Latest news with #Priyamani
Pink Villa
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Romance Tales: How an IPL match in Bengaluru brewed a filmy love story between Priyamani and Mustafa Raj
Priyamani has etched her name as one of the rising pan-Indian stars at the moment. While her impeccable filmography requires no introduction, the actress' personal life has steered away from the spotlight. For the unversed, the diva has been married to Mustafa Raj since 2017. In this article, we will learn a little more about her love story, everything from their first meet to a grand wedding. Where did Priyamani and Mustafa Raj first meet? Well, flashback to one of the IPL matches in Bengaluru where Priyamani was present since she was the brand ambassador of one of the playing teams. She crossed paths with Mustafa Raj during an official meeting, who was in fact the event manager for the tournament that evening. While their first meet was more formal, sparks began to fly gradually when the two happened to cross paths again in Kerala, this time in a more casual setting. They were introduced, chatted, and over time became quite close friends. Priyamani and Mustafa stayed connected for four more years after this, during which romantic feelings developed and they fell head over heels in love with one another. Mustafa Raj proposed to Priyamani on national television Unlike other couples who prefer to keep their relationship under wraps, things were totally opposite for Priyamani and Mustafa. The duo continued to make joint appearances, leaving everyone buzzing with gossip about their growing closeness. In the meantime, some fans even began unearthing the viral pictures of the two from the IPL days, fuelling more buzz around a possible marriage between them soon enough. And so it did. Mustafa Raj ended up making one of his most epic moves in their relationship when he proposed to Priyamani on national television. The actress, who was a jury member on the show D for Dance in 2014, was taken by surprise when Mustafa made an unexpected entrance, knelt on one knee and proposed to her for marriage. Their cutesy moment became viral in no time across social media, and finally all the rumours about Priyamani's personal life were put to rest. Priyamani and Mustafa Raj's intimate engagement and grand wedding After this dreamy proposal, Priyamani and Mustafa Raj proceeded to get engaged in an intimate ceremony held on May 27, 2016. An OnManorama report claimed that the special day was graced by only close family and friends of the couple. A year later, in August 2017, the duo finally tied the knot. This was again another intimate occasion attended by only selective family members and friends of the duo. They ditched hosting an extravaganza, and their wedding took place at the registrar's office. For her wedding, The Good Wife actress donned a green and gold-toned traditional saree, while Mustafa wore just a simple kurta. In one of her later interviews with Deccan Herald, Priyamani had revealed how the two of them always wanted a simple wedding. When Mustafa Raj's ex-wife called out his wedding with Priyamani as invalid What's a fairytale love story without a bit of drama? Priyamani and Mustafa Raj's happy union was met with a small roadblock when the latter's ex-wife Ayesha claimed that she was still married to him, and thus the actress' wedding was invalid. Ayesha went on to claim that she and Mustafa were never divorced and that she was still his legal wife. However, the latter soon enough put out a statement countering the accusations. Mustafa mentioned that he had been living separately since 2010 and that his divorce from his first wife was formalised in 2013 itself.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
What will Priyamani's life look like 10 years from now? Good Wife actor shares her dream for the future: ‘If God and my family are willing…'
'10 years from now, when you look back, how do you want your life and career to be,' we asked Priyamani. In her two-decade career, she has done a wide range of roles, winning both critical and commercial acclaim. She's not just been Saira Rahim in Maidaan (2024), Chief Minister Dakshayani in Custody (2023), Suchitra Tiwari in The Family Man (since 2019), Lakshmi in Jawan (2023), and the dancer in Chennai Express' (2013) song '1 2 3 4 Get on the Dance Floor'. She has also earned widespread appreciation for her performances in works like Paruthiveeran (2007), which brought her a National Film Award for Best Actress, Thirakkatha (2008), Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2011) and Chaarulatha (2012), among others. But when SCREEN asked her this question during an exclusive interview, Priyamani's answer was simple and straightforward, just like her. No embellishments, no castles in the air. 'I want to feel satisfied and happy that I got to work on some wonderful projects. And hopefully, if God and my family are willing, I will continue to work.' Nonetheless, she also shared a dream she hopes will come true someday. 'Even otherwise, I might don a director's hat and sit behind the camera at least once, to see how life is on that side.' Though she has had this dream for two decades, working with legendary actor-turned-director Revathy, and seeing so many women step into that role, compelled her even more. As their latest Tamil legal drama series, Good Wife, an adaptation of the American show The Good Wife, is now out, Priyamani shares when this dream first emerged. 'I have had this desire for a while now, probably since the time I worked with Balu Mahendra sir in Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam (2005). He was the first one to teach me (the technical aspects), though I didn't understand much about it back then. But seeing a lot of lovely women directing these days, it has definitely given me hope that one day I might. Let's see, fingers crossed,' she says. Although this is not the first Indian adaptation The Good Wife has received — the 2024 Hindi series The Trial, starring Kajol, was also based on the American original created by Robert and Michelle King — Priyamani attests that the Tamil iteration has taken creative liberties to become more than just another remake. 'There are certain aspects that are quite similar to the Hindi and the original versions, like the scandal, the female lead's life turning upside down, her coming back to work and getting a job again at a law firm,' she admits, adding, 'But apart from that, everything else is changed.' Priyamani explains that the Tamil show also tries to explore the psyche of the two children of the central couple, Tarunika (Priyamani) and Gunaseelan (Sampath Raj), who too are emotionally ravaged by the scandal surrounding their father. 'Since the kids are as much affected as Tarunika is, Good Wife has looked into that aspect too, showing how the kids' lives are impacted, including at school. There's a rebellious side from the boy. At the same time, there's another side from the girl, because at the end of the day, girls are always closer to their fathers and boys to their mothers, right? We have shown that as well. (Even amid all the chaos) The daughter is still quite close to her father and misses him. She still listens to his audio tapes and watches his videos. Whereas the boy is more worried about his mother and sister. But as he gradually understands where his mother is coming from and that she's now a single parent raising them on her own, he comes to see what she's going through. The show touches upon such dynamics as well,' the actor says. She adds, 'The series also focuses on the relationship between Tarunika and her mother-in-law. At the end of the day, it's her son who is behind bars. Besides all this, Tarunika also has to ensure that at least a day goes by without any problems while trying to prove herself during her six-month probationary period at work. So it also looks at her attempts to strike a balance between the professional and the personal. All those factors really worked for me, and that's what drew me to Good Wife. And the icing on the cake was that Revathy ma'am was directing it, and Hotstar had taken it up. It was a win-win situation for me.' A post shared by JioHotstar Tamil (@jiohotstartamil) Interestingly, this isn't the first time she worked with director Revathy. Priyamani also played a key role in her previous directorial venture, Salaam Venky (2022). So, what does Revathy excel at more, acting or directing? Priyamani answers, 'She's equally a fabulous actor and a fantastic director. Since she's an actor too, when she's directing, she understands the point of view of an actor as well. She knows what's needed and what isn't, what can be tapped, how to go about getting the required performance, what's comfortable and what's not. She was an absolute pleasure to work with. She's already proven herself as both an actor and a director with so many projects. I think she excels in both.' Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
Mint
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Priyamani on Shah Rukh Khan, Good Wife Season 2, Revathy and more: ‘A good story always makes my heart race'
When National Award-winning actress Priyamani talks, you listen. Behind every word is two decades of grit, grace and game-changing performances. In an exclusive conversation with Sounak Mukhopadhyay, the Good Wife star opens up like never before. Q: The Good Wife Season 1 finishes with many questions unanswered. Will Tarunika's courtroom drama have a Season 2? A: Well, I'm definitely hoping for a sequel. There's so much more left to explore in Tarunika's journey. Good Wife Season 1 ended on such an intriguing note, and it would be amazing to dive back into that layered, complex world. Fingers crossed! Q: How was working with Revathy, a spectacular actress herself? How does her acting expertise help your performance? A: Working with Revathy ma'am was an absolute breeze. She brings so much clarity to the set, not just as a director but as an actor who truly understands performance from the inside out. She knows exactly what she wants from a scene. But, she also gives us the space to bring our own interpretation. If she's happy with a take, her face lights up. And, that validation means a lot. She creates such a warm, encouraging environment. I genuinely hope I get to work with her again. 'Working with Revathy ma'am was an absolute breeze,' says Good Wife actress Priyamani Q: Good Wife in Tamil is an adaptation of The Good Wife. Which iconic movie is on your wishlist for a remake, where you want to play the protagonist? A: Just to clarify: it's not a direct remake, it's an adaptation, which gives it its own cultural and emotional depth. If I had to pick a dream project, I'd absolutely love to do something like Money Heist. The energy, the intensity, the mind games. it's the kind of role I'd be thrilled to take on. Q: After twenty years on screen, which genre still scares you enough that your heartbeat races before the first take? A: Honestly, a good story – regardless of the genre – always makes my heart race. If the writing is powerful and the character is challenging, that excitement and nervousness before the first take never goes away. And I love that feeling! Q: From a special appearance in Chennai Express to a substantial role in Jawan, how has your SRK experience been? A: I'm an ardent SRK fan, always have been. So, just sharing screen space with him, not once but twice, has been surreal. He's an absolute darling, genuinely thoughtful and so respectful towards his co-actors. What truly sets him apart is how he prioritises your comfort on set and makes everyone feel seen and valued. I'd love to work with him again and again. It's always a joy. Tamil web series Good Wife is now streaming on JioHotstar.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Good Wife Season 1 Review: Priyamani's legal drama plays by the rules, but needs more depth
Synopsis: When her husband is caught in a sex scandal, Tarunika, an advocate-turned-homemaker steps up to take action Review: Good Wife has a few moments that make you pause, reflect, and stay hooked to the screen – but therein lies the problem. While the standalone moments are intriguing in parts, the series is superficially dealt with as a whole. Packed within a legal setup where every case is quite strange, the series also takes us closely through the mind of Tarunika (Priyamani), whose husband, Additional Advocate General Gunaseelan (Sampath), is sent to jail. Having left her legal career behind after marriage, Tarunika unpacks her black coat after 16 years to return to the courtroom. But the world has changed and so is her life – she's now a mother of two teens, her husband is in jail, and his scandal has also pushed her to become the gossip of the town. On top of that, she also has a new job where she is again a newbie! Layered on to this are unusual cases – like young girls being forced to freeze eggs – and some workplace battles – a judgy boss, an ex-lover & competitive colleagues. So, there's a lot happening, both in Tarunika's life and in Good Wife, an adaptation of the American series The Good Wife. On paper, the series has several intriguing threads waiting to be picked up. But as the series wanders through anything and everything, you only get snapshots, before we jump onto the next interesting case. Eventually, despite the intrigue, everything just feels like yet another case & yet another person. So while you care for Tarunika, you're not equally invested or moved by the cases she handles. You are told too much about each case in too little time, while still focusing on her personal hurdles that everything sounds like information minus the emotional heaviness it carries. Priyamani is fine as Tarunika, anchoring the series even when the writing falters. What works beautifully in the series is the personal struggles and how a strong sense of the female gaze is felt throughout. Take, for instance, the scene where her mother-in-law takes the children to visit their jailed father despite Tarunika's wishes. Now, when Tarunika learns about this, she has a conversation with her mother-in-law, and you get to see two women, two mothers wanting to keep their children happy – a nuanced moment of silence and shared emotion echoes several things in this sequence. A similar emotional depth comes through in Tarunika's interactions with her children, as they struggle to cope with the aftermath of their father's scandal. Such layered writing draws you in at times, as does the unusual premise of the legal cases, but you wish these were more than just fleeting moments. Written By: Harshini SV
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Good Wife leaked online, Priyamani's Tamil Hotstar series hit by piracy
Good Wife leaked online: Good Wife, starring Priyamani, premiered on JioHostar on July 4 and received decent reviews with critics praising the performances but panning certain aspects of the execution. The Tamil series has now been leaked online and is available on various piracy websites. Good Wife leaked online Priyamani, best known for her work in Manoj Bajpayee's The Family Man, is in the limelight because of her latest show Good Wife. The show, an adaptation of Julianna Margulies' The Good Wife, has garnered plenty of attention because of the Yamadonga star's portrayal of a determined woman who is forced to look for a job after her husband is dragged into a scandal. In the latest development, Good Wife has been hit by piracy. According to reports, the series is available on Torrent websites and is available to watch online/download. Moreover, terms such as 'watch Good Wife online' and 'download Good Wife' are being widely searched. Piracy is one of the biggest challenges facing the entertainment fraternity. Previously, shows such as Ironheart and Squid Game were leaked online shortly after their release. Piracy dilutes the hard work of the people associated with a title. It also stunts viewership numbers and leaves fans vulnerable to legal threats as well as malware. One should hence stick to legal means and stream Good Wife legally on JioHotstar. About Good Wife Good Wife centres of a caring woman who lives a simple and happy life with her family. Her world, however, is turned upside down when her husband lands in a controversy because of a leaked video. This forces her to look for a job to make ends meet. Good Wife features Priyamani and Sampath Raj in the lead. It is an adaptation of The Good Wife. The original show was also adapted in Hindi as Trial with Kajol in the lead. Good Wife, directed by Revathi, is backed by Banijay Asia and JioHotstar.
