Madonna hopes fans put their phones down and connect with concerts

(Photo: Madonna/Instagram)

Los Angeles, (IANS) Singer-songwriter Madonna recently took over New York City to celebrate Confessions II, the sequel of her album ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’, which was released 2 decades ago.

During the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of the visualizer for her Confessions II album, debuting July 3, the 7-time Grammy winner explained that the short is “really about connection”, which she hopes to convey in her music, reports ‘Deadline’.

She said, “I don’t want to make mindless music. I want to make music that’s about something. Dance music makes you move your body, and you feel the pulse. It’s, like, you’re connecting to the universe, you’re connecting to other humans”.

She further mentioned, “The movie’s really about connection. I emerge from my solitude of this apartment and go right into a forest with people with lasers coming out of their asses. You just really go through life, take risks, be curious, be observant. And put your fucking phones down and connect”.

As per ‘Deadline, following her appearance at Coachella set in April, the Queen of Pop noted that “everybody had their phones up (and) I didn’t know what anyone looked like”, which is part of the reason she had fans lock their devices in recent screening.

Directed by David Toro and Solomon Chase (aka TORSO), Confessions II is a 13-minute short featuring the first six tracks of Madonna’s upcoming 15th studio album, debuting Monday on YouTube.It features cameos from Benedict Cumberbatch, Debi Mazar, Kate Moss, Julia Garner, Odessa A’zion, Richard E. Grant, Honey Dijon, Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon and more. The Tribeca appearance came after Madonna performed songs from the album in a surprise concert. Madonna hopes fans put their phones down and connect with concerts | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Kiara Advani wishes 'Toxic' maker Geetu Mohandas: A genius mind powered by infectious passion

Mumbai: Actor Kiara Advani attends a screening of the film 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' in Mumbai on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo: IANS)

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actress Kiara Advani wished the director of her upcoming period gangster drama. "Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups" on social media.

The 'Shershaah' actress took to the Stories section of her official Instagram handle and called the filmmaker a "genius mind constantly powered by passion and fearless vision".

"Happy Birthday to the captain of our ship...A genius mind powered by infectious passion and a fearless vision...Here’s to your best year yet...Love and more love to you always... @geetu_mohandas (sic)," read her post.

Commemorating the occasion, the makers also released a Behind The Scenes (BTS) video from the shoot of the highly anticipated drama on Monday.

The clip had Geetu calling the shots on the set, along with orchestrating large-scale action sequences, and guiding performances.

"Behind every shot that hit different, every silence that said more than dialogues ever could, there she was! Happy birthday @geetu_mohandas," the post further included the wish.

In December last year, the makers unveiled Kiara's sizzling first look as Nadia from "Toxic".

Speaking about Kiara’s performance in the drama, Geetu had shared, “Some performances don’t just belong to a film, they redefine an artist. What Kiara created on screen in this film is nothing short of transformative. As a director, I am deeply proud of her and for the performance she has delivered, and for the faith and heart she brought into our shared journey.”

Jointly backed by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under the banner of KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, "Toxic" features 'KGF' star Yash as the lead, along with Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth in significant roles.In April, the makers announced that they had decided to delay the release of "Toxic". The project, which was previously expected to be released on June 4 this year, will now reach the cinema halls across the globe on a new date, which is yet to be announced. Kiara Advani wishes 'Toxic' maker Geetu Mohandas: A genius mind powered by infectious passion | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Taylor Swift on original song for ‘Toy Story 5’: Wrote it as soon as I got home from the screening

(Photo : IANS/taylorswift/insta)

Mumbai, (IANS) Grammy winner Taylor Swift has announced her original song for Toy Story 5 and revealed that she wrote the number titled ‘I Knew It, I knew It” as soon as I got home from the screening.

She wrote on Instagram: “It’ a Toy Story You knew it! My new original song “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Disney and @pixar’s @toystory 5 will be yours on June 5th. I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a 5 year old kid watching the first Toy Story movie.”

The singer said she instantly fell in love with the fifth installment.

“I fell instantly in love with Toy Story 5 when I was lucky enough to see it in its early stages, and I wrote this song as soon as I got home from the screening. Sometimes you just know, right?

You can pre-order now exclusively on my site and catch Toy Story 5 in theaters June 19th.”

The track is co-written and co-produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, making his return to working with the star after last appearing on her “The Tortured Poets Department” album.

Toy Story began in 1995 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, which focuses on a diverse group of toys featuring a classic cowboy doll named Sheriff Woody and a modern spaceman action figure named Buzz Lightyear.

It comprises six animated feature films, including Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4. Toy Story 5 and the spin-off film Lightyear.The first Toy Story was the first feature-length film to be made entirely using computer-generated imagery. The first two films were directed by John Lasseter, the third film by Lee Unkrich, the fourth film by Josh Cooley, the fifth film by Andrew Stanton, and Lightyear by Angus MacLane. Taylor Swift on original song for ‘Toy Story 5’: Wrote it as soon as I got home from the screening | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Priyanka Chopra wishes a ‘heavenly birthday’ to Marilyn Monroe, says ‘she’d have been 100 today'

(Source: Instagram)

Mumbai, (IANS) Global icon Priyanka Chopra took to her social media account on the 2nd of June to pay a heartfelt tribute to Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe on account of her 100th birth anniversary.

Priyanka posted a picture of the icon and revealed that she would have been ‘hundred years old today.’

Marilyn Monroe, in the picture shared by Priyanka was seen dressed in a beautiful red dress.

Sharing the post on her social media account, Priyanka Chopra wrote, “Happy heavenly birthday, Marilyn Monroe. She would have been 100 today,” followed by many red heart emoticons.

Talking about Marilyn Monroe, she is regarded as one of the most celebrated figures in the history of Western cinema.

Talking about Priyanka Chopra Jonas on the professional front, the actress is currently busy with the shooting of her upcoming movie,

‘Varanasi’ which has been directed by SS Rajamouli.

The movie along with Priyanka Chopra also stars Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran in important roles.

For the uninitiated, Priyanka Chopra had won the Miss World 2000 title and went on to build a career in Bollywood.

She made her acting debut in the movie, ‘The Hero:, Love Story of a Spy.’

Priyanka who has been apart of the Hindi cinema for over two decades, has delivered many superhit movies such as ‘Aitraaz’, ‘Fashion’, ‘Kaminey, ‘Barfi’, ‘Mary Kom’, ‘Bajirao Mastani,’, ‘Don’, etc.

The actress has also built a successful career in Hollywood with projects including ‘Quantico’, ‘Citadel’, ‘The Matrix Resurrections,’ ‘Baywatch’, and othersOn the personal front, Priyanka Chopra is married to pop icon Nick Jonas. The couple together are parents to a daughter, Malti Marie whom they welcomed in 2022 via surrogacy. Priyanka Chopra wishes a ‘heavenly birthday’ to Marilyn Monroe, says ‘she’d have been 100 today' | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Janhvi Kapoor on pushing limits for films: Nothing is too much

Bhopal: Actor Janhvi Kapoor during a promotional event for her upcoming film in Bhopal on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Since making her debut with Dhadak in 2018, Janhvi Kapoor has been trying to prove her mettle through a diverse range of projects. Be it “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl” or “Mili”, “Bawaal” to her latest “Peddi”, the actress believes strong stories deserve complete dedication.

Asked Janhvi, who will be seen starring alongside Ram Charan in “Peddi”, how much is too much for an actor to invest in a role.

Pat came the reply from the doe-eyed beauty, who made her Telugu debut in Jr. NTR’s 2024’s action drama Devara: Part 1, to IANS: “Oh, I think nothing is too much.”

The 29-year-old actress, who has worked on stunt-heavy sequences head-on in some of her films, added: “I think for your art, if you feel convinced and if you feel strongly about the story and your role and the message, then give your life for it.”

Her next is “Peddi”, a sports action drama film by Buchi Babu Sana. The film features Ram as a "crossover athlete" who transitions between the three difficult sports including cricket, wrestling and sprinting.

Asked if she is a sports enthusiast, Janhvi, who is the daughter of the late superstar Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, said: “I actually, I wasn't very athletically inclined. I used to enjoy dancing though, always.”

The Telugu film Peddi is directed by Buchi Babu Sana. The film also stars Boman Irani, Shiva Rajkumar, Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu and Divyenndu. The film is finally releasing on June 4.

In the Bollywood front, Janhvi was last seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari by Shashank Khaitan. It also stars Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul and Akshay Oberoi.The film followed Sunny and Tulsi, who are heartbroken after their partners, Ananya and Vikram, abandon them to marry each other. Sunny and Tulsi then team up to crash the wedding of their former lovers. Janhvi Kapoor on pushing limits for films: Nothing is too much | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Miley Cyrus calls herself a ‘logical wild card’

(Photo: miley cyrus/instagram)

Los Angeles, (IANS) Singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus has shared that she likes to be "reliably unpredictable". The 33-year-old singer said that she's not "super into astrology".

The singer-songwriter has described herself as a "logical wild card", reports ‘Female First UK’.

The chart-topping singer, who will celebrate her next birthday in November, told ‘Variety’, "I’m a Sagittarius. My sisters are Capricorns. I love Scorpios, Sagittariuses and Capricorns, that whole trifecta. I’m not super into astrology, but I know, by the book, what that means. I’m kind of a logical wild card, if that makes sense”.

She further mentioned, “I like to do something bold but also do my own math about it. I want to know what I want before I make a choice. But anything I say could be out the window tomorrow. I like to be reliably unpredictable”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, Miley emerged as a teen idol with her portrayal of Miley Stewart in the Disney series Hannah Montana between 2006 and 2011. And she has observed that "Hannah was like Mickey Mouse in her own way".

Asked what advice she'd give to her on-screen character, she said, "I mean, Hannah feels like she’s got it all figured out. I would tell her to definitely ditch the Season 1 wig and tell Disney that, you know, you get what you pay for! And then the other thing is, because I was her, I didn’t realise how important and how impactful she actually was. Hannah was like Mickey Mouse in her own way, she made people feel like they got this little piece of magic. I would want Hannah to ground into the Miley Stewart and know that that magic is from deep within. It’s not about the wig and the boots and the music. It’s about who you are underneath all that”.Earlier this year, Miley revealed that she willed the Hannah Montana anniversary special "into existence". The singer started discussing the prospect of making a 20th anniversary special before being approached about the idea. Miley Cyrus calls herself a ‘logical wild card’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan heads to Cannes with daughter Aaradhya

Anantapur: Actress Aishwarya Rai addresses the birth centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. (Photo: IANS)

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has been away from the silver screen for quite some time, was seen jetting off to the ongoing edition of the Cannes Film Festival.

The actress was accompanied by her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan as the two twinned in black. The mother-daughter duo posed for the paparazzi before they walked to the departure section of the Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Aishwarya Rai is a regular at Cannes, and is known for her iconic looks at the red carpet of the film festival. Over the years, the actress has built a solid rapport at the fest, and draws huge reaction from the international media.

Earlier, the actress celebrated 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.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 daughter Aaradhya Bachchan.

Prior to this, 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. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan heads to Cannes with daughter Aaradhya | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Mira Rajput Kapoor speaks about business aspirations of daughter Misha Kapoor

(Photo : IANS/mirarajputkapoor/insta)

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
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Aishwarya Rai marks 19 years of marital bliss with Abhishek Bachchan with a perfect family pic

(Photo: Aishwarya Rai/ Instagram)

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.

On the work front, Abhishek will be seen playing a crucial role alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Siddharth Anand's "King".His lineup further includes Riteish Deshmukh's "Raja Shivaji". Aishwarya Rai marks 19 years of marital bliss with Abhishek Bachchan with a perfect family pic | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Zanai Bhosle says late grandmother Asha Bhosle ‘promised she'd comeback to her very soon’

(photo: Zanai Bhosle/Instagram)

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!!”

Expressing her love for her grandmother, Zanai wrote, “I love you ashaai, and goodbye for now my love.. I know you are always going to be with me no matter what, just waiting for you to come back to me and hug me once again.”For the uninitiated, Asha Bhosle passed away on April 12 following multi organ failure. Zanai Bhosle says late grandmother Asha Bhosle ‘promised she'd comeback to her very soon’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Lisa Kudrow ‘preserved’ another role as she wasn't convinced ‘Friends’ would be a hit

(Photo : IANS/Lisa Kudrow/insta)

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.

Asked what sitcoms she watches, she said on BBC Radio 2: "Friends at night before going to bed. I haven't seen many episodes. I sit in the family room, and I wait until my husband goes to sleep because I'm too embarrassed for anyone to see me watching it - but I'll tell all of you!“He knows that I like watching it.” Lisa Kudrow ‘preserved’ another role as she wasn't convinced ‘Friends’ would be a hit | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Taylor Swift love ‘The Traitors’

(Photo: Taylor Swift/instagram)

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
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Rashmika says 'Bhooma Devi is close to my heart' as she bags Best Actress at Gaddar State Awards

(Photo: Rashmika Mandanna/ Instagram)

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.

Naga Chaitanya bagged the 'Best Actor' for 2025 for his work in "Thandel" which also won the award for 'Best Film on National Integrity'.Additionally, Anil Ravipudi's "Sankranthiki Vasthunam" was given the Award for 'Best Entertainment Film'. Rashmika says 'Bhooma Devi is close to my heart' as she bags Best Actress at Gaddar State Awards | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan make rare appearance together with family at Arjun Tendulkar’s wedding

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.

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan tied the knot in 2007 after dating for a couple of years. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2011, 4 years after their marriage.Other celebs at the wedding included Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, Saiyami Kher, Asha Bhosle, Aamir Khan, and Sonu Nigam. Jaya Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan make rare appearance together with family at Arjun Tendulkar’s wedding | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Rashmika Mandanna: Find a love that liberates you

(Photo: Rashmika Mandanna/Instagram)

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
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Sukanya Boruah on her international debut with 'Not a Hero': It makes every struggle worth it

(Photo: Sukanya Boruah/ Instagram)

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.

Sukanya has made quite a wave through her work in Assamese cinema, along with music videos, and TV series, including “Nima Denzongpa” on COLORS TV and “Sakuntala” on RANG TV.In addition to her acting career, Sukanya has also appeared in several prominent advertisements for top brands such as Coca Cola, Caprese, Samsung, Nestlé, Nykaa, Usha Fan, and Skybags. Sukanya Boruah on her international debut with 'Not a Hero': It makes every struggle worth it | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Karishma Tanna says 'don't give up on yourself' as she looks back on her journey

(Photo: Karishma Tanna / Instagram)

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."

Directed by Hansal Mehta, "Scoop" is a cinematic adaptation of journalist Jigna Vora’s bestseller "Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison".With Karishma as the lead, the show also has Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Harman Baweja, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Tannishtha Chatterjee, and Deven Bhojani playing crucial roles, along with others. Karishma Tanna says 'don't give up on yourself' as she looks back on her journey | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Mira Rajput kisses birthday boy Shahid Kapoor, calls him ‘simply the best’

(Photo : IANS/mirarajput/insta)

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.

Shahid Kapoor, meanwhile, is busy as a bee with his movie and shooting commitments. He was last seen in the recently released O Romeo, and has Cocktail 2 and Farzi 2 in the pipeline.For the uninitiated, Shahid Kapoor is the son of veteran actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem. Actor Ishaan Khatter is his half brother. Mira Rajput kisses birthday boy Shahid Kapoor, calls him ‘simply the best’ | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Alia Bhatt joins the list of BAFTA presenters alongside Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson

(Photo: Alia Bhatt/ Instagram)

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.

Aaron Pierre, Alicia Vikander, Erin Doherty, Hannah Waddingham, Kathryn Hahn, Kerry Washington, Little Simz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Milly Alcock, Minnie Driver, Noah Jupe, Regé-Jean Page, Riz Ahmed, Stormzy and Warwick Davis will also be presenting the award this year.

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.

Over and above this, Alia will also be joining the YRF’s spy universe with "Alpha".Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol will also play prominent roles in the drama, which is being made under the direction of Shiv Rawail. Alia Bhatt joins the list of BAFTA presenters alongside Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Hilary Duff: Wanted to make something that I could connect with people again

(Photo : IANS/Hilary Duff/insta)

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
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