show, a format we have seen only on television. Housewives, elderly people also entered into the contest, and it made me smile because all people found a good pastime in the show.”
