Latest news with #Sadak
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Erika, daughter of famous Bollywood villain, as gorgeous as Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, works as….
Without an antagonist, Bollywood films are completely incomplete. From the very beginning, films in Indian cinema needed a strong lead actor, whereas a strong villain always added the kick to the films. From Pran, Ajit Khan, Amjad Khan, to Amrish Puri, Anant Jog, Arun Bakshi and more, these actors were known for their grey shades. One among them was Gavin Packard. Gavin, of Irish-American origin, was born in India, and he dominated Bollywood not only with his acting but also with his looks and strong body. Though the actor passed away at an early age of 47, his legacy continues through his daughter. Do you know that Gavin's daughter looks as beautiful as Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, and more actresses? Do you know who this person is? If not, then let us tell you we are talking about Erika Packard. Gavin had two daughters — Ericka and Camille. While Camille stays away from the limelight, Ericka is stepping her way into the industry. Be it fitness or beauty, Erica is ahead in every aspect and she gives tough competition to Bollywood beauties. Erica was born on 13 November 1988. Even at the age of 36, she is very beautiful and fit. Ericka started her journey as a model and has also featured in the famous TV reality show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' in the 12th season of the show. Talking about Erica's personal life, she has dated famous actor Shakti Kapoor's son Siddhant Kapoor for a long time. Her name has also been linked with superstar Ranbir Kapoor. The picture of both of them also went viral. But neither of them ever said anything about their relationship. Coming to Gavin Packard, he has featured in some of the notable movies including Sadak, Mohra, Chamatkar, Tadipaar, Karan Arjun and more.
India.com
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet star kid who fell prey to alcohol addiction at young age, faced domestic abuse, was a flop actress.., her name is..
Meet star kid who fell prey to alcohol addiction at young age, faced domestic abuse, was a flop actress.., her name is.. In the glamorous world of Bollywood, everything is not exactly what it seems. While many stars come into the industry to shine and swoon away the audience, some could only dazzle briefly, and soon their shine faded. One such story is of an actress whose life has seen a seesaw of success, scandal, and survival. This actress has seen it all, from heartbreak, controversy to strength With her influential family ties, this actress has a head start in the spotlight, setting the stage for a potentially stellar career. She did her acting debut in a film directed by her father. But the film that truly propelled her to stardom and made her a household name was 'Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahi'. The actress we are talking about is none other than Pooja Bhatt. Pooja's innocent face and strong screen presence quickly rose her to fame. Soon becoming a fan favourite, Pooja repeatedly did successful films like Sadak, Prem Deewane, Sir, and Border. But behind the glamorous mask of Bollywood was Pooja's not so perfect life . In a interview Pooja confessed that she fell into the trap of alcohol abuse during her early teens. She reveals she indulged in alcohol consumption occasionally but soon that turned into dependency which in turn had an affect on both her mental health and professional life. She even thought her survival was difficult at one point of time. Besides her uncontrolled addiction, Pooja's romantic life wasn't any less stormy. Falling in love with actor Ranvir Shorey in her early life during the shoot of film 'Jism', their relationship soon turned from romantic to abusive in no time. Ranvir, used to stay under the influence often would also become violent. Adding to the turmoil, her romantic life was equally tumultuous. In her youth, she was deeply in love with actor Ranvir Shorey, with whom she shared a screen romance in the film Jism. However, their relationship turned abusive, with Ranvir allegedly becoming violent under the influence. There were also reports of him barging into Pooja's house, leading to heated arguments. The relationship eventually ended. Pooja later married video jockey Manish Makhija in 2003, but their marriage didn't last, ending in 2014. The reasons behind their separation, however, remained undisclosed. Becoming the center of many controversary, Pooja saw herself embroiled as a target during a magazine phootshot with her father, Mahesh Bhatt. A lip-lock pose between the two made headlines and drew immense backlash. While defending the shoot, Pooja stated that if people could question the love between a father and daughter, they could question anything—and that she chose not to care about public opinion. Despite personal and professional setbacks, Pooja Bhatt has held her ground and shown resilience. The seasaw of her life consisting of addiction, failed relationships or controversies might have been too much for Pooja to take but she has always come out of it stronger than ever.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actor Sandeep Pradeep: ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana' made me physically and mentally strong
Actor Sandeep Pradeep has an ease about him that has endeared him to the audience. And he seems to be moving towards something big, going by the films in his kitty. While he breezed through his role as the overconfident boxer, Shifas Ahmed, in the sports comedy flick, Alappuzha Gymkhana, in his next release, Padakkalam, he is sharing the screen with Sharafudheen and Suraj Venjaramoodu. To top it all, he is playing the lead in the new project from the team of the gripping, slow-burn thriller, Kishkindha Kaandam, directed by Dinjith Ayyathan. Sandeep's big ticket to fame has been Nithish Sahadev's Falimy, in which he was loved by the audience for his dialogue delivery and comic timing, playing Basil Joseph's younger brother. His earlier films are Pathinettam Padi and Antakshari, and Ek Din, which has not been released yet. 'Within a month of Falimy's release, I got a call for Alappuzha Gymkhana. That offer itself was a confidence booster and when I learnt that I was among the main characters I was on cloud nine. Even though I was apprehensive about going for a physical transformation to play the boxer, I could pull it off, thanks to the long hours I spent at the gym and boxing lessons.' Alappuzha Gymkhana, Sandeep says, has made him physically and mentally strong. The film explores the journey of a group of youngsters, who after failing their Plus 2 exams, try learning boxing to get admission in college via the sports quota. At 27, was it difficult playing a student? 'Not really. It was easy to feel and look that age because of the vibrant team of actors on the set. The vibe helped me pull off that character.' The response for the movie and his character has been overwhelming, he adds. 'I am happy that the effort we all put in did not go in vain. Youngsters have loved the film and we all are elated by that.' Sandeep says that executing the boxing scene in the second half was the toughest. 'We were up against real boxers who overpowered us with their punches. Rahman ikka (director Khalid Rahman) said I should try to do the scene in one shot.' He was up against Sadak, a professionaI kickboxing champion. 'It was challenging to take the blow in one take, without anticipating the punch. So, neither I nor Sadak could fake anything. I managed to pull it off, the result being a lot of pain and a sprained neck,' he says, laughing. The fight in the climax outside the boxing ring was also challenging. 'We even injured each other unknowingly in the thick of action! I got a nasty hit near my eye.' Sandeep is quick to point out the brilliance of Jamshi Khalid, the cinematographer, while capturing the fight scenes. 'It was stunning to see how he and his camera moved with the boxers. The action was happening in a limited space and there were multiple fights. He managed to make each fight look different from the other and I was an awe of how he did that.' The actor also gushes about the cast, comprising seniors and fresh faces — Naslen Gafoor, Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi, Franco Francis, Baby Jean, Karthik, Shon Joy and Shiva Hariharan. 'The seniors helped me a lot, without throwing their weight around. All of us chilled in the same caravan and I am happy to have made so many friends with this movie.' Sandeep says he always wanted to become an actor. 'Cinema always fascinated me. Whenever someone asked what I wanted to be I would be confused. I found the answer in the characters I saw in the movies. I became so attached to the medium that I felt that if I become an actor I could be whoever I wanted to be!' Short films were his first step towards this, starting with his school days in his home town, Vaikom. He had a group of like-minded friends, which included Anand Menen, who went on direct Gouthamante Radham and Vaazha - Biopic of a Billion Boys. 'I am comfortable in front of the camera because it has been a part of life since I was in school. Also, I have always worked with my friends and so there is no stress or fear when I act.' After completing his Plus 2, he studied VFX in Bengaluru since his family wanted him to learn something that might help him find a job. 'I joined the course hoping that I would get to do something in movies if not acting.' He continued to act while pursuing the course and later when he worked as a VFX artist with an MNC in Bengaluru. Among his notable shorts is Anand's Shanthi Muhurtham and Nithish Sahadev's Magneto. He did a web series during the pandemic, Kalyana Kacheri, directed by Anand, which was loved by viewers. Commenting on his new project with the Kishkindha Kaandam team, Sandeep says, 'I am not allowed to say anything about that film. I feel it is a new attempt in Malayalam cinema. When I met them, Bahul chettan (Bahul Ramesh, scriptwriter and cinematographer) said, 'I don't know how to narrate the story. So you just read it.' I was floored by what I read. We have seen his brilliance as a writer in Kishkindha Kaandam. For me, the excitement lies in working with the team behind such a terrific film.' In Padakkalam, releasing on May 8, he is playing an engineering student, Jithin. 'It is a fun movie with some fantasy elements thrown in.' Also in the cast are Arun Pradeep, Arun Ajikumar and Saaf Boi.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Shah Rukh Khan had a condition before he signed Baazigar, recalls writer: ‘Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan refused to do the film'
Shah Rukh Khan was just in the second year of his Bollywood career when he signed on to play an anti-hero in Abbas Mustan's Baazigar (1993). The film changed his career trajectory and became a blockbuster hit at the box office. But he was not always the first choice for the film. Baazigar was first offered to Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan, but they refused to take up the film, which eventually landed with Shah Rukh Khan. Robin Bhatt, the younger half-brother of Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt, recently recalled stepping out of the Bhatt clan to try his hands on a new subject unlike his previous films like Aashiqui, Sadak, and Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin. Recalling how he happened to write Baazigar, Robin shared with Friday Talkies, 'One day I received this call and was asked if I have watched the film 'A Kiss Before Dying'. I said, it is originally a novel, and I have read it and we can surely make a film on it. Then I was told to write a screenplay as Abbas Mustan wanted to direct it. That's how Baazigar was born.' Baazigar, which is an adaption of a 1953 novel, A Kiss Before Dying, had a twisted plot where the hero was the villain. This character was against the moralistic heroes of those times but this created a problem for the makers, as no hero was willing to star in it. Robin shared, 'I finished writing, but we didn't know who to cast. We went to Akshay, he refused. Then we approached Salim Khan, and he said 'Why would Salman do this film?' He too refused it.' At this time, it occurred to Robin that only one man will willingly take up this role without any hesitation and it was none other than Shah Rukh Khan. 'I remember we often stayed in this hotel called Villa. He would come there for Raju Bangaya Gentleman sittings. I would be there to work on my subjects. Sometimes he used to meet me. During these meetings, I had understood that he is different and thinks differently. So one day, I narrated the story to him and just when we arrived at the interval, Shah Rukh happily agreed to do the film. He didn't even care to hear the second half.' Shah Rukh Khan didn't just agree to do the film but also put a condition before the makers. 'I will do the film if only you will leave the script as it is. You will not try and justify the character or make him grey.' This approach of Shah Rukh Khan instilled confidence in director duo Abbas-Mustan, who went ahead with the script as it is and rest it history. It also starred actors Shilpa Shetty, Kajol, Raakhee and Johhny Lever.
India.com
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who became star at 19, won National Award at 25, left acting at peak of carrer to become…, sparked controversy for kissing her own…, her name is…
The Bhatts of Bollywood are one of the most well-known families. From the man of the family – Mahesh Bhatt, being a renowned director, to his wife Soni Razdan, a versatile actress, and daughters Pooja Bhatt and Alia Bhatt as famous actresses of Bollywood – the entire Bhatt family is known for their work. While today, Alia is one of the most celebrated actresses in Bollywood, there was a time when her sister Pooja Bhatt was also loved by fans. However, Pooja's fate had something else in store for her, and she couldn't continue her stardom for long. Pooja, who is Alia's stepsister and the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt and his first wife Lorraine Bright aka Kiran Bhatt, stunned everyone with her bold avatar in the 1980s and 1990s. Pooja made her acting debut at the age of 17 with the film Daddy, directed by her father. Her performance was hailed by the audience, and she was called one of the most flawless actresses in the industry. Later, Pooja featured in movies like Sadak, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Junoon, Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee, Chaahat, Tamanna, and many more. Just like that, she topped the charts as one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood in the '90s. By the age of 19, Pooja Bhatt became a sensation. At the age of 24, she reached the pinnacle of success, and at 25, she started her own production house and made Tamanna. The movie brought her first National Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. Downfall of Pooja Bhatt Despite having a promising career, Pooja decided to go behind the lens and focus more on her production company. In 2003, she produced the blockbuster film Jism. Her directorial debut came in 2004 with the film Paap. After this, she made four more movies including Holiday, Dhokha, Kajraare, and Jism 2. However, it was during a magazine shoot when Pooja Bhatt landed in a controversy for kissing her own father, Mahesh Bhatt. While many may think it was a peck on the cheek, it was a proper lip-to-lip kiss. The shot created a stir among people across the nation because, back in the day, showing full-fledged intimate scenes was considered a big deal. Plus, the relationship between Pooja and Mahesh was that of a father and daughter, and this act garnered major backlash. Not just that, Mahesh's statement in the magazine left everyone's jaws dropped when he said that if Pooja wasn't his daughter, he would have married her. The matter soon became national news and Pooja received major criticism. Years later, when Pooja featured on Siddharth Kannan's show, she spoke about the controversy around the kiss. The former actress regretted the kiss and brushed it off by saying it was a simple kiss shared between a child and a parent.
