Journalist Rana Ayyub highlighted the ‘Islamophobic’ elements in Bollywood’s Sooryavanshi in her article for Washington post. The acclaimed journalist tweeted about the same, reinstating that, “yet another exercise in criminal Islamophobia that seeks to normalise Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim agenda. She claimed that it “feeds into the Muslim as terrorist narrative.”
Starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead, it also features Ranveer Singh and Ajay Devgn. The film has already raked in over INR 150 crores at the Box-office.
Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi expressed his disappointment on the same.
He added, “The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, destroy its history.”
Dangerous for India. In this Islamophobic hatred India will destroy itself, no less. I hope & pray that sane elements within Indian society prevent this. Milton Kandera wrote that ‘the first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, https://t.co/gcyX1sNnIE
Earlier, Riz called out English films for their misrepresentation of Muslims, “The game right now is messed up. The game right now is rigged,” Ahmed said in a new interview with news outlet Muslim. “Muslims are either not on screen or they are [and] they’re the bad guys. They’re perpetrators or victims of violence. We’re either invisible or we’re villainized, cause the stories we tell about our community affect the laws that get passed, the people that get attacked, the people that get invaded.”
India’s biggest production house, Yash Raj Films (YRF) has announced the release dates of its four big screen projects as cinemas are set re-open in late October after staying shut due to pandemic woes. The films include Prithviraj, Shamshera, Jayeshbhai Jordaar and Bunty Aur Babli 2 starring A-list stars.
The Maharashtra government has announced that theatres will be opening in the state on October 22 and filmmakers have taken the opportunity to announce their next.
Bunty Aur Babli 2
Yash Raj Film’s Bunty Aur Babli 2 starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and talented debutant Sharvari. The much-awaited, hilarious out and out family entertainer will release worldwide on November 19, 2021.
Prithviraj
Big-budget Prithviraj releases worldwide on January 21, 2022. It stars superstar Akshay Kumar in and as king Prithviraj Chauhan. Miss World Manushi Chhillar debuts as Sanyogita opposite Akshay, while Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood play pivotal roles.
Jayeshbhai Jordaar
One of the most anticipated films, YRF’s Jayeshbhai Jordaar, starring superstar Ranveer Singh and Shalini Pandey releases worldwide on February 25, 2022. A family entertainer set in Gujarat, Ranveer will be seen playing a Gujarati man, who becomes an unlikely hero which is helmed by Divyang Thakkar.
Shamshera
Shamshera starring superstar Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Vaani Kapoor is an adrenaline-pumping entertainer which is set to release on March 18, 2022.
Other production banners have also unveiled the release dates of their mega projects:
The Hindi film industry has today announced the theatrical release dates of 13 FILMS, out of which four will hit cinemas this year itself.. Coming next year, the Bollywood superstars will come not only on Festivals but also on normal weekends, to entertain you like never before! pic.twitter.com/3l5UnVcEql
The Meray Paas Tum Ho star, Ayeza Khan has recreated Deepika Padukone’s performance and look from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela. Mere Meherban diva performed on the song, Laal Ishq.
Celebrity couple, Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor have recreated Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor’s iconic pose from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat. The duo shot together for a clothing brand’s promotional photoshoot.
Actress Mawra Hocane travelled to India in 2015 to shoot her romantic movie Sanam Teri Kasam opposite Harshvardhan Rane. The Jawani Phir Nahi Aani 2 actor met and partied with multiple Bollywood personalities.
Mawra and other Pakistani stars was asked by the Indian authorities to leave India post the URI attacks in 2016.
She met Ranveer Singh in Manchester.
She also visited Rishi Kapoor in America while he was admitted at an hospital for being diagnosed with cancer.
On the work front, Mawra is currently shooting for Qissa Meherbano Ka opposite Ahsan Khan. Written by Fakhra Jabeen the drama is being directed by Iqbal Hussain and will go on air on HUM TV later this year.
Mere Paas Tum Ho is the highest rated drama of recent years in Pakistan. The drama was headlined by four primary characters essayed by Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Ayeza Khan and Hira Mani.
Indian Punjabi superstar Ammy Virk, who’s making his Bollywood debut with the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer 83, took to his Instagram stories to express his love for the drama and its OST. He tagged the cast members and the writer of the drama in his story.
While talking to BBC Urdu Amitabh Bachchan shared how he felt about Pakistani dramas and also about Pakistani actors and singers coming to India to work. He said, ”I like it when people from Pakistan come to work in India. We have seen the work done in Pakistan. The drama serials that are shown on Pakistani television are exceptional. A channel in India is dedicated to showing Pakistani drama serials which are very fine and I accept the fact that Pakistani TV serials are far superior to those which are being made in India. The artist in Pakistan are brilliant too. Even very long ago many Pakistani serials were extraordinary”.
Bollywood Actress Meera Chopra, who is a cousin of Priyanka Chopra and Parineeti Chopra praised Mere Paas Tum Ho. The actress was massively impressed by Humayun and Adnan Siddiqui’s performance in the drama. She turned to her social media handle and wrote, “Watching Meray Pass Tum Ho, finding the show extremely slow. But both these men Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, you guys are amazing. Can’t help to hate one and love the other, what performances. I’ve become fan for life.”
Bollywood star Ranveer Singh has bought a Mercedes Maybach GLS 600 that was recently launched in India for INR 2.43 crore on his birthday. The actor had also purchased a Lamborghini Urus Pearl Capsule edition, that costs INR 3.43 crore, in May this year.
Posting an image of the actor with his new luxury acquisition, Mercedes-Benz dealer Auto Hangar wrote, “(We wish) the ever-enthusiastic charm of bollywood, @ranveersingh a very Happy Birthday! We also congratulate him for the new acquisition of Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 600.” The 36-year-old actor celebrates his birthday on July 6 every year. The Gunday actor also owns a red Lamborghini Urus that he bought towards the end of 2019.
Kartik Aaryan
Dhamaka actor Kartik Aryan also bought a new car Lamborghini Urus after testing negative from Covid-19, Kartik gifted himself a brand new car which costs a whopping INR 4.5 crores.
Vicky kaushal
Vicky Kaushal recently shared a happy photo with his new ride and it costs over Rs 2 crore. The actor is now a proud owner of a Land Rover Range Rover 3.0 Vogue.
The Masaan actor captioned his Instagram post as, “Welcome Home buddy! Thank you Navnit Motors Jaguar Land Rover Mumbai, for an amazing experience”.
Imran Abbas revealed in an interview that he regrets refusing Aditya Roy Kapoor’s role in Ashiqui 2 and Ranveer Singh’s role in Ram Leela, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The Thora Sa Haq actor refused these big-budget films as he was contract bound by another production house.
In a candid chat on Speak Your Heart with Samina Peerzada the Khuda Aur Mohabbat star made these candid confessions, “Rejecting Aashiqui 2 and Ram Leela were one of the few decisions I regret at that time. Now, I don’t have any remorse. I did a Bollywood film which didn’t really work at the box office. When I was offered projects that went on to become some of the highest-grossing films of their times, I later realized that it was imperative to make the decision (rejecting them) that I took in order to get my perspective right,” shared Imran.
He eventually made his Bollywood debut with Bipasha Basu in Vikram Bhatt’s Creature 3D. The Ae Dil Hai Muhskil actor will be seen next in Tumhare Husn Ke Naam co-starring Saba Qamar and Sidra Niazi.
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh recently shared pictures of his latest photoshoot wearing a blue tracksuit and holding a black leather handbag. The look was accessorised with heavy gold jewellery and a long-haired wig.
With a complete ban on Eid parties, travelling and pappis and jhappis (don’t forget Apa is watching), Eid this year is not like the ones we used to have in our childhood. With little to do and no place to go, what better than a movie night in with the fam?
While Netflix has thousands of options to choose from for a fun family movie night, there are some films which are touted to be “family-friendly” but are not. Here is a list of films you should definitely not be watching with the fam.
Queen
While Queen is a highly entertaining watch about a woman who decides to go on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé ditches her days before the wedding and features a brave female protagonist (Kangana Ranaut), some of the scenes, especially those involving Lisa Haydon can be very awkward to watch with your parents or siblings.
Kapoor and Sons
Featuring Pakistan’s heartthrob Fawad Khan, Kapoor & Sons is a decent film about family issues and sibling rivalry but the racy scenes and Fawad’s character being gay can make it a tad bit uncomfortable to watch with family. Though everyone has a choice to love who they want, Pakistani families perhaps aren’t ready yet, especially if you’re hanging out with the Nana Nani or Dada Dadi. That’s a discussion you might not want to have, yet.
Khoobsurat
Khoobsurat may feature Pakistan’s resident heartthrob, but this too like Kapoor & Sons is not one to be watched with the family unless you’d like to watch him shirtless with five others. Best to watch this alone!
And old fav, Main Hoon Na definitely comes across as a family film given that it is set in a university and against the backdrop of Indo-Pak tension. However, Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen romancing in a waterfall can make things a tad bit awkward if you end up playing this on the family movie night.
Jab We Met
Another classic Jab We Met featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor, comes across as a simple and soft romantic film but it includes some racy scenes so it’s best not to watch it with the fam.
Dil Dhadakne Do
Another film about a dysfunctional upper-class family who embarks on a cruise to celebrate the parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. Instead of being a fun and easy holiday, the trip sends the Mehras on a journey of self-discovery and brings out problems that have been long brushed under the carpet. While the film is relatable and honest, but the sexually-charged passionate scenes between Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma make it not-so-family-friendly.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
Considered a family movie, with teen love and romance, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is a story about finding love in high school. Based on Jenny Han’s book trilogy, the film starts off where the first film ended: with Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky as a couple. The two are poles apart but totally smitten with each other. Enter John Ambrose McLaren, one of Lara’s past crushes, and also a recipient of one of her love letters. He has a crush on Lara giving birth to the main conflict of the movie: which boy is the better choice for Lara?
Even though it’s considered a family movie in the west, with supportive parents, allowing their children to date, can you imagine the HAW HAI our mothers would be doing and how our fathers would say the West is ruining us and making us loose and wild? A BIG NO if you want to go to a mixed school again.
Bulbbul
Bulbbul may come across as a good old horror flick about a churail (witch) living in an old haveli but it features some really gruesome scenes, including those involving rape. Hence, definitely not one you can watch with the fam.
In case you want some suggestions for film you can watch with the fam, we recommend Cake, Teefa in Trouble, Ho Mann Jahan, 3 Idiots, Murder Mystery and The Laundromats.
