Kangana Ranaut to make Hollywood debut with ‘Blessed Be the Evil': Movie to be shot in US to avoid Trump tariff
About Kangana Ranaut
Bollywood powerhouse Kangana Ranaut is ready to conquer international cinema as she steps into Hollywood with her first-ever lead role in the upcoming horror drama Blessed Be the Evil. Known for her fearless screen presence and a career adorned with accolades, Ranaut's foray into global cinema comes at a time when Indian talent is increasingly making its mark on the world stage.Set to be directed by Tailing Pond filmmaker Anurag Rudra, Blessed Be the Evil will begin filming this summer in New York. The film is being backed by Lions Movies, and features a chilling premise: a Christian couple grappling with a devastating miscarriage relocates to an abandoned farm, only to find themselves haunted by a sinister force that tests their love, faith, and sanity.Kangana stars alongside Teen Wolf alum Tyler Posey and Scarlet Rose Stallone , daughter of Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone. The cast brings together an eclectic mix of talent and screen legacy, heightening anticipation around the film's release.Co-written by Rudra and Gatha Tiwary, president and founder of Lions Movies, the screenplay is steeped in haunting folklore. In an interview with Variety, Rudra, who grew up in rural India, shared that the story draws from the spine-tingling myths and tales that shaped his childhood. The production's U.S. setting was a deliberate choice, reportedly made to circumvent uncertainties related to the Trump administration's recent industry tariffs.For Kangana Ranaut, this marks yet another chapter in her already multifaceted career. A four-time National Award winner and Member of Parliament in India's Lok Sabha, she recently directed and starred in Emergency, portraying former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a role that earned her international attention. Emergency is a historical biographical drama directed and co-produced by Kangana Ranaut. Based on the Indian Emergency of 1975, the film features a screenplay by Ritesh Shah and a story penned by Ranaut herself.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
JK Rowling's magic brought them together; now her views have left them divided: Where do Harry Potter stars stand amid the controversy?
When the Chosen One Chooses a Side — PopCrave (@PopCrave) Emma Watson: A Feminist Witch for All Emma Watson's Instagram post. (Images: Agencies, Instagram) Rupert Grint: The Diplomatic Gryffindor The Silence Breakers: Felton, Fiennes, and Bonham Carter — Variety (@Variety) Jason Isaacs and Evanna Lynch: The Middle Path A World Torn Between Wand and Word In the universe of Harry Potter , lines between good and evil were once clearly drawn. But outside the pages, the reality has become far murkier. At the heart of this divide stands the author of the spellbinding world herself—J.K. Rowling. Once revered as the literary magician behind a generation's childhood, Rowling has since drawn intense criticism for her public stance on transgender issues . And while her pen gave life to Hogwarts, her real-life opinions have stirred the kind of debate no spell could controversy has left the Harry Potter fandom—and its beloved stars—divided. As Rowling's stance grows firmer, so do the varied responses of the actors she once helped catapult into global fame. Their statements reveal a complex dance of gratitude, discomfort, conviction, and conflict. Because while movies may bring books to life, the actors and authors behind them don't always see the world through the same lens. Daniel Radcliffe , forever known as "The Boy Who Lived," has not held back. In 2020, he penned a heartfelt op-ed distancing himself from Rowling's views and affirming, "Transgender women are women." He called out the pain her comments caused, emphasizing the need to listen to medical experts and the lived realities of trans people. In later interview with The Atlantic, he doubled down on his sadness over the divide: "Nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it did without that person... But that doesn't mean you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life."Emma Watson, never one to stay silent, used her platform to amplify trans voices. Her 2020 statement stood in direct contrast to Rowling's, expressing love and respect for the trans community. Later, at the BAFTAs, she quipped, 'I'm here for all the witches,' a line many took as a clear dig at Rowling. Watson's activism continues to blur the boundary between performer and advocate, as she chooses solidarity over also expressing firm support for trans rights, Rupert Grint has tried to strike a more personal chord. In interviews, he referred to Rowling as an "auntie"—someone he disagrees with, but still holds a complex relationship with. In an interview with The Times, he said, "I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. It's a tricky one."His stance reflects the internal conflict many feel: can you love the art while questioning the artist?Tom Felton, who played the antagonistic Draco Malfoy, was more muted in his response, saying he's not deeply affected by the controversy and choosing to focus on the unifying power of Potter. But Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed Lord Voldemort, came to Rowling's defense with characteristic intensity. According to New York Times, he called the abuse Rowling faced 'disgusting' and insisted that her perspective was not extreme but Bonham Carter, the formidable Bellatrix Lestrange, echoed similar sentiments. As per a report from The Times, she condemned the backlash as 'a load of b***ocks,' suggesting Rowling was a victim of overzealous cancel culture and hinting that envy might be fueling the vitriol. 'She's allowed her opinion,' Bonham Carter said, urging respect for trauma-informed Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) offered a cautious but thoughtful take—acknowledging differences in views but emphasizing Rowling's extensive charitable work. While talking with Telegraph, he refused to 'stab her in the front or the back' without a personal conversation. Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), who once stood against Rowling, has since revisited her opinion. She now urges compassion on all sides, admitting she was 'naive' in earlier responses and praising Rowling's support for detransitioners—a controversial but honest Harry Melling, who played the unlikable cousin Dudley Dursley, offered a clear and succinct opinion while talking to the Independent: "Transgender women are women and transgender men are men." A simple statement, delivered without fanfare, but loaded with Harry Potter franchise , once a global beacon of fantasy, is now entangled in a very real-world dilemma—can the creation be separated from the creator? Can childhood heroes still stand tall if they clash with the values of their literary parent?What is unmistakably clear is that movies are not books, and actors are not authors. Each individual carries their own worldview, their own politics, their own truth. And just as Rowling once taught the world to question what lies beneath a surface, this controversy now compels fans and stars alike to reckon with the complex, often uncomfortable intersection of art, identity, and belief.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
JK Rowling's magic brought them together; now her views have left them divided: Where do Harry Potter stars stand amid the controversy?
When the Chosen One Chooses a Side — PopCrave (@PopCrave) Emma Watson: A Feminist Witch for All Emma Watson's Instagram post. (Images: Agencies, Instagram) Rupert Grint: The Diplomatic Gryffindor The Silence Breakers: Felton, Fiennes, and Bonham Carter — Variety (@Variety) Jason Isaacs and Evanna Lynch: The Middle Path A World Torn Between Wand and Word In the universe of Harry Potter , lines between good and evil were once clearly drawn. But outside the pages, the reality has become far murkier. At the heart of this divide stands the author of the spellbinding world herself—J.K. Rowling. Once revered as the literary magician behind a generation's childhood, Rowling has since drawn intense criticism for her public stance on transgender issues . And while her pen gave life to Hogwarts, her real-life opinions have stirred the kind of debate no spell could controversy has left the Harry Potter fandom—and its beloved stars—divided. As Rowling's stance grows firmer, so do the varied responses of the actors she once helped catapult into global fame. Their statements reveal a complex dance of gratitude, discomfort, conviction, and conflict. Because while movies may bring books to life, the actors and authors behind them don't always see the world through the same lens. Daniel Radcliffe , forever known as "The Boy Who Lived," has not held back. In 2020, he penned a heartfelt op-ed distancing himself from Rowling's views and affirming, "Transgender women are women." He called out the pain her comments caused, emphasizing the need to listen to medical experts and the lived realities of trans people. In later interview with The Atlantic, he doubled down on his sadness over the divide: "Nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it did without that person... But that doesn't mean you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life."Emma Watson, never one to stay silent, used her platform to amplify trans voices. Her 2020 statement stood in direct contrast to Rowling's, expressing love and respect for the trans community. Later, at the BAFTAs, she quipped, 'I'm here for all the witches,' a line many took as a clear dig at Rowling. Watson's activism continues to blur the boundary between performer and advocate, as she chooses solidarity over also expressing firm support for trans rights, Rupert Grint has tried to strike a more personal chord. In interviews, he referred to Rowling as an "auntie"—someone he disagrees with, but still holds a complex relationship with. In an interview with The Times, he said, "I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don't necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she's still my auntie. It's a tricky one."His stance reflects the internal conflict many feel: can you love the art while questioning the artist?Tom Felton, who played the antagonistic Draco Malfoy, was more muted in his response, saying he's not deeply affected by the controversy and choosing to focus on the unifying power of Potter. But Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed Lord Voldemort, came to Rowling's defense with characteristic intensity. According to New York Times, he called the abuse Rowling faced 'disgusting' and insisted that her perspective was not extreme but Bonham Carter, the formidable Bellatrix Lestrange, echoed similar sentiments. As per a report from The Times, she condemned the backlash as 'a load of b***ocks,' suggesting Rowling was a victim of overzealous cancel culture and hinting that envy might be fueling the vitriol. 'She's allowed her opinion,' Bonham Carter said, urging respect for trauma-informed Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) offered a cautious but thoughtful take—acknowledging differences in views but emphasizing Rowling's extensive charitable work. While talking with Telegraph, he refused to 'stab her in the front or the back' without a personal conversation. Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), who once stood against Rowling, has since revisited her opinion. She now urges compassion on all sides, admitting she was 'naive' in earlier responses and praising Rowling's support for detransitioners—a controversial but honest Harry Melling, who played the unlikable cousin Dudley Dursley, offered a clear and succinct opinion while talking to the Independent: "Transgender women are women and transgender men are men." A simple statement, delivered without fanfare, but loaded with Harry Potter franchise , once a global beacon of fantasy, is now entangled in a very real-world dilemma—can the creation be separated from the creator? Can childhood heroes still stand tall if they clash with the values of their literary parent?What is unmistakably clear is that movies are not books, and actors are not authors. Each individual carries their own worldview, their own politics, their own truth. And just as Rowling once taught the world to question what lies beneath a surface, this controversy now compels fans and stars alike to reckon with the complex, often uncomfortable intersection of art, identity, and belief.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Baba Sehgal recalls Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman being against him singing Rukmani song in Roja: 'Rahman was just a bachcha then'
Rapper Baba Sehgal recently shared an interesting story. He said that Mani Ratnam and A.R. Rahman were against him singing 'Rukmani' for Roja. The music company insisted on Baba's involvement. Baba initially disliked the song's lyrics. He recorded it despite reservations. He believes his voice contributed significantly to the song's success. This was his only collaboration with AR Rahman. Before Roja became a musical milestone in Indian cinema, an unlikely collaboration was brewing behind the scenes—one that nearly didn't happen. In a surprising revelation, rapper Baba Sehgal has opened up about how director Mani Ratnam and a young AR Rahman were initially against him singing the iconic 'Rukmani' track in the film's Hindi version. Recalling the incident in a chat with Siddharth Kannan, Baba Sehgal shared that he was approached after performing a solo show in Chennai with a massive crowd of 50,000–60,000 people. An organiser introduced him to a director, who played the Tamil version of a Roja song. Confused at first, Baba said he didn't understand why he was being made to listen to it. He believes AR Rahman, then quite young, was also present during the meeting. Since Baba Sehgal was occupied with his concert, he asked the team to meet him later at his hotel. There, they requested his help in getting the music released. Baba connected them with a music company that was venturing into film music for the first time. The company agreed, but on the condition that Baba would sing at least one track. That track turned out to be part of the Hindi version of Roja, with Shweta Shetty as the female vocalist. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Undo Baba Sehgal revealed that when he received the lyrics for 'Rukmani,' he found them distasteful and was taken aback by how vulgar they sounded. Despite his reservations, he went ahead and recorded the song, aware that the makers hadn't originally wanted him as the singer—they had preferred a classical artist. However, since the music company had made his involvement a condition, Rahman and the team had no choice. The song was recorded in just two takes. When an elderly female singer was brought in to record a specific line, Baba insisted that Shweta Shetty sing it instead. That track ended up being his first and only collaboration with AR Rahman, as language barriers prevented further projects. Reflecting on that time, he recalled Rahman being very young and relatively new to the industry. Baba Sehgal later learned that director Mani Ratnam had initially opposed the idea of him singing the song. However, he firmly believes that his voice played a key role in the track's popularity, crediting his contribution as a major reason behind its success.
