Netflix today announced a strategic multi-year partnership with Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment, the banner behind the cult classic Dil Chahta Hai along with Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Lakshya, Toofaan, and the Don franchise. This creative pact dovetails Netflix’s exciting and diverse series slate in India.
As one of the pioneers in on-demand long-form storytelling, Excel Entertainment will produce a variety of stories under its series banner Excel Media & Entertainment for Netflix members in over 190 countries commencing with two projects tentatively titled Dabba Cartel and Queen of the Hill.
Dabba Cartel is a story of five housewives who run a high-stakes secret cartel. Style, ambition, love, friendship and betrayal set in the backdrop of jazz-rich 1960s Mumbai, Queen of the Hill chronicles the dynamic relationship between two ambitious women that will change the city forever.
Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India, said, “We are excited to join hands with Excel Entertainment, one of India’s path-breaking creative studios. They have continuously pushed the boundaries of entertainment and given us stories that have stood the test of time. We are delighted to welcome them to Netflix.”
Ritesh Sidhwani & Farhan Akhtar, Producers of Excel Entertainment, said, “Our partnership with Netflix marks a new global chapter for Excel Entertainment after 20 eventful years in storytelling. We’re excited about the opportunity to create a variety of extraordinary stories to entertain people in India and around the world. We are thrilled to begin this next chapter with Netflix.”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s saga of a female gangster Gangubai Kathiawadi was to have a love-making sequence between Alia Bhatt and her love interest Shantanu Maheshwari. A tender love scene between Alia Bhatt and her on-screen lover in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi is now likely to be dropped from the script.
The reason being the severe guidelines pertaining to social distancing during the ongoing pandemic. Such is the new norm regarding physical intimacy that Bhansali has decided to do away with a tender love sequence between Alia Bhatt and her love interest played by dancer-turned actor Shantanu Maheshwari. Says an informed source, “I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry in these troubled times. Physical intimacy would definitely be avoided in Bhansali’s shooting. He will find another way of showing a romantic closeness.”
In cinema the world over, actors are shying away doing intimate scenes. In Netflix’s series Halston and in The Serpent, orgy scenes were to be filmed. They were dropped after the pandemic.
As for Gangubai Kathiawadi the film that has been in the news since its announcement was recently granted reprieve after the Bombay High Court granted an interim stay on the defamation charges levied against SLB and Alia. In terms of its release, Alia Bhatt recently wrapped shooting for the same; however, the makers of the film have chosen to release Gangubai Kathiawadi when theatres reopen post the pandemic.
The king of laughter is about to change gears. Has Anees Bazmee had enough of comedy? Or else, why is he switching to a love story next? Yes, Anees is moving to a romantic film after he completes Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.
Shedding light on the change of mood in his career, Anees says, “Yes, I’ve written a love story during the lockdown. But it isn’t as if I’m giving up comedies. Why would I do that? I think it was David Dhawanji who said, ‘Why open the bonnet and tamper with a car when it is running smoothly?’ Even today wherever I go, people tell me that the last 20 minutes of my film Welcome are unparalleled. ‘Aapne kaise kiya?’ they want to know. Making people laugh especially in these trying times, is an art. Why would I want to give it up?”
However, a swerve into love lane is not unwelcome for the Welcome director. “I have made romantic films in the past, like Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha which was very successful. I am no stranger to love.”
The love story is likely to star Kartik Aaryan whose career is on a roll.
Actor Shefali Shah recently wrapped up the shoot of her upcoming film Doctor G starring Ayushmann Khurrana. Sharing the pictures of her wrap up party with the entire team, director and Ayushmann, Shefali also penned down a beautiful note for the cast and crew.
Taking to Instagram, Shefali wrote, “Yet another journey comes to an end. No wrong it’s just the beginning of like minded people coming together, making friends, getting enriched by each and everyone’s contribution to make her and me come alive.” She further thanked, “Thank you to the beautiful team with amazingly talented, fun and chilled people. Will miss you’ll #DoctorG Thank you so much @anubhuti_k @eeshitnarain @ayushmannk @rakulpreet @saurabhbharat @sheeba.chadha @rohitkverma @sumit.saxena.35912 @vishal.wagh21 @jungleepictures @pallavisymons @sandhyabellarae @imraj_gupta.”
In the pictures, Shefali is dressed in her character while cutting the cake alongside Ayushmann.
Doctor G is currently being shot in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rakul Preet Singh in the lead roles, the film is based on a medical institute campus. While Ayushmann will play the role of Dr Uday Gupta, Rakul Preet will be seen as Dr Fatima, a medical student who is Ayushmann’s senior. On the other hand, Shefali will play the role of Dr Nandini in the film.
Anubhuti Kashyap, who is Anurag Kashyap's sister, will be making her debut as a feature film director with the upcoming film.
Meanwhile, Shefali will also be seen in Darlings alongside Alia Bhatt.
Actor Neha Dhupia received a beautiful surprise on Tuesday evening from her friends as they arranged a baby shower for her. Neha took to Instagram to share a few photos from the occasion.
She wrote, “I had no idea today’s day would pan out like this … the sweetest “surprise” baby shower…. I have to say girls you caught your khufiya Dhupia totally off Gaurd… Followed by an evening with our favourite massis in the making. I love you all loads … agali baar surprise ke pehle thoda bata dena … here’s to the ones who made it and the ones we missed … all my love , always ❤️❤️❤️”
Neha shared a few photos with husband Angad Bedi and wrote, “All you need is love love love ❤️ … #babydaddy @angadbedi ❤️.” She also shared a couple of photos with her family and wrote, “The sweetest surprise …. The warmest and most wonderful afternoon … honest confession I have never ever been surprised … never!!!! This one was worth the wait … baby mama loved it …. Uff! .”
Best friend Sara Ali Khan, who made the arrangements also posted a few pictures on Instagram and wrote, “Showering you with love and happiness @nehadhupia as you begin the final lap!! And let’s not forget to applaud @angadbedi his enthusiasm is beyond description !! #happybabyshower #isthatevenathing.”
Neha and Angad tied the knot in May 2018 and were blessed with a baby girl Mehr in November that year. She announced her second pregnancy in July with a family photo featuring Angad and Mehr and captioned it, “Took us 2 days to come with a caption….The best one we could think of was … Thank you, God. ❤️.”
Before the release of Bellbottom, Akshay Kumar headed to the UK to kick off the Hindi remake of Rakshasudu. Tentatively titled Cinderella, the film has gone on the floor in London. The film marks the reunion of the actor with Bellbottom director Ranjit M Tewari.
Recently, the actor was seen striking a pose with a fan on the streets of London. Akshay Kumar was all smiles donning black cargo pants with T-shirt and camouflage jacket.
Akshay kicked off the shoot with Jackky Bhagnani, Sargun Mehta, Chandrachur Singh, Ranjit M Tewari, Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh.
Rakshasudu, starring Bellamkonda Sreenivas, is a story about Arun, a newly appointed police sub-inspector, who goes after a notorious serial killer who targets teenage girls. However, his mission soon comes at a terrible price.
Over the last few months, there have been talks about the developments around Oh My God 2 featuring Pankaj Tripathi in lead with Akshay Kumar getting back to play the character of Lord Krishna. Bollywood Hungama was the first to reveal that Yami Gautam was signed on to play the female lead of the much awaited Oh My God sequel. And now, we have learnt that the social comedy goes on floors today in Mumbai with Pankaj Tripathi.
"Director Amit Rai commences shooting for the ambitious social comedy today in Mumbai with Pankaj Tripathi. The actor will be canning his solo sequences over the next few days and will then be joined by Yami Gautam, who plays the female lead. Akshay Kumar will start his work in October," said a source Bollywood Hungama, adding further that Akshay has allotted 15 to 20 days for his track of Lord Krishna in Oh My God 2.
Oh My God 2 is produced by Ashwin Varde with Akshay Kumar himself. The duo is supremely excited for this film. "They are aware about the cult following of Oh My God and have been working for last decade to get the script right to take the story forward. They amicably decided on the sequel only on being satisfied that the script was better than the first part. The treatment and subject will surprise the audience," the source informed us.
Akshay Kumar also has films like Ram Setu, Raksha Bandhan under his kitty, which he will be shooting over the next few months, thereby being the busiest actor of B-Town.
Ursula posted snaps of herself dressed in classic Burberry printed outfit, styled by Mimi Cutrell. She was seen in a sleeveless body fit top with bottoms and a sheer black corset fit on the abdomen. She looked gorgeous with soft makeup, natural blush and bold red lips. Her hair were in messy waves with an envious shine and bounce. Her caption in Spanish states- ‘4 days to La Casa de Papel Season 5 babies’.
Fans are eagerly waiting for the last season of Money Heist. The last installment has been announced on Netflix and will be releasing on September 3. She is also starring as one of the leads in the movie Snake Eyes also starring Henry Golding which released in theatres on July 23. The actor wrapped her share of filming for the show in May. At the time, she shared behind-the-scenes pictures with cast members. She also recently shared that she couldn’t stop crying while filming the finale.
20the Century Studos’ globally acclaimed epic adventure comedy, Free Guy is set to release on 17th September across theaters in India in English and Hindi. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi, Free Guy is directed by Shawn Levy.
In a recent interview with K-pop group Stray Kids' Bang Chan, Reynolds said that Free Guy is his favourite movie he's ever made. "It was just a fun movie. It was so nice to do a movie that was so fun and that made you laugh, cry, and jump out of your seat. All of those things were so much fun to be a part of and it's my favourite movie I've ever made," he shared.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Reynolds added, "It was a script that I read; I sent it to Shawn Levy, and I said, "This is something I think we could do together." I loved the themes of it - particularly backdropped by the world we've been living in the last [few] years. And we just jumped into it. Zak Penn and Shawn Levy and I all just started a massive rewrite that really went all the way through to the editing room. It was such a labor of love. But there's an old expression, "Listen to your movie because it will talk to you." And the reason why I keep working with Shawn and love Shawn so much is he believes in that same sort of idea as well."
Opening to overwhelmingly positive reviews and successful global box office, Free Guy will be released for Indian audiences on 17th September.
Actor Armaan Kohli was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau on Sunday following a raid at his residence on Saturday. Drug peddler Ajay Singh alias Mamu, aged 50, has also been arrested and preliminary investigation by the NCB has revealed that Singh had links with the international drug syndicate and prostitution racket. The agency also recovered some WhatsApp chats regarding the purchase of drugs between the two.
The Mumbai Anti Narcotics Cell had arrested Singh in 2009 when his name had first surfaced in a drugs case. On Saturday, the NCB arrested Singh from new Haji Ali and recovered 25 gms of MD drugs from him. The drugs that he sold in Mumbai reportedly came from Colombia and Peru. According to the police, he had connections with Bollywood celebrities and was often seen at their parties as well.
The NCB has recovered WhatsApp chats regarding the purchase of drugs between Kohli and Singh from the latter's mobile phone. On the basis of the Whatsapp chat, they had raided Kohli's house and seized 1.2 gms of Cocaine.
On Monday, the NCB produced Singh and Kohli in court and requested to extend their remand. The NCB told the court, “Singh is associated with the international drug syndicate and prostitution racket. His international links have come to the fore. NCB needs his custody to investigate the matter.” The court granted police custody till September 1.
While the excitement around the theatrical release of Kangana Ranaut starrer Thalaivii is reaching over the roof, adding to the anticipation, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed the film giving it a 'U' Certificate. Thalaivii is all set to hit the theatres on the 10th of September worldwide in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
While the Tamil version received a 'U' Certification from the board earlier, CBFC has passed the Hindi version with the 'U' certificate now. The trailer of the film had earlier swayed the audience with the exact representation of Jayalalithaa's life through the varied phases of her life. Right from recreating the looks and set-ups of her filmy journey to mincing no words to depict the political scenario, Thalaivii puts forth the untold reality of Amma's life on screen.
Opting for a theatrical release, the makers of Thalaivii pay an ode to Jayalalithaa returning the legend to the silver screen.
Directed by Vijay, Thalaivii, presented by Vibri Motion pictures, Karma Media Entertainment, and Zee Studios in association with Gothic Entertainment and Sprint films has been produced by Vishnu Vardhan Induri and Shailesh R Singh and Co-produced by Hitesh Thakkar and Thirumal Reddy with Brinda Prasad as the Creative Producer. Thalaivii is set to release in theatres worldwide in Hindi, Tamil, and Telegu by Zee Studios on 10th September 2021.
Aparshakti Khurana and his wife Aakriti Ahuja Khurana recently became proud parents to a baby girl. Naturally, the couple is over the moon with the arrival of the bundle of joy in their lives.
Now, he gave a glimpse of her through an adorable picture where the little one can be seen firmly holding her mother's finger. The actor wrote, "It's a little love triangle for us @aakritiahuja #arzoieakhurana".
On Monday, Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) in Delhi as a witness in a Rs. 200 crore money laundering case. Reportedly, the actress was a victim of the same racket.
Reportedly, the sources in the ED said that the actor fell on the radar of Sukesh Chandrashekar, through his partner Leena Paul. Chandrashekar is the alleged mastermind of the racket.
Fernandez is being examined as a witness in the money laundering case and is not an accused, clarified the source. The actress in her statement recorded over five hours shared crucial details.
Reports further state that a top Bollywood actor was targeted by Sukesh and said that the name of the actor is being kept under wraps for security reasons.
"Sukesh Chandrasekhar is the mastermind of this fraud. He has multiple FIRs against him and is presently lodged at the Rohini jail," the Enforcement Directorate said in the statement last week.
Yo Yo Honey Singh and Guru Randhawa are two of the most popular faces of the Indian music industry. While Singh is known for his rap songs, Randhawa has largely been associated with Punjabi music including Bhangra and Indie pop. Both have also contributed to several hit songs in Bollywood. And now one hears that the two are all set to collaborate for the first time.
According to reports, the two are collaborating for a single which is going to be produced by T-Series and is supposedly going to be one of the costliest singles.
Reports further state that the two have been planning to collaborate for the longest time but could not do so because of their busy careers. Now, the track has been finalised and the music and lyrics were locked last month. The track is said to be a mix of rap and Punjabi beats.
T-Series head Bhushan Kumar loved the idea and decided to take it to another level with the production. The song will be shot in Dubai and will be one of the most expensive singles. The recording will take place early next month post which they will fly to Dubai to shoot the song.
The month of August 2021 gave us a host of foot-tapping numbers to choose from. First Somi and Sunmi thrilled us with their tracks, and then groups like ASTRO and GOLDEN CHILD gave us joyous numbers! BTS once again brought in a sweet and spicy surprise with collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion.
Let’s take a look at some of the popular and eye-catching releases of August 2021.
SOMI – DUMB DUMB
Gracing the screens after a brief break, SOMI made a stunning comeback with ‘Dumb Dumb.’ The pastel and glittery music video is a delight to watch! The songstress shows her dancing skills with a mesmerizing choreography. SOMI also displays her acting skills in the song when she switches from a playful girl to a more serious girl.
GOLDEN CHILD – RA PAM PAM
Golden Child made a smashing comeback with ‘Ra Pam Pam.’ The music video tells a story in a post-apocalyptic world. ‘Ra Pam Pam’ is a song about hope and finding your way back to your loved one. The song is replete with catchy beats and a moombahton genre which is bound to hook you to it the moment it begins!
ASTRO – AFTER MIDNIGHT
ASTRO showcased a new side to their amazing discography by opting for a tropical summer theme. ‘After Midnight’ is a fun, cheerful song. The song features a harmony of piano and violin tunes, along with dance music. The group showcases their playful side in the music video as they dance around the beach.
GRAY – I DON’T LOVE YOU (ft. Coogie)
Korean R&B artist GRAY’s latest song ‘I Don’t Love You’ is a brilliant mix of piano tunes and electro-synth music. Rapper Coogie collaborated with GRAY and lent his contribution for a catchy rap verse. The vocal and rap verses show a smooth transition, rendering the song as an enjoyable listen.
SUNMI – YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US
A song about expressing displeasure for a former flame, Sunmi’s ‘You Can’t Sith With Us’ is a catchy number despite the meaning of the lyrics. The music video is studded with glittery and glitzy props, with a dash of the early 2000s memorabilia like the flip phone and old computers. SUNMI’s versatility is unmatched in this video.
ONF – POPPIN’
Poppin’ is a perfect track to dance your hearts out. The track is filled to the brim with funky music beats and joyous vibes, which no one can resist bobbing their heads to. Clubbing images from a space voyage, to a high school gym dance, the group paints a happy picture in the music video.
THE BOYZ – THRILL RIDE
THE BOYZ’s ‘Thrill Ride’ is a dashing song. The song is fun and will make one easily get up and dance. The summery vibes along with posh cars and bars paint a shiny picture of leisure time. The hook step is easy and fun, so how about trying it out with your friends on your next vacation?
RED VELVET - QUEENDOM
RED VELVET’s songs never disappoint, and ‘Queendom’ is the latest testament to that. The song is catchy, glitzy and glamorous in the group’s true fashion. ‘Queendom’ is the perfect pick to get out of missing RED VELVET, especially after they enthralled us with ‘Psycho.’ The chorus is absolutely catchy and will get your crooning in no time! The melodious harmonization of vocals renders a hypnotic feel to the song.
BTS – BUTTER (ft. Megan Thee Stallion)
‘Butter’ got South Korean juggernaut BTS a new found fame, more so after it charted atop on Billboard 100 for nine weeks. It became viral on micro-video sharing platforms. The catchy English language track got even funkier with the addition of American rapper – songwriter Megan Thee Stallion. Megan brings in her spunk and spice with her rap verse. She also harmonizes with SUGA in his verse. Butter (ft. Megan Thee Stallion) is like an extra piece of your favourite cake!
STRAY KIDS – THUNDEROUS
STRAY KIDS made a thunderous comeback with their new album NOEASY. The title track ‘Thunderous’ features a mix of traditional Korean singing art form pansori along with the group’s signature foot-stomping music. The group once again proved that they are a talented bunch of individuals who aren’t afraid of experimenting!
CL – SPICY
CL's comeback is one of the highly anticipated releases of 2021. ‘Spicy’ is the first track from her upcoming album. The music video and the song bring back the spunk and jam that CL is known for. The hip hop and trap beats add spicy buoyancy to the track.
JAY B – B.T.W (ft. Jay Park)
JAY B’s solo debut SOMO: FUME with H1GHER MUSIC was undoubtedly one of the highly anticipated solo releases of August 2021. The singer – songwriter turned to RnB genre for the album and stunned the audiences with each song. B.T.W. is a smooth RnB song with ample dance beats. Jay B’s voice flows smoothly throughout the song, rendering it a cozy feel.
BTOB – OUTSIDER
BTOB’s latest musical offering is a song about escaping the mundane and tiresome daily life. The music video reflects this feeling and also shows a glamourous side to life. The song has a retro vibe to it, and the jazzy music adds in to that vibe. Dressed in sleek suits and boots, BTOB has certainly impressed everyone with their artistry with ‘Outsider.’
KEY- HATE THAT (ft. Taeyeon)
Key's single ‘Hate That’ is smooth and steady paced R&B track. Taeyeon's vocals compliment Key's vocals beautifully in the track. The song is about hatred and anger towards a former flame, and yet it has a foot-tapping rhythm to it.
TOMORROW BY TOGETHER -LO$ER=LO♡ER
TOMORROW X TOGETHER dropped new music video for ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER’ from the repackaged album The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE. Bringing emocore vibes, it is a young one’s love song sure to resonate with Gen Z everywhere, and with all those who are still a youth at heart. The music depicts growing up in this world and the need to survival through money, friendships, and love.
SPECIAL MENTION: WAYV’s Ten’s ‘Paint Me Naked’, VERIVERY’s ‘Trigger’, Lee Hi’s ‘Only’, Penomeco’s ‘Shy (eh oh)’ and ‘Bolo’ feat. YDG, MIRAE’s ‘Splash’, Park Ji Hoon’s ‘Gallery’, Brave Girls’ ‘After We Ride’, N.CUS’ ‘Get Out’, Seori’s ‘Dive With You’ feat eaJ, Pentagon’s ‘Cerberus’, CIX’s ‘Wave’.
Shehnaaz Gill is loved and adored by her fans. She impresses every time she posts a snap on her official Instagram handle.
Shehnaaz Gill dropped the girl next door image and donned a body suit for a sultry shoot with ace photographer Dabboo Ratnani. She donned a lacy bodysuit with a lace broderie top and plain black bottom. Her expressions were smouldering as she gave sizzling looks for the camera as she also donned a pair of glasses. The pictures have set the internet on fire.
Shehnaaz Gill has shed a lot of weight ever since she stepped out of Bigg Boss 13, emerging as one of the most loved and popular contestants in the history of the reality show. The actor is now the talk of the town because of her incredible transformation. Shehnaaz Gill, who is often linked with Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla, also won hearts recently by appearing in Madhuri Dixit-judged reality dance show Dance Deewane. She and Sidharth created many romantic moments on the show and left their fans to gush over their chemistry.
Shehnaaz has been enjoying a massive fan following since her stint on Salman Khan hosted show Bigg Boss 13. Her bond with actor Sidharth Shukla has also grabbed the eyeballs. Recently, Sidharth was all praise for Shehnaaz’s first production venture. Shehnaaz had produced her brother Shehbaz Badesha’s song “Little Star” which also starred Giorgia Andriani.
On the work front, Shehnaaz has been keeping herself busy with her YouTube channel. Earlier this month, Shehnaaz dropped a fun interaction with her brother Shehbaz. Shehnaaz will soon be seen with Diljit Dosanjh in the Punjabi film Honsla Rakh.
Madhuri Dixit is the epitome of elegance and grace. She loves her Indian wear and we can't get enough of it. We love Dixit’s Instagram glam and that keeps us waiting for a new post every time.
Madhuri Dixit donned a beautiful cherry red sharara from the Mandana (Intimate Wedding) Collection from Punit Balana.
Dixit donned the cherry kurta with heavy golden yoke and a flared kurta with gharara pants that featured golden lining. She looked beautiful with shimmery makeup, shimmer eye shadow with lined cherry eyes and heavy mascara.
She completed the look with soft curls in her hair and a bold lip. Her Kundan jewellery were simple with earrings and a Pearl embellished heavy choker, it elevated the look! The outfit can be bought from the Punit Balana website for ₹75,000. This look is a gorgeous creation and the colours work really well together and is the perfect pick for an evening celebration.
Madhuri is currently appearing as a judge on the reality TV show Dance Deewane 3. She was last seen on the big screen in the 2019 film Kalank, which also starred Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapur.
