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Chris Miller hails Rihanna's role as Smurfette in The Smurfs Movie: "She is an outsider who found her place"

Chris Miller hails Rihanna's role as Smurfette in The Smurfs Movie: "She is an outsider who found her place"

Time of India5 days ago
As the countdown begins for the release of The Smurfs Movie, director
Chris Miller
is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the film truly special and magical. According to the director, it is none other than his leading lady,
Rihanna
.
The music icon voices the beloved Smurfette in the upcoming animated feature. Speaking about the star becoming the voice of the little blue character, Miller said, RiRi had no qualms slipping right into the role and bringing heart, humour, and depth to the character like never before.
'I don't know that there's a movie without Rihanna,' Miller said in a statement. 'She came in with an open heart, an open mind, and more knowledge about Smurfs than anyone I will ever know.
She also is an outsider who found her place, like Smurfette. She's got a great voice. She's a terrific actress. As a musician, she is singular. Everything she touches, she makes exceptional and her own.'
Rihanna's performance has already generated major buzz, with early reactions praising her emotional nuance and comedic timing, a blend Miller credits for helping the film stand out in a year packed with animated blockbusters.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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In this fresh take on the classic franchise, The Smurfs Movie follows Smurfette as she leads the blue crew on a daring mission into the real world after Papa Smurf (voiced by
John Goodman
) is mysteriously captured by the villainous wizards Razamel and Gargamel. Along the way, the Smurfs team up with unexpected allies and confront powerful questions about identity, belonging, and destiny.
The film promises to retain the charm and whimsy that have made the Smurfs household names while introducing new stakes and deeper character arcs for a modern audience.
Set for a theatrical release on July 18, 2025, in English and Hindi, The Smurfs Movie is poised to be one of the most heartwarming and adventurous animated films of the year.
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Golden Era director spent 15 years making Hindi cinema's most expensive film; nearly bankrupted financiers, died at 48 after making only 3 films
Golden Era director spent 15 years making Hindi cinema's most expensive film; nearly bankrupted financiers, died at 48 after making only 3 films

Indian Express

time31 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Golden Era director spent 15 years making Hindi cinema's most expensive film; nearly bankrupted financiers, died at 48 after making only 3 films

Prithviraj Kapoor, Madhubala and Dilip Kumar-starrer Mughal-e-Azam is remembered as a monumental film in the history of Hindi cinema — one that became a textbook in filmmaking for generations to come. The grandeur achieved in this magnum opus is still something that filmmakers continue to aspire to. But Mughal-e-Azam came into being solely because of the passion, patience, obsession, and a whole lot of madness of one man — filmmaker K Asif. To understand the magnitude of effort that went into Mughal-e-Azam, one must first know the backstory of K Asif and how he found his way into the Hindi film industry. Born in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, Asif was brought to Mumbai at the age of 17 by his uncle, who opened a tailoring shop for him to earn a living. But Asif had ambitions far greater than being a tailor. His uncle noticed how Asif was more interested in charming female customers than focusing on the work at hand. Sensing his flair for drama and passion, he encouraged Asif to try his hand at filmmaking. In his early 20s, Asif directed Phool, which starred Prithviraj Kapoor in the lead role. The film became the fourth highest-grossing film of the year 1945. Mughal-e-Azam wasn't just another directorial venture for Asif — it was his ultimate passion project. The film would go on to consume his money, energy, peace of mind, and most significantly, 15 years of his life. He began shooting the film in the 1940s. In a conversation with The Print, filmmaker Karan Bali spoke about the massive scale of Asif's vision. He said, 'His films weren't just made; they were sculpted.' Bali explained that Asif would go to any length, regardless of cost, to achieve authenticity in his film. 'Whether it was importing glass from Belgium for Sheesh Mahal, commissioning special footwear from Agra, or having Dilip Kumar's wig made in England — no expense was spared,' he shared. The journey of Mughal-e-Azam was riddled with obstacles. At times, Asif would halt shoots to obtain the perfect materials for the set; other times, his financiers would run into trouble. The film's original financier, Shiraz Ali Hakim, backed the project before Partition in 1947. However, following Partition, Shiraz moved to Pakistan, leaving the film incomplete. Asif was then left scrambling for another financier, eventually finding support in Shapoorji Pallonji, who financed the completion of the movie. 'This one man's virtue was that he dreamt a beautiful dream, and he brought that very dream to life in the real world exactly as he had envisioned it,' said Rajkumar Keswani, author of the book Dastan-e-Mughal-e-Azam, in an earlier interview. There are countless examples of how Asif's commitment to authenticity led to months-long production halts. In one instance, after the character of Salim returns from war, Asif wanted to use real pearls for the scene. The shoot was halted for months until he could source the pearls. Not just his own cast and crew, Asif even made the government bend to his will during one such shoot. While filming a grand battle sequence in Jaipur, he noticed electric poles in the background — an obvious anachronism in a film set during Akbar's era. Rather than adjusting the camera angle, he paused production and left the city. He spent the next three months persuading local authorities to remove the poles before returning to the same location to resume filming. In an earlier interaction with Film Companion, filmmaker Karan Johar revealed that his father, Yash Johar, was present on the sets of Mughal-e-Azam and witnessed Asif's uncompromising standards firsthand. He shared an anecdote where Asif halted the film's shoot because he wanted a pond to be filled with real ittar (perfume) for a scene involving Madhubala. While most filmmakers would have settled for water, Asif insisted on authenticity. Karan recalled, 'My father told me about a moment how K. Asif announced pack-up because they didn't have real 'ittar' and he wanted real 'ittar' in the pond so that Madhubala could give up that close-up as a result of that whiff that she would get. She had to give that whiff to give that beauteous expression.' Asif's towering expectations and unrelenting insistence on authenticity led to an extended production timeline that required multiple financiers. It even drained much of his own wealth. The film, which began in 1946, finally released in theatres in 1960 — nearly 15 years later. The final budget remains debated but it is estimated that its budget reached to Rs. 1.5 crore, an unprecedented amount at that time, making Mughal-e-Azam the most expensive Indian film of its time. After Mughal-e-Azam, Asif began work on another magnum opus titled Love and War, this time with Guru Dutt in the lead. Like Mughal-e-Azam, this film, too, faced numerous setbacks. After Guru Dutt's untimely death in 1964, Asif recast Sanjeev Kumar in the lead role and resumed production. But in 1971, before the film could be completed, K. Asif passed away at the age of 48. The film was eventually shelved until filmmaker KC Bokadia revived the project with Rajesh Khanna in the lead. It was finally released in 1986, but failed to make an impact at the box office.

Social media praise Akash Deep and skipper Shubman Gill after India beat England: ‘Pressure? Handled. History? Made'
Social media praise Akash Deep and skipper Shubman Gill after India beat England: ‘Pressure? Handled. History? Made'

Hindustan Times

time41 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Social media praise Akash Deep and skipper Shubman Gill after India beat England: ‘Pressure? Handled. History? Made'

Social media exploded in celebration as India secured a thumping 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston — their biggest away win by runs and their first-ever Test triumph at the iconic venue in Birmingham. The win, which levelled the five-match series 1-1, saw fans and cricketers alike showering praise on the team, with Akash Deep, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj earning the loudest applause online. Akash Deep took 10 wickets in the match Right-arm fast bowler Akash Deep, in particular, stole the spotlight with a dream performance. The pacer picked up six wickets in the second innings and returned with a 10-wicket match haul — becoming only the second Indian bowler to achieve the feat in England. His journey from Sasaram in Bihar to the international stage has become the stuff of legend. Outside the stadium, an English fan captured hearts with a musical tribute to the rising star. In a now-viral video, the supporter sang a cheeky reworking of The Beatles' Let It Be: 'Akash Deep, Akash Deep, Bowling England Out, Akash Deep.' The video was widely shared, with fans applauding both the sentiment and the performance it honoured. The new captain for team India in Tests, Shubman Gill too, made headlines with a sensational batting display, scoring 269 and 161 across the two innings — a rare feat that made him only the second batter, after Australia's Allan Border, in the history of International cricket, to register 150-plus scores in both innings of a Test match. He also became the youngest captain from Asia to rigester a win in Siraj chipped in with a crucial six-wicket haul in England's first innings, ensuring India maintained control throughout the match. From viral songs and personal milestones to a landmark team win, India's Edgbaston triumph wasn't just another Test victory — it was a cricketing moment that lit up the internet and etched itself into the history books.

I owe my best roles to south Indian cinema, says Genelia D'Souza
I owe my best roles to south Indian cinema, says Genelia D'Souza

New Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • New Indian Express

I owe my best roles to south Indian cinema, says Genelia D'Souza

Actress Genelia D'Souza, who began her film career in Hindi cinema, has expressed her deep appreciation for the South Indian film industry. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan during the promotions of her upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, Genelia clarified misconceptions about her association with South Indian films. Responding to a question about whether she missed out on good roles in the South, Genelia said it would be wrong to say that South Indian films did not offer her meaningful characters. "In Hyderabad, I am known as Hasini for my role in Bommarillu. For the Tamil industry, I am known as Harini for my role in Boys, and in Kerala, I am known as Arackal Ayesha for my role in the Malayalam film Urumi,' she said. 'All the good roles I played are from the South Indian film industry, and I am blessed to have received such opportunities. I am thankful to the South Indian film industry for giving me a chance to work with them,' she added. The actress also touched upon the criticism she sometimes faces for her choice of roles in recent films. "Some people even judge me for the roles I played in new films," she said. Genelia, who has built a strong fan base across various film industries, continues to be celebrated for her memorable performances, especially in the South.

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