BY SUNIT JANGIR

Amidst in the fighting with coronavirus pandemic, the last week of April month is getting bad to worst for the Indian cinema. After the sudden demise of Irrfan Khan yesterday, the legend of the Indian cinema, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away today aged 67. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and since then his health was deteriorating day by day. ## He was hospitalized on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well. The actor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. And a few hours later, the legend took his last breath. ## On the demise of Rishi Kapoor, Indian cine stars pay tribute and took twitter to offer condolences,## Heartbroken ... Rest In Peace ... my dearest friend #RishiKapoor— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 30, 2020 ## It seems like we’re in the midst of a nightmare...just heard the depressing news of #RishiKapoor ji passing away, it’s heartbreaking. He was a legend, a great co-star and a good friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers with his family 🙏🏻— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 30, 2020 ## My heart is so heavy. This is the end of an era. #Rishisir your candid heart and immeasurable talent will never be encountered again. Such a privilege to have known you even a little bit. My condolences to Neetu maam, Ridhima, Ranbir and the rest of the family. Rest in peace Sir. pic.twitter.com/TR6GVSN4m7— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) April 30, 2020 ## Heartbreaking to hear about #RishiKapoor sir. Yet another irreplaceable loss in our world of cinema... A complete entertainer and an incredibly talented actor... A true legend. My deepest condolences and strength to Ranbir and his family. May his soul rest in peace. 🙏🏻🙏🏻— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) April 30, 2020 ## Saddened by the sudden demise of legendary actor, Sri #RishiKapoor this is a great loss for Indian cinema. My heartfelt condolences to their family members. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/EZ6ppqRFMB— Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) April 30, 2020 ## Have no words to express my grief. Can't believe #RishiKapoor ji is gone. A gem who used to light-up the screenspace with his versatility - a Genius of Cinema. Memories of a simple-hearted friend come back to me. Someone so full of life. RIP Brother - You will always be missed. pic.twitter.com/Cv6rmtP1mJ— Raj Babbar (@RajBabbarMP) April 30, 2020 ## One blow after another. Rishi ji’s passing away is nothing short of a stab to my heart. We associated in Raju Chacha (2000) and stayed in touch through...until now. Condolences to Neetuji, Ranbir, Riddhima & Dabbooji 🙏— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) April 30, 2020 ## Unbelivable..shocked!! It's really difficult to accept..another dark day for all of us.It was such a blessing to have worked with you and known you sir.My heartfelt condolence to the family, may all mighty give stregthn through this difficult time..#RishiKapoor sir #RIP 🙏🙏🙏— Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) April 30, 2020 ## This cannot be true! Rishi sir was my favourite man,and favourite co-star ever! I still remember being nervous around him in Shuddh Desi Romance. He would put me at ease and treat me just like a friend! Will never forget every advice,every joke he told.❤️ #RIP #RishiKapoor pic.twitter.com/dfIi935I0v— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) April 30, 2020 ## Deeply saddened on hearing about #rishikapoor ji Yeh khabar sunke bohot dukh ho raha hai. I have such lovely memories of working with him.Our country has lost a great actor today. May his soul rest in peace. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/aVeKX9etkt— Johny Lever (@iamjohnylever) April 30, 2020 ## Shocked deeply saddened by the loss of another legend #RishiKapoor ji...condolences and strength to the family...may his soul rest in peace pic.twitter.com/K8lN5GHFyv— Sai Dharam Tej (@IamSaiDharamTej) April 30, 2020 ## I'm at an absolute & total loss for words.Holding this phone in disbelief. Yesterday Irrfan and now .... Gutted , sad , heartbroken .I truly believed you'll come out of this .You will be missed , Sir . RIP . Om Shanti.— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) April 30, 2020 ##

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) National Award-winning film director Aditya Dhar is gearing up for his next, "The Immortal Ashwatthama". He says that the film should be a big canvas project, adding that he has always been fascinated by the titular mythological character.## "One of the reasons why I chose to weave a story around a mythological character like Ashwatthama from 'Mahabharat' was that, though all the characters in that epic are celestial, personally I felt that Ashwatthama is a character with all the flaws that even we have -- ego issues, jealousy, anger. These flaws made him human. I think we can connect with him and I find him relevant even in the present time. He is an immortal character, which means he is supposed to be alive even now. So you see, Ashwatthama is a character of the present time," Aditya told IANS.## The film will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Vicky Kaushal is to play the protagonist.## "Scripting my concept into a film is a little complicated because I also want the story to be accessible to a wide audience and therefore I needed time. So, basically I am utilizing this period of lockdown to work on that -- work on pre-production," added the director whose last release "Uri: The Surgical Strike" was a blockbuster.## The entertainment industry, like any other, is expected to face a tough time economically due to the current global pandemic, and Aditya feels everyone will have to redesign the business side of storytelling.## "Firstly every story has its correct budget and 'Ashwatthama' is a big canvas film. Now, one has to understand the mathematics of our business. In India, we cannot make a film of Rs 500 crore and expect fast recovery. We made 'Uri' for Rs 28 CR and it looked like a film with a budget of around Rs 60 crore. So basically we are a team of people who can offer you a grand-looking film within a small budget," he said.## "I am a fellow from a middle-class family, and I know the art of 'paisa bachao', I am quite 'jugadu' that way. Having said that post-COVID-19, we really have to think about a new design of budget -- how to change the percentage of profit etc. Hopefully, we will sort that out, because Ronnie is best in business," Aditya signed off.## Stay tuned...

BY SUNIT JANGIR

A day after Irrfan Khan's demise, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away today. His colleague and a close friend Amitabh Bachchan confirms the actor's demise## He tweeted, ## T 3517 - He's GONE .. ! Rishi Kapoor .. gone .. just passed away .. I am destroyed !— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 30, 2020 ## Rishi Kapoor was hospitalized on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well. The actor was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Wife Neetu Kapoor is at his side. He was diagnosed with cancer. ## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Jaipur, April 29 (IANS) Bharatpur Superintendent of Police Haider Ali Zaidi was a childhood friend of Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, whose death on Wednesday stunned him. Zaidi studied with him in school and college and was his neighbor once.## "I saw him struggling in his tough days -- he would travel-hungry in local trains in Mumbai and at times would sleep without having food," recalls Zaidi.## Irrfan's mother, too, had passed away last Saturday.## "She wanted Irrfan to leave the film industry and become a school teacher in Jaipur for an easier life and spend the rest of his life in their ancestors' haveli," says Zaidi.## "Despite touching new heights, Irrfan remained grounded... we'd often talk to each other," said Zaidi, adding "while Khan pursued MA in Urdu, Zaidi did his masters in economics."## Zaidi said that Irrfan had a helping nature. The police officer recalled how he saved his life once when he touched a live electric wire by mistake while returning from school. "Khan immediately pushed me away to save my life," Zaidi said.## "It seemed he would call me today and we would again share our memories", said Zaidi, barely holding his tears.## "I could not even attend his last journey," he said.## Irrfan Khan passed away on Wednesday due to colon-infection at the age of 54. His death sent shockwaves across the film world.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 29 (IANS) Pakistani actress Saba Qamar, who starred opposite Irrfan Khan in "Hindi Medium" has mourned the actor's death.## "Deeply disturbed to hear about the passing of Irrfan Khan. It feels like yesterday coming back from the sets of Hindi Medium. You taught me a lot as an actor and a mentor. Such a brilliant actor gone too soon. I'm at a loss for words. RIP Raj Yours Only, Meeta," tweeted Saba, referencing their on-screen names, Raj and Meeta in the film.## Irrfan was only 54. On Tuesday, he was hospitalized after being diagnosed with colon infection. He had been battling neuroendocrine tumor for several and had been under medical attention for the same.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Los Angeles, April 30 (IANS) Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie has expressed her condolences on the demise of Indian actor Irrfan Khan, in a message shared with IANS.## "I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of A Mighty Heart. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world," Jolie said in her message.## "A Mighty Heart", is a 2007 drama directed by Michael Winterbottom based on the 2003 memoir of the same name by Mariane Pearl. The film accounts the aftermath of the kidnapping of Marianne's journalist husband Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, and his subsequent beheading by the kidnappers.## Jolie played Marianne Pearl while Irrfan impressed Karachi police chief Zeeshan Kazmi, in a well-written role. Most of the Karachi sequences of the film were shot in Pune.## The critically-acclaimed film was screened out of competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and is widely considered one of the earliest films to train the global spotlight on Irrfan Khan.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) Bollywood veteran Rishi Kapoor was hospitalized on Wednesday morning after complaining that he was not feeling well.## According to reports, the 67-year-old actor has been admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. Wife Neetu Kapoor is at his side.## The hospitalization was confirmed by Rishi's elder brother, actor Randhir Kapoor. "It's true that he has been admitted to the hospital. He is in Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. He was not keeping well and had some problem, so we admitted him early this morning," Randhir Kapoor said, according to a report in news18.com.## Asked if it was an emergency situation, Randhir told the website: "That's why he has gone to the hospital. But I know that he will be alright. Neetu (Kapoor) is by his side."## Incidentally, Kapoor, who is known to regularly tweet on social media, has not done so after April 2.## In 2018, Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, following which the actor was in New York for nearly a year to undergo treatment. He returned to India in September 2019 after recovering.## Post return to India, Kapoor's health has frequently been in focus. The actor was admitted to the hospital in quick succession in February. Amid speculations about his health, he had been hospitalized in New Delhi in early February, while on a visit to New Delhi.## IANS had reported back then how Kapoor had clarified that he was in the hospital because he was down with an infection and needed medical attention.## While wife Neetu was at his side in Delhi back then, unconfirmed reports had said that his son Ranbir Kapoor along with a friend, actress Ali Bhatt, has rushed to be at his father's side.## On returning to Mumbai back then, reported ndtv.com, Kapoor had again been hospitalized with viral fever but was discharged soon after.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 29 (IANS) Superstar Salman Khan recently caught his close friend and actress Jacqueline Fernandez taking his picture "chori chori chupke chupke", and he took to Instagram to share the moment.## Salman on Wednesday posted a photograph on Instagram where Jacqueline can be sneakily seen clicking his picture as he was busy with his workout.## "Jacky got caught taking a pic chori chori Chupke chupke... she took one more after that which she will post on her own," Salman wrote with the image.## In the photograph, one can see shirtless Salman sweating out in the gym. He seems to be taking a break in the picture, when Jacqueline sneaked up on him at his gym and captured him in the frame. Thanks to a mirror, she herself also got captured in the same frame. She is seen in a blue T-shirt with sweatpants.## Meanwhile, Salman recently showcases his singing skills as he sung a song, titled "Pyaar Karona", aiming to cheer up people amid the coronavirus lockdown.## Written by Salman and Hussain Dalal, "Pyaar Karona" released on Salman's YouTube channel. Apart from this, Salman has been seen creating COVID-19 awareness among people through his videos on social media. Recently, he came out with a very serious message for those who have violated the COVID-19 lockdown. He even called the violators "jokers".## Salman is currently self-isolating at his Panvel farmhouse.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Irrfan Khan was a kind and happy soul whose "impeccable smile" left people happy, says his neighbour and actor Shreyas Talpade.## Be it in the lift or lobby of their building in Oshiwara in Mumbai, Shreyas and Irrfan would bump into each other sometimes.## "We have been neighbours for the past couple of years. He moved into the building a little before me. I think six or eight months before we moved in," Shreyas told IANS.## When it came to talking about issues related to the building, Irrfan would be "one little child unaware of what was happening around him".## "He used to say 'Arey ye kya hora hai, tum baat karlo. Mujhse nahi hoga' (what's happening? You go and talk, I can't do it). So I was pleasantly surprised to see honesty and sincerity intact in him," said Shreyas.## He found Irrfan a very caring guy.## "Since the time we moved in, he and Sutapa di would send us vegetables and fruits from their farm. Even as recently as last week, when we told Sutapa didi that we were not finding mangoes due to the lockdown, the same evening Sutapa di and Irrfan bhai sent us a dozen of mangoes," he said.## Due to their hectic schedules, the two couldn't frequently meet but whenever they did Shreyas would feel happy.## "There are very few actors who have the energy that can influence and attract you. Irrfan bhai was one of those. You would feel happy after meeting him. You can't miss that impeccable smile of his. Whenever he would meet someone, he would first greet with a smile then ask 'Kaha kaise ho, dikhai nai diye (how are you?).## "He was a kind and happy soul. Now I feel we should have spent a little more time together," said Shreyas.## "He went too soon, this was not the time for him to go. He was supposed to do a lot more films. I was supposed to learn a lot from him," he added.## The two actors never got a chance to work together.## "There was a time when we were supposed to host an awards night together but he wasn't in the country. He couldn't return on time. This will be one unfulfilled wish...I could not work with him," said Shreyas.## Recalling one of his last conversations with Irrfan, Shreyas said: "He had come back from London after his treatment then he had started shooting for 'Angrezi Medium'. That was the time I met him. It was brief. I asked him 'are you okay? ' He said 'God has been kind. I am recovering. It's been a long fight'."## It surely was as Irrfan was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018. He had shown signs of recovery.## But earlier this week, he got admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. Unfortunately, he lost the battle early on Wednesday.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Mumbai, April 29 (IANS) Amid the lockdown, actress Nidhhi Agerwal, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Tiger Shroff in "Munna Michael", is currently taking an online course in acting and scriptwriting from the New York Film Academy (NYFA).## "So I decided to see how I can utilize my time wisely. When I came to know there would be a break from the shoot, I looked for many different courses and decided to go with NYFA because I've always wanted to study in a place like that and I knew their faculty would be top class... I'm happy that I decided to take these classes," Nidhhi shared.## Nidhhi has also tried her hand at baking during the lockdown. A few days ago, she baked a cake.## "Baked a cake for the first time of course with the expert guidance of @tanveagerwal.... 1. Check whether the batter tastes good because we used maple syrup instead of sugar. 2. Wait for light bulbs to cook the cake. 3. Some coco powder seasoning. 4. Satisfaction. Oh, and we baked the second one too... with fresh orange... let''s see how that tastes #stayhome #stayhome #quarantine#cake #healthyfood," she wrote on Instagram.## On the acting front, Nidhhi will next be seen "Bhoomi", a Tamil action-drama film, which also stars Sathish.## Stay tuned...

BY IANS NEWS

Los Angeles, April 29 (IANS) The third chapter of popular heist series "Now You See Me" is being developed, with Eric Warren Singer on board to pen the script of the movie.## Lionsgate has brought on screenwriter Warren Singer, an Oscar nominee for his work on "American Hustle", to add a fresh take to the story, reports deadline.com.## "Eric has always been fascinated with the fine art of deception and illusion in all of its forms and he came to us with a great story that takes the mythology of aNow You See Me' and pushes 'The Four Horsemen' to a whole new level with our key returning cast and new characters," said Nathan Kahane, President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.## "The Now You See Me' franchise has been built on keeping the audience surprised and guessing. Any great magician knows you can't keep doing the same tricks. And Eric and his team of illusionists have something special up their sleeve for this new film," Kahane added.## The film will be the third installment of the "Now You See Me" franchise, which has grossed $687 million worldwide. The previous movies starred Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, and Morgan Freeman, among others. No casting has been set yet for the third part.## It is believed that Warren Singer's fresh take will capture the fun, magic, and spirit of the original while introducing new characters into the world and also creating opportunities for the original cast to reprise their roles.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY IANS NEWS

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Actor Manoj Bajpayee struggles to put his thoughts into words and says everything has just gone "haywire" ever since he heard the news of Irrfan Khan's demise.## The actor says though Irrfan wasn't his "best friend", they were connected with a very unique thread of rejection and acceptance in showbiz.## "For me to put my feelings in words and really frame it in a way that it all looks organized is tough. After hearing the news of his demise, everything went haywire mentally," Manoj told IANS.## "I don't know how to react to it. The only emotion which is happening inside of me is extreme sadness. I am so sad that it is difficult for me to even think of anything. And I feel exhausted with the heaviness that I am feeling," he added.## Manoj has immense respect for Irrfan as "a contemporary, a colleague, co-actor and as somebody who started at the same time".## "We faced similar kinds of rejections, struggles, and acceptance. I feel that I lost a co-traveler. Though he was not my best friend, somewhere I felt that he was somebody whose journey was known to me and who knew my journey," said the actor, who will soon be seen in Netflix's "Mrs. Serial Killer".## Manoj continued: "It is like we were traveling in the same compartment, looking at each other from a distance but not fully knowing personally. It was enough to look at each other from a distance and admire each other. His contribution to cinema and the world of acting is going to be lauded and appreciated for very long."## Irrfan breathed his last early on Wednesday at the age of 54. Irrfan was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection earlier this week. However, unfortunately, he succumbed to his ailment. The actor is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar and two sons Babil and Ayan.## Stay tuned...