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In an exclusive conversation with India Today's Bhavna Agarwal, Squid Game 3 star Park Sung-hoon opens up about playing Hyun-ju, a transgender woman with selfless heart in the show, playing villain roles and India.

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Anupam Kher says he cried in front of Mahesh Bhatt after losing out on 'Saaransh': ‘I went to him and cursed'
Bollywood actor Anupam Kher recently shared a deeply personal story that shaped his journey in cinema. He revisited a turning point in his early career after being abruptly dropped from the 1984 film 'Saaransh'. Anupam Kher about confroting Mahesh Bhatt after losing Saaransh In an interview with India Today, Anupam noted that taking chances in both career and relationships helps an individual to reinvent and rediscover themselves. He emphasised the importance of forgiveness and moving on. 03:05 Aditya Roy Kapur's Singing Debut Leaves Fans Speechless | Metro In Dino Magic He described the crushing disappointment of being removed from the film just days before filming began. The blow left him so distraught that he contemplated leaving the city altogether. However, a moment of clarity led him to confront the situation head-on. 'I was on my way to VT station, planning to return to Delhi, Shimla, or Bombay. But I told myself – how can I leave without telling Mahesh Bhatt what I feel? So I went to him, cried, cursed, and said everything I had to. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you today. That moment changed me,' he stated. Anupam was initially signed for the movie, but later the studio decided that a newcomer could not play the role of a man in his 60s. They wanted an established actor. However, after Anupam's visit to Mahesh Bhatt and his emotional outburst, Mahesh told the makers that he needed Anupam in the movie Anupam Kher about Dino Kher admits that he did the right thing by opening up to Mahesh during that time. The actor emphasised that his upcoming film Metro... In Dino also revolves around the same theme – the importance of communication and speaking up. Dino release Metro... In Dino is set to hit cinemas on July 7. Directed by Anurag Basu , the film also features Aditya Roy Kapur , Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sensharma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta, and Ali Fazal in key roles.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Did you know, not Rekha, Smita Patil was the first choice for Umrao Jaan? Muzaffar Ali reveals, 'We needed someone with a bit more oomph and physical presence'
Muzaffar Ali's timeless classic, Umrao Jaan, returns to theaters, prompting the director to reveal surprising behind-the-scenes stories. Ali disclosed that Rekha, though iconic in the role, wasn't his initial choice. He emphasized that while audience reach matters, a film's true strength lies in its passion and beauty, questioning the obsession with first-week earnings over lasting impact. Umrao Jaan may have released over four decades ago, but its timeless beauty continues to enchant generations of cinephiles. As the film returns to theatres this Friday, director Muzaffar Ali reflects on the making of the classic and shares surprising behind-the-scenes stories—including the revelation that Rekha wasn't his first choice for the iconic role. Director Muzaffar Ali, in an interview with India Today, disclosed that while Rekha ultimately became synonymous with the role, she wasn't his original choice to play Umrao. In the end, it was Rekha's haunting eyes and quiet strength that convinced Muzaffar Ali she was the perfect Umrao. After repeatedly listening to the script narrated in Salma Siddiqui's voice, Ali felt only Rekha could embody the character's tragic grace—capturing both her rise and fall in a single glance. Today, box office numbers are as much a part of everyday conversation as film gossip. When asked about his stance on the commercial aspect of filmmaking—given that his work has always leaned more toward poetic storytelling and romance—Muzaffar Ali acknowledged that while audience reach does matter to some extent, it isn't the be-all and end-all for him. Muzaffar Ali emphasized that while attracting viewers is important, a film's true strength lies in its passion and beauty. He questioned the obsession with first-week earnings, asking whether such films can stand the test of time. 'You can cast the biggest stars for box office returns,' he said with a smile, 'but that rarely ensures lasting impact.' Known for his bold, layered storytelling, Muzaffar Ali shared that his creative choices were guided more by instinct than by calculated risk. He described himself as a painter at heart—drawn to life through poetry, music, and dance—and said presenting stories in their rawest form felt natural, not risky. While Rekha's presence added star value, Ali believes it was the emotional depth of the character that truly resonated with audiences.


Pink Villa
4 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Border 2: Diljit Dosanjh removed from Sunny Deol's film amid boycott pressure?
Border 2, starring Sunny Deol in the lead role is making the headlines ever since the ambitious project was announced with a star-studded cast. However, in a twist of fate, it looks like Diljit Dosanjh might no longer be a part of the movie. Diljit Dosanjh ousted from Sunny Deol's Border 2? According to India Today's report, the actor-singer was dropped from the film. The decision, however, is said to be made collectively by the makers and the rest of the actors. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has officially boycotted the actor owing to controversial reasons related to his other film. While an official confirmation from the makers is still pending, Diljit was working on the upcoming movie at the National Defence Academy (NDA). The FWICE recently penned a letter regarding the singer and notified Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the actor-singer getting boycotted. The letter was written in hopes of the ministry withdrawing permission for the movie's shoot at NDA. Earlier, at Pinkvilla, we exclusively reported that Diljit was supposed to join the shoot on June 10. Reports indicate that actor Ammy Virk might replace the Chamkila star. Border 2 is the upcoming sequel to the 1997 blockbuster Border. The first installment was an epic war film set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Based on the events of the Battle of Longewala, the film was directed by JP Dutta. With Sunny Deol headlining the movie, it featured an ensemble cast of actors like Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Sudesh Berry, and Puneet Issar in leading roles. Apart from them, Border also had Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Tabu, Raakhee, Pooja Bhatt, and more in supporting roles. Coming to Border 2, the sequel movie will once again have Sunny Deol in the lead with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, Kapil Sharma, and more actors being part of it. The upcoming war film is directed by the Kesari fame Anurag Singh and is slated to release on January 23, 2026, coinciding with Republic Day next year.