Latest news with #Meher
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Kajol, Prithiviraj And Ibrahim Ali Khan's Sarzameen New Video Out Ahead Of Its Release
Last Updated: Recently, Ibrahim Ali Khan shared BTS photos. In the film, Ibrahim plays the role of Prithviraj and Kajol's son, who gets involved in terrorist operations. Kajol, Prithiviraj, and Ibrahim Ali Khan's Sarzameen release date is coming closer. And to maintain the excitement level, the makers have dropped a new video from the film, giving audiences a deeper glimpse into the high-stakes world of patriotism, family, and sacrifice. The film is releasing on July 25. The makers shared a new video giving a glimpse of the movie. 'Dono apne, per saath sirf ek ka de sakti hai Meher! #Sarzameen, releasing July 25, only on @JioHotstar," read the caption. One of the fans wrote, 'Counting the days to watch #sarzameen and also excited to see Kajol's role. I'm sure she will be creative as she always does in all her films." Another wrote, 'Never imagine kajol with prithvi… but they are looking dam good in one frame… she is looking perfect witl.. not only srk." Take a look here: Recently, Ibrahim Ali Khan shared BTS photos. In the film, Ibrahim plays the role of Prithviraj and Kajol's son, who gets involved in terrorist operations. Therefore, to get into the shoes of a negative character, the Starkid had undergone significant training. The carousel post begins with a monochrome picture of the actor dressed in the Indian army uniform, while in the next snapshot he is dressed in the camouflage attire with a matching face mask and cap. In the adjacent post, Ibrahim is seen aiming with a sniper gun in his hand. Another picture depicts the Starkid sitting on the ground and aiming at a distant object with a gun amid the jungle. Next up, he also shared a couple of scenic pictures from the shoot location, followed by several selfies of his hair and beard growth for the film. Sharing the pictures, he wrote in the caption, '9 days to go #sarzameendiaries." Coming back to Sarzameen, the film follows the story of Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran), an army officer who fights terror in Kashmir. The film also explores Vijay's problematic relationship with his son Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan), who becomes involved in terrorist activities. Meera, Vijay's wife, is played by Kajol, and she is torn between her family and her national responsibilities. Ibrahim made his acting debut with the romantic drama Nadaaniyan, opposite actress Khushi Kapoor. Directed by Shauna Gautam, the film was released on Netflix and faced much criticism online. First Published: July 20, 2025, 16:28 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.
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Not everyone is in a position to tell their stories': In Transit makers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Ayesha Sood on the need for authentic representation
Your new docu-series on Amazon Prime Video, In Transit, follows the life of nine transgender, non-binary personalities and their journeys. What triggered the idea for this series? Zoya Akhtar: The reason we wanted to do the series is also how the title came about. It felt like there were these people on a journey. And, not just them; it seemed the law of the land was also on a journey — the mentality was beginning to shift. But everything is in a flux right now. So, while it (homosexuality) was decriminalised, the civil liberties were still not there. There was also 'trans', as in transitioning. In Transit was the working title but the name just stuck. You must have gone through several stories before you zeroed in on these nine people. Ayesha Sood: We had a long period, almost a year-and-a-half, of research and development. We built a small crew of trans-activists, journalists, researchers and production assistants. During that time, a lot of names came up. We started conversations with them. We started investigating their stories and a long list filtered down into a shorter one. It also depended a lot on the fact that characters should be able to tell their stories. Not everyone is in a position to do that. In Made in Heaven S2 (2023), you introduced a transgender character Meher, played by Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju. Did that move lead to the making of this series? Reema Kagti: Definitely. When Zoya and I were researching Meher's character, we realised we needed to educate ourselves. We reached out to people in the community and those interviews opened our minds. That was when Zoya thought this was a series waiting to happen. We even changed the track of Trinetra's character because we ourselves learnt a couple of things. Akhtar: Our work for In Transit started way before Made in Heaven S2 dropped. In 2018, the Supreme Court gave sanctity to LGBTQIA+ relations but it left the policy framework for Parliament. For the last seven years, there hasn't been much headway. What is your expectation from the lawmakers? Akhtar: When we wrote Made in Heaven S1, it was still a criminal act. It was released on March 8, 2019. Before it dropped, it was decriminalised. We had to put a disclaimer at the end of the series. I'm hopeful that things are going to change. As filmmakers, we have to tell those stories because stories bring change. Stories connect you to the other person. You think this is too much or this is not for me or this is not my culture but then you realise that these people have the same concerns as you. They are living in the same system as you. Stories bring us closer and they show us how similar we are. Kagti: It's a process. Today, things are better than how they were 30 years ago. Maybe not a lot better but like any social change, this will also take a long time. Sood: Based on my experience of travelling across the country, you'll be surprised how accepting different communities are. I think society is getting there. Regardless, I think policy and laws have to change first and society will follow. When you are dealing with people who are vulnerable, it takes that much time for them to open up and trust you. Sood: Over a period of a year-and-a-half, we built this team and started to find these characters. We had conversations with them over phone, Zoom and later met them in person. All this while we were trying to get to know them and their stories better. Eventually, they knew exactly what this conversation was going to be like. Kagti: All the nine characters are courageous. They all felt a certain responsibility to speak up. In your experience, what are the positive changes you have seen over the last decade and how much has filmmaking contributed to them? Akhtar: All positive reinforcement that can come with accurate and authentic representation is needed because one may be growing up and feeling different. One may not have that in one's family or in one's friend circle and that could be an isolating experience. When one is able to see these stories on screen, one definitely feels: 'Okay I am not alone'. That is very important and that comes with all kinds of things, whether it is your community, sexuality, disability or even a point of view. You just need to see how you feel represented in a way that may not be in your immediate environment but makes you feel like part of society in a good way. Which medium do you think is more effective while telling stories — features, series or documentary? Akhtar: There is no one thing you can choose. It depends on how stories lend themselves to certain mediums. A certain film can't be stretched for eight hours and a certain series can't be put in three hours. You can't say what is more effective. I am greedy. I love storytelling and I would tell a story in whatever form I think it works. But my heart is in the features. What are the dos and don'ts that you followed? Sood: We never asked any of our characters about whether they have transitioned. If they tell us about it, we talk about it. But sometimes some of the characters have not had a physical transition. We never wanted to make them feel like we are being voyeuristic about their lives. I was never going to ask them if they had had a surgery and what it felt like. If they talk to me about their surgery, only then are we going to bring up how they feel afterwards. You mentioned how one of the characters identified with Kajal bhai in the 90s' show Hum Paanch and, for decades, Rekha and Sridevi have been queer icons. What is the impact cinema has had? Sood: Cinema is the background score to everybody's world. This is the world that we live in and this is our go-to pop culture. Cinema is the world that everyone, sort of, feeds off. Aamir Khan recently said that people are not going to theatres because they get to watch new releases on streamers. How effective is the pay-per-view YouTube model that he spoke about? Akhtar: The model he is speaking about is interesting. YouTube is the most watched platform in India. There are a lot of factors to why the footfalls have fallen post the pandemic. The viewing habit changed because people started watching stuff that was accessible to them. It is very expensive. Regular families choose their outings. Traffic is not fun. Having said that, I have great faith in community viewing. I was in the cinema yesterday, it was a full house and people were clapping. Nothing beats that. Kagti: Parents who enjoy watching movies in theatres must try and inculcate that activity in their children. Also Read | At long last, Gabbar is dead: How Sholay got its original ending back Do you think something should be done about the gap between the movie releasing and when it becomes available on OTT? Akhtar: Producers take certain decisions because of economics. But I agree that there should be more of a gap. Therefore, if you know that you may not see a particular film for a while, that informs the decision differently for certain films. For the big spectacle, tentpole films, anyway, people want to go see it in the theatre. Kagti: It is a two-way process. If, as an audience, you are feeling there is an absence of the kind of films you love watching, you must go out and support the releases that you like. In today's day and age, after a movie comes out, there are people who come on social media and say it is 'their' story. Akhtar: There is a lot of heft when it is a true story. In that case, we will first take the concerned person's permission, rights, blessing and put it out that this is a true story. But, when it is not a true story and if people feel that way, we can't control it. They are free to say what they want, take action and go to court. Kagti: If you really feel this way, you should go to court but nobody actually does. In this day and age of social media, they just want the attention. Then, it ends. Do you have a dream project? Akhtar: For the longest time, my dream project was to make my first film. Luck By Chance (2009) could have been my dream project. Kagti: Whatever we are doing right now is our dream project. Once that gets over, the next one feels like the new dream project.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Two held in Bargarh for painting image of Lord Jagannath on turtle's shell
BARGARH: Two youths, who painted an image of Lord Jagannath on a turtle's shell, were arrested by the Forest department on Tuesday on charges of violating the Wildlife Act. Both are from Bijepur. Ashish Meher had painted the turtle, while Abinash Bagarti filmed the act and shared it on social media. The incident came to light after a video of the act, posted on Meher's Facebook account, went viral. In the video, Meher was seen forcibly handling an Indian Flap Shell Turtle, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and painting its shell with synthetic colours. The turtle was later released into a water body without the paint being removed. General secretary of Snake Helpline Subhendu Mallik flagged the issue with principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha. Mallik pointed out that the act violated Section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. He also warned that such behaviour, when circulated on social media, could encourage similar acts by others for online fame. Acting on the complaint, the Forest department launched an investigation. Based on video evidence and further inquiries, both Meher and Bagarti were arrested and produced in court. The video, originally uploaded to Meher's Facebook page has since been deleted. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, offences involving Schedule I species can attract up to seven years of imprisonment, a fine of `1 lakh, or both. The Forest department has urged the public to act responsibly and refrain from acts that endanger wildlife or disrespect cultural and religious sentiments. Officials have also appealed to social media users to avoid creating content involving animals that violates ethical or legal boundaries.
New Indian Express
07-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Social media influencer lands in soup for painting Lord Jagannath on turtle shell
BARGARH: A social media influencer of Bargarh district has landed in soup for painting an image of Lord Jagannath on the shell of a turtle before releasing it back into the water. In a formal complaint submitted to the principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) and the chief wildlife warden of Odisha, general secretary of Snake Helpline Subhendu Mallik accused social media influencer Ashish Meher of Bijepur of hunting an Indian Flap Shell Turtle, a Schedule-I species protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A video, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows Meher forcibly handling the turtle, painting its back with synthetic colours to depict Lord Jagannath, carrying the reptile on a bike, and eventually releasing it into a water body without removing the paint. 'This act is not only a clear violation of section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, but also breaches the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Moreover, since turtles are considered divine incarnation in Hindu belief, painting an image of Lord Jagannath on its shell in this manner and leaving it back in the river is disrespectful and deeply hurts religious sentiments,' said Mallik. The complaint called for Meher's immediate arrest, citing an earlier directive issued by the chief wildlife warden to take strict action against such offences. While wildlife activists said such videos may encourage others to commit similar acts for social media attention, the influencer with over 10,000 followers on Facebook has removed the video following the controversy.
India.com
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
MEET 22-Year-Old Indian Actress Who Became The FIRST To Star In A Korean Movie
photoDetails english 2922153 A 22-year-old Indian actress has made history by becoming the first from the country to star in a Korean film, marking a major cross-cultural milestone. Updated:Jun 25, 2025, 07:25 PM IST Historic Korean debut 1 / 8 She's the first Indian actress to work in a Korean film, as reported by renowned paparazzi Instant Bollywood, starring in Asia, an exciting cross-cultural move that officially makes her the first from India in Korean cinema. Young talent 2 / 8 Born on 4 August 2002, she's currently 22 years old. Name reveal 3 / 8 Her name is Anushka Sen, the actress bridging Indian and Korean entertainment with this groundbreaking project. Early start in acting 4 / 8 She began as a child actor in 2009 with the TV show Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli and gained fame as Meher in Baalveer in 2012. Versatile roles on screen 5 / 8 Beyond Baalveer, she played Rani Lakshmi Bai in Jhansi Ki Rani, appeared on Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, and starred in the web series Dil Dosti Dilemma. Award Recognition 6 / 8 She's been nominated for prestigious awards like the Indian Television Academy Awards for her role in Crashh and a Filmfare OTT nomination for Dil Dosti Dilemma. Global influencer 7 / 8 With approximately 40 million Instagram followers, she commands a significant online presence. Young actress Anushka Sen was named an Honorary Ambassador of Korean Tourism and became the first Indian artist to perform live on stage at Times Square, New York City. Image Credits 8 / 8 (All Images: Facebook/Instagram/X)
