Latest news with #LaapataaLadies
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Aamir Khan Reveals How He Unexpectedly Fell For Gauri Spratt: ‘Didn't Think I'd Love Again'
Last Updated: Aamir Khan opens up about his romance with Gauri Spratt, saying 'we met by mistake, love happened,' and calls ex-wives Reena and Kiran his forever family. In a rare candid conversation, Bollywood icon Aamir Khan has confirmed his relationship with Gauri Spratt, a woman he met when he least expected it. While the actor has always kept his personal life largely private, he opened up during an interview with entrepreneur and content creator Raj Shamani—sharing insights not only into his newfound love but also the enduring bond he shares with his ex-wives Kiran Rao and Reena Dutta. The 59-year-old actor admitted that following his divorce from Kiran Rao in 2021, he wasn't looking to fall in love again. 'Before I met Gauri, I felt like I had aged… Who will I find at this age?" Aamir reflected. 'Therapy really helped me understand that I needed to love myself first. I had to heal and work on my own emotional health." That healing paved the way for something unexpected. 'Gauri and I met by mistake. We connected, became friends… and love happened," he said. The revelation has delighted fans, many of whom have watched Aamir navigate decades in the spotlight with dignity and quiet strength. While details about Gauri are still scarce, it's clear that the connection they share runs deep. But even more striking than the news of his current relationship is the way Aamir spoke about his past ones—with immense grace and warmth. 'I've had two very strong, deep relationships with Reena and Kiran. And we are still close. We respect each other and always will," he shared. 'We may not be husband and wife anymore, but we will always be family." This sentiment is more than just talk. Aamir, Reena, and Kiran still actively work together on their social initiative, the Paani Foundation, which focuses on water conservation efforts across Maharashtra. 'We sit and talk every day. There's genuine love and warmth between us. That's not going away," Aamir emphasized. He also recalled how, just after their divorce, he and Kiran continued to support one another professionally—and personally. 'We went to Ladakh to shoot Laal Singh Chaddha, and during a village celebration, we danced together. The video went viral, and people said, 'They just got divorced, why are they dancing?' What they don't understand is—we share a deep bond. That doesn't disappear with a divorce." According to Aamir, their relationship has evolved into something that may defy labels but remains solid and rooted in mutual care. 'Kiran supported me immensely during Laal Singh Chaddha, and I supported her during Laapataa Ladies. We have a very healthy relationship." Aamir married Reena Dutta in 1986. They were together for 16 years and had two children—Junaid and Ira. After their separation in 2002, he later married Kiran Rao in 2005. The two welcomed their son Azad Rao Khan in 2011 and continued their marriage for 15 years before parting ways. Now, with his relationship with Gauri Spratt, Aamir appears to be embracing a new chapter—not just in love, but in how relationships can evolve, mature, and still hold meaning beyond their traditional definitions. 'It's not about replacing one relationship with another. It's about allowing space for love to grow in its own way," Aamir said. First Published:
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani plans big, new move involves Laapataa Ladies, Article 370 and..., aims to become...
Mukesh Ambani (File) Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man, owns highly-successful businesses ranging from oil, green energy, telecom to retail, media and entertainment. But now the billionaire tycoon has set his sights on something arguably more ambitious; carve a unique niche for Indian entertainment content in Hollywood via his Jio Studios– the country's largest content studio. Mukesh Ambani plans Hollywood takeover Last year, three films produced by Jio Studios– Laapataa Ladies, Article 370, and Shaitaan– were ranked on the top 10 global charts of Netflix, proof that Indian content now resonates beyond the diaspora audience across continents. Laapataa Ladies, which secured an Oscar nomination, was watched in more than 43 countries. However, Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio Studios has bigger ambitions; it aims to emerge as a prominent international studio in the next five years, and rub shoulders with Hollywood powerhouses like Paramount, Walt Disney, Peacock, Lionsgate, and MGM. 'Today, we are nowhere near Hollywood or even Korea. Somebody needs to take control and start. I want to use the Reliance heft to take Indian stories to the world,' Jyoti Deshpande, President (Media and Content Business), Reliance Industries, was quoted as saying by Fortune India. Deshpande revealed that the studios' ambitious expansion plan involves a 'combination of organic and inorganic collaborations', and one of the key goals to separate India rights and overseas rights, then hire a sales agent in key markets, in North America, Europe, and Australia. 'Currently, a digital platform takes away global rights, which limits international distribution country by country. We will then try to work that film from a Berlin or a Cannes, get a sales agent, and sell North America, Germany, France, and other parts of Europe—around 100-135 countries,' Deshpande told Fortune India. Jio Studios to build franchises Jio Studios will then try to give the movie a theatre release, and also later air it on local streaming services and TV channels in those markets. 'If I do this with a set of films, then our stories will start opening up into those markets.' Deshpande agrees that an expansion of this scale involves significant risk, but asserts that Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is up to the challenge. 'Today, we are talking about India to the world. How can you make it happen by doing business the way we are currently doing? One will have to take significant risks, invest in the right stories that can travel, and take on international partners. I will be looking at co-producing some films internationally as well as inviting some international co-producers into my slate.' Additionally, Jyoti Deshpande wants to build global franchises of Jio Studios' titles and make them a part of pop culture, akin to what Hollywood does with its popular franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Matrix, Lord of The Rings, to name a few. 'We are already building franchises around Stree, Thama, Bhediya, and Munjya. We are also doing Mahaavatar, which is the story of Parasuram. This will be a big budget behemoth, and it will introduce characters,' Deshpande states.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Gender Agenda newsletter: Late to the plate
During my first week in Mumbai three years ago, my cook walked into the house asking, 'Aaj kya banau (What shall I make today)?' As I rummaged through the vegetables in the fridge, she made up her mind herself, declaring, 'Aloo banati hoon; Bhaiyya ko bahut pasand hai (I'll make potatoes; Bhaiyya loves it).' This continued for days, and my husband and I ended up eating several kilos of aloo and paneer — his favourites. One day, when I could no longer take it, I snapped. 'Ek baar tho pooch lo ki mujhe kya pasand hai (Ask me at least once what I'd like),' I said to her. She laughed. In Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies (2023), when Jaya asks Yashoda why she stopped making the lotus stem stir-fry that she loved eating at her parents' house, Yashoda says it is because her husband and son don't touch it. 'You like it. Make it for yourself,' Jaya says. Yashoda laughs, much in the way my cook did. 'Since when do women make what they like eating,' she asks. It is not uncommon for Indian women to believe that men's dietary preferences should be considered foremost. It is also well-documented that many women are accustomed to eating leftovers because of the dictates of patriarchy. According to the 2011 India Human Development Survey, in about a quarter of Indian households, women are expected to have their meals after men have finished eating. This means that they end up with cold rotis, little dal, and no leafy veggies. This can be true even of relatively progressive households. As the novelist, Shashi Deshpande, wrote in an essay titled Women, Food and Cooking (2022): '...My mother, protesting that she had had enough, possibly deprived herself when something was insufficient. Not just this; the burnt chapati was hers, the broken jowar roti was hers, the cracked cup was hers, the dented and smallest plate was hers.' For many women, while preparing food is a duty, responsibility, or a labour of love, the ritual of eating is considered a waste of time. You may find few women licking their fingers, burping, or scraping tasty titbits off the pan. Being late to the plate has serious implications for women's physical and mental health. Early this year, Maharashtra's Health Department found that women are more likely to be susceptible to malnourishment and nutritional deficiencies than men. As this piece pointed out last week, not just women's health but maternal health too is seen solely from the lens of pregnancy and childbirth. 'In India's long battle against malnutrition, women and girls remain the most overlooked section,' said this piece, ahead of World Nutrition Day (May 28). Various efforts have been made to change this trend. In 2015, the Rajasthan Nutrition Project ventured on a mission to encourage families to eat their meals together in two districts. Despite finding stiff resistance, they managed to make a difference. In 2017, Punita Chowbey found in her study of 84 South Asian women living in Britain, India, and Pakistan that women sometimes took matters into their own hands. Whenever they were upset with their husbands, they would alter the order in which they served food, or simply serve smaller portions (though they would give the extra portions to their sons). This week, women were invited to attend an international film festival in the scenic village of Kadamakudy, Kerala, and served lunch and dinner. Fr Augustine Vattoli, the parish priest in the locality and the joint convenor of the festival, said in this piece, 'We knew that it was not enough just to tell the women to come and attend the film fest. We knew they would ask us who would cook food then. But then we had the answer ready...' It was a thoughtful gesture: entire families, and not just men, enjoyed the festival together. As for my cook, after being chided a few times, she sometimes walks in now announcing, 'Aaj pulao banati hoon. Mujhe pata hai ki aapko pasand hai (Let me make pulao today, I know you like it).' I smile and tell her I cannot wait to dig in. Toolkit Bengaluru-based writers and teachers Nikhita Thomas and Pranav V.S. have embarked on a project to map places where women hung out in Bangalore's Cantonment area between 1984 and 1994. They tell Preeti Zachariah that they chose this period because waves of liberalisation took place then, and more and more women could be seen on the streets of the city on the Kinetic Honda — a phenomenon that the historian, Janaki Nair, terms 'kineticization'. Supported by the India Foundation for the Arts under its Neighbourhood Engagements of Project 560, this project 'seeks to explore the spatial relationships women have with the cities and neighbourhoods they call home'. The stories of the women will come together in an art essay book and will be showcased at 1 Shanthi Road Gallery/Studio in Bengaluru on June 14 and 15. Wordsworth Reactionary feminism: Advocated by British writer Mary Harrington, this 'begins from the truth that sex differences are real, irreducible and politically important.' Harrington in her work questions the very assumptions of modern feminism, which, she believes, has benefited only a small class of well-off, white-collar women. In this interview, Harrington, the author of the book Feminism Against Progress (2023), says to be a reactionary feminist is to 'ground the way you live in recognition both of what makes us human together — and also in the distinct embodied capabilities and vulnerabilities of women, understood as powers and not merely as a problem to be solved with technology.' Ouch! Our sisters who lost their husbands in the (Pahalgam) attack did not have the warrior spirit or the resolve and vigour to fight back. Therefore, they became victims. Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra People we met Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi, an entomologist and educationist, is popularly known as the 'Moth Lady'. The name stuck decades ago when she was working with the Bombay Natural History Society. 'This was in 1993,' she says. 'I belong to a generation that didn't question its teachers much. My guide asked me whether I could study moths instead of butterflies since the field was largely unexplored and I said, why not? I would venture into fields and forests to set up the light sheet and spend the whole night studying moths. There were challenges of logistics and safety, but I had a vehicle, a driver, and an assistant.' In 2003, she finished her PhD and began studying more species of moths. This resulted in the book, Field Guide to Indian Moths, published in 2018, a pioneering resource in entomology. Dr. Shubhalaxmi is now working on the second volume of the book, while also working on an insect encyclopaedia for children. 'Back in the day, I was the only woman in the field. But now there are many women studying moths,' she says.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘This is how we learned to eat food': Dubai's viral kadak chai toast brings a nostalgic twist to classic desi snack
Social media is brimming with reels and videos showcasing the latest food trend taking over timelines, Dubai Chai Toast. Following the viral success of kunafa chocolate, this warm and gooey twist on the classic chai-toast combo has become the new sensation. Known also as Chai Malai Toast, the dish has sparked curiosity and cravings, with Instagram videos highlighting its rich, comforting texture and nostalgic appeal. Also read: Bihar-based content creator recreates scenes from Laapataa Ladies, gets nod from lead actress Nitanshi Goel Chai and toast have long been a staple pairing in many Indian households. Typically, buttered toast is lightly dipped in tea, creating the perfect balance of crisp and softness in every bite. However, the version going viral is a completely different take. Rather than simply dipping the toast, this snack involves pouring hot chai directly over a malai-filled bread sandwich. The trending dish consists of three primary ingredients: kadak chai (strong milk tea), malai (fresh cream), and sliced bread. In the viral recipe, fresh cream is sandwiched between two slices of bread. Then, hot tea is poured over the sandwich until it's completely soaked, making the bread soft enough to be scooped up with a spoon. The result is a warm, rich, and nostalgic snack that's gaining traction everywhere. Also read:Indian-origin woman wearing lehenga turns heads in Paris metro: 'Wasn't ready for desi baddie' A post shared by Meghna's Food Magic (@meghnasfoodmagic) A user commented, 'My mother started giving us this chai dipped bread since our childhood days this is how we learned to eat food' Another added, 'We used to feed our babies in 1980s.' Also read: 'You come to beg here': Delhi influencer responds to Karnataka auto driver's language snub One user asked, 'But bread looks soft .. then what's kadak in this ???' One user suggested, 'Tastes good wit a good BunMalai'
News18
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Bihar Content Creator Recreates Laapataa Ladies Scenes, Nitanshi Goel Reacts
Last Updated: Ankit Jha, a Bihar-based content creator, has recreated some of the popular scenes from Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies. Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies is garnering praise even over a year after its release. Recently, a Bihar-based content creator paid tribute to the comedy-drama by recreating a few scenes from it. The viral video has caught the attention of the film's lead actor Nitanshi Goel. Digital creator Ankit Kumar recently shared a video on his handle @pixel_wale_jhaji on Instagram. The clip shows a recreated version of several scenes from the film, which was released in theatres in March last year. The video soon gained significant attention on the social media platform, receiving more than 1 lakh views and over 2,000 likes. It opens up with a popular line from the film, 'English bol ke dikhaiye". Thereafter fans get to witness a recreation of some of the scenes from the film and it looks almost identical to the original. In the comments section, many highlighted how the costume, expressions and tone in the video look quite similar to the scenes from the film. 'We recreated the chaos, courage & charm of Laapataa Ladies," Jha wrote on Instagram. Nitanshi Goel, who essayed the lead role in the film, admired the effort and responded with a flower and sparkle emoji. Besides her, several others have praised the work and dedication of the content creator and his team. 'Great one. Keep creating," one user wrote. Another one added, 'Dear team, I want to take a moment to say — truly outstanding work! You've done an amazing job." One user stated that every take, acting as well as make-up of people in the video was done 'perfectly" and it 'doesn't look like" a recreated version. Someone even commented that the video 'felt like something straight out of a proper indie film". Released on March 1 last year, Laapataa Ladies was co-produced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and Jyoti Deshpande under the banners Aamir Khan Productions, Kindling Pictures and Jio Studios. It was presented by Yash Raj Films. The film was based in the fictional state of Nirmal Pradesh and narrates the journey of two brides as they get mistakenly swapped in a mix-up during a train journey. Besides Nitanshi Goel, the film also features Sparsh Shrivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan. Laapataa Ladies was India's official entry for the Best International Feature film category at the 97th Academy Awards, held in March this year. First Published:
