Latest news with #Amanat
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Where is Lagaan star Gracy Singh? Why did she quit Bollywood and is still single at 44?
Bollywood actress Gracy Singh, renowned for her role as Gauri in the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan, captivated audiences with her grace and expressive performances. A trained classical dancer, she seamlessly transitioned into acting, delivering memorable roles in cult-classic films like Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Gangaajal. Despite her early success in Bollywood, she chose the path less traveled and has not gotten married to date. The Journey Of Gracy Singh Gracy began her artistic journey as a classical dancer, touring with the dance group The Planets before making her acting debut in the television soap Amanat in 1997. Her breakthrough came with the Aamir Khan starrer Lagaan, where her portrayal of Gauri earned critical acclaim and contributed to the film's nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Following this success, she appeared in films such as Shart, Muskaan, Yehi Hai Zindagi, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Gangaajal, showcasing her versatility across different genres. When Gracy Left Bollywood To Explore… Despite her rising fame, Gracy gradually distanced herself from Bollywood. In interviews, she expressed that acting was not her life's sole mission and emphasised her desire to engage in projects that resonated with her personally. This perspective led her to explore roles in regional cinema, including Punjabi, Telugu, and Malayalam films, though these ventures met with limited commercial success. However, as per Hindustan Times report, after Gracy's manager passed away in 2008, she started declining offers made to her by renowned Bollywood directors. Gracy Singh's Shift Towards… In 2013, Gracy joined the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organization, seeking a deeper sense of peace and purpose. She described experiencing boundless safety, joy, and understanding within the community, which influenced her approach to life and work. This spiritual alignment became evident in her choice of roles, notably her portrayal of Goddess Santoshi in the television series Santoshi Maa and its sequel Santoshi Maa: Sunayein Vrat Kathayein. Meanwhile, the actress has still not taken wedding vows to this day. However, during an interview with ETimes in 2020, the actress said that she does not think that this is an appropriate time for her to marry now, but in the future, she may get married to someone.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Smita Bansal bids farewell to ‘Bhagya Lakshmi,' calls the journey fulfilling and rewarding
Mumbai: Television actress Smita Bansal has officially wrapped up her journey on the popular show 'Bhagya Lakshmi.' Bansal, who played the role of Neelam Oberoi in the show, described her time on 'Bhagya Lakshmi' as both fulfilling and rewarding. She shared that the role gave her immense creative satisfaction and allowed her to grow further as an artist. Speaking about bidding goodbye to Bhagya Lakshmi, Smita Bansal said the experience left a lasting impact on her as an actor. She shared, 'Bhagya Lakshmi will always hold a very special place in my heart. Over these four years, I've not only had the privilege of playing a wonderfully written character but also built lifelong bonds with my cast and crew. This set became my second home, and everyone here became my extended family. The production house and the creatives of the show made my journey so comfortable.' 'Playing Neelam has been nothing short of an amazing journey; it challenged me, inspired me, helped me learn so much from the people around me, and gave me immense satisfaction as an actor. Working with Zee TV after almost 18 years was a wonderful experience.' Smita Bansal joined the cast of 'Bhagya Lakshmi' in 2021, bringing to life the character of Neelam Oberoi—a strong-willed matriarch caught between tradition, authority, and heartfelt emotions. Her impressive body of work features prominent roles in popular TV shows such as Zee TV's 'Amanat,' 'Aashirwad, Sarhadein,' and Sony SAB's 'Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga.' Additionally, she has appeared in the 2008 Bollywood film 'Karzzzz,' showcasing her versatility across both television and cinema. Smita rose to prominence with her acclaimed performance in the popular TV series 'Balika Vadhu.'
India.com
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who once worked with Sanjay Dutt and Aamir Khan, left acting industry.., is now getting viral for...
Meet actress who once worked with Sanjay Dutt and Aamir Khan, left acting industry.., is now getting viral for... During the golden era of Bollywood, in the early 2000s, the industry was all about melodramatic storylines and glamour. Mostly Bollywood actresses caught the eyeballs through their glitz and glamour. However, there was one such actress who was contrary to this description, but still hogged the limelight for her simplicity and innocence. With a very warm smile and expressive eyes, this actress created a lasting impact on the audience's mind. However, what seemed like a successful start turned out to be a path full of ups and downs The actress we are talking about is none other than Gracy Singh. Born in Delhi, Gracy started her career in the entertainment industry with television. Her first major TV role came in 1997 with the series Amanat. Being in the industry for some time, a breakthrough moment for Gracy came in 2001 when she was paired opposite Aamir Khan in Ashutosh Gowariker's historical film Lagaan. Not only did the film become a huge success, but it also got an Academy Award nomination, and Gracy found herself in the limelight. Her performance as Gauri in Lagaan established her as the naive village girl with unshakeable faith and emotional depth—something that immediately clicked with the masses. Just as it appeared a long, illustrious career in Bollywood was her destiny, Gracy hit the jackpot once again with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. alongside Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. She acted the part of Dr. Suman with restraint and warmth, further cementing her position in the hearts of the fans. But like they say luck of celebrities changes every Friday, after the initial success of Gracy, she couldn't last long. There followed a series of disappointing films, and one of the biggest reverses was when she appeared in Deshdrohi, the Bollywood film debut of Kamaal R. Khan (KRK). The movie was a commercial and critical failure, and most people feel it derailed her movie career altogether. Failing to secure roles equal to her earlier success, Gracy gradually disappeared from the movie scene. In 2013, Gracy made a life-changing choice. Gracy immersed herself in spirituality and enrolled in the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. Gracy has been candid in interviews about the peace and inner harmony she discovered through spirituality. She walked away from the madness of fame and opted for a life of mindfulness and service. Although she made a short comeback to acting in the 2020 television serial Santoshi Maa – Sunayein Vrat Kathayein, the show did not fetch her as much popularity as she had before. Gracy is in touch with her fans today on social networking sites, posting occasionally serene moments from her present life. Recently, Gracy has again grabbed a lot of eyeballs as one of her old videos from the movie Muskaan, where she featured alongside Aftab Shivdasani, resurfaced and got viral. She was showered with nostalgic comments. One wrote, 'My husband spotted her in London months ago—he said she's still so gorgeous.' Another said affectionately, 'Are mamuu, yeh to apni Chinky Bhabhi hai.' Although her stay in the limelight was short-lived, Gracy Singh's soft presence and ageless roles are still remembered with affection by those who saw her shine
Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Stay connected to your roots'
Despite the glitz and glamour of a career in showbiz, actors Zara Noor Abbas and Imran Abbas remain firm that the face they present to the world is their true self. As joint guests on Asim Yar Tiwana's show Star and Style, both Zara and Imran opened up about how they have resisted the pressures of conformity while maintaining a career in the spotlight. "When you come to this industry, people try to change you a lot in accordance to their own level of comfort," explained Zara. "But the real success and win-win situation is when you remain true to yourself and stay connected to your roots. And as for the people who manage to keep up a facade – [hats off] to them!" Joining Zara on the guests' couch, Imran appeared to concur with his fellow actor about the importance of remaining honest with oneself. Stressing the importance of remaining natural, the Amanat actor responded to questions about his youthful appearance by saying, "People always ask if I have got surgeries and so on – it is nothing like that." According to Imran, the secret to looking young is to convince yourself that you are young to begin with. "Think young, and it will reflect on your face and on your personality," he advised. "Yes, I have a strict diet, but if you think you are young, it changes your whole body." The actor added that despite those in the industry advising him to tweak certain things about himself in order to become more appealing, he refuses to change anything if it would come at the cost of his own comfort. "I am very pure-hearted. I am not trying to praise myself, but I am proud to say that I have never, not even in my acting, ever tried to change who I really am," shared Imran. Offering a personal example, he elaborated, "During my acting, people have asked me to talk in a deeper voice, but I always said no because I knew I would stop being comfortable within just a few minutes." Zara warmly endorsed the pure heart Imran spoke of by adding, "My family's personal favourite is Imran. My Khala [veteran Bushra Ansari] and Amma [actor Asma Abbas] are in love with him and his genuine beauty and his heart. There is no pretentiousness, there are no lies." As a first-time mother with a young baby, Zara has hit pause on her acting journey to focus on her YouTube show What MomSense?!, where she invites other celebrities who are mothers to share their experiences. Imran, meanwhile, was recently seen in the film Jee Ve Sohneya Jee (2024), a cross-border love story.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kazakhstan lawmakers propose Russian-style 'foreign agent' law
ASTANA (Reuters) - Kazakhstani lawmakers on Wednesday proposed that the country adopt a law restricting "foreign agents", an apparent move to emulate Russia in adopting a measure used to clamp down on government critics. The People's Party, a left-wing opposition party seen as ultimately loyal to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, proposed the legislation, with one of its parliamentary deputies saying that it would safeguard Kazakhstan's sovereignty. Neither the ruling Amanat party nor Kazakhstan's government immediately commented on the proposal. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Details of the proposed law were not immediately available, but similar laws in other former Soviet states have required organisations or individuals receiving funding from abroad to declare themselves foreign agents, often submitting to onerous financial checks. Russia first introduced its law on foreign agents in 2012, and has steadily widened its provisions to clamp down on criticism of Kremlin policy. Georgia forced through a similar law last year, despite mass protests against it. Oil and gas rich Kazakhstan has been governed in an authoritarian style since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, though Tokayev has loosened some controls since taking over from longtime predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2019.
