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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee lose life savings after falling for financial fraud: ‘Have to start from zero'
Television actors Kunal Verma and Puja Banerjee have been going through a tough time. In a recent vlog, this couple revealed that they were victims of a major financial scam by someone they knew, and have lost all their savings. Puja shared that their fans, well-wishers and followers were beginning to show concern after a recent update, and that's what made them decide to share about the scam. She said, 'These past two-three months have been extremely difficult for us, and I have no idea what will happen next. We have been a victim of a financial scam and we lost a huge amount of money.' Puja Banerjee's Eid video that she mentioned in her blog: A post shared by Puja Banerjee (@banerjeepuja) Puja went on to share the shocking news that they had been defrauded by someone they knew and trusted, and that they have lost all of their savings. Sharing that they are in deep shock, the couple acknowledged that they are still dealing with the situation and trying to get over the devastating financial blow. Describing their ongoing shock and struggle to recover, Puja added that they now have to face the difficult task of starting from zero. Talking about the emotional toll of the scam, Puja added, 'Bohot waqt laga humein iske baare mein baat karne mein. We are both in shock and Kunal is deeply affected by this. We still get overwhelmed when we talk about it.' Kunal Verma shared that whatever they are today, it is because of their fans. He shared more details and highlights about the betrayal and said, 'When you trust someone for the past three years. Has been with you, becomes a part of your home and family.' Kunal Verma, Puja Banerjee's vlog talking but their major financial scam: He added that they were trying to hide his news of immense lost from their immediate family too but their loved ones would now learn about it through their vlog. Kunal concluded by saying that it has been a long and challenging process to try to recover the money that was lost to the scammer. Kriti works as a Copy Editor for the Entertainment section of Indian Express Online ( She is great at web stories, galleries, and Express Archive's photo stories. She is good at spotting stories from social media posts. She makes the copies well-loaded with content, photos, tweets, and other related social media posts to make it interesting for the readers. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, Chennai (Specialization in New Media), Kriti has been a part of the organisation since November 2015. She took a transfer from Delhi to Bengaluru in April 2017. ... Read More
Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Nakuul Mehta, Jankee Parekh set to welcome their second child: ‘We are accepting blessings again'
Actor Nakuul Mehta and his wife Jankee Parekh are all set to embrace parenthood for the second time. The couple took to social media to share the news in the cutest way, posting an adorable family photoshoot on Sunday. They are already parents to 4-year-old son Sufi. In the photos, Jankee is seen proudly flaunting her baby bump. For the special shoot, the soon-to-be parents twinned in grey outfits, while the excited sibling-to-be looked thrilled. Little Sufi also showed off a drawing he made of his happy family of four. The caption of the post read, 'The boy is ready for additional responsibility. So are we. We are accepting blessings, 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷.' The happy news has left the couple's fans overjoyed. Actress Kritika Kamra responded to the post by saying, 'This family's about to get even cuter! How awesome😍 Congratulations ❤️, ' while actor Rithvik Dhanjani wrote, 'Hayeee 🧿🧿🧿😍😍😍 blessing and more blessings 🥹😍.' Actress Dia Mirza added, 'How wonderful ❤️❤️❤️ love love love love,' while others like Ayushmann Khurrana, Anita Hassanandani also reacted to the news. See the latest post of Nakuul Mehta and Jankee Parekh: A post shared by Nakuul Mehta (@nakuulmehta) Nakuul Mehta and Jankee Parekh got married on January 28, 2012 and welcomed their son, Sufi, in February 2021. The couple had shared earlier how their son was just over two months old when he had to undergo surgery after being diagnosed with bilateral inguinal hernia. On the work front, Nakuul is currently seen alongside Disha Parmar in the second season of Bade Acche Lagte Hain. Kriti works as a Copy Editor for the Entertainment section of Indian Express Online ( She is great at web stories, galleries, and Express Archive's photo stories. She is good at spotting stories from social media posts. She makes the copies well-loaded with content, photos, tweets, and other related social media posts to make it interesting for the readers. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, Chennai (Specialization in New Media), Kriti has been a part of the organisation since November 2015. She took a transfer from Delhi to Bengaluru in April 2017. ... Read More
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Paresh Rawal confirms exit from Hera Pheri 3: ‘There is no creative disagreement with the filmmaker'
Paresh Rawal, who portrays the iconic character Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the Hera Pheri franchise, confirmed on Sunday that he is no longer part of the upcoming sequel, Hera Pheri 3. While earlier reports claimed he had exited the project due to creative differences, the actor took to social media to refute those claims. The actor took to his X account and wrote, 'I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER . I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director.' I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER . I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director. — Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) May 18, 2025 Paresh Rawal's role in the Hera Pheri films has become a fan favourite over the years. His dialogues and scenes continue to be widely shared as memes on social media. The Hera Pheri franchise began with the 2000 film Hera Pheri, directed by Priyadarshan. Its sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, released in 2006, was directed by Neeraj Vora. The third installment is reportedly being helmed by Priyadarshan once again. Kriti works as a Copy Editor for the Entertainment section of Indian Express Online ( She is great at web stories, galleries, and Express Archive's photo stories. She is good at spotting stories from social media posts. She makes the copies well-loaded with content, photos, tweets, and other related social media posts to make it interesting for the readers. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, Chennai (Specialization in New Media), Kriti has been a part of the organisation since November 2015. She took a transfer from Delhi to Bengaluru in April 2017. ... Read More
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mahabharat: BR Chopra stood by Rahi Masoom Raza when Doordarshan questioned how a Muslim man could write the show, ‘It's not Hindu or Muslim'
Many years ago, Aamir Khan hinted that he was keen on making Mahabharat for the big screen. It wasn't even an announcement but it prompted the trolls. The idea that a Muslim man wanted to make an epic that's sacred for the Hindus was too much for the naysayers. On Tuesday morning, Aamir reiterated his thoughts and said that he would want to make multiple films on the epic as the story is so vast that it can't be summarised in one film. 37 years ago, when BR Chopra made Mahabharat, he faced something similar because he hired a Muslim writer, Rahi Masoom Raza, to write the show. BR Chopra was considered to be one of the pioneers of the Indian film industry. He started making movies in the 1950s and with films like Naya Daur, Waqt, Dhool Ka Phool among many others under his banner BR Films. It was in the 1980s that Doordarshan approached him to make either Ramayan or Mahabharat as a television show, and he chose to make Mahabharat. 'Every producer dreams of making Mahabharat. I also wanted to make it but I knew that you can't make it in a three hour film. If you want to make it, you have to make it in a long format, and the only option for that was television,' he shared in the 'Making of Mahabharat'. Chopra believed that Mahabharat was a bigger challenge as compared to Ramayan as the latter was the story of what to do, and the former was the story of what not to do. Unlike Ramayan, which was seen as a collection of tales of morality, Mahabharat was perceived as a cautionary tale. This was a complex story that went on for generations and here, most characters weren't heroes or villains, but had traits of both. So when BR decided to make Mahabharat, he knew that the key was in the writing. BR Chopra on the set of Mahabharat. (Photo: Express Archive) For the show to work, it was extremely essential that a lay person understood the chronology of events and not lose themselves in the hundreds of characters within the story. After the audience understood the interpersonal relationships, and who could broadly be classified as the 'good' and the 'bad' guys, the show needed something that could hold it all together and when BR found it with Rahi Masoom Raza, he knew this was the man for the job. In the 'Making of Mahabharat', as BR talked about every producer's lifelong dream of making Mahabharat, he shared that they knew that they needed a narrator for every episode to set context for the events. After much back and forth, when Rahi came up with the now classic lines 'Main samay hoon', and announced that 'Samay (Time)' would be the narrator of every episode, BR said an instant yes. 'All the restrictions that a Muslim man will write a Hindu story… People think of this as a Hindu story. We don't think so but anyway… Everything just went out of the window. The way he wrote it, we signed him,' he said. Rahi knew that he could present this story in a 'contemporary' way and get people to relate to it. But, as one would have expected, there was strong opposition to Rahi's inclusion in the writing team. When Doordarshan saw the plan of episodes submitted by BR Films, they were largely satisfied by what they were seeing but they were blunt enough to ask BR Chopra how a Muslim man would write the show. His daughter-in-law Renu, in an earlier appearance on Kapil Sharma's show, recalled his conversation with Doordarshan and shared, 'Dad said Mahabharat isn't Hindu or Muslim, it is the story of every family. There is dispute in every family. Every house should have a Mahabharat so people know what they should not be doing. If Rahi saab is asked to leave, then I will walk out as well.' ALSO READ | Govinda recalls being thrown out of BR Chopra's office for refusing Mahabharat; says filmmaker called his mom 'mad': 'Bahar nikalo isko' In a 1990 interview with India Today, Rahi opened up about the threats he had received and expressed his shock wondering, 'Am I not an Indian?' When asked if 'Hindu fundamentalist groups' had threatened him, Rahi said, 'I'm hurt and amazed at the furore created about a Muslim writing the script. Am I not an Indian? The Vishwa Hindu Parishad did write a letter, to which I replied. They later sent an apology. The threats don't worry me.' What Rahi Masoom Raza created with Mahabharat is still seen as a benchmark in storytelling. The visual effects, the costumes and the aesthetic of the Doordarshan show might be dated but the central storyline, which was simplified by the Rahi so it could be understood by the masses, continues to inspire many, including Aamir Khan. It is yet to be seen if Aamir actually gets down to making his Mahabharat because whenever he does so, his films will be compared to what BR Chopra made in 1988.
