Latest news with #Tanuja
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: Jhanak actress Kajal Pisal reacts to audience backlash due to Hiba Nawab and Krushal Ahuja's storyline; says ‘People forget between real and reel'
As Jhanak continues to make headlines for its dramatic twists and evolving characters, not all the attention has been positive. The show, starring Hiba Nawab and Krushal Ahuja, has recently faced significant audience backlash, with fans taking to social media to express displeasure over the current storyline. Actress Kajal Pisal, who plays Tanuja in the show, addressed the criticism in an exclusive chat with Times of India TV, offering a grounded and honest perspective. 'At this point of time, I have accepted that trolling is a part of my job,' Kajal shared candidly. 'With fame and love also comes trolling. Sometimes it is okay, but sometimes people go overboard — and that's not acceptable.' She stressed that viewers often blur the lines between fiction and reality. 'People forget that there is a lot of difference between real and reel. We are just playing characters in a story written by someone else. Today I am playing the role of Tanuja — tomorrow it may be someone completely different.' The actress also opened up about the mental toll such constant criticism can take. 'It's a lot to take sometimes,' she admitted. 'People even comment on my reels, calling my co-actors 'chamchi'. We laugh it off, but it shows how immature some reactions can be.' Despite the backlash, Kajal remains supportive of her co-stars and the narrative. 'Ani and Jhanak are loved. Hiba and Krushal are fantastic actors with great chemistry. But when the story doesn't go the audience's way, it's easy to blame actors on social media. Every story is told from the writer's point of view.' Reflecting on her character, she added, 'As a character, sometimes you do questions and there are creative discussions but everything is said and done. You just have to play it. We can't change the storyline. Sometimes we do agree with audience. Like people tell me that Tanuja should accept Jhanak as her bahu because from personal perspective it is different but from Tanuja's perspective, it is her ego that's not allowing her. ' Kajal's honest reflections are a reminder of the challenges actors face behind the scenes — balancing storytelling, criticism, and public perception, all while staying true to their craft.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Grumpy and disinterested' Sanjeev Kumar told Sai Paranjpye that he could spare just 15 minutes for narration, backed out of film because he had beef with Basu Bhattacharya
Renowned filmmaker Sai Paranjpye, one of the leading voices of India's New Wave cinema, recently shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story with Filmfare about the casting of her acclaimed film Sparsh. Known for directing classics like Katha, Chashme Buddoor, and Disha, Paranjpye revealed that she originally envisioned legendary actor Sanjeev Kumar in the lead role of Anirudh, a part that would eventually go to Naseeruddin Shah. In the candid conversation, Paranjpye recalled approaching actor Tanuja first, who immediately agreed to come on board. And it was Tanuja who suggested Sanjeev Kumar, affectionately known as Haribhai in the industry, for the male lead. 'For years, I had Sanjeev Kumar in mind when I wrote the damn script,' Paranjpye said. 'In fact, when I wrote it in its final film form, I had seen Sanjeev and Tanuja saying the dialogues that I was writing down. It was so clear in my mind.' Excited by the suggestion, Paranjpye asked Tanuja, 'Fantastic, but how do we get to Haribhai?' To which Tanuja confidently replied, 'Leave that to me.' What followed was a peculiar yet memorable moment. Tanuja called Sanjeev Kumar right in front of her. Paranjpye remembered him being 'very reluctant,' but Tanuja persisted, reassuring him: 'No, no, no, but Haribhai, you can trust me, I won't just bring someone random to you… I mean, no, no, she hasn't made anything before, but believe me…' Eventually, they secured a meeting with the actor. Paranjpye vividly recalled the encounter. 'Anyway, finally we went there, to Haribhai. And there he was, looking very grumpy, because I don't think he was at all keen on hearing the script. But I think Tanu just bulldozed her way through. So we went in, and he said, 'I can just spare you 15 minutes because I've got to go somewhere in 30 minutes.' I said, 'Okay.' So we sat down, and he said, 'You ladies don't mind if I shave?' I was a bit surprised, but I said, 'Okay… beggars can't be choosers,' right?' She continued, 'So there he was, with my script, Sanjeev Kumar, with his brush, applying lather to his face, and I found it very peculiar. But somehow, my feistiness (came through) and I started reading.' As she read, something shifted. 'After about 10 or 15 minutes, or even before that, I saw the brush slowly stop. His body language changed. He leaned forward to listen. Then he put the brush down. And he was listening. And after 15 minutes, I stopped. He said, 'Haan?' I said, 'Well, the 15 minutes are up.' He said, 'No, no, that's okay, carry on.' I said, 'But I have to go somewhere after 15 minutes.' And Tanuja was scandalised: she looked at me, very annoyed, like, 'What the hell? Is this woman mad?' But I was very, very sure. Because I knew I had caught the fish, you see.' Also Read | Sai Paranjpye on advice for budding filmmakers: 'I believe people should carve their own paths, I did' Before leaving, Sanjeev Kumar asked her, 'Well, can you at least leave the script?' Paranjpye obliged. The next day, Tanuja confirmed that Haribhai had read the story and loved it. He was ready to do the film. But just as things were falling into place, fate intervened. Basu Bhattacharya stepped in as producer. Both Sanjeev Kumar had worked with him previously on Anubhav, an experience Paranjpye described as 'terrible' for Sanjeev. Because of this history, Sanjeev Kumar backed out of the project. Determined to move forward, Paranjpye turned to Naseeruddin Shah, fresh out of the National School of Drama. He came on board instantly. However, a suggestion came from someone close: pair him with a different female lead, not Tanuja. So Paranjpye approached Shabana Azmi, who too agreed immediately. The resulting film, Sparsh, was not only a critical success but also won multiple accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Actor for Naseeruddin Shah and Best Screenplay for Paranjpye.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Inside Kajol's Delicious Mother's Day Celebration With Her Mom And Mother-In-Law
Kajol's love for food is no secret to her fans. The ever-cheerful actress often delights her Instagram community with charming glimpses of her culinary adventures. Naturally, her Mother's Day celebration was yet another reflection of her fondness for scrumptious delights — with bonus brownie points for featuring her 'two awesome blossom moms.' In an Instagram post, Kajol can be seen making the most of the special day with her mother, veteran actress Tanuja, and her mother-in-law, Veena Devgan. True to her joyful nature, Kajol is seen singing a Mother's Day song while Tanuja and Veena cut not one, not two, but three delicious cakes. The moment takes a humorous turn when Kajol's song is interrupted by her mother-in-law nearly cutting through the plastic wrapping on one of the cakes. In the following frames, Kajol is seen posing with Tanuja and Veena. Do not miss out on the mouthwatering cakes laid out on the table in front of them. Speaking of the cakes: one was a flat, crunchy treat topped with white frosting and a small text that read 'Mom,' accompanied by a red heart. There was also a mango cake that looked every bit scrumptious. Lastly, there was a rich chocolate cake. 'Happy Mother's Day to the two awesome blossom moms in my life! P.S. no plastic was consumed. Only some delicious cake,' read her caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol) Kajol is a cake lover, and we have ample proof of this. Last year, on Tanuja's 81st birthday celebration, she made it mandatory to mark the day with delicious treats. The 'Do Patti' fame actor shared a post on Instagram. It featured a unique birthday cake for her doting mommy. The chocolate delight was adorned with a black and white photograph of Tanuja. Click here to know more. Before that, on her 50th birthday, Kajol could be seen cheerfully posing with a customised cake that demanded separate attention from her food lovers. Shaped like a round bag, the treat showcased the diva's love for knitting. The star captioned the foodie moment as 'It's my party and it will go on till I say.' Read here to know more.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Indian Express
With two deaths in Goa temple stampede, a family from Thivim counts its losses
After patiently waiting in queue for an hour, Tanuja Kauthankar, 51, and her nephew Aditya Kauthankar, 16, had been carefully making their way down the steep incline leading to Lairai Devi temple in North Goa's Shirgao village early Saturday morning when a sudden push from behind them meant they were both thrown to the ground. In the next few minutes, the two were crushed under a crowd and died on the spot. The two were among the six killed in a stampede at the annual pilgrimage festival (Jatra) at Lairai Devi temple. Seventy people were wounded in the incident. 'He dreamed of being a police officer,' Aditya's uncle Kishore Kauthankar tells The Indian Express. 'He had the height too. A young life has been cut short.' As panic ensued and the crowd tried to escape, Tanuja's 15-year-old daughter Rutika, who had also accompanied them, also fell down but was rescued by some locals, her family says. She suffered a leg injury and is undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Mapusa. While Tanuja was a home-maker, Aditya had recently taken his Class 10 exams. At the mortuary of the Goa Medical College Saturday, the Kauthankar family, who are natives of Thivim village in Bardez taluka, counted its losses. 'If only the authorities had put up barricades…or managed the crowd better. Our loss is irreparable,' a relative, Urvesh Kauthankar, says. The jatra had been a family tradition – Tanuja had been going three decades while Aditya began attending four years ago. 'It is a tradition in our family,' Urvesh says. 'She (Tanuja) had been fasting for the last few days. When I spoke to her around 8 pm Friday, she said she would be going to offer prayers late at night, and promised to bring me back a marigold flower (given as offering).' Tanuja was eventually taken to the Mapusa hospital but was declared brought dead. 'We heard from people who were near her, that she fell and was crushed under several, who were rushing to escape. We shudder to think what she went through,' Kishore says.
