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IANS News

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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.

Articles Written By IANS News

Ayush Mehra Gets Candid About 'How To Fall In Love'
1606 days ago
Digital Media

Ayush Mehra Gets Candid About 'How To Fall In Love'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) 'Call My Agent' actor Ayush Mehra is quite excited about the response of netizens for his Netflix reel show 'How to Fall in Love' with Tanya Maniktala.## Ayush plays a corporate employee during the day and a standup comedian by the night. The reel show consists of six episodes of a minute each.## He said: "I am overwhelmed and thankful for the unconditional love and appreciation all my fans have been showering since the first episode. As an actor, you always want the love and support for your work from everyone. Netizens also demanded for a Season 2 of 'How to Fall in Love' because of the new concept in the form of a reel show."## Sharing his experience of working with Tanya, whom he saw in the web series 'Flames' and also in 'A Suitable Boy', Ayush described her as a "sweet" and "kind" person.## He said: "It was indeed an amazing experience. I have always been a fan of hers and I have only heard good things about her and the good work she does! She used to work with TVF and I used to work along with Dice Media and we never got a chance to even work on a sketch together and that's why I was super excited and was looking forward to sharing screen space with Tanya."## Their chemistry in the reel was quite liked by the fans and Ayush said they both were comfortable with one another and shared a mutual trust.## He concluded by saying: "I feel with good actors, it's very easy to get the chemistry going because they know exactly what to do and you are also more trusting and comfortable with them.## "Chemistry is all about being comfortable with one another and from Day 1. Both of us were eager to work with each other. We had seen so much content of each other's work in the past that there was genuine appreciation and love for each other. I think that made things easier for us."## The reel show 'How to Fall in Love' is available on the social media handle of Netflix.## Stay tuned...

Aamna Sharif Reveals How She Prepped For Her Role In 'Damaged 3'
1606 days ago
Digital Media

Aamna Sharif Reveals How She Prepped For Her Role In 'Damaged 3'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay' star Aamna Sharif will be seen playing DSP Rashmi Singh in the psychological thriller web series 'Damaged 3'. The trailer is out and the actress says she has given her best to play this challenging role.## Talking about the process of getting into the skin of her character, Sharif said: "I have never played a cop on the screen, and it was challenging to essay it. To get it correct, I had taken acting workshops for the first time".## The actress added about the difficulties and how she managed to overcome them while playing a character that is completely opposite to her real self.## "Rashmi is the exact opposite to me in real life. So to understand her and her psyche better, I started dressing up like her a few days before going on the floors. I even isolated myself to get into the skin of my character. It really prepared me to perform in front of the camera," she further added.## 'Damaged S3' features Aamna Sharif and Shrenu Parikh in the lead roles. Shrenu will portray a journalist. The series is directed by Ekant Babani. It will be released on January 20 on Hungama Play.## The first season of the web series, titled 'Damage', ran in 2018. The second season of the series was streamed in 2020.## Stay tuned...

Flora Saini Recounts Experience Of Working With Subhash Ghai
1606 days ago
Bollywood

Flora Saini Recounts Experience Of Working With Subhash Ghai

Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Flora Saini, who was last seen in movies such as 'Stree', 'Dabbang 2' and 'Begum Jaan', is excited about being able to work with a master entertainer of the stature of Subhash Ghai for upcoming film '36 Farmhouse'.## Sharing her experience, Flora said: "It was like a wish coming true. Anyone who comes to Mumbai wants to work with legends and people whose films one has grown up watching. Subhash Ghai Sir is one of those names I have always wished I could work with".## Flora said Ghai, who is making his debut as a music composer in the film, not only makes his heroines look gorgeous, but also enacts scenes for his actors and this helps them hone their acting skills. "It makes our work very easy", she added.## Among the few projects that Flora has been a part of in the recent past, are Farhan Akhtar's 'Inside Edge 2', Nagesh Kukunoor's political drama web series 'City of Dreams', the festive movie 'Maya' (where Flora played a mystery woman's character) and a short film titled 'Motherland'.## "This is the best time to work in the industry as different filmmakers are making films on a variety of subjects and our Indian films are competing with world cinema globally," Flora said. "I am very fortunate that I have people who trust me with different kinds of roles, roles that are very different from my personality".## She concluded: "I am lucky that filmmakers don't stereotype me and give me roles which have been offered to me before. But yes, I would love to do more and more variety of roles as my career progresses".## The '36 Farmhouse' star cast consists of Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Amol Parashar, Barkha Sigh, Flora Saini, Ashwini Kalsekar, Liza Singh, K.K. Gautam and Pradeep Bajpai. Directed by Ram Ramesh Sharma, it is set for a January 21 release on ZEE5.## Stay tuned...

Desi Music Factory Makes Mainstream Bollywood Debut With 'Selfiee'
1606 days ago
Bollywood

Desi Music Factory Makes Mainstream Bollywood Debut With 'Selfiee'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) The upcoming film "Selfiee" starring Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi, which is a remake of the runaway Malayalam hit "Driving Licence", will see the record label Desi Music Factory making its foray into Bollywood.## The label known for chartbusters like ‘Dheeme Dheeme', ‘Coca Cola Tu' and ‘Dil Ko Karaar Aaya', among many others, has joined forces with Dharma Productions in the capacity of music partner.## Speaking about the collaboration, Anshul Garg, Founder, and CEO of Desi Music Factory, said in a statement, "It's exciting to foray into the film music space with none other than Dharma Productions. The production house has been a catalyst for making iconic music for decades".## "It is an honor to be crossing over from the independent music scene to Bollywood for Selfiee starring Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi. My team at Desi Music Factory is pumped and we're hoping that wonderful music emerges from this collaboration", he added.## Setting the tone for the film, Dharma Productions head Karan Johar said: "The film announcement of 'Selfiee' makes the zone of the film clear. One of its highlights is its music which gives away the vibe of the story".## He added: "Everything, right from the instruments, the vibe, the beats, and the lingo in the announcement resonates with the brand of music Desi Music Factory has sculpted over the years. The label has shared the country's cultural identity with the world and it feels promising to have these hitmakers on our side".## Apoorva Mehta, the CEO, Dharma Productions, said, "We're in an industry that is acutely dynamic. While we are figuring out new ways to tell stories, we're also exploring talent that can lend a narrative through music".## Supriya Menon Prithviraj, producer and partner at Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran's Prithviraj Productions, said: "Music is an integral part of 'Selfiee' and it's wonderful to have onboard music makers who share a global vision for Indian music".## Stay tuned...

First Telugu 'Indian Idol' Draws Online Entries From Around The World
1606 days ago
TV

First Telugu 'Indian Idol' Draws Online Entries From Around The World

Hyderabad, Jan 15 (IANS) The first edition of Telugu 'Indian Idol' is garnering a massive response from aspiring talents, with more than 5,000 entries received online over the past week.## Telugu streaming platform 'aha' is going all out in its attempt to unearth the best Telugu singing talents with its singing competition, 'Telugu Indian Idol', to be hosted by singing sensation Sreerama Chandra.## The online auditions for Telugu Indian Idol, the first-ever Indian Idol competition to be held in the south, had commenced on January 7.## Budding Telugu singers and musicians from across the globe have registered for the online auditions of Telugu 'Indian Idol'. Beyond the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the reception from overseas crowds has been staggering, who have shown immense interest to showcase their musical exploits on this huge platform, according to a release by aha.## The online auditions are set to close on Sunday, January 16.## Other recent releases on the streamer include 'The American Dream', 'Lakshya', 'Senapathi', '3 Roses', 'Laabham', 'Manchi Rojuloachaie', 'Romantic', 'Most Eligible Bachelor', 'Anubhavinchu Raja', 'Sarkaar', 'Chef Mantra', Alludu Garu' and 'Christmas Thatha'. 'Unstoppable', hosted by Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna, was rated India's No. 1 talk show on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).## Stay tuned...

Punjabi Film 'Jatt Brothers' Set For Theatrical Release On Feb 4
1606 days ago
Pollywood

Punjabi Film 'Jatt Brothers' Set For Theatrical Release On Feb 4

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Punjabi film 'Jatt Brothers' starring singer-actors Guri and Jass Manak, Nikeet Dhillon and Priyanka Khera, and directed by Manav Shah, is set to release theatrically on February 4.## The film, which marks the acting debut of Jass Manak, was shot in January 2020, but its release was dogged by delays because of the pandemic.## Shedding light on his role and the film's theme, Guri said: "This film is all about the bond of friendship with a mixture of emotions. My role is about a guy, who is very decent and helps his best friend in every situation no matter what".## About Jass, Guri added: "He is like my brother and I'm happy we worked together. His sense of humor is great that you will get to see in the film. We were completely comfortable with each other".## Talking about his acting debut and working with Guri, Jass shared, "The film is about all the fun I had in my college and school. I am playing the role of a guy who is very mischievous. It was my debut movie so I was very excited to play my character. I hope people like it".## He added: "It was a very good experience working with my brother Guri. He is a very good actor and a very genuine guy. He helped me a lot during the shoot. I'm thankful to God that I got a chance to work with him for my debut".## Talking about the film and his association with Guri and Jass Manak, producer K.V. Dhillon said: "'Jatt Brothers' is all about the friendship of two college-going best friends with a lot of fun, comedy, romance along with twists and turns. You must watch this family. It's great to work with great talent like them and they are like my brothers. They worked hard for their character which you can see from the trailer".## Stay tuned...

Rohit Shetty Set To Make OTT Debut With 'Mission Frontline'
1607 days ago
Digital Media

Rohit Shetty Set To Make OTT Debut With 'Mission Frontline'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who has entertained audiences with his comedic movies and action thrillers, and also hosted 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi'. is all set to entertain viewers with his OTT debut.## Shetty will be seen in the show 'Mission Frontline', which peeps into the lives of armed forces posted on the borders. The show has earlier featured Rana Daggubatti and Sara Ali Khan.## He will step into the shoes of a Special Operations Group soldier and experience how the unit lives and trains in the difficult places they are posted at. The show has been shot at locations in and around Srinagar.## Kunal Kochhar, the show's director, said Rohit Shetty is synonymous with action, so no one else could be more qualified for the job than him. "Rohit Shetty's films reflect patriotism, courage, and vigor and there couldn't be a better fit than him for 'Mission Frontline'", Kochhar said.## Sharing his experience, he added: "It was an absolutely surreal experience to shoot in the picturesque terrains of Srinagar with the special unit and Rohit's presence added so much energy to it. Super excited to see a completely different side of Rohit and we're sure the audience will enjoy watching the show".## 'Mission Frontline' will premiere on January 20 on discovery+.## Stay tuned...

Bigg Boss 15: Tejasswi Prakash On The Radar Of Gauahar Khan
1607 days ago
TV

Bigg Boss 15: Tejasswi Prakash On The Radar Of Gauahar Khan

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) In the upcoming 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode of 'Bigg Boss 15', model and actress Gauahar Khan will enter the house as a celebrity guest.## She will give a task to the contestants to name the person who they believe won't make it to the top three. During the task, only Tejasswi gets called out by Gauahar.## The celebrity guest asks Tejasswi to come on the dais along with Nishant Bhat and Rashami Desai. Now, Tejasswi has to choose the one among the two who she feels does not deserve to be in the competition.## Tejasswi says Nishant does not have any identity in the show, to which Nishant gives her a befitting reply by saying: "She keeps complaining and plays the victim card like a kid".## Gauahar intervenes and in the meanwhile, Tejasswi ends up saying: "Nishant she is asking you to shut up".## Gauahar immediately retorts and says: "Don't put your words in my mouth", to which Tejasswi adds: "I said that".## But Gauahar then again snaps back by saying: "I don't appreciate it".## Nishant and Tejasswi's friendship went haywire after the latter got defeated by Pratik in a recent task. Nishant, who is a good friend of Pratik, stuck by his side which later on disappointed Tejasswi.

On Army Day, Vivek Oberoi Shares Teaser Of Upcoming Short Film 'Verses of War'
1607 days ago
Bollywood

On Army Day, Vivek Oberoi Shares Teaser Of Upcoming Short Film 'Verses of War'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) On the occasion of Army Day, Bollywood actor Vivek Anand Oberoi paid tribute to the soldiers who dedicated their lives to the nation. ## Sharing a teaser from his upcoming short film 'Verses of War' on his social media handle, he said: "A poetic tribute to the Indian Army on the Indian Army Day. Presenting the teaser of 'Verses of War'. Releasing this Republic Day exclusively on #FilmsByFnPmedia #indianarmyday #indianarmy #jaihind".## Oberoi, who plays an Indian soldier, and Rohit Roy, essaying the character of a Pakistani army officer, will be seen together in a film after 15 years. The short film, which is being released on the FNP Media YouTube channel, is directed by Prasad Kadam.## Talking about the film, Oberoi said 'Verses of War' "salutes those brave and selfless soldiers who keep us safe". He added: "We should never forget the countless heroes who have sacrificed their lives for one breath of our peace".## Stay tuned...

Covid Third Wave Dampens Sandalwood's Sankranthi Spirit
1607 days ago
Sandalwood

Covid Third Wave Dampens Sandalwood's Sankranthi Spirit

Bengaluru, Jan 14 (IANS) The Covid-19 surge has proved to be costly for the Kannada film industry, aka Sandalwood, as the movies that made a good start at the box office are not being able to capitalize on their success.## The reason? The Karnataka government has limited occupancy in cinema theatres to 50 percent because of the third wave.## Producers who had planned grand Sankranthi releases have deferred their movies. And the film trade estimates that by the time the third wave peters down, scores of theatres across the state will permanently close down.## 'Badava Rascal', starring actor Dhananjaya, was released on December 24 and showed all signs of becoming a hit. The movie team had already begun a tour across the state to celebrate its success, but it received a rude shock when the 50 percent limitation was announced in the first week of January.## Dhananjaya stated that though the makers were happy with the box-office pickings, the restrictions had affected the prospect of the movie doing even better.## The Nikhil Kumaraswamy-starrer big-budget movie 'Rider', also released on December 24, had begun well at the box office, but then had to incur heavy losses. 'Arjun Gowda', the movie starring Prajwal Devraj, was also hit badly by the state government's decision.## The big Kannada movies will now be slated for release during the Varamahalakshmi, Ganesha, and Vijayadashami festivals. In fact, when the second Covid wave hit hard, major releases, including pan-India projects such as the Kichcha Sudeep-starrer 'Vikranth Rona', had to be postponed.## No Kannada film has been released after December 31. With experts predicting that the third wave will peak in February, the producers are unsure about releasing their movies. Industry sources said there won't be any big releases for another two months, which is going to spell doom for theatre owners.## By the time the third wave subsides, industry sources said, more than 200 theatres will shut down permanently. With no new movie being released, they are managing with movies which have released last month, even with 50 percent occupancy.## Stay tuned...

Critics Choice Awards To Now Take Place On Same Day As BAFTAs
1607 days ago
International

Critics Choice Awards To Now Take Place On Same Day As BAFTAs

Los Angeles, Jan 14 (IANS) The Critics Choice Association has announced that it will hold the 2022 Critics Choice Awards ceremony on March 13, the same day as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, reports 'Variety'.## The final round of voting for this year's Critics Choice Awards will take place on March 9-11. Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' and Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast' dominated this year's batch of nominees.## In late December, the Critics Choice Association announced it would delay its 2022 awards ceremony because of concerns over the surge in Covid-19 cases and the Omicron variant. The event was originally set to take place on January 9.## "Following the science and tracking the course of the Omicron variant, we believe that March 13 will be the right day to properly honor the finest achievements in film and television during the past year," 'Variety' quoted the organization's CEO Joey Berlin as saying.## He added: "We could have proceeded with our original date with limited attendance or switched to a virtual awards show like we did last year, but we decided to wait until we could safely gather in person and truly celebrate with the creative community, industry leaders and our CCA members all together in one beautiful setting for all the world to see".## The reason why the Critics Choice Awards are now set to take place on the same evening as the BAFTAs is that reports 'Variety', they faced an onslaught of busy Sundays for television networks, and the city of Los Angeles is looking for a date to reschedule.## Super Bowl LVI, the NBA All-Star Game, and SAG Awards all take place on consecutive Sundays in February. Additionally, the Academy Awards is hosting its annual luncheon for nominees on March 7, while the Los Angeles marathon will take place in Century City on March 20.## Stay tuned...

Bigg Boss 15: Rakhi Plays Tricks To Create A Rift Between Karan And Tejasswi
1607 days ago
TV

Bigg Boss 15: Rakhi Plays Tricks To Create A Rift Between Karan And Tejasswi

Mumbai, Jan 14 (IANS) Rakhi Sawant is playing a pivotal role in sowing seeds of jealousy between Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra in 'Bigg Boss 15'.## Rakhi is taking advantage of a rift between them and trying to get in Tejasswi's head by hyping the friendship between Karan and Shamita Shetty.## In the upcoming episode of 'Bigg Boss 15', Rakhi teases Shamita that Karan has always had an eye for her but is simply stuck with Tejasswi at this point. Listening to this Tejasswi tells Karan that now even Rakhi can see your closeness with Shamita. "Whatever doubt I have, Rakhi told you on the face," says Tejasswi.## Karan understanding the intention of Rakhi, replies: "She is saying this just to irritate you so that you start fighting with me."## Tejasswi confronts him and says: "The person whom I consider my boyfriend is being related to someone else and I will not react, how is it possible".## This annoys Karan and he responds: "Please don't teach me from today onwards what I have to do." Tejasswi continues to lecture him on how he should have reacted, to which Karan concludes: "I am done with people telling me what to do. You are not liking it? Back off!"## 'Bigg Boss 15' airs on Colors.## Stay tuned...

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