Is Indian Idol making a fool of all of us? Could all this tamasha about guest judges being asked to make only favourable comments about the contestants be a ruse to boost the TRPs? A source very close to the show who is also an expert on reality television says these ongoing controversies are self-generated.

“Suddenly you have contestants being pulled up for being not good enough; you have judges pulled up for not being honest enough. These are all planned gimmicks,” the source informs me adding, “The platform is open to many interpretations on how contestants should be judged. First there was a judge, singer Amit Kumar claiming he was instructed to say only good things about the contestants. You now have a lyricist (Manoj Muntashir) criticizing Amit Kumar for talking against the show. It’s all a cleanly designed spiral of publicity.”

I asked host Aditya Narayan once and for all if the guest judges are asked to make only favourable comments about the contestants, Aditya replied, “No, they are not.”

It is common practice on music reality shows to generate controversies when there are none. In 2019 the internet was ablaze with a story on Adnan Sami and Armaan Malik indulging in a spat on the sets of the talent-hunt show The Voice where they both serve as a judge. The truth is, there was no such incident at all on the sets of the show.

Adnan spoke to me and called the whole incident a figment of the PR team’s imagination. “One morning they decided to boost the TRPs of the show (The Voice). So what do they do? They decide to plant a manufactured war between the two most popular judges of the show. Shockingly, Adnan Sami and Armaan Malik were not taken into confidence, probably because those who created this work of sickening fiction knew their idea would be nipped in the bud if either of the two came to know of the planned publicity gimmick.

And that’s exactly what happened when Adnan and Armaan came to know of their war on the sets.

Said Adnan, “Armaan and I were shooting for the show when the story broke out. We were aghast. And livid. There was never any hostility between us. Armaan respects me too much to even talk loudly in my presence. It didn’t take us long to know where the made-up story came from. We were even told to ‘lie low and not comment’.”

Also Read: Sunidhi Chauhan reveals she was asked to praise contestants on Indian Idol; talks about doctoring of songs

Akshay Kumar and his wife Twinkle Khanna's COVID-19 fundraiser has reached the mark of Rs. 1 crore to ‘get oxygen concentrators to Indian hospitals’.

Twinkle on Monday took to her social media accounts o share the update and thanked everyone for stepping in this crisis. She shared the photo with a text that read, “Thank you! With you help, we have reached our goal – to raise Rs 1 crore to get oxygen concentrators to Indian hospitals.”

The caption read, “It’s thanks to all of you that we raised these funds and are able to send concentrators where they are needed. I will keep posting updates. A big shout out to all of you and @annada_outreach for their tremendous support. #helpindiabreathe.”

It’s thanks to all of you that we raised these funds and are able to send concentrators where they are needed. I will keep posting updates. A big shout out to all of you and @ANNADA_outreach for their tremendous support. #helpindiabreathe pic.twitter.com/eZSYmX5neR

— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) May 31, 2021

Earlier, she had tweeted, “What I am seeing on our donation page is surprising-single donors-encouraged by our personal donations-giving 5,10,20 lakhs at a time. If our platforms inspire folks who can spare large sums and it goes to those in need it-isn’t that what matters? #KeepAtIt.”

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar’s Prithviraj receives threats from Karni Sena; the outfit demands title change

In much of the 1970s and 80s Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar revolutionized the way the film industry looked at screenwriting and screenwriters with their stream of phenomenal hits like Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Don, Trishul, Shakti and Mr India.

Salim and Javed re-wrote the entire profile of screenwriters with their uninterrupted run at the box office. And now Javed Akhtar’s son Farhan Akhtar and the latter’s partner Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment are all set to produce a documentary-drama on the Salim-Javed phenomenon.

A source very close to the development informs, “It will contain extensive interviews with Javed and Salim Saab and also with Amitabh Bachchan whose career was spectacularly amplified by the films that Salim-Javed wrote for him. It will also have extensive footage from the phenomenal films that the duo wrote.”

There were rumours that Javed Saab’s daughter Zoya Akhtar will direct the documentary. This is untrue. “We are on the verge of finalizing the director. It will be someone new,” the source told me.

Also Read: SCOOP: Netflix in race to buy Zoya Akhtar’s documentary on Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar

Tulsi Kumar is an absolute singing sensation and she has managed to win hearts with some of her ever-so-scintillating songs. With so many hits to her credits, we might as well say that every song and video from her has success written all over it, and the fans would agree. The singer came together with Darshan Raval for the second time for T-Series' 'Is Qadar' and it became an absolute hit with the fans.

It looks like even after all this time, everyone is loving the song as it has managed to cross 100 million views on YouTube. A melodious track with a touch of qawwali vibes, Is Qadar is a love song that has been cherished by all and how. It is directed by Arvindr Khaira and features Tulsi Kumar & Darshan Raval.

Talking about the same, Tulsi quipped, ''I am absolutely elated about the success that of the song. I believe that it also has an equally lot to do with the work everyone on the team has done as much as me. With music videos becoming a popular form of content consumption these days, I am thankful that Is Qadar has also found a place in the hearts of the viewers as well as on the top chartbusters. We set out to do something different and we are glad that it clicked with the audiences.''

'Is Qadar' is penned by Sayeed Qadri and composed by Sachet-Parampara.

ALSO READ: Tulsi Kumar join hands with Mission Josh for a campaign to save 5000 lives of those affected by COVID-19

Gurmeet Choudhary has had sleepless nights, travelled to places far and wide to help activate the COVID-19 relief efforts and ensure that hospitals are opened and running in remote parts of the nation. The actor not only has been helping in fighting against this deadly virus but also has been preparing to strengthen the future of the health care system of the nation.

Gurmeet has successfully arranged for oxygen concentrators with the help of India Club Jakarta (Indonesia) and in association with Medscape India, a fellow organisation working for providing relief for COVID-19 (Radiologist, Founder Chairperson Dr. Sunita Dube) and Gurmeet Choudhary Foundation. The oxygen concentrators have reached India and will surely go a long way in the COVID-19 campaign. It will be provided to rural areas which are currently facing a difficult time.

Thank you @indiaclubjkta for making this possible by sending oxygen concentrators, it means a lot ???????? @DrSunitaDube1 thank you for being there and @EshaSharma10 thank you for helping me with the coordination.@GurmeetFDN
.#India #Jakarta #OxygenConcentrators #thankyou #Covid19 pic.twitter.com/gT2FKpsItr

— GURMEET CHOUDHARY (@gurruchoudhary) May 31, 2021

With the help of India Club Jakarta, a nonprofit organization, functioning as Perkumpulan (Association) in Jakarta-Indonesia, Gurmeet and his team have managed to get the oxygen concentrators for the nation.

The India Club Jakarta works in close Cooperation with Indian Embassy in Jakarta and also acts as a bridge for the India-Indonesia people and has been working relentlessly towards community welfare. The India Club along with Medscape India has played an important role in getting the oxygen concentrators in India from Indonesia.

Pushing his already full envelope further, the Bollywood actor has also launched the Gurmeet Choudhary Foundation, an association that aims to help people. Right from stabilising the health care system and working towards its future, launching hospitals in tier 2 cities and beyond, to reaching out to all the possible nations for help, Gurmeet has been going an extra mile in helping his nation in this fight against virus.

ALSO READ: Sonu Sood is all praises for COVID-19 warrior Gurmeet Choudhary 

Veteran actor Joe Lara, popularly known for starring in the series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, has passed away with his wife Gwen Lara and five others in a plane crash. Cessna 501, a private jet, took off from Smyrna Airport, outside of Nashville, and was headed toward Palm Beach. However, shortly after takeoff, the private jet plunged into a Tennessee lake near Nashville

According to Entertainment Weekly, Captain Joshua Sanders, an RCFR incident commander, told a press conference, "We are no longer in an attempt to (look) for live victims at this point so we're now recovering as much as we can from the crash site,”

On Sunday afternoon, RCFR said on Facebook that investigation operations revealed details stating “several components of the aircraft as well as human remains.”

News Channel 5 reported, “William J. (Joe) Lara, Gwen Shamblin Lara, Jennifer J. Martin, David L. Martin, Jessica Walters, Jonathan Walters, and Brandon Hannah were all on board, according to a Remnant Fellowship church statement, of which they were all leaders of.”

Lara played Tarzan in the 1989 television movie Tarzan in Manhattan. He later starred in the television series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures.  The series was a global hit across.

Telecommunications companies worldwide, with the support of Governments, are poised within the next few years (or months !) to roll out the 5th-generation wireless network (5G). This is set to deliver what is acknowledged to be unprecedented societal change on a global scale. Every person on Earth is assured to have instant access to super-high-speed, low-latency wireless communications from any point on the planet, even in rainforests, mid-ocean and the Antarctic.

India has also entered the ‘5G Race’ in an effort to flaunt its advancements and achievements in the field of technology and digital communication. However, the urge to compete in this race has somewhat distracted our Nation from taking into due consideration some alarming factors to the health of present and future generations.

If the telecommunications industry’s plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are 10x to 100x times greater than what exists today. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to all of the Earth’s ecosystems.

The accumulated clinical evidence of sick and injured human beings, coupled with experimental evidence of damage to DNA, cells and organ systems in a wide variety of plants and animals, further coupled with epidemiological evidence which supports the conclusion that the major diseases of modern civilization - cancer, heart disease and diabetes - are, in large part, caused by electromagnetic pollution, stems from a literature-base comprising of over 10,000 (ten thousand) peer-reviewed studies, a number much, much, much too large to be ignored.

Juhi shares, 'We are not against the implementation of technological advancements. On the contrary, we enjoy using the latest products that the world of technology has to offer, including in the field of wireless communications. However, whilst using the latter kind of devices, we are in a constant dilemma, because after doing our own research and studies regarding the RF radiation from wirefree gadgets and network cell towers, we have sufficient reason to believe that the radiation is extremely harmful and injurious to the health and safety of the people.'

In an official statement shared by Juhi's spokesperson reads, "The present suit is being instituted to seek a direction from this Hon'ble court to the arrayed Defendants, to certify to us and, therefore, to the public at large, that 5G technology is safe to humankind, man, woman, adult, child, infant, animals and every type of organisms, to flora, to fauna, and in support thereof, to produce their respective studies regarding RF radiation through mobile cell towers, and if not already conducted, to also conduct an efficient research, and without the participation of private interest, and to subsequently furnish the report and declare whether or not the implementation of 5G in India would be safe, keeping un regards the health and safety of the present and future citizenry on India, including little children and infants, as well as infants of generations to come."

ALSO READ: Juhi Chawla reunites with her family in Cape Town!

In the midst of the pandemic, the government has started the vaccination drive against novel coronavirus. Actor Priyanka Chopra's cousin Meera Chopra has been suspected of getting her jab for COVID-19 vaccination through unfair means, but Meera has denied the allegations through social media.

On Sunday, actor Meera Chopra issued her statement on Twitter while denying the false allegations, and said, "We all want to get vaccinated and we all are trying our best to do that. Similarly I also tried trying asking help from people I know and after 1 month of trying I was able to get myself registered in one of the centres.”

She added, "I was just asked to send in my Aadhaar card. The ID that has been floating on social media is not mine. I was asked for my Aadhaar card for registration and that’s the only ID I gave. No ID is valid until it has your signature. I myself, saw that so called ID card for the first time, when it came on Twitter. I totally condemn such practices and if any such ID has been made I would want to know how and why.”

My statement on the articles that has been coming out fr my vaccine shot!! pic.twitter.com/wDE70YHsMo

— meera chopra (@MeerraChopra) May 30, 2021

Meera Chopra has been accused of using a fake identity card to get her vaccinated under the frontline category at the Parking Pass Covid Center in Thane. She also uploaded a now-deleted photograph of her taking the jab on social media.

On the professional front, Meera Chopra works in the South film industry and was last seen in the film Section 375.

Also Read: SHOCKING: Section 375 actress Meera Chopra poses as a frontline worker and gets vaccinated; deletes post after controversy erupts

Raj Anadkat, who plays the pivotal role of Tipendra Lal Gada aka Tapu in Sab TV's popular longest-running show Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah, rubbishes all the rumours of his troubled relationship with on-screen father Dilip Joshi. It was alleged that Raj would arrive late to the sets and making his senior co-actor wait for hours which led to the alleged conflict.

Reacting to this, Raj Anadkat rubbished the reports calling it ‘baseless rumours and cooked up stories’. While speaking to a tabloid, the actor said he doesn’t focus on such baseless rumours or cooked up stories and would rather focus and give the best to his work to give the best experience to his viewers. He also said that he will continue to smile and rise above everything, amidst the baseless things.

Well, even Dilip Joshi come forward and claimed all the rumours to be false and called it 'absolutely rubbish' and questiond that who cooked up all these false stories.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been very much in news nowadays, not for his storyline or plot, but for the controversies of its actors. Recently, Munmun Dutta, who plays the role of Babita Ji in the show, was also very much trolled for using a castiest slur during a make-up video on social media. Since then the actor was trolled. She later apologised for the said remark in a separate video. She has been booked for the same.

Also Read: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Ghanshyam Nayak aka Natu Kaka reacts to reports stating his financial stress

Ajay Devgn has become the latest Bollywood celebrity to buy property in Mumbai amid the pandemic. This comes after reports of Amitabh Bachchan purchasing a duplex apartment worth Rs. 31 crore in Mumbai.

Reportedly, the bungalow bought by Ajay Devgn is worth Rs. 60 crore and is located in the Juhu area of Mumbai. The property is said to be spread across 590 sq yards. The Devgns currently reside in their bungalow, Shakti, in the Kapole Co-operative Housing Society Ltd in Juhu which is located near the new property purchased by Ajay Devgn.

As per reports, the deal was struck last November-December and the Kapole Co-operative Housing Society transferred the bungalow in the joint name of Veena Virendra Devgn and Vishal alias Ajay Devgn on May 7. The bungalow was earlier owned by the late Pushpa Valia.

Reports further reveal that the rate of the bungalow is Rs. 65 to 70 crore, but due to the pandemic, Devgn got it at a discounted rate.

Recently, Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor also purchased sky villas in Bandra. The properties are said to be worth Rs. 20 crore each.

ALSO READ: Sets of Ajay Devgn starrer Maidaan badly damaged by cyclone Tauktae

As the second wave of the pandemic severely affected the nation, it has become essential for everybody to get vaccinated in order to fight the deadly coronavirus. So, as to bring Bollywood back on track, the Producers’ Guild of India and the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), in association with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), are organising vaccination drives for the cast and crews of film units in the coming weeks.

The Producers Guild of India (PGI), the premier association of the leading Indian film, television and digital content producers will launch tomorrow a vaccination drive for its members and associated production crews. Through these camps, thousands of production house personnel and crews will be vaccinated over the multi-day drive being held at Mehboob Studios, starting June 1st 2021.

It is hoped that this camp shall contribute to the national mission of attaining universal vaccination and also facilitate safer shooting and content production. All the workers actively involved in the production process will be vaccinated in the new drive organised by the federation. The unions are collectively aiming to immunise close to 10,000 people, including artists, producers, daily-wage workers and freelancers.

There will be a six-day programme which will be held at Mehboob Studios in Bandra from tomorrow onwards organised by The Guild. Manish Goswami, vice-president, Guild, says that they are targeting close to 5,000 people. Those already registered on Co-WIN can receive their vaccination at the venue. This is being done in association with Bhakti Vedanta Hospital, and each jab is priced at Rs 1,000. The cost will be borne by the respective production houses. They may increase the vaccine rollout, depending on the turnout.

Major production houses including Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions,  Rohit Shetty Picturez and Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment have come forward to support and join hands with this initiative.

Expressing appreciation for the many contributions that enabled this camp, Siddharth Roy Kapur, President of the Producers Guild of India, said, “An activity of such importance and magnitude cannot be carried out singlehandedly and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received to make this possible. In particular from our members Excel Entertainment who played a pivotal role in securing the vaccines and Mehboob Productions who very generously offered complimentary use of the spacious Mehboob Studios. We are happy that we are able to provide this facility to our members, their employees and the cast and crew of their productions as we work to get the industry back on its feet again in the weeks ahead.”

Apart from this, IFTDA and FWICE in collaboration with Surya Hospital will also conduct their parallel immunisation camp for 5,000 members at the Federation office in Andheri and will start the drive between June 10 and 15. This drive will be organised and funded by Ashoke Pandit, president, IFTDA.

Apart from Andheri and Bandra camp, the federation is also planning to set up another camp at Goregaon Film City after some time. Ashoke Pandit also revealed that Yash Raj Films has also come up to support this drive and has promised to provide funds for 30,000 vaccine shots. And it is also speculated that Chief Minister’s Office has sent its approval to proceed with the plan.

The Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB) has been investigating a drug case that came to light, weeks after the demise of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a year ago. On Sunday, the NCB summoned Rajput's domestic help for questioning in connection with the recent arrest of Rajput's flatmate, Siddharth Pithani. Since last year, nearly 35 people have been arrested in connection with the case.

Reportedly, Rajput's domestic help identified as Neeraj and Keshav were taken to the agency office at Ballard Estate and were being questioned till late on Sunday night. However, there is no clarity on how the domestic help is connected to Pithani’s arrest, yet.

Pithani was arrested from Hyderabad last week and brought to Mumbai. He has been charged with conspiracy to supply drugs in the SSR case. He was produced before the court last Friday and is in NCB custody till June 1.

The NCB started the drug probe last year after the Enforcement Directorate allegedly found WhatsApp chats involving Sushant and his close ones talking about substance use. Through their investigation, several Bollywood celebrities were also interrogated including Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone.

Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty were also arrested by the NCB and spent months in judicial custody. While Rhea was in custody for a month, her brother got bail after nearly three months in custody.

ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput’s flatmate Siddharth Pithani arrested by NCB in drug case

It seems like Zoya Akhtar has finalised her cast for her next production. A few months ago, it was reported that Ananya Panday was roped in to star in Akhtar's next venture. While not much is known about the genre or the characters, the filmmaker has found her male leads in Gully Boy star Siddhant Chaturvedi and The White Tiger fame Adarsh Gourav.

Both the actors have been breakout stars in their respective movies. While Chaturvedi has worked with Zoya in Gully Boy, Ananya and Adarsh will work for the first time. According to a tabloid, the actors have agreed to star in the film and the makers are currently working out the paperwork. While they plan to take the film on floors this year itself, it all depends on the COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday are also starring in Shakun Batra's next alongside Deepika Padukone. It is being bankrolled by Dharma Productions.

ALSO READ: Ananya Panday shares series of no-makeup pictures, says ‘tenderness is our superpower’

Come praise or flak, Sonu Sood continues to work relentlessly for the Covid- 19 affected. Sonu’s restless attention has now shifted to those children whose parents have succumbed to the pandemic.

In an exclusive conversation, Sonu says, “I am aware of the growing situation. It is serious. I am in touch with those families, those children who have lost their parents. I had also made a request to the state governments to make the education of Covid orphans free and also to provide some kind of regular pension for those families which have lost their earning members. I am glad it's happening.”

Sonu is happy to note that the State governments have reacted quickly to the crisis. “11-12 states have already announced free education for kids, and some pension. But I think much more needs to be done in this matter. Efforts to help Covid orphans need to be more consolidated. We need to find a more permanent financial solution to the crisis. Compensation and pension should go to not only to children in government schools but also in private schools. Orphaned children are equally vulnerable in every situation. Why look at only children in government schools?”

Sonu is working on solving this government-versus-private situation. “A strict law should make it mandatory to give equal attention and compensation to children in all schools. We are trying to gather data on all the kids who are thus affected, and we are trying to do our best for them.”

Also, Sonu feels more help is needed on the civilian-individual level. “Every family who can afford it should consider adopting one such Covid orphan.”

Also Read: Sonu Sood and choreographer Rahul Shetty to help CDA dancers with ration kits

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has received a threat from the outfit, Karni Sena, over his upcoming film Prithviraj. The actor is set to play Prithviraj Chauhan in the Yash Raj Films' period drama, marking the debut of Manushi Chhillar who plays Sanyogita, and helmed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi. Surjeet Singh Rathore, President of the Youth Wing of the Karni Sena, has put forth three conditions for the film and warned Yash Raj Films' head honcho Aditya Chopra that if they don't comply with the demand, they will face the same situation as Sanjay Leela Bhansali did during Padmaavat.

He spoke to a daily and then shared news clippings on his Instagram. Rathore wrote in Hindi that the organisation respects Akshay Kumar and that YRF's Adiya Chopra should respect the last ‘Hindu Samrat’. The three conditions include the screening of the film before its release, the film be shown to the Rajput society, and the title of the film to have the full name — Veer Yoddha Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Surjeet Singh Rajput (@realsurjeetsinghrajput)

Akshay Kumar had announced the film in 2019. He wrote, “Elated to share about my 1st historical film on my birthday!Humbled to have the opportunity to play a hero I look up to for his valor & values- Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan in one of my biggest films #Prithviraj. Producer @yrf ,director #DrChandraprakashDwivedi, releasing Diwali 2020.”

Due to the pandemic, Prithviraj got delayed. Now, they have decided to release it on November 5, 2021.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar to help 3600 dancers with monthly ration amid COVID-19 pandemic

Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar are India’s most iconic script writers having delivered few of the biggest cults of Hindi cinema. The celebrated writer duo changed the landscape of commercial cinema and their films resonate with different strata of audience even today. Earlier last week, there were reports that Javed Akhtar’s daughter, Zoya, is planning a docu-drama on Salim Javed. The reports were confirmed by Salim Khan in an interview.

The celebrated screenwriter was quoted by Dainik Bhaskar saying, “This news is absolutely true. Zoya (Akhtar) shared this idea (with me) around a month and a half back and she has started her research too. She will also be speaking to all those people, who have worked with us in the past. It’s going to be a long process. It’s not a biopic but something like a documentary.”

Bollywood Hungama has an exclusive scoop on this Salim-Javed story. “Netflix is in the race to get the exclusive streaming rights of this project. They are in advanced conversation with Zoya and her team and the deal is expected to be locked soon,” a source told Bollywood Hungama.

That’s not all; Netflix is a platform that is planning to make a docu-drama on multiple Indian personalities. “It’s an IP that the streaming giant is trying to create. Recently, Sheila Anand documentary by Shakun Batra released on their platform. Next in the same IP in all probability will be Salim-Javed story, and announcement will be made once the paperwork is done,” the source further told us and added that they are in talks with many other achievers in different streams.

The Salim-Javed story has already become one of the hot topics of discussion in the Hindi film trade and everyone is eager to know the making of this iconic duo and their process of cracking the script and dialogues of some of Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters. The trade is also expecting an insight into what went wrong with the duo in the 1980s resulting in fallout. It’s wait and watch to see the facets that Zoya explores with this story.

Also Read: Zoya Akhtar addresses cyberbullying, says, “Online abuse cannot be normalised”

The much-awaited Friends: The Reunion special premiered on Thursday, May 27 in the US on HBO Max and ZEE5 in India. The original star cast Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer returned to the iconic comedy’s original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank for a real-life unscripted celebration of the beloved show. They talked about shooting the show for 10 years, how much they stay in contact, some unseen memories, and more.  While it had a star-studded guest list, many of them were deleted from China's broadcasting.

According to Entertainment Weekly, "The country even acquired three major streaming platforms to broadcast the show to fans: iQiyi, Alibaba's Youku, and Tencent Video."

"All three cut around six minutes of footage, entirely deleting appearances by musicians BTS, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, as well as LGBTQ fans, among other scenes," Variety reported.

A fan's appearance talking about their coming out and wanting to get a hairstyle like Rachel. BTS's full appearance, Lady Gaga's Smelly Cat rendition with Lisa Kudrow were cut.

Friends: The Reunion featured a variety of special guest appearances including David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai.

ALSO READ: Friends: The Reunion director Ben Winston reveals why Paul Rudd and Cole Sprouse were absent from the special

With the rise in interest in the Korean entertainment industry, streaming giants are curating original drama and movie content on several platforms. Amid this comes a comedy series from popular alternative high group Epik High's rapper-songwriter-producer Tablo and Barry producer Jason Kim. Titled Neon Machine, Justin Bieber, and Ariana Grande's manager Scooter Braun's SB Projects is also involved in this upcoming series set for Amazon.

According to Deadline, "Working with a predominately Korean producing team, the comedy series created by Barry producer/writer Kim tells the tale of an out-of-left-field K-pop superstar who hits a global chord but might lose it all in the process. Kim will executive produce along with Epik High leader Tablo and SB’s Braun, James Shin, and Scott Manson." The casting is still underway for the lead role and other characters.

Tablo is one of the legendary rapper-songwriter-producers in the South Korean industry. While he continues to work individually with several artists as well, with Epik High, the rapper has released 10 albums and a 2011 solo album.

The second wave of Covid-19 has begun to ebb in the country at present. But the way the virus led to extreme devastation has prompted most people to book their slots for vaccination. Sadly, with the shortage of the vaccine in the country at present, a very limited number of people are able to get the jab, especially those under the age of 45 years.

In the midst, Meera Chopra, it seems, tried to get her first dose of vaccination using unfair means. The actress was administered the vaccine yesterday at Thane, near Mumbai, in Parking Plaza vaccination center. She even posted a picture on her Twitter and Instagram account.

Nothing seemed fishy until it came to light that she got the vaccination by posing as a frontline worker. Niranjan Davkhare, MLC and BJP’s Thane unit president, on his social media, uploaded a picture of the identity card of Meera Chopra where her designation was mentioned as that of a supervisor. This ID card belonged to an agency called Om Sai Aarogya Care Pvt Ltd. According to Niranjan, Meera Chopra flashed this card in order to get the first dose.

In no time, Meera Chopra began to get criticized for her act. Because of the controversy, she immediately deleted her picture from her social media accounts.

Niranjan Davkhare then posted a video on his Facebook account yesterday and insisted that an enquiry be done on this episode. He demanded to know whether Meera Chopra has been indeed employed by Om Sai Aarogya Care Pvt Ltd or was the card given to her only to enable her to get the vaccination.

Meera Chopra is the second cousin of Priyanka Chopra and Parineeti Chopra and began her career by acting in Tamil and Telugu films. She made her debut in Bollywood with the horror comedy, Gang Of Ghosts (2014) followed by the horror flick, 1920: London (2016). She was last seen on the big screen in the much acclaimed courtroom drama, Section 375 (2019). Last month, her gritty web series, The Tattoo Murders, was released on Disney+ Hotstar.

20 days back, Meera Chopra had revealed that two of her cousins, in their early 40s, passed away after getting infected by Covid-19. An enraged Meera had said in an interview, “I lost two very close cousins not because of Coronavirus but because the medical infrastructure has totally crumbled down. My first cousin couldn’t get an ICU bed in Bengaluru for almost two days”.

Also Read: Meera Chopra says being related to Priyanka Chopra has not helped her career

The 2020 Creators For Change YouTube Original Documentary which focusses on Michelle Obama, in conversation with Prajakta Koli aka MostlySane, Liza Koshy and Thembe Mahlaba, has been nominated under the category of Outstanding Daytime Non-Fiction Special for the 48th annual Daytime Emmy Awards to be aired on streaming services Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and Paramount+ on 25th June 2021.

The nominated series tracked the experiences of adolescent girls in Vietnam, India, and Namibia overcoming adversity to pursue their education. Prior to her rendezvous with Michelle Obama, Prajakta had travelled to Lucknow and interacted with the students of Prerna Foundation to get a better perspective on the challenges of education in smaller districts and towns of India.

Aside from this massive feat, her maiden acting innings will be recognised globally with her short film, 'Khayali Pulao', being screened at North America's oldest and most prestigious Indian film festival, the New York Indian Film Festival which will be held from June 4 to June 13, 2021. The film, produced by One Digital Entertainment, revolves around a 17-year-old small-town girl’s attempt to get into the local girl's handball team. The film navigates between her struggles as an amateur handball enthusiast to her triumph in breaking ancient stereotypes and traditional archetypes associated with womenfolk. With grassroot-level girl empowerment forming the crux of the narrative, the film which won critical acclaim subjectively touched upon themes like the inevitability of freedom of choice, the banishment of archaic prejudices, and the importance of street hustle.

Prajakta Koli states, “This news is unbelievable. The Emmys are such prestigious awards. Being nominated for a project this special is a win in itself. Big hugs to YouTube and Michelle Obama for giving me the opportunity of being a part of something so amazing. Another very special project has been ‘Khayali Pulao’. A film, very very close to my heart. Getting noticed across the globe on such a precious platform is our honour. Thanks to the jury of the New York Indian Film Festival.”

On the work front, after her notable acting stint in Netflix’s Mismatched, Prajakta will be seen essaying a pivotal role in Jug Jugg Jeeyo also starring Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and Kiara Advani.

ALSO READ: Mismatched actress and Youtuber Prajakta Koli tests positive for COVID-19

Ace producer Ryan Ivan Stephen, who worked on projects like Indoo Ki Jawaani, short film Devi among others, passed away. The producer had reportedly contracted COVID-19. He was associated with Dharma Productions at one point and even co-produced several projects independently.

Bollywood celebrities are mourning the sudden demise of the late producer. Varun Dhawan took to his Instagram handle and shared a photo of Ryan and wrote, “Rip Ryan’.

A heartbroken Kiara Advani, who was the lead of Indoo Ki Jawaani, shared a picture with a caption that read, “Our dearest Ryan gone too soon”.

Manoj Bajpayee expressed his grief on Twitter, "It’s so so shocking for all of us who knew this gentle soul. It really can’t be true!! I will miss you my friend RYAN".

It’s so so shocking for all of us who knew this gentle soul .It really can’t be true!! I will miss you my friend RYAN ❤️ https://t.co/VDDkCMH6Kb

— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) May 29, 2021

Emmay Entertainment wrote, "Today with a heavy heart we bid farewell to a dear one, #RyanStephen.
You lived life with kindness & compassion, and will always be remembered. Keeping the loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace."

 

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ALSO READ: Varun Dhawan and Rajkummar Rao criticize YouTuber Paras Singh’s racist comment on Arunachal Pradesh’s MLA Ninong Ering

Only recently had Jacqueline Fernandez announced the launch of this initiative - SheRox. Creating a safe space for the common folk where everyone is invited to find the magic within. The Times 40 Under 40 is a platform to identify, encourage and honor such individuals.

It was initiated by the actress to empower women, be one and United, laugh, inspire and dream together. Jacqueline built this community to help reveal the hidden powers everyone has. The aims of this community are marvellous and rightfully so get recognized in the prestigious list. Being the director of this organization, also building a heart-to-heart connection with her community she used it to engage with them and to also promote healthy living through her workout series.

Interestingly, Jacqueline is the only actor to be a part of this. The list provides recognition to the top 40 brightest young entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators who are under the 40 years age bar and have truly contributed to factoring change in society.

ALSO READ: After ‘Genda Phool’, Jacqueline Fernandez and Badshah to reunite on upcoming track ‘Paani Paani’

A couple of days back Bollywood Hungama was the first to report that Samantha Akkineni would be seen playing a suicide bomber in the second season of the Amazon Prime Video show The Family. Following this report a number of protests began calling for a ban on the show since it hurt the sentiments of the Eelam Tamils and also the people of Tamil Nadu.  In fact, the Tamil Nadu Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mano Thangaraj had even written to Union minister for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javedkar to immediately ban or stop the screening of the OTT show.

While the protests continue, we hear that the streaming giant Amazon Prime Video has issued a gag order to Samantha Akkineni barring her from speaking about the show. “There are always protests to certain characters or portrayals in films or series, this comes since the audience are only exposed to a small part of what to expect, which could look a certain way. In the case with Samantha’s character in The Family Man 2, people have taken an objection to her character, but they have not really seen the full range of what she portrays”, says an a trade source commenting on the issue. Further talking about the gag order issued the source continues, “Amazon Prime Video like most content creators would like to avoid controversies prior to the release of their venture. The gag order to refrain from speak about the show is exactly that, so the audience feeling and sentiments that have been hurt can be assuaged.”

Interestingly, Samantha Akkineni in an interview to Bollywood Hungama had expressed her elation to being part of The Family Man season 2. “I am just lucky to be here and be a part of The Family Man because that is the only thing anyone is asking me back home. ‘When is the family man releasing?’ I am truly honoured to be a part of this team and be a part of this show and in a dream role”, the actress had sated.

On the other hand the directors of the show, the duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK had stated that when developing the script for the show they were very cognisant of the sentiments of the Tamil people and Tamil culture. In fact, the duo even requested people to watch the show when it releases before making assumption on characters in it.

Also Read: Manoj Bajpayee admits he was nervous working with a big star like Samantha Akkineni in The Family Man 2

India is facing the second wave of COVID-19. Amid this pandemic, shoots in many states have been halted. Meanwhile, producers are working on new scripts, pre, and post-production of their films. Some are also ready to announce a slate of releases. Amongst them are producers Anjum Rizvi and Ashish Kumar Dubey who have announced their new film.

Producers Anjum Rizvi and Ashish Kumar Dubey have announced their next film titled Guddu Ki Dulhan. Ashish Kumar Dubey will direct the film. The makers plan to begin the principal shooting in July in Varanasi.

Guddu Ki Dulhan will be produced under Anjum Rizvi Film Co. and Mad Films Entertainment banners.

Anjum Rizvi is an Indian film Producer who has produced many films including Maatr, John Day among others.

For the last four years, Manushi Chhillar has been relentlessly working towards raising awareness on menstrual hygiene in India through her non-profit advocacy platform Project Shakti. This year, on Menstrual Hygiene Day, Manushi has been roped in by UNICEF to raise awareness on the issue in India.

Manushi says, “Poor menstrual hygiene affects the health and wellbeing of women and especially girls, but we don’t very often discuss this. The existing culture of silence, misinformation and harmful myths around menstruation denies many girls the future and opportunities that they deserve.”

Poor menstrual health continues to be a cause of concern due to the lack of education on the issue, persisting taboos, and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products, and poor sanitation infrastructure, that often undermines educational opportunities, health, and overall social status of women and girls in India and around the world. Too many girls are missing out on the future they deserve because of the culture of silence, misinformation, and harmful myths around menstruation.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated menstruation-related challenges for women and girls such as the disruption of access to sanitary products and correct information on periods and more.

Manushi adds, “COVID-19, lockdowns and safety precautions have disrupted access to sanitary products, adding to the challenges they face. We need to speak up to dispel menstruation-related taboos and stigma, sensitize men and boys to be supportive of girls; and support availability of essential sanitary products for girls and women in times of crisis.”

UNICEF is advocating for the following objectives this year and Manushi too will work on these through her social media platforms that has a captivated youth audience base.
1. Girls to receive menstrual hygiene education before they get their first period
2. Sensitizing men and boys to be understanding and supportive
3. Access to safe spaces and products to manage their periods
4. Dispel the taboos and open conversations about periods
5. Increase investment in menstrual health and hygiene
6. All women and girls should be able to manage their menstruation hygienically, safely, in privacy, and with dignity.

 

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ALSO READ: UNICEF ropes in Prithviraj actor Manushi Chhillar for World Immunization Week

The second wave of Coronavirus is here and hence, cinema halls once again had to shut shop. It’ll take a while for the theatres to reopen and to earn the confidence of the viewers. Yet, the industry hasn’t been deterred and is going ahead with its big budget productions, with the hope that cinema business would bounce back with a vengeance in the future. In fact, Pathan, the much awaited film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, was launched last year in the midst of the pandemic, when the cases had begun to reduce. And the makers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it turns out to be one of the biggest films ever in Bollywood.

It has been reported that the next schedule of Pathan will happen overseas. Some reports claim that the unit will film some key scenes in Russia. Some are, however, reporting that Pathan’s foreign schedule will take place in Finland.

However, a source says, “Pathan will be shot in three European countries. Which these three countries would be and when this schedule will take place, it’s difficult to say right now. It all depends on the rules in the European Union when they plan to travel. Also, producer Aditya Chopra would like all unit members to be fully vaccinated as this can be mandatory. But the pace of vaccination is slow right now, though it’s expected to pick up in a few weeks thankfully. The makers are also considering whether they can get some crew members from Europe itself, who have completed their full dose of vaccination.”

The source adds, “A clearer picture will emerge in a few weeks from now. Once that happens, YRF (Yash Raj Films) will take a call on the three countries where the shoot will take place.”

The source also says, “60% of the shoot is over. The balance 40% will take place in these foreign locations. All the grandeur and scale will be seen in the final schedule of Pathan. Aditya Chopra wants to go all out and ensure that Pathan looks like a slick product matching international standards. It’s sure to be a treat to watch the film on the big screen.”

Besides Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, Pathan also stars Salman Khan in the role of Tiger. Pathan is a part of YRF spy universe and both the superstars coming together has significantly enhanced the buzz for the film. Bollywood Hungama had reported a few days back that Salman will have an entry scene in a helicopter in his special appearance in Pathan.

Also Read: SCOOP: Salman Khan refuses to take money for his cameo in Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathan

Ace choreographer Shabina Khan is known for her commendable work in Bollywood. However, from last year she has taken charge of changing society and helping people through her foundation, Shabina Khan Foundation. Through this initiative, Shabina provided ration kits to underprivileged families of lightmen, junior artists, spot boys, dancers, and other needy people. In a recent interaction with a web portal, Khan shared that, her foundation will expand further, they will tap into other necessities as well, and she with her family will contribute 30-35% of her earnings to charity.

While interacting about the thought behind her initiative, Khan said, “I used to get messages from people that they can’t even afford to buy masks, sanitisers, so how can they afford essentials? Thus, I decided to help them with my family through Zakat, and started distributing ration.” The choreographer appealed to people to join the forces in helping others, and said, “Post-lockdown, whenever I will go back to work, me and my siblings will contribute 30-35% of my earnings to Shabina Khan Foundation.” Shabina shared her mother has taught them to contribute a part of earning towards humanitarian services. Now, Khan has taken this thought to a new level.

Last year during the nationwide lockdown, Shabina started an initiative to help underprivileged people from the film fraternity, and this year she has started the foundation, aiming to serve people on a much larger level. “Now, I am more focused on the foundation. Inshallah, I pray for the betterment, I wish that we come out from this pandemic, but my work will continue, I will reach out to people.

This is a noble decision taken by Shabina and, one can get inspired by her towards serving humanity.

ALSO READ: Choreographer Shabina Khan shares the first picture with her children and gives a powerful message on adoption

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has now joined the cast of the much-awaited sequel of Tiger Shroff's debut movie Heropanti. The film produced by Nadiadwala Grandson and directed by Ahmed Khan also stars Tara Sutaria in the lead.

The first shooting schedule of Heropanti 2 was wrapped in Mumbai before the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic hit the country bringing everything to a halt. The second schedule of the film will resume once lockdown restrictions are lifted in Maharashtra and Nawazuddin will join the crew. Reportedly, he plays the antagonist whom Tiger will be seen taking on.

Heropanti, which released in May 2014 was a blockbuster, and had Kriti Sanon opposite Tiger, while Heropanti 2 will see Tara Sutaria as the female lead. Music maestro AR Rahman has hopped on board as the music composer while Mehboob has been roped in as the lyricist. The film is scheduled to release on December 3.

ALSO READ: Nawazuddin Siddiqui returns Budhana to be with his mother; his children remain in Mumbai amid lockdown 

The much-awaited Friends: The Reunion special premiered on Thursday, May 27 in the US on HBO Max and ZEE5 in India. The original star cast Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer returned to the iconic comedy’s original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot in Burbank for a real-life unscripted celebration of the beloved show. They talked about shooting the show for 10 years, how much they stay in contact, some unseen memories, and more. While Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Selleck, Thomas Lennon among others made an appearance, Paul Rudd and Cole Sprouse were absent from the reunion.

Paul Rudd played Mike Hannigan who married Phoebe Buffay, and Cole Sprouse, who played Ross’ son Ben Geller. Both the characters were prominent characters in the series. Director of the reunion special episode Ben Winston spoke to The Wrap and revealed why the two actors couldn't be part of it. He shared, “Well, we couldn’t have everybody on, because it’s only an hour and 45 minutes. And you’ve got to pay attention — the main nub of the show has got to be about the six cast members. So you can’t have too many cameos because of course, there were hundreds of amazing people who were in Friends over the years. Sadly, we couldn’t get everybody in.”

Winston also mentioned that they did invite all actors but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many couldn't make it. “You know, we did invite some people who weren’t able to make it. It’s a complicated time to be making television now because, you know, some people couldn’t fly internationally, some people were on other TV or film shoots, some people are in bubbles on stuff,” he shared.

Friends: The Reunion featured a variety of special guest appearances including David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin, Mindy Kaling, Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai.

ALSO READ: Friends: The Reunion gets a tribute from Amul in their latest topical

In light of the challenges faced by people in recent months, Indian musicians are now uniting to use their collective might to continue to support Covid-19 relief efforts. As an extension of Facebook’s ‘Social For Good’ initiative, the artists will perform at a concert called ‘Live In Your Living Room’ on Instagram, to raise funds for causes that the artists are supporting.

‘Social For Good’ is Facebook's initiative that supports large community causes by bringing together public figures and creators to raise awareness and funding. ‘Live In Your Living Room’ is a part of this, by being a live entertainment platform where this year musicians will raise funds for foundations such as Hemkunt Foundation, Give India, and United Singers Charitable Trust, which the respective artists support. This 2021’s version of the concert will feature 27 artists, in a series of live gigs that people will have to go to their accounts for, one after the other for 8 hours. The lineup performing includes Armaan Malik, Eric Nam, KSHMR, Salim Merchant, Shalmali Kholgade, Sunidhi Chauhan, Saindhavi Prakash, Satyaprakash Dharmar, Andrea Jeremiah, Big Indie Bang (Neyhal, Raghav Meattle), Akanshka Bhandari, Anuv Jain, Euphoria, Shilpa Rao, Salim Merchant, Arjun Kanungo, Zaeden, Yashraj Mehra, Gully Gang, and Benny Dayal.

Manish Chopra, Director, and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India, gave more context, “While people have faced challenges aplenty in the past couple of months, it has been great to see the community help and support each other on Instagram as well. We’re glad that the spirit of kindness and support is continuing through the wave, like the music community now who’re aiming to make a difference through the ‘Live In Your Living Room’ music festival. We’re thankful for the partnership with these artists. We’re hoping the music brings a smile on people’s faces, and that everyone listening donates to the charities they’re supporting.”

Armaan Malik, adds, “The pandemic has affected people in different ways, more than we can imagine. We’re trying to do our bit, in our personal capacity, as well as a music community. With #LiveInALivingRoom we’re hoping to bring some light and positivity in these terrible times by creating a music experience that people can enjoy right from the comfort of their homes. The funds raised from the performances will go towards charities that serve diverse needs.”

Aayushman Sinha, Founder & Head, REPRESENT adds, “Watching the entire community come together for this initiative has been heartwarming. We’ve been flooded with messages from artists expressing their support and willingness to be a part of #LiveInYourLivingRoom. Without revealing too much, all I’d say is you’re in for a magical evening with a bunch of surprises and a lot of music which is released and also a tonne of unreleased music which you’ll hear first, Live In Your Living Room!”

The current 2021 festival is being presented by Instagram, in partnership with REPRESENT, India’s premier talent management agency, and supported by all major Indian music labels.

ALSO READ: Armaan Malik, Eric Nam and KSHMR express feeling of indecisiveness in a relationship in ‘Echo’ track

India started its vaccination drive earlier this year. However, it gained momentum only in April after the country faced the worst of the second wave of the pandemic. Indian citizens above the age of 18 are eligible for COVID vaccination in the country. Multiple business houses have taken the responsibility to vaccinate their employees. The Hindi film industry too has stepped forward to vaccinate their people so they can all safely resume work again.

Reportedly, Hindi film producer Sajid Nadiadwala has decided to vaccinate the crew of his productions which include the Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria starrer Heropanti 2, Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon starrer Bachchan Pandey, Salman Khan and Pooja Hegde's Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, and Tadap starring Tara Sutaria and Ahan Shetty.

Nadiadwala is also looking after the vaccination of his office staff and their families. The vaccination drive will happen on Monday for 500 employees and the production crew.

Sajid Nadiadwala is conducting the vaccination drive to ensure the safety of his crew and employees as they begin work once the lockdown restrictions are lifted. All of Nadiadwala’s productions are currently in different stages of production and have deadlines to meet.

ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan to collaborate with Sajid Nadiadwala for an epic love story

Television star Mona Singh has been away from the small screen for the past five years. But, she is ready to make a comeback. The actress was last seen in the TV soap Kavach in a lead role and host of the comedy show Comedy Nights Bachao.

For the past five years, Mona has been focusing on web series and movies. She will be seen in Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha. However, as per reports, the actor is finally taking a roll back to TV but as the host of the new criminal-based show Mauka-e-Vardaat 2. Over the years, Mona has done a variety of shows in fiction and non-fiction but the crime thriller is a new beginning for her. The show is like Crime Patrol but with women as the torchbearer, who will unveil the crime mysteries.

The show is all set to begin shooting once the cast and crew members are finalized.

Mona Singh debuted on television with the show Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and later did Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi, and Kavach… Kaali Shaktiyon Se. She has also been a part of megahit films like 3 Idiots, Utt Pataang and Zed Plus.

On the other hand, Mona Singh is geared up for her upcoming movie Laal Singh Chaddha starring alongside Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Also Read: Mona Singh reveals she froze her eggs five years; says she is in no hurry to have a baby

Actor Randeep Hooda has been removed from the position of the ambassador of the Convention for The Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). It is an environmental treaty of the United Nations. The move comes after an old video of the actor seen making a joke on the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati came up and went viral. Several said that the actor's remark made at an event hosted by a media house in 2012 was “casteist and sexist”.

The CMS Secretariat in their statement announcing the removal of Hooda from the post said that they became aware of the video clip recently and found the comments by him “offensive”. They said that “it does not reflect the values” of the CMS Secretariat or the United Nations. It also said that they were not aware of the video and its content while appointing Hooda as a CMS Ambassador for Migratory Species in February 2020.

Randeep Hooda was nominated as the ambassador along with Australian explorer and environmentalist Sacha Dench and British biologist Ian Redmond OBE and had to serve his duties till 2023.

The 2012 video went viral on Twitter on Tuesday and several demanded an apology from Hooda and some also sought legal action against the actor. As of now, Hooda has not officially released any statement on the matter.

ALSO READ: Randeep Hooda reveals he apologized at the Golden Temple before cutting his hair for Extraction