As Yash Raj Films clocks 50 years of excellence and supremacy, the scion of the empire Aditya Chopra and his intellectual team has come together to thresh out a string of commemorative projects including a grand bio-pic on the founding father of the banner Yash Chopra.

Though not much detail is known of the bio-pic as yet I have reason to believe Aditya Chopra is very seriously looking into the project, as he and all likeminded fans of Yash Chopra believe the filmmaker’s saga of self-motivated success is exemplary. And who better qualified to play Yash Chopra than Shah Rukh Khan? Though the casting is yet to be finalized SRK seems the perfect fit, being the favourite actor of father Yash and son Aditya Chopra.

Other commemorative projects to mark 50 years of Yash Raj include new film projects that will launch new talent. Aditya Chopra has always been at the forefront of new-talent endeavours. Ranveer Singh and Parineeti Chopra are among Chopra’s recent discoveries.

“We will be seeing a lot more new acting talent emerge from Yash Raj Films in the near future,” a source close to Yash Raj reveals.

Also Read: Aditya Chopra unveils a special logo that commemorates 50 years of Yash Raj Films

Rakul Preet Singh who was summoned for interrogation by the Narcotics Control Bureau in Mumbai has returned to Hyderabad to resume work on Krish Jagarlamudi untitled Telugu quickie featuring Rakul with Vaisshnav Tej.

A source from the location in the Vikarabad Forest reports that the unit is not the least rattled by Rakul’s newly-found controversial image. “Krish Sir and everyone in the crew is going about their work as normal. There’s no talk of the ‘d’ word (drugs) on the set at all.”

The source describes Rakul as a “brave girl”. “She is under tremendous stress. But she brings none of it on the sets. In fact she jokes around the most,” says the source.

Apparently, director Krish who will complete this quickie and then return to the Pawan Kalyan film which he was shooting before the lockdown, will sign Rakul for another film very shortly. “This drug scandal won’t affect Rakul’s career,” says a source close to Krish.

Also Read: Rakul Preet Singh approaches Delhi High Court seeking restrain on media reports linking her to the drug probe

One of the advantages of having direct OTT releases was that the films would be free of censorship. Hence, expletives and intimate scenes were shown freely without haphazard cuts. But now with Khaali Peeli releasing not just online but also in drive-in cinemas in Bengaluru and Gurugram, getting the censor certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) became mandatory for the makers. And unfortunately, the Ishaan Khatter-Ananya Panday starrer has faced several cuts, a few of them being laughable.

As per the cut list, the ‘sensuous and explicit’ visuals in the song 'Tehas Nehas' have been removed. Two scenes of Choksi Seth (Swananad Kirkire) staring lecherously at Pooja (Ananya Panday) have been removed and also the vulgar-induced dialogues in these sequences. Other dialogues to have been snipped from the final cuts are ‘Saale nalla hai tu. Fattu hai’, ‘Dus saal tak virgin raha; hold karke baitha tha’, ‘virgin bhramachari’ and ‘harami’. ‘Tichya Aaila’, meanwhile, was muted. In some dialogues, so-called objectionable terms were replaced. ‘Maa ki aankh’ was replaced with ‘bhains ki aankh’, ‘maa ki’ was replaced with ‘bhains ki’, ‘item’ with ‘ladki’ and ‘r****i’ was replaced with ‘aunty’. The CBFC also told the makers to insert a disclaimer in the beginning stating that all those associated with the film are against the exploitation and objectification of children and women. Lastly, anti-smoking ad was added at the beginning of the second half and the font size of anti-smoking tickers was increased.

After all these changes were made, Khaali Peeli was passed by the CBFC with a U/A certificate on September 22. The total length of the film is 119 minutes. A source close to the project says that the makers would be releasing the censored version on the OTT platform Zee Plex as well.

Also Read: Khaali Peeli: Ananya Panday shares new stills, says ‘mehendi laga ke rakhna’

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much - this maxim perhaps best describes the Bellbottom journey from start to finish. A schedule that began as an impossibility has culminated into a storybook ending that has put the Hindi film industry right on the global map.

"It's teamwork and I am grateful to each and every member of the cast and crew from the spot dadas to the light dadas to the technicians to the make-up dadas to my lovely heroines Vaani, Lara, Huma, my director Ranjit and to Vashuji and the production team who believed in our audacious plan. The new normal has made us realise a different way of working that none of us could have imagined. I hope this encourages film industries globally to do what they do best and start entertaining audiences again. I hope our shoot during the pandemic reassures others that keeping all safety in mind it’s time to get things moving again.” says Akshay Kumar as the film completed its start-to-finish schedule making it the first film in the world to do so.

The film finds itself in the company of a handful of international, mega-budget films that got back on the floors during the pandemic such as Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible 7 and Jurassic Park: Dominion, managing to shoot in an unprecedented environment. In the process, Bellbottom has become the first of these films to complete shooting the entire film.

For Pooja Entertainment, 'Bellbottom' has been the most challenging production in recent times. For the producers it meant managing a stringent health protocol for a massive 200-plus Indian contingent and a 24×7 production crew ensuring the production proceeded seamlessly. The film’s shoot not only got the artists back on the sets but also industry professionals involved in the process of filmmaking. BellBottom resuming shoot has set a precedent for the global film industry and been a step forward in normalising the current working situation in Bollywood.

“We are immensely grateful to the entire unit for trusting us to keep them safe. We feel blessed that we had the right energy on the sets at all times which is honestly the reason why everything came together so beautifully,” adds Jackky Bhagnani

Vaani Kapoor says, "This was easily among the smoothest productions that I have been a part of. I was concerned about how it was going to play out, given the fear and health concerns but I must thank and congratulate Pooja Entertainment for the fantastic planning and the attention to detail. I hope this gives encouragement and confidence to other people back home to shoot.”

Producer Deepshikha Deshmukh has only sentiment to share - gratitude. "I am really grateful that we could complete the shoot. The health and safety of every one were of utmost importance and we ensured that everything was in order. It was an extremely humbling and grateful experience when all the dadas from various departments would come up to you and thank you for bringing them back to work. This couldn't have been possible without Akshay sir and Dad. All credit goes to them."

For the captain of the ship, director Ranjit M Tewari, Bellbottom has been an experience he would like to savor a little longer. “I’ve been blessed with a great cast and crew! Akshay sir, Vashuji, Vaani, Lara, Jackky, and every technician has worked tirelessly to support the film. It was great teamwork.”

Pooja Entertainment presents in association with Emmay Entertainment Bellbottom Produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, and Nikkhil Advani. 'Bellbottom' written by Aseem Arrora & Parveez Shaikh is set to release on 2nd April 2021.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar shares happy picture of Bell Bottom team as they wrap up Scotland schedule

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Is Sushant Singh Rajput’s father K K Singh planning to join Bihar politics? The grieving patriarch’s Wednesday rendezvous with Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar has triggered off much speculation in Bihar about a possible alliance.

A source close to the Bihar chief minister tells this writer, “We can’t say anything definite at the moment. We can’t rule out Sushant’s father joining hands with Nitishji. Their meeting went well and Mr Singh went away happily. What lies ahead we will soon know.”

With the case against Rhea Chakraborty weakening by the day, politics seems to be a sturdy diversion for Sushant’s grieving father. We can only wait and watch for further developments.

Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case: No signs of murder so far, confirms CFSL scientist

Popular K-pop group MONSTA X's leader and vocalist Shownu, real name Son Hyun Woo, is set to croon OST for Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo-ah, Kim Bum, and Kim Yong Ji's upcoming drama, The Tale of a Gumiho. The announcement was made on September 30 and it happens to be his first solo OST in nine years.

The drama is set to premiere on October 7. The singer has already recorded the OST for the series. It is yet to be revealed which episode will feature the song.

[#셔누] 영광스러운 OST에 참여했습니다 ㅎㅎ 이동욱배우님과 조보아배우님, 김범배우님이 출연하는 구미호뎐! 많이 기대해주세요~ㅎㅎ #구미호뎐 pic.twitter.com/Ybh2UF4IQQ

— 몬스타엑스_MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX) September 30, 2020

Before his debut as a member of MONSTA X, Shownu crooned 'Now I Know' for the drama, Protect The Boss. The OST was released with his real name Son Hyun Woo.

Earlier this month, Shownu participated in an OST with member Minhyuk for a webtoon, She's My Type. The song titled 'Have a Goodnight' is a ballad and a breezy track filled with a lot of romantic emotions.

Monsta X made their comeback in May 2020 with their mini-album titled 'Fantasia X' with the title track 'Fantasia'.

ALSO READ: MONSTA X’s Shownu and Minhyuk to collaborate on a single for a webtoon She’s My Type

Television and film star Gurmeet Chowdhary and his wife Debina have tested Covid positive. Their symptoms are mild and they are recovering at home.

Says Gurmeet, “We have no idea how we got it. But now that we have, we are taking full precautions and we are in quarantine at home. These are very uncertain times and there’s no guarantee of safety .We can only hope for the best.”

Gurmeet is the latest among the personalities in showbiz the world over who have acquired the virus. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were the first couple from the entertainment world to contract the Coronavirus.

Also Read: Gurmeet Choudhary starrer The Wife becomes the first movie to be completed in the COVID-19 era

Actor Zendaya is currently in talks to star in an upcoming biopic to play the iconic singer Ronnie Spector. The news comes in after the 24-year-old actress became the youngest recipient to win Emmys in Best Actress in the drama category for her performance in HBO series, Euphoria.

According to Deadline, "Deals have just closed for Spector’s life rights and for Be My Baby, the memoir she wrote with Vince Waldron. Early conversations are happening with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury to write the script. The film will be produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Mark Itkin, Tom Shelly, and Zendaya. Jonathan Greenfield and Spector will be the exec producers."

On the work front, Zendaya will next star in multi-starrer Dune. She has Netflix project Malcolm & Marie as well with John David Washington.

ALSO READ: Zendaya and John David Washington starrer Malcolm & Marie sold to Netflix for $30 million

Actor Joey King has found her next project. The actor is returning to the streaming giant Netflix to star in and executive produce the movie based on Scott Westerfeld’s bestseller, Uglies. McG will be directing the film.

According to Deadline, "The story is set in a world in which a compulsory operation at 16 wipes out physical differences and makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty. Sources say King long has been a fan of the series and brought the series to Netflix –called them, got them to read the script and the book, and then King got Netflix to option it."

Along with Joey King, Jamie King and Scott Westerfield will serve as executive producers.

Joey King will next star in the third and final installment of The Kissing Booth. The actress has signed Bullet Train and will star alongside Brad Pitt.

ALSO READ: The Kissing Booth 2 stars Joey King and Taylor Zakhar Perez swim under a waterfall during their getaway with friends

Actor Zac Efron is set for his next project. Joining the Jason Blum and Universal's next production, the actor will star in Stephen King's Firestarter reboot.

According to Deadline, "Keith Thomas (The Vigil) is directing the latest iteration that is being adapted by writer Scott Teems (Halloween Kills, Rectify), who will also executive produce. Jason Blum and Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman are producing. Martha De Laurentiis, who was an associate producer on the 1984 adaptation will executive produce"

Firestarter, the 1984 movie based on Stephen King's 1980 novel, followed the story of a young girl who develops pyrokinesis and the secret government agency known as the Shop which seeks to control her.

Zac Efron can currently be seen in docu-series Down to Earth on Netflix. He has also produced the series. The actor has also signed the remake of Three Men and a Baby for Disney+.

ALSO READ: Zac Efron to star in the remake of Three Men and a Baby for Disney+

It is known that Akshay Kumar starrer Laxmmi Bomb is set to hit the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar on November 9, 2020. The fans are excited to see the actor in a new avatar as he essays the role of a transgender. While India gets to watch the film on OTT, Akshay Kumar fans living in Australia, New Zealand, and UAE will get to experience the film.

Akshay Kumar starrer Laxmmi Bomb to release in Australia, New Zealand, and UAE on 9th November. It is the same day the film is hitting the streaming service Disney+ Hostar. With theaters closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the makers have opted to release the movie, this Diwali directly on the OTT platform.

Directed by Raghava Lawrence, who had directed and starred in the original movie, will also see Akshay and Kiara Advani collaborate again post Good Newwz.

Disney+ Hotstar VIP presents, Laxmmi Bomb, produced by A Cape of Good Films, Tusshar Entertainment House and Shabinaa Entertainment.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna spill their secrets as they take questions from the ‘most fearsome interviewers’; watch

Setting foot into the film world again with an upcoming movie, actor Karanvir Bohra is all set to begin shooting his upcoming venture called Kutubminar! The actor who is currently shooting in Dehradun for the film with the entire cast and crew, kicked off the shoot's mahurat with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand inaugurating the ritual!

With quite a diverse star cast including actors like Minisha Lamba, Sanjay Mishra, and Tridha Choudhary alongside Karanvir in the film, this is going to be his second film release post-Hume Tumse Pyar Kitna in 2019, and this one definitely seems to be one which is unique, out of the box and one which will keep the viewers entertained throughout!

Take a look at Karanvir’s post.

View this post on Instagram

Started our new film #kutubminar in #dehradun (maintaining safety)... honourable chief minister @tsrawatbjp giving the #mahurat shot. With @imsanjaimishra @raaj_aashoo @panchamsingh10

A post shared by Karanvir Bohra (@karanvirbohra) on Sep 30, 2020 at 12:10am PDT

Also Read: Karanvir Bohra cleans litter at the airport before boarding the flight

Actor Salman Khan is getting back to work and focusing on various projects. It is being reported that the actor will be backing a non-fiction web series that will focus on the local games in India.

According to a daily, Salman Khan’s production house is working on several kinds of projects including a multi-episode series focusing on games. The plan is to put the spotlight on the sports stars who don’t get enough coverage and are even forgotten since the main focus has been cricket.

The series will not only focus on Kabbadi and Hockey but also lesser highlighted sports like mountain biking and kayaking. The research is currently working on the project and the makers plan to roll by mid-2021. Salman Khan and his team are yet to confirm this news.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan is set to resume shooting of Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai from October 2. He is also set to begin hosting Bigg Boss 14 from October 3.

ALSO READ: Salman Khan to resume Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai shoot on October 2 in Karjat

A couple of weeks ago, actress Payal Ghosh had accused Anurag Kashyap of sexual assault. She claimed that Anurag Kashyap tried to rape her and that actresses like Richa Chadha, Mahie Gill, and Huma Qureshi were one call away for his activities. After giving out some disturbing details of the situation, Payal Ghosh did not accept the legal notice sent to her by Richa Chadha for involving her name in this matter.

Anurag Kashyap had also denied all the allegations against him and a lot of female celebrities have come ahead to stand in support of him. As per the reports, Mumbai Police has called Anurag Kashyap to Versova police station for questioning on October 1, at 11 AM. The filmmaker’s lawyer had released a statement to announce that Anurag Kashyap has denied all the allegations against him.

As for Payal Ghosh, she met with various officials and has claimed that she will go on a hunger strike if not action is taken against the filmmaker.

Also Read: Anurag Kashyap is not a child abuser; he was an abused child himself

Vivek Agnihotri is giving a chance to the Qawwali Folk Artistes of Bhopal in his upcoming film The Last Show. According to sources, "Director Vivek Agnihotri flew to Bhopal to begin the shoot of his next film, The Last Show, with actors Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik. There, folk artistes met the director who was shooting with Anupam Kher at the city's Shaukat Mahal. The folk artistes dedicated a Qawwali to the director. Agnihotri loved the performance of the artistes. He decided to do something about the revival of old and forgotten Qawwali groups of Bhopal."

The Tashkent Files director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri states, "The Last Show is a tribute to dying arts of India like folk theatre, qawwali, brass band, etc. I have worked hard to find these old artistes who are lost in oblivion and nobody cares about them. You might not have heard of this qawwali group but they are masters of their art."

Vivek Agnihotri's directorial feature The Last Show, will celebrate 45 years of friendship shared by Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik. The film is being jointly produced by Anupam Kher, Rumi Jafry, Satish Kaushik, and Vivek Agnihotri.

ALSO READ: Vivek Agnihotri appointed as new cultural representative at ICCR

The death case of Sushant Singh Rajput is still being investigated and the autopsy and viscera reports are being re-examined by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences along with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory. The Central Bureau of Investigations’ team had also recreated the scene from June 14 in Sushant Singh Rajput’s Bandra apartment where he was found dead on June 14. So far the team has not seen any evidence of a foul play with the reports.

If the reports are to be believed, then the scientist from CFSL who has been in on the case has said that there are no signs of murder so far. The ligature marks on the neck suggest that he died by hanging, a V-shaped mark has been seen on autopsy photos of the late actor’s neck left by the noose on the body by being suspended from a point above. The scientist also said that he has visited Sushant’s house twice and there are no signs of murder as of now.

Clearing the doubts of the space being insufficient for his body to hang, the scientist said that it was enough for the body to hang and so far, no such compelling evidence has been recovered to prove in the court that it was a murder.

Also Read: Rhea Chakraborty is accused of harbouring late actor Sushant Singh Rajput for consumption of drugs: Reports

For those who have been wondering why only the women in the film industry are being summoned for questioning by the Narcotics Control Bureau, there is encouraging news. We have it from an extremely reliable source that the male actors would soon be summoned for questioning.

Sources say the only reason why the ladies of Bollywood were summoned first was because of the WhatsApp chats which gave them away. “It’s not a gender-thing at all; it’s just a question of who fell into the net first. The men were a bit more difficult to identify. But now they’ve zeroed in on the male stars as well,” an informed source reveals.

While the list of male actors to be questioned by the NCB is yet to be finalized, one hears of some names like this A-list superstar from an illustrious film family who has spoken of his tryst with drugs in old press interviews, and a new-age star who gained stardom after a patriotic movie, being on top of the male list.

Watch this space for more on the guys getting summoned by the NCB.

Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case: NCB files affidavits in Bombay HC seeking rejection of Rhea and Showik Chakraborty’s bail

Recently, Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, and Shraddha Kapoor along with Karishma Prakash were called for questioning at the Narcotics Control Bureau for questioning regarding the drugs probe that was brought to light during the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. As per the reports, the agency has been thoroughly investigating the matter at hand and has already arrested Rhea Chakraborty for procuring drugs like marijuana. After grilling the actresses for several hours, the WhatsApp chats from 2017 between Deepika Padukone and her manager Karishma Prakash revealed discussions between hash, weed, doob.

However, if the reports are to be believed then the officials have said that Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Karishma Prakash have ‘almost received a clean chit from the Narcotics Control Bureau. Deepika and Karishma were questioned at the same time with the same set of questions in different rooms where they revealed that they used these terms to describe cigarettes ‘for fun’. As per their statements low-quality cigarettes were referred to as ‘maal’, slim and better ones as ‘hash’ and ‘weed’ while the thick ones were referred to as ‘doob’ for fun. The officials have said that both of them have corroborated the codes and they were satisfied.

Since the chats were from 2017, it was assumed after reading these codes that they were discussing drugs.

Also Read: Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor not linked to any drug peddlers yet

Amitabh Bachchan has been shooting many campaigns whilst in quarantine. The megastar has become a go-to star to raise awareness on various topics. He has been roped in for the Customer Awareness Campaign for the Reserve Bank Of India.

The official social media account of RBI had a message of Amitabh Bachchan that read, "The cost of awareness is hardly a penny, but ignorance can cost you hard-earned money."

.@RBI Kehta Hai.. #BeAware #BeSecure#rbikehtahai #StaySafehttps://t.co/mKPAIp5rA3 pic.twitter.com/1cgHEdkSbV

— RBI Says (@RBIsays) September 27, 2020

On the work front, Amitabh Bachchan has kick-started the new season of Kaun Banega Crorepati from September 28 onwards. After recovering from COVID-19 in August, this is the first project he has resumed.

Besides KBC 12, he is set to complete the shooting schedule of Bramhastra that stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.

ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan asks a Sushant Singh Rajput related question to the first contestant on Kaun Banega Crorepati 12

After seven months in quarantine, Salman Khan is set to resume work on Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai from October 2 at ND Studios in Karjat. The patchwork of the film remains, along with some crucial scenes and a dance sequence with Disha Patani. According to a daily, the 15-day schedule in Karjat will be followed by a final schedule at Mehboob Studios in Bandra.

The team will be following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and also will ensure extra precautions for the safety of the cast and crew. To avoid day-to-day travel, the crew will be stationed at a hotel near to ND Studios. During their stay, they won’t be meeting anyone from outside the crew. Their COVID-19 tests have already been done and no crew member has tested positive. The second round of tests will be done for the cast and the team working closely with the team. The team has been briefed about the protocols and there’s a video to brief the team in case of confusion. A dedicated team of doctors will be on set including Salman Khan’s personal team to ensure the hygiene and discipline are maintained on the set.

Co-producer Sohail Khan, who is bankrolling the film along with Salman Khan and Atul Agnihotri confirmed that they will create air-bubble and sanitize all the modes of transportation. He stated that a team of health and safety doctors will be present on set at all times, the teams will provide colour bands and signage in order to bifurcate them. The special team of trained personnel will dispose of the used PPE kits.

Salman Khan is also working with action directors Anbu-Arivu, who worked on KGF Chapter 1 and won National Award for it. They have worked on hand to hand combat scenes. Producer Atul Agnihotri is hoping to have a hassle-free shoot and complete the schedule within the set time.

Directed by Prabhu Dheva, Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai stars Randeep Hooda and Disha Patani.

ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 14 spokesperson confirms the time slot for airing the Salman Khan hosted show

The Bombay High Court after listening to the arguments on bail plea by Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty on Thursday reserved the order. The Chakraborty siblings were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB) in a drug case linked to late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. A Single Judge Bench of Justice SV Kotwal was hearing the bail applications.

Meanwhile, the NCB had earlier filed an affidavit in Bombay High Court seeking rejection of the bail pleas of the siblings. According to a report by Indian Express, the affidavits that were submitted by NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede stated that the drugs, in which Rhea and Showik are accused of, were not meant for personal consumption. “Electronic evidence such as WhatsApp chats, records were retrieved from the mobile, laptop and hard-disk and it indicated payment made for the drugs. Thus, there is ample evidence to show that the present applicant Rhea has not only regularly dealt (with) but has also financed illicit trafficking of drugs,” the report stated.

Rhea was arrested on September 8 and Showik was taken into NCB custody on September 4. Their earlier bail application was rejected by a special NDPS court and they were sent to judicial custody. Rhea will be in judicial custody till October 6. 

ALSO READ: Rhea Chakraborty is accused of harbouring late actor Sushant Singh Rajput for consumption of drugs: Reports

The Bombay High Court is hearing the bail plea of Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty today. The siblings were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB) a few weeks back and will be in judicial custody till October 6. 

According to a report in Times of India, the NCB submitted in the court that Rhea Chakraborty is an active member of a drug syndicate connected with high society personalities and drug suppliers. 

Reportedly, the NCB said that Rhea is accused of harbouring late actor Sushant Singh Rajput for consumption of drugs. As per reports, NCB said that the "applicant being aware of the fact that Sushant Singh Rajput being someone who is engaged in consumption has harboured him and concealed him whilst he was engaged in consumption of drugs".

Meanwhile, NCB has filed affidavits in Bombay High Court seeking rejection of the bail pleas of the siblings. According to a report by Indian Express, the affidavits that were submitted by NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede stated that the drugs, in which Rhea and Showik are accused of, were not meant for personal consumption. “Electronic evidence such as WhatsApp chats, records were retrieved from the mobile, laptop and hard-disk and it indicated payment made for the drugs. Thus, there is ample evidence to show that the present applicant Rhea has not only regularly dealt (with) but has also financed illicit trafficking of drugs,” the report stated.

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Case: AIIMS Panel says no poisoning involved in the death of the actor

After 12 years of working as Anjali Taarak Mehta on the famous family sitcom, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Neha Mehta had recently called it quits. The actress quit the show a while ago citing that she wanted to explore herself as an actor. However, if the reports are to be believed then Neha Mehta had reconsidered her decision of coming back on the show but the producer Asit Modi had already finalised Sunayana Fozdar.

Speaking to a daily about it, Neha Mehta said that she had expressed her wish to come back and resume her role in the show but the makers had already finalised Sunayana Fozdar and they couldn’t go back on their word. The actress has not watched the show after her exit and wants to gracefully leave without any hassle. She denied the rumours of being called back despite quitting a few times and said that it was the other way round, “Karna hai toh karo, warna jaane do”.

Neha Gupta has also hinted towards groupism on the set and said that it is better to keep quiet and appreciate the love that she has received so far. As for her return, her father had insisted that she tried to make her comeback on the show.

Also Read: Neha Mehta pens a thank you note as she quits Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah; says show must go on

Aftab Shivdasani, who had texted positive of COVID-19, made an announcement on September 11 that he is under quarantine. The actor has now tested negative and recovered.

Taking to his social media on Tuesday, Aftab wrote, "Hi everyone, I am very happy and relieved to be sharing with all of you that I did my Covid test again and by the grace of God, the reports came negative. Thank you for all your support and good wishes."

"Please know that this illness is very treatable and less than 20% cases are severe and need hospitalisation. Most of the people recover with medication at home so please do not panic even if unfortunately you get it," he added while talking about the illness and urged everyone to not panic.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Grateful. ❤️✨???????? Om Sai Ram. Allah Malik.

A post shared by Aftab Shivdasani (@aftabshivdasani) on Sep 29, 2020 at 2:43am PDT

"I once again humbly request and reiterate the importance of maintaining a social distance, using masks and sanitisers until the pandemic is over. Stay safe and protect your loved ones. Love, Aftab," he concluded.

Aftab Shivdasani got tested three times before the result came negative.

ALSO READ: Aftab Shivdasani tests positive for COVID-19; to be in home quarantine

The lockdown has taken a toll on the economy and has left a lot of people to opt for different professions to make ends meet. The director of Balika Vadhu, Ram Vriksha Gaur, was seen selling vegetables in Azamgarh, UP. the video went viral in no time and the cast was shocked, needless to say. When asked to comment, the director said that he has no regrets being a vegetable vendor since it’s his father’s business.

Ram Vriksha Gaur had gone to Azamgarh, UP, for the recce of a film but soon the lockdown was imposed and the project was brought to a halt. The producer told them that it would take another year for them to resume it and hence he took up selling vegetables as a job. Anup Soni, who played a prominent role in the show tweeted about the same and said that the team is reaching out to him.

The tweet reads, “It's sad... Our Balika Vadhu team got to know and getting in touch with him to help...”

It's sad...
Our Balika vadhu team got to know and getting in touch with him to help...????

— Anup Soni (@soniiannup) September 28, 2020

The Disciple, written and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and produced by Vivek Gomber of Zoo Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., is set to screen at the 58th New York Film Festival as part of the prestigious Main Slate.

Presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema and is considered the most prestigious selection of films in the US. Since 1963, the New York Film Festival has brought new and important cinematic works from around the world and is a major platform for generating Oscar buzz as suggested by their past selections in the Main Slate of titles such as Parasite, Roma, Moonlight, Birdman, and Amour.

The last Indian film to have been in the Main Slate of the New York Film Festival is Deepa Mehta’s Fire in 1996.

Along with a drive-in screening on Tuesday 29th September at 8 pm at the Queens Drive-In, The Disciple will screen virtually from September 29 at 8 pm ET through October 4 at 8 pm ET for US audiences only.

ALSO READ: “The entire nation is proud of you,” – Ayushmann Khurrana after Chaitanya Tamhane bags two top awards at the Venice Film Festival

Zee5 has announced Taish - a revenge drama to be released simultaneously as a six-episode web series & as a feature film. A first of its kind initiative which gives the viewers a custom-made choice for their viewing pleasure. Taish is an intense revenge drama that revolves around two families that will march to the beat of their own stories and madness.

One family is planning an elaborate countryside wedding and the other is a violent criminal family of moneylenders, headed by Kuljinder with his two brothers - Pali and Jassi. The story revolves around these two families based out of London. Amidst a week-long affair, both these worlds collide when Kuljinder attends the wedding. A past secret connected to Rohan and Kuljinder sparks an incident of violence- in turn changing all their lives drastically.

Pulkit Samrat shares, “All I can say about Taish is the madness that will grip the audience. The characters have lots of passion and that is extremely evident throughout the story. The film will take us all on a journey.”

Harshvardhan Rane shares, “Taish is all about the choices we make and the rage that gets invoked when life hits you the wrong way. Love, revenge, loyalty, and betrayal –Taish is a heady cocktail. Brace yourself for a wild ride.”

Jim Sarbh shares, “Taish is a revenge saga. It is a thrilling investigation of male relationships: their strength and depth, on one hand, and the cycles of abuse, violence, and deep-seated helplessness, on another.”

Kriti Kharbanda shares, “Taish is one of the most passionate projects I have worked on & also the most talented bunch of co-actors I could have asked for. The millennials will absolutely relate to the story, everyone has been to a wedding that has had its fair share of drama and madness. Relationships will be tested and trust will be broken.”

Bejoy Nambiar shares, “Taish is a test of human emotions and our perseverance to fight the odds stacked against us. It is a revenge drama that surrounds two families and an incident that ignites a storm. With love and revenge as a strong motif, the story will take you through an emotionally wild ride. This has been a passion project from the word go and I really hope the audience will acknowledge our labour of hard work. Looking forward to its premiere on ZEE5.”

EaseMyTrip in association with Soham Rockstar Entertainment presents A Getaway PicturesProduction – Taish directed by Bejoy Nambiar and produced by Nishant Pitti, Deepak Mukut, Bejoy Nambiar, Shivanshu Pandey&Rikant Pitti. TAISH stars Pulkit Samrat, Harshvardhan Rane, Jim Sarbh, Kriti Kharbandaand Sanjeeda Sheikh in pivotal roles along with Saurabh Sachdeva, Abhimanyu Singh, Saloni Batra &ZoaMoraniin supporting roles. Six-episode series & Feature film version Taish premieres 29th October on ZEE5.

ALSO READ: Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda to star in Salman Khan’s next production venture

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Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, his first crime drama featuring Alia Bhatt in the title role, is back on the track. The shooting, that was disrupted when COVID-19 hit the globe, has finally resumed at Film City under the strictest of precautionary measures.

A source from the unit reports, “We restarted shooting with only 50 people in the crew. For a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, that’s almost nothing. But then something is better than nothing.We’re just happy to be back shooting.”

Everyone is masked on the set except when facing the camera. Alia Bhatt and her co-star Shantanu Maheshwari maintain a cordial distance when not facing the camera. Says the source, “Normally, there’s so much chatter and movement on a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set. This time everyone is subdued. Sanjay Leela Bhansali says he feels like a mosquito every time he’s sprayed by a sanitizer.”

Also Read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali to shoot a grand item song with Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Earlier today, the AIIMS team who was preparing a forensic report of Sushant Singh Rajput, submitted a conclusive report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Reportedly, the AIIMS panel in its reports said that there was "no poisoning" involved in the late actor's death.

Fans and family members of the late actor had raised the theory of death by poisoning. According to news reports, the AIIMS report is conclusive and is being corroborated with the CBI investigation. The CBI has been investigating the matter from mid-August after taking over the case from the Mumbai Police. Based on the autopsy report, the Mumbai Police had called it a suicide.

Reportedly, the CBI is likely to continue probe into ‘abetment to suicide’. Reports also state that AIIMS panel has raised some lapses on the part of the Mumbai hospital that carried out the autopsy.

A few days back, lawyer Vikas Singh representing Sushant Singh Rajput's family expressed his anger at the CBI delaying the investigation. “Getting frustrated by the delay in CBI taking a decision to convert abetment to suicide to Murder of SSR. The Doctor who is part of AIIMS team had told me long back that the photos sent by me indicated 200% that it's death by strangulation and not suicide. (Sic)", Singh tweeted.

Following this, the CBI released an official statement saying that they have not ruled out any aspects. "The Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting a professional investigation related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput in which all aspects are being looked at and no aspect has been ruled out as of date. The investigation is continuing," the agency said in its statement on Monday.

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case: NCB files affidavits in Bombay HC seeking rejection of Rhea and Showik Chakraborty’s bail

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) who is currently probing a drug case has not found Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan to have any links with drug peddlers yet. On Saturday, the three actresses were questioned by the agency in connection to a drug case linked to the investigation of Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

During their questioning all three actresses denied consuming any narcotic substance. Deepika was summoned after the NCB retrieved WhatsApp chats from 2017 where the actress was seen discussing 'maal' and hash. The actress admitted to the chat but denied consuming them. Sara and Shraddha revealed that they had seen Sushant Singh Rajput consume drugs in his vanity van between shoot breaks. Shraddha, who was accused of ordering CBD oil said that she ordered it for medicinal purpose.

According to reports, NCB will summon the actresses again if any strong evidence is found during the investigation.

Meanwhile, the agency has seized the mobile phones of Deepika, Sara and Shraddha and will be employing the cloning technique to retrieve old chats, videos, images and other documents. The agency is currently relying on technical evidence as no seizure has been made.

ALSO READ: Probe leaves Deepika Padukone “shaken”

Arbaaz Khan filed a defamation case against certain known as well unknown social media users who are making defamatory allegations in posts and online videos, alleging his involvement in the recent unfortunate deaths of Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput which are currently under investigation.

Arbaaz Khan filed a defamation suit before the Hon’ble Bombay Civil Court. On September 28th, the Hon’ble Court was pleased to grant an interim order against the named Defendants Vibhor Anand and Sakshi Bhandari, and unknown defendants - which is in the nature of a John Doe / Ashok Kumar order - directing the defendants to immediately withdraw/ recall/ take down the defamatory content including the content described in the suit and any other and further defamatory content which is published directly or indirectly by any of them, as also all and any other posts, messages, tweets, videos, interviews, communications and correspondence similar to the defamatory content in relation to Arbaaz Khan or his family members on all public domains and social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other mediums, and bot publish any further defamatory content. The erroneous portrayal in the posts included stating that the actor was arrested and taken into unofficial custody of CBI.

The order was passed by Justice V.V. Vidwans. Counsel Pradeep Gandhy instructed by DSK Legal represented Arbaaz Khan.

ALSO READ: Mohanlal wishes Arbaaz Khan good luck while sharing the trailer of the film Sridevi Bungalow

Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely death is currently being investigated from various angles. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is probing the drugs angle and ha even arrested his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik among others. As per the latest update, NCB has filed affidavits in Bombay High Court seeking rejection of the bail pleas of the siblings.

As per their lawyer Satish Maneshinde, he told the High Court that the alleged drugs case related to Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty should have been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since they are probing Sushant’s death.

According to a report by Indian Express, the affidavits that were submitted by NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede stated that the drugs, in which Rhea and Showik are accused of, were not meant for personal consumption. “Electronic evidence such as WhatsApp chats, records were retrieved from the mobile, laptop and hard-disk and it indicated payment made for the drugs. Thus, there is ample evidence to show that the present applicant Rhea has not only regularly dealt (with) but has also financed illicit trafficking of drugs,” the report stated.

The NCB also stated that they are aware that Sushant Singh Rajput consumed drugs, Rhea Chakraborty concealed the fact. “It is further submitted that if overall scenario is seen, then the present applicant (Rhea) being aware of the fact that Sushant Singh Rajput being someone who is engaged in consumption has harboured him and concealed him whilst he was engaged in consuming the drugs. This would amount to harbouring. The present applicant also allowed her residence for drug storage and consumption for Sushant Singh Rajput,” the report further revealed.

The affidavit states that Section 27A of the NDPS Act is application since Rhea Chakraborty actively aided, abetted and financed other accused persons from drugs transactions. The section pertains to punishment for harbouring offenders and financing illicit traffic of drugs.

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case: AIIMS panel submits conclusive findings to the CBI

For selflessly extending a helping hand and sending home lakhs of migrants, helping thousands of stranded students across geographies abroad, providing free education and medical facilities to young children and creating free employment opportunities to the needy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sonu Sood has been conferred the prestigious SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The award was presented at a virtual ceremony on Monday (September 29, 2020) evening. With this Sonu Sood joins the likes of Angelina Jolie, David Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Watson, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Antonio Banderas, Nicole Kidman and Priyanka Chopra who have been similarly honoured by different UN bodies.

“This is a rare honour. UN recognition is very special. I have done whatever little I have done, in my own humble way, for my fellow countrymen without any expectations. However, to be recognized and awarded feels good. I fully support the UNDP in its endeavours to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Planet Earth and mankind will greatly benefit from the implementation of these goals”, said Sonu Sood, on receiving the coveted award.

For Sonu Sood, hitherto used to winning accolades for his acting prowess, the UNDP award underlines the yeoman efforts of the actor in his humanitarian work that has been applauded both nationally, and internationally. It places the Indian actor in a league where few in Bollywood have ever gotten to.

Sonu Sood will, in times ahead, help UNDP in propagating messaging around the SDGs. “This is all straight from the heart,” says the actor.

ALSO READ: Sonu Sood’s character gets larger-than-life upgrade in Kandireega sequel after his philanthropic work

Adnan Khan and Eisha Singh starrer Ishq Subhan Allah was rumoured to go off-air after it witnessed a drop in the TRP post-lockdown. However, the channel required a little more time to get the replacement show ready and with Eisha Singh’s comeback on the show, the fans had insisted on a happy ending for the lead characters Zara and Kabeer. Even though Eisha Singh had agreed to return on the show, her part was going to be of a limited period considering her prior commitments.

While no one from the channel had confirmed the show going off-air, Adnan Khan took to his Instagram to share a sneak-peek of his script, confirming the rumours. The show will soon be going off-air and the actors are wrapping their shoot as well. With a heavy heart, Adnan Khan posted the picture with Zara and Kabeer’s name highlighted in the script. Take a look at it.

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The end.

A post shared by Adnan Khan (@adnan_a_khan) on Sep 28, 2020 at 11:00am PDT

Well, the fans are surely going to miss watching Zara and Kabeer’s chemistry on screen.

Also Read: Ishq Subhan Allah’s Adnan Khan looks unrecognizable in his new avatar!

Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14. His untimely death is being investigated by the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI). It seems like there's unrest amongst his friends with the delay in updates from CBI. Two friends of Sushant Singh Rajput, Ganesh Hiwarkar & Ankit Acharya, have said that they are going on a hunger strike from October 2 onwards.

In a video, Hiwarkar said, "We have been demanding justice in the Sushant Singh Rajput murder case from the beginning. But, there have been no updates from the CBI for the past few days. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is doing its job and looking for drugs connection. We also want the drugs mafia to end. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also doing its job. But we want justice for Sushant and there has been no update from the CBI regarding that."

 

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@kanganaranaut @ravikishann @manojtiwari.mp @narendramodi @narendramodijiindia @amitshahofficial @lokhandeankita @ankit.acharya.786

A post shared by Ganesh Hiwarkar (@ganeshdanceoflife) on Sep 27, 2020 at 8:13pm PDT

They said that if they get permission from the police, they'll go on a hunger strike at Delhi's Rajghat or in Mumbai. "That is why we are going on a three-day hunger strike from October 2. If we get permission from the Delhi Police, we will do the hunger strike outside Rajghat. If we don't get permission, we will do a hunger strike in Mumbai after taking permission from the Mumbai Police. If we don't get permission for that as well. We will do a hunger strike in my house," he added.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14.

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput’s sister Shweta Singh Kirti shares a childhood picture of her brother, Ankita Lokhande drops a comment