Mumbai, (IANS) Social media personality Mira Rajput Kapoor, who is also the wife of Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, has shared excerpts of her chat with her 9 year old daughter Misha Kapoor.
On Sunday, Mira took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and penned a long note, in which she spoke about the recent conversation with her daughter.
She wrote, “A chat with my 9 year old My daughter asked me at dinner last night while my Dad and I were discussing how work is going, ‘Can I also be a part of this conversation’. I said, ‘Ofcourse’. She remarked, ‘But I'm not a businesswoman’. I said, ‘Yes you are. You have your own bakery. You did a pop-up’. So she said ‘But that was just once’. I asked her ‘Did you make money? Did you enjoy what you did? Did you follow your passion?’ So she smiled and said, ‘Yes’. So I told her, ‘Then you can do it again. You're already a businesswoman’. Our girls don't need to be encouraged to have dreams. They already do”.
She further mentioned, “They just need us to help them through self-doubt. Their thoughts are far more crystallised than ours were at that age. Involve your kids in your conversations. Show them what you're doing. Explain why you're busy, why you're tired, why you're still excited and ready to go back. Of course there's more to a business than just those three things, but for her it simplified the dream while adding responsibility. They're watching us follow our dreams so let's show them how to be fearless”.Mira Rajput Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor tied the knot on July 7, 2015. Their daughter, Misha Kapoor, was born on August 26, 2016. The couple later welcomed a son, Zain Kapoor, in 2018. Mira Rajput Kapoor speaks about business aspirations of daughter Misha Kapoor | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Mumbai: Actor Kriti Sanon at the GQ Most Influential Young Indians 2026 event in Mumbai on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon, who is currently riding the wave of success owing to the box-office performance of her recent films, has shared how she views the relationship between hard work, talent and destiny.
From her National Award-winning performance in ‘Mimi’ to winning hearts with her emotional depth in ‘Tere Ishk Mein’, Kriti’s journey reflects both evolution and intent. As she gears up for ‘Cocktail 2’, she looked back at how identifying the opportunities and working towards them shaped her journey.
Speaking about the role of timing and opportunity in success, Kriti shared, “I do believe in luck, I do believe a lot in destiny, I feel you know it's always a combination of hard work, talent and destiny and also recognizing opportunities you know. They might just pass you by and you may not see them or you may not jump at them but that courage to take risk, to take the plunge, to take that leap and you know something that scares you but you still kind of just do it anyway. So I think that courage is also very important to recognize that opportunity. Absolutely”.
Her words reflect a grounded perspective on success, where preparation meets timing, but it is courage that bridges the gap.Meanwhile, the actress is awaiting the release of her upcoming film ‘Cocktail 2’ in which she shares the screen with Rashmika Mandanna and Shahid Kapoor. The film is a sequel to ‘Cocktail’, and features an entirely new starcast. ‘Cocktail 2’ is set to release in cinemas on June 19, 2026. Kriti Sanon says success is a blend of hard work, talent and destiny | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Los Angeles, (IANS) Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway has admitted to being under pressure while filming for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’. The actress shared that she felt the weight of "pressure".
The Oscar-winning actress reprised the role of Andrea 'Andy' Sachs for the long-awaited film sequel, and while Anne was conscious of the outside pressure, she didn't allow it to bother her on set, reports ‘Female First UK’.
The 43-year-old actress told E! News, "I’m kind of through that time in my life. I don't really want to focus on that part. I just kind of accept it. Of course, there's pressure, of course there's expectation, of course there's these things. But this is the team that did it the first time. I would have felt scared if I was with a different team”.
Anne observed that the new movie also shines a light on "just how deeply and passionately people love fashion".
She added, "So many people have told me that they dreamed big for their lives because of these characters. It’s been overwhelming to see that that is as true in New York City as it is in Seoul, South Korea, as it is in Shanghai. It's been overwhelming”.
As per ‘Female First UK’, Anne previously shared that she considers acting to be an "unusual" job. The actress loves being able to "go back and forth" between big-budget Hollywood movies and independent films.
She told WWD, "It’s such an unusual job that you sign up for, and I’ve never felt like I’ve, perhaps some people who only make billion-grossing movies can feel this way, but if you love independent cinema as much as I do, you’re always grateful for the jobs that keep the lights on and being able to go back and forth between the two of them”.Anne said that she "didn’t have any confidence" in her 20s. Anne Hathaway talks about feeling the heat during filming of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Los Angeles, (IANS) Hollywood actress Hailee Steinfeld has shared that she is extremely fond of "uninterrupted" family time.
The 29-year-old actress is married to NFL star Josh Allen and Hailee has opened up about their home life, following the recent birth of their first child, reports ‘Female First UK’.
She told Architectural Digest, "I value a meal away from technology, and even if it's just the two of us, (or) if it's us with friends, with family, that time is so limited with the opportunity to have uninterrupted conversation over a great meal”.
Hailee, whose mother is an interior designer, said she and Josh want their home to feel warm and welcoming. The actress, who gave birth to her daughter on April 2, said, "We wanted our home to feel bright and airy and comfortable, and lighting is a big thing for me, warm, soft lighting”.
As per ‘Female First UK’, the couple split their time between New York state, where Josh plays for the Buffalo Bills, and California, and Hailee wants both spaces to have the same inviting quality. The Hollywood star said, "Home is somewhere you could spend hours in and not get tired of”. Hailee married Josh in 2025, and the NFL star previously admitted that he feels "proud" of his wife. Josh, who is one of the best-paid sportsmen in the world, heaped praise on the actress following her starring role in Sinners and he described the horror film as "fantastic".
Speaking to reporters at the Buffalo Bills training, Josh said, "I'm so excited for her and so proud of her. "It's getting some great reviews and it's a fantastic movie, so go watch it”.Josh is one of the best-known players in the NFL, but he's happy to take a back seat to Hailee and her success. The sportsperson, who started dating Hailee in 2023, shared, "I'm just there trying to support her in whatever way that I can. That was her moment and I'm so glad she got to shine”. Hailee Steinfeld talks about her craving for 'uninterrupted' family time | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Mumbai, (IANS) It has been 19 years since Bollywood's beloved couple, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, entered matrimony in a lavish ceremony.
Aishwarya decided to mark 19 years of marital bliss with Abhishek by dropping perfect family pics on social media.
The photographs posted by Aishwarya showed her posing for some happy clicks with hubby Abhishek and their daughter Aaradhya Bachchan.
While in the first snap, the three of them are posing next to a lovely bouquet, the second had them simply flaunting their beautiful smiles.
Coming to Aishwarya and Abhishek's love saga, the two have shared screenspace in many films including "Kuch Naa Kaho", "Dhoom 2", "Sarkar Raj", "Umrao Jaan", "Guru", and "Raavan".
The duo reportedly first met back in 1999 for the photo shoot of their first project together, "Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke".
Their friendship slowly and steadily transformed into love. After being in a relationship for some time, Aishwarya and Abhishek finally tied the knot on April 20, 2007.
On 16 November 2011, the couple stepped into the next chapter of their lives as they welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
Meanwhile, Aishwarya and Abhishek recently made headlines as they made a rare appearance together at Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar's wedding on March 5.
While Aishwarya looked as beautiful as ever in a blue and silver anarkali suit, Abhishek opted for a black sherwani. The couple was seen smiling and posing for the cameras before entering the venue.
Abhishek and Aishwarya attended the event with Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. The entire Bachchan family made a public appearance together after a very long time.
Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood star Preity Zinta, on Friday, treated her fans a heartwarming glimpse into her “heaven on earth” moments featuring her twin babies.
The actress sharing a carousel post featuring her spending adorable moments with her kids, stated, “spring has never felt better.”
She wrote, “Lately ……………
Spring break has never felt better. Loving every moment of everyday before I start my journey to the other side of the world
#Ting #springbreak #mommylife #photodump. (sic) ”
In one picture, the actress is seen sitting beside her little baby boy dressed in a sparkly pink outfit, caught candid.
In another picture, she is captured with the child enjoying playtime outdoors with a toy bat.
A cheerful selfie of Preity shows her smiling with windswept hair and sunglasses.
In another video, Preity's kid is seen playing with an Indian barbie dresses in a saree, and making it dance on Dhurandhar's latest song, ‘Meinu Loot Leh Gaya.’
Meanwhile, talking about Preity Zinta, the actress during the late 1990s and early 2000s, was among the most popular actresses in Bollywood.
She has delivered umpteen number of hits such as Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dil Se, Soldier, Sangharsh, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, and many more.
After marrying businessman Gene Goodenough in 2016, the actress shifted base to the United States.
Mumbai, (IANS) Legendary singer Asha Bhosle's passing away on April 12, left the entire nation in a state of grief and shock
Just like the legendary singer’s umpteen number of fans, her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle too is grief-stricken by the demise of her grandmother.
The young girl took to her social media account to express her grief and sorrow, and shared a cute video of herself with her grandmother, highlighting their beautiful bond. She also mentioned that the legendary singer 'promised to return to her'.
She wrote, “As I wake up this morning, I realise I have lost my partner in crime, my bestfriend, a person who completed my entire world and the first person to hold me when I was born.”
The doting granddaughter added, “What do I do now? Who am I supposed to wake up and give a hug to in the morning and have chai with? Who’s going to be waiting for me everyday when I come home or who am I supposed to crack lame jokes with..”
“These are just a few things to remember her by, but to all those who have felt this loss with me, remember that she was and is the definition of LIFE and LAUGHTER, so if you have to remember her only remember her that way!!”
She’s looking down on us all, especially her family and so believe she’s going to comeback to me very soon, because that is what she promised me and told me always!!”
Zanai further added, “I have lost the love of my life and there is no bigger grief in the world so I urge you guys to live life to your fullest and celebrate her that way and celebrate her life!!”
Mumbai: Actor Ananya Panday at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre's 3rd Year Anniversary Celebration in Mumbai on Friday, April 3, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Ananya Panday's So Positive, a children and family first initiative designed to acknowledge exam stress, has joined forces with Nick India to come up with new and exciting ways to tackle exam pressure.
Rooted in Nick India’s ongoing Pressure Ko Bolo Bye campaign, the initiative encourages parents to actively ease exam pressure by recognizing each child’s unique strengths and learning style and by building confidence over comparison.
The collaboration came to life with a special on-ground activity led by Ananya, along with Nick’s beloved Chikoo and Bunty.
They selected everyday exam worries written on balloons and popped them to reveal easy stress-busting actions.
Shedding further light on the initiative, Ananya revealed that as a kid, she learned that the best way to overcome exam pressure is to take a step back and keep in mind that exams are merely a small part of the bigger journey.
The 'CTRL' actress said, “Exam pressure is something almost every student experiences, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t have to define you. Growing up, I realised that the best way to deal with it is to take a step back, breathe and remind yourself that exams are just one small part of a much bigger journey."
"What I love about the Nick’s Pressure Ko Bolo Bye initiative is that it encourages kids and parents to talk openly about stress and handle it in a healthier, more positive way. Sometimes even small actions, like pausing, sharing how you feel or just letting go of expectations, can make a big difference," she went on to add.Sharing a glimpse of the intiative with the netizens, Ananya wrote on her official Instagram handle, “It’s that time of the year again - books, exams and all the pressure that comes with it But this year, with Nick India and So Positive, we’re saying #PressureKoBoloBye and will show you exactly how to do this - one pop at a time! (sic)” Ananya Panday on tackling exam pressure: They are a small part of a much bigger journey | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Los Angeles, (IANS) Hollywood star Lisa Kudrow, popular for playing the iconic character Phoebe Buffay, was wary of leaving “Mad About You” for the then-unknown sitcom “Friends”, so was keen to "preserve" her role if possible.
She played Phoebe Buffay for 10 years on the beloved comedy series, but when she was first cast in the role, she had a recurring role as a sarcastic and indifferent waitress in an already-established comedy series.
She told Vanity Fair magazine: “I was really proud to be able to have a role on Mad About You.
“Honestly, when I shot the pilot of Friends, I thought, 'Yeah, I mean, this is a good show. But good shows don't get picked up all the time.'
"Thank God for Mad About You, which was my favourite show on TV. I mean, I thought that was such a great show. It was a quality multi-camera show…”
“If there's any hope of me being able to stay on Mad About You, after the (Friends) pilot doesn't get picked up or they pick it up for, you know, 12 more episodes, and then that's it... like after this fails, because there's no telling what's gonna happen, something can be great, and still, it gets cancelled, I'd still have Mad About You.
"I was preserving Mad About You for myself.”
After Lisa was cast in Friends, which debuted in 1994 and also starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and the late Matthew Perry, the channel had a dilemma as to how to explain away the fact the same actress would be appearing in two primetime shows as different characters, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
So the actress was delighted when her Mad About You character, Ursula Buffay, was introduced as Phoebe's twin sister, adding depth to her back story.
She said: “Friends found that they had to justify why this same face and voice is gonna be on at 8:00 p.m. on Mad About You once in a while, and then there she is at 8:30 p.m. on Friends.
They had to cope with that. And incorporate Ursula into Friends. I was thrilled, you know, that I could still be Ursula."
The actress recently said that she has been catching up on old episodes of Friends but it "too embarrassed" to watch it in front of her husband Michael Stern.
Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Neha Dhupia has debunked all rumours about her starring in the reality show “Traitor 2” and cryptically shared that she is busy with a different project titled “Double Date.”
Taking to her Instagram stories section, Neha shared a cryptic yet humorous post that read: “Neither am I a ‘traitor’ nor am I an ‘innocent’. I’m just too busy going on #DOUBLEDATE. Coming soon.”
Over the past few days, Neha along with Angad Bedi has been spotted with celebrity pairs including Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra and; Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani, among others all of whom intriguingly mentioned being on a “double date.”
A source close to the development shared, “Neha’s post is a smart and lighthearted way of addressing the rumours while building intrigue around something she’s been working on.”
The source added: “The ‘double date’ hint is not random there’s been a pattern in her recent appearances with celebrity couples. It’s her style of making an announcement without giving away too much, and it has definitely got people talking.”
On the work front, she was recently seen in the series ‘Single Papa’ on Netflix. The show also stars Manoj Pahwa, Kunal Kemmu, Dayanand Shetty, Prajakta Koli, Neha Dhupia, and Ayesha Raza Mishra.
The series follows Gaurav Gehlot, a lovable man-child whose emotional age can best be described as “work in progress.”
His sudden decision to adopt a baby right after his divorce leaves his family so shocked that they briefly consider rebooting him. What follows is unprecedented kalesh as the Gehlots scramble to understand how a man who still misplaces his socks plans to raise a whole human.
Mumbai, March 27 (IANS) Actress-turned-author Twinkle Khanna, who is married to Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, gave a glimpse into how she makes the most of downtime on shoots, revealing a mix of productivity and practicality.
Twinkle took to Instagram, where she shared a video of herself with a text overlay that read: “The things I do on a shoot while I am waiting.”
The clip then pans to Twinkle doing a workout on the steps, practice Bhramari, sing and remove creases from her clothes.
She captioned the clip: “Things I do while I wait for a shoot to start: use the staircase as my gym, practice aggressive Bhramari, sing, scratch out lines, and use my hairdryer to remove creases from my clothes. What do you do when you are bored?”
Twinkle met Akshay for the first time during a photo session for a magazine. They got married in 2001 and together have a son, Aarav and a daughter, Nitara.
Talking about Akshay, he is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film “Bhooth Bangla”.
The upcoming horror comedy is by Priyadarshan. It brings the iconic trio of Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. The film will also see Tabu, Rajpal Yadav and Mithila Palkar in crucial roles, along with others.
Priyadarshan's directorial has been produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms in collaboration with Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is co-produced by Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali.
It marks Priyadarshan's second Hindi-language horror comedy film following Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), both of which star Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani, and Manoj Joshi.
The story of the movie has been written by Akash A Kaushik and the screenplay by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. The dialogues have been penned by Rohan Shankar.The film is produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor under Balaji Motion Pictures in association with Akshay Kumar’s production company, Cape of Good Films. "Bhooth Bangla" is slated for a theatrical release on April 10. From stepper workout to singing: Twinkle Khanna lists how she spends time between shoots | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Los Angeles, (IANS) Hollywood actress Lily Collins recently celebrated another trip around the sun. The ‘Emily in Paris’ actress shared a glimpse into how she marked her 37th birthday the day before.
The actress posted a carousel of photos on Instagram, and revealed that she celebrated the day with her husband Charlie McDowell, their daughter Tove, 1, and dog Redford, reports ‘People’ magazine.
The day was also filled with cake, a scenic park walk and a trip to the beach. “Another year older and it just keeps getting better. SO grateful for this little life and big love. Thank you for the birthday wishes”, she captioned the pictures.
As per ‘People’, in the first photo, Collins could be seen sitting next to her director husband, 42, at a table with a white frosted birthday cake with lit candles in front of her. Charlie, who is also a screenwriter and producer, appeared to be singing to his wife, who flashed a huge smile.
This was followed by a snap of their dog walk with Redford in a picturesque park. The couple was joined by their daughter Tove, who was sitting in a baby carrier on Collins’ chest. The final two slides showed the young family’s visit to the beach, with Tove, who turned 1 last month, holding her dad’s hand as she walked in the sand. A sweet close-up of Tove then showed the tot playing in the sand while wearing a checkered white and orange dress and a white floral sun hat.“Mama Lily, also her lil bucket hatttt”, the actress’ ‘Emily in Paris’ co-star Ashley Park wrote in the comments section, while Charlie added three red love heart emojis. Reese Witherspoon, whose production company Hello Sunshine is co-developing a Polly Pocket movie starring Collins, also sent birthday wishes, writing, “Happy Birthday Cutie pie”. Lily Collins rings in 37th birthday with husband and daughter | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Los Angeles, (IANS) Pop icon Taylor Swift harbours special love for ‘The Traitors’. The singer and her parents, Scott and Andrea Swift, are avid viewers of the reality competition series.
Her future mother-in-law Donna Kelce, who was the latest season's first-ever Secret Traitor but got banished during episode three, has confirmed, reports ‘Female First UK’.
Speaking on The Traitors' reunion special, Donna said when asked if Taylor watched the show: “Yes, she’s a watcher. So is her family. They love Traitors”.
As per ‘Female First UK’, Donna admitted her sons, Jason Kelce and Taylor's fiance Travis Kelce, were surprised by her "trecherous" behaviour on the reality show, which was won by former Love Island USA contestant and Traitor Rob Rausch.
Asked what her kids thought of her performance on the show, she said: "They thought that I gave it my best shot, but they’re like, you know, you were probably more treacherous than we thought you could be”.
Travis and Jason previously admitted they were "so proud" of their mom due to her "fantastic" performance on The Traitors.
Speaking on their New Heights podcast last month, Jason said, “I thought she did fantastic. “Like, I know she was eliminated, but I think it’s really hard to go into those shows as, like, an outsider that you become, like, an easy target to try and manoeuvre in that show. I loved watching her in it. She was way more deceitful and devious than I thought Mom could ever be, which was surprising”.
Travis added, "She stood her ground at the round table. I was so proud of her, man. She looked like she was having a blast, enjoying it all. It was just so cool to see her in this moment”.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end praised comedian Ron Funches for “sticking by and being kind to” Donna, even if he “probably felt a certain way after he found out she was the secret Traitor”.
Meanwhile, Jason's wife, Kylie Kelce, has admitted she was annoyed that Donna was cast as the Secret Traitor because she felt "Mama Kelce" was at a disadvantage because she couldn't even form alliances with the other Traitors as her identity was hidden.Speaking on the Green Light podcast, she said, "I'm annoyed that she was a secret traitor for some reason. So, for some reason, her being a secret traitor has irked me to a degree I can't explain. "I wanted her to have her best chance to team up with people... If she were a traitor but not the secret traitor, I think she would have nailed it because she's just too sweet”. Taylor Swift love ‘The Traitors’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Mumbai, (IANS) Global icon Priyanka Chopra, on Thursday evening, shared a sweet glimpse of her romance-filled time with husband Nick Jonas as the couple enjoyed some time together away from their busy schedules.
In a video shared by Priyanka on her social media account, the actress was seen chilling and travelling with Nick as he drove their car on a sunny day.
In the video clip, Priyanka appears relaxed and stylish in a white zip-up outfit paired with smart sunglasses and a straw hat.
Nick Jonas is seen driving the vintage-style car wearing a navy-blue T-shirt and aviator sunglasses.
The actress is seen flashing a bright smile and looking at Nick with affection as he focuses on driving the car.
She captioned the video, “Mommy daddy days are my favorite @nickjonas.”
Despite their hectic professional commitments and their responsibilities as parents to daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, the couple seems to have sneaked out a little time for themselves to unwind and spend quality time with one another.
Professionally, Priyanka has been keeping busy with a number of global projects.
Recently, the Barfi actress attended the Academy Awards where she served as a presenter and grabbed attention with her elegant white ensemble on the red carpet.
On the work front, the actress is also gearing up for her much-awaited return to Indian cinema with the upcoming film, Varanasi, directed by S.S. Rajamouli and starring Mahesh Babu.
The big-budget project, which is expected to release in 2027, also reportedly features actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, Mahesh Babu.
Priyanka has been juggling between the US and India, particularly Hyderabad, as she balances her professional commitments alongside family life.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas first met at the 2017 at an after-party of an event and soon struck up a close friendship that blossomed into romance.
The couple, after dating for a few months, got married in December 2018 in a grand ceremony at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Udaipur. Their wedding included both Christian and Hindu traditions, celebrating their respective cultures.
Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Rashmika Mandanna seems to be enjoying the best phase of her life, both personally and professionally. As the Telangana government announced the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 on Saturday, Rashmika was chosen as the 'Best Actress' for her powerful performance in "The Girlfriend".
Showing her gratitude for the latest honor, Rashmika revealed that her character from the movie, Bhooma Devi, happens to be extremely close to her heart.Thanking her director Rahul Ravindran, the production banner, and the entire team of "The Girlfriend", Rashmika wrote on her official X (Earlier known as Twitter) handle, "Feeling truly grateful and happy to receive the Best Actress award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 for #TheGirlfriend. ‘Bhooma Devi’ is so very very close to my heart and I’ll always be grateful to @23_rahulr, @GeethaArts, @DheeMogilineni, #Vidya akka and the whole team of ‘The Girlfriend’..(sic)"
The 'Animal' actress further thanked Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for the latest feather to her cap.
"Thankyou to the Telangana Government. My sincere thanks to @revanth_anumula garu, Deputy CM @Bhatti_Mallu garu, Cinematography Minister @KomatireddyKVR garu, This truly means a lot," the post further read.
Backed by Vidya Koppineedi and Dheeraj Mogilineni under the banner of Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment and Geetha Arts, "The Girlfriend" follows Bhooma Devi, a postgraduate student, who falls in love with one of the students from her college, Vikram (Played by Dheekshith Shetty).
While their relationship is all sweet and promising at first, as time passes, Vikram starts to emotionally control and manipulate Bhooma.
Telangana Film Development Corporation Chairman Dil Raju announced the award winners for 2025 during a press conference.
Mumbai: Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, along with his wife and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of cricketer Arjun Tendulkar in Mumbai, Thursday, March 05, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Mumbai, (IANS) Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan, and her daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan marked a rare appearance together at the wedding ceremony of Arjun Tendulkar, the son of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
On Thursday, the Bachchan family were seen attending the wedding festivities of Arjun and Saaniya Chandhok. Aishwarya was dressed in silver anarkali. The ensemble featured intricate all-over silver embroidery that shimmered under the lights. Her ethnic ensemble featured a floor-length flared cut that exuded royal elegance. Abhishek looked dapper, as he opted for a black sherwani.
The patriarch of the Bachchan family, Amitabh Bachchan was also seen attending the festivities. He paired an eggshell chikankari kurta with a matching bottom and his signature shawl. The Bollywood legend was accompanied by his wife and actress Jaya Bachchan, who looked graceful in a white and golden saree.
The rumours about a possible separation between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have circulated periodically on social media and the media, largely driven by speculation over their limited joint appearances at certain public events. Reports intensified when the two were seen attending some occasions separately, leading to online conjecture about strain in their marriage. It was also reported that Abhishek allegedly fell for actress Nimrat Kaur during the shooting of their streaming film ‘Dasvi’
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Mumbai: Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, along with his wife and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, arrives to attend the wedding ceremony of cricketer Arjun Tendulkar in Mumbai, Thursday, March 05, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
The rumours of Abhishek and Aishwarya’s separation started doing rounds in 2023 when it was reported in the media that Aishwarya has left the Bachchan family’s house, and has been living separately. However, at the time, Aishwarya attended the premier of the streaming movie ‘The Archies’ which marked the debut of Big B’s grandson Agastya Nanda. During the event, last year, Aishwarya was seen in good spirits with the Bachchan family.
However, neither actor has issued any statement confirming such claims. The speculation has repeatedly been countered by their public appearances together. The couple has been seen attending film events, airport sightings, and family functions with their daughter, signalling normalcy in their personal life.
Mumbai: Cricketer Arjun Tendulkar with wife Saaniya Chandok greets media persons during their wedding ceremony in Mumbai, Thursday, March 05, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Their joint presence at several high-profile gatherings and industry events has been widely interpreted as a quiet dismissal of the rumours. Married since 2007, the actors have generally maintained a private stance on personal matters, rarely addressing gossip directly while continuing to appear together at public occasions.
Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Rashmika Mandanna, who has stepped into her happily ever after, turned emotional after reading a heartfelt note written about her affection for actor Vijay Deverakonda, saying that love should be something that liberates a person.
A user on X wrote an article about “romantic optimism in a cynical age” referencing Rashmika and Vijay’s relationship. The user shared a note reflecting on admiration as a quiet but powerful expression of love.
Reacting to the post on social media, Rashmika shared that she had not felt so emotional reading something written about her in a long time.
“I have never become so emotional reading something written about me this much in a long long time.. There is so much I want to say but so little I can say,” Rashmika wrote.
“I am finding my own room and that’s a journey I am so grateful for.. Thankyou for recognising it.. About love all I can say is - Find a love that liberates you,” Rashmika added.
It was on February 26, when Rashmika and Vijay got married. In a social media post, she introduced her 'husband' Vijay Deverakonda.
She wrote, "Hi my loves, Introducing to you now “My Husband”! Mr. Vijay Deverakonda!! The man who taught me what true love feels like, The man who showed me what being in peace feels like! The man who told me everyday that dreaming big was absolutely ok and constantly telling me I was capable of achieving something much more than what I could possibly think I ever could!”
“The man who’s never stopped me from dancing like no one’s watching..the man who showed me travelling with friends is the best thing ever, and trust me I could write a book on this man! (sic)"
Rashmika revealed that Vijay has a significant role in shaping the woman she has become today.
"I’ve become the woman I have always dreamt of being, because you made her who she is today! I’ve truly been blessed! Vijju I am always short of words to describe the feelings I have for you!! I’ve always told you that!!”
“But you know suddenly all of my achievements, struggles, happiness, sadness, joy, life - everything just makes a lot more sense now - it is because I have you - witnessing it all.. being the biggest part of it all!", she went on to add.
Expressing her excitement about starting the new journey of her life with the love of her life, she shared, “I am so so so so soooo excited to becoming your wife! to be your wife! To be called your wife!! it’s full party time now!!”“Let’s have the bestestest life ever together! I love you! ” Rashmika Mandanna: Find a love that liberates you | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Los Angeles, March 13 (IANS) Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston has shared that she always brings her A-game to the table when it comes to self-care.
The Morning Show actress is 57 now but has always taken the time to look after her skin and ensure she is eating well, and now her focus is on how she can be at her healthiest in her "later years", reports ‘Female First UK’.
She told E! News, “I’ve always been really good about self-care. I’ve always been really good about taking good care of my skin. That was one of my many gifts my moms gave me,. Taking care of my skin, washing my face, putting my creams on. It's sort of consistent. I just take good care of my skin and my diet, all of it”.
“I look at aging now as, 'How can I maintain my health inside, outside, mental health to the best of my ability', so that I can grow into my later years as gracefully as possible”, she added.
As per ‘Female First UK’, Jennifer starts her day with a workout followed by a meditation session and she thinks the latter has been particularly important for her wellbeing.
She said, “Boy, when you do meditate consistently, there's such a difference. And it's not like something you can put your finger on and go, ‘It’s because of this’. I don't know what it is that takes place, but something does”.“It feels like it's not so much a workout for physical sculpting, even though that is the end result. It just feels like for daily life. Functioning through the world. Especially as we get older and things we forget about, all the little areas, the little muscles that keep hiding over the years that think they'll never be found”, she added. Jennifer Aniston ensures she always has time for self-care | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Film critics – myself included – love to bemoan the death of high-quality cinema in the age of streaming, pointing to mediocre Best Picture Oscar nominees as evidence that the production of great (or even good) films is on the wane.
But perhaps things are changing. Are people sick of being inundated with short videos on TikTok and Youtube, and once again hankering for a cinematic experience? The quality of this year’s nominees suggests they are.
For the first time in a while, most of the nominated films are excellent – and nearly all of them are watchable.
My top pick: Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is my pick for the Best Picture Oscar. It’s the kind of meticulously crafted film in which the naturalism seems effortless.
The narrative follows acclaimed filmmaker Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård), a quintessential Euro-auteur, who comes back into the lives of his estranged daughters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) following their mother’s death.
Gustav is making a new film, and wants his daughter Nora – an acclaimed theatre actress who has her own demons to battle (stage fright among them) – to star in it.
Nora assumes it’s a cynical manoeuvre for funding on her father’s part and refuses. So Gustav casts American star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) instead, who is immediately out of her depth.
The drama unfolds around the family home in Oslo, interweaving narratives of the home’s history across generations with the tensions plaguing its current inhabitants.
Sentimental Value has a strikingly lyrical quality. Some may say it’s overdone, but every element is so perfectly executed that it doesn’t come across as pretentious or laboured. It is, in many respects, thoroughly sentimental – yet never feels like it’s performing this as some kind of effect.
Despite its considerable formal and narrative complexity, it plays in a starkly simple fashion, thanks to the light touch of Trier, coupled with stunning cinematography by Kasper Tuxen Andersen.
The lead performances by Reinsve, Lilleaas and Skarsgård are extraordinarily convincing and, perhaps more surprisingly, Fanning is awesome as the uncomfortable American trying to please the European artiste.
Sentimental Value brilliantly weaves a sense of European social and cultural history with carefully observed character moments, becoming, by the end, a kind of treatise on the affirmative potential of art to transcend and transform interpersonal barriers.
Despite the difficulties of life, the detritus of broken promises and hearts, and the disappointments minor and not so minor, we can still come together – beautifully and wholeheartedly – through the practice of that abstract dream that is called art.
Other excellent contenders
There are a few other strong contenders – films which, any other year, would have stood out above the pack.
Bugonia
Yorgos Lanthimos is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the past decade, and yet his films have been hit and miss. After his last great film, the 2015 black comedy The Lobster, Bugonia marks a return to form.
The film follows bumbling paranoiac conspiracy nut Teddy (Jesse Plemons) as he and his half-witted cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) kidnap Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the CEO of pharmaceutical company Auxolith.
Fuller is the kind of ruthless business leader who appears on the cover of Forbes magazine with the caption “Breaking Barriers” and who spouts endless nonsense about diversity while her company wreaks havoc on the planet and the people around them.
According to Teddy, she is also an “Andromedon” alien sent to Earth to enslave and exploit the human population, bringing death to humans as it has been brought to the bees.
The brilliance of the film largely revolves around its manipulation of our identification with the two leads. At times Teddy seems like a lunatic serial killer, and Fuller a heroic victim. At times we empathise with Teddy, while Fuller looks like a manipulative, cold-hearted sociopath.
The whole thing builds up to an immensely satisfying resolution, suitably nihilistic and absurd in equal measure.
As is often the case with Lanthimos’ films, the figures are caricaturish, but the comedic timing – and the oscillation between humour and discomfort for the viewer – is spot on, so it works.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is a great yarn: a well-executed rock ‘n’ roll fable slash vampire siege, full of electrifying music.
It’s 1932. Twin gangster brothers Smoke and Stack (a dual role played by Michael B. Jordan) return from working for Al Capone in Chicago to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to open up a juke joint.
Their cousin Sammie (Miles Caton), a cotton picker and bluesman – with Charley Patton’s guitar – steals the show at the hugely successful opening night, fulfilling the legend of a musician who can play so well the barriers between the living and the dead come down. Everything seems to be going well – until some redneck vampires decide to assail the venue.
The whole thing is rather gaudy and silly. But like its forebear From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) – it’s so energetically (and pleasurably) handled that it doesn’t matter.
Michael B. Jordan is brilliant in the two roles, and the end result is a muscular, satisfying film that feels like a good pulp novel or comic book – capped off with a Buddy Guy jam session in the final moments.
Sinners is a delicious dream. It’s unlikely to win Best Picture; there was a time, not so long ago, when this kind of genre film wouldn’t have made it into the mix. But it’s well worth its more than two-hour runtime.
Marty Supreme
It would be hard to think of a stupider premise for a movie. In the 1950s, fast-talking entrepreneurial New York hustler Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) has to raise money so he can make it to Japan to beat world number one Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi) in the table tennis showdown of the century.
Yet, director/co-writer Josh Safdie treats the premise with enough seriousness that we end up with a high octane sports film to rival Rocky IV. This is helped by the stunning cinematography by Darius Khondji. Shot on 35mm film, the images have a rich colour and texture rarely matched in digital cinematography.
There’s also a dynamite score from Daniel Lopatin, and an anachronistic soundtrack featuring several stellar 1980s pop tunes from the likes of Public Image Limited, New Order and Tears for Fears, to name a few.
Despite Marty’s arrogance, sweet-talking, womanising, con-artistry and generally bad behaviour, Chalamet invests the character with enough pathos and humour that he comes across as a thoroughly loveable – or at least likeable – rogue.
He is a crackpot whose self-belief and willingness to do anything to achieve his dream tricks the viewer into becoming equally invested in his absurd quest as he (and the film) bounce around New York and the world like a bright ping pong ball.
Marty Supreme is an odd – and oddly arresting – film capturing something of the madness at the heart of the American dream. Mauser does whatever he can to make it to Japan. And after several escapades – and some downright brutal scenes featuring cult director Abel Ferrara as an ageing gangster – he does make it.
The rest
Unusually for the Oscars, the pack of 2026 nominees is rounded out by several other good films.
Although not as good as some of his other films, such as Neighbouring Sounds (2012) and Bacurau (2019), Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent is a rollicking political thriller. Set in the 1970s, it features a standout performance by Wagner Moura as a dissident academic evading persecution from a brutal dictatorship.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is a wacky comedy occasionally masquerading as a serious political action thriller. It follows the burnt out leftist Pat Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) as, with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti), he evades capture by police and a militia led by the moronic Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn). The whole thing is pretty silly, but like its inspiration – Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland – it is fun nonetheless.
F1 is likewise good. This finely wrought racing flick follows all of the delightfully dumb cliches of the genre. Hard-boiled and burnt-out old timer Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) makes it to Formula One for the first time, and contends with a new era of racing epitomised by his nemesis, the brash young gun Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris).
It’s hard to imagine such a film being nominated for Best Picture in any other era; Tony Scott’s Days of Thunder (1990) is equally stupid, but better made, and has been universally lampooned by critics. But people seem to be craving (and appreciating) big screen popcorn films in an era where streaming and second-screen viewing has all but destroyed commercial narrative cinema.
Only three nominees stick out as dreary
Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams is an earnest but visually unappealing Netflix film, following a ho-hum period love story about class, racism and the American Dream. Joel Edgerton is solid as usual, and the film is watchable enough, but the whole thing seems rather tired. And the digital video look really doesn’t work with the kinds of exterior, panoramic images that dominate the film.
In Frankenstein, director Guillermo del Toro takes one of the duller, more proselytising novels in the Gothic canon and gives it a suitably ponderous treatment. Oscar Isaac hams it up in full actor mode as Dr Frankenstein. Jacob Elordi is ridiculous as the monster. And Christoph Waltz as Harlander delivers such humdingers as “Can you contain your fire, Prometheus, or are you going to burn your hands before delivering it?” (in case you didn’t know, the novel’s subtitle is The Modern Prometheus).
Made for Netflix, Frankenstein tries hard to look sumptuous with period décor, but it can’t mask the sterility of its digital images. While the novel, at least, has a simple elegance to it, del Toro’s version is meandering, gaudy and cheap-looking.
It is difficult to treat Hamnet – the unbearably pretentious latest film from director Chloe Zhao – seriously, because the filmmakers do it for you. Though there are some things to like – Paul Mescal, for instance, is nice to watch, the cast are generally proficient, and the score is fine – this self-satisfied nonsense plays more like an Instagram video performing its own seriousness than a genuinely engaging feature film.
7 hits out of 10
As usual, the best films of 2025 haven’t been nominated for Best Picture (where’s Sirât, Redux Redux, or Harvest?). Nonetheless, most of this year’s nominees are films that warrant watching more than once for a variety of reasons: pleasure, complexity, nuance.
Perhaps Hollywood is starting to make good films again after decades of superhero trash. Or, at least, the Academy has started to recognise them.
Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Sukanya Boruah has made her international debut at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) with her first film, “Not a Hero”.
The project recently premiered at the prestigious film festival on 14 February 2026, where it got a Special Mention in 'Crystal Bear for the Best Film in Generation Kplus', by Generation – Youth Jury.
Elated about adding another feather to her cap, Sukanya shared, "To have our film premiere in Berlin, especially at Berlinale, was overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I was so glad that I later realized this was my debut film. Sitting there with the team, watching months of hard work unfold on screen in front of an international audience, was emotional, humbling, and powerful all at once. It felt unreal."
She went on to add that there is something magical about hearing the first reactions in a theatre like that.
"It makes every struggle worth it," said Sukanya.
Made under the direction of Rima Das, “Not a Hero” explores the lives of young people trying to find their place in the world.
Aside from directing it, Rima Das has also written, edited, and produced this Indian-Singaporean coming-of-age drama.
With Sukanya Boruah playing Pahi in the film, the project further has Mrinmoy Das as Rio and Bhuman Bhargav Das as Mivan, along with the other cast.
The camera work for “Not a Hero” has been looked after by Rima Das and Aditya Varma, whereas Pallab Talukdar has provided the tunes.
