Latest news with #Sarfira
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Sagar Wali Qawwali enchants Delhi with soulful melodies, cultural unity
NEW DELHI: Delhi's KD Jadhav Stadium was transformed into a haven of soulful melodies and cultural unity as Sagar Wali Qawwali, led by the renowned Sufi artist Sagar Bhatia, graced the city as part of their Bharat Tour 2025. The event was a testament to the power of music in bridging hearts and cultures. It was produced and presented by Team Innovation. As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Sagar Bhatia, known for his evocative renditions of tracks like "Khudaya" from the film Sarfira, captivated the audience with a blend of traditional qawwali and contemporary Sufi music. His performance was a journey through spiritual devotionand emotional depth, resonating deeply with the diverse crowd in attendance. The crowd was a tapestry of Delhi's rich cultural diversity, with attendees from various backgrounds coming together to experience the magic of qawwali. The energy was palpable, with the audience swaying to the rhythm, clapping in unison, and occasionally joining in chorus, creating an immersive and communal experience.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘If you want to raid his house, 4 am is a good time': Riteish Deshmukh believes Akshay Kumar's early morning habit to be his best asset
During the promotions of his latest release, Raid 2, Riteish Deshmukh indulged in a fun, rapid-fire conversation. The interviewee asked him what he would like to raid from the houses of his fellow industry peers, and the Bollywood actor's answers were both sharp and witty. When it comes to his Raid 2 co-star Ajay Devgan's house, Deshmukh said one can find all sorts of medicines and a cure for every ailment in his house. So, according to him, 'you will be raiding a lot of good medical advice'. If you raid Shah Rukh Khan's house, he has a wonderful library, hence 'you will be raiding a lot of wisdom', and when it comes to Salman Khan's house, 'goodness, positivity, and food' was the actor's reply. 'The entire family is so welcoming — right from Salman bhai to Salim uncle to Arpita to everyone,' he told India Today. Coming to his former co-star Akshay Kumar, Deshmukh said: 'If you want to raid Akshay's house, 4 in the morning is a good time. I mean, whoever is raiding will get raided, because he will put everyone on exercise.' Kumar has repeatedly expressed his dedication to fitness in interviews and media appearances. In a video that went viral a few weeks ago, the Sarfira actor told podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia: 'I won't put pressure on myself at the cost of my health. I think the man who is healthy is the wealthiest. In reality, this is what every person would like to be.' A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) In fact, his Singh is Kinng co-actor Manoj Pahwa shared his experience working with him, elaborating on his strict schedule: 'At 7.45 pm sharp, his trainer used to come with his food. Around 8.30 pm, he used to leave as he is used to sleeping at 9.15-9.30 pm. He gets up at 4 am to work out for 2-2.5 hours. It's not easy. It was a learning experience for me,' he had revealed. Akshay Kumar's commitment to health and wellness reiterates the importance of taking care of oneself, said Spoorthi S, fitness expert at Cult, adding that being a fitter version of yourself is the most valuable gift you can give yourself. 'If you start eating and exercising right, you will cultivate habits you can sustain in the long run and also prevent many conditions that tend to creep up on you as you age,' she said. According to her, there are three facets that one should keep in mind in this regard: Strength training: As you start to age, your muscles tend to atrophy (break down) and bones tend to get weak and brittle. 'Performing any resistance training helps you to build muscle and improve bone density. Lifting weights for at least three days a week can help you build stronger muscles, improve joint health, and prevent injuries,' said Spoorthi. Prioritise mindfulness: Focus on stress-relieving methods and quality sleep so your body gets adequate recovery. Cultivate healthy lifestyle habits: Don't stop enjoying your favourite foods, or go on extreme diets. Simple habits like prioritising protein, including fruits or vegetables in all meals, minimising processed foods and alcohol, and eating mindfully without distractions, can help you focus on choosing a healthier path in terms of eating. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Akshay Kumar rejected me twice, had to request Sudha Kongara to convince him,' recalls Kannappa star Vishnu Manchu: ‘Couldn't afford his fees'
Telugu actor Vishnu Manchu is all set to release his dream project, a mythological drama — which the actor calls our history — Kannappa on June 27. For his film, the actor has included several A-listers from different film industries like Prabhas from Tollywood, Mohanlal from Mollywood and Akshay Kumar from Bollywood. While he is friends with actors Prabhas and Mohanlal, who easily agreed to do the film, it was a task for Vishnu to reach actor Akshay Kumar. 'He rejected me twice,' shared the actor in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN. Vishnu, who apart from playing the lead role, has also written the film had visualised Akshay in the role of Shiva. 'When I was writing the film, I couldn't help but see him in that role. His body structure with a jatta, gives a divine appearance,' said Vishnu to SCREEN. However, it took him several days and months to convince Akshay to take up that role which now will mark his Telugu film debut. 'Akshay Kumar rejected my film twice. Later, I approached him through filmmaker Sudha Kongara when they were shooting for Sarfira. I told her, 'I really want to cast Akshay as Lord Shiva, please talk to him once'. She spoke to him and convinced him to get on a phone call with me,' said Vishnu. Recalling his phone call with Akshay Kumar, Vishnu shared, 'He was like, 'Hi Vishnu, what is it?' I was like, 'Sorry, Mr Akshay for talking to you on phone.' He then asked about the role. What was supposed to be a five-minute call, ended up becoming a 45-minute conversation. At the end of it, he said, 'Pehli baar mai script phone pe sunn raha hu (For the first time I am listening to a narration over a phone call)'. I apologised and said, 'I am truly sorry for this, I am in New Zealand. If only I was in India, I would have personally come and met you.' He said, 'No, don't be sorry. I am glad you spoke. Let's meet whenever you are here.'' ALSO READ | Did Sandeep Reddy Vanga slam Deepika Padukone for playing 'dirty PR games', 'putting down a younger actor' after being replaced by Triptii Dimri? After spending eight months in New Zealand, Vishnu came to India in March. 'I showed him everything we shot. He loved it and then we shot his part in April.' While most of the shooting took place in New Zealand, the makers shot the sequences featuring Akshay and Prabhas in Ramoji Rao Film City in Hyderabad. In the same conversation Vishnu also shared how the Bollywood star charged a lot less than his standard fees. 'I told him I might not be able to afford your standard fees. He charged a lot less than his usual fees.' Speaking about his experience working with the star, Vishnu shared, 'Akshay Kumar is extremely professional and sincere to his work. He is very punctual and strictly follows his schedule. He never extends shoot. If he has given a certain time, he will come on that time and leave on that time. We had to respect his working style. What was the best about him is that, if once he entered the set, he wouldn't leave or step out even for a bit.' Kannappa is a pan-India film, produced by veteran actor and Vishnu's father Mohan Babu. The film also stars actors arat Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, Saptagiri, Mukesh Rishi, Madhubala, Aishwarya Bhaskaran, Brahmaji, Devaraj, Raghu Babu, Siva Balaji, Sampath Ram, Lavi Pajni, Surekha Vani, Preity Mukundhan, Kaushal And Adhurs Raghu in important roles. Kannappa is reportedly made on a budget of over Rs 200 crore.
News18
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Vihaan Samat Lauds Radhika Madan's ‘Fantastic' Work Amid Dating Rumours
Last Updated: A viral photo showed rumoured couple Vihaan Samat and Radhika Madan walking hand-in-hand in a mall in Mumbai. Actors Radhika Madan and Vihaan Samat are rumoured to be dating, however, neither of them has publicly addressed the speculations. Recently, a photo of them walking hand-in-hand through a mall in Mumbai went viral on Reddit, further fuelling speculation about their relationship. In a recent interview, Vihaan was asked about the actresses he admires, and The Royals actor mentioned Radhika Madan among them. He praised her talent, describing her as one of the 'really good actors', and commended her impressive body of work, calling her filmography 'fantastic.' In an interview with FilmiBeat, Vihaan Samat was shown his recent viral picture with Radhika Madan. He chose not to comment, responding with a composed expression and a subtle smile on his face. He was then asked about the about actresses he admires the most, to which he said, 'Alia Bhatt. Absolutely phenomenal. Radhika Madan. Has fantastic work. I think she is one of the really really good actors. Deepika. Kiara. All of them." Further, when asked to name his favourite films of Radhika Madan, Vihaan instantly replied, 'All of them." When asked if he has watched all of them, he replied, 'I have seen some." He then praised Radhika, and said, 'I think all of her work is fantastic, right from Pataakha to Angrezi Medium, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Sarfira, a lot of stuff." Meanwhile, when asked about his thoughts on marriage, he said, 'Pehle mujhe girlfriend milni chahiye na, phir main shaadi ka sochunga." However, sharing his views about marriage as a concept, he said, 'I think there is something interesting to marriage as a concept. It's not as opposed to it being restrictive, it can be freeing in a way, I think." When asked if he is single, Vihaan replied, 'Yes." Rumours of Vihaan Samat dating Radhika Madan have been making headlines since last year. It all started after the latter was spotted at the screening of Vihaan's film CTRL. However, later in an earlier interview with ETimes, Radhika reacted to rumours of dating Vihaan when she said, 'I will comment when I have to. For now, I want to keep my personal life private." Meanwhile, recently, a photo of the two actors surfaced on social media, further adding to speculations about a possible romantic relationship. In the viral picture, Vihaan and Radhika are seen walking hand-in-hand in a mall. While Vihaan kept it casual in an olive-green shirt and trouser pants, Radhika sported a red oversized hoodie, which she paired with black shorts. On the work front, Vihaan Samat was recently seen in the Netflix series 'The Royals' starring Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar. Radhika, who was last seen in Sarfira, has Subedaar and Rumi Ki Sharafat in the pipeline. First Published:
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Qawwali is more than music; it's a universal expression of devotion that unites people'
Fresh off his Bollywood playback debut in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Sarfira, singer Sagar Bhatia returned to Hyderabad for his third performance in the city. The evening was full of energy as the audience swayed and sang along to his qawwali songs. Speaking to Hyderabad Times , Sagar opened up about his musical roots, inspirations and the strong bond he shares with the city and its listeners. 'I've been drawn to qawwali since childhood' Speaking about his musical roots, he said, 'I've always been drawn to this kind of music. Even as a kid, my voice had a certain depth, and I naturally gravitated towards qawwali,' adding, his journey has been shaped by two musical legends: 'Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahab is a huge inspiration, I've learned so much from him. And then there's Gurdas Maan sahab. While qawwalis are usually performed seated, I like to stand and move with the music — that energy, I picked up from him. These two are like gods to me. What I do today comes from their influence.' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo 'The Hyderabad audience has always been incredibly energetic' Talking about the city and its audience, he shared, 'Qawwali unites people regardless of caste, religion, or background. No matter where I perform, the crowd always joins in, and Hyderabad is no different. However, there's something uniquely special about this place. The audience here has always been incredibly energetic. This is my third performance in the city, and each time, their energy elevates the entire experience.' He also couldn't stop praising the city's food. 'I'm from Delhi, but there's something magical about Hyderabad's spices. I love spicy food, and every meal here is a full experience — I just can't resist it.' 'Spontaneity is the soul of every live performance' Talking about his experience in performing live in India and abroad, he said, 'The stage often brings unexpected moments despite all the planning. I prepare for every tour, but things on stage often take a different turn. Once, during a show, I was performing a track called Biba and had also prepared some shayari for it. But the audience's energy was so infectious that I spontaneously came up with something completely new on the spot — Rukhte rukhte beh gaye na jaane kyun, woh mujhse itna sab kuch keh gaye na jaane kyun. Khwaab saare mere beh gaye na jaane kyun, woh mujhse itna sab kuch keh gaye na jaane kyun. Conclusion yeh hai ki hum toh buddhu ban ke reh gaye na jaane kyun. This entire piece was created in the moment, and the fact that people connected with it so deeply means the world to me.' 'We wrapped up the recording of Khudaya in just 45 minutes' Reflecting on his playback debut Khudaya from Sarfira, he shared, 'It was my first-ever playback experience. That month, I was doing 25–26 back-to-back shows and was completely exhausted. I even told the director I didn't think I could sing. But he said, 'We need this grunge in your voice.' I gave it a try, and it turned out beautifully. I'm grateful to God and the entire Sarfira team, the whole process happened so naturally. In fact, we wrapped up the recording in just 45 minutes.' Quotes: When you sing a Bollywood or indie song, you're usually expressing a specific emotion or telling a story. But qawwali is something else, it's not just music, it's a form of devotion. You can offer it to your love, to God, to your parents, or to any belief you connect with. We don't limit it to one person or religion, and that's what makes it truly universal. Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahab and Gurdas Maan sahab have been huge inspirations. They're like gods to me — everything I do today is shaped by their influence - Sarmistha Ganguli
