
Ram Gopal Varma says media exaggerated Deepika Padukone vs Sandeep Vanga issue
Earlier this year, it was reported that Padukone left Vanga's 'Spirit' after he refused to comply with her demand to work for eight hours while simultaneously fulfilling her motherly duties. The 'Animal' director later shared a post, taking a veiled jibe at Padukone, referring to her as 'khundak me billi (an angry cat).'Padukone never commented on the issue. However, she later spoke about working with like-minded people, and those who value shared experiences and creative collaborations above everything else.The actor has got a good lineup of films, including 'AA26xA6', 'The Intern' Hindi remake, 'Kalki 2898 AD Part II', and 'King', among others.- Ends
IN THIS STORY#Deepika Padukone

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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
'I want to bring same disruption, charm like Shah Rukh Khan': Tahir Raj Bhasin on ushering change in cinema
As the Hindi film industry stands at a crossroads—navigating fierce competition from South Indian cinema, the rise of OTT platforms, and shifting audience preferences—actor Tahir Raj Bhasin sees this moment not as a setback, but as a turning point. Drawing inspiration from icons like Shah Rukh Khan, who redefined stardom and genre in the '90s, Tahir, in a candid interview with Hindustan Times, hopes to bring a similar blend of charm and disruption to today's cinematic landscape. Tahir Raj Bhasin, who is currently enjoying rave reviews for his villainous role in Special Ops 2, embraces the duality of cinema and OTT as complementary storytelling mediums. Tahir on bringing SRK-like disruption in Hindi cinema Tahir is currently enjoying rave reviews for his performance as 'Collector', the antagonist in Neeraj Pandey's Special Ops 2, alongside KK Menon. The actor is one of those rare talents in the Hindi film industry who has managed to remain relevant and respected without the traditional support of a film family or "Godfather." Tahir opens up about the evolving landscape of Indian cinema and the influences which continue shaping his artistic journey. "90s SRK was disruptive. It was the villain in Baazigar and the charmer that we saw in DDLJ. SRK today is an icon, but what he was doing in the 90s, were all the kind of heroes like Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na, who were flawed and had an element of charm to them. And so comes the idea to me that I would lend my skill to stories that are disruptive and drive them as entertainingly as possible," Tahir said. Reflecting on the current state of the Hindi film industry, especially amid comparisons with the booming South Indian cinema, Tahir describes Bollywood as a 'living organism.' 'It evolves and has to change and adapt to the time and to the audience,' he says. For him, this moment of flux isn't one of crisis but of opportunity. 'Only in times of change can new experiments and new things be tried out,' he insists, viewing the disruption as a fertile period for creative innovation. On OTT vs Cinema Tahir believes that cinema and OTT platforms aren't in competition but are complementary media. 'There's a charm in seeing a film in a theatre with a large community in a dark room and great surround sound,' he explains. 'But then there are some stories that are better told in an episodic format on OTT.' He sees this duality as a win for audiences, offering more choices and richer storytelling. On getting adulation from female fans for Special Ops 2 His recent role as 'The Collector' in Special Ops 2 earned wide appreciation, surprisingly from a large number of female fans. 'I thought the genre would appeal more to a male audience because of the action and espionage. But the response has been very balanced,' he says, adding that such feedback makes him hopeful about exploring the character more. 'You always want to leave the audience feeling like they want to know more. Curiosity is the best way to engage with your audience.' Tahir's future plans On the professional front, Tahir recently wrapped a mystery thriller for Netflix alongside Parineeti Chopra, directed by Renzil D'Silva and produced by Siddharth P. Malhotra. Though tight-lipped about his role, he reveals that it's a genre he's exploring for the first time, adding another feather to his diverse acting cap. When asked whether audiences will see him on the big screen soon, Tahir responds enthusiastically. 'Absolutely. We're looking at a bunch of scripts. It's always about finding the right part.' He feels fortunate to be part of a generation where actors can move seamlessly between cinema and digital platforms. 'The audience accepts you, whether you're playing a hero or an antagonist. They relate to the story.' A self-confessed Bollywood romantic, Tahir grew up during the golden era of 90s cinema. 'I'm a hardcore Bollywood buff. Any 90s kid is a romantic at heart, especially if you grew up watching a lot of Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan,' he says with a smile. While fans have loved his intense villainous roles, many now want to see him play the quintessential lover boy on screen — a shift he's more than open to, provided the script is right.


Mint
10 hours ago
- Mint
This Bollywood actor was once rejected for being ‘too good looking', now runs ₹100 cr skincare brand, fitness studios
Bollywood is filled with insiders and outsiders. While unarguably, it is a tad bit easier to make a debut and shine with the right connections and filmy family ties, this one outsider made it big despite having no industry backing. In fact, she hailed from a completely different background. An engineer by qualification, she made her debut opposite Tiger Shroff, son of actor Jackie Shroff, in Heropanti (2014) and quickly rose to fame. However, success didn't come to her easily. After facing several rejections, including ones where she was told she was 'too good-looking' to be an actor, she braved it all and eventually bagged a National Award. Today, she is the proud owner of a ₹ 100 crore skincare brand and manages several fitness studios. The outsider in Bollywood who defied all odds is Kriti Sanon. Today, Kriti is one of the most popular female actors in the industry, who has worked alongside industry legends like Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Dilwale (2015). Over the years, she delivered multiple box office hits such as Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi, and Housefull 4. She won the prestigious National Film Award for her acclaimed performance in Mimi (2021). She was last seen in Do Patti. While Kriti's journey is truly commendable, she had to audition multiple times before landing her debut role. Talking about rejections, she once told Hindustan Times in 2017, "There were days when I was annoyed and irritated. On some days, I used to cry, because there was nothing to keep me busy. There were also times when I met a few people who told me that something was not right about me — someone told me, 'You're too good-looking. There has to be some sort of imperfection in you to look real on screen.' I think I did feel low, but at the same time, I did have people who believed in me a lot. That's what you need. I think that gave me a little more confidence.' Not just films, Kriti is also a smart investor and among the new businesswomen in town. Kriti launched her own skincare brand, Hyphen, in 2023. Being an actor, Kriti, who is surrounded by makeup and beauty products, once told NDTV, "I'm a skin nerd; I really got into skincare during the Covid lockdown.' She co-founded the brand with PEP Technologies, the company behind the popular brand mCaffeine. Hyphen earned ₹ 100 crore in just its first years, as per Forbes. Hyphen is clashing big with other celebrity brands like Katrina Kaif's Kay Beauty, Mira Rajput's Akind and more. While many might think that Kriti entered her entrepreneurial era with Hyphen, she was already into business with her fitness venture, The Tribe. Launched in 2022, The Tribe was inspired by the role in Mimi, where she portrayed a pregnant woman. For the role, Kriti had gained around 15 kg. With gyms shut during COVID, Kriti struggled to return to her shape. 'I gained 15 kgs and I didn't know what to do,' she told Raj Shamani. Later, she connected with four trainers and managed to lose all the weight by working out virtually in her room. Her experience sparked the idea of creating a fitness brand, which we know now as The Tribe. Kriti opened the first The Tribe fitness studio in 2022 in Mumbai's Juhu area. Following its success, she launched a second studio in Bandra in 2024, further expanding her brand. Besides this, Kriti also has her own production house, Blue Butterfly Films, which she launched in 2023. In fact, her last film was backed by her production banner. Kriti Sanon has also made some major investments in real estate. As per a Moneycontrol report, the actor has moved into a lavish apartment in Sandhu Palace, a premium building located in Mumbai's Bandra area. She is reportedly paying a monthly rent of ₹ 17 lakh, which totals nearly ₹ 2 crore annually. She recently purchased a 2,000 sq ft plot in Alibaug in 2024, worth over ₹ 2 crore. It is a seaside property, a part of a high-end project that also includes a 10,000 sq. ft. plot owned by Amitabh Bachchan. According to multiple reports, Kriti Sanon's net worth is currently estimated to be around ₹ 82 crore as of last year.


Mint
11 hours ago
- Mint
This Bollywood actor was once rejected for being ‘too good looking', now runs ₹100 cr skincare brand, fitness studios
Bollywood is filled with insiders and outsiders. While unarguably, it is a tad bit easier to make a debut and shine with the right connections and filmy family ties, this one outsider made it big despite having no industry backing. In fact, she hailed from a completely different background. An engineer by qualification, she made her debut opposite Tiger Shroff, son of actor Jackie Shroff, in Heropanti (2014) and quickly rose to fame. However, success didn't come to her easily. After facing several rejections, including ones where she was told she was 'too good-looking' to be an actor, she braved it all and eventually bagged a National Award. Today, she is the proud owner of a ₹ 100 crore skincare brand and manages several fitness studios. The outsider in Bollywood who defied all odds is Kriti Sanon. Today, Kriti is one of the most popular female actors in the industry, who has worked alongside industry legends like Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Dilwale (2015). Over the years, she delivered multiple box office hits such as Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi, and Housefull 4. She won the prestigious National Film Award for her acclaimed performance in Mimi (2021). She was last seen in Do Patti. While Kriti's journey is truly commendable, she had to audition multiple times before landing her debut role. Talking about rejections, she once told Hindustan Times in 2017, "There were days when I was annoyed and irritated. On some days, I used to cry, because there was nothing to keep me busy. There were also times when I met a few people who told me that something was not right about me — someone told me, 'You're too good-looking. There has to be some sort of imperfection in you to look real on screen.' I think I did feel low, but at the same time, I did have people who believed in me a lot. That's what you need. I think that gave me a little more confidence.' Not just films, Kriti is also a smart investor and among the new businesswomen in town. Kriti launched her own skincare brand, Hyphen, in 2023. Being an actor, Kriti, who is surrounded by makeup and beauty products, once told NDTV, "I'm a skin nerd; I really got into skincare during the Covid lockdown.' She co-founded the brand with PEP Technologies, the company behind the popular brand mCaffeine. Hyphen earned ₹ 100 crore in just its first years, as per Forbes. Hyphen is clashing big with other celebrity brands like Katrina Kaif's Kay Beauty, Mira Rajput's Akind and more. While many might think that Kriti entered her entrepreneurial era with Hyphen, she was already into business with her fitness venture, The Tribe. Launched in 2022, The Tribe was inspired by the role in Mimi, where she portrayed a pregnant woman. For the role, Kriti had gained around 15 kg. With gyms shut during COVID, Kriti struggled to return to her shape. 'I gained 15 kgs and I didn't know what to do,' she told Raj Shamani. Later, she connected with four trainers and managed to lose all the weight by working out virtually in her room. Her experience sparked the idea of creating a fitness brand, which we know now as The Tribe. Kriti opened the first The Tribe fitness studio in 2022 in Mumbai's Juhu area. Following its success, she launched a second studio in Bandra in 2024, further expanding her brand. Besides this, Kriti also has her own production house, Blue Butterfly Films, which she launched in 2023. In fact, her last film was backed by her production banner. Kriti Sanon has also made some major investments in real estate. As per a Moneycontrol report, the actor has moved into a lavish apartment in Sandhu Palace, a premium building located in Mumbai's Bandra area. She is reportedly paying a monthly rent of ₹ 17 lakh, which totals nearly ₹ 2 crore annually. She recently purchased a 2,000 sq ft plot in Alibaug in 2024, worth over ₹ 2 crore. It is a seaside property, a part of a high-end project that also includes a 10,000 sq. ft. plot owned by Amitabh Bachchan. According to multiple reports, Kriti Sanon's net worth is currently estimated to be around ₹ 82 crore as of last year. She will be next seen in the upcoming film, Tere Ishk Mein.