Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s recent endorsements were met with severe backlash from the public, including an NGO which felt the actor was encouraging younger minds to play online games. The actor recently endorsed a gaming app A23, an online platform, for which a commercial was released in which the ‘Pathaan’ actor said “Chalo saath khelein’.
Protests followed and were led by the NGO Untouch Youth Foundation, which called for celebrities to be held accountable for promoting online gaming apps which could ‘corrupt their minds of the youth of India’. Demonstrations were held outside Mannat house, SRK’s residence, and police officials were deployed in case of security threats.
In an official statement, the organisation said they were calling for a protest against gaming apps like Zuppee, Jungly Rummy, and called out actors who endorsed these products.
“Famous actors and actresses work in these advertisements and they are working towards misguiding society. The protest will be held outside Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat bungalow on behalf of Untouch India Foundation.”
The president of Untouch India Foundation, Krishchandra Adal, said:
“The new generation is involved in playing Junglee rummy. If someone is playing Junglee rummy or gambling outside, the police arrest them, but big Bollywood stars promoting online games are misleading the young generation. The Bollywood stars also know it is wrong, but they are getting money so they are promoting them. We make these stars famous by watching their movies and spending our money on them. We demand these advertisements to stop. These apps are illegal, we can not find them on Google, but these apps are uploaded on private websites.”
If you were a teenager on during the 2000’s, chances are you were swept up in the wave of adoration for Imran Khan. Nope, not THAT one, but the one who made us swoon with his charm and wit with films like ‘Jaane Tu Jaane Na’ and ‘I Hate Luv Stories’. But then he suddenly announced his retirement and completely stepped away from films, leaving love struck girlies heartbroken and without a fictional character to moon about.
Now, Imran is dropping hints that he was definitely sure that this wasn’t the last the world had seen of him. When a fan commented under Zeenat Amin’s film, begging the actor to make a comeback, Imran shocked everyone by commenting that he was absolutely ready.
Now, Imran has shared pictures from his old films on his Instagram account, like he shared a couple of pictures of his 2012 film ‘Break Kay Baad’ where he starred along side Deepika Padukone. He wrote in the caption that despite the negative reviews, the film held a special place in his heart because of how much he enjoyed making it.
“In the summer of 2010, I went to Mauritius to shoot Break ke Baad. We swam every day, ate a lot of seafood, sampled Mauritian rum (potent), and made some friends for life. It was a blast. Apparently, in between all the revelries, we managed to make a film as well. This one always had a special place in my heart, because of how much I enjoyed making it. I can’t show you many of the behind the scenes photographs, as it may compromise the modesty of certain individuals… but here’s a glimpse.”
In the Instagram stories, Imran shared the reason why he was reminiscing about his old films on Instagram, writing that it was to help him reshape the connection he had with his career, and to address how he left the industry because of the over whelming negative response to ‘Break Kay Baad’.
“If you’re wondering why I’m looking at the past so much…it’s because I’m reshaping my relationship with my films. To be clear, I’m not blaming anyone for anything; all opinions are valid, and not everyone will like the same things…that’s normal. Unfortunately, at the same time, I was only able to look at things from a negative mindset.”
The actor went on to share that despite having so much fun filming ‘Break Kay Baad’ the only thing he remembered the most was the overwhelming negative reviews the film received.
The actor, who is the nephew of Bollywood veteran star Aamir Khan, said the negative feedback had brought him down, but the support of the fans-who begged him to come back on the main screen- helped him regain his faith back in his career.
“And that is where,” the actor wrote. “I realize my mistake; I paid so much heed to the voices that hurt… and I never valued the voices that loved. What a fool. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Thank you all for helping me change my perspective,” and thank you Imran for pushing past the hate, and coming to show everyone what a true rom-com film looks like.
After the Jaranwala riots, where a Christian neighborhood was burned down by a violent mob because of blasphemy allegations, many Pakistani celebrities and public figures were quick to condemn the authorities that failed to control the violence , and called for swift action to be taken against the perpetuators. Ashok Swain, the chairperson of the UNESCO International Water Cooperation and professor at Uppsala University, pointed out how Pakistani celebrities were quick to condemn communal riots and ethnic violence against minorities, while in Bollywood the silence of public figures is deafening when it comes to speaking out against the rising hate crimes against minorities.
“Pakistani film stars have spine. Indian film stars only know how to count money,” Swain tweeted.
Pakistani film stars have spine. Indian film stars only know how to count money. https://t.co/yS09xGBLnK
Since Wednesday, prominent public figures like Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Mahira Khan and Azekah Daniels have all spoken against the brutal act of injustice against the Christian community in Pakistan. Taking to her Instagram stories, Chinoy, a two- time Oscar winner, slammed ‘hypocritical’ Pakistanis who are quick to react when the Holy Quran was burned but were silent when churches were demolished yesterday by a lynch mob.
“Two faced: That word best describes Pakistanis who are quick to point out the state of Muslims in India but who turn the other way when someone says look at the state of minorities within your own borders.”
‘Pasoori’ singer Shae Gill, who is a Christian, described how the incident made her completely speechless, and expressed hopes that the masses are educated so that these atrocities can come to an end.
Meanwhile, celebrities in Bollywood have been called out publicly in the past for promoting communal violence and Islamophobia through their films. Akshay Kumar was publicly criticised when his film ‘Sooryavashni’ promoted Islamophobia. During an interview when he was asked about the anti-Pakistani themes of his film ‘Bell Bottom’ to which the A-list actor had responded: “It’s just a film.”
Recently, Shah Rukh Khan was targeted by BJP politicians as a ‘terrorist’ and in January, the music video for his film ‘Besharam Rang’ was targeted because of the baseless ‘Love Jihad’ theory- that claims Hindu women are seduced by Muslim men and then converted into Islam- by conservatives who threatened to burn down the theaters where the movie would play.
This obviously doesn’t mean that cinema in Pakistan is more progressive and open to accepting minorities, but we cannot deny the power of public figures who use their platforms to educate masses about sensitive topics, is far more important in today’s troubling issues in order to help fight against the growing communal violence and hatred.
Alia Bhatt’s recent Beauty Secrets interview with Vogue has gone viral, but for all the wrong reasons. A clip from the interview has sparked backlash, in which the actress reveals that while she was dating her now husband, Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, he didn’t allow her to wear lipstick when they were going out.
“When we used to go out at night he would say ‘Wipe that off’”, the actress commented.
It should be good to mention here that there is a 10-year age gap between the two. Alia was 17 years old when she began working on ‘Student Of The Year’ when Ranbir dropped by on set, and joked to director Karan Johar about whether he should marry her.
Since the clip went viral on Twitter, users have expressed outrage on Ranbir’s relationship with his wife. A few months ago, the actor was slammed for body shaming Alia during a livestream, while she was pregnant with their daughter Raha. Then, he was criticized for saying that he hopes Raha doesn’t have Alia’s personality, because “she talks quite loud and is vivacious.”
alia bhatt saying that ranbir kapoor hated her w lipstick so everytime they went on a date he’d ask her to wipe it off is so ???? im sorry if a man told me how to and how not to wear makeup i would acc dump his ass
and this tweet is actually being unnecessarily kind to the ugly balding rat Ranbir Kapoor She never said he “asked” her, according to Alia he just barked orders at her like she’s a misbehaving dog to: “wipe it off!” how anyone still likes that man I will never understand https://t.co/GF4WVgaMZSpic.twitter.com/YQkzPjJwv5
Many users pointed out how Ranbir Kapoor has qualities similar to a toxic boyfriend, as one user put it:
“Ranbir is one of those toxic men who finally settle with much younger women they can easily manipulate. she might be happy doing whatever he wants but it’s still a sad situation esp with her background.”
ranbir is one of those toxic men who finally settle with much younger women they can easily manipulate. she might be happy doing whatever he wants but it’s still a sad situation esp with her background https://t.co/g7qk9oYLmf
Men like Ranbir Kapoor tend to choose partners whom are accommodating and they can exert control over. His chocolate boy or whatever image leads to people overlooking his huge red flags. https://t.co/5yUQdZRwb6
— 건투를빕니다, 이번 생은 어차피 모두에게 처음이니까 (@Hae_Mastani) August 15, 2023
At that point it’s in Gods hands now like she saw the signs and decided she liked the color red https://t.co/lNBcsqbxqF
Bollywood actors Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are considered one of the hottest celebrity couples within the industry, and now the actress has revealed details of her first meeting with her husband, with whom she shares daughter Raha.
Bhatt is currently promoting her Netflix film ‘Heart Of Stone’ where she stars along with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. During an interview with Netflix, the ‘Gangubai’ actress said that at her audition for the 2005 film ‘Black’, she met Ranbir, who was working as a film assistant.
Although Alia didn’t get the role, the two met again in 2012 during ‘Student Of The Year’ which was directed by Karan Johar, where Ranbir visited on set. During an episode of ‘Koffee With Karan’, actor Ranveer Singh took everyone by surprise when he revealed the son of Rishi Kapoor had dropped by during the film shooting, and joked with Karan about whether he should marry Alia or not.
On Wednesday, the internet was blown away when Excel Entertainment announced that the next actor to play the iconic villain ‘Don’ jis ko 11 mulkoon ki police dhoond rahi hai will be Ranveer Singh.
The thriller icon was previously played by Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan- leading to incredibly high expectations about who would be the next person to fill in such big shoes.
Taking to his Instagram account, Ranveer celebrated the announcement by sharing some throwback pictures of his childhood when he used to pretend to play the villain, calling this something he had been dreaming about for a long time:
“As a child I fell in love with the movies, and like the rest of us,” gushed the ‘Rocky and Rani ki prem kahani actor. “Watching and worshipping Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan – the two G.O.A.Ts of Hindi Cinema . I dreamed of growing up to be like them. They are the very reason I wanted to become an actor and a ‘hindi film hero’. Their impact and influence on my life cannot be overstated. They’ve shaped the person and actor that I am. Taking their legacy forward is a manifestation of my childhood dream ”
Addressing some of the critics who were aghast by the announcement, Singh went on to say:
“I understand what a great responsibility it is to be a part of the ‘Don’ dynasty. I hope the audience gives me a chance and showers me with love, the way they have for numerous characters over the past so many years. ”
Forget about Avengers Endgame or Barbie, the biggest movie ever….never got made. Two of the greatest actors this generation has seen, Shah Rukh Khan and Leonardo DiCaprio, were once about to come together to give us the most incredible thriller film of our lives.
Back in 2011, the Bollywood Badshah had signed on the film ‘Xtreme City’. A picture, purportedly a fan-made poster, broke the internet. Featuring Khan, DiCaprio, Karan Johar, the film was supposed to be produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese with Paul Schrader directing, and Mushtaq Sheikh writing. The film was suppose to pit Khan and DiCaprio against each other.
Sheikh gushed about the once-in-a-lifetime powerful collaboration with NDTV, calling it “the best news I’ve heard in a long time”.
“We are all elated. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Martin loved the script and it meant the world to me as the writer of the film along with Paul Schrader. But when he comes in as the producer of the project, then I am thrilled as it takes the film to another level completely. Inshaallah, all goes well from here onwards. Fingers and all parts of the body crossed.”
In a 2011 interview with Press Trust of India, Sheikh described the plot of the film as one where “both Indian and American protagonists are balanced human beings”:
“It’s a different kind of film, one where both Indian and American protagonists are balanced human beings and the story treats them in their full complexity without either culture being diminished or taken for granted. It’s a cross-cultural thriller designed for both Bollywood and Hollywood. And if we get it right, this will be an attempt at true global entertainment.”
However the project couldnt take off because both actors weren’t as committed to the project to continue it, and in an interview with Open Magazine, Schrader revealed that Shah Rukh wasn’t comfortable with doing a film he couldn’t control:
“Well, in the end, I don’t think Shah Rukh wanted to make it. It was really up to him, and I just got the feeling that he was never going to be comfortable doing an international film that he didn’t control. You know that everything SRK does, he has total control over? So if he did something like this at an international level, he wouldn’t have that control.”
“I think in the end he wasn’t that comfortable not being a hundred per cent in control. We did have a script, which was a hundred per cent paid for. We also had a meeting with SRK and Leo in Berlin, but neither of them actually ever committed. There was a lot of waiting—maybe they were waiting for each other to commit, but it never quite happened.”
Shah Rukh Khan has also candidly discussed why he chose not to follow the path of other actors like Irrfan Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, to star in a Hollywood movie, while speaking in 2008 at the Berlin Film Festival.
“My English is not good, if they give me a role of a dumb person who doesn’t speak, maybe then there’s a possibility. I am not trying to be modest, I am 42 years old. I am a little brown. I don’t have any USP as an actor, I don’t have any specialty. I don’t know Kung Fu, I don’t dance salsa, and I am not tall enough…I have seen the recent European films, there is no place for me there, no space for me. I don’t think am talented enough. Instead, I would like to continue working in India and take Indian cinema to the world.”
Bollywood actor Aditya Roy Kapur has made a string of successful movies like ‘Aashiqui 2’ and ‘Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani’, but he has been met with plenty of criticism that his career has a lot to do with nepotism.
The actor, who’s eldest brother Siddharth is the CEO of UTV Motion Pictures and other brother Kunaal is an actor, comes from a family of Bollywood royalty, dating back to his grandfather who was a film producer in the 1940s.
Speaking to Filmfare to finally address the issue, ‘The Night Manager’ actor said his career wasn’t influenced by his brothers, who did not help him in getting movies as he began his acting journey.
“I think people know that I have kind of made my way into the industry. I started with supporting roles in films my brothers weren’t involved with.”
Kapur, who has gone public with his relationship with Ananya Panday, also pointed out that his career progress has been incredibly public, with people noticing how slowly he went from supporting roles to getting leading roles in films:
“My journey has been a public one. People saw my career develop slowly. By the time I did my first leading role, I had already done three supporting parts. So I think that journey is clear for people to see.”
The issue of nepotism within the Bollywood industry has been a much discussed topic, with several actors like Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor being subjected to intense scrutiny for the arguments they made in favor of nepotism.
Johar, who had been publicly called ‘the flag bearer of nepotism’ by Kangana Ranaut on ‘Koffee With Karan’ said in an interview with Man’s World India:
“I never said I was running an NGO. I’m running a bona fide commercial entity. I’m very excited to introduce new talents. Some will be from the fraternity, some will not. I’m done with being apologetic about it”
Bollywood actors Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan are the filmi duo that keep entertaining our millenial hearts, whether on film or as hilarious buddies. Now speaking to Mashable India, Kajol reflected on her long friendship with the Bollywood actor, revealing that there is after all one thing she doesn’t like about the actor: his ability to memorise the entire script, even everyone else’s lines on set!
“What I don’t like and I also find is most endearing about him, is the fact that when he comes on the set, he knows all the dialogues of everybody on the set,” said the ‘Baazigar’ actress.
“It doesn’t matter if we are doing a three-page scene, he would have memorized all the three pages. He knows my dialogues, his dialogues, and third person’s dialogues as well.
Kajol went on to gush about her bond with the ‘Pathaan’ superstar whom she can call any time of the day, stating that she doesn’t text him everyday or Khan would have stabbed her.
“I know for a fact that if I ever had to call him up at 3 o’clock in the morning, he would pick up my phone and he knows vice versa..(but) No, I do not message him every day ‘Good morning there’ and send him a flower photograph. I think he’d stab me with a nice fork if I ever tried it.” the ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum’ actress joked.
After romanticizing predators and promoting Islamophobia, Bollywood thinks mirroring a toxic relationship with the traumas of the 1945 Nazi reign in Germany is what we have been missing all along.
Starring Varun Dhawan and Jhanvi Kapoor, the film ‘Bawaal’ explores the troubles of a married couple who decide to visit all of the places in Europe that were deemed important to World War II, deciding that the battlefield would be the perfect backdrop to mirror the traumas of two elite people.
A scene going viral on Twitter features Jhanvi’s character saying: ‘Every relationship goes through their own Auschwitz”.
I never understand why actors don’t say NO to such projects. Especially those like #VarunDhawan or #JahnviKapoor who can easily pick films they want to do.
They are evidently ignorant about the extent of this grossly problematic movie. If they did, they certainly would have not even considered it, let alone acted it. Don’t even know where to begin with the WTF premise of this movies. https://t.co/jmKtxDF47u
— anatlasofallthatisee (@priyankasacheti) July 22, 2023
Probably because they have no idea of what Hitler did and what Auschwitz represents? And Varun Dhawan doesn’t even say no banyan ads https://t.co/YyhFYKBFLp
— Debasish Roy Chowdhury (@Planet_Deb) July 21, 2023
Another clip from the film sees the couple discussing Hitler, with Jhanvi saying:
“We all too are a little like Hitler, aren’t we? We aren’t satisfied with what we have. We want what others have.”
Thee trailer for the film, released two weeks ago, featured a scene where Varun Dhavan looks at Hitler’s image and in the backdrop Jhanvi is saying “We’re all a bit like Hitler.”
A failing marriage because of an image-conscious, insecure and toxic man. #Bawaal could have been watchable (may be) if it had NOTHING to do with World War II. It baffles me that the makers thought it was necessary/alright to bring the Holocaust into the narrative. https://t.co/0iixxNihCS
Responding to the accusations of ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘insensitive portrayal of a tragedy’, Tiwari spoke to The Hindustan Times about it.
“While creating a character, you can go back and look at the events and incidents which can play an important role in the overall arc of that character and the relationship in general. It’s not just about Hitler. There are many more things that you may not have seen in the trailer. Every incident has been very carefully chosen that can have an impact on the overall arc.”
Bawaal has been panned by critics with The Guardian giving it one star and saying it lacked in “fun, pep, humour and charm”. The Hindustan Times called it “the most insensitive film of the year.”
