Mahesh Bhatt hails Anurag Basu for discovering ‘wild force of nature' Kangana Ranaut: She rose like phoenix in Gangster
Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut made her grand debut with the film Gangster alongside Emraan Hashmi. The film earned her recognition in the industry. In a recent interview, Mahesh Bhatt, who produced and wrote the story of the film, praised Anurag Basu for discovering Kangana and called her an "untamed force of nature." (Also Read: Mahesh Bhatt says he is not petrified of trolls, adversaries: 'My silence is not out of fear')
In an interview with Subhash K Jha, Mahesh said that Anurag Basu has an alchemical vision and added, "A rare ability to take a raw spark and give it flesh, blood, and soul. His greatest miracle was discovering Kangana Ranaut — a wild, untamed force of nature. In her very first role, she rose like a phoenix, giving Gangster the wings it needed to soar. And then there was South Korea — such an unexpected, beautiful choice. Cherry blossoms falling like soft rain over broken hearts; a foreign land that felt both alien and achingly familiar. It became a silent, emotional backdrop for Pritam's music."
He further called Gangster a masterpiece and added, "It was not just a film. It was love, betrayal, violence, longing — a great, wounded heart beating on screen. It didn't end — it ripped its ending from the audience's soul, leaving them shattered and spellbound. Above all, it was Anurag Basu's triumph: his vision, his risk, his reckless surrender to the fire that Gangster was. Once in a lifetime, if you're lucky, you can look back and say, 'Yes. That was a masterpiece. And we were part of it.'"
Gangster was a romantic thriller starring Kangana Ranaut, Emraan Hashmi and Shiney Ahuja in lead roles. The film was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics, particularly praising Kangana's debut performance. After Gangster, Kangana went on to star in films such as Woh Lamhe, Fashion, Raaz: The Mystery Continues, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, No Problem, Tanu Weds Manu, Queen and more, cementing her status as a Bollywood star. She was last seen in the film Emergency, portraying former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Anurag Basu's upcoming film Meanwhile, Anurag Basu is currently shooting his yet-untitled musical romantic drama featuring Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela in lead roles. The film is scheduled to release this Diwali. He also has Metro...In Dino in the pipeline, starring Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher and Ali Fazal, among others, in key roles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
18 hours ago
- News18
Saiyaara Teaser: Anurag Basu Praises Mohit Suri's Direction, Calls It ‘Outstanding'
Last Updated: Saiyaara teaser earns praise from Anurag Basu. Directed by Mohit Suri, starring Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda, the YRF romance hits theatres on July 18, 2025. The monsoon season may have just begun, but romance is already in the air—and it's pouring cinematic magic. Yash Raj Films' much-anticipated romantic drama Saiyaara is already turning heads across the industry, with its teaser dropping to an overwhelming wave of praise. Among those quick to shower appreciation is filmmaker Anurag Basu, who lauded director Mohit Suri and praised the teaser's emotional impact, calling it 'outstanding." Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Basu wrote, 'Outstanding teaser!! Mohit Suri never disappoints ❤️"—a powerful endorsement from the Barfi! and Ludo director, known for his own mastery of emotionally resonant storytelling. Mohit never disappoints!! Outstanding Teaser — anurag basu (@basuanurag) May 31, 2025 The teaser for Saiyaara, released on June 7, is less of a preview and more of a sensory experience. Clocking in under two minutes, it delivers a rain-soaked montage of stolen glances, swirling emotions, and soulful background music. Mohit Suri, known for hit romantic dramas like Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain, and Malang, brings his signature emotional weight and visual flair to Saiyaara. True to YRF tradition, the teaser doesn't give away much of the plot but hints at an epic love story wrapped in longing, heartbreak, and quiet intensity. With themes of youthful passion, inner conflict, and bittersweet fate, the teaser has already sparked comparisons to past YRF classics like Fanaa, Veer-Zaara, and Mohabbatein. What truly stands out, though, is the rich, cinematic texture of the visuals—each frame seems built to evoke both nostalgia and newness. While Anurag Basu's endorsement grabbed headlines, he's far from the only one charmed by Saiyaara's teaser. Actors Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor, and other Bollywood stars have shared the teaser on their social media, calling it 'soulful," 'poetic," and 'the kind of story we've been missing." It's clear that beyond the fan anticipation, Saiyaara is striking a chord within the industry itself. Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by YRF's CEO Akshaye Widhani, Saiyaara is already generating significant curiosity for introducing two fresh faces in leading roles—Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. While Ahaan comes from a prominent film lineage and has spent the last few years cutting his teeth behind the camera on projects like Mardaani 2 and Freaky Ali, this marks his official on-screen debut. His co-star, Aneet Padda, is a rising talent who first made waves in Salaam Venky (2022), directed by Revathy, where she held her own alongside veterans like Kajol. She further solidified her screen presence with her performance in Amazon Prime Video's coming-of-age series Big Girls Don't Cry. Produced under the Yash Raj Films banner and backed by Akshaye Widhani, Saiyaara is all set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on July 18, 2025. In a year when audiences are showing renewed excitement for romantic dramas, especially in theaters, this release couldn't come at a better time. First Published:
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Who Is Sharmistha Panoli? Law Student And Influencer Arrested Over Operation Sindoor Remarks, Kangana Ranaut Calls For Release
photoDetails english 2909199 Sharmistha Panoli was arrested over her remarks on Operation Sindoor, sparking nationwide debate with Kangana Ranaut demanding her release. Updated:Jun 01, 2025, 10:52 AM IST Sharmistha Panoli Arrest 1 / 7 According to media reports, Sharmistha Panoli was arrested in Gurugram by Kolkata Police on Friday night after a social media post allegedly containing derogatory remarks went viral. Kangana Ranaut 2 / 7 Kangana Ranaut took to Instagram, urging authorities to release Sharmistha Panoli and stop harassing her after her apology. Viral Video 3 / 7 In the video, Sharmistha had criticised Bollywood actors for their silence on the Pahalgam terror attack and India's counter-terror strike, Operation Sindoor, sparking backlash online. Sharmistha Panoli 4 / 7 Sharmistha Panoli is a 22-year-old law student from Pune and social media influencer with 93.5K Instagram followers, following the backlash has now deleted all her posts and reels. Apology 5 / 7 On May 15, Sharmistha posted an unconditional apology on social media, stating she never intended to hurt anyone and would be more cautious in future posts. Arrested Under Sections 6 / 7 According to legal sources of Economic Times, Sharmistha Panoli has been booked under Sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Her lawyer, Mohammad Shamimuddin, has questioned the legality of her arrest, citing multiple FIRs against her as a concern. Image Credits 7 / 7 (All Images: X, Instagram)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Who is Sharmistha Panoli? Know about the influencer Kangana Ranaut has supported after her arrest over Operation Sindoor remarks
Social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli has suddenly found herself in the middle of a major controversy. Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police in Gurugram, Haryana, for allegedly posting a communal video that caused a storm online. Here's everything you need to know about who she is, why she was arrested, and what Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut said in her support. Who is Sharmistha Panoli? Sharmistha Panoli is a 22-year-old law student at Pune Law University and a popular Instagram influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers. Known for speaking her mind on current issues, she came into the spotlight after posting a video on 14 May 2025. What was in the video? According to multiple reports, Sharmistha uploaded a video on Instagram accusing Hindi film actors of staying silent on Operation Sindoor . The post caused a huge backlash, with many users trolling her and sending threatening messages. Facing criticism, Panoli deleted the video and issued an apology. However, a complaint had already been filed against her in Kolkata. Panoli's public apology After facing threats and public anger, Panoli issued an unconditional apology on 15 May via Instagram and X. She wrote, 'I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The New GMC Sierra Is Nearly Unrecognizable (Take A Peek At Prices) Frequent Searches Learn More Undo Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody. So anybody is hurt, I'm sorry… Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public posts.' Though she took down the video and apologised, the legal process moved forward. The arrest and legal action After failing to receive a response to legal notices sent to Panoli and her family, Kolkata Police issued an arrest warrant. She was tracked down in Gurugram and taken into custody, then brought to Kolkata on transit remand. As reported by India TV, when she was presented in court, the magistrate turned down both the police's request for custody and Panoli's plea for bail. She was sent to judicial custody until 13 June 2025. Police also seized her phone and laptop to check if any manipulated or offensive content still existed on her devices. Kangana Ranaut stands by Sharmistha Amid all the outrage and legal drama, actress and politician Kangana Ranaut came out in support of Panoli. Sharing her opinion through Instagram Stories, Kangana said, 'I agree that Sharmistha used some unpleasant words for her expression, but such words most youngsters use these days. She apologised for her statements and that should be enough. No need to bully and harass her further. She should be released immediately. ' Kangana Ranaut's Controversial Claims: How Bollywood Actors and DOPs Tried to Sabotage Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
