Amoolya Gowda on Bhajari Bachelors 2: It's not just entertainment, It's family
Popular Kannada actress Amoolya Gowda, known for her strong presence on television, recently made a return to the reality show Bhajari Bachelors in its second season. Having been part of Season 1, Amoolya stepped into the latest season with a sense of familiarity but also a new role: that of a senior.
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, she opened up about her experience, saying,
"Coming back for Season 2 felt like coming home. The set, the energy, the vibe—everything was familiar, but this time I felt more responsible."
As someone who had already experienced the highs and lows of the show, Amoolya said she took it upon herself to support the newer participants.
"Being a senior gave me a different perspective. I wasn't just competing, I was guiding, encouraging, and trying to be a positive influence for the others.
I know what it's like to be new here, so I wanted to make them feel at ease."
Reflecting on how the show has evolved, she added,
"Season 2 has been more challenging and fun in many ways. The tasks were crazier, the competition was tighter, and the energy was unbeatable. But what remained constant was the bond we all share, it's chaotic, but beautiful."
Amoolya also expressed gratitude for the love she has received from fans:
"The audience has been so supportive, and their messages mean the world to me. I'm grateful for this platform, it's not just entertainment, it's a journey of self-discovery."
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NDTV
37 minutes ago
- NDTV
Kamal Haasan's Thug Life: Age Gaps Don't Matter In Indian Cinema If You Are A Man
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Kamal Haasan's film "Thug Life" sparked controversy over his age difference with co-stars. Critics argue that older male actors often romance significantly younger actresses without scrutiny. The ongoing discussion raises questions about age, gender, and representation in modern cinema. New Delhi: "If the heroine's father doesn't have a problem, then why do you?" That, ladies and gentlemen, is Salman Khan's response to the ever-widening age-gap discourse in Indian cinema. And while his delivery may have been peppered with punchlines, the problem is anything but new or funny. As Kamal Haasan's much-hyped Thug Life releases in India (except for Karnataka) today, it's not the story or the legendary actor's return to the big screen that's grabbing headlines. Instead, it's the controversies. Be it Kamal Haasan's defiance in the face of the Tamil vs Kannada language row, or the nearly 30-year age difference between Haasan (70) and his leading ladies, Trisha Krishnan (42) and Abhirami (42), coupled with their romantic scenes, that have social media locked in yet another familiar debate. Love In The Time Of Longevity The trailer of Thug Life, directed by the acclaimed Mani Ratnam, dropped like a bomb, not because of plot twists, but because of glimpses of Kamal Haasan sharing romantic and kissing scenes with his much younger co-stars. While many fans welcomed the vintage charisma of Haasan, a large section of the Internet expressed discomfort with what they see as the film industry's continuing obsession with older male actors romancing women "young enough to be their daughters". Kamal Haasan older daughter Shruti, in fact, is actually in the same age bracket: 39. The backlash was swift. The Internet called it a "glorified midlife fantasy," questioning whether such age-gap portrayals were appropriate or even relevant in modern storytelling. But both the actresses in question quickly addressed the brewing storm. "Nowadays, anything can become a controversy. We can't escape that," Abhirami said, urging fans to wait for context before judging. She said, "I'm not someone who can question Mani Ratnam sir's logic in casting me in that scene in question is only three seconds long. What was shown in the trailer created some misunderstandings, that's all." Trisha echoed a similar sentiment, noting that she anticipated the chatter long before signing on. "I think that's something I knew when they announced the film and I had not even signed it. So, that's when I knew, wow, this is magic. So, all of us as actors, we were like, oh damn, we have to do some work here. We've got to stop staring at them. So, it was magic," she said, recalling the surreal experience of working again with Haasan and Ratnam. Director Mani Ratnam, never the one to shy away from complex storytelling, defended his casting choices. He argued that audiences must distinguish between "real-life identities and fictional characters". Age-gap relationships, he said, exist in society, and cinema must reflect society. Bollywood's Long History Of "Forever Young" Heroes But Thug Life is hardly the first to ignite this conversation. In fact, it's just the latest in a long string of films where older male actors have comfortably stepped into romantic leads opposite significantly younger actresses and often without much consequence. Take Salman Khan, for instance. His recent Eid release Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, stirred the same controversy. Rashmika is 31 years younger than Salman, yet plays his romantic interest. At the trailer launch, the actor quipped, "They say there is a 31-year difference between the heroine and me. If the heroine doesn't have a problem, or if the heroine's father doesn't have a problem, then why do you have a problem?" He added, "When she gets married and has a daughter, and if her daughter becomes a big star, then I will work with her too-with her mother's permission, of course." Sikandar the film in fact also touches upon the (very visible) age gap between Sanjay (Salman Khan) and Saisri (Rashmika Mandanna), when the latter says that their age gap might be significant, but their " soch" were in sync. Then there was Tiku Weds Sheru, where Nawazuddin Siddiqui, in his late 40s, romanced 21-year-old Avneet Kaur, sharing a much-criticised kissing scene. When backlash erupted, he offered this justification and said, "Romance is ageless. The problem is that the young men have no romance left... 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an hour ago
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