Latest news with #pre-WWII
India.com
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress, whose great grandfather had connection with Adolf Hitler, her mother was forced to leave the country, she is now..., her name is...
From making her debut in Karan Johar's Student of the Year and being called a product of nepotism to now becoming one of the most loved 'products of nepotism' after delivering some of the most iconic performances in Raazi, Gully Boy, and Gangubai Kathiawadi — Alia Bhatt is more than just a film industry legacy kid. Alia Bhatt's maternal bloodline holds a riveting and rather grim chapter from pre-WWII Germany Behind the stardom, glam, and blockbuster films lies a chilling slice of history that even Alia Bhatt's most devoted fans might not know. Yes, you read it right! Her maternal bloodline holds a riveting and rather grim chapter from pre-WWII Germany. According to a report, in an interview, Alia shared that her maternal great-grandfather, Karl Hoelzer, wasn't just a German citizen during the Adolf Hitler era—he was a rebel in hiding. As fascism swept across Europe, Hoelzer bravely ran an underground newspaper opposing Hitler's regime. It was an act that nearly cost him his life. He was arrested and imprisoned in a concentration camp, but escaped death thanks to a sharp lawyer. Forced to flee Germany, he relocated to England, where Alia's grandmother was eventually born. Well, after a while, Alia's mother, actress Soni Razdan, added deeper context to the story. Though the family wasn't Jewish, Karl's anti-Nazi stance made him a target. Years later, that legacy of resilience would echo in Alia's cinematic portrayals of strong, defiant women. According to the reports, Alia Bhatt's grandmother, Gertrude Hoelzer, and her mother, Soni Razdan, were forced to leave Germany in 1937 due to political persecution. Gertrude's father was an anti-Nazi activist and ran an underground newspaper against Hitler, which led the family to flee to Czechoslovakia and eventually find refuge in England as political refugees. Alia Bhatt's net worth Today, Alia Bhatt sits on an empire. With an estimated net worth of Rs 520 crore, she's not just ruling the box office but also fashion racks. Alia Bhatt's entrepreneurial journey Acting wasn't enough for her, and that's why she launched her very own brand, Ed-a-Mamma, which is aimed at kids and maternity wear. It soon caught the eye of Reliance Retail, which bought a 51% stake in 2023. It's a business win that hints at her ties to the Ambani circle—not surprising given her husband, Ranbir Kapoor, is close friends with Akash Ambani. Alia's personal life has been equally headline-worthy. She married Ranbir in 2022, and the two welcomed daughter Raha later that year. But the actress is not slowing down. She's set to appear in Alpha, a new entry in the YRF Spy Universe, releasing Christmas 2025. The film also stars Sharvari Wagh, Bobby Deol, and Anil Kapoor. From a great-grandfather who defied a dictator to a granddaughter rewriting what stardom looks like—Alia Bhatt's journey is more layered than any film role she's ever played.
Edinburgh Live
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Andrew Garfield emotional as he makes sad family discovery on Who Do You Think You Are
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The much-loved genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? is making a touching comeback for its 21st year on the small screen, with Hollywood star Andrew Garfield featuring in the first episode of the new series. Audiences are advised to have tissues ready, as Andrew's exploration into his family history is set to be an emotional journey back to pre-WWII Poland. During a trip to Kielce, Andrew investigates the history of his great-grandfather Ludwig Garfinkel (the family later altered their surname). He uncovers the terrible persecution Ludwig and his fellow Jews faced, as well as the difficult decisions he made to protect his family and escape from Poland, reports Surrey Live. (Image: BBC / Wall to Wall / Stephen Perry) However, while Ludwig was able to flee, other relatives were not so lucky. Andrew is profoundly moved by a solemn visit to the Treblinka concentration camp, where many of the Holocaust's horrors occurred. In one scene from the programme, Andrew seeks information about the identities of two women in his family photographs. Andrew is informed that, based on their attire, the photo he has was likely taken between 1905 and 1909. He discovers that these women could potentially be Ludwig's sisters. In another photograph he possesses, Andrew finds a message written in Yiddish and a stamp indicating it was taken in Warsaw. (Image: BBC) Despite the sombre undertones, there's a chance to delve into a more uplifting part of Garfield's lineage. Andrew embarks on a journey to Los Angeles, his birthplace, to learn about his great-great-uncle Harry, the first in his family to make the move to the US. He's overjoyed to learn that Harry was a celebrated tailor who owned a shop in Beverly Hills, a fashion hotspot during Hollywood's heyday. There's also a chance to connect with distant kin and share anecdotes, including the story of a tenacious woman who converted her entire fortune into diamonds before migrating, smuggling them in her stockings from Poland to LA. Who Do You Think You Are? airs Tuesday on BBC One at 9pm.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Adam Lambert Explains Why He Shushes Broadway-Goers Who Laugh at ‘Cabaret' Jew Joke
In early February, Adam Lambert made waves after he stopped mid-show to admonish audience members who laughed inappropriately during a performance of 'Cabaret' on Broadway. Lambert explained his position during a Monday interview on 'The View,' arguing that the themes of antisemitism within the classic musical are nothing to laugh at today. 'One of the big themes in the show is antisemitism,' he said. 'There's a scene in the musical where I sing a song to a gorilla, and it's called 'If You Could See Her.'' 'Cabaret' is set in pre-WWII Germany as the Nazis are rising to power, and the scene in question features a couple made up of one Jewish person and one who is not. You can watch the full interview in 'The View' clip below: 'It's satire, it's supposed to be like, 'Yeah, we're back in the nightclub, and we're doing a cute little number,' but it's actually about a really dark, sad thing about how society sees people,' Lambert, who is Jewish, continued. 'And they make it into the gorilla being the Jewish person. So at the end of the song I say, 'If you could see her through my eyes, she wouldn't look Jewish at all.'' Lambert recalled audience members aloud after that line. 'Sometimes people in the audience, there were a few people here and there, they've had a few too many to drink during the intermission, and they're not listening,' the Broadway star continued. 'They're not getting the message of the show, because the beginning is so permissive and fun and free.' 'And sometimes it gets a laugh as if it were a joke, and there have been a few shows — one in particular, where this person commented, and I stopped, and I just looked at the audience, and said, 'No, no, no, no, This isn't comedy. Pay attention,'' Lambert said. The actor added that the show has a lot of parallels to what is happening politically around the world today. 'The show is very relevant,' he told 'The View' hosts. 'It has been since the late '60s when it first came out, but right now, in particular, it's eerie to be up there and to be talking about things that are happening again in our country.' You can watch the interview with Adam Lambert in the video above. The post Adam Lambert Explains Why He Shushes Broadway-Goers Who Laugh at 'Cabaret' Jew Joke appeared first on TheWrap.
