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) 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!!”
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.
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) 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
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.
Mumbai, (IANS) As actress Karishma Tanna was honored for her performance in Hansal Mehta's "Scoop" at the Busan International Film Festival, she decided to reflect on her acting journey, which commenced from the small screen, and overcoming several doubts, moved on to reality shows, movies, and web series.
She added that for her, 'Scoop' was a reminder that if one does not give up on their dreams, their moment arrives sooner or later.
Karishma's emotional note on social media went like this, "From television sets…To reality shows…To being boxed.To being doubted. To standing at the Busan International Film Festival for Scoop. There’s something beautiful about not giving up on yourself. About choosing growth over comfort. About waiting for the role that changes your narrative. SCOOP wasn’t just a project. It was a shift. A reminder that if you stay long enough, work hard enough, evolve honestly enough… your moment will come. And when it does — it feels like home. Thank you for watching, supporting, believing! (sic)."
Karishma took a moment to look back at the girl who patiently waited for her turn and never stopped believing in herself.
She pointed out that some journey's take time as they are building towards something concrete.
The 'Sanju' actress added, "Standing at the Busan International Film Festival, holding this moment in my heart, I remembered the girl who started early… who wanted independence, who waited, who heard “TV ACTOR” more than once… and still didn’t stop believing. This one wasn’t overnight. This one was years in the making. Grateful. Humbled. Proud. Some journeys are slow… because they’re building something permanent. I always believe-This is just the beginning...If you haven’t watched my show please watch it on @netflix_in."
Mumbai, (IANS) Entrepreneur Mira Kapoor penned a heartfelt birthday wish for ‘the love of her life’, actor Shahid Kapoor, on February 25, and shared pictures where she was seen subtly kissing him.
Taking to her social media account, Mira shared a series of romantic pictures and wrote, “Simply the best.. Happy Birthday love of my life.”
The pictures shared by Mira capture the couple in a moment of subtle PDA as they are seen enjoying a serene sunset at a beachside.
In one picture, Shahid, dressed in a black T-shirt and sunglasses, is seen wrapping his arms around Mira as they look at the sea. Another picture shows the two laughing candidly, with Mira leaning back into Shahid’s arms.
In an intimate frame, Mira is seen planting a gentle kiss on Shahid’s forehead while he smiles at the camera. The final picture features the actor lifting Mira playfully as she hugs him tightly.
Talking about Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput, the two tied the knot on July 7, 2015, in an intimate ceremony in Delhi. Their marriage was an arranged alliance facilitated through family and spiritual guidance.
The couple has now been married for over a decade and are parents to two children, daughter Misha, born in 2016, and son Zain, born in 2018.
On the professional front, Mira has carved her own path by stepping into entrepreneurship and is actively building her presence in the wellness and lifestyle space.
Mumbai, (IANS) After proving her mettle in Bollywood, actress Alia Bhatt is also constantly making a mark for herself on the international platform.
Adding another feather to her cap, Alia has joined the list of the BAFTA presenters for 2026 alongside some prominent personalities such as Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, and Sadie Sink.
The British Academy recently released its star-studded list of presenters for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, slated to take place on February 22.
The list includes some heavyweights like Aimee Lou Wood, Bryan Cranston, David Jonsson, Delroy Lindo, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Olivia Cooke, and Patrick Dempsey.
Many celebs who have been nominated for the award will be playing a dual role as presenters. They are- Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Hudson, Miles Caton, Emily Watson, and Stellan Skarsgard.
Refreshing your memory, before Alia, Priyanka Chopra Jonas was a presenter at BAFTA back in 2021. Additionally, Deepika Padukone also got the opportunity to present the prestigious award in 2024.
Before BAFTA, Alia made quite a splash with her praiseworthy looks at Cannes and the MET Gala.
Talking about Alia's movie commitments, she is presently working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s "Love And War", where she will be seen sharing the screen space with her husband Ranbir Kapoor and 'Raazi' co-star Vicky Kaushal.
During a recent Instagram live, Ranbir shared that the project, which was expected to be out this year, might be delayed.
Los Angeles, (IANS) Actress-singer Hilary Duff, who is preparing to release her long-awaited new album, Luck... or Something, reveals what prompted her to return to making music after a decade-long hiatus.
Duff told Glamour magazine: "I just felt really ready to share. One, I wanted to stretch creatively, and two, I wanted to make something that I could connect with people again on the level of who I am now. I felt like people have definitely gone through some of the similar large strokes that I have in the past 10 to 15 years."
She first found fame playing the lead character in Lizzie McGuire, the hit Disney Channel comedy series. However, the actress shared that, contrary to public perception, she was a "totally normal teenager,” reports femalefirst.co.uk.
She said: "I’ll say that I didn’t ever feel ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ and it was funny that I was flagged as the good girl because of what people saw me doing on TV or that I wasn’t overtly sexual. I was a totally normal teenager doing normal teenager things."
Meanwhile, Duff shared at making a musical comeback in August 2025.
Alongside some throwback photos from her press tour for Metamorphosis, her 2003 album, She wrote on Instagram: "Clearly I had to go digging around the internet for pictures from this time as I’m not sure camera phones even existed. Sadly all my hairstyles ARE very documented."
"I do know this marker of time was a huge change in my being. I was embarking on something I had no idea would make such an impact on peoples lives, and mine. As much as I look back and think this album doesn’t hold the emotional depth I look for today, I know my 14/15 year old self meant every word. It sure as hell also landed on people at the right moment in time and set me off on a pretty epic adventure."“I remember some of my first shows being in a skate park in San Jose, and very shortly after, stepping out on stage in arenas. Yesterday marked the 22nd anniversary of Metamorphosis… Although these are distant memories for me, thank you for showing up the way that you did. To be continued… (sic).” Hilary Duff: Wanted to make something that I could connect with people again | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Gene Hackman, an acting titan of 1970s and ‘80s Hollywood with more than 80 screen credits to his name, has died at 95. He was found dead in his home with his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, and his dog.
Hackman had a rugged, dominating and commanding presence on screen, known for his emotionally honest, raw and fierce performances. Always the tough guy, never the romantic lead, off camera he was shy and enjoyed the quiet life.
I first saw Hackman as a child in The Poseidon Adventure (1972). My dad put the film on for the upside-down ocean liner disaster sequences, but it was Hackman who left a lasting impression. I vividly remember being so moved by his final speech berating God for deserting the ship’s passengers and crew while he hangs from a pressure valve door over flames.
There is no actor who comes close to conveying authority with such humanity and reserve.
He was often referred to as the actor’s actor and mentioned by Hollywood A-listers such as Kevin Costner as the best actor they’ve ever worked with. Clint Eastwood, once Hackman retired, described him as “too good not to be performing”.
Hackman will leave a legacy to be studied and appreciated for years to come.
Finding a foot in show business
Born in San Bernardino, California, on January 30 1930, Hackman’s family moved to Danville, Illinois, when he was three. Hackman’s father left when he was 13, which he described to James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio as his father “driving by with a casual wave goodbye”.
Hackman joked to Lipton the departure of his father at an early age made him a better actor.
Hackman left Danville at the age of 16 to join the marines, where he spent roughly four years. He was a rebellious child, but as Peter Shelley detailed in his biography of Hackman, the marine corps was the first time he gave in to authority.
After the marine corps, Hackman moved to New York wanting to become an actor, telling people he was inspired by tough guy James “Jimmy” Cagney.
In New York, Hackman struggled making a living as an artist while waiting for his breakthrough (his uncle told him to give up and get an honest job). Moving to California, he became friends early on with Dustin Hoffman (they finally appeared opposite each other in Hackman’s penultimate film, 2003’s Runaway Jury).
After struggling for years, Hackman landed his first credited screen role in 1964’s Lilith at the age of 34. He played a small part opposite upcoming star Warren Beatty.
As Hackman recounted to Lipton, Beatty told director Arthur Penn how great Hackman was in a scene they did together. That landed Hackman his breakthrough role playing Buck Barrow opposite Beatty and Faye Dunaway in the 1967 hit Bonnie and Clyde, earning him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
Breaking through in the 1970s
It wasn’t until the 1970s that Hackman began his leading role career, starring in The French Connection (1971) as the unforgettable hard-boiled New York detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle. This role earned him his first Academy Award, for best actor.
He was to wait more than 20 years for his second and final Academy Award, for playing the ruthless Little Bill Daggett opposite Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven (1992).
Throughout the 1970s, Hackman was gaining huge popularity on screen, sharing records with the likes of Robert Redford and Harrison Ford as the highest grossing stars at the box office.
There are too many great Hackman performances to mention, but my favourites are Unforgiven, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, The Conversation (1974), Hoosiers (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
The French Connection’s director, William Friedkin, said in an interview Hackman was anti-authority and anti-racism because of his upbringing in an area known for its large Ku Klux Klan presence, and his absent father.
Hackman almost pulled out of The French Connection one week into shooting because he didn’t like “beating on people” for a four-month shoot. He told Friedkin “I don’t think I can do this,” but Friedkin refused to let him go.
Hackman recalled he was eternally grateful Friedkin didn’t, as it was “the start of [his] career”.
Hackman said his character Popeye Doyle was a “bigot, an antisemitic, and whatever else you wanted to call him”, and he famously struggled to say the N-word in one key scene. He initially protested the line but eventually went with it, believing “that’s who the guy is […] you couldn’t really whitewash him”.
Hackman often played the character who had the greatest authority on the surface but slipped up, whether he was playing the hero or the villain. Even for a role such as Reverend Scott in The Poseidon Adventure, in which Hackman played a self-righteous preacher onboard the capsized SS Poseidon, he questions his religion as he leads the entire band of escapees to safety.
A life after acting
Hackman retired from acting in 2004 at age 74.
There are many stories about why he retired, like, as Shelley writes, not wanting to play Hollywood “grandfathers” and his “heart wasn’t in shape”, but his life after acting gives a strong hint: he had other interests.
Over the past 20 years, Hackman wrote three historical fiction novels, was a keen painter, and enjoyed exercise such as cycling. Married to classical pianist Arakawa from 1991 until their death, they lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he designed his own home (yes, he also loved architecture!).
A man of many talents who played a kaleidoscopic range of authoritative roles, Hackman will almost certainly be remembered mainly for his tough-guy performance in The French Connection – though many will also remember him as the Hollywood actor’s actor.
Mumbai, (IANS) Global star Priyanka Chopra decided to take back a piece of Hyderabad with her as she was headed back to L.A, after completing the latest schedule of her forthcoming drama, "Varanasi".
She took to the Stories section of her official Instagram handle and shared a picture of the famous bun maska from Hyderabad, which PeeCee was carrying with her on the flight.
"Taking a piece of Hyderabad with me..see you soon..xx (sic)," she added the text.
Prior to this, Priyanka informed through another social media post that it was her last working day in Hyderabad for the month for the S.S Rajamouli's directorial.
She added that she will soon be going back to Los Angeles to promote her English action thriller "The Bluff".
PeeCee assured that she will be joining the ‘Varanasi’ sets shortly, following the promotions.
Priyanka has been roped in as the leading lady, Mandakini, in the much-awaited drama, which will mark her return to the Indian cinema after a long time. The first-look posters from "Varanasi" featured her holding a pistol while wearing a yellow saree.
Apart from PeeCee, the project will also see Mahesh Babu playing Rudhra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu could not help but praise his co-star after witnessing the power-packed trailer of "The Bluff".
The Tollywood heartthrob called PeeCee's performance in her next 'uncompromising and formidable'.
Re-sharing the trailer on his Instagram Stories, Mahesh Babu penned, "Loved the trailer… @PriyankaChopra is uncompromising and formidable yet again (collision emojis) Wishing the entire team of #TheBluff the very best for Feb 25th…(sic)," followed by hug emojis.
Shifting our focus to "The Bluff", the project will have Priyanka in an action-packed avatar as Ercell Bodden, a fierce pirate.
Aura V and her father Fyutch winning 2026 Grammy for Best Children’s Music Album – Broadcast screenshot via Recording Academy / GRAMMYs / YouTube
An 8-year-old Maryland girl and her dad have made history with an album that’s the musical equivalent of sunshine.
Aura V. and her father, whose recording name is Fyütch, won a Grammy this month for Best Children’s Music Album for their LP Harmony.
The triumph makes Aura the youngest Grammy winner in the organization’s history, eclipsing Blue Ivy, who won an award at 9.
“It is an honor to be here today,” Aura said in her acceptance speech on national television. “I was not expecting us to go this far.”
Indeed, Aura and Fyütch’s musical journey has traversed a number of generations. Aura’s great-grandfather played trumpet in the Army band. Her grandfather played saxophone and even contributed his talents to the album.
Fyütch joined a band as a teenager, and after college worked as an arts teacher. But one day, he got frustrated with the lack of educational music for his students. That problem became an inspiration for his own musical career—and the duo’s videos eventually went viral.
“I just started making stuff and putting it up on YouTube and showing it in my classes,” Fyütch told the Washington Post. “I didn’t realize there was such a need. Teachers were searching for content like that.”
Soon afterward, Fyütch became a father and started working as a musician. Aura began attending his shows and became bold enough to appear on stage. They first collaborated on a song when Aura was 4 years old—a track titled “I Am a Cool.”
Then, the duo worked together on the Harmony LP—with song titles like I Am Love, I Am Light and My Daddy—and they won the Grammy Award.
“In 2017, she burst on the scene,” Fyütch raps on My Daddy. “When I held you in my arms, my firstborn, my whole world. I don’t care how old you get, you still daddy’s girl…”
The rest of the songs follow a similar pattern, equal parts uplifting and empowering. The whole album is a perfect blend of dad and daughter, with a hopeful, harmonious message that seems ideally suited for these turbulent times.
“Now more than ever, we need positive vibes in our music, in our culture, in our media,” Fyütch told WMAR. “I see the purpose in it, and the beautiful part is that we get to do it together.”
Similar sentiments of peace and love can be found all throughout the Harmony album, especially on the title track. After a couple choruses featuring dad and daughter, Aura V. takes over.
The lyrics are an inspiring vision for the future—and she can now sing them with the confidence that comes with being the youngest Grammy winner ever.
Los Angeles, (IANS) Debutant Jaafar Jackson said that playing his late uncle and King of Pop Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic Michael is his "calling". He went on to share that he had never even thought about an acting career until the project came along.
In a new behind-the-scenes video for the movie, the 29-year-old, who is the son of Michael's older brother Jermaine Jackson, said: "I never dreamed to be an actor or even thought of playing him. But I knew it was a calling.
"Embodying Michael, I really had to earn the role and prove to the filmmakers that I was capable of becoming Michael. Essentially, it was starting at the roots and finding the authenticity."
Jaafar praised the "love for Michael,” who died in 2009 aged 50, that surrounded the project, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
He said: "I felt that love for Michael every day on set from the crew and the cast. Everybody had that love and wanted to put their heart and soul into it."
Producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua couldn't be happier with their lead actor's performance.
Graham said in the clip: "Going through this process of who can play Michael, how do you even start with that? And then, of course, I meet Jaafar Jackson."
Antoine added: "Day one, all I could think of was, 'Can Jaafar really pull this off?' Man, when the music started and he hit those first few moves, I mean, this guy killed it. I looked at Graham and Graham looked at me, I was like, 'Who is this guy?!' He has the desire — like Michael — to be the best."
Michael follows Michael Jackson’s journey from The Jackson 5 to record-breaking solo stardom, driven by perfectionism, family pressure and artistic genius. The biopic traces the making of music history while examining the personal battles behind the legend.
The upcoming film also stars Miles Teller as Jackson’s longtime attorney and advisor John Branca, Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate as the founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy.
Meanwhile, Laura Harrier plays Suzanne de Passe, a pioneering female music executive, alongside Kat Graham’s Diana Ross and Kendrick Sampson’s Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson’s three most successful albums: Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.Michael was initially due to release on October 3, 2025, but was pushed back to April 2026. Jaafar Jackson on playing Michael Jackson in biopic: It was a calling | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor’s wife Mira Kapoor has penned an emotional note for her husband, whom she lovingly tagged as “destiny’s child” and cheering him on as his film “O’ Romeo” hits the theatres.
Taking to Instagram, Mira shared a string of monochrome pictures with Shahid and wrote a heartfelt message addressed to her “Romeo,” praising Shahid for his relentless spirit and immense talent.
Mira wrote: “My ROMEO When he asks “main hoon ki hoon nahi?”, remember, Tum Ho. Aur ho vahi. The one who is relentless, talented beyond belief, eyes that express a thousand words, and a heart that always mends.”
“Because what holds you is the light. Destiny’s child. It’s time to shine. Spectacular is an understatement. I am so proud of you. O’ROMEO in Theatres!” Mira concluded.
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, "O’Romeo" is based on Hussain Zaidi’s novel "Mafia Queens of Mumbai".
Set against the backdrop of Mumbai's underworld, the project follows the story of Hussain Ustara, a raw, and emotionally conflicted gangster. “O’Romeo” is a love story based in the 1990s that is also full of action and gangsters. The film is set in the post-independence underworld of Mumbai.
With Triptii Dimri, Randeep Hooda, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, Farida Jalal, and Tamannaah Bhatia in pivotal roles, the project is expected to reach the cinema halls on February 13.
The film marks the 4th collaboration between Shahid Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj after ‘Kaminey’, ‘Haider’, and ‘Rangoon’.
Shahid married Mira in 2015, in a private ceremony held in Gurgaon. The wedding was an intimate affair attended by family and close friends. They have two children, a daughter named Misha, whom they welcomed in 2016 and a son named Zain, who was born in 2018.The actor will next be seen in Cocktail 2 with Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna. Mira Kapoor calls Shahid Kapoor ‘destiny’s child’: It’s time to shine | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com\
Cher walks off stage before presenting award at Grammys
Cher tried to walk off stage and struggled to read out a winner’s name in a hilarious series of gaffes at the 2026 Grammy Awards, The Sun reported.
The 79-year-old legendary entertainer brought the ceremony to a chaotic end as she accepted the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cher had everyone out of the seats when she took to the stage looking gorgeous in a shredded leather gown and a leather jacket.
She gave a short speech about her decades-long career, explaining that after rocketing to fame as a teen she had no clue she would one day struggle to get work.
After opening up about her unpredictable life, she got frank and said, “The point is, I’ve been in this business for 60 f*****g years.”
Despite the highs and lows, the star encouraged viewers to never stop chasing their dreams, and insisted that the next life-changing opportunity would always be around the corner.
After getting a standing ovation, Cher then slowly turned around and started to walk back to the stage, giving a funny smile at the back.
Host Trevor Noah then suddenly piped up from across the room, and informed the superstar that she was supposed to present the record of the year award.
“Before you go, could we get you to announce the nominees?” the host said as the crowd busted out in laughter.
Cher then put her hands over her mouth and broke out into a smile before walking back to the mic.
But the gaffes weren’t over just yet. After a video played highlighting the nominations, Cher started to read out the winner before going completely silent.
She then muttered that she was told the winner would be on the teleprompter before fumbling with her envelope as the audience laughed.
After opening the note, she then started to read “Luther Vandross” – indicating the winner was Luther, which is by Kendrick Lamar and features SZA.
The song, from his 2024 album GNX, heavily samples Vandross’ 1982 rendition of If This World Were Mine.Despite the silly blunders, the show continued without a hitch – and Cher appeared to hold a friendly conversation with the winners as they shared some words with the audience. Source: https://www.panorama.am/
Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Rakul Preet Singh is presently busy with her much-talked-about sequel "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do".
She used social media to drop an exciting glimpse of her rehearsal for an upcoming track from the drama, which will also see Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, and Wamiqa Gabbi in significant roles.
Rakul's latest Insta Story features her getting ready to practise her moves with her choreographer, while a peppy number plays as the background score.
However, Rakul did not reveal the song she was practising for which will be a part of "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do".
Her video included the text overlay, "And then we rehearse for a super fun song", followed by a red heart emoji.
Directed by Mudassar Aziz, "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do" is expected to reach the cinema lovers on May 15.
Initially, the project was locked for a Holi release on March 4, however, the makers later decided to push the release reportedly due to the remaining post-production work.
For the unaware, before this, Mudassar Aziz had also directed the 2019 drama “Pati Patni Aur Woh". A retelling of the 1978 film of the same name, the project had Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ananya Panday as the primary cast.
The movie revolves around a married couple, Chintu and Vedika. Things take an unexpected turn when Chintu finds himself attracted to Tapasya, a young fashion designer.
The 1978 “Pati Patni Aur Woh” was helmed by B. R. Chopra and featured Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha, and Ranjeeta Kaur, with cameos by Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Tina Munim, and Parveen Babi.In October last year, the makers unveiled the first look poster of "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do". The still showed Ayushmann Khurrana as Prajapati Pandey. If the poster is any hint, the movie will tell a tale full of romance, chaos, and inevitable marital misunderstandings. Rakul Preet Singh gives a glimpse of her rehearsal for 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do' song | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar shared that 'Life should be about bringing a smile to others' as she expressed gratitude for all the love received by her on her birthday.
Sharing a dazzling black and white picture of herself on her official IG, Urmila wrote, "My heart filled with Great Gratitude and my universe full of unconditional love that I receive from all of you and spread it right back amongst all you lovely people!! (sic)."
Blessed with zillions of precious moments that make up a fulfilling life, she went on to add, "Life should always be about zillions of tiny moments when you can manage to bring a tiny smile on as many faces as possible. By the grace of God I’ve been blessed with many such memories. And I pray to the Almighty for many more opportunities when I can make a difference to others in any n every way possible...Thank you for all the Love, Support, Goodness and Adulation."
Several members from the film fraternity penned lovely wishes for the 'Satya' actress on her birthday.
Ace designer Manish Malhotra penned on the photo-sharing app, "From Rangeela to now gorgeous @urmilamatondkarofficial birthday girl...it's been more than 30 years of iconic films together to you being my first showstopper to many other firsts together and always stunning in @manishmalhotraworld (sic)."
Jackie Shroff also went on to wish Urmila on social media. He shared a video montage of her along with the song "Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena" from their 1995 blockbuster "Rangeela" in the backdrop, along with the caption, "Happiness Always.”After making her debut as a child artist in the 1977 film "Karm", Urmila went on to become a part of several noteworthy dramas such as "Judaai" (1997), "Satya" (1998), "Dillagi" (1999), "Khoobsurat" (1999), "Jungle" (2000), "Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya" (2001), "Ek Hasina Thi" (2004), "Pinjar" (2003), "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara" (2005), and "Bas Ek Pal" (2006), to name just a few. Urmila Matondkar says 'Life should be about bringing smile to others' | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com:
