Latest news with #BalajiTelefilms


News18
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Usha Nadkarni BREAKS Down While Talking About Living Alone In Mumbai At 79: 'It's Scary'
Last Updated: Veteran actress Usha Nadkarni opens up about living alone at 79 during a heartfelt conversation with Ankita Lokhande, sharing her fears and emotional struggles. Marking 16 years in the entertainment industry, Ankita Lokhande recently celebrated a milestone that also marked her television debut in Pavitra Rishta—the show that made her a household name. The series, which began in 2009, not only launched her career but also remains etched in the hearts of fans for the unforgettable pairing of Ankita and the late Sushant Singh Rajput, who portrayed Manav opposite her Archana. To mark the occasion, Ankita hosted a heartwarming get-together at her Mumbai home, inviting veteran actress Usha Nadkarni, who played the iconic role of her mother-in-law, Savita Deshmukh, in the show. The reunion turned into an emotional journey down memory lane as the two reminisced about their time on set and remembered Sushant with love and reverence. In a video shared on Ankita's YouTube channel on Sunday, Usha Nadkarni opened up about her life today. At 79, she lives alone in Mumbai and revealed the fears and loneliness that sometimes creep in. 'Ghar mein akeli hoon na, darr lagta hai mein girungi, kisko malum nahi padega. My brother passed away last year on June 30. If he had understood that I was going through something, he would have come running to me. Now, whom should I tell?" she shared, visibly emotional, as Ankita and her husband Vicky Jain listened with compassion. Ankita expressed admiration for Usha's resilience, saying, 'Aai bohot zyada strong hai, woh akeli rehti hai. Woh itne saalon se akeli rahi hai, mein bohot saalon se aai ko dekh rahi hoon." The deep bond between the two actresses, forged over years of shared screen time and personal growth, was palpable. Reflecting on her early days, Ankita also remembered the support she received from Sushant, her former co-star and ex-boyfriend. 'Sushant itna acha actor tha. Woh mujhe bohot help karta tha kyunki jab mein sab actors ke samne jati thi, mujhe bohot darr lagta tha ki mein kaise itne bade-bade scenes karu. Woh mujhe sikhata tha," she recalled, her voice tinged with nostalgia and gratitude. Pavitra Rishta, produced under Ektaa Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms banner, is considered one of Indian television's most iconic love stories. Adapted from the Tamil series Thirumathi Selvam, the show featured a strong ensemble cast including Hiten Tejwani, Asha Negi, Rithvik Dhanjani, Shakti Arora, and Karan Veer Mehra. It remains the third-longest-running show on Zee TV, and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of audiences even today. First Published:


Time of India
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jaya Bhattacharya about her character in Kumkum Bhagya; says 'I'm thrilled to be sharing the screen with Gurdip for the first time'
TV's iconic and long-running show Kumkum Bhagya continues to captivate its loyal audience with an emotionally charged new chapter that follows the evolving love story of Prarthana (Pranali Rathod) and Raunak (Akshay Dev Bindra). With the recent entry of Namik Paul as the intense and mysterious Shivansh, the drama has reached new heights. Now, adding further intrigue to the storyline is the entry of popular television actor Jaya Bhattacharya , who joins the cast in a pivotal role as Shivansh's Bua Maa Respected and revered by Shivansh, Bua Maa may appear to be the guiding matriarch of the household, but there's more than meets the eye. Known for portraying powerful, layered characters, Jaya steps into a grey-shaded role marked by control, manipulation, and hidden intentions. While she projects warmth and care for Shivansh, her character hides a simmering desire for revenge against Smita (Gurdip Punjj), which is set to spark intense drama in the episodes to come. Jaya Bhattacharya said, 'Coming back to a show on the channel truly feels like a homecoming. Being part of Kumkum Bhagya is an absolute delight. It's heartening to see so many familiar faces and witnessing how they've grown is incredibly fulfilling. Balaji Telefilms was the first production house to trust me with a negative role, which became a turning point in my career. I haven't looked back since.' She further added, 'This new character is exciting because she's so layered and complex. She's helping me tap into a different dimension of portraying grey roles, pushing me to explore new boundaries as an actor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo I'm also thrilled to be sharing the screen with Gurdip for the first time—she's a phenomenal performer and brings incredible depth to her character. The atmosphere on set is vibrant and collaborative, and I'm really enjoying being part of such a passionate team. The audience has already shown me so much love through their messages, and I'm truly grateful for their continued support. There's a lot of high-voltage drama ahead—full of twists and surprises—that will definitely keep viewers hooked.' While Jaya Bhattacharya makes her grand entry into the show, it will be interesting for viewers to watch what's next since Shivansh has already married Prarthana (Pranali Rathod) to seek revenge against Smita Zaveri?


News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Smriti Irani Shoots For Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 With Z Plus Security: Report
Last Updated: Smriti Irani, known for her role as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, has started shooting for the show's second season with Z+ security. Union Minister Smriti Irani, who became a household name as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, has reportedly begun shooting for the second season of the iconic show. According to a report, the actress-turned-politician is returning to acting after a long break, and this time, she's filming under Z+ security. The new season of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has been in the news for the last few months, with fans eagerly waiting for an official announcement. Now, it looks like the cameras are finally rolling, and Smriti is back on set. A source told India Forums that security on the sets is very strict. Mobile phones are being taped to avoid any leaks, and extra precautions are in place to ensure everything runs smoothly. With Z+ security, the highest level of protection in India, Smriti is being guarded closely during the shoot. The source said, "The mobile phones of everyone on the sets, excluding Amar (Upadhyay) sir, Smriti ma'am and Ekta (Kapoor) ma'am will be taped. Everyone will be barred from using their mobile phones. Smriti is also shooting with Z Plus security, and everyone on the sets will have to adhere to the strict security protocols laid." Smriti Irani first played Tulsi Virani over two decades ago, and her character went on to become one of the most loved on Indian television. The show air from 2000 to 2008. The show was co-produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor under their banner Balaji Telefilms. Smriti Irani began her political journey in 2003 when she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She served as the Union Minister for Human Resource Development from 2014 to 2016. After that, she took charge as the Union Minister for Textiles, a role she held from 2016 to 2021. Smriti Irani also held the position of Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting from 2017 to 2018. In 2019, she was appointed as the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, a post she held until 2024. From 2022 to 2024, she also took on the additional responsibility of Union Minister for Minority Affairs. First Published: May 31, 2025, 08:26 IST


Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive - Yeh Rishta fame Pratiksha Honmukhe joins Paras Kalnawat and the cast of Parineeti post 20 years leap
Popular TV show Parineeti has been entertaining the audiences successfully for the last three years. After introducing various twists and turns, the show is now headed for a 20 years generation leap. Following the 20-year leap, the show is set to take a fresh turn with an all-new cast. According to media reports, Anchal Sahu will continue to be a part of the series, portraying the younger version of the main lead. The daily soap is all set to introduce two new characters who will join the cast after the generation leap. Times Of India TV has learnt that after finalising Paras Kalnawat, the makers have now roped in Pratiksha Honemukhe to play an important role. P ratiksha, who was last seen in Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gayi, has been locked to play one of the leads after the generation leap. Meanwhile, Paras Kalnawat, who first won over television audiences as Samar Shah in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, later took on the role of the next-generation lead in Kundali Bhagya. If things work out, this upcoming project will mark his second consecutive collaboration with Balaji Telefilms. Pratiksha, who worked as an air hostess for seven years before entering the world of acting. She became known for playing the role of Ruhi Birla in the popular TV show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Even though she had to leave the show suddenly, Pratiksha didn't give up on her dreams. She later appeared as Priyanka, the ex-wife of Virat (played by Arjit Taneja), in the TV show Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: Garvita Sadhwani Reveals How She Managed To Get Into Pratiksha Honmukhe's Shoes For 'Roohi'


India.com
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Bollywood legend who once lived in a chawl, did over 200 films, founder of a leading production house, his son is an actor.., he is…
Meet Bollywood legend who once lived in a chawl, did over 200 films, founder of a leading production house, his son is an actor.., he is… In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, success is always fleeting. And with the success comes money. While one day a star could be nothing, another day, on a Friday, one box office hit can turn around their entire career trajectory and their life. Many such tales belong to actors of the Hindi Film Industry who, at one stage, were barely making ends meet, but later they managed to become a stars in the film. Many of them only spent moments, days, or weeks of their childhood and/or early youth in poverty, but they had their moment to shine in Bollywood. You can find lots of instances of this in Bollywood. One such actor who had a similar tale was Jeetendra, who went through poverty but later got Bollywood success. In an interview, Jeetendra said that he lived in a dilapidated apartment, but when he had a fan installed in his apartment, the entire dilapidated building came to look at the fan. Jeetendra encountered difficult times even after being successful in his industry, and he starred in 60 movies in 8 years. 60 films in 8 years Jeetendra began his journey as a Bollywood actor in 1964 with I.V. Shantaram's film 'Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne'. He achieved success in Bollywood quickly. Later, he also became active as a producer. However, in 1982, after the failure of his film 'Deedar-e-Yaar,' Jeetendra experienced a major blow. His finances suffered. To remedy this, he continued working on blind films. A veteran actor had mentioned this insecurity in an interview: 'I did 60 films continuously in 8 years because it is true, I was insecure, very insecure in the 1980s.' When the fan was fitted into the house, everyone in the chawl came to see it In the same interview, Jeetendra shared an anecdote associated with his hardships. The actor said, 'I am a person who came from a chawl in Goregaon. I have seen the time when a fan was fitted in my house, and people from the entire chawl came to see it. I have gone through the bad time very closely, that's why I used to work like a madman.' Jeetendra has not worked in films for almost 25 years The actor Jeetendra ruled the Hindi film industry for so many years. Now that the actor has stayed away from the industry for two and a half decades. But he earns crores from his production houses, Balaji Telefilms, Alt Balaj,i and Balaji Motion Pictures. His daughter Ekta Kapoor and wife Shobha Kapoor look after this work.