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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

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Instagram star Shobhita Rana to debut in B'wood with 'Ram Rajya'
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Instagram star Shobhita Rana to debut in B'wood with 'Ram Rajya'

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Instagram sensation Shobhita Rana, who shot to fame down South following a stint in Tamil and Telugu commercials, is all set to make her Bollywood debut in the film 'Ram Rajya'. The film also marks the debut of actress Rakul Preet Singh's brother, Aman Preet Singh and features television heartthrob Salman Shaikh.## Shobhita has been working in the Punjabi industry for a while now, and is known for her appearance in the 2014 Punjabi rom-com "Ishq Brandy", and other projects such as "Cannada Di Flight" and "Gollu Aur Pappu".## In Nitesh Rai's "Ram Rajya", she plays a pivotal role. The film talks of the need to create 'Ram Rajya' (land of Ram), where there is no place for terrorism, hate, indiscipline, and rationalism.## "The movie revolves around three central characters, and Shobhita is one of them. Owing to circumstances, she tries to end her life but her life takes a turn when she decides to fight against all odds and create 'Ram Rajya'. Her character is someone who everyone can connect to," claimed director Rai.## "We are trying to put out a very clear message with this movie. We want the youth of our country to learn from an early age about fraternity, brotherhood, and religion, which will help them become good rulers and decisionmakers," stated writer Shivanand Sinha.## The film is set to hit the theatres on April 2, which is the day of Ram Navami this year.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Nupur Sanon goes unplugged with 'Filhall'
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Nupur Sanon goes unplugged with 'Filhall'

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actress Kriti Sanon's sister Nupur Sanon had made her acting debut with the music video 'Filhall'. Now, the trained classical singer will unveil an unplugged version of "Filhall" in her own voice.## The video of the song, sung by B Praak, has crossed 600 million views-mark on YouTube. While its views are still growing, Nupur is set to bring out a version of the song in her voice along with a video to go with it.## "It's such a surreal feeling for me. I can't believe that the music video has done so well. I feel honored to bring out an unplugged version of the song and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me in this. I feel happy to add to the journey of 'Filhall' in my own"way," Nupur said.## The makers of the song are already prepping to bring out a sequel. Nupur featured along with actor Akshay Kumar in the 2019 video.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Kiara Advani: My roles have been different from each other
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Kiara Advani: My roles have been different from each other

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Actress Kiara Advani's photograph on Dabboo Ratnani's 2020 celebrity calendar took the internet by storm just a few days ago. However, the photograph invited its share of controversy, with charges of plagiarism being leveled against the concept. Soon after, memes took over the internet mocking the photographer as well as the actress.## Kiara, of course, insists that memes don't affect her, and claims she considers them to be a form of flattery! The actress in fact revealed that she has also shared some of the memes!## "It is so funny and so flattering. I had even posted some of the memes that went viral. They were really funny. It's okay. I think it's just a form of flattery," Kiara told IANS.## On the work front, Kiara has a busy year ahead. She is all set for the Netflix film "Guilty".## Talking about her role in the film, the actress shared: "I play a character called Nanki in 'Guilty'. She is an extremely layered and complex character. She is constantly wearing a mask. She is very far from who I am as a person. It was very interesting to understand the different shades of this character and get inside the skin of it."## "My characters in 'Kabir Singh', 'Good Newwz' and 'Guilty have all been very different from the other. Let's hope people like this ('Guilty') as much as they loved me in those roles as well," she added.## Do platforms like Netflix provide a better opportunity for actors who tend to get typecast in Bollywood? "I think today the lines are blurring. I remember after watching 'Sanju', I liked Vicky's (Kaushal) character as much as I liked the character of Sanju. The role which you are playing should excite you as an actor. Even the platforms are blurring. A mainstream actor like me is also doing a feature film on a platform like Netflix. I think that's a great thing. A change is happening," Kiara replied.## Directed by Ruchi Narain, "Guilty" stars Kiara Advani, Akansha Ranjan Kapur, Taher Shabbir, and Gurfateh Singh Pirzada. The film releases on Netflix on March 6.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Guneet Monga: We women fix each other's crown, we don't compete
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Guneet Monga: We women fix each other's crown, we don't compete

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Whether her recent collaboration with female film directors as Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, Smrutika Panigrahi, and Vijayeta Kumar or picking up a tabooed subject like menstruation, Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga is constantly conveying her belief on how the female workforce can bring about change in the portrayal of women within the entertainment space.## Film production was predominantly ruled by the male, but Monga feels change is coming because of more and more women are joining the workforce behind the camera.## "I would like to mention that we women are not a competition to each other. We fix each other's crowns, so when we come together to tell stories, the representation of women on screen changes automatically," Monga told IANS.## The role of women has changed in society, she reminds. "Gone are the days where women were told that the duty of a woman is to handle domestic chaos and that she cannot handle finance or the hardcore professional world. As a film producer, I feel responsible for not portraying women in a regressive manner because that is not the society we wish to live in. Rather, we rather intend to change the perspective. We need to change the lens through which women were seen so far. Of course, the involvement of more women in the workforce adds to that," she said.## Citing the example of her recent collaboration "Zindagi In Shorts, Guneet said: "I am very proud of the fact that in the anthology 'Zindagi In Shorts' that I have produced for the Flipkart app, I have worked with three female directors -- Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, Smrutika Panigrahi, and Vijayeta Kumar. I am working with another female director Sudha Kongara for my Tamil film production 'Soorarai Pottru'."## "Soorarai Pottru" features Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Jackie Shroff, Mohan Babu, and Paresh Rawal among others.## Sharing insight of "Soorarai Pottru", she said: "It is a very important story of a farmer who made India's first-ever low-cost airline for common people to fly. It is an inspiring story and it required a different level of conviction and care to bring life to the narrative. Sudha has done a good job."## The film is scheduled to release on April 20.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Rakul Preet on Women's Day: Why should we celebrate woman just one day?
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Rakul Preet on Women's Day: Why should we celebrate woman just one day?

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Actress Rakul Preet Singh reveals she will have a working Holi this year.## 'I am shooting on the day of Holi', she informed when asked about her Holi plans, before getting nostalgic about how she spent the day of colors as a child. "We used to play a very nasty Holi in my childhood. People would throw eggs on me! I stopped playing Holi in class IX or X because you become aware of how much water is wasted. It's not worth it and it damages the environment. Since then, I've only played dry Holi, I meet my family and friends and eat a lot of sweets and other dishes," she recalled.## Does she have the Holi sweet tooth? "I used to like gujiyas a lot but now I can't eat gujiyas due to my fitness regime. I can't play with water and colors so, I prefer working on a festival," she replied while interacting with the media at the 8th edition of Cheryl's Femina Ms Stylista West 2020.## Sharing her thought on International Women's Day, which falls on March 8, she said: "I don't believe in Women's Day. We don't celebrate Men's Day, so why do we have to celebrate women on just one day? I feel we should celebrate womanhood every single day. I feel we should respect women around us and that's the most important thing. That way, we will celebrate womanhood in a far better way."## Meanwhile, Rakul Preet has a busy year ahead, after impressing all with her roles in "Marjaavaan" and "De De Pyaar De". She confirms signing filmmaker Indra Kumar's yet-untitled film, which apparently co-stars her "De De Pyaar De" co-star Ajay Devgn and "Aiyaary" co-actor Sidharth Malhotra. Shooting for the film will start in April, the actress said.## That apart, she will be seen alongside John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez in "Attack", will also feature in Kamal Haasan's "Indian 2" and also stars in Kaashvie Nair's untitled project this year, apart from a project down South.## "There is the (untitled) film that I am shooting with Arjun (Kapoor). So, I am shuttling between that film, 'Attack' and 'Indian 2'. After that, I will get into a film in which I am working with Indra (Kumar) Ji in April, once I wrap up shooting of these two films," Rakul Preet revealed.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Sanjay Mishra excited about lead role in 'Kaamyaab'
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Sanjay Mishra excited about lead role in 'Kaamyaab'

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Actor Sanjay Mishra, whose supporting acts have often been counted among highlights of the films he works in, finally gets to play the lead role in the upcoming film 'Kaamyaab'. Mishra says he is happy that the film is being critically appreciated.## "I'm getting appreciation from every corner. It is like climbing the steps of a ladder. Now, I feel I have reached a prominent position in my career. Earlier, people could have pushed me off the ladder but abhi maine khamba pakad liya hai (now I am firmly holding on to a poll), boss! People have liked the trailer of the film and the media has given a standing ovation to the film. That's not regular scene for me so, it feels really nice," said Mishra, at the film's premiere, which he attended with the film's director Hardik Mehta on Wednesday in Mumbai.## "Kaamyaab," tells the story of an aging Bollywood sidekick who decides to make a comeback when he realizes his filmography is one short of 500 films.## Talking about Mishra's performance, director Hardik Mehta said: "Sanjay sir has played many T-20 matches (supporting roles), but in this film, he has played a Test match (lead role). I think he has played really well. You will think of Sir Don Bradman while watching him, so let's see how the audience responds to the film. I am thankful to critics and other people who have appreciated the film. I want people who are in love with Hindi cinema to come and watch the film."## At the premiere of the film, the film's superstar producer Shah Rukh Khan made a grand entry amidst huge cheering. Khan was in good spirits as he gave a tight hug to film's cast comprising Sanjay Mishra, Deepak Dobriyal and Isha Talwar, and exchanged words with them and then happily posed for photographs.## Also spotted at the screening were Rajkummar Rao, Manav Kaul, Viineet Kumar Singh, Chitrangda Singh, Elli AvrRam, Rajat Kapoor, Anjana Sukhani, Seema Pahwa, Avtar Gill, Bhuvan Bam, and Mithila Palkar.## "Kaamyaab" is scheduled to release on March 6.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Neena Gupta: I still have a fear of being out of work
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Neena Gupta: I still have a fear of being out of work

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Veteran actress Neena Gupta has been a part of Indian cinema for over four decades. From her debut film 'Adharshila' in 1982 to bagging the National Award for 'Woh Chokri' in 1994, to becoming a household name as actor and director with the TV series 'Saans' in the late nineties, she has always entertained the audience.## Neena, who has often made heads turn with her irreverent lifestyle, shocked everyone in 2017 when she took to social media and confessed openly that she was out of work. A comeback for the talented actress happened soon, with "Veere Di Wedding" and "Badhaai Ho". Since then, she has had a busy second innings.## " 'Badhaai Ho' is a classic film. People can watch it 10 times. I feel fortunate to be part of that film. It changed my life a lot. The film became a hit. Too many people watched it and liked my performance. If it was not a hit then I would not have got the chance to sit here and give interviews! All this change happened because the movie became a hit," Neena told IANS.## Asked if she still has the fear of being out of work, the 60-year-old artist laughed. "Acting is a profession where you are always thinking if you'll get work in the future or not. This is a strange profession. Today you have loads of work but tomorrow you might be sitting idle. Sometimes, you feel lost. So, yes I still have that fear of being out of work. But it does not mean I will stop working. I believe in working hard and moving ahead," she said.## Neena Gupta's latest release is "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan", a gay rom-com where she plays the mother of one of the male protagonists. She paired with her "Badhai Ho" co-star Gajraj Rao in the film.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Salman Khan has inherent superstar quality: Karan Tacker
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Salman Khan has inherent superstar quality: Karan Tacker

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Actor Karan Tacker, who recently featured alongside Salman Khan in a beverage advertisement, is completely in awe of the Bollywood superstar.## "It was fantastic working with Salman Khan. It has always been a dream to share screen space with him. He's so cool to work with and he has this massive inherent superstar quality about him but he doesn't let you realise it at all.## "He is such a humble guy. He was nice enough to hang around, take pictures with everyone and I love how he just chills outside his van and is oblivious of his own stardom," Karan said.## Karan is currently gearing for the launch of his web show "SpecialOps" in which he will be seen playing the role of an undercover agent.## Salman Khan was last seen in "Dabangg 3" on the Bollywood screen. He is gearing up for the release of the cop action drama "Radhe" on Eid this year. The film also features Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff, and is directed by Prabhu Deva, who also made last year's "Dabangg 3".## Unconfirmed reports have associated Salman with upcoming sequels of "Kick" and the "Tiger series", though there has been no official announcement on the same.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Vijay Varma: My role in 'Baaghi 3' will surprise viewers
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Vijay Varma: My role in 'Baaghi 3' will surprise viewers

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Actor Vijay Varma, who rose to fame with 'Gully Boy' last year, claims his multilayered character in his upcoming film 'Baaghi 3' will leave the audience surprised.## Opening up on his character in the film starring Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor, Varma said: "My character is shown as the one who helps Tiger Shroff to reunite with his brother. He's a very interesting character, with various layers that would leave the audience surprised."## "I am thrilled to be a part of this popular franchise and working with such talented people. With ‘Baaghi 3', I have tried my hands at something new, and fans have never really seen me doing such a role. I'm quite confident about my part because it is really crucial in the film," added the actor.## Varma further revealed that he had to undergo workshops in order to perfect his body language for the role.## "The process to get into the skin of my character was different than usual since the character is in a different space. Once again it's something I haven't attempted before. Since my character is a multilayered one, to get into the skin I attended workshops to get the body language and diction correct. The reading session helped to improvise for the role," Varma said.## Asked if we will see him packing some punches, "Baaghi 3" being an action film, the actor replied: "Not really!" He added: "But my character has its own beauty and uniqueness to it, which will leave the viewers fully entertained. He adds to the madness and leaves you liking him much more at the end of the movie."## Directed by Ahmed Khan, "Baaghi 3" is scheduled to hit the theatres on March 6.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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COVID-19 scare: B'wood plays 'wait and watch'; stars cancel multi-city tours
2288 days ago
Bollywood

COVID-19 scare: B'wood plays 'wait and watch'; stars cancel multi-city tours

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Films are being delayed, stars are skipping multi-city tours, there are appeals to postpone big franchises and tours are being rescheduled. These are some of the coronavirus scare effects, with the deadly virus fast turning into a potential threat for showbiz the world over.## With the global film industry facing losses of over $5 billion, will the coronavirus scare have a trickle-down effect on India as well, particularly Bollywood?## The anxiety around the outbreak is growing with people deciding to stay away from places of large public gathering. This makes cinema halls and lives show arenas a natural target. In India, does it signal a slump for the entertainment industry?## Bollywood has decided to wait and watch on stalling release of films, although our stars are significantly canceling multi-city promotional tours.## "It is not a very aggravated situation in India right now, but people are getting the jitters. I am sure it will be controlled soon. If it spreads further, it will affect collections and cinemas. I think at the moment distributors and producers must be thinking of insuring their films. If we talk about moviegoing, I think the effect is coming in gradually because people will have reservations about going out," trade analyst Rajesh Thadani told IANS.## Globally so far, a total of 90,893 cases of COVID-19 infections and 3,110 deaths, mostly in China, have been reported. In India, at least 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported until Wednesday.## Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor's "Baaghi 3" is slated to hit the theatres on March 6, and its box office performance will give a glimpse of how the moviegoing audience is reacting to the outbreak in India.## The season is crucial for Bollywood after all, with several biggies lined up. The fear of coronavirus could ruin box office takings of Irrfan Khan's "Angrezi Medium" (March 13), Akshay Kumar's "Sooryavanshi" (March 24), Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor's "Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar" (March 20) and the Ranveer Singh-starrer "83" (April 10).## Other big films slated in the first quarter include the Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer "Gulabo Sitabo", Varun Dhawan-Sara Ali Khan's "Coolie No.1", Salman Khan's action drama "Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai", Akshay Kumar's "Laxmmi Bomb", "Bunty Aur Babli 2" and Kangana Ranaut's "Thalaivi".## "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Gunjan Saxena", "Roohi Afzana", "Ludo" and "Chehre" are also lined up in the first half.## Bollywood might be waiting to understand the impact of the virus outbreak on its business, but stars are not taking a chance. Many have been skipping travel to multiple cities for the promotion of their films -- a reason why the "Baaghi 3" team and the "Angrezi Medium" cast probably skipped coming to Delhi.## "There is nothing to panic as of now. People are vigilant because no one wants to take a risk. Having said that, I don't think as of now it is on the level where the entertainment industry will be affected. It is a little too far for anyone to get scared thinking about its effect on the entertainment industry. It has impacted internationally and scared away people across the globe," trade expert Girish Johar told IANS.## "There are big blockbusters slated for release in the upcoming months and we are hopeful that the situation will improve over a course of time, allowing consumers to visit their favorite cinemas. At this point all our focus is on taking preventive measures and offering a clean and disinfected environment," said Devang Sampat, CEO at Cinepolis India.## Cinema halls insist they are working towards giving audiences a safe environment.## Raj Kumar Mehrotra, general manager at Delite Cinema, told IANS: "There is no impact at the moment but if it spreads then it will have an impact. We are taking precautionary measures to ensure safety."## "We are on an alert and keeping a close watch on the situation. Routine facility management protocol ensures all our cinema premises are up to appropriate hygiene standards. We are working promptly towards creating ample awareness amongst our teams with regards to the symptoms and precautionary measures to deal with coronavirus," read an official statement by INOX.## According to hollywoodreporter.com, analysts believe COVID-19 could already result in a loss of at least $5 billion from diminished box office revenue and impacted production. It has started having an impact on moviegoing worldwide, particularly in China, South Korea, Italy, and even Japan.## Earlier this week, James Bond fans came together to urge the makers to delay the release of the upcoming film of the franchise, "No Time To Die". It is scheduled to release in April. Disney is also likely to delay the release of its live-action "Mulan" remake in China.## Along with Bond, "Black Widow", "Wonder Woman", "F9: The Fast Saga" and "Top Gun: Maverick" is the most speculated films coming from Hollywood in the first half of 2020.## Box office slowdown can mean more profit for streaming platforms, and it will be interesting to witness how they seize the moment.## At a time Hollywood is taking serious note of coronavirus and a shadow of doubt having fallen on major sporting events such as Tokyo Olympics and Euro football, even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have declared they will stay away from Holi Milan parties. Bollywood, it seems, is yet to understand the gravity of the situation.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Honey Singh: Won't pen songs on booze if govt stops licensing wine shops
2288 days ago
Bollywood

Honey Singh: Won't pen songs on booze if govt stops licensing wine shops

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Pop star-composer Yo Yo Honey Singh, often accused of promoting alcoholism through outrageous lyrics, says alcohol is an important aspect of partying and celebrating and adds that the day the government stops giving license to open wine and liquor shops, he will end reference to alcohol in his songs.## Honey Singh was interacting with the media at the launch of his new song "Loca". Like many of his past hits, "Loca", too, starts with a mention of alcohol.## Mention also came up with reports that the singer, at the peak of his career a few years back, had to enter rehab owing to alcoholism.## "I never went to rehab. I know that there are a lot of reports that are circulating around me and my life. I don't drink now," countered Honey Singh, adding: "Whenever you party then alcohol is the biggest reason to do so. You can't avoid that. In fact, our governments give license to open wine shops and liquor shops. The day they stop doing that, we will also put an end to mention alcohol in our songs."## Yo-Yo Honey Singh has often landed in controversy due to outrageous lyrics in his songs, with court cases being filed against him.## Does he exercise caution now, while writing a song? "I try to write lyrics as per my understanding, but if someone suggests me write easy lyrics then I do that, too," the singer replied.## Yo-Yo Honey Singh's new song "Loca" has garnered over 18 million views on YouTube since its release. The song is officially available on T-Series' YouTube channel.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Manushi Chhillar: I've always been interested in history
2289 days ago
Bollywood

Manushi Chhillar: I've always been interested in history

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar, who is all set to make her acting debut opposite Akshay Kumar in 'Prithviraj', says she has always been interested in history.## "While growing up, I was really interested in history, the tales of grand kingdoms and larger than life historical heroes. I had always been fascinated with the story of Prithviraj and Sanyogita and life came to a full circle for me when I was offered this film," Manushi said.## Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, "Prithviraj" is based on the life and heroism of the king Prithviraj Chauhan. It stars Akshay in the title role while Manushi plays Sanyogita, the love of his life.## "When I was given the narration of the film, I had a smile on my face thinking that I'm listening to a story that I had been most interested in reading in school. Prithviraj and Sanyogita is a fascinating story and a beautiful chapter in the history of India and I'm blessed and fortunate to have got the opportunity to bring Princess Sanyogita's story to life," she added.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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