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Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
SS Rajamouli confirms Nani will ‘definitely be a part' of his dream project Mahabharata
Director SS Rajamouli has shared a big update regarding his epic project Mahabharata at a recent event. Rajamouli has been talking about his dream project for sometime now, however, there hasn't been any official announcement about it yet. For the first time now, Rajamouli has confirmed that actor Nani will be a part of the films. (Also read: SS Rajamouli's Ram Charan, Jr NTR-starrer RRR gets shoutout from Oscars' Academy in Stunt Design category announcement) During a recent pre-release event of Hit: The Third Case in Hyderabad, anchor Suman Kanakala, wanted to clarify about a rumour heard about the Mahabharata project from Rajamouli himself. She asked if it is true that he has finalised Nani for a role, to which Rajamouli replied, 'All I can say is that Nani is definitely a part of it.' Rajamouli has harboured the dream of bringing Mahabharata to the big screen for some time now. During the promotions of his last film RRR, the director said that he would give his own spin to the original epic and will come to the casting part only after finishing writing the script. When asked about his long-time dream of adapting Mahabharat, which was a 266-episode show on television, into a film, Rajamouli had said, 'If I get to the point of making Mahabharat, it would take me a year just to read the versions of Mahabharat that are available in the country. At present, I can only assume that it would be a 10-part film." In an earlier interview with India TV, Ram Charan had asked Rajamouli about Mahabharata. "The characters that I write for my Mahabharata will not be the same as you have seen or read before. I will tell Mahabharata in my own way. Mahabharata (story) will be the same, but the characters will be enhanced and the inter-relationships between the characters will be added,' SS Rajamouli had said. Speaking on whether he will cast Ram Charan and Jr NTR for the movie, the director said, 'I know people have made lists of who should play who in the project. But I will decide my characters only after I write my version of Mahabharata.'
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'I was kicked, spat on': Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning director of No Other Land, recalls attack by Israeli settlers
Oscar-winning co-director of documentary No Other Land, Hamdan Ballal, has recalled his brutal attack and capture by Israeli settlers, saying that he was mocked for his accolade amid his abduction. (Also Read | Oscars' Academy apologises for not naming No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal in response to attack on him) In an op-ed article in The New York Times, as quoted by Deadline, Hamdan shared details of the horrific incident. Calling the incident the "worst moment of my life," the filmmaker urged continued international attention on Palestine and the "near-daily violence" its residents experience. The co-director wrote that the attack occurred on a 'typical Ramadan evening' in late March, as quoted by Deadline. As per the outlet, when his neighbour informed him that settlers were attacking, he rushed to document the scene, later retreating once the crowd grew and he worried for his family's safety. When Hamdan saw the soldiers, whom he recognised, coming toward him, he ushered his wife and three young children inside, instructing her not to open the door, no matter what. "They met me outside the door of my home and started beating and cursing me. Mocking me as the 'Oscar-winning filmmaker.' I felt guns bashing my ribs. Someone punched me in the head from behind. I fell to the ground. I was kicked and spat on. I felt immense pain and fear. I could hear my wife and kids screaming and crying, calling for me and telling the men to go away. It was the worst moment of my life. My wife and I both thought I would be killed. We feared what would happen to my family if I died," wrote Hamdan as quoted by Deadline. The capture of Hamdan was first publicised by his colleague and No Other Land co-director Abraham, who later censured the Academy's response to the attack, as the body refused to unequivocally denounce the violence, reported Deadline. The Academy apologised for the vague letter it released about the matter, which did not even mention Hamdan by name, after more than 900 leading members of the Academy condemned the tepid move and called for a stronger response in support of Hamdan.
