Diljit Dosanjh dropped from Border 2 amid row over casting Pakistani actor Hania Amir in Sardaar Ji 3: Sources
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Varun Dhawan grooves to Chris Brown's ‘Holy Blindfold'; the vibe is too real to ignore
Bollywood star Varun Dhawan recently gave fans a peek into his music taste, revealing his current obsession with Chris Brown's latest track, 'Holy Blindfold.' A longtime admirer of the R&B singer, Dhawan shared a screenshot on his Instagram Stories of himself dancing to the song, indicating he's been listening to it on repeat. His enthusiastic endorsement highlights the infectious vibe of the track, making it clear why 'Holy Blindfold' has captivated the actor. Here's a closer look at Dhawan's story: Varun Dhawan dances to Chris Brown's 'Holy Blindfold' For longtime followers of Varun Dhawan, his recent musical share isn't just a fleeting interest. The actor has consistently championed Chris Brown, stating in a Diary of a Dancebee interview, "I am a big fan of Chris Brown. I have been following him ever since he started off." This history makes his current enjoyment of 'Holy Blindfold' a genuine expression of his enduring admiration. The actor went on to describe his favorite things about the pop star, saying, 'When it comes to versatility, I feel Chris Brown is someone who does a variety of different styles, ranging from krumping, house among others. And most of those styles are now coming back." Varun Dhawan on the work front Varun Dhawan recently finished filming 'Border 2,' sharing screen space with Sunny Deol , Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh. The upcoming war drama also features Medha Rana opposite Varun Dhawan as the female lead. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Telford: If You Were Born Between 1945-1975 You Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo The movie will be released in theaters on January 23, 2026. The film, which was directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar , JP Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, will be released by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series in collaboration with JP Dutta's JP Films. Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor get back together In addition, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor will be pairing up for Shashank Khaitan's next movie, 'Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.' This is their second on-screen partnership following 'Bawaal.' After multiple delays, the movie's release date has been locked to be October 2. According to Bollywood Hungama, a source quoted, 'Producer Karan Johar and the whole team realized that this is the apt time to bring this rom-com. This year, besides Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra also falls on the same day. Hence, it'll be a festive period, and hopefully, it will face no other competition until Diwali. In other words, it will have a clean run for three weeks." With its revised release date, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari will compete at the box office with Harshvardhan Rane's 'Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat and Kantara: A Legend–Chapter 1.'
Scroll.in
10 hours ago
- Scroll.in
With qawwali and couscous, a New York café is bridging cultural chasms – and winning loyal fans
A few months ago, when Sadia Khatri, a young writer from Karachi, was helping organise a tribute in New York for Sabeen Mahmud, the Pakistani human rights activist killed in 2015, she didn't think twice before suggesting that it be held at Barzakh Café. Located in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighbourhood, Barzakh Café was the perfectly intimate venue at which to honour Mahmud's memory. As the event unfurled on her tenth death anniversary in April, 30-odd people sat on the carpeted floor, reading poems, singing songs they associated with Mahmud and sharing lessons they had gleaned from the feisty activist. Barzakh Café, said Khatri, 'was just so warm'. That's exactly the atmosphere El Atigh Abba, an immigrant from Mauritania in Northwest Africa, had been seeking to create when he founded Barzakh Café in mid-2024. He wanted the establishment to look and feel like the house in which he grew up in Nouakchott. The café's performance area is arranged to resemble his old living room and the backyard has been inspired by the garden behind his childhood home – complete with a mango tree. Most of all, Abba wanted the space to be a 'social experiment' to bring together the diverse residents who represented New York's rich cultural mosaic. That ambition is embodied in the name he chose for his café: Barzakh, in Arabic, refers to the place where souls rest until the day of resurrection. The programming in July reflected his intentions. The café has organised qawwali performances, a 'couscous night' with five international chefs and an evening of Egyptian and Tunisian music. 'It's not the East, and neither is it the West,' said Abba, 'It's an oasis' – one where everyone is welcome, despite rising tensions not just around the world, but in the US itself. That inclusive spirit is what patrons have immediately been drawn to. Revantika Gupta, a PhD student at New York University who is making a short film about the space, asserted that the café's efforts are 'very moving'. While she began coming to Barzakh Café for its qawwalis, she has been in awe of the sense of community it has created in the middle of New York City. 'They have managed to host cultural events, while also organising conversations around Palestine involving communities from across religious and regional affiliations,' she said. That is what inspired her to shoot a film about it for a class project. It showcased the space like a character – from its wooden stools, filled bookshelves, to a hanging keffiyeh. Play Shazia Choudri, a British immigrant with Pakistani roots, first visited the café with friends for an Eid dinner shortly after it opened its doors. Charmed by what the establishment was trying to do, she joined forces with Abba. She co-founded Beyond Barzakh, an initiative to take the café's community events beyond its walls. Since December 2024, Beyond Barzakh has also been hosting a monthly majlis – the Arabic word for gathering. From kathak by young South Asian students in Brooklyn's Dumbo area, to a gathering that hosted the city's Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani to engage with New Yorkers during his campaign at a church in Manhattan's West Village, Barzakh has been been trying to bring residents who are not part of the mainstream to the centre. The café's own engagement list has about 400,000 people, said Choudri. 'There's a deep search for identity in this city,' said Choudri, who moved to New York City in 2002. 'For so many people who come here, they feel at home. A home where no one is the other'. That was evident one recent Sunday night at a Sufi music event at the Brooklyn café. It drew Muslim and Hindu South Asians, Middle Easterners, North Africans and many who had lived in New York all their lives. Even its modest menu reflects tastes from different corners of the world. It ranges from different kinds of teas, Arabian kabsa, to cashew baklavas. For those hanging around the bar, there is also some beer and wine to go along with the food and its events. Kaleem Ullah, a literature student from Austin, said he was drawn to the café because he found it 'familiar'. 'Its doors are those I know from northern Sindh,' he said. 'And floor seating I know from anywhere home'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sadaf Padder (@pitterpadder) New York City is home to over 5.8 million immigrants – almost 30% of its total population. One in three children has immigrant parents, according to a study by the nonprofit think tank Vera Institute. Some neighbourhoods have become hubs for specific immigrant communities. Richmond Hill, for instance, has a strong Indo-Caribbean flavour while Washington Heights has many Dominican residents. What is lacking, say Choudri and Abba, is a space for residents of these various neighbourhoods to come together. That's what Barzakh Café is attempting to provide. A glimpse of this was on display one recent night as six musicians from the Qawwal Bachchon Ka Gharana of Delhi performed renditions of some of the most renowned Sufi poems such as Mera Piya Ghar Aaya by Bulleh Shah and Lal Meri Pat by Amir Khusrou. The audience was transported. The room was filled. Some perched on stools, while others sat cross-legged on the carpet. From 25-year-old international students to 70-year-old retirees who have called New York home for decades, everyone sang along. At some point during the three-hour performance, as more people kept pouring in, there simply didn't seem to be enough space for everyone. That did not seem to matter. Everyone seemed to adjust – some stood along the bookshelves, others moved behind the white curtain that separated the bar from the performance area. According to a group of three regulars, this was no exception. This was the kind of crowd the café pulls in all the time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carmen Elmakiyes Amos 🏳️🌈 (@carmen_elmakiyes_amos) As the qawwali ended that Sunday night, more than half of the audience lingered around. Some spoke to the musicians, while others exchanged phone numbers and made plans to meet again. Almost everyone walked up to Abba before they left the café that night. Many thanked him for creating that space, and many more promised to come back to Barzakh with their parents, siblings and friends. 'I have seen people propose to each other at Barzakh. We have catered wedding gatherings, and know of people who met here and are now about to start their own families,' said Abba, as he chatted with every guest like he has known them forever. 'So this community right here? This is the real movement'.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Varun Dhawan Grooving To Chris Brown's Holy Blindfold Is Too Relatable
Varun Dhawan took to Instagram Stories to share a screenshot of his phone while vibing to Chris Brown's latest track, Holy Blindfold. Varun Dhawan just gave fans a peek into his playlist and it is a pure gem. The actor, who has long been a fan of Chris Brown, took to Instagram Stories to share a screenshot of his phone while vibing to the singer's latest track, Holy Blindfold. Seems like he is listening to it on a loop and we totally get why. If you have been following Varun Dhawan for a while, you would know that this is not just a casual listen. The actor has always been vocal about his admiration for Chris Brown. In an earlier statement, he had shared, 'I am a big fan of Chris Brown. I have been following him ever since he started off." The actor also detailed what he loves about the pop star and continued, 'When it comes to versatility, I feel Chris Brown is someone who does a variety of different styles, ranging from krumping, house among others. And most of those styles are now coming back." Varun Dhawan's Upcoming Films Varun Dhawan has a lot on his plate currently. He recently wrapped up filming for Border 2, co-starring Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. Budding actor Medha Rana has also been roped in as the female lead opposite Varun Dhawan in the upcoming war drama. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on January 23, 2026. Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, the film is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series in association with JP Dutta's JP Films. Varun Dhawan Reunites With Janhvi Kapoor Varun Dhawan has also joined hands with Janhvi Kapoor for Shashank Khaitan's upcoming film Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari which marks their second on-screen collaboration after Bawaal. The film, which has been postponed several times, has finally been announced for release on October 2. Bollywood Hungama quoted a source as saying, 'Producer Karan Johar and the whole team realized that this is the apt time to bring this romcom. This year, besides Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra also falls on the same day. Hence, it'll be a festive period and hopefully, it will face no other competition until Diwali. In other words, it will have a clean run for three weeks." With its new release date, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is set to face Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and Harshvardhan Rane's Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat at the box-office. First Published: July 31, 2025, 18:36 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
