Latest news with #Badola
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Varun Badola Says Saiyaara Would Flop With Shah Rukh Khan In Lead: 'He Is Too Big For The Film'
Varun Badola says Saiyaara would have failed if Shah Rukh Khan had been cast, calling the superstar 'too big for the film.' Actor Varun Badola, who recently appeared in the blockbuster Saiyaara, is making waves with his candid take on the ongoing 'Star vs Content" debate. With the film's massive success—fronted by newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda—many have been quick to suggest that star power may no longer be a necessity in Bollywood. But Badola isn't buying into that narrative entirely. In a recent interview with Nayandeep Rakshit on his YouTube channel, the veteran actor pushed back against the idea that Saiyaara's success proves audiences have moved beyond the need for big stars. According to him, the requirement for star power depends entirely on the scale and nature of a project. Drawing a direct comparison between megastar Shah Rukh Khan and debutant Ahaan Panday, Badola explained, 'Abhi tum Ahaan Panday ko utha ke Jawan mein daalo, Jawan flop ho jayegi. Shah Rukh ko Saiyaara mein daal do, Saiyaara flop ho jayegi." In other words, casting a star in a project not tailored for them—or a newcomer in a mega spectacle—could equally spell disaster. Elaborating on this point, he said that Shah Rukh Khan's superstardom would be 'too big" for an intimate story like Saiyaara, while Ahaan, at this stage in his career, wouldn't have the persona or gravitas to carry a large-scale action entertainer like Jawan. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara tells the story of Krish Kapoor (played by Ahaan Panday), a musician, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a writer, whose lives intertwine in a tale of love and self-discovery. The film also stars Rajesh Kumar, Shaad Randhawa, Neil Bhoopalam, and Varun Badola himself as Krish's father, Ashok Kapoor. Badola's performance has been widely appreciated, adding depth to the emotional core of the film. While the conversation around nepotism and the rise of content-driven cinema has dominated industry chatter in recent years, Badola believes that dismissing the role of stars entirely oversimplifies the equation. 'It's about matching the right talent to the right story," he implied, suggesting that both elements—star power and content—must work in harmony rather than in competition. The 51-year-old actor, known for his versatile performances across television and film, is also part of the newly released War 2. Reflecting on his decades in the industry, Badola sees the current shift as an evolution rather than an overthrow. The traditional model where a superstar's name alone could guarantee a hit has been challenged, but in his view, it has transformed into a more nuanced dynamic where compelling content now stands as an equal co-star. 'Saiyaara doesn't prove that stars are irrelevant," he seemed to say with conviction—it proves that when the right actors meet the right story, audiences respond, whether those actors are newcomers or industry legends. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
'Malicious Intent To Tarnish Saiyaara': Varun Badola Slams Reports Misrepresenting His Comment
Last Updated: This comes a day after it was reported that Varun Badola took a subtle yet scathing dig at the Saiyaara's PR machinery. Varun Badola has lashed out at reports, allegedly misrepresenting his comments on Saiyaara. Badola, who plays Ahaan Panday's father in the Mohit Suri directorial, recently took to his Instagram stories and slammed those attempting to tarnish the movie. 'This is a complete misinterpretation and misrepresentation of my words. This is malicious in its intent to tarnish a film like Saiyaara that has been receiving unanimous love from everyone," Badola wrote. This comes a day after it was reported that Varun Badola took a subtle yet scathing dig at the film's PR machinery. While producer Akshaye Widhani and director Suri maintained that the reactions were organic and not planted, Badola offered a more grounded take in an interview with Screen. 'When we were working on the film, we hadn't thought it would get so big… But on the third day of the release, when the film blew up at the box office, we realised it had gone big. I still haven't watched Saiyaara," he revealed. Commenting on the viral videos, Badola didn't hold back: 'By the third or fourth day, the film was being talked about. I saw the euphoria on Instagram. Log jo chudiyaan tod rahe hai, chaatiyaan peet rahe hai (People were breaking bangles and beating their chests). I think the promotions team went a little overboard… putting IV drips. Those people must have been told to give content. Thank god, people didn't get their legs broken and go crawling to see the film." Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara follows the love story of Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), a dreamer who wants to become a singing sensation, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), an aspiring journalist. Their lives take unexpected turns as love, ambition, and societal pressures clash in this emotionally charged romance. The film has earned over Rs 500 crore at the box office as of now. First Published: August 08, 2025, 09:23 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Scroll.in
07-08-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Asiatic wild dog spotted in Assam region decades after local extinction
In a breakthrough for wildlife conservation in Assam, a study by the Wildlife Institute of India has confirmed the presence of dholes, or Asiatic wild dogs, in the Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Landscape, a region where they were believed to be locally extinct since the 1990s. 'A total of six photos were captured of a single individual on October 31, 2022,' said Ruchi Badola, dean of the Wildlife Institute of India, and one of the authors of the June 2025 paper that documents the first photographic evidence of dholes in the landscape in decades. The individual dhole was captured multiple times on the same route, located within the Amguri corridor, around 375 metres from the National Highway 37. The nearest human settlement is about 270 metres away. The camera record highlights the critical role of wildlife corridors in supporting the movement and survival of elusive carnivores like dholes in fragmented, non-protected landscapes, said the study. 'This was the only instance where we captured a dhole on camera in the landscape during the study period,' said Badola who conducted the study with co-authors Mujahid Ahamad, Jyotish Ranjan Deka, Priyanka Borah, Umar Saeed and Syed Ainul Hussain. The study, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, was funded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Distribution of dholes The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and a Schedule II species in the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, where hunting or trade of dholes is prohibited and violations can attract penalties. Currently, the dhole's distribution is confined to central and eastern Asia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Although dholes have been extensively studied in India, studies in northeastern India remain relatively limited. Regarding their presence in the northeast, the paper noted, 'The Dhole has been recorded in northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim and in the eastern state of West Bengal. In Nagaland, a pack of Dholes was observed by birdwatchers on 21 May 2011, far from the Myanmar border, and this sighting was confirmed by the Nagaland Forest Department. Previous global assessments in 1990 reported that Dhole presence was confined only to the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River and has undergone extirpation in the south.' 'Recent records of Dholes from Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram and other areas of northeastern India, including non-protected regions, provide evidence of the species' persistence in the region. In Assam, evidence on dhole occurrence is limited. The most reliable record comes from Jeypore-Dihing Reserve Forest in Dibrugarh district, where Kashmira Kakati observed a dhole in 2010. Secondary sources suggest occurrences in the Patheria Hills Reserve Forest in Karimganj district,' added the paper. Source population The presence of dholes in Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Landscape suggests there may be nearby source populations, said the paper. One such source population is in Ntanki National Park in Nagaland. Such dispersal is possible through the fragmented habitats of the Karbi Anglong District, which may act as a corridor facilitating movement between populations. 'Protected areas such as Morat Longri, northern Karbi Anglong, and eastern Karbi Anglong serve as ideal habitat patches that could support dispersal and provide stepping-stone habitats for wide-ranging species,' the paper noted. These protected areas and surrounding forests are likely important for dhole populations to survive and stay connected in the region, said the paper. 'The lack of recent sightings or reports from the area highlights the challenges posed by habitat fragmentation and reduced connectivity. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and conserve potential source and sink populations within the larger landscape to ensure the persistence of dholes,' it added. Dholes in this landscape are under threat from habitat fragmentation and reduced prey, said the paper. Anecdotal information also suggests that the dholes may be killed in retaliation for their attacks on the mithun in the bordering state of Nagaland. Noted environmentalist Anwaruddin Choudhury, who has been a former bureaucrat and served as the Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong, said, 'Kaziranga National Park is not a typical dhole habitat. There used to be some sightings of dholes in KNP before the 1980s. As vehicular movement increased in the highways in Kaziranga, the habitat of dholes got disturbed and they disappeared from the landscape. However, there has been a presence of dholes in the Reserve Forests of Karbi Anglong,' he told Mongabay India. Speaking on whether there will be a population estimate of dholes in this landscape, Arun Vignesh, Divisional Forest Officer, Eastern Range of Kaziranga National Park, told Mongabay India, 'The presence of a dhole has just been confirmed from the study. However, it is too early to conduct a population estimate.' When asked if there have been any sightings of the species in Kaziranga National Park, he said, 'None of our forest staff has reported presence of any dhole in KNP during patrolling. However, there were some unconfirmed sighting reports from villagers in fringe areas.' 'KNP landscape is a mixture of grasslands, woodlands and wetlands and it should provide good habitat for dholes. Also, dholes hunt in packs and with the presence of other predators like tigers and leopards in KNP, it is to be seen what impact they have on the prey base in this region,' added Vignesh. .
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Varun Badola to play a flawed father in Itti Si Khushi; Says ‘It's a delicate balance to portray someone who isn't a typical antagonist'
Veteran television actor Varun Badola is all set to make a powerful return to the small screen with the upcoming family drama Itti Si Khushi. The show, rooted in the bustling lanes of Mumbai, explores a poignant narrative of sacrifice, responsibility, and broken family dynamics. Badola will essay the role of Suhas Diwekar — a father riddled with personal failures, whose presence casts a long shadow over his daughter Anvita's (played by Sumbul Touqeer Khan) life. Speaking about the complexity of his character, Badola shares, 'Suhas is a man who's constantly escaping responsibility, yet he isn't entirely heartless. It's a delicate balance to portray someone who isn't a typical antagonist, but whose failures have had a deep impact on his children. It's a very layered character; one moment, he frustrates you, the next, he breaks your heart.' The story follows Anvita, a 21-year-old girl who steps into the role of head of the family after her father succumbs to alcoholism and her mother walks away. As the eldest of six siblings, she sacrifices her dreams to become the family's emotional and practical anchor. Varun Badola, known for his nuanced performances, has had a celebrated career in television. He became a household name with shows like Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand and Koshish – Ek Asha, where he showcased his impressive range. Over the years, he has consistently taken on challenging roles in dramas like Prem Kahani, Mere Dad Ki Dulhan, and Thapki Pyar Ki. With Itti Si Khushi, Badola continues his legacy of portraying emotionally rich and complex characters, promising another impactful performance in a story that blends reality with deep emotional resonance.
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Ramanand Sagar's iconic Ramayan was nearly shelved, slapped with 175 cuts': Varun Badola reveals he was ‘stopped from quoting Ramcharitmanas'
Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan is one of the most watched shows in Indian television history, with its re-runs still airing on the Doordarshan network. While it's now considered to be an evergreen classic, the show was nearly shelved. Actor, director and writer Varun Badola, known for his popular roles on television, sat down for an interview and shared some anecdotes about the television industry. In an appearance on the YouTube show Zindagi with Richa, Badola talked about his time in television, and his transition into OTT. Among the many stories he shared, he was very vocal about the practices of network executives and what all goes into getting a show on air. He revealed how his vision seldom aligned with the makers' and said, 'The first thing we are always told on TV is that the show has to be aspirational. Either I was taught a very different meaning of that word, or I didn't understand the makers.' ALSO READ: Varun Badola answers if Ekta Kapoor ruined Indian television forever, says he spoke to her about it: 'Sunne waalon mein se nahi hai' He gave an example of how too much red tape can be harmful for the business and talked about how the iconic Ramayan series was stuck on a shelf for reasons he never understood. He said, 'I can give you first hand information regarding this, that a show like Ramayan had 175 cuts prepared. Ramanand Sagar himself made those 175 cuts and told me. Yet they did not want to air the show for reasons best known to them.' The actor added that people start walking on eggshells when it comes to stories with religious backdrops, and blamed it on the 'rudimentary and archaic' thinking of people. The type of thinking which led makers of a certain show to stop Badola for quoting the epic Ramcharitmanas. 'I wanted to use a quote from the Ramcharitmanas, and they were completely against it and told me that it wasn't allowed. Their explanations were very weird, and they told me that I could use any one obscure line written by Kabir, but I couldn't use the entire doha,' added Badola. Badola has made a successful transition from daily soap operas to web series on OTT platforms with appearances in shows like Guns and Gulaabs (2023), Your Honour (2020), and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen (2024). He also starred in Sky Force (2025) alongside Akshay Kumar and debutant Veer Pahariya.
