Latest news with #TajLandsEnd
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Ali Fazal's family prepares separate dishes for Jains during Eid': Richa Chadha opens up about her ‘exciting' inter-faith marriage with the actor
One of Bollywood's most beloved power couples, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, are all set to celebrate their third wedding anniversary. Although the industry has long seen actors marrying in real life, what makes this couple special to the audience is that they are both outsiders with no prior connection to the industry whatsoever and made it big solely through their hard work. Following their wedding in 2022, the couple welcomed a baby girl in 2024, thus taking a new and even bigger step in their personal lives. Last month, the first-time parents had also penned a heartwarming post on the occasion of their daughter Zuneyra's birthday, reflecting on the impact her arrival had on their lives and how she changed them for the better. As they revel in all the joy and love, Richa opened up about being in an interfaith marriage with Ali, which she described as an 'exciting' experience. Taking part in the eighth edition of The Indian Express' Expresso, she said, 'I love being in an interfaith marriage, and it's exciting. I get to learn so many new things. Also, my dad is Punjabi and my mom is Bihari. So that in itself was a unique combination when they got married in the '80s. Between Ali and me, even though we are very secular, progressive and spiritual people, we do things with the other person's religion because it's just amazing.' Richa further mentioned that she loves visiting Ali's ancestral home in Lucknow during Eid, noting that people from all faiths come together there to mark the occasion and celebrate the festival. 'Not just Muslims, everyone comes there on Eid to eat biryani or yakhni pulao. They also prepare a separate set of dishes for the Jains who live across the road. It's wonderful to see them sitting around, and Ali's 90-year-old grandmother will make paan. The whole mahaul is so joyous,' she shared. She shared that Ali also embraced all the Hindu festivals like Diwali and Bhai Dooj that her family celebrates. 'He was so happy. Recently, he came dancing to a big fat Punjabi wedding, and he was just showered and smothered in love,' she shared. Going a step further, Richa also spoke about what she believes to be the biological benefits of promoting marriages outside one's own community. 'I think we must take a cue from nature. In nature, the main cause of congenital diseases is inbreeding. What does that mean? That means that nature wants you to share and spread. That's how you evolve and grow.' The eighth edition of Expresso was presented by HSBC in association with Taj Lands End, Mumbai, Seetu Kohli Homes as the Luxury Partner, Chambers of Kartik Seth as the Knowledge Partner, and Radico as the Celebration Partner.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Richa Chadha says she has been ‘forced to grow up' since the birth of her child, admits to becoming more patient in life: ‘Having a child puts things into perspective'
Actors Richa Chadha and filmmaker Kabir Khan graced the eighth edition of Expresso hosted by The Indian Express. During the session, the two discussed films, life, culture and everything else under the sun, including how they survive in the cut-throat show business. Talking about staying true to herself and connected to the genuine voices out there, Richa pointed out that keeping the finger on the pulse isn't that hard to do if you surround yourself with the right people. She said, 'It definitely helps when you aren't born into this industry. I see the kids that are born here, especially the children of actors; Fridays mean something completely different for them. There is so much pressure, and I think the trick is to not surround yourself with sycophants. We see many actors or directors who surround themselves with 'yes-men', and no one tells these people that their last good film was 20 years ago. I like to stay connected with everything on the ground level. I still know the price of all vegetables and fruits because once in a while I go to the sabzi mandi. I take a break every now and then, and I take walks in the city, wherever there are roads in this city. It's important to keep yourself grounded.' ALSO READ: 10 years of Masaan: When society fails you, the Vicky Kaushal film shows how to reclaim your story Richa Chadha was then asked about her personality and how it has helped her portray an angry, rebellious woman on screen. She admitted that certain traits have often caused her trouble, but much has changed since the birth of her daughter, Zuneyra Ida Fazal. 'Sometimes it creates problems for me; my parents scold me for it, and so does my husband. But I do think that a lot of my feistiness, my rebel energy and my angry woman personality have been tamed since the birth of my daughter. I think she really puts things into perspective, and this whole experience has really softened me. I am more patient now, and I speak more softly, and I am on time more often than before. Something like this forces you to grow up; I even wake up early now,' said the actor. Richa Chadha was last seen in the web series Heeramandi, alongside a stellar cast including actors like Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Fardeen Khan, and Indresh Malik. She has several projects in the pipeline, including the fourth instalment of the comedy franchise Fukrey. The eighth edition of Expresso was presented by HSBC in association with Taj Lands End, Mumbai, Seetu Kohli Homes as the Luxury Partner, Chambers of Kartik Seth as the Knowledge Partner, and Radico as the Celebration Partner.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘I had tussles with Salman on Tiger,' Kabir Khan recounts how he cast the superstar in Bajrangi Bhaijaan: ‘Salman feels very strongly about secularism'
Bajrangi Bhaijaan marked a turning point in Salman Khan's career, revealing a deeply vulnerable and emotionally resonant side of the actor that audiences had rarely seen on the big screen. The credit for this transformative portrayal goes in large part to filmmaker Kabir Khan, who dared to reimagine Salman in a role that stood in stark contrast to the action-heavy, larger-than-life characters the actor was typically associated with. At the eighth edition of Expresso, an event organised by The Indian Express, Kabir opened up about how he came to cast Salman in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and how their evolving relationship helped shape the film. Speaking candidly during the session, he shared: 'In Ek Tha Tiger, I had a lot of tussle with Salman, because at that time, I'd only done two films, and he was the reigning superstar of the industry. But in that tussle, I began to understand him. I spent a lot of time with him and realized that he feels very strongly about certain issues, like the composite culture of India, about secularism… And I told him, 'But you've never articulated this on the platform where you're practically a demigod. Why is that?'' Also Read | A decade later, Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan reveals the future we refused to see, and failed to avoid Instead, Kabir Khan approached Salman Khan with a story that was the polar opposite of their previous collaboration, and Salman embraced it wholeheartedly. 'So I took this new story to Salman, knowing it was the complete antithesis of what he was at that point, and of what he and I had created with this super-character called Tiger. But he jumped at it, because it really hit home. He said, 'You know what, we'll produce this.' And it became his first production. There was no action. In fact, he's only being beaten up, and that too by Pakistani policemen, which is completely taboo.' Kabir also reflected on how Bajrangi Bhaijaan helped him fulfill a long-held vision as a filmmaker transitioning from documentaries to mainstream cinema. 'In a sense, it brought together what I had always been trying to do. When I moved from documentaries to mainstream cinema, I knew I wanted to use the format of mainstream cinema, but still have a political base — with the politics in the layers beneath. And I always looked for that balance.' The eighth edition of Expresso is presented by HSBC in association with Taj Lands End, Mumbai, with Seetu Kohli Homes as the Luxury Partner, Chambers of Kartik Seth as the Knowledge Partner, and Radico as the Celebration Partner.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ShareChat & Moj Announce Second Edition of 'Short Form Big Impact Leadership Summit 2025'
With over 86% of Indians preferring content in their native language and 88% finding local language ads more impactful, India's consumer landscape demands a cultural-first approach. With 6 in 10 users from non-metro regions, brands have an unprecedented opportunity to connect with regional audiences through culturally-rooted storytelling. With short-form videos now influencing purchase decisions and regional creators emerging as powerful brand advocates, brands have a unique opportunity to build hyper-local narratives and unlock growth in regional markets. ShareChat & Moj , India's leading homegrown social media platforms, partner with ETBrandEquity to present the second edition of ' Short Form Big Impact Leadership Summit 2025 ' to discuss how brands can go beyond the usual demographics and tap into the emotional and cultural nuances - everyday moments, festival celebrations and experience a sense of community. The flagship annual event, that brings together industry leaders, marketers, and decision-makers, will be held in Mumbai at Taj Lands End, Bandra, on August 21, 2025, and in Gurugram at The Oberoi on August 28, 2025. Amit Kumar Gupta, Business Head of said, 'At ETBrandEquity, we believe that the future of brand storytelling lies in cultural intelligence — not just consumer data. As India's digital audiences become increasingly language-first and community-driven, it's critical for marketers to move beyond surface-level demographics. The second edition of the Short Form Big Impact Leadership Summit is not just a reflection of where India is headed — it's a rallying ground for brands to learn how to connect authentically, emotionally, and effectively with regional India through short-form content. We're proud to partner with ShareChat & Moj to spotlight the insights, innovations, and impact shaping the next era of regional-first marketing.' The next wave of India's consumption story is unfolding beyond the metros. Brand and product discovery are rapidly shifting towards the vertical screen. Regional content platforms sit at the crossroads of this shift. Bite-sized content is no longer just a format; for Indians, it has become a way of life. It's how people engage with their peers, with their language, their community, and their culture. From watching 30-second clips, sharing memes, and voicing opinions in comments, to following creators who reflect their lives, short-form content is defining how Indians hold conversations online. This shift has laid the groundwork for the next chapter in short-form content: micro-dramas. A move beyond scattered UGC towards structured, serialised storytelling, tailored to Indian languages, contexts, and screens. ShareChat's family of apps, including the newly launched QuickTV is quietly leading this evolution. With over 30 million micro drama viewers consuming 120 million episodes every day, the appetite for snackable, binge-worthy storytelling is undeniable. For brands, platforms like ShareChat and Moj are directly tapping into this scroll-first mindset, seamlessly blending entertainment, aspiration, and utility to capture attention and influence action. This is where a moment of entertainment can instantly spark curiosity, discovery, and even purchase. For brands, tapping into this behaviour means more than visibility; it is about becoming part of the conversations, cultures, and decisions shaping India's new consumption story. With the festive season approaching, marketers face a pivotal moment. At the 'Short Form Big Impact Leadership Summit 2025', brands and agencies will deliberate on how they can leverage cultural insights and language-first storytelling to tap into the regional market for the next era of growth. Key Highlights of the Summit Focusing on the theme 'Culture Is the New Consumer Intelligence', the summit will bring together key stakeholders from leading brands and top agencies to explore how cultural insights and language-driven storytelling are helping them connect with regional audiences and fuel the next phase of growth. Manohar Charan, Co-Founder & CFO, ShareChat & Moj, says, 'India's digital audiences aren't just defined by demographics, they're shaped by culture. From language and rituals to regional creators and micro-storytelling, we're seeing a deep shift in how people connect, consume, and act. The Short Form Big Impact Leadership Summit is where this transformation takes centre stage. With 'Culture is the New Consumer Intelligence' theme, we're inviting the industry to look beyond formats and into the emotional pulse of India. If you're building for relevance, trust, and scale in this market, this is where the real conversation begins.' The summit will serve as a strategic playbook for brands to harness the power of regional festivals to engage audiences meaningfully and build long-term trust. There will be multiple keynotes, panel discussions, and case study presentations around the key subjects such as - Rewriting the Playbook: Where Culture Becomes IntelligenceCulture, Content & Creators: The 3Cs of Building BrandsBuilding Brands in a Short-Form WorldFrom Daily Soaps to Daily Scrolls: Micro-Dramas Are India's New Prime TimeRegional Voice: The Power of Real, Relatable Content From high-impact conversations to platform intelligence, the summit is set to provide marketers with everything they need to harness the power of short-form storytelling, deeply rooted in India's linguistic and emotional diversity. Register now to attend the Short Form Big Impact Leadership Summit 2025 in a city near you: Mumbai Edition – August 21, 2025 | Taj Lands End, Bandra Gurugram Edition – August 28, 2025 | The Oberoi
