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Imtiaz Alis Mother Turns 75, Celebrates Her Birthday In Pahalgam

Imtiaz Alis Mother Turns 75, Celebrates Her Birthday In Pahalgam

India.com07-07-2025
Mumbai: Acclaimed filmmaker Imtiaz Ali celebrated his mother's 75th birthday in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Dropping a sneak peek of the family celebration on social media, the 'Rockstar' maker shared a string of photographs on his official Instagram handle, along with a video. During the cake-cutting ceremony, we could see everyone wearing matching T-shirts with the face of the director's mother on them. "gratitude and love as mom turns 75! in Pahalgam, Kashmir :) @khawarjamsheed @arifali1541 @haya_vakil @mahidaisha...more,"
Ali penned the caption. Pahalgam recently made headlines following the unfortunate terror attack, that led to the demise of at least 26 civilians. Talking about his professional commitments, Ali recently announced his next with Diljit Diljit, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Sharvari. If the reports are to be believed, this yet-to-be-titled drama will go on floors by August this year and will be getting a theatrical release on Baisakhi 2026.
Shedding light on his next, Ali shared a statement that read, ''Tum mere paas hote ho goya, Jab koi doosra nahin hota' ('You are with me, however, When there is no one else') -Momin. Can love really be lost? Can home be taken away from someone's heart?' 'It has a large canvas, yet is very personal.
It is a story of a boy and a girl, but also a country. Wish us well as we dive into the currents of this dynamic story, we hope to emerge next year with a touching cinematic experience in a theatre near you,' the 'Tamasha' maker added. Meanwhile, Ali recently supported Diljit amidst the ongoing controversy regarding his movie, "Sardaar Ji 3", starring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. He asserted that the Punjabi actor and singer was not involved in the casting of "Sardaar Ji 3".
"I don't know the details, but casting someone isn't the decision of the actor. I don't know how it went, but I know that uske andar desh prem bahut zyada hai (He loves his country too much). Jo log dekh paayenge unke andar ke sach ko, unko ye samajh mein aa jaayega (People who can see the truth, will understand)," he said.
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This film, had two heroines, neither were first choice, became blockbuster, made on budget of Rs 35 crore, earned Rs 120 crore, movie is...
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This film, had two heroines, neither were first choice, became blockbuster, made on budget of Rs 35 crore, earned Rs 120 crore, movie is...

In 2009, a romantic drama emerged that would redefine contemporary love stories in Bollywood. This film, directed by master of storytelling, Imtiaz Ali, featured a narrative that oscillated between two eras, exploring complexities of modern relationships mix-matched with traditional romance. Despite its eventual success, the casting process was fraught with unexpected changes, leading to a lineup that wasn't initially envisioned. Which film is this? The film we are talking about is cult classic, Love Aaj Kal, starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Interestingly, Deepika wasn't the first choice for the role of Meera Pandit. Imtiaz Ali had initially approached Kareena Kapoor for the part, but she declined due to scheduling conflicts. Did Saif Ali Khan wanted Kareena Kapoor to play role of Meera? Saif had a desire for Kareena Kapoor Khan to star alongside him, yet Imtiaz preferred Deepika, and ultimately, they proceeded with Imtiaz's selection. In a throwback interview, Saif stated, 'I believe she (Kareena) was very eager to collaborate with Imtiaz Ali once more, and I think he assured her that she would be in his upcoming film.' How Giselli Monteiro entered Love Aaj Kal? Similarly, the role of Harleen Kaur was originally intended for actress Sushmita Sen, but after extensive auditions, Brazilian model Giselli Monteiro was cast. Giselli had come to Mumbai in 2008 and auditioned for the role of Jo, Jai's girlfriend in the second half of the film. However, on the suggestion of Imtiaz Ali's ex-wife, Preety Ali that she should be cast as Harleen, especially since he had not been able to find a suitable actress for that role despite auditioning girls from all over India. What was the storyline? Love Aaj Kal weaves two parallel love stories: one set in the present day, featuring Jai (Saif Ali Khan) and Meera (Deepika Padukone), and another from the past, showcasing the romance between Veer Singh (also Saif Ali Khan) and Harleen Kaur (Giselli Monteiro). The film delves into the evolving nature of love, commitment, and the choices individuals make in pursuit of happiness. The supporting cast includes Rishi Kapoor as the older Veer Singh, Neetu Singh in a special appearance as the older Harleen and Rahul Khanna as Vikram Joshi who essayed the role of Meera's husband in the film. How was the box office reception? Love Aaj Kal was made on budget of Rs 35 crore and was released on 31 July 2009, that turned out to be commercial success. It grossed approximately Rs 120 crore worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year.

With qawwali and couscous, a New York café is bridging cultural chasms – and winning loyal fans
With qawwali and couscous, a New York café is bridging cultural chasms – and winning loyal fans

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time9 hours ago

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With qawwali and couscous, a New York café is bridging cultural chasms – and winning loyal fans

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