Latest news with #ShakuntalaDevi
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vidya Balan on the after effects of COVID-19: 'Studios feel it would be safer to bet on the historically male-led films'
Vidya Balan, who is known for acing women-centric films, feels that post-pandemic, the studios are feeling the pinch financially and hence are going back to the safer bet of choosing male-led films. (Also read: Vidya Balan calls out AI-generated content featuring her: 'It does not reflect my views or work') In a recent interview with Deadline, Vidya opened up about her illustrious career and making a niche for herself by choosing films which have strong and layered female characters. However, when the actor was starting her acting journey, she didn't have the luxury of choice as such characters were simply not being written. 'There was no question of strategising (to play strong characters) because one had never really seen women take centre stage in mainstream films. The few films that I enjoyed where women were leading the story were in art house cinema. The only film I can think of which was commercially viable and led by a woman was Chaalbaaz," said Vidya. But then came her debut film Parineeta in 2005, which was an author-backed role based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. While discussing her filmography, the actor talked about films like Paa, where she played a single mother to a 12-year-old son with a rare genetic condition called Progeria; getting into the skin of the titular role in Shakuntala Devi-- also known as a human computer. And the ambitious housewife who becomes a radio jockey for a late-night relationship advice show in Tumhari Sulu. However, the actor feels that after COVID-19, audiences stopped going to theaters, making it difficult for studios to invest in women-centric films. 'Post-pandemic, people in India have lost the habit of going to the theatres to watch films. The studios feel it would be safer to bet on the historically male-led films. In my opinion, this calls for a reinvention in the female-led film space,' Vidya said.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
‘3 idiots' and ‘URI- The Surgical Strike' make-up artist Vikram Gaikwad passes away at 61
Gaikwad's work spans across Hindi, Marathi, and South Indian films such as '83', 'Shakuntala Devi', 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior', 'Sanju', 'Dangal' read more National award-winning makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad, known for his work in movies such as '83', 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' and 'Ponniyin Selvan', died on Saturday here at a hospital, his younger brother said. He was 61. 'He was hospitalised at Hiranandani Hospital in Powai three days ago due to BP issues. He passed away today at around 8:30 am. His BP was going low, and we were not able to revive him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'He was quite well when he was admitted. We were not expecting that he would pass away so soon,' Dr Prasanna Paranjpe, Gaikwad's younger brother, told PTI. Gaikwad's work spans across Hindi, Marathi, and South Indian films such as '83', 'Shakuntala Devi', 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior', 'Sanju', 'Dangal', 'PK', '3 Idiots', 'Omkara', 'Balgandharva', 'Katyar Kaljat Ghusali', 'Ponniyin Selvan', and 'O Kadhal Kanmani'. He won the National Award for best makeup artist in 2012 for Vidya Balan-starrer 'Dirty Picture', followed by another win for Bengali movie 'Jaatishwar' in 2014. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condoled his death in a post on X, saying he brought life into characters with his artistry. 'National Award-winning, renowned makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad passed away today, leaving us in sorrow. With his departure, we have lost a magician who breathed life into characters on screen through his artistry in makeup. 'His mastery lay in effortlessly turning the impossible into reality, bringing to life the characters envisioned by directors through his makeup artistry,' he wrote. Gaikwad's last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar.
