Latest news with #BlackSwan
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Saiyaara: The black swan which is rewriting Bollywood rules
In a year of sequels and action films, Saiyaara, a musical love story starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, became a surprise hit. Mohit Suri's direction, combined with the film's emotional depth and sincere performances, resonated with audiences. Its success defied expectations, proving that heartfelt stories can still thrive in Bollywood. In a year dominated by sequels, action spectacles, and big-banner ensembles, a quiet musical love story featuring two fresh faces has emerged as the biggest surprise of 2025. Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda has gone on to become the 7th biggest hit of 2025. To many it has turned out to be a Black Swan event—an unpredictable, rare occurrence with far-reaching consequences. Mohit Suri Spills On 20 Years In Bollywood - Ahaan & Aneet, Alia Bhatt Dream Collab & More The term Black Swan, coined and popularized by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, refers to an event that is extremely rare, has a massive impact, and is often rationalized only in hindsight. Saiyaara checks every one of those boxes. It wasn't just a sleeper hit—it was a bolt from the blue that caught audiences, critics, and the trade completely off guard. An Unassuming Beginning The build-up to Saiyaara was relatively quiet. There was no massive marketing blitz, no song launch events or big trailer launched , and no big-ticket names to drive opening weekend footfalls. Ahaan Panday, despite his mother Deanne Panday, uncle Chunky Panday and cousin Ananya Panday are part of movies, he was still untested. Aneet Padda though had some experience in front of the camera thanks to her performance in Revathy's Salaam Venky and Prime Video's show Big Girls Dont Cry but was largely unknown . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Even Mohit Suri—once a hit machine with films like Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain—had been flying under the radar, having delivered a few underwhelming films in recent years. The general perception was that Saiyaara would be a soft launchpad for new talent, not a game-changer. And yet, the film began to stir hearts and spark conversations from the very first show and to many it was the music of the film that did all the talking before the shows began. But by the end of first show all talk moved to the emotional depth of the story, raw sincerity of its newcomers and how good the music was. On Day 4 the film entered the Rs 100 crore club. Trade Expert Komal Nahta taking to X wrote , ' Some may find what I'm going to say here, outrageous. I myself thought, my thinking was bordering on the outrageous. But I've always spoken business, and so here I am: Looking to the fact that today's collections would surpass Friday's record-smashing collections and today's footfalls will be more than Saturday's, I feel inclined to say that YRF and Mohit Suri's 'Saiyaara' is turning out to be Aditya Chopra and YRF's modern-day 'DDLJ'!' The Power of Sincerity in a Formula-Driven Era In an industry increasingly governed by algorithms—franchise formulas, IPs, tentpole budgets, and 'mass appeal' metrics—Saiyaara stood out for its simplicity. It relied on storytelling. The love story at the heart of the film was gentle, melancholic, and deeply human. The musical score, something of a Mohit Suri signature, evoked the golden era of Bollywood romance. Audiences across generations responded to its emotional honesty. It reminded people of why they fell in love with the movies in the first place. That's what makes Saiyaara a Black Swan—it disrupted the prevailing assumptions about what works in modern Bollywood. Who would have thought that, in the age of Pathaan, Jawan, and Stree 2, a soft-spoken love story would hold its own? Redefining Star Power A key characteristic of a Black Swan event is that it transforms narratives—both personal and collective. And Saiyaara has done exactly that for its lead actors. Ahaan Panday, who was known more for famous family ties, has now proven himself as a capable and emotionally intuitive actor. His performance was restrained and vulnerable . Aneet Padda, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most promising new talents in recent memory. Her grounded, layered portrayal has earned her both critical praise and popular adoration. More importantly, the success of Saiyaara proves that the audience is open to discovering and accepting new faces—provided the film offers them an authentic emotional experience. The Redemption of Mohit Suri Perhaps the biggest narrative shift belongs to Mohit Suri. For years, Suri was seen just another director who works with Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt and whose hero is usually Emraan Hashmi . But with Saiyaara-already becoming his highest grossing film - the lens with which people will see him now has changed and he has finally found his footing. With Saiyaara, he is back at the centre of things. The film showcases his core strengths—intimate storytelling, soul-stirring music, and emotionally resonant characters. More importantly, it re-establishes his identity in a landscape where he was starting to be dismissed as outdated. Suri didn't just deliver a hit. He delivered a statement—that there is still room for heartfelt, small-scale stories in Bollywood. That music, emotion, and earnestness haven't gone out of style. A Ripple Effect on the Industry Black Swan events don't just cause temporary tremors—they create ripple effects. And Saiyaara is poised to influence the way the industry looks at scripts, stars, and insiders are noting an increased interest in romantic dramas. Several filmmakers who were sitting on love stories are dusting off their scripts.. In Retrospect: 'Of Course It Was Going to Work' Perhaps the most telling sign of a Black Swan event is that, in hindsight, everyone begins to rationalize it. And Saiyaara is no exception. Now that it's a certified hit, you'll hear people say, 'Mohit Suri always had a touch with music and romance,' or 'Audiences were hungry for a pure love story,' or 'There was something fresh about the newcomers.' These statements may be true—but none of them were dominant opinions before the film was released. That's what makes Saiyaara's success remarkable. It wasn't predicted. It wasn't even imagined.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
6 best teams for Pure Fiction mode in Honkai Star Rail 3.4
Image via miHoYo The 3.4 Pure Fiction mode in Honkai Star Rail is all about speed, synergy, and stacking DoTs. With 'Surging Grit' mechanics rewarding high-frequency damage and DoT stacking, you need carefully crafted squads to crush waves, shred bosses, and farm those 800 Stellar Jades with ease. Here's a crisp breakdown of the best teams for each Pure Fiction node in version 3.4. What's the 3.4 Pure Fiction Gimmick? DoT is king: You stack Grit by dealing DoT. At 100 Grit, you trigger Surging Grit, massively boosting your team's damage potential. Buffs to focus on: Exposition (Ignore 20% RES, DoT stacking = more DoT damage) Misplacement (DoT = more stacks = more enemy damage taken) Intertextuality (Boosts Skill DMG + extra if Wind Shear is active) E1S1 Blade x Hyacine & E0S1 Phainon Sustainless | Pure Fiction Floor 4 3 Stars Honkai: Star Rail 3.4 Best Node 1 Teams (Three Act Structure IV) 1. Acheron | Jiaoqiu | Black Swan | Hyacine Core Idea : Pure DoT domination. Acheron rapidly builds up Grit with ult spam. Jiaoqiu and Black Swan apply AoE debuffs. Hyacine supports uptime and damage. Buff to use : Misplacement 2. Castorice | Ruan Mei | Tribbie | Trailblazer (Remembrance) Core Idea : Castorice as the Quantum hypercarry. With high enemy Quantum weakness, Castorice shines. Ruan and Tribbie buff skill damage. Trailblazer slows enemies and gives more turns. Buff to use : Intertextuality 3. Aglaea | Sunday | Robin | Gallagher Core Idea : Speed-tuned Lightning nuke. Aglaea + Sunday loop her turns. Robin gives ATK and energy boosts. Gallagher heals and debuffs. Buff to use : Misplacement or Intertextuality Best Node 2 Teams 1. Kafka | Black Swan | Ruan Mei | Huohuo Core Idea : Dual DoT storm. Kafka triggers DoT reactions; Black Swan stacks debuffs. Ruan boosts all skill/DoT damage. Huohuo sustains and buffs. Buff to use : Exposition 2. Phainon | Sunday | Bronya | Sparkle Core Idea : Physical hypercarry rush. Phainon self-heals and nukes. Bronya and Sunday advance his actions. Sparkle or Tingyun maintain energy. Buff to use : Misplacement 3. Saber | Sunday | Tribbie | Robin Core Idea: Free-to-play friendly wind-clear team. Saber takes advantage of Wind Shear synergy. Sunday lets her loop faster. Tribbie and Robin increase offensive pressure. Buff to use : Intertextuality NEW Pure Fiction 4 | E0S1 Phainon Sustainless & E0S1 Castorice True DMG | Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Final Tips Before You Jump In Always adjust your buffs to match your team's playstyle . DoT teams need Exposition or Misplacement , while skill-based burst teams benefit from Intertextuality . Speed tuning is key. Especially with Sunday, Bronya, and Tribbie in play—ensure your carries act immediately after support for max damage uptime. Don't hesitate to mix and match replacements like Gallagher, Luocha, or Sparkle if your roster isn't fully stacked. Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Pure Fiction is all about DoT stacking and smart buff usage. Make sure to tailor your team around elemental weaknesses, stack Grit efficiently, and don't underestimate support speed tuning. Whether you're running Acheron to shred stacks or abusing Aglaea's multi-turn rampage, these teams are your best bet for a clean 800-Jade sweep. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Black Swan' Books Exclusive 15th Anniversary Run in Imax Theaters
Darren Aronofsky's award-winning Black Swan is getting the Imax treatment in celebration of its fifteenth anniversary. The psychological thriller — starring Natalie Portman in her Oscar-winning role as a troubled ballerina — is being remastered for an exclusive Aug. 21-24 run in more than 200 Imax locations across the U.S. and Canada, Searchlight Pictures announced Wednesday. More from The Hollywood Reporter Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey': Tickets for Imax 70MM Screenings Now Officially on Sale a Year Out Rise of the Machines: Inside Hollywood's AI Civil War Natalie Portman-Produced French Animated Film 'Arco' Wins Annecy It will be the first time that audiences can watch Black Swan in the premium Imax format. Plans for additional anniversary events will be announced at a later date. Black Swan made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September 2010 on its way to collecting five Academy Award nominations, including for best picture and best director, and a win for best actress. Set in the cutthroat world of New York City ballet, the story follows Nina (Portman), a dedicated dancer whose pursuit of perfection spirals into obsession when a new rival, played by Mila Kunis, joins the company. As she prepares for the demanding dual role of the Swan Queen, the mounting pressure begins to blur the line between reality and delusion, leading to a mesmerizing descent into the dark depths of ambition, identity and madness. Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder also star in the specialty film. Black Swan earned more than $329 million at the global box office, including $107 million domestically and $222 million overseas, not adjusted for inflation, to become one of the top-grossing titles in Searchlight's history. Searchlight released a new trailer and poster ahead of the film's Imax screenings. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
What does one do on their last day as a ballerina? Gillian Murphy jumped off a cliff (gracefully)
NEW YORK (AP) — In every career, there are plenty of consequential decisions to be made. And they tend to get more consequential as time goes on. So it was when Gillian Murphy, one of the most admired American ballerinas for nearly three decades, began contemplating not only when, but how to retire from American Ballet Theatre. She knew she wanted to go out on a high note. Murphy, at 46, is in incredible shape; at a rehearsal earlier this week, she was leaping and twirling like colleagues in their 20s. But in what role should she take her final bow, after 29 years at ABT? Should it be as Juliet? As Giselle? The first of these ends up stabbing herself to death. The other goes mad. The best (and most athletic) option, it turned out, was to jump off a cliff. That's what Odette, the swan queen, does at the end of ABT's version of 'Swan Lake' — followed in this dramatic leap by the prince who loves her, to be joyfully reunited in the afterlife. (In real life they leap onto a mattress offstage, dust themselves off and clamber back for the finale.) Murphy, who's known for her Odette/Odile — especially those fouettés, Odile's fiendishly hard whiplash turns — retired with 'Swan Lake' on Friday night, ending her career in a blur of bouquets, tears and golden confetti. The sold-out Metropolitan Opera House crowd was vocal in their appreciation, cheering her entrances and exits and giving her a standing ovation when she finished her Black Swan variation. Once the ballet finished, the stage filled with Murphy's fellow dancers, teachers and other ABT colleagues bearing flowers. As golden confetti poured from the rafters, Murphy hugged fellow dancers like Misty Copeland, who herself will retire from ABT with fanfare in October. She was also greeted by her husband, former ABT principal dancer Ethan Stiefel, and their 6-year-old son, Ax, who'd just watched him mom perform at the opera house for the first time. Murphy lifted Ax off his feet and twirled him around joyfully. Murphy spoke to The Associated Press in the rushed moments between rehearsals, classes and delayed commuter trains in the days leading up to the big occasion. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. AP: You were only 17 when you joined ABT. Now you're 46. Did you imagine such a long career? MURPHY: I would have never expected to be dancing this long, honestly. I think in my mind I always had 40 years old as a time frame. But I didn't expect to feel this good at this point! I've truly loved my career at ABT, and it's given me the opportunity to dance all over the world. So I'm happy I'm still here.' AP: Ballet takes a huge amount of athletic ability. But you need to be an actor, too. How have your abilities developed as you've gotten older? MURPHY: I do feel that life experience really does come out in performances. And when we're telling these stories about true love and forgiveness and loss, all the dramatic sort of themes that come out in these ballets, it does make a difference when you've experienced those things in your life. AP: Speaking of true love: Some ABT ballerinas have chosen Juliet for their retirement performance. You've chosen a much more physically demanding role: 'Swan Lake.' Just seeing you rehearse it was exhausting. MURPHY: (laughing) It doesn't get any easier, yeah. I have so many favorite roles, but 'Swan Lake' includes two of my most favorite, Odette and Odile. It's always been incredibly challenging, but also so fulfilling. When I was a kid, my dream role was the Black Swan (Odile), actually. So just in a full-circle moment, it feels special to finish with this ballet that I dreamed of doing as a kid, and first did as a young soloist with ABT 24 years ago. AP: Let's not forget that you're known for Odile's fouettés (32 whiplash turns on one leg that the Black Swan performs). Are you still throwing in double turns? MURPHY: Well, I used to throw in triples, triple pirouettes in the middle of the fouettés. Anything could happen on Friday night, but I think I just want to finish strong ... and take risks elsewhere. I'll probably aim to do the 32, possibly with a few doubles in there. AP: It's such a tough call in any career — how did you make the decision to retire now? MURPHY: It's never an easy decision for any dancer. It's a calling from a very early age ... but I've always wanted to finish strong and with my own sense of agency. I really relish when that sense of imagination and life experience and artistry is integrated with the physicality, the athleticism, the technique. And I feel like I'm still in that place where I can do that. So I want to finish with that sense of fullness. AP: How have you managed to keep your conditioning so strong, for so long? MURPHY: I never knew what to expect in terms of how long I'd be able to do this job that I love so much. But I've always had strong feelings about getting plenty of sleep and rest. I try to keep a daily practice of class and sometimes several hours of rehearsal, but also to take at least one day off in the week to recover. And I've always put a priority on being as fit and strong as possible in terms of my nutrition. So, having a really balanced diet and also enjoying desserts and just good quality, good nutritious food, I think that has helped with longevity. AP: It sounds like you're talking about a healthy attitude toward food. MURPHY: A healthy attitude towards food, and also a sense of humor about myself. You know, dancers are not robots. Like an athlete, we can have an off day and (we should) not let that be too discouraging. That's par for the course. AP: Have there been any major injuries or setbacks along the way? MURPHY: I've been pretty fortunate about bouncing back from muscle strains and things like that. I'd say coming back from pregnancy and an emergency c-section was not easy ... but I was able to get onstage and do a full-length 'Giselle' when my son was 8 months old. And then, a couple of weeks after that, the pandemic hit. I had just gotten everything back together. AP: So when you hang up those pointe shoes ... how do you envision spending your time? MURPHY: I'm going to lean into coaching and staging, especially (husband) Ethan's choreography, for the immediate future. I also want to take some time to process this huge transition and consider options and think about what I really want to do. I would be really surprised if it doesn't involve giving back or working in some way in the dance world, because it's so meaningful to me. Clearly, this is a lifetime pursuit.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
What does one do on their last day as a ballerina? Gillian Murphy jumped off a cliff (gracefully)
But in what role should she take her final bow, after 29 years at ABT? Should it be as Juliet? As Giselle? The first of these ends up stabbing herself to death. The other goes mad. The best (and most athletic) option, it turned out, was to jump off a cliff. That's what Odette, the swan queen, does at the end of ABT's version of 'Swan Lake' — followed in this dramatic leap by the prince who loves her, to be joyfully reunited in the afterlife. (In real life they leap onto a mattress offstage, dust themselves off and clamber back for the finale.) Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Murphy, who's known for her Odette/Odile — especially those fouettés, Odile's fiendishly hard whiplash turns — retired with 'Swan Lake' on Friday night, ending her career in a blur of bouquets, tears and golden confetti. Advertisement The sold-out Metropolitan Opera House crowd was vocal in their appreciation, cheering her entrances and exits and giving her a standing ovation when she finished her Black Swan variation. Once the ballet finished, the stage filled with Murphy's fellow dancers, teachers and other ABT colleagues bearing flowers. As golden confetti poured from the rafters, Murphy hugged fellow dancers like Misty Copeland, who herself will retire from ABT with fanfare in October. Advertisement She was also greeted by her husband, former ABT principal dancer Ethan Stiefel, and their 6-year-old son, Ax, who'd just watched him mom perform at the opera house for the first time. Murphy lifted Ax off his feet and twirled him around joyfully. Murphy spoke to The Associated Press in the rushed moments between rehearsals, classes and delayed commuter trains in the days leading up to the big occasion. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. AP: You were only 17 when you joined ABT. Now you're 46. Did you imagine such a long career? MURPHY: I would have never expected to be dancing this long, honestly. I think in my mind I always had 40 years old as a time frame. But I didn't expect to feel this good at this point! I've truly loved my career at ABT, and it's given me the opportunity to dance all over the world. So I'm happy I'm still here.' AP: Ballet takes a huge amount of athletic ability. But you need to be an actor, too. How have your abilities developed as you've gotten older? MURPHY: I do feel that life experience really does come out in performances. And when we're telling these stories about true love and forgiveness and loss, all the dramatic sort of themes that come out in these ballets, it does make a difference when you've experienced those things in your life. AP: Speaking of true love: Some ABT ballerinas have chosen Juliet for their retirement performance. You've chosen a much more physically demanding role: 'Swan Lake.' Just seeing you rehearse it was exhausting. MURPHY: (laughing) It doesn't get any easier, yeah. I have so many favorite roles, but 'Swan Lake' includes two of my most favorite, Odette and Odile. It's always been incredibly challenging, but also so fulfilling. When I was a kid, my dream role was the Black Swan (Odile), actually. So just in a full-circle moment, it feels special to finish with this ballet that I dreamed of doing as a kid, and first did as a young soloist with ABT 24 years ago. Advertisement AP: Let's not forget that you're known for Odile's fouettés (32 whiplash turns on one leg that the Black Swan performs). Are you still throwing in double turns? MURPHY: Well, I used to throw in triples, triple pirouettes in the middle of the fouettés. Anything could happen on Friday night, but I think I just want to finish strong ... and take risks elsewhere. I'll probably aim to do the 32, possibly with a few doubles in there. AP: It's such a tough call in any career — how did you make the decision to retire now? MURPHY: It's never an easy decision for any dancer. It's a calling from a very early age ... but I've always wanted to finish strong and with my own sense of agency. I really relish when that sense of imagination and life experience and artistry is integrated with the physicality, the athleticism, the technique. And I feel like I'm still in that place where I can do that. So I want to finish with that sense of fullness. AP: How have you managed to keep your conditioning so strong, for so long? MURPHY: I never knew what to expect in terms of how long I'd be able to do this job that I love so much. But I've always had strong feelings about getting plenty of sleep and rest. I try to keep a daily practice of class and sometimes several hours of rehearsal, but also to take at least one day off in the week to recover. And I've always put a priority on being as fit and strong as possible in terms of my nutrition. So, having a really balanced diet and also enjoying desserts and just good quality, good nutritious food, I think that has helped with longevity. AP: It sounds like you're talking about a healthy attitude toward food. MURPHY: A healthy attitude towards food, and also a sense of humor about myself. You know, dancers are not robots. Like an athlete, we can have an off day and (we should) not let that be too discouraging. That's par for the course. Advertisement AP: Have there been any major injuries or setbacks along the way? MURPHY: I've been pretty fortunate about bouncing back from muscle strains and things like that. I'd say coming back from pregnancy and an emergency c-section was not easy ... but I was able to get onstage and do a full-length 'Giselle' when my son was 8 months old. And then, a couple of weeks after that, the pandemic hit. I had just gotten everything back together. AP: So when you hang up those pointe shoes ... how do you envision spending your time? MURPHY: I'm going to lean into coaching and staging, especially (husband) Ethan's choreography, for the immediate future. I also want to take some time to process this huge transition and consider options and think about what I really want to do. I would be really surprised if it doesn't involve giving back or working in some way in the dance world, because it's so meaningful to me. Clearly, this is a lifetime pursuit.
